Bill Lawrence (Scrubs, Ted Lasso) knows heartfelt TV. He’s been making it for ages. And it appears he’s done it again with Shrinking, the story of a traumatized and grieving widower who also happens to still be a practicing psychiatrist.

Bill Lawrence (Scrubs, Ted Lasso) knows heartfelt TV. He’s been making it for ages. And it appears he’s done it again with Shrinking, the story of a traumatized and grieving widower who also happens to still be a practicing psychiatrist.

We find Jimmy (Jason Segel) as he’s partying poolside with hookers while getting blackout drunk and taking a bowl of Adderall. The next morning he eventually arrives to work and starts seeing patients, much to the chagrin of his mentor Paul (played by the GOAT, Harrison *bleeping* Ford). After pledging to be a “psychological vigilante” he has a breakthrough with a couple of them, promptly followed by some devastating setbacks. Along for the ride is his suffering daughter, his colleague Gaby (Jessica Williams) and his neighbor Liz (played by longtime Lawrence collaborator, Christa Miller).

During the course of the two episode premiere, it all works. All of it.

Segel is a charming trainwreck that doesn’t even believe in what he’s doing most of the time. Ford is pitch perfect as the grounded and accepting base of the show. And really, every cast member is given something to do that’s either fun or interesting.

Let the Ted Lasso comparisons come. I use one in the title of this post. But this show does offer an emotionally different experience.

“Shrinking” doesn’t tie things off with a bow. The characters are learning through literal trial and error with both successes and failure. Happiness is not guaranteed. But the emotion here is real. And that’s what Bill Lawrence TV is all about. Its what its always been about.

I fully recommend Shrinking and can’t wait until next week.

If you enjoy this content, please help me out below. Even a dollar helps. Thank you!
. The next morning he eventually arrives to work and starts seeing patients, much to the chagrin of his mentor Paul (played by the GOAT, Harrison *bleeping* Ford). After pledging to be a “psychological vigilante” he has a breakthrough with a couple of them, promptly followed by some devastating setbacks. Along for the ride is his suffering daughter, his colleague Gaby (Jessica Williams) and his neighbor Liz (played by longtime Lawrence collaborator, Christa Miller).

During the course of the two episode premiere, it all works. All of it.

Segel is a charming trainwreck that doesn’t even believe in what he’s doing most of the time. Ford is pitch perfect as the grounded and accepting base of the show. And really, every cast member is given something to do that’s either fun or interesting.

Let the Ted Lasso comparisons come. I use one in the title of this post. But this show does offer an emotionally different experience.

“Shrinking” doesn’t tie things off with a bow. The characters are learning through literal trial and error with both successes and failure. Happiness is not guaranteed. But the emotion here is real. And that’s what Bill Lawrence TV is all about. Its what its always been about.

I fully recommend Shrinking and can’t wait until next week.

If you enjoy this content, please help me out below. Even a dollar helps. Thank you!