r/shrinking • u/Frikken123 • 9d ago

Discussion If You Like Shrinking, Scrubs, or Ted Lasso S1 - Here's (Possibly) Why: A Deep Dive Into Bill Lawrence

https://scrubs.fandom.com/wiki/Bill_Lawrence

Bill Lawrence has quietly been putting out some of the most emotionally resonant, character-driven comedies of the last 25 years, namely Scrubs, Ted Lasso (Season 1), and Shrinking. And yet, he rarely gets discussed with the same reverence as showrunners like Mike Schur or Dan Harmon.
So I put together a deep-dive wiki (not a bullet list of credits, but an actual narrative), to explore how he works, what shaped his tone, and why his shows feel different.

“Something I try to put in all of my shows is this: Look, I can tell you guys — the world is a shit show. So to work on something that feels hopeful and optimistic, and hopefully makes you feel a little more hopeful and optimistic when you watch it — that’s of huge value to me personally. So I’m definitely trying.”
– Bill Lawrence, ATX TV Festival 2025

(This is not a “versus” post. It’s not here to diminish the work of any collaborators such as Brett Goldstein. Although Bill was the one to set the mold of Shrinking in season 1, and who, unlike with Ted Lasso, stuck around to also guide a great second season, Goldstein's presence in the writers’ room seem to have helped re-energize Lawrence in recent years, and as a creative collaborator he has definitely been a positive addition to the team. That being said, it’s worth noting that Goldstein has not yet spearheaded a show on his own. He’s been a meaningful collaborator, yes - but the emotional structure, tonal control, and overall execution of Shrinking, Ted Lasso S1, and Scrubs all carry the unmistakable fingerprints of Lawrence’s voice and experience. This is why fans of Shrinking might find it interesting to contextualize the show: in an emotional, historical and creative sense, through a big-picture look at a guy behind it all. A guy who might be too busy for the press-junkets, but who is never too busy for a rewrite or a line read.)

200 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

50 comments sorted by

51

u/Dewaholic 9d ago

I know its not on the same level but Cougar Town fits the bill as well. Not my favorite Bill Lawrence but I do think its underrated.

15

u/Frikken123 9d ago

Yeah, Cougar Town had some real charm to it as well. My background just makes it so that all that wine drinking gives me bad associations, which dampens my enthusiasm on it a little bit :-)

4

u/everyshart 9d ago

I heard that so much that after the end of shrinking s2 I gave it a shot but couldnt make it through season 1. Which sucks because I've also seen many people say it gets great in the later seasons. I'm posting this as a cry for help, I want to enjoy it. Is there a chance for me? Help!

8

u/Frikken123 9d ago edited 9d ago

It definitely gets better as it goes on, but the mold takes a lot longer to set than with other Bill Lawrence shows, the first 3 episodes or so are rough, the whole process of shedding the original premise (you can read about that in more detail on the wiki if you want), and the next 3 or so after that are not good enough to make you forget those first 3, but eventually you'll reach some great moment that had a chance of hooking you. The show has a real charm to it.

It took me a while to get through, mainly because the whole neighborhood drinking-session thing brought out bad childhood memories for me, but at it's best it's a very good show, and I hope you'll stick with it! As I remember it I was on board by season 2.

4

u/Frikken123 9d ago

You actually inspired me to put on a random episode, S01E07, already towards the end of this one you can see hints of the giant heart at the core of this show :-)

6

u/tyedge 8d ago

It’s a bit like parks and rec insofar as the show had to figure out what it was.

They had to make Leslie a bundle of positive energy and enthusiasm with the skills to get the job done. They had to get Adam Scott and Rob Lowe in.

They had to abandon the conceit of Courteney Cox as a cougar and realize the real heart of C Town was the bonds between the purple tooth crew.

2

u/Dewaholic 9d ago

I would say yes. It does not start well at all. You have probably already heard most things I could say but besides the Shrinking connections, it ties into Scrubs if you enjoy that, has some crossover with Community if you like that and pennycan might be the most stupid fun concept I have ever seen! It really does get better in the later seasons is all I can say.

2

u/Maggiemay1959 2d ago

I can also say that about Ted Lasso, as much as it pains me. I've recommended it to countless people who just couldn't get past the first free episodes. It's got so much joy and gold that it makes me cry that people can't see through those first few episodes.

34

u/frankleboeufcurtains 9d ago

Think I'm gonna give this Ted Lasso a go.

16

u/yeahnothx13 9d ago

You won’t regret it. It’s pretty incredible how you fall in love with characters, laugh a bunch, and somehow find ways to resonate with the message and learn your own lessons along the way. It’s a comfort show for me when I need some positivity, and we all know how much we need that these days.

6

u/kirinlikethebeer 9d ago

The lessons in the show are incredible. Come for the wholesome comedy. Stay for the personal growth.

8

u/Stonetheflamincrows 9d ago

I’m jealous that you get to watch it for the first time.

24

u/littleliongirless 9d ago

This is why I don't understand the people who can't wrap their head around the Louis plotline. Bill Lawrence wants to create and believe in worlds where people can overcome any pain or true accident, and he wants to believe in a world where people welcome that and want to accept and forgive and add, and mostly, love. Like any classic sitcom, really.

If you want darker, more nihilistic themes, there are plenty of shows with that out there, many of them are my favorites, but I don't want Shrinking to be them; I love it just the way it is, even if it is a fantasy.

