NBC gives full seasons to Revolution, The New Normal, and Go On

By Sean O'Neal | October 2, 2012 | 9:01pm

Aux Features TV

Having contributed to NBC's first big win and best fall season in many years, with all the obligatory explanations of that last part being relative only to its typically dismal showing of late, Revolution, The New Normal, and Go On all received full-season pickups today. All of these freshmen series have benefited greatly by being scheduled after The Voice, and all pull impressive-for-NBC numbers especially when you factor in DVR time-shifting—particularly Revolution, which averages a 3.6 rating in the 18 to 49 demo and around 9.8 million viewers, but actually jumps by 53 percent to around a 5.2 rating after adding in tape-delayed viewings. Among scripted series, believe it or not, that's second only to Modern Family, meaning the tagline "Revolution Is TV's Most Popular Drama When You Factor In DVR Time-Shifting, Which You Should, Because That Is How People Watch Television Now" is no doubt coming to a billboard near you.

The New Normal and Go On also do pretty well when DVR numbers are taken into consideration, jumping 40 and 19 percent, respectively, and without it they still average a 3.2 and 2.2 share among adults, which also qualifies as "runaway hit" in NBC's world. (That NBC is about to lose two of its flagship comedies in The Office and 30 Rock—and no one likes Guys With Kids or Animal Practice—also probably factored into the decision to keep them around.) Anyway, it remains to be seen whether the premises of a world without electricity, the unassailable likability of Matthew Perry, and tolerance for Ryan Murphy's self-satisfaction can be sustained, but now we'll get a full year to find out.