Nellie Andreeva

Friends alum Matthew Perry is returning to NBC and reuniting with former Friends co-showrunner Scott Silveri. Perry is set to star in and co-executive produce Go On, a single-camera NBC comedy pilot written by Silveri and directed by Todd Holland. Produced by Universal TV, Go On centers on an irreverent yet charming sportscaster (Perry) who, trying to move on from a loss, finds surprising solace from the members of his mandatory support group. “Scott has written a very funny, touching pilot,” said Perry, who was approached for several pilots this season both on the comedy and drama side. “I’m very excited to be working with him again. I asked him to turn this into an ice show. He said no. We have picked up right where we left off.”

Silveri wrote the script for Perry without actually intending to. “When I started writing the character, no matter who I was thinking of at 9 AM, by 10 AM I was writing with Matthew’s voice,” Silveri said. Despite doing it subconsciously, writing for Perry felt natural. “Writing for him (on Friends) was one of the great creative experiences of my life,” he said. Needless to say, when NBC picked up Go On to pilot, Silveri’s first choice for the lead was Perry. “Thank god he was open to it,” Silveri said, adding, “Matthew is a mightily talented actor and one of our great comedic voices. He and I worked together for eight wonderful years on Friends. I’m thrilled for this opportunity for him to learn my name.”

While a half-hour comedy, Go On has a dramatic component. That also appears tailor-made for Perry, who has starred both in comedy and drama series. “He is one of those rare guys, an actor who can inspire such empathy and play such heart in one moment and the next make you laugh harder than anyone else on the planet,” Silveri said. He and Holland executive produce Go On with Karey Burke. Perry, repped by CAA, Doug Chapin Management and Surpin & Mayersohn, recently starred in the ABC comedy series Mr. Sunshine and is next doing an arc on the CBS drama The Good Wife. On Go On, he joins previously cast Julie White and Suzy Nakamura.

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