“We catch him at this moment of having no idea what the future is meant to look like,” Segel told UPI.
1 of 5 | Season 3 of Jason Segel’s comedy, “Shrinking,” premieres Wednesday. Photo courtesy of Apple TV
How I Met Your Mother and Freaks and Geeks icon Jason Segel says his Shrinking character, Jimmy Laird, is in for some big changes in Season 3.
Set in contemporary California, the comedy centers on Segel’s widowed single dad/therapist Jimmy and the quirky colleagues and neighbors who make up his support system.
“In general, the true north words for our season this year are ‘moving forward.’ And I think that, for Jimmy, we catch him at this moment of having no idea what the future is meant to look like,” the 46-year-old actor told UPI in a recent Zoom interview.
“He’s going to try to start dating again, but he has no idea what that looks like. Things are really changing at work because Paul might be leaving and, so, he doesn’t know what his work life is going to be like and his daughter is going off to college. So, I think we meet Jimmy at this moment of everything being up in the air, which is a really freeing moment, but also a terrifying moment.”
This season, Michael J. Fox, Candice Bergen and Jeff Daniels will join an already stacked ensemble, which includes Harrison Ford, Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell, Christa Miller and Ted McGinley.
“Most of [Fox’s] story-lines are with Paul. I only got to do one scene with Michael, but, of course, it was an honor to watch somebody explore their own stuff with us on screen so bravely,” Segel said, referring to how Fox, who has Parkinson’s disease in real life will interact with Ford’s Paul, who has recently been diagnosed with the condition.
“It reminds all of us of what we’re trying to accomplish out there in our own smaller way,” he added. “I didn’t get to act with Candice. That would have been amazing. But Jeff Daniels, I have a whole arc with. I try to be in ‘learning mode’ and just learn as much as I can from these amazing actors.”
Daniels will be introduced as Jimmy’s father this season.
“It’s designed to help us understand why [Jimmy] needs Paul so desperately to give him approval and to watch this kind of triangle between Jimmy’s biological dad and his surrogate dad, Paul,” Segel said. “I think we learn a lot about how you become someone like Jimmy.”
Helping him through all of his challenges with heart and humor are his fellow therapist Gaby (Williams) and neighbor Liz (Christa Miller).
So, what have they taught him?
“Overall, just be closer to his daughter and be a better man,” Segel said. “The thing they did most was pick up the slack when Jimmy was floundering and gave him time and space to get back on his feet. I think, from there, it was about Alice (Maxwell) and Jimmy in their own way, slowly but surely, figuring it out, just the two of them.”
Segel co-created and executive produces the series with Bill Lawrence, who is also the mastermind behind Spin City, Scrubs, Ted Lasso and Bad Monkey.
“I haven’t worked with a genius like Bill before. He has what we call ‘Galaxy Brain,’ which is he’s able to look at the show from above and understand how all of these arcs are going to interweave — not only over an episode, but over season, and then over many seasons,” Segel said.
“So, I’ve learned a lot from watching Bill, both about what I’m good at and what skills I don’t have,” the actor added. “He’s just remarkable at it. He’s also an amazingly kind, generous collaborator. He really changed my life. I’m not just saying that because he’s sort of my boss. He’s become a really, really great friend and I just think he’s a remarkable human being.”
Segel said he is happy to put something out into the world that might entertain and comfort viewers during difficult times.
“I’ve just always tried to make stuff like that, if I’m honest,” he said.
“I feel really proud that people are reacting that way. It’s the way that I kind of try to relate to the world, in general, and, so. I just feel like it’s hard and tricky out there. It’s really clumsy to be alive and doing shows about that and how it’s going to be OK is what I’m drawn to.”
Harrison Ford, Jason Segel attend ‘Shrinking’ premiere in LA
Stars Jason Segel (L) and Harrison Ford attend the premiere of “Shrinking” at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles on January 26, 2023. Photo by Greg Grudt/UPI | License Photo
