Michael J. Fox Returning To NBC

[DToTheJ]

A sitcom revolving around a family man dealing with Parkinson's disease (which the actor actually suffers from) has been picked up for a full-season order by NBC. It'll be his first regular series on the network since that one from twenty-five years ago with that Keaton clan.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/488706-NBC_Lands_Michael_J_Fox_Comedy_Series.php

 

[KyDXIn]

What happened to "Spin City"?

 

[LKellerIII]

Michael J. Fox has had a recurring part on The Good Wife, playing a scheming lawyer Louis Canning. I'll miss him in that role. Fox also did a great turn last year in Curb Your Enthusiasm playing himself as Larry David's upstairs neighbor in his visit to New York. Fox keeps making loud noises on the floor (Larry's ceiling) that wake Larry up. Larry thinks that Fox is tormenting him, and just using the Parkinson's as an excuse. Funny stuff.

 

[Darth_vader]

It'll be interesting to see how long this lasts before [insert name of politically-correct activist group] considers it "patently offensive", "degrading to Parkinson's victims" or some other such rot and harps incessantly on NBC to yank it until the latter eventually submits. The way people take themselves so seriously these days, you can pretty much bet that's how it'll happen.

I'd give it a month, tops.

 

[FreddyE1977]

I agree. I give Mr. Fox kudos for wanting to work, but all of the various activist groups are going to
pummel this one into the ground in short order.

You could not even remake the original Bob Newhart Show in today's climate.
All of the mental health advocacy groups would be on you like white on rice.

 

[LKellerIII]

I agree. I give Mr. Fox kudos for wanting to work, but all of the various activist groups are going to
pummel this one into the ground in short order.

You could not even remake the original Bob Newhart Show in today's climate.
All of the mental health advocacy groups would be on you like white on rice.

I really doubt both of those statements. Why would Parkinson's advocacy groups complain that: (1) An actual Parkinson's sufferer is actively employed and bringing much needed awareness and publicity to their plight; and (2) Viewers will get a realistic view of how a person with Parkinson's lives?

That's like saying gay advocacy groups will complain about gay characters on TV. There are gay characters all over TV these days, and some of them are caricatures.

Now if the show is stupid, and continually holds Parkinson's victims up to ridicule (see Rush Limbaugh), the advocacy groups would complain. But I can't see Michael J. Fox going along with that kind of garbage.

As for the statement that The Bob Newhart Show couldn't be made today - I don't think that's true, either. All the "patients" on the show were humurous, but somewhat sympathetic characters. They weren't murderers or rapists. And the charm of the show was seeing the somewhat eccentric Dr. Hartley playing off their neurotic statements with his deadpan face, and all that blinking and stammering that was Newhart's trademark.

I think it would be a hit today, too - possibly written in a more edgy manner, though.

 

[justpassingthough]

I disagree that the advocacy groups will have a problem with this show, as well.

I think the closest analogy is the character of Walter White, Jr on "Breaking Bad" (played by RJ Mitte). The actors suffers from cerebral palsy as does the character, although the actor's case is less severe than how its portrayed on the show. It gives the character an added dimension, and I haven't heard of any protests by any advocacy groups for the physically handicapped.

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

I think the closest analogy is the character of Walter White, Jr on "Breaking Bad" (played by RJ Mitte). The actors suffers from cerebral palsy as does the character, although the actor's case is less severe than how its portrayed on the show. It gives the character an added dimension, and I haven't heard of any protests by any advocacy groups for the physically handicapped.

Or what about the character of Corky (Chris Burke) on ABC's "Life Goes On" (1989-93)?

 

[FRR]

Some group will complain because in this day and age somebody is "offended" about something all the time and no one is willing to stand up and call it what it is. BS.

Everyone is too concerned with being politically correct and God forbid someone is "offended" about anything.

 

[LKellerIII]

Some group will complain because in this day and age somebody is "offended" about something all the time and no one is willing to stand up and call it what it is. BS.

Everyone is too concerned with being politically correct and God forbid someone is "offended" about anything.

In my opinion, there is politically incorrect material all over the media these days. When somebody steps over the line with a serious political statement - like Limbaugh saying that Michael J. Fox was faking his Parkinson's symptoms, or idiots like Congressman Akin talk about "legitimate rape" not making women pregnant - YES - the forces of the politically correct jump into action. But that's politics.

For the most part, however, the media - TV in particular - gets away with much more politically incorrect material than they did in the 50s thru the 80s. Viewers these days expect "edgy" and 'push-the-envelope' entertainment, and writers and producers can't supply that without stepping over the line, occasionally.

 

[nomadcowatbk]

I think the closest analogy is the character of Walter White, Jr on "Breaking Bad" (played by RJ Mitte). The actors suffers from cerebral palsy as does the character, although the actor's case is less severe than how its portrayed on the show. It gives the character an added dimension, and I haven't heard of any protests by any advocacy groups for the physically handicapped.

Or what about the character of Corky (Chris Burke) on ABC's "Life Goes On" (1989-93)?

some group got offended after this MAD TV skit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iA-yr9uJ72M

 

[WMC2006]

What happened to "Spin City"?

Spin City was on ABC. DTTJ said that this was MJF's first sitcom on NBC since Family Ties.

 

[Nate Wesley]

It'll be interesting to see how long this lasts before [insert name of politically-correct activist group] considers it "patently offensive", "degrading to Parkinson's victims" or some other such rot and harps incessantly on NBC to yank it until the latter eventually submits. The way people take themselves so seriously these days, you can pretty much bet that's how it'll happen.

I'd give it a month, tops.

That would be an interesting development, considering The Michael J. Fox Foundation has privately raised almost $300 million for Parkinson's Disease research alone.

