Michael J Fox hasn’t exactly been out of our lives since he revealed his Parkinson’s diagnosis in ’99 and subsequently left SPIN CITY a short time later – guest parts on dramas like BOSTON LEGAL, RESCUE ME (loved it), and most recently THE GOOD WIFE, have kept Alex P Keaton around.  But it has been a while since we’ve gotten to see Fox do what we know he’s great at: headline a sitcom with his typical sarcastic style of comedy. Well, tonight’s the night folks!  THE MICHAEL J FOX SHOW premieres with two back to back episodes at 9/8c (before moving to their permanent 9:30/8:30c slot next week), and, after previewing three episodes, I’m as smitten as can be.

The show follows Mike Henry (Fox), a former NY news anchor who left his job to deal with his Parkinson’s and help at home with the kids, but who has been persuaded to get out of the house and head back to work by his best friend and old boss (played by Wendell Pierce).  He has a wife (Betsy Brandt – they have a great and easy chemistry), and three kids (Ian (Conor Romero), Eve (Juliette Goglia aka little girl God from JOAN OF ARCADIA), and Graham (Jack Gore), and a kind of insane sister in Leigh (Katie Finneran.  Love.).

The pilot, which features some to-the-camera moments in a mockumentary fashion for Eve’s school project (and which continues throughout the series), follows Mike’s return to work, and what it means for the family (spoiler alert: they’re all actually really excited about it).  The first episode is fine; it doesn’t break new ground, and it doesn’t introduce anything absolutely hilarious to our lives, but there is something there: a spark, a familial chemistry, and a peek into what could be something wonderful.  The second episode, “Neighbor,” proves that the show is well on their way, as MJF’s real-life wife Tracy Pollan guest stars as the hot cookie-baking upstairs neighbor wreaks some havoc on the stable Henrys’ lives.  Betsy Brandt does lovingly-exasperated like no one else, and her eye rolling over Mike’s neighborly obsession is a lot of fun.  A future episode that features Anne Heche only ups the fun and sarcasm, and I’m officially ready to call TMJFS my favorite new comedy of the season!

The show feels old and new at the same time, and it’s just a lot of fun to welcome one of our old favorites back to the headlining role.  Give it a shot and tell us what you think!  Check out some gallery images and shots from future episodes below!