NBC Gives Series Order to Michael J. Fox Comedy

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Michael J. Fox

Michael J. Fox is returning to NBC.

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The network has given a straight-to-series order to the former Family Ties star's comedy project that's inspired by the actor's real life.

NBC has ordered 22 episodes of the untitled single-camera comedy that will star Fox as a husband and father of three from New York City dealing with family, career and challenges -- including Parkinson's disease. Filming will begin this year for a fall 2013 premiere.

The comedy hails from Sony Pictures Television, with Arrested Development and Cougar Town scribe Sam Laybourne on board as a writer. Easy A director Will Gluck is on board to executive produce and direct the project, from Gluck's Olive Bridge Entertainment. Olive Bridge's Richard Schwartz will co-exec produce, with Gluck directing the pilot. 

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“To bring Michael J. Fox back to NBC is a supreme honor, and we are thrilled that one of the great comedic television stars is coming home again,” NBC Entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt said in a statement announcing the news Monday. “From the moment we met with Michael to hear his unique point of view about this new show, we were completely captivated and on board. He is utterly relatable, optimistic and in a class by himself, and I have no doubt that the character he will create -- and the vivid family characters surrounding him -- will be both instantly recognizable and hilarious. Being in business with him is a pleasure of the highest order.”

Added Fox: “I'm extremely pleased to be back at NBC with a great creative team and a great show. Bob Greenblatt and all the folks at the network have given me a warm welcome home, and I'm excited to get to work.”

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The series order returns Fox to NBC, where he starred on Family Ties from 1982-89. Fox, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1991, of late has booked guest gigs on CBS' The Good Wife, HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm and FX's Rescue Me. His credits also include Spin City -- on which he starred from 1996 to 2001 -- Boston Legal, and voice work on the Stuart Little animated features. The actor is a two-time Emmy nominee this year for his turns on Curb and Good Wife. 

He collected three Emmys and a Golden Globe for his breakout role as Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties and picked up an Emmy, three Globes and two SAG awards for his role on Spin City. He also won an Emmy for his performance on FX's Rescue Me.

For NBC, the series order comes after the network picked up seven comedies this past development season. 

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit