At This Moment: Revisiting The Not-So 'Still' Life Of Michael J. Fox
A remarkable docu/biopic about a remarkably charming actor
If you’re a certain age like mine or anywhere near mine, then Michael J. Fox holds a certain place in your heart and your fandom.
I mean, I still associate the song “At This Moment” with Fox’s on-screen (and off) moment falling in love with his future wife, Tracy Pollan, in Family Ties.
Back in 2010, when I first wrote about the very idea of naming an annual Comedy MVP, I picked Fox as the undisputed MVP of 1985, thanks to his star turns in not only Family Ties, but also Back to the Future and Teen Wolf.
Now there’s a remarkable new movie out on Apple TV+ that takes Fox’s on-screen career and off-screen life, plus his words from new interviews and past Grammy-winning audiobooks, and goes back into his past catalog to deliver a revelatory look at how he survived both his lean years as a Canadian teen trying to break into Hollywood, as well as his life over the past three decades since being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. From someone who refused to slow down to someone who cannot slow down. Its title, Still, wears its irony without shame.
As directed by Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth, He Named Me Malala) and edited by Michael Harte, the filmmakers found plenty of footage from Fox’s career that could dramatically time-travel back to the future, as it were, to serve as scenes from the actor’s own biopic. They’ve also uncovered backstage and behind-the-scenes footage revealing how hard Fox had to fight to win the role as Alex P. Keaton, as well as evidence dating back decades of how the actor cleverly blocked and staged his own scenes to hide his Parkinson’s from us until he could eventually tell us himself.
But he tells and shows us here how he and his family continue to do as best they can. And he hasn’t lost his charm, or his fight.
Still is a must-watch.
Industry News and Notes
The WGA Strike of 2023 heads into its third week with much enthusiasm, as well as increasing solidarity from SAG-AFTRA and the DGA, who undoubtedly see the writing on the wall for their own upcoming contract negotiations. And this week sees the traditional network “Upfronts” presentations to advertisers, shining an even brighter light on the wide gap between the capitalist haves and the working have-nots. Look for picketing locations here.
What else is new?
SeriesFest, an international festival and non-profit dedicated to supporting underserved voices in episodic storytelling, celebrated its ninth season last Wednesday at Red Rocks Amphitheatre with “A Night of Comedy,”featuring a special screening of FOX’s Animal Control and stand-up comedy performances from Joel McHale, Jay Pharoah, Adam Ray, and Chelsea Handler.
Speaking of Animal Control and the Upfronts announcements for the 2023-24 TV broadcast networks…FOX has ordered a second season of McHale’s Animal Control, NBC has similarly renewed Lopez vs. Lopez for season two, and CBS has ordered up Poppa’s House, a new sitcom starring Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr., with dad as a talk radio host whose adult son is still living at home.
The CW, meanwhile, has picked up Canadian sitcom Run The Burbs for a summer release here in the States.
Archer will end after its 14th season, on FXX.
Jamie Foxx apparently is feeling fine enough to host a new game show with his daughter on FOX! FOX has ordered We Are Family, an all-new musical game show hosted by Foxx and co-hosted by his daughter, Corinne Foxx. The series will premiere in 2024.
Hulu ordered Deli Boys to a 10-episode series. Starring Asif Ali, Saagar Shaikh, Alfie Fuller, Poorna Jagannathan, and Brian George, the series focuses on two Pakistani American brothers (Ali and Shaikh) who suddenly find themselves in a life of crime. The series was created by Abdullah Saeed and developed by Jenni Konner and Nora Silver at Jenni Konner Productions.
NBC’s new fall lineup renews the Night Court revival and will include new sitcom Extended Family, starring Jon Cryer and Donald Faison, following it on Tuesday nights. Current sitcoms American Auto, Grand Crew and Young Rock remain up in the air for renewal/cancellation.
FOX’s Upfronts announcements reconfirm the following new series orders: Krapopolis, an animated series from Dan Harmon set in Ancient Greece (voice cast: Hannah Waddingham, Richard Ayoade, Matt Berry, Pam Murphy and Duncan Trussell); animated comedy Grimsburg starring Jon Hamm as detective Marvin Flute; game show Snake Oil is hosted and produced by David Spade, in which contestants are pitched unique products by convincing entrepreneurs - some of whom are showcasing real business ventures, while the others are "Snake Oil Salesmen.”
Last Week’s Specials
New on Netflix
Hannah Gadsby: Something Special (my review)
New on Amazon (rent/sale)
New on YouTube
Matt Falk: Not Great (via 800 Pound Gorilla Media)
Tabari McCoy: Be Happy (via Four by Three)
Neema Naz: I’m Your Sugar Daddy (CANADA)
Hannah Fairweather: Just A Normal Girl Who Enjoys Revenge (UK)
Joe Sib: You Don’t Even Know (via 800 Pound Gorilla Media)
New on Dry Bar
New on OnlyFans
The Roast of Whitney Cummings
THIS WEEK: 12
LAST WEEK: 10
THIS MONTH (MAY): 10+12=22
RUNNING TOTAL for 2023: 268+12=280
Friend of Piffany Myq Kaplan has his newest special coming out this week on Dry Bar, and he’d love to offer you all a free month’s subscription to the Dry Bar Comedy+ app — use the promo code MYQ when you sign up!
Fun Things To Do In NYC
This past weekend’s show(s) I plugged in The New York Times: Tonight you can pay it forward from Mother’s Day to girls in comedy by supporting the Ladies of Comedy Association, who are putting on a fund-raising show for Stand Up! Girls, a nonprofit that helps young women from underserved communities improve their confidence and communication skills. The nonprofit’s instructors Dara Jemmott and Hollie Harper host an all-star lineup that is led by Judy Gold and includes Jackie Fabulous, Gianmarco Soresi, Vlad Caamaño and Gina Brillon. The show is at West Side Comedy Club. Tickets start at $25.
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