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Shrinking: Real Grief Fuels TV's Hit Show
4 Feb
Summary
- Show creator drew inspiration from father's Parkinson's diagnosis.
- Unconventional therapy methods inspired by real-life struggles.
- Characters based on creators' personal experiences with grief.
The Apple TV+ series "Shrinking" is rooted in the real-life experiences of its creators, Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein. Goldstein's father's ongoing battle with Parkinson's disease served as a direct inspiration for the character Paul. Lawrence also channeled his observations of widespread grief, exacerbated by the pandemic, and his father's struggles with Lewy Body Dementia into the show's narrative.
The show's central character, Jimmy, a therapist grappling with his wife's death, is based on a real individual Lawrence knew who experienced similar profound loss. This personal story, tracking a journey from deep sadness to recovery and remarriage, deeply influenced Jimmy's arc.
Furthermore, the character of Paul, who has Parkinson's, also loosely draws from real-life celebrity therapist Phil Stutz. Stutz, known for his unconventional methods and his own Parkinson's diagnosis, shares similarities with the character, including a tendency to befriend his clients.
