A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, Bill Lawrence could have never imagined that he’d have the opportunity to work with Harrison Ford one day.
“The greatest gift of my professional career is getting to be involved in this stage of Harrison Ford’s career. It’s been really cool,” the “Shrinking” co-creator, 55, told the Post of their Apple TV+ comedy. “He’s so conscientious. He’s so passionate.”
Ford’s Dr. Paul Rhoades works opposite Jimmy (Jason Segel) and Gaby (Jessica Williams) at the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Center. In Season 2, his Parkinson’s disease has progressed, and he decides to have his last drink ever with Jimmy due to sleeping less and becoming more forgetful. The decision is a difficult and notable one due to his stubborn nature.
“I think it gets emotional for him. I don’t think I’m talking out of school because we’re writing about a guy who loves his profession and is apprehensive about ever having to give it up,” Lawrence told the Post.
“And I don’t think that there’s any way that Harrison’s not equating that to whatever stage he’s at in his own life. And that’s why I’m so inspired when I see him.”
Paul’s character is a personal one for the “Scrubs” head writer, who co-created the series with “Ted Lasso” collaborator Brett Goldstein. Both his and Goldstein’s dad has been diagnosed with the disease.
This season, the actor, 44, joined the cast as Louis, the drunk driver in the accident that killed Jimmy’s wife, Tia (Lilan Bowden).
“He’s brought an emotional level to it that I did not expect. And he’s kept it from feeling kind of disease of the week, trauma porn,” Lawrence said of Ford’s portrayal of the psychologist. “It’s really, really so respectful because Brett and I wrote about Parkinson’s because my dad, Michael J. Fox, Phil Stutz, and Brett’s father. Harrison’s given it such care. We were super, super grateful. Brett and me.”
He added: “It’s an honor to be part of Harrison’s career.”
While dealing with serious topics and grieving, the writers have effortlessly infused comedy into the show — and have made Ford, 82, utter some of the most ridiculous lines.
“Do you want me to pull my pants down and make my a** clap?” the legendary actor asks in one episode. In one sequence, Ford repeatedly also discussed “rawdogging,” not understanding what it means.
The “Indiana Jones” actor doesn’t appear to be stopping any time soon. While “Shrinking” was picked up for a third season, Ford will also next play Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross in “Captain America: Brave New World” and return to Season 2 of Taylor Sheridan’s “1923” in February.
“‘Hey, Bill, I got to leave day after tomorrow to go do ‘1923,’ and I’m leaving a couple of days after that to do a marvel movie. I’m like, ‘Whoa, what’s going on?’” Lawrence joked to The Post of Ford’s busy schedule.
“Jason Segel is the greatest partner. The cast. Top to bottom, are people I’d want to spend time with,” he went on about the talented cast. “I just flew to New York just to see Michael Urie on Broadway. So good. In ‘Once Upon a Mattress.’ Everybody’s so good. And there’s a big no asshole policy at our show and this one’s definitely crushing it.”
“Shrinking” also stars Christa Miller (Lawrence’s actress wife and the show’s music supervisor), Luke Tennie, Lukita Maxwell and Ted McGinley.
On Monday, Ford picked up a Golden Globe nomination for his supporting role. Although Segel was recognized for leading actor, the show was shut out from the top TV series category.
The series drops a new episode on Apple TV+ every Wednesday. Its Season 2 series finale airs Christmas Day.
