The Michael J. Fox Show

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The Michael J. Fox Show
GenreSitcom
Created by
Starring
ComposerJeff Cardoni
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes22 (7 unaired in the U.S.)
Production
Executive producers
  • Alex Reid
  • Richard Schwartz
  • Sam Laybourne
  • Michael J. Fox
  • Will Gluck
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time20 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network
ReleaseSeptember 26, 2013 (2013-09-26) –
January 23, 2014 (2014-01-23)

The Michael J. Fox Show is an American television sitcom starring Michael J. Fox, that aired on NBC from September 26, 2013, to January 23, 2014.[1][2] Fox made his regular return to television for the first time since he was on ABC's Spin City. It was his second NBC series, as he appeared on that network's sitcom Family Ties from 1982 to 1989 as Alex P. Keaton.

On February 5, 2014, NBC cancelled the series due to the 2014 Winter Olympics.[3] A representative for NBC later stated in regard to the show, "It's not cancelled. We are looking for a place on the schedule after April 3."[4] Despite this, the remaining episodes never aired in the U.S. and, on May 10, 2014, NBC officially canceled the show after one season.[5] The remaining seven episodes were aired in Australia on Nine Network from March 12 to April 23, 2014.

Premise

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After being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, Mike Henry had to give up his career as a news anchor for New York's WNBC and focus on his health and his family. Four years later, Mike decides to get back to work and struggles between family and career.

Cast and characters

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Main

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Recurring

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Guest

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Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Pilot"Will GluckStory by : Sam Laybourne & Will Gluck
Teleplay by : Sam Laybourne		September 26, 2013 (2013-09-26)7.50[6]
After retiring from working as a newscaster to focus on his health and to spend more time with his family, Mike Henry returns to work. Mike's daughter Eve makes a video project comparing the book The Grapes of Wrath to her father's returning to work.
2"Neighbor"Victor Nelli, Jr.Lon Zimmet & Dan RubinSeptember 26, 2013 (2013-09-26)7.50[6]
Mike develops a crush on his new upstairs neighbor Kelly (Tracy Pollan, Fox's wife in real life), a newly divorced woman. Eve tries to become best friends with a girl (Alice Kremelberg) she thinks is a lesbian. Leigh pretends that Graham is her son to bond with other single mothers.
3"Art"Andrew FlemingAmy AniobiOctober 3, 2013 (2013-10-03)5.35[7]
Eve takes up nude photography, much to Mike and Annie's chagrin. Ian gets bad relationship advice from Harris, which Leigh tries to fix. Graham learns a technique to stay out of trouble.
4"Hobbies"Scott EllisSam LaybourneOctober 10, 2013 (2013-10-10)3.86[8]
Mike and Annie try to get Graham into an afterschool hobby. Susan Rodriguez Jones (Anne Heche), a mean news reporter that Mike previously worked with, gets a job at WNBC. Ian and Leigh help Eve deal with a cyberbully.
5"Interns"Michael Patrick JannEmily CutlerOctober 17, 2013 (2013-10-17)3.56[9]
Eve gets an internship at WNBC working for Susan, which makes Mike jealous. Annie has a hard time telling Leigh that the teen novel that she is writing is terrible. With help from Graham, Ian interviews potential interns for his new upstart business.
6"Teammates"John FortenberryBen WexlerOctober 24, 2013 (2013-10-24)3.76[10]
After Mike has apologized to a rude stranger for Annie's hot-headed behavior, she demands he be more of a team player. Harris hosts an office karaoke party. Leigh adopts a puppy with good intentions, but Eve is left in charge. Meanwhile, Ian, still stuck in Graham's tiny old bedroom, tries to convince his brother to switch back.
7"Golf"Fred SavageAnnie Mebane & Steve BasiloneOctober 31, 2013 (2013-10-31)3.34[11]
