On January 10, 2014, NBC announced that Growing Up Fisher would premiere following the 2014 Olympics on Sunday, February 23, 2014, at 10:30 pm, and then move to its regular timeslot on Tuesday, March 4, at 9:30 pm following About a Boy.[3]
On May 9, 2014, NBC canceled Growing Up Fisher after one season.[4]
Plot
The family of 11-year-old Henry (Eli Baker) begins to function after the divorce of blind father and lawyer Mel (J.K. Simmons) and mother Joyce (Jenna Elfman). The series follows everyday situations the family goes through, often involving Henry's sister Katie (Ava Deluca-Verley) and normal situations the parents handle, usually in a comical way.
The series first appeared on the development slate at NBC in October 2012 under the title ...Then Came Elvis.[5] The network placed a pilot order in January 2013.[2] The pilot episode was written by D. J. Nash, and directed by David Schwimmer.
Casting announcements began in February 2013, with Parker Posey first cast in the role of Joyce Fisher, Henry's mother who attempts to reclaim her youth, post-divorce.[6]J.K. Simmons was the second actor cast, in the series regular role of the blind family patriarch, Mel Fisher.[7] Shortly after, Eli Baker and Ava Deluca-Verley were then added to the cast, with Baker cast in the lead role of Henry Fisher and Deluca-Verley to the role of Katie Fisher, Henry's older sister, who Joyce desperately wants to be close to.[8]
In May 2013, NBC placed a series order for the comedy under the new title The Family Guide,[9][10] and in June, it underwent another name change to Growing Up Fisher.[11] In July 2013, Jenna Elfman replaced Parker Posey in the role of Joyce Fisher.[12]
When Henry's parents separate, he's upset to learn that he is losing his job as his blind father's helper to a dog; Joyce uses her new freedom to start acting like a teen, while teenage daughter Katie takes on a maternal role.
The arrival of the new guide dog forces Mel to reveal he is blind to a client; when Henry borrows the dog, a pretty girl thinks he is blind; when Joyce's study partner validates her as cool, Katie starts to see her differently.
Mel and Henry encourage each other to pursue women in their building; Joyce panics during her first post-separation date and crashes her daughter's date at a carnival.
Mel needs to find a plus-one for an important charity event; Katie tries to assist her dad so the secret party she is planning at his apartment won't be jeopardized; Joyce defends her family's honour.
Joyce discovers that Katie has big plans with her boyfriend after the spring formal; despite being unable to cook, Mel promises to make dinner for Allison (Constance Zimmer).
Mel sneaks into Joyce's house to take bubble baths; Joyce panics over her success at school; Katie gets a secret job; Runyen helps Henry prepare to fight a bully.
As the divorce is about to become final, Mel is determined to maintain normalcy; Henry must overcome his fear of horses.
Reception and cancellation
Initially sporting good ratings, viewership declined over the course of the season, ending with a 1.2 share (about five million viewers) when the show was cancelled.[25] Only 2 of NBC's 8 sitcoms were renewed that year.[26] It was unpopular with critics, producing a 35% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes, although audiences loved it twice as much, producing a 70%.[27]