The Michael J. Fox Show: Back to the Television

Michael J. Fox has Parkinson's Disease, which led to his semi-retirement from acting in 2000. However, he started putting in guest appearances on TV shows a few years ago (most notably on The Good Wife and Rescue Me, for which he won an Emmy) and is now back on NBC with a brand new sitcom. In it, he plays former newscaster Mike Henry, who left work after his Parkinson's diagnosis but is back five years later because his family is sick of having him spend all his time at home. A scenario which accurately mimics Fox's own life.

The writers of The Michael J. Fox Show are savvy enough to know when to make a Parkinson's joke and when to just let it be. The pilot acknowledges Fox's condition a fair amount, but after that, the show has become just another fun family sitcom. The cast consists of a particularly astonishing bunch of TV stalwarts. Mike's wife, Annie is played by Breaking Bad's Betsy Brandt, who flexes her comedy chops and plays a loving but sometimes exasperated wife to perfection. Mike's sister, Leigh is played by Katie Finneran, a brilliant actress who has done great work on Broadway (winning a Tony for her hilarious performance in Promises Promises) but who I will always remember from TV cult favorite, Wonderfalls. And to top it off, Wendell Pierce from The Wire plays Harris Green, Mike's womanizing boss and best friend, who is responsible for getting Mike back to work. 

The show follows the mockumentary format that has become such a staple of TV comedy in recent years. At times this can feel a bit lazy, as though the show can't be bothered to show rather than tell. Oftentimes, the final discussion of the episode's events can become a bit too saccharine, which jars with Fox's more sarcastic style. But these are minor quibbles, and with a cast that is this beloved, I'm willing to forgive a lot. The actors playing Mike's three kids are also a fun group, and as their story lines start to gain more traction, the show will well and truly become an ensemble comedy that hits the perfect balance of sweetness and sarcasm.

The Michael J. Fox Show is a promising sitcom with sharp writing and witty observations about how life goes on, even if you've been diagnosed with Parkinson's. It knows how to mine the humor in every situation and hopefully will continue to do so for many more episodes to come.