The Michael J. Fox Show

I really wanted to like this. My mom has Parkinson's, so I'm always thrilled to be tuning in to a Michael J. Fox appearance. He's inspiring and entertaining, and he does a lot for the cause. But this show is a clunker. It feels artificial, as though designed by a committee. All the kids are sarcastic and uninteresting, the adults are lifeless annoying, and there was no charm, no warmth, and no laughs. The whole thing is awkward and hectic, and shows no promise.

It isn't hard at all to watch him, despite the fact he clearly has all the symptoms of the disease. It isn't formulaic like most of the sitcoms he's been in over the course of his life. It's just bad. He carries himself with the same relaxing charm he's always had. He appears to have shown up ready to give a great performance, but the people behind the scenes really let him down with this charmless bomb.

I couldn't make it to the end of one episode, much less the second that aired right after.

Bummer.

Michael, Michael; what in the world is going on? Don't get me wrong. I like MJF. But I don't like this show. It is poorly scripted, poorly shot and BADLY in need of a genuine sense of humor.

After the first three parkinson's jokes the rest of them just fell flat. Enough was enough already. I didn't know if I was supposed to laugh, feel sorry for him or what. For me, it just didn't work.

The characters in the supporting cast are not well defined. I don't know who the heck they are or what they're supposed to be. They just kind of wander in and out of camera view doing a fast and furious set of blackout jokes; kind of like a rude and crude vaudeville routine.

Speaking of rude and crude about one third of the "humor" was on the level of nine year old toilet jokes.

Your show is not for me, Michael. You're better than that. Or, are you?

"The Michael J. Fox Show" is about Mike Henry, his down-to-earth wife, their diverse kids, and their modern progressive aunt—is about fully functional family—and Mike Henry's career as a newscaster and above all, in the most good spirits, the Parkinson's disease, which inspired it.

A Full Life, in Spite Of

Obviously, the newscast things is really sticking out. It really influences the dynamic of the sitcom—the family. The show is full of it—everybody in the New York knows him or as Mike thought. I always love that as the source of my laugh; and where those laughs will be going; get better.

You won't want to miss out the excitement of the first episode where it introduces the characters. I'm very sure this show will has its moments, you and I could see it; Michael J. Fox just saving it for later.

Episode 1 = tried too hard, too big a role given to Parkinsons.

Episode 2 = tried too hard and humor a bit too contrived

Episode 3 = only one reference to Parkinsons but tight and subtle humor. Great chemistry between the characters and situations most of us can relate to.Michael J. Fox has the kind of talent that can't be suppressed and although his illness was a big part of episode 1 and less so by episode 2, by episode 3 (thankfully) the script writers realize that there is humor in almost any situation and they don't have to force each one.

The absence of a laugh track in the show is most welcome and anyone who tolerated the first two episodes and came to episode three with the attitude of "I'll give it the 5 minute test and change channels if it does not grab us" - as my wife and I did - prepare to be pleasantly surprised.

Trust me and watch the first two episodes with the objective of getting to know the characters then sit back and enjoy episode 3 and hopefully many more excellent episodes to come.

I've heard it said that only two people can get money for a show in Hollywood without doing a pilot--Michael J. Fox and Bill Cosby, and certainly we all understand why that is. Michael J. Fox is a wonderful and funny actor who can "accidentally" throw a dinner roll at a man's crotch and joke "Parkinson's!" and it's funny.

However, the rest of the cast doesn't quite live up to the star. The premise is that Michael Henry, beloved New York news anchor, left his job because of Parkinson's, but is now returning to work.

His family is a deadbeat son, smart teen daughter, and young son who is so far no more than a punchline occasionally. His sister is a selfish freeloader, and his wife is there, too. She's just there. All the family characters are stereotypes and not too interesting. I don't think this is the fault of the actors--they play stereotypes just fine.

Only two shows have aired so far, but I feel disappointed. If it wasn't Michael speaking, my attention wandered. The other characters just can't seem to hold their own against Fox.

The two plots so far have been Michael's return to television, which was somewhat fun, and flirting with the sexy upstairs neighbor (Michael's real-life wife, Tracey Pollan) which was so trite I was truly surprised it made it past the drawing board.

The most interesting characters so far are Michael's TV friend, Harris, played by Wendell Pierce, and the "lesbian" friend of his daughter, who was on screen for less than 5 minutes.

His news channel "family" is a bit more interesting, and perhaps if the show focused on that aspect of his life, it might be worthwhile.

I'll give it a few more tries, but am not too hopeful--so far it's thumbs down. I really wanted to like this, but it needs a big rewrite and perhaps some recasting.