Neil Flynn expressed excitement about returning for the third season of Shrinking, where he had the opportunity to work alongside Harrison Ford and Michael J. Fox. Filming took place recently, with Flynn sharing his experience at the Scrubs revival premiere held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles on February 23.
Flynn, who plays Raymond, a patient of Ford’s character Dr. Paul Rhoades, revealed that most of his scenes involved interacting with Ford. He described filming with both Ford and Fox as unusual but thrilling, emphasizing the unique atmosphere on set.
“All my scenes so far have been with Harrison, which is just great,”
Flynn said.
“Recently, we did one with Harrison and Michael J. Fox where the two of them were in the room, and it was very strange to be in that situation. But this late in the game, it’s all a thrill.”
Flynn also credited show creator Bill Lawrence for including him in the cast, highlighting their longstanding friendship.
“That’s thanks to Bill Lawrence, inviting me to join in the fun,”
he said. Their friendship began years ago, before either had deep ties to the entertainment industry, bonding over basketball rather than show business.
“I met Bill when he was about 22 years old, and we agreed to play in the same league basketball. It had nothing do with show business,”
Flynn recalled. The two later reconnected when Lawrence was working as an executive producer on Scrubs, and Flynn landed a role as a janitor on the show.
The Impact of Michael J. Fox’s Parkinson’s on the Show’s Storyline
The third season of Shrinking centers on Dr. Paul Rhoades, portrayed by Harrison Ford, as he confronts his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. Michael J. Fox, diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1991, came out of retirement to guest star as Gerry, a character who also lives with the disease. This narrative explores the nuanced relationships and challenges faced by those managing Parkinson’s alongside their loved ones.
Fox, 64, described the experience of working with Ford as remarkable, praising the veteran actor’s professionalism and kindness.
“[He’s] so brilliant and so fun to work with,”
Fox said.
“[He’s] so protective of me and wanted me to have a great experience.”
Ford’s performance deeply moved Fox, motivating him to join the project.
Fox told Vanity Fair about Ford’s portrayal, highlighting the actor’s authentic embodiment of the disease.
“That’s one thing that’s amazing about Harrison. He doesn’t have Parkinson’s, but he’s a brilliant actor. I don’t have to convince him I have Parkinson’s, but he had to convince me he had Parkinson’s,”
Fox explained.
“What I wasn’t prepared for was how much of his own understanding of the disease he brought to it. I mean, I recognized Parkinson’s in his eyes. The things I was feeling, I recognized in the way he was expressing himself.… I was just brought to tears by it.”
In response, Ford, 83, praised Fox’s character and talent, calling him
“generous, supportive, open, just a wonderful person. And pretty goddamn good actor too.”
Creator Bill Lawrence on Incorporating Fox’s Experience
Bill Lawrence, the creator of Shrinking and former collaborator with Michael J. Fox on the 1996 series Spin City, revealed that Fox’s personal journey influenced the show’s direction. Lawrence emphasized that the series aims to portray Parkinson’s with respect and uplift rather than sorrow.
“It’s cool to get to write about things you care about now, and Michael J. Fox is my first mentor, so we wanted to represent it in hopefully an inspiring and not sad or tragic way,”
he explained.
With new episodes releasing every Wednesday on Apple TV+, Shrinking continues to captivate audiences by blending humor and emotional depth while shining a light on Parkinson’s disease through authentic storytelling.
