Sometimes Harrison Ford pops up in the darndest things, especially here in the latter part of his career. We would not have suspected him taking over the role of General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross in Marvel Studios from William Hurt, but he is. After starring in his first tv series (Paramount+’s “Yellowstone” prequel series, “1923“), Ford is heading to Apple TV+ for “Shrinking.
“Shrinking” stars Jason Segel as a struggling therapist, seemingly burnt out from the combination of his patients, and losing his wife. During one session where he’s listening to a patient drone on, he suddenly snaps and delivers advice that could be considered almost dangerously blunt, only to find out that she actually listens to it. This revelation brings with it a new found zest to his life but could also be detrimental to his career. In turn he confides with his mentor played by Harrison Ford. Ford’s character too is struggling as we see his hands shaking with a typical Parkinsonian tremor.
There seems to be a mix of comedy, drama, and heart, which makes sense given the show was co-created and written by “Ted Lasso” star/writer/producer Brett Goldstein. Bill Lawrence, creator and producer for one of the modern pioneers for dramatic sitcoms, “Scrubs,” is also on board as a writer/producer.
“Ted Lasso” has proven to be a breakout hit, critically and commercially for Apple TV+, so it’s not at all surprising that the streaming platform would want to keep Lawrence and Goldstein around for more. As their Jason Sudeikis returns with season 3, to have “Shrinking” already in the can will help keep the momentum going. Plus, if it carries the same wholesome vibe as “Ted Lasso” does, it might go a long way towards filling the void that fans of the former are going to feel if the show ends.
Also appearing in “Shrinking” is a Lawrence production mainstay, Christa Miller; mostly known for playing Kate in “The Drew Carey Show” and Jordan in “Scrubs.” She’s also joined by former “The Daily Show” correspondent Jessica Williams, who was also in the last two “Fantastic Beasts” films as Lally Hicks. Lawrence also has a habit of bringing back in people he’s worked with before in some capacity, hence why Zach Braff directed an episode of “Ted Lasso.” So if you see some other familiar faces pop up as patients for Segel or Ford, don’t be entirely surprised.
“Shrinking” hits Apple TV+ on January 27th, 2023. In the meantime, check out the trailer and see if Harrison Ford looks grumpier than usual, or slightly more chipper.
