At St. Paul hospital, 'Michael J. Fox Show' premiere a reason to gather

You would probably never think of going to a hospital to watch the premiere of a TV show. But on Thursday, St. Paul's Bethesda Hospital is hosting a viewing party for NBC's new comedy "The Michael J. Fox Show." Sponsored by the hospital's Capistrant Center for Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, the event is open to patients and the public.

Thanks to his fame, Fox has become the face of Parkinson's disease since publicly disclosing his diagnosis in 1998. On his new show, Parkinson's is front and center. Fox plays Mike Henry, a New York TV anchor who years earlier had quit his job to spend more time with his family after being diagnosed with Parkinson's. In the first episode, Fox decides to re-enter the workforce and get back

Michael J. Fox as Mike Henry. (Photo by: Eric Liebowitz/NBC)

In a video posted on NBC.com, Fox addressed people who have asked him how he could make fun of the disease.

"We're not making fun of Parkinson's; we're examining a life, a life that has Parkinson's and just how one guy deals with it, one guy's experience with it," Fox said. "And my experience is to deal with things through humor. There's always something funny about everything."

One person who will be at the Bethesda event on Thursday is retired neurologist Terrance Capistrant, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's nearly 20 years ago. He helped create the Capis-trant Center, which provides medical evaluations, treatment, support and resources for those with the disease. Capistrant, 75, said he's curious to see how Parkinson's is portrayed on the "Michael J. Fox Show."

"They can't cover it all in one night, but I'd like to see them be positive and have a sense of humor," Capistrant said. "Michael J. Fox should have that. I think a sense of humor is vital to get through Parkinson's, especially in the early stages. You have to be able to laugh at yourself with this disease. A good sense of humor is a prerequisite for living as well as you can."

For info on the viewing event, call 651-326-2150.

Amy Carlson Gustafson can be reached at 651-228-5561. Follow her at twitter.com/amygustafson.

What: "The Michael J. Fox Show"

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At St. Paul hospital, 'Michael J. Fox Show' premiere a reason to gather