SkimIt
Matthew Perry's character Ryan King is about to get his big break as a guest on NBC sportscaster Bob Costas' new show - but only if he can first overcome his fears of repeating a disastrous appearance on a previous talk show hosted by the NFL network's Rich Eisen. Both Costas and Eisen demonstrate a surprising and unexpected flair for situation comedy, at Perry's expense, of course.
Go On Starring Matthew Perry, John Cho and Laura Benanti airs on NBC Tuesdays at 9:00 pm ET.
Bob Costas: "The Nearest Thing We Have to a Deity"
Ryan is so excited that Bob Costas has called him that he plays back the message Costas left on his phone for everyone in the office, and in the group - even before returning the call to see what the legendary sportscaster wants of him. When Costas tells Ryan that he is not just a fan but "a big fan," Ryan is so ecstatic that he has his assistant Carrie (Allison Miller) use her computer skills to make a musical rendition of Costas' message.
"Mr. K. is a Rocket Scientist?"
When Ryan tells everyone at group about his good fortune he discovers that Mr. K. (Brett Gelman) also has some good news to share. It turns out that he designed the robotic arm for the Mars explorer, which at that very moment is about to land on the planet. Ryan is taken aback by this unexpected information, congratulates Mr. K. and then asks him what he plans to do next. This flummoxes Mr. K., who responds that he has no idea: "I have nothing," he continues, "my life has no purpose."
Ryan: "I Can't do TV!"
When Ryan learns that Costas wants him to appear on his new TV show, Ryan panics. "I can't do TV!" he exclaims to Carrie, then storms off. John Cho (as Ryan's boss and best friend, Steven) explains to the befuddled Carrie that Ryan froze on set the last time he was on television, and that he remains haunted by that terrible experience when he was humiliated by NFL sportscaster Rich Eisen. When Ryan admits this in group to Lauren (Laura Benanti) she tells him that the only way to get over this is to go back on Eisen's show and get it right this time - which he does, triumphantly.
Danny Asks, "What do you Wear to a Quincea~nera?"
Fausta (Tonita Castro) invites everyone in the group -except Anne (Julie White) whom she tells to her face is, "sour, a wet blanket, a bummer, a buzz kill"- to her niece's quincea~nera. Befuddled Army veteran Danny (Seth Morris) is not sure what that is, and asks Owen (Tyler James Williams) what he should wear. Owen tells him that it is important that he dress properly so as not to offend Fausta and her family, and then sends him out to get a bullfighter's outfit.
Disaster on the Costas Set
Ryan is brimming with confidence when he arrives on the set of Bob Costas' new show, especially after shaking hands with his idol and being given note cards about the topics they are to discuss - all of which are familiar to Ryan. Unfortunately, Mr. K. arrives, meets Costas and tells him that he should talk about something new. Instead of sports, Costas turns the topics of conversation to a 12th Century Italian mathematician, a discussion of the merits of French impressionists Manet vs. Monet and something about the Supreme Court. Ryan struggles mightily to keep turning the discussion back to sports, but eventually blanks and freezes - just as he did years ago on Eisen's show.
Back to the Party
The show concludes with Fausta's party, and Danny, of course, shows up in a bullfighting get-up so outrageous and cartoonish that Anne (who has crashed the party) calls him "Aladdin." Anne sits alone at an empty table, which she learns was kept that way intentionally by Fausta in memory of her husband and children who could not be with them. This provides a breakthrough opportunity for Anne to bond with Fausta, and they do in a touching exchange that ends with a hug - and Fausta finding a pretty pink party dress for Anne to wear instead of "that ugly man suit."
Best Lines
"I'd like to believe there's a god - I know there's a Costas." – Ryan
"Mr. K. is a rocket scientist?" – Ryan
"You can cry or you can smile, and I chose to smile." – Fausta
