Shrinking does not refer to the time between seasons for several offerings that began back before the actors and writers strikes of 2023. One of those shows is Shrinking, which just returned to AppleTV+ after an initial run that began way back more than a year-and-a-half ago.
The half-hour-ish streaming comedy, which is set in Pasadena, Calif., looks at a shrink boutique operated by three people: Jimmy Laird (Jason Segal), a therapist grieving the death of his wife from a car accident; Gaby (Jessica Williams), a fellow therapist at the Cognitive Behaviour centre; and Dr. Paul Rhoades (Harrison Ford), the senior partner at the clinic.
The series is executive produced by Segal as well as veteran comedy writer-executive producer Bill Lawrence (Scrubs, Ted Lasso) and Brett Goldstein (another Ted Lasso associate).
In Season Two, Goldstein, so memorable in Lasso as the gruff, profane soccer team captain and eventual coach, makes a surprise appearance as, and this is a spoiler, a person who caused tremendous emotional upheaval for Jimmy and his daughter Alice (Lukita Maxwell).
The reason to watch Shrinking is not so much for the plot and storylines. This is a series about a gathering of largely well-to-do folks with rich people problems. In Season One, Segal’s character is so traumatised by the loss of his loved one he starts getting too involved in the lives of his patients. One named Grace, played by Saturday Night Live‘s Heidi Gardner, takes her marital issues out on her husband by pushing the jerk off a cliff. Jimmy never told her to do that, but pointed out that her man was no good and gave her the strength to take matters into her own hands.
Season two begins with Grace in an orange jumpsuit being visited in prison by Jimmy. He feels a tad responsible. The extended joke then is that these shrinks are as nutty and messed up as the rest of us. Over and over again.
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Jimmy is grieving to the point that he starts boinking his friend and fellow boutique partner Gaby. This is causing problems at work, and is pissing off their senior partner Dr. Paul.
Watching Harrison Ford get pissed off is one good reason to watch Shrinking. His relationship with Dr. Julie, played by always welcome Wendie Malick, continues into Season Two, and it is fun to see these two old pros go into their sitcom dance.
None of this sounds earth shattering or particularly compelling of itself. The reason to watch Shrinking, however, is the casting. Besides the aforementioned actors, Christia Miller (Cougar Town) plays Jimmy’s all knowing, all annoying neighbour. Her husband is played by Ted McGinley, a member in good standing of the show killer Hall of Fame. Luke Tennie plays Jimmy’s live-in tennant with anger management issues who is also a patient. Michael Urie (Ugly Betty) plays Jimmy’s lawyer friend. Neil Flynn (The Middle) recurs as Dr. Paul’s patient-turned-pal.
Several years ago, when Cougar Town was on the air, I was one of several reporters who attended a set visit in LA. Joining Miller as one of the stars of that show was Courteney Cox from Friends. Despite a misleading title, Cougar Town was, like Shrinking, an aimiable little comedy driven by a likeable cast. Cox straight up told me the big attraction for her was to be on a series with a “no assholes policy.” Everybody there was decent and liked one another and that goodwill seemed to translate on screen.
Same goes for Shrinking. First, who wouldn’t feel good about themselves getting to work with Harrison Ford? There are worrisome hints, however, that his character will lighten up a little in Season Two. McGinley, on screen more this second season, is loveably loopy, the guy you would be amused to live next door to in real life. Miller’s character is chippy and obsessive but also huggy, a friend with an edge. Plus they all get to blurt all these smartass quips.
Segal is the wild card because his character is the most F-ed up. He bares watching, if just to see how dark Jimmy goes.
Shrinking, therefore, is Cougar Town with a better title and with gallons of therapy instead of wine. Goldstein in the mix, and he shows up briefly in episode two so far, can only help stir this drink. His beardless character so far seems vastly different from the jerk-with-a-heart-of-gold he played on Lasso, so maybe Shrinking also has a no Lasso’s policy.
