Reflecting his own phase of life, the new series from Chuck Lorre (“Mom,” “The Big Bang Theory,” “Young Sheldon”), who is 66, is focusing on aging.
In his new comedy for Netflix, The Kominsky Method, Oscar winners Michael Douglas (Sandy Kominsky) and Alan Arkin (Norman Newlander) star as two friends — a once-famous star and his longtime agent — navigating their later years in Los Angeles.
“The show began because of my desire to write about what I’m living, which is getting older and entropy and the decay of the flesh,” said Lorre in a panel at the Television Critics press tour in Beverly Hills on Sunday.
“It has to be funny, otherwise it’s heartbreaking. There’s loss of loved ones and how it affects your relationships and friendships. How do you respond to a culture that feels like it’s moving away from you? That was the impetus for the show — to do all that, and hopefully have some comedy involved.”
“I love the fact that Chuck finds aging a humorous process,” said Douglas. Quipped Lorre, “We talk a lot about prostates.”
The eight-episode series, which was will launch November 16, not only marks Lorre’s foray into single cam, as well as Douglas’ first role for television since he starred in “The Streets of San Francisco” in the 1970’s. He has also been nominated for five Emmy Awards, winning outstanding lead actor for the Liberace biopic “Behind the Candelabra.
Douglas, who had never worked with Arkin before, said he learned a lot about comedic timing from the Second City alum. “Mr. Lorre here is not a bad writer to say the least,” said Douglas. “I think we both enjoyed having the best dialogue we’ve had in a long time.”
