Michael J. Fox returns to TV for new NBC comedy

Michael J. Fox will be making his return to primetime this fall in a comedy series that will mirror his real life battle with Parkinson’s. The untitled comedy will star Fox as a newscaster who is forced to quit his job when he is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but later returns to work when a new medical regimen gets his symptoms under control. Similarly Fox had to leave acting for a few years when his symptoms became too severe but has recently taken on more work as his medication has brought the worst of his tics under control.

The show will most likely air as part of NBC’s Thursday night lineup, replacing show’s like 30 Rock that ended in January and The Office which will air a series finale this spring. The show will approach Fox’s life with “a lot of irreverence,” said entertainment president Jennifer Salke. The show will tackle work and family relationships as well as Fox’s public persona.