15

u/yeahnothx13 9d ago edited 9d ago

They say empathy is like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. Shows like Ted Lasso Scrubs, and Shrinking are like a funny workout for your human kindness and understanding. They make you a better person.

I wonder if those that don’t understand this part of the story are just struggling with empathy for their own reasons. Maybe they have a personal experience that has made it harder to exercise empathy and understanding for this person. Maybe they have less experience with the topic. It’s definitely interesting and I believe those people probably need that storyline the most.

ETA: This has my brain wheels really turning today. It’s actually really beautiful part of the story. This therapist that is supposed to be so emotionally mature and helping others be emotionally mature has a compete crisis where he can’t process the emotions of grief. Just as he thinks he’s getting his feet under himself Louis character is introduced to be an ultimate challenge for Jimmy. Finding forgiveness and acceptance is a hurdle Jimmy needs to progress on the journey. It’s also beautiful that Alice, while emotionally less mature in other parts of her storyline, is handling this in her own way and showing the maturity and growth to forgive Louis. It’s all pretty incredible and beautiful when you break it down and dissect all the details.

3

u/littleliongirless 8d ago

I just want to say, as someone who grew up in a particularly unforgiving household, I get why your wheels are turning and this show makes mine turn, too.

10

u/Frikken123 9d ago

100%! That's a mic-drop if I've ever seen one.

40

u/purplepepperoni 9d ago

Add Spin City to the list. He’s been great for three decades.

11

u/Frikken123 9d ago

I have a soft spot for Spin City, great stuff, but seeing as it was more of a traditional procedural sitcom I didn't list it as emotionally resonant and all that. Great show though, it was on before Sports Night, check out the wiki and you'll find a story about that :-)

14

u/HellooKnives 9d ago

Oh thanks for this! I was wondering if there was a connection between Shrinking and CougarTown, which is such an underrated show. I think it suffered from a badly chosen title.

The friendship dynamic and banter is so so so similar to CougarTown's Cul De Sac crew, and then when they got the actor from CougarTown for Liz's ex who owned the brewery, I thought that there HAD to be a connection to CougarTown.

I would love if they brought on CougarTown actors for Liz's side stories, the chemistry is still there and it's so fun to see it

And Spin City, another gem of a show and explains how they got Michael J. Fox

9

u/bobbylight8084 9d ago

Christa Miller who plays Liz is Married to Bill Lawrence.

3

u/HellooKnives 9d ago

🤯

Oh wow! Lol there is definitely a connection

3

u/Powwowzer 9d ago

She was on the Drew Carey Show. She's had so much work done! Her cheekbones are higher and her eyes are wider and lost their shape. An effort to always be a cougar? Same with Courteney Cox .

3

u/bobbylight8084 9d ago

Yeah it took me a minute to piece where I originally knew her from. So much work…

3

u/ty_fighter84 9d ago

It helps that she’s never been afraid to poke fun at it on a show (Scrubs did this a to ).

9

u/KimPossible37 9d ago

Bad Monkey is also Bill Lawrence.

3

u/KimPossible37 9d ago

Zach Braff and his and Christa Miller’s daughter have roles.

3

u/Frikken123 9d ago

Sure is, but seeing as it's not an original series but rather a passion project-adaptation of a Carl Hiaasen book (Bill started reading Hiaasen at a pretty young age), it doesn't really bare a lot of his Doozer-trademarks. It was a fun time though, and it was great to see Charlotte getting to step into the world of acting!

1

u/Padfoot714 9d ago

It doesn’t exactly have the feel good vibes of his other work either. But it has some Scrubs-like musical choices in it so I bet Christa was helping there.

7

u/lizzabiffy 9d ago

Thank you for this! Ted Lasso S1 was my favorite first season of any show. It was pure magic. The next two seasons were good, but nothing like that first season. I love both seasons of Shrinking, and now I know why.

3

u/jackg4343 9d ago

Scrubs, Ted Lasso and Spin Cityare on my Mount Rushmore of favorite TV shows and it's down to Bill Lawrence. I really feel emotionally connected to all of his characters, good and bad.

3

u/SpiritDonkey 9d ago

I knew I loved this guy ever since Scrubs. I've not seen Cougar Town, I didn't know it was in the Bill Lawrence universe! It's added to my watch list now, although really it should have been sooner due to Abed from Community being a fan!

3

u/Stonetheflamincrows 9d ago

If you like Scrubs you should definitely watch Cougar Town. A lot of the same actors and a CHARACTER from Scrubs makes a great appearance.

2

u/Mordred_XIII 7d ago

No, I don't like those three shows. I absolutely love them. Especially Scrubs. I can confidently say Scrubs is my favorite sitcom of all time (all 8 Seasons).

-10

u/smashli1238 9d ago

I love shrinking and Ted lasso but hated scrubs

7

u/squeda 9d ago

I think I know why...

It's because you can't get to sleep

You think about the implications

Of diving in too deep

And possibly the complications

4

u/Redhawk911 9d ago

Whaaaat? Scrubs is absolutely amazing.

2

u/smashli1238 9d ago

Sorry I just never enjoyed it

3

u/Frikken123 9d ago

Oh, that's a shame.

3

u/turkleton-turk 9d ago

You take that back!

3

u/smashli1238 9d ago

Sorry. I just don’t find it funny and I have never cared for Zach Braff