Olympics to usher in NBC's fall shows early

By Gary Levin, USA TODAY

Posted June 14, 2012

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Matthew Perry attends NBC's Upfront Presentation at Radio City Music Hall in May in New York. (Credit: By Jemal Countess, Getty Images)

NBC will use the Summer Olympics to get a running start on the new fall season.

New comedy Go On, starring Matthew Perry as a sportscaster in group therapy, will get a sneak preview on Aug. 8, when that night's Olympics coverage wraps up.

And Animal Practice, starring Justin Kirk (Weeds) as a curmudgeonly veterinarian, will launch behind the games' Aug. 12 closing ceremony. The next night, reality show Stars Earn Stripes will get a two-hour debut, followed by the season opener of Grimm.

The Voice is back Sept. 10, and J.J. Abrams' latest drama, Revolution, arrives Sept. 17, as most of NBC's lineup premieres before the official season starts a week later. But 30 Rock and Community won't return for their shortened final seasons until Oct. 4 and Oct. 19, respectively.