Shrinking (TV series)


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Shrinking is an American comedy drama television series created by Bill Lawrence, Jason Segel, and Brett Goldstein. The series stars Segel as a grieving therapist who decides to become drastically more involved in his patients' lives. Harrison Ford, Jessica Williams, Christa Miller, Michael Urie, Luke Tennie, and Lukita Maxwell also star.

Shrinking
GenreComedy drama
Created by
Starring
Theme music composerBenjamin Gibbard
Tom Howe
ComposerTom Howe
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10
Production
Executive producers
ProducerKip Kroeger
CinematographyJim Frohna
Editors
  • James Renfroe
  • Katie Abel
  • Missy Hernandez
  • Peggy Tachdjian
Running time29–37 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkApple TV+
ReleaseJanuary 27, 2023 –
present

The series premiered on January 27, 2023, on Apple TV+. It has received positive reviews, with praise for its performances, writing, humor, and examination of grief. It was renewed for a second season in March 2023. The second season is scheduled to premiere on October 16, 2024.

The first season received two nominations at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Segel and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Williams. The first season also received three nominations from both the Critics' Choice Awards and the TCA Awards, with Ford being recognized by both groups for his performance.

A therapist, Jimmy Laird, dealing with severe grief after his wife's death, begins to breach ethical barriers by telling his patients what he really thinks, resulting in massive changes to his and their lives.

  • Jason Segel as Jimmy Laird, a therapist who works at the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Center, and is grieving the death of his wife
  • Jessica Williams as Gaby, a fellow therapist working with Jimmy at the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Center
  • Luke Tennie as Sean, a patient suffering from anger management issues who has sessions with Jimmy
  • Michael Urie as Brian, Jimmy's best friend who is a lawyer
  • Lukita Maxwell as Alice, Jimmy's teenage daughter with whom he shares a strained relationship
  • Christa Miller as Liz, Jimmy's next-door neighbor who also helps with looking after Alice
  • Harrison Ford as Dr. Paul Rhoades, a senior therapist and colleague of Jimmy's at the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Center who has Parkinson's disease.

Zach Braff directed two episodes of the season.[4]

It was announced in October 2021 that Apple TV+ had ordered a ten-episode season for the series, which would star Jason Segel, who co-created alongside Brett Goldstein and Bill Lawrence.[5]

In April 2022, Harrison Ford, Jessica Williams, Christa Miller, Michael Urie, Luke Tennie, and Lukita Maxwell joined the cast, with James Ponsoldt joining the production as a director and executive producer.[6][7][8][9] During a 2023 interview with Harrison Ford for The Hollywood Reporter, author James Hibberd reminded Ford that he had said in 2002 that he was content to work only once per year and asked him why he had accepted the offer to play Dr. Paul Rhoades. Ford replied that he wanted to try new things after a period of not doing as much work as he wished due to the COVID-19 pandemic and his commitments to the titular role of the long-delayed Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. As with his role in 1923, Ford accepted the Shrinking role despite there not being a script at the time, trusting that Segel, Goldstein, Lawrence and Brian Gallivan would deliver him a good script.[10]

Production began in April 2022.[11] The first season has a total of ten episodes.[12]

The series theme song "Frightening Fishes" was written by Ben Gibbard and Tom Howe.[13]

In March 2023, Apple TV+ renewed the series for a second season.[14] In June 2024, Ashley Nicole Black joined the second season as a writer and a cast member in an undisclosed capacity.[15] The season filmed from January to June 2024.[16]

The show was pitched to Apple as a three-season-show, but the creators are open to continue if a fitting story emerges.[17]

Shrinking was released on January 27, 2023, with the first two episodes premiering together and the rest releasing on a weekly basis on Apple TV+.[18] The second season is slated to premiere on October 16, 2024.[19]

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 91% approval rating with an average rating of 7.65/10, based on 93 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Shrinking has darker ideas on its mind than its earnest approach can often translate, but Jason Segel and Harrison Ford's sparkling turns make these characters worth close analysis."[20] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 68 out of 100 based on 34 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[21]

Kristen Baldwin of Entertainment Weekly gave the series a B+ and described the series as "a funny, brainy grief-com about the power—and dangers—of radical honesty."[22] Chicago Sun-Times's Richard Roeper gave a rating of 3.5 out of 4 stars and said, "You never know what goes on behind the scenes, but one gets the feeling Ford is having a great time on this show. We're sure having a great time watching it."[23] Writing for The Wall Street Journal, John Anderson stated, "The overall sense is a little like laughing at a funeral; the human impulses are familiar, a little perverse and somehow comforting."[24]

