Matthew Perry back on NBC as pilot 'Go On' gets picked up

"Friends" star Matthew Perry will return to NBC in a comedy for next season called "Go On."

The show, in which he plays a sportscaster who attends a grief support group, has received a pickup for the 2012-13 season, an NBC rep confirms to Zap2it (Deadline first reported the pickup). It's the first pilot this season to get a series order (not counting direct-to-series projects like NBC's "Hannibal" and ABC's "Mistresses").

"Go On" also has a behind-the-scenes "Friends" connection: It was created by Scott Silveri, a long-time writer and producer for the show who also co-created its spinoff "Joey."

Perry starred in "Mr. Sunshine" for ABC last season and has guested on "The Good Wife" this year. He'll also be a co-executive producer of "Go On"; Silveri and director Todd Holland are executive producing with Karey Burke.

"Go On" also stars Laura Benanti ("The Playboy Club"), Allison Miller ("Terra Nova" and Perry's "17 Again"), Bill Cobbs ("The Hudsucker Proxy"), Suzy Nakamura ("Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Modern Family"), Julie White ("Transformers," "Grace Under Fire") and Khary Payton ("Ben 10," "General Hospital").