The story of therapist Jimmy Laird will finally continue after over a year of fan anticipation, with Shrinking Return to Apple TV+ later this month. Last season, viewers saw Laird — played by Jason Segel — take an unorthodox approach with his clients and tell them how he really feels. This was expressed in the end of Shrinking Season 1, when one of his patients pushes her abusive husband off a cliff.
Shrinking Features a star-studded cast of actors alongside Segel, including longtime comic actor Ted McGinley. Since his career first began in the 1980s, McGinley has become known for his roles in things like Happy days, Married… with childrenAnd Revenge of the NerdsAnd has now taken the role of Derek, Jimmy’s neighbor who is married to his friend Liz (Christa Miller). McGinley will take on a bigger role this season, officially becoming a series regular.
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Screen Rant Interviewed Ted McGinley to discuss his character’s marriage, his relationships with other characters in ShrinkingAnd keep an optimistic attitude.
Derek and Liz will have “one hell of a ride” in Shrinking’s second season
What fans have to look forward to in the couple’s wedding
Screen Rant: Derek is my favorite character. I love his positive energy, and he is the king of the one-liners. Now that’s retired and he, he will be at home more consistently. How does Liz deal with this, and how does the retirement influence his actions and relationships with the other characters in the show?
Ted McGinley: That’s a complicated question, Joe. Thank you, by the way, for loving Derek. No one is more excited to be on Shrinking than Ted McGinley and playing Derek, just for the record – it’s the greatest gig I’ve ever had. I love everyone there. I love the job.
Derek turned, so Derek’s going to be around a lot more, and you’re going to see a lot more of Derek in this, and you learn a lot more about Derek. Derek is the calm mind in a sea of ​​madness. I always say that my goal is to make Derek bright, to light him in a room, so that people prepare for him, and it was kind of a job.
Liz and Derek have this season – there’s a lot going on with the two of them and it’s one hell of a ride. You’re going to meet their family, you’re going to meet the boys, so it’s a big year for Derek and Liz. Christa Miller does the greatest work. She has a very difficult season to play what she has to play throughout this season, and she is just a miracle to work in reverse. Everything is different than you think it will come, and I love that, I live for that. In fact, there isn’t one actor on the show who gives you what you think is coming, and it’s so much fun.
McGinley believes that Derek would marry Jessica Williams’ character in Shrinking
The special bond the couple shares and the inspiration behind Derek’s relentlessly positive attitude
I love the scenes this season with you and Jessica [Williams]. Can you talk to me about Derek’s relationship with Gabby and how he wants the best for her?
Ted McGinley: Yeah, Derek just loves Gabby. I think if Derek hadn’t married Liz he would have married Gabi; He loves her. They have this thing that is sort of unsatisfied. In real life, we just hit it off in season 1. It was fun to hang, and I just thought, “Wow, I can feel this going,” and it worked on camera.
But you’re right – Derek listens to her, and Derek gets her, and Derek really loves her and respects her. I think that’s one of the great things about Derek. He sees people and he makes room for people, and you don’t have to be perfect.
Derek’s positive outlook and ability to make everyone around him feel better, even sometimes at his own expense, makes him a fan favorite, but he’s a rock for everyone on the show. Who was your Derek in real life?
Ted McGinley: That’s a tough question. I would say my wife, Gigi Rice is, she is my rock. I have been married for 33 years, and then I have two boys, so we are like one. That’s all I go to, and I don’t have to go outside of that, because I find that’s my ray of light. Derek, I think of him as that ray of light, and I think of my family like that, and that’s how I can use all of this.
More on Shrinking Season 2
Shrinking follows a sad therapist who starts breaking the rules and telling his clients exactly what he means. Ignoring his training and ethics, he finds himself making huge, tumultuous changes in people’s lives…including his own.
Check out our others Shrinking Interview here:
Source: Screen Rant Plus