Michael J. Fox Sitcom Picked Up by NBC, Episodes to Air in Fall 2013

NBC might actually have a hit on its hands.

Winning an intense bidding battle over Michael J. Fox's return to television, the network has skipped the pilot process altogether and ordered 22 episodes of this beloved actor's proposed sitcom.

It will be written by Sam Sam Laybourne (Cougar Town) and produced by Will Gluck (The Loop) and center around Fox as the husband of three kids, dealing with challenges that include Parkinson's disease.

Referencing Family Ties, which also aired on NBC, President Robert Greenblatt said in a statement:

“To bring Michael J. Fox back to NBC is a supreme honor and we are thrilled that one of the great comedic television stars is coming home again. From the moment we met with Michael to hear his unique point of view about this new show, we were completely captivated and on board.

"He is utterly relatable, optimistic, and in a class by himself, and I have no doubt that the character he will create - and the vivid family characters surrounding him - will be both instantly recognizable and hilarious. Being in business with him is a supreme pleasure.”

Fox has guest-starred on a number of hits over the years, such as Rescue Me and The Good Wife, but this untitled project marks his first full-time gig since Spin City in 2000.

The sitcom will be part of NBC's fall 2012 schedule.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.