Canada’s Michael J. Fox returns to comedy

Video: Michael J. Fox makes a TV comeback, incorporating his battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Global National’s Crystal Goomansingh reports.

TORONTO — Canadian actor Michael J. Fox makes his return to series television Wednesday with the premiere of The Michael J. Fox Show on Global.

Fox, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1991 and went public with his condition in 1998, plays a former news reporter living with Parkinson’s who decides to go back to work at NBC.

The 52-year-old star pokes fun at the disease throughout the first episode.

According to Lorne Collis, who has been living with Parkinson’s for eight years, that’s perfectly fine.

“I can appreciate what he’s doing,” says Collis, of Brampton, Ont.

He says seeing someone with Parkinson’s on prime time television will boost awareness of a disease that many people don’t understand or are afraid of.

“It’s awesome,” says Collis. “It’s fantastic.”

In July, Fox said Parkinson’s won’t be the focus of the show beyond the first episode.

The actor, whose eponymous foundation funds research into the disease and clinical trials, said it was OK to laugh at his condition.

“The way I look at life and the reality of Parkinson’s, sometimes it’s frustrating and sometimes it’s funny. I need to look at it that way and other people need to look at it that way,” Fox told reporters. “Beyond that we all got our own bag of hammers…I think people will look at that and say, ‘Yeah, I need to laugh at my own stuff, too.’”

According to the Parkinson Society Canada, the neurodegenerative disease causes tremors, impaired balance and speech challenges. There is currently no cure but, with medication, people can live for years with Parkinson’s.

Born in Edmonton, Fox grew up in Burnaby, B.C. and set off for Los Angeles when he was 18 to pursue an acting career. He is best known for his roles on TV series like Family Ties and Spin City and movies like Back to the Future.

Fox recently had a recurring role on The Good Wife.

The Michael J. Fox Show debuts Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 9pm on Global.