In the first episode of the show we meet Michael's new character based loosely or partially on his own real life medical condition with Parkinson's Disease. Michael is, in a word endearing. It's simply hard not to have some warm fuzzy feelings for his character that loves his family, loves his career and is doing his best to cope with a debilitating disease process.
Sadly, he's the only character in the show to be so charming. His wife is pretty and she's a good wife, but utterly forgettable. His children are even more forgettable and they aren't even of the good variety. In the first episode we find his daughter doing a docu-drama using her father's illness as a manipulative device to get a good grade in school. When her instructor gives her a lesson in tough love and points out what she's done she then puts in the work, redoes the project and earns not only a better grade but a life lesson as well. This totally insipid story line does nothing to make anyone like her character or her father any more than they already do. Since we like Michael to start with, no gain. Since she's unlikable, again, no gain.
The rest of the family is equally unpalatable, including a mooching sister that whines about everything in her life and yet does nothing to change her circumstances for the better. The two sons contribute nothing of merit to the show. Even the work environment isn't really fertile ground for belly laughs or emotional hooks.
Michael J. Fox is as lovable and perhaps even more sympathetic than ever. If he had a cast or writers of merit this show would be a smash. As it is, it's canon fodder for ratings and plays on his good name for popularity. Michael is certainly deserving of his popularity, this show, not so much.
Sadly, he's the only character in the show to be so charming. His wife is pretty and she's a good wife, but utterly forgettable. His children are even more forgettable and they aren't even of the good variety. In the first episode we find his daughter doing a docu-drama using her father's illness as a manipulative device to get a good grade in school. When her instructor gives her a lesson in tough love and points out what she's done she then puts in the work, redoes the project and earns not only a better grade but a life lesson as well. This totally insipid story line does nothing to make anyone like her character or her father any more than they already do. Since we like Michael to start with, no gain. Since she's unlikable, again, no gain.
The rest of the family is equally unpalatable, including a mooching sister that whines about everything in her life and yet does nothing to change her circumstances for the better. The two sons contribute nothing of merit to the show. Even the work environment isn't really fertile ground for belly laughs or emotional hooks.
Michael J. Fox is as lovable and perhaps even more sympathetic than ever. If he had a cast or writers of merit this show would be a smash. As it is, it's canon fodder for ratings and plays on his good name for popularity. Michael is certainly deserving of his popularity, this show, not so much.