According to a 1996 study described in “The Laughter-Immune Connection,” laughing can lower blood pressure, increase blood flow, boost the immune system and improve sleep patterns.
Furthermore, it can give the diaphragm, abdominal, intercostal, respiratory system and facial muscles a complete workout.
Consequently, in our good-body health-conscious society, laughter is finding its way into new parts of our lives such as yoga and even therapy.
So it’s no surprise comedies are a welcome and yes, I’ll say it, necessary part of the fall lineup. But this year, I’m especially excited about four new ones.
First, welcome back Michael J. Fox. I fell for Alex P. Keaton in the ’80s. Then it was Marty McFly, followed by Mike Flaherty. But the last decade I was left alone … adrift … bereft.
Fortunately, The Michael J. Fox Show (Sept. 25, 9 p.m.) has brought one of America’s most beloved sitcom stars back with the most unimaginatively named show this fall. Fox stars as a newscaster who retired due to his Parkinson’s diagnosis to spend time with his family. However, the family love is getting a little hard to take … for the family. So he’s heading back to work. It could be early incontinence, but the previews were so funny, I think I peed a little.
Sean Hayes of Will & Grace fame is also back with a new show. This time, he’s so much more than “Just Jack.”
In Sean Saves the World (once again, a creative failure in the name game), he’s a gay, divorced dad who is suddenly living with his teenage daughter. He goes just an itsy bit over the top to be THE BEST DAD EVER, which is not exactly appreciated by his daughter or his new boss.
I like this Sean. And his offspring is much more than the annoying cardboard cutout sitcom character. The series premieres Oct. 2 at 9 p.m.
Although not exactly original, Welcome to the Family (Oct. 3, 8 p.m.) stars my favourite TV dad, Mike O’Malley.
The actor reached nearly cult-hero-worship as Glee’s Burt Hummel, the single, blue-collar father to an artsy, flashy and undeniably gay son.
In Family, all his dreams for his little girl are crushed when she announces she’s pregnant and getting married. The groom’s family isn’t exactly thrilled about this either.
And finally, Will Arnett stars in The Millers (Oct. 3, 8:30 p.m.) – not to be mistaken for the film We’re the Millers, which involves a pot dealer, a stripper and a Winnebago. It goes like this: Nathan announces he’s gotten a divorce. His dad decides that’s not a bad idea. So
Dad leaves Mom to move in with the daughter and Mom decides to move in with the son.
As an adult child dealing with a “mature” parent myself, some scenes had me once again reaching for the Depends.
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld recently said he’s never returning to TV and that it gave him “a sad feeling.” Fortunately, this fall’s comedies should do the opposite.
