New York Comic Con (NYCC) started joyfully with its first panel on the main stage: Shrinking, a comedy on AppleTV+, which treated fans to universal praise from the cast, who seemed grateful and jubilant. Shortly after sitting down, star and co-writer Jason Segal announced that the show had been renewed for a third season.
Series regulars Segel, Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell, Christa Miller, and Ted McGinley took the stage, followed by co-creator and Ted Lasso star Brett Goldstein who was greeted by the crowd with a Roy Kent cheer. (“Roy Kent! Roy Kent! He’s there! He’s there! He’s every fucking where! Roy Kent!”) The only star missing was Harrison Ford.
Segal wasted almost no time in announcing that Shrinking, which aired two episodes of its second season the previous night, has been renewed for a third season, to air next year. Shrinking follows Segal, a therapist in the throes of grief as he raises his teenage daughter Alice. The series also follows his neighbors, patients, and colleagues. Segal clairifed the show’s premise, however, “The show is about raising Alice — [Jessica Williams] told me that. Everyone shines in new ways in season two.” Segal added “Jess told me that” to the end of the rest of his statements during the panel, as part of an evolving bit.
Williams, who portrays Segal’s coworker and romantic interest said she had some guidance on the show regarding her character’s interracial relationship. She said her only responsibility is how Black women are portrayed on screen. Williams added that the set allows the crew and cast to laugh on set, making her work easier. When asked which therapist they thought was their favorite, the cast point to Williams’s character Gabby.
“Therapists say this wish fulfillment,” Segal said. Segal and Goldstein confirmed that the set has two advisors on set to provide accuracy and clarity to the world of professional therapy. Urie, who play’s Segal’s best friend, said he started therapy after completing season one, clarifying after much laughter that the show had opened his mind and encouraged him to give it a try. “I recommend it to anybody,” he said. Urie encouraged his therapist Gladys to watch and provide feedback. Regarding Segal’s character, she told him, “I think he’s an unorthodox doctor who makes bad decisions.”
“I’d be happy to have one joke an episode, but we get to explore so many colors of Brian in season one and especially season two,” Urie said. The show can hold real comedy and big pathos.”
Goldstein promised to see an expansion of characters, linking the world of Shrinking to Springfield in The Simpsons. Fans can expect to see a cameo from Goldstein and Damon Wayans Jr. He said trying to connect each character made him feel like a serial killer. “No spoilers, but at the end, there’s a massacre,” he joked. The first season ended with a literal cliffhanger when a patient of Segal’s character pushed her abusive partner off a cliff. (Panel attendees were treated to the first six minutes of the new season, which answered some questions.)
“Starting a show at rock bottom is hopeful because the only place to go is up,” Segal said. Segal and Goldstein said they assign a word to each season. They used grief for the first season and forgiveness for the second. They would not reveal a word or theme for the third season, which they said may be the show’s last — butsaid that they knew how the series would end when it was pitched.
New episodes of Shrinking air every Wednesday. Watch it on Apple TV+.