Mike is asked to play in a charity golf tournament, so he and Annie decide to make it a romantic getaway weekend. Another celebrity golfer (Jason Jones) becomes the bane of his existence. The kids rent out their home to make money while their parents are gone.
8"Bed Bugs"Wendey StanzlerAlex ReidNovember 7, 2013 (2013-11-07)3.45[12]
Mike's love for his sister, Leigh, is put to the test when a bed bug infestation forces her to move in with his family. Meanwhile, Eve has trouble getting out of a practical joke she's played on her brother Ian.
9"Homecoming"Tristram ShapeeroMaggie BandurNovember 14, 2013 (2013-11-14)2.53[13]
Graham starts throwing away things his parents no longer use after they clear his room of toys that he no longer plays with. Ian plans for a high school dance instead of thinking of college. Eve tells Leigh a secret, which upsets Annie.
10"Thanksgiving"Alex ReidPaul MatherNovember 21, 2013 (2013-11-21)2.89[14]
Mike's parents (Charles Grodin and Candice Bergen) visit for Thanksgiving, much to Leigh's, and later Annie's, discontent. Eve and Harris search for a can of cranberry sauce, finding out it's not as easy as it seems.
11"Christmas"Todd HollandBen WexlerDecember 12, 2013 (2013-12-12)3.00[15]
Mike and Annie compete to get each other the best Christmas gift. Eve thinks about converting to Judaism. Special guest: Sting.
12"Party"Eric AppelLelia StrachanJanuary 2, 2014 (2014-01-02)2.50[16]
Mike throws a party for Harris to celebrate a journalism award, but he has to pretend Harris is engaged so his friends will attend. Meanwhile, Ian gets Eve to help him save Graham's party from Annie's overprotectiveness.
13"Secret"Michael ZinbergLon Zimmet & Dan RubinJanuary 9, 2014 (2014-01-09)3.11[17]
Mike's neighbor (Richard Kind) turns out to be a mobster on the lam who he has known for fifteen years. Harris and Leigh's relationship progresses. The kids try to find out what is in an owl the mobster neighbor left.
14"Couples"Ken WhittinghamMaggie BandurJanuary 16, 2014 (2014-01-16)1.99[18]
Mike and Annie befriend their new neighbors and Harris gets jealous. Eve pretends to have a very troubled family to impress a guy. Graham thinks Ian is a spy.
15"Sochi"Andrew FlemingPaul MatherJanuary 23, 2014 (2014-01-23)2.18[19]
Mike covers the Olympics. Eve joins a pageant.
16"Surprise!"[20]Jamie SheridanSteve Basilone & Annie MebaneUnaired (United States)
March 12, 2014 (2014-03-12) (Australia)		N/A
Mike tries to surprise his sister on her birthday; Annie worries that a young teacher reciprocates Eve's crush.
17"Co-op"[21]Michael McDonaldLeila StrachanUnaired (United States)
March 19, 2014 (2014-03-19) (Australia)		N/A
Mike enlists a neighbor to run against Annie for co-op president. Ian throws himself into work to recover from a recent breakup, while Leigh wonders how to approach her date with a literary agent.
18"Biking"[22][23]Andrew FlemingAmy AniobiUnaired (United States)
March 26, 2014 (2014-03-26) (Australia)		N/A
While Mike teaches Graham to ride his bike for the first time, Ian is about to learn a thing or two from someone with a lot more experience.
19"Health"[24]John FortenberryLaura KittrellUnaired (United States)
April 2, 2014 (2014-04-02) (Australia)		N/A
It's a Back to the Future reunion, when Christopher Lloyd plays Annie's kooky new boss.
20"Brandon"[25]Scott EllisSam Laybourne & Kristen LangeUnaired (United States)
April 9, 2014 (2014-04-09) (Australia)		N/A
Mike and Annie try to keep Leigh from reuniting with an ex, Graham tricks Eve into spending more time with him, while Ian worries that an older woman only wants him for sex.
21"Dinner"[26]Victor Nelli, Jr.Lon Zimmet & Dan RubinUnaired (United States)
April 16, 2014 (2014-04-16) (Australia)		N/A
While Mike and Annie are surprised by the age of the girlfriend that Ian brings home, Harris and Leigh struggle to be just friends and Eve experiments with marijuana.
22"Changes"[27]Andrew FlemingSam Laybourne & Alex ReidUnaired (United States)
April 23, 2014 (2014-04-23) (Australia)		N/A
Annie and Eve square off when Ian plans to move out. Harris plans to propose to Leigh but hits a snag.

