David M. Russell/CBS
EW has exclusively learned that The Good Wife producers have tapped Michael J. Fox to bring his manipulative lawyer Louis Canning back to the courtroom of CBS’ legal-political drama early next year. The Family Ties star first portrayed the cunning Canning just two weeks ago in “Poisoned Pill,” the sixth episode of the season. The storyline focused on Fox’s Canning going head-to-head with the show’s titular lawyer Alicia Florrick (Julianna Margulies) and using his “neurological condition” during a pharmaceutical trial to distract and sway lawyers. (Fox has Parkinson’s disease in real life.) Television critics, especially EW’s Ken Tucker, lavished praise on Fox’s nuanced performance.
“As soon as we saw the dailies of Michael playing Louis Canning, we started pleading with him to return,” series creators and executive producers Robert and Michelle King told EW. “Luckily he agreed. He’s amazing in this role: unpretentiously brave and funny. It’s good to have him back.”
Fox’s Canning will return for episode 13, titled “Real Deal,” which finds Florrick attempting to sign up homeowners for an Erin Brockovich-like class action lawsuit. Who does she encounter along the way? None other than Fox’s Canning — and he’s up to no good. “As the two rush to sign up the same clients, Alicia begins to worry that Canning is actually working for the defendant and trying to undermine her suit by creating a competing one,” says the official logline from CBS.
Tanner on Twitter: @EWTanStransky
More on Michael J. Fox and ‘The Good Wife’ on EW.com:
Michael J. Fox to guest on ‘The Good Wife’
‘The Good Wife’ review: Michael J. Fox gave a cleverly distracting performance
“distract and sway lawyers” or is it jurors? I didn’t see the show, but this sentence just seemed weird.
You’re right – it should read “to distract and sway JURORS.” And he WAS really good at that. Every time the defense was questioning the witness, he’d drop stuff or pour a glass of water or make noise that of course would cause jurors to focus on him instead of the testimony at hand.
FANTASTIC, it’s actually the best work Michael J. Fox has ever done, in my opinion. The character is so fully written and he plays him so subtly, with such skill, I think he deserves an Emmy for the role.
I loved Fox as Canning. What a great episode. Make him a regular.
Yes, he and Martha Plimpton have been by favorite opposing attorneys so far. I’d love to see both of them come back. Martha’s doing pretty well with Raising Hope though, so maybe not in the cards.
It could happen, though. Aren’t CBS and Fox both owned by the same parent company? Neil Patrick Harris is a regular on a show on CBS, and they were able to hammer out an agreement for him to appear on ‘Glee’ on Fox. It’s possible they could work some reverse magic with Plimpton.
I agree with you Tia, I absolutley enjoyed both their performances and Martha Plimpton is so good in “Raising Hope”..
I am so glad they are bringing Michael Fox back he was excellent in the last episode he is one terrific actor and I like seeing him act he does deserve and Emmy for that performance
Jackie no. Fox and CBS are owned by separate. But I can picture Plimpton returning to “Good Wife” depending on
terms of her contract. I would like her to return. My favorite.
They have really had some interesting opposition at times. I’m looking forward to seeing him again, he did a great job.
Martha Plimpton was the best!!!
“unpretentiously brave and funny”
Did I watch the same show as the show runners? He was over the top with the pretentiousness. I didn’t enjoy his appearance at all.
I thought micheal j fox did an excellent job in this series in showed that threw detremination anything can be acheieved Great Job MICHEALJFOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The episode was so unlike any of his other roles and I will definately be looking forward to his return to see how he works the charms he did. The entire episode I could sense he was up to scheming and making the people do what he wanted them to do when he tricked Alicia into going back to the coffee stand for his supposedly lost ID and bus pass! I wish Michael J. Fox in the upcoming episode(s) and hope he gets nominated and win an Emmy for his performance because he so deserves it! I ♥ it and I can’t wait to see more!