NBC wants you, dear readers and viewers, to know that they are different. This is a new NBC, filled with period dramas, concept shows and the return of the multi-camera sitcom.

AOL TV hit the red carpet of NBC's 2011 Upfront Presentation to get the dish on how these new shows will help shape NBC straight from the stars themselves.

What's new? More comedies! Edgier dramas! The network is touting brand new shows with fresh concepts and old favorite stars.

Along with today's announcement of NBC's fall schedule, the network released trailers for most of its new shows. A few highlights? The Christina Applegate/Will Arnett comedy 'Up All Night,' for one, which looks like a welcome return to TV for the actress and her costar, Will Arnett, whose guest spots on '30 Rock' have proven more successful than his past attempts at full-time series work.

Also intriguing: the '60s-set drama 'The Playboy Club,' the mind-bending mid-season drama 'Awake,' and the mid-season musical 'Smash,' whose preview managed to look intriguing despite being essentially a minute-long clip of Katharine McPhee singing a Christina Aguilera song.

After the jump, find updated extended previews and descriptions of each new series.

Hot on the heels of renewing 'Parenthood' and 'Harry's Law' and handing out series orders to half a dozen new shows, NBC has also given the greenlight to comedies 'Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea,' 'Bent,' and 'BFF.'

The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the series pickups.

'Are You There, Vodka?' is based on Chelsea Handler's life and best-selling book. It stars 'That 70s Show' veteran Laura Prepon with Handler involved as an executive producer and playing Prepon's older sister.

'Free Agents,' a workplace romantic comedy based on the popular UK series, comes from 'Party Down' co-creator John Enbom. Hank Azaria stars in the series about two co-workers who fall in love.

Amanda Peet stars in 'Bent,' a comedy about a divorced mom who does her best not to fall in love with her contractor. Jeffrey Tambor also stars in the sitcom, which may be held for midseason.

Hank Azaria is taking another stab at NBC sitcom work with a role in 'Free Agents.'

According to TVLine, Azaria will play Alex, a public relations professional on the rebound. 'The Simpsons' voice actor recurred on 'Friends,' 'Mad About You' and starred in 'Imagine That.'

Singer Marc Anthony has joined the cast of 'Hawthorne.' TNT announced he'll reprise the role of Detective Nick Renata. Anthony appeared on the final two episodes of season 2.

'The Walking Dead' veteran Emma Bell is heading to NBC's 'Reconstruction.' The show, formerly titled 'The Crossing,' is set in post-Civil War Missouri. Deadline also reports 'Stargate Universe' actor Robert Carlyle will play Rumplestiltskin in ABC's 'Once Upon a Time.'

Brandon T. Jackson will star opposite Minnie Driver in 'Hail Mary.' According to Deadline, Jackson will play KZ, the best friend of Driver's character's dead son.

In other TV news ...

• 'Law & Order: Los Angeles' is back on the beat in April. The struggling drama will return -- with several casting changes -- to NBC on Mon., April 11 at 9PM. [TVLine]

• Sean Young is going from 'Skating with the Stars' to 'Celebrity Rehab.' Young joins Michael Lohan, Bai Ling, Michaele Salahi, Jeremy Jackson, and Amy Fisher on the VH1 reality series. [Entertainment Weekly]

• TLC is adding another 'Say Yes to the Dress' show to its growing franchise. 'Say Yes to the Dress: Randy Knows Best' will follow Randy Fenoli as he dishes wedding advice. [EW]