NBC Cancels ‘The Michael J. Fox Show’
NBC has cancelled The Michael J. Fox Show after 15 episodes. Although 22 episodes were filmed, it is unclear whether the remaining seven will air. On Wednesday night, the network confirmed Hollywood Game Night will now fill the Thursday night slot.
In his self-titled comedy series, Fox plays news anchor Mike Henry. The program mirrors Fox’s own life, as Henry chose to end his career as he struggled with Parkinson’s disease. Although he enjoyed staying home and spending time with his family, he missed his high-profile career. With much encouragement from his family, friends, and former colleagues, Henry makes the decision to return to TV.
Although Fox said filming was a struggle at times, he enjoyed the work. The series gave him an opportunity to get out of the house, get back to work, and to openly address his struggles with the disease.
Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991. At the age of 30, the beloved actor was already a huge success. His became a household name with his appearance in the comedy series Family Ties. He then moved on to appear in three Back to the Future films, which were instant and enduring hits at the box office.
In 1996, Fox joined the cast of Spin City, a sitcom that was set in the office of New York City’s deputy mayor. Although he already received the diagnosis, Fox managed to cloak a majority of his physical afflictions. He appeared in 103 episodes before leaving the show in 2001.
Although he appeared as a guest star on several series, Fox essentially retired from acting in 2001. However, like his character in The Michael J. Fox Show, his family and friends encouraged him to pursue his dream of having his own show.
As opposed to trying to hide his physical afflictions, Fox’s personal struggles with Parkinson’s became the focus of the storyline and many jokes throughout his new series. It was a bold decision, which made some viewers uncomfortable. However, Fox and NBC thought the idea was unique and would appeal to viewers.
Unfortunately, NBC executive Robert Greenblatt said it was a “real uphill battle.” As reported by E! Online, Greenblatt assumed the series would succeed “solely on star power.” However, he admits he made some bad decisions:
“It’s hard to launch comedy even in the best of circumstances, so I guess I would say I’m more weary. It just means we have to work harder. Comedy is hard.”
Greenblatt said poor ratings were a big factor in his decision. Although The Michael J. Fox Show was canceled, the iconic actor said he had a great time filming the show and doing something he truly enjoyed.
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