  1. ^ Cordero, Rosy (March 26, 2024). "'Shrinking' Co-Creator Brett Goldstein Joins Season 2 Cast". Deadline. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Shows A-Z – Shrinking on Apple TV+". The Futon Critic. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  3. ^ "Shrinking - WGA Directory". Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  4. ^ Singh, Jasneet; Weintraub, Steven (August 18, 2024). "Zach Braff Has a "Good Thing Going" With Harrison Ford in 'Shrinking' Season 2". Collider. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  5. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 13, 2021). "Jason Segel To Star In Shrinking, Apple TV+ Comedy Series From Ted Lassos Bill Lawrence & Brett Goldstein". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 15, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  6. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (April 4, 2022). "Harrison Ford To Star In Shrinking Apple TV+ Series From Jason Segel, Bill Lawrence & Brett Goldstein". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 4, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  7. ^ Petski, Denise; Andreeva, Nellie (April 6, 2022). "Jessica Williams Joins Shrinking Apple TV+ Series; James Ponsoldt To Direct & Exec Produce". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 6, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  8. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (April 8, 2022). "Christa Miller Joins Shrinking Apple TV+ Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 8, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  9. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (April 18, 2022). "'Shrinking': Michael Urie, Luke Tennie & Lukita Maxwell Join Apple TV+ Comedy Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 18, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  10. ^ Hibberd, James (February 8, 2023). "Harrison Ford: "I Know Who the F*** I Am"". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  11. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (February 11, 2022). "Ted Lasso Boss Bill Lawrence Closes New Nine-Figure Overall Deal at Warner Bros. TV". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 12, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  12. ^ Galluchi, Nicole (January 27, 2023). "'Shrinking' Episode Guide: How Many Episodes in Harrison Ford's Apple TV+ Series?". Decider. Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  13. ^ Brodsky, Rachel (January 27, 2023). "Hear Ben Gibbard's Theme For New Jason Segel & Harrison Ford Series Shrinking". Stereogum. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  14. ^ White, Peter (March 9, 2023). "'Shrinking' Renewed for Season 2 at Apple". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 9, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  15. ^ Patten, Dominic (June 11, 2024). "Ashley Nicole Black Joins 'Shrinking' Season 2 & Vince Vaughn's 'Bad Monkey' On Both Sides Of The Camera". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  16. ^ Boyle, Kelli (July 24, 2024). "'Shrinking' Season 2 Wraps Filming: When Will Jason Segel Comedy Return?". FOX41. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  17. ^ Weintraub, Steven (August 18, 2024). "Bill Lawrence Talks More 'Ted Lasso,' 'Shrinking's Three-Season Plan, and 'Bad Monkey'". Collider. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  18. ^ Rice, Lynette (November 30, 2022). "'Shrinking': Apple TV Drops Trailer, Announces Premiere Date, for Series Starring Harrison Ford, Jason Segel". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  19. ^ Petski, Denise (August 5, 2024). "'Shrinking' Sets Season 2 Premiere Date At Apple TV+". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  20. ^ "Shrinking: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  21. ^ "Shrinking: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  22. ^ Baldwin, Kristen (January 23, 2023). "Shrinking review: A feel-good comedy about grief". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  23. ^ Roeper, Richard (January 26, 2023). "'Shrinking' builds a wonderful world around a therapist in a spiral". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  24. ^ Anderson, John (January 24, 2023). "'Shrinking' Review: When a Therapist Needs Therapy". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  25. ^ Anderson, Erik (July 11, 2023). "'The Boys,' 'Yellowjackets,' 'Abbott Elementary' lead 2023 HCA TV Awards nominations". AwardsWatch. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  26. ^ Pedersen, Erik (December 5, 2023). "'The Morning Show' & 'Succession' lead Critics Choice Awards TV Nominations". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  27. ^ Rich, Katey (December 11, 2023). "Golden Globes 2024: See All the Nominations Here". Vanity Fair. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  28. ^ Moreau, Jordan (July 12, 2023). "Emmys 2023: The Complete Nominations List". Variety. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  29. ^ Hailu, Selome (July 2, 2023). "TCA Award Nominations: 'The Bear,' 'Succession,' 'The Last of Us' Lead With Five Nominations Each". Variety. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  30. ^ Edwards, Danny (September 27, 2023). "'Winners announced for the 2023 Venice TV Awards". Shots. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  31. ^ Lewis, Hilary (February 21, 2024). "WGA Awards: 'Air,' 'Barbie,' 'Oppenheimer,' 'May December' Among Film Screenplay Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved February 27, 2024.