Should you’re a Harrison Ford fan, and when you’ll be testing Apple TV+‘s catalog in the course of the service’s free weekend from January 4-5, contemplate testing Shrinking, a tragicomedy a couple of group of therapists and their mates who assist one another by the grief of the sudden demise of Jimmy’s (Jason Segel) spouse, Tia (Lilan Bowden).
Ford has at all times been humorous, however he’s caught to dramas and action-adventure films all through most of his profession. 1923 and Shrinking introduced him to TV for the primary time, and the latter was his first-ever TV comedy. He performs a grumpy however lovable, profitable therapist named Paul Rhodes within the collection reverse Segel’s Jimmy and Jessica Williams‘ Gaby, Paul’s colleagues and mates. Paul slowly opens up about how his Parkinson’s illness is altering his life over the course of the present’s two seasons (Season 3 is on the way in which).
In Season 2, which ended on Christmas Eve on the streaming platform, Paul fell in love along with his former neurologist, Julie (Wendie Malick), and tried to get Jimmy to get again into remedy after the person liable for his spouse’s demise (collection co-creator/govt producer Brett Goldstein as Louis) reveals up attempting to apologize for inflicting the deadly drunk driving accident. It’s heavy materials to make certain, however Shrinking is all about balancing exhausting instances with levity, so there’s loads of moments that permit Ford’s comedic skills shine (he and Segel are each nominated for 2025 Golden Globes for his or her performances). Within the Season 2 finale, for instance, there’s a second when Julie tips Paul into attending Gaby’s Thanksgiving dinner and he pokes his head out of a automotive window and yells that he’s being kidnapped. And the comedically judgmental faces Ford is understood for making in public appearances are put to frequent use all through the collection as Paul interacts with folks he likes to hate.
Govt producer Neil Goldman tells TV Insider what’s it like to write down comedy for an onscreen legend like Ford.
“Look, he’s amazingly, extremely sport and open to I need to say virtually every thing, however I believe because it seems, actually every thing we throw at him comedically,” Goldman shares. “Except it’s one thing he simply doesn’t perceive or grasp, which often when that’s the case, turns on the market’s a flaw within the writing or the setup. However I don’t even keep in mind a case the place he wasn’t prepared to not less than strive one thing. And that’s been what’s one of many superb issues about it.”
Harrison Ford and Wendie Malick in Shrinking Season 2 finale (Apple TV+)
Goldman says that the Shrinking author’s room usually cracks up whereas writing Ford’s materials as a result of they’re imagining how he’ll ship the strains.
“We at all times knew he was humorous and at all times knew he had the potential to be even funnier if he had writers leaning into that aspect of him, not simply the curmudgeonly aspect, however the weak aspect and the type of saucy aspect,” Goldman says. “He’s simply the reward that retains on giving comedically. Oftentimes it’s exhausting to make a room of writers chortle at the same time as we’re pitching by issues. However virtually at all times when somebody comes up with an awesome Paul line, the room laughs. We simply think about Harrison saying it, and virtually at all times he says it precisely the way you pictured it. He’s acquired such a robust voice to write down in the direction of.”
“He’s been killing it comedically,” Goldman provides of the Star Wars legend. “He’s additionally actually been killing it along with his extra emotional pathos-y scenes. So we couldn’t be happier and luckier to work with him.”
Shrinking will return for a 3rd, doubtlessly last season. Goldman teases what’s forward for Paul and the remainder of the crew in Season 3 right here.
Shrinking, Seasons 1-2 Out there Now, Apple TV+