Lauren Graham stars in "Parenthood"

The first thing you learn as a parent is that you've got to roll with the punches, expect the unexpected, think on your feet and play the hand you're given. Hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

NBC's new series "Parenthood," premiering Tuesday, March 2, exemplifies this philosophy both on and off screen. The series itself follows the lives of the Braverman clan as each member tries to deal with the problems that arise with raising their own nuclear family. Off-screen, however, the actors, producers and writers have struggled with many similar problems.

The workings of the nuclear family are far from a new idea for a TV show. From heartwarming series such as "7th Heaven" and "The Waltons" to sarcastic sitcoms such as "All in the Family," "Home Improvement" and "Family Matters," networks have been putting their own spin on the concept of family for decades.

"Parenthood's" spin is to combine multiple generations into one series, turning it into an ensemble series with a scope broader than will fit around one kitchen table.

"Parenthood" is actually a re-creation of a 1990 series, which itself was adapted from the award-winning film starring Steve Martin, Keanu Reeves and Dianne Weist.

The original film followed a workaholic family man (Martin) who decided he wanted to be less of a worker and more of a father to his kids. Each of his kids requires a different type of dad, and the ensuing journey to balance fatherhood with friendship is what brought the film its success.

And that success was huge, bringing in large box office numbers despite being up against blockbuster titles such as "Lethal Weapon 2" and the original "Batman" film starring Michael Keaton.

The movie spun into a TV series on NBC in 1990, but its short run has left it largely forgotten. However, it featured many actors who went on to become household names, including Leonardo DiCaprio, David Arquette and Thora Birch. Critically acclaimed sci-fi writer Joss Whedon even stepped out of his comfort zone to write several episodes of the show.

Peter Krause and Max Burkholder star in "Parenthood"

But now, 20 years later, NBC has grabbed onto the "Parenthood" reins once again and is charging full speed ahead. Network execs are expecting nothing but a large reception from the series. Following a similar theme to the original film, the show follows the Braverman family as it tries to work through both simple and complex issues of the family unit. The main difference: time.

The film focused on a middle-aged man and his young and teen children. The new series has a much larger cast, spanning from the older generation of parents (Craig T. Nelson and Bonnie Bedelia) and their children (Lauren Graham, Erika Christenen, Dax Shepard and Peter Krause) to their children's children (Mae Withman, Sarah Ramos, Miles Heizer and Max Burkholder).

Off-screen, "Parenthood" has faced its own array of challenges. The series was supposed to premiere back in the fall, but an unexpected illness took the studio by surprise. The role of Sarah Braverman was originally given to Maura Tierney ("ER"), but she was diagnosed with breast cancer early last summer. In a much-publicized story, she had to leave the show to get treatment, leaving the show's future uncertain.

Eventually, Lauren Graham was brought in, but that meant the first three episodes, along with all of the promotional material, had to be redone at the last minute. The premiere of "Parenthood" was pushed back and replaced with "Mercy" on the NBC schedule, which had originally been slotted in as a mid-season launch.

As NBC prepared for the premiere, another speed bump came up when Jay Leno's prime-time series was pulled in late January. This brought yet more uncertainty to a show that had already had its share, and left it in a competitive time-slot, up against established Tuesday night players "NCIS," "Lost" and "American Idol."

But "Parenthood" is no hard-luck story -- not with a cast that brings three beloved TV names back onto the screen.

As mentioned, Graham found fame as Lorelei Gilmore on the hit CW (then WB) series "Gilmore Girls," itself a heartwarming family dramedy. Fans have been waiting for her return since 2007, when that show left the air after seven seasons.

Nelson's "Coach" had its share of heartwarming moments, but played them for straight laughs in the half-hour sitcom style. He's also had a long hiatus from series TV, though he's kept busy with big-screen work in such films as "The Incredibles" (2004) and "The Proposal" (2009)

"Parenthood" also stars Krause, who found fame in a stranger sort of family setting on the critically acclaimed cable hit "Six Feet Under."

The series begins with Sarah Braverman (Graham) leaving her husband and taking her kids back to the small town where she grew up, leaving her to deal with both introducing her kids to a new life while trying to reclaim her spot in the family.

Her parents are more than happy to see their daughter return home, and they use Sarah's arrival to cover up their own marital problems. Sarah's sister Julia (Christensen) likes to rub her career success in Sarah's face, but she's quietly struggling to keep her stay-at-home husband happy while she's off making a big career.

Sarah's younger brother (Shepard) is blindsided when an old fling comes into town with a new bundle of joy for him to take care of. Adam, Sarah's oldest brother, is faced with the challenge of dealing with a son with a serious developmental disorder.

And while each family member is set on fixing their own problems, they forget that their solutions may end up messing up others. Will Sarah's return to town be another leg for this family to stand on or will it be the straw that breaks the camel's back?