At the expense of a disease from which many people actually SUFFER, yes. Forbidden. Is that a CRIME, or a disease for which there is no cure?
^ Who knows, maybe they'll find a cure for the disease by getting you to watch it and advertisers will pay lots of money!!?!?!? Yes, they'll run out of "shaky" jokes very quickly.
Network TV has long used characters' stupidity, height, voice, sexual preference, anxiety, OCD, skin color, nerdiness as go-to humor points, so why not Parkinson's? Meh. I really liked the joke about how NBC would slow-mo it and play a nauseating soundtrack. That's funny b/c it's so true.
Sure... 'cuz I am a celebrity and I'm making so much money from bad jokes. True. I joined more than 10 years ago... but there are lots more Clutchfans since then!
since you mentioned Curb Your Enthusiasm, it should be pointed out that MJF had a recurring story arc in the last season of Curb, playing himself and doing the same self referencing Parkinson in-jokes. combine that with NBC's self deprecating style that made 30 Rock popular, this has a recipe for success. I think tv viewers will stick around because it's Michael J Fox, alone. that being said, I agree with your take on these improv/sitcom hybrids, they work much better for cable and premium cable networks. that Reiser show you mentioned didn't even come up on my radar, but I just read how bad it was... it was Garry Shandling who perfected this formula on The Larry Sanders Show, Larry David on Curb, and so on...
Just caught the first 2 episodes, thought it was ok. Will keep watching because Michael J Fox. Had it's moments, needs to be careful not to have all the jokes be about Parkinson's.