Production and development

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In August 2012, NBC gave a straight-to-series order for the series.[28]

Broadcast

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In Australia, the series premiered on Universal Channel on January 15, 2014.[29]

Home media

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On July 7, 2015, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released The Michael J. Fox Show - The Complete 1st Season on DVD in Region 1.[30]

Reception

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Critical response

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The show had a positive reception from critics, with many praising Michael J. Fox and Betsy Brandt's performances.[31][32] It was called one of six new shows to keep an eye on of the 2013-14 television season by Entertainment Weekly.[33] The New York Times found the show distinctly unfunny, remarking that something felt "off".[34]

In Australia the series premiered in double episodes, each scoring the highest rated overnight subscription television figures of the night (77,000 and 73,000 respectively).[35] However, successive episodes saw a significant drop in ratings.[36]

Awards and nominations

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On June 25, 2013, the series was honored, along with five others, with the Critics' Choice Television Award for Most Exciting New Series. Fox was nominated for a Golden Globe.[37]

References

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  1. ^ "NBC Announces Fall Premiere Dates for New Season". The Futon Critic. June 21, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  2. ^ "NBC Reveals Its 2013-14 Primetime Schedule". The Futon Critic. May 12, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
  3. ^ "NBC's 'Michael J Fox Show' Cancelled, Replaced By 'Hollywood Game Night'". Deadline Hollywood. February 5, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  4. ^ Adalian, Josef (February 5, 2014). "NBC Is Yanking Its Michael J. Fox and Sean Hayes Comedies From Thursdays". Vulture. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  5. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (May 10, 2014). "'Dracula' Cancelled by NBC After One Season; 'The Michael J. Fox Show' Cancelled Officially". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 12, 2014. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  6. ^ a b Kondolojy, Amanda (September 27, 2013). "Thursday Final Ratings: The Big Bang Theory, The Michael J Fox Show & The X Factor Adjusted Up; The Crazy Ones Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on September 29, 2013. Retrieved September 27, 2013.
  7. ^ Bibel, Sara (October 4, 2013). "Thursday Final Ratings: Big Bang Theory, Grey's Anatomy & The Originals Adjusted Up; Parks And Recreation, Welcome to the Family, Sean Saves the World, The Michael J. Fox Show, & Parenthood Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 7, 2013. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
  8. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (October 11, 2013). "Thursday Final Ratings: The Big Bang Theory, The X Factor & Glee Adjusted Up; The Vampire Diaries & The Millers Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 12, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  9. ^ Bibel, Sara (October 18, 2013). "Thursday Final Ratings: The Big Bang Theory & Grey's Anatomy Adjusted Up; The Crazy Ones & Elementary Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  10. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (October 25, 2013). "Thursday Final Ratings: The Big Bang Theory & The Vampire Diaries Adjusted Up; The Millers and Scandal Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 28, 2013.
  11. ^ Bibel, Sara (November 1, 2013). "Thursday Final Ratings: The Vampire Diaries, The Millers & Elementary Adjusted Up; Sean Saves the World & Parenthood Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 3, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
  12. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (November 8, 2013). "Thursday Final Ratings: Elementary, Scandal, The Vampire Diaries, & The Big Bang Theory Adjusted Up; The Voice, The Millers, Sean Saves the World, Parenthood, & The Michael J Fox Show Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 8, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  13. ^ Bibel, Sara (November 15, 2013). "Thursday Final Ratings: The Big Bang Theory Adjusted Up; The X Factor, Parks and Recreation, The Millers, Sean Saves the World, Glee, The Michael J. Fox Show & Parenthood Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 18, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  14. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (November 22, 2013). "Thursday Final Ratings: Big Bang Theory & Grey's Anatomy Adjusted Up; The X Factor, Reign & Glee Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 24, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  15. ^ Bibel, Sara (December 13, 2013). "Thursday Final Ratings: The Vampire Diaries Adjusted Up; The Big Bang Theory, The Sing-Off, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, The Millers, The Crazy Ones, Two and a Half Men & Elementary Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  16. ^ Bibel, Sara (January 6, 2014). "Thursday Final Ratings: The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men & The Taste Adjusted Up; The Millers Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  17. ^ Bibel, Sara (January 10, 2014). "Thursday Final Ratings: The Big Bang Theory & Parks and Recreation Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  18. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (January 17, 2014). "Thursday Final Ratings: American Idol Adjusted Up; No Adjustments for The Michael J. Fox Show or Community". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 19, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  19. ^ Bibel, Sara (January 24, 2014). "Thursday Final Ratings: The Vampire Diaries & American Idol Adjusted Up; Reign Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 27, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  20. ^ Michael J. Fox Show listings, thefutoncritic.com; accessed April 22, 2014.
  21. ^ "Co-op 0117". Miso. Archived from the original on April 14, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  22. ^ "Biking". Universal Channel Australia via Youtube. March 27, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  23. ^ "Biking". IMDb. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  24. ^ "Health". Universal Channel Australia via Youtube. March 27, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  25. ^ "Brandon". Universal Channel Australia. April 11, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  26. ^ "Dinner". Universal Channel Australia. April 11, 2014. Archived from the original on April 11, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  27. ^ "Changes". Universal Channel Australia. April 11, 2014. Archived from the original on April 11, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  28. ^ Ausiello, Michael (August 20, 2012). "Family Ties Redux? Michael J. Fox Returning to NBC in Fall 2013 as Star of New Family Sitcom". TV Line. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
  29. ^ Knox, David (November 26, 2013). "Airdate: The Michael J. Fox Show, Perception". TV Tonight. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  30. ^ Lambert, David (June 19, 2015). "The Michael J. Fox Show - Release Date - At Last! - for the Show's One-and-Only Season!". TV Shows on DVD. Archived from the original on April 6, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  31. ^ Spielwall, Alan (September 23, 2013). "Review: Stars return for 'The Michael J. Fox Show' & Robin Williams in 'The Crazy Ones'". Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  32. ^ Barney, Chuck (September 24, 2013). "Review: Michael J. Fox, Robin Williams return in promising sitcoms". Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  33. ^ Jensen, Jeff; Maerz, Melissa (September 13, 2013). "'Hostages', 'Mom', and more: 6 shows our TV critics are keeping an eye on". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  34. ^ Hale, Mike (September 25, 2013). "If Father Doesn't Know Best, He's Willing to Learn 'The Michael J. Fox Show' Uses Parkinson's as a Motif". The New York Times. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  35. ^ Knox, David (January 16, 2014). "Wednesday, January 15, 2014". TV Tonight. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  36. ^ Knox, David (January 23, 2014). "Ratings, January 22, 2014". TV Tonight. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  37. ^ "The BTJA Announces Icon Award Recipient and Most Exciting New Series Honorees". Critics Choice. June 10, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
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