If this show fails, I think it'll be for the usual reasons (poor timeslot, bad promotion, not liked by enough profitable viewers).

 

[DToTheJ]

I hope this doesn't start a new trend (e.g. a sitcom about a person with Tourette's syndrome)...

@WMC: Thanks for the clarification; indeed, that is what I meant.

 

[ding12]

Michael J. Fox has had a recurring part on The Good Wife, playing a scheming lawyer Louis Canning. I'll miss him in that role. Fox also did a great turn last year in Curb Your Enthusiasm playing himself as Larry David's upstairs neighbor in his visit to New York. Fox keeps making loud noises on the floor (Larry's ceiling) that wake Larry up. Larry thinks that Fox is tormenting him, and just using the Parkinson's as an excuse. Funny stuff.

I'm missing going to miss him on The Good Wife as well, but that show will hopefully get some new recurring famous guest stars. I think Michael J. Fox will reappear there, but likely not as often.

Regarding the new series, I don't think parkinson's will be an issue. Hopefully this series will re-energize NBC and likely NBC's Thursday night. My only concern is the possibility the series ends up lame, like Tim Allen's new sitcom on ABC. Given Michael J. Fox's lead, It'd probably still do fine in the ratings either way for NBC to keep it.

 

[FreddyE1977]

I agree. I give Mr. Fox kudos for wanting to work, but all of the various activist groups are going to
pummel this one into the ground in short order.

You could not even remake the original Bob Newhart Show in today's climate.
All of the mental health advocacy groups would be on you like white on rice.

I really doubt both of those statements. Why would Parkinson's advocacy groups complain that: (1) An actual Parkinson's sufferer is actively employed and bringing much needed awareness and publicity to their plight; and (2) Viewers will get a realistic view of how a person with Parkinson's lives?

That's like saying gay advocacy groups will complain about gay characters on TV. There are gay characters all over TV these days, and some of them are caricatures.

Now if the show is stupid, and continually holds Parkinson's victims up to ridicule (see Rush Limbaugh), the advocacy groups would complain. But I can't see Michael J. Fox going along with that kind of garbage.

As for the statement that The Bob Newhart Show couldn't be made today - I don't think that's true, either. All the "patients" on the show were humurous, but somewhat sympathetic characters. They weren't murderers or rapists. And the charm of the show was seeing the somewhat eccentric Dr. Hartley playing off their neurotic statements with his deadpan face, and all that blinking and stammering that was Newhart's trademark.

I think it would be a hit today, too - possibly written in a more edgy manner, though.

Submitted in evidence....

The former XFL franchise, the Memphis Maniax.
Their logo had a deranged serial killer type with swirling eyeballs.
They were the subject of protests and demands that they change the name
from mental health advocacy groups. (of course the XFL did not survive
long enough for anything to come of that)

 

[LKellerIII]

I agree. I give Mr. Fox kudos for wanting to work, but all of the various activist groups are going to
pummel this one into the ground in short order.

You could not even remake the original Bob Newhart Show in today's climate.
All of the mental health advocacy groups would be on you like white on rice.

I really doubt both of those statements. Why would Parkinson's advocacy groups complain that: (1) An actual Parkinson's sufferer is actively employed and bringing much needed awareness and publicity to their plight; and (2) Viewers will get a realistic view of how a person with Parkinson's lives?

That's like saying gay advocacy groups will complain about gay characters on TV. There are gay characters all over TV these days, and some of them are caricatures.

Now if the show is stupid, and continually holds Parkinson's victims up to ridicule (see Rush Limbaugh), the advocacy groups would complain. But I can't see Michael J. Fox going along with that kind of garbage.

As for the statement that The Bob Newhart Show couldn't be made today - I don't think that's true, either. All the "patients" on the show were humurous, but somewhat sympathetic characters. They weren't murderers or rapists. And the charm of the show was seeing the somewhat eccentric Dr. Hartley playing off their neurotic statements with his deadpan face, and all that blinking and stammering that was Newhart's trademark.

I think it would be a hit today, too - possibly written in a more edgy manner, though.

Submitted in evidence....

The former XFL franchise, the Memphis Maniax.
Their logo had a deranged serial killer type with swirling eyeballs.
They were the subject of protests and demands that they change the name
from mental health advocacy groups. (of course the XFL did not survive
long enough for anything to come of that)

I get your point, and I agree that political correctness gets out of hand in America at times. Similar to your example, I believe some Native American groups have taken exception to the Cleveland Indians cartoon red-man logo.

But I think TV is a little different than a logo - more nuanced for one thing, because it involves scripted characters. Now if the modern Bob Newhart had only patients that were anti-social murdering psychopaths, mental health groups would probably object. If Michael J. Fox were to play his character as a spastic with "exageratted arm movements" as Limbaugh accused him of doing - Parkinson's groups would probably protest. But that's not going to happen. The Parkinson's will be addressed with sensitivity, I'm sure, or Fox would not be involved.

 

[FreddyE1977]

Similar to your example, I believe some Native American groups have taken exception to the Cleveland Indians cartoon red-man logo.

Strangely enough, that is the one example where I think I would actually agree with some Political Correctness.
That logo is about the most insulting thing I think I've ever seen. If I were Native American I would certainly take offense to it (though it used to be much worse with a stereotypical large nose, etc.)

Contrast that with the flap over the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux logo, which is a respectful and
historically accurate rendering, done by a Sioux artist.

A lot of Conservatives like me also agree that the old Amos n' Andy TV show is so insulting to black people,
it crosses the line and is likely deserving of censure.

But this can't be allowed happen over every little thing.