revolution

If you're a fan of Parenthood, Revolution, Chicago Fire, Grimm, and/or Law & Order: SVU, then today's your lucky day — NBC has just renewed all of those shows for new seasons! Returning series Grimm and SVU were pretty much a lock, but Parenthood has always been a bubble show, so I'm particularly excited to see the Braverman crew return for a fifth season. To find out the current status of all your favorite shows, check out our slideshow of this year's cancellations and renewals.

And the Fall TV pickups have begun! Today NBC officially ordered full seasons of three of its new series — Go On, Revolution, and The New Normal — making them the first new shows to get whole seasons. All three shows debuted in early September, with the J.J. Abrams-produced drama Revolution earning strong ratings since its premiere. Meanwhile, sitcoms The New Normal and Go On haven't seen quite as high ratings, but they've apparently been decent enough for NBC to take a chance on them for an entire season.

One new Fall show is off to a strong start: last night, NBC's Revolution premiere was the highest-rated debut for a network drama in three years. The series has a creative concept — it's set in a world where all the power has mysteriously gone out — so it's no wonder that people tuned in. There's also the fact that it's produced by J.J. Abrams, and I think fans of his are always hoping for the next Lost. So now that Revolution has bowed, I want to know what you thought. Did you enjoy it? Was the pilot engaging enough for you to keep watching?

Tonight is the premiere of NBC's new sci-fi drama, Revolution, from producer J.J. Abrams and directed by Jon Favreau. The series deals with the idea of what would happen if all of the world's technology suddenly stopped working, and it stars Twilight's Billy Burke and Breaking Bad's Giancarlo Esposito. Find out if the show is one you might be into by checking out my points below.

• What it's about: After a mysterious accident, every bit of technology and electricity suddenly stops working at once, including phones, car and plane engines, and lights. Fifteen years later, we see the repercussions after modern society and the American government have fallen apart. In this new world, a teen girl (Tracy Spiridakos) sets off to find her brother, who has been kidnapped by a villainous rogue militia. She has to find her uncle (Burke) for help, who, incidentally, may have the key as to why "all the lights went out."
• Where it works: The concept is compelling and timely and makes you think about how dependent we are on technology.
• Where it doesn't: The characters are boring, and it's not clear what we're supposed to be hoping to see happen in this dystopian world. And in classic Abrams style, the pilot ends on a cliff-hanger — only the cliff-hanger is not that exciting.
• When it's on: Mondays at 10 p.m.
• You might like this show if: You're sad Terra Nova got canceled.

To see a preview and some photos from Revolution, just keep reading.

It seems like every pilot season comes with one hyped-up sci-fi drama (like FlashForward and Terra Nova), hoping to follow in the footsteps of cult favorites like Lost. This year's hopeful is Revolution, which comes from executive producer J.J. Abrams. Though Abrams couldn't make it to the show's TCA panel, cast members Billy Burke (whom you may recognize as Bella's dad from Twilight), Giancarlo Esposito, and Tracy Spiridakos took the stage, along with Eric Kripke and Jon Favreau, who directed the pilot. The series takes place 15 years after a mysterious national disaster leaves the world without any electricity.

• Though the series is set in the near future, Kripke asserted that the setting is more like a throwback to the olden days before electricity was invented. Think people riding on horseback and toting their own guns, with steam engines expected to come into play in the first batch of episodes. That said, the vibe they're going for is very much that of a fantasy series; Kripke wants the world to be "hopeful," "romantic," and "lovely," with a heavy emphasis on nature.
• Favreau, who is best known for directing movies like Elf and Iron Man, said that Abrams's compelling vision is what drew him to the project. He said that Revolution is in the same vein of many popular young adult novels, where the youth are preserving and overcoming harsh conditions. (I assume that The Hunger Games falls into that genre.) Both Favreau and Kripke hinted that a big theme of the show isn't just in finding out why the lights went out, but in the dilemma of whether or not the people actually want the electricity to come back.
• Esposito echoed the sentiment that the show focuses on a return to a "simpler life." The actor is best known for his role as the terrifying Gus Fring on Breaking Bad, and if the pilot is any indication, he might be playing the villain once again. His character is something of an outlaw authority who uses harsh methods to keep the peace. Esposito said it's "delicious to be the bad guy" but also teased that his character may not be as evil as you might think.
• Burke shows off some serious swordsmanship in the pilot and joked that he totally got his butt kicked training for the role. That said, Kripke made it clear that Revolution is more focused on characters than splashy action sequences, though the show will be filled with plenty of "ass-kicking adventures."

To see more pictures from the panel, just read more

The networks will trot out their brand-new TV shows at next week's upfronts, but before we get a look at previews and find out the schedules, we're going to acquaint you with the upcoming series. First up are the shows coming to NBC, so check out the comedies and dramas that the network has picked up for the Fall 2012 season.

COMEDIES

• Go On: Matthew Perry stars as a sportscaster who starts attending group therapy sessions after he suffers from a loss and bonds with the members of his group.
• Animal Practice: Weeds star Justin Kirk plays a veterinarian who loves his furry subjects but doesn't like their human owners.
• The New Normal: A gay couple played by Justin Bartha and Andrew Rannells use a surrogate to start their family in this comedy from Glee creator Ryan Murphy.
• Guys With Kids: Three dudes (Jesse Bradford, Nick Cregger, and Anthony Anderson) experience the joys of being dads together.
• Save Me: Anne Heche plays a woman who thinks she can channel God after she has an accident.
• 1600 Penn: This White House-set comedy follows a fictional president played by Bill Pullman, his first lady (Jenna Elfman), and his goofy son (Josh Gad).
• Next Caller: This workplace comedy takes place in a radio station and stars Dane Cook as a chauvinistic DJ who butts heads with his female colleague.

DRAMAS:

• Revolution: This drama, produced by J.J. Abrams and written by Supernatural's creator, depicts a world where all technology has suddenly stopped working and its characters (played by Giancarlo Esposito and Billy Burke) struggle to connect with their loved ones.
• Hannibal: This drama explores the relationship of notorious character Dr. Hannibal Lecter as he mentors detective Will Graham, played by Hugh Dancy.
• Chicago Fire: The staff of a Chicago firehouse is the focus of this action-packed drama, which stars Taylor Kinney of The Vampire Diaries and House's Jesse Spencer.
• Do No Harm: A neurosurgeon struggles with his job and personal life because he also has a Jekyll & Hyde-like alter ego.
• Infamous: A female detective (Meagan Good) goes undercover to return to the home of the wealthy family her mother was a maid in and solve a murder.

Photos courtesy of NBC