No one would have blamed Parenthood if their depiction of Asperger's Syndrome had been