Michael J. Fox and Katie Holmes are retuning to their roots—the good ol’ boob tube.
Producers of FX’s “Rescue Me,” say Fox will make his return to series TV with a four-episode guest role on the popular drama.
But don’t expect the 47-year-old actor to be running around like his former “Family Ties” and “Spin City” characters. Show producers say on “Rescue Me,” Fox will play a wheelchair bound “very funny, very original character.”
Fox’s character is the new boyfriend of Denis Leary’s character Tommy’s estranged wife Janet (Andrea Roth) and will be introduced in the fifth-season premiere next spring.
Fox and Leary are good friends and insiders say their friendship was one of the reasons Fox, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991, agreed to return to TV.
The actor took a break from full time work in 2000 because he said his symptoms (which include muscle rigidity and tremors) made it almost impossible to maintain a grueling schedule. In 2006 Fox made several guest appearances on ABC’s “Boston Legal,” playing a business tycoon with cancer, but has stayed off network TV since then.
Joining Fox on the airwaves is Katie Holmes.
Suri’s mommy is heading back to TV to guest star on ABC’s “Eli Stone.”
According to Entertainment Weekly, Tom Cruise’s wife will appear in a single episode of the legal comedy-drama, slated to air on October 21st. Holmes will reportedly play a non-profit attorney whose mysterious case leads her to Eli.
Holmes return to TV sparked a reunion of sorts with Eli Stone executive producer Greg Berlanti. He and Holmes previously worked together when the actress hit it big on the long-running teen favorite “Dawson’s Creek,” in which she played Joey Potter.
“We wanted to do anything we could to get people talking about the show. I went and begged her,” Berlanti said of Holmes. “She said ‘I’d love to.’”
While Berlanti is remaining mum on Holmes’ role, insiders say the actress, who began filming yesterday, will be singing and dancing on the primetime series.