PARENTHOOD -- "The Deep End of the Pool" Episode 103 -- Pictured: Monica Potter as Kristina Braverman -- Photo by: Chris Haston/NBC

NBC’s new series Parenthood is off and running, despite the delays in getting the show to air. The series originally included Maura Tierney, who underwent treatment for breast cancer and officially pulled out of the series. Tierney was later replaced by actress Lauren Graham.

The show is based on the 1989 movie of the same name, which was also produced by Oscar-winning Director Ron Howard.

The small screen version is taking its time examining the relationships and struggles of family - and actress Monica Potter is surprised at how much information and details are stuffed into that one-hour show.

Potter plays Kristina Braverman, a mom dealing with the realization that her son (Max Burkholder) is more than eccentric. He’s actually suffering from Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism. Potter tells HollywoodOutbreak.com that in the coming weeks we’ll learn much more about how Kristina copes with her son’s condition.

It’s important to Potter that she does justice to the role for the many parents out there dealing with their son or daughter’s condition day to day. Her own children do not have autism, but she learned the emotional aspects from Parenthood writer/creator, Jason Katims, who has a child with Aspergers, as well as friends who have children with the syndrome.

The actress understood just from watching the interaction between parents and their kids that coddling rarely happens. That the moms and dads actually push their children as if they have no hurdles to overcome.

That will become more obvious as weeks progress. However, don’t expect Parenthood to dwell on the emotional difficulties. Potter assures us that the series will be, just like its movie predecessor, a reflection of real life – the good and bad.

Parenthood airs Tuesday nights, 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.