The Michael J. Fox Show

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'm a fan of Michael J Fox since the 80's so when I heard he was coming back to TV, I was excited. But I was also anxious about the show making me feel bad for him or being a pity party to give it good reviews even though it wasn't good. But I'm so happy to say that after watching the 1st 2 episodes, this show is WONDERFUL! Using his Parkinsons as a base line for his character really works because they don't try to hide or sugar coat anything. The honesty makes it more funnier. The casting is right on too! Great family dynamic. You can see and appreciate the cast chemistry right from the start. If you like smart writing along the lines of Modern Family, Big Bang Theory, or Malcolm in the Middle, you will love this one. Welcome back MJF!

"The Michael J. Fox Show" is about as generic a sitcom as its title. It sucks to admit this, since Michael J. Fox is such a likable talent, and solely on the basis of his returning to television, I *wanted* to like this new show -- but it just isn't that great, and barring a huge revamp of its approach, I doubt there will be much room for improvement.

It is a modern sitcom, which is to say it has been inspired by Modern Family with its talking head interviews, which don't flow very naturally with the procession of the storyline.

Obviously there's no dismissing the elephant in the room, which is Fox's battle with Parkinson's Disease, but...the show goes the opposite route, by embracing it and poking fun at it a little too much. We're supposed to feel comfortable with the sitcom put-downs and quips at his expense because he's cool with it, but that doesn't make them any less uncomfortable, to be totally honest. Honestly, they'd have been better having a couple jokes in the beginning of the episode, then moving on. Instead, they've worked the entire NARRATIVE of the show around his disease -- his character, Mike Henry, is a hugely famous broadcaster who had to quit at the peak of his career due to his Parkinson's struggles. Sound familiar?

The show keeps beating you over the head with this, which, I guess, I could put up with more, if the supporting cast - and writing - compensated. Neither does. From the promiscuous aunt character to the precocious teenager, these are all tired caricatures and none of them quite feel real.

Perhaps most disappointing is that in struggling to overcome all these obstacles he's faced with, Michael J. Fox isn't even given much to work with. He carried Spin City with his easy charm, but with this program he's basically the brunt of a lot of jokes about his physical ailment and playing an exasperated dad whose family is constantly ribbing him -- it's just not that funny or amusing.

I hope it improves, but frankly, they'd have to revamp the whole show and its format, I think, to overcome these problems. I'd be very surprised if this lasts beyond a single season.

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.

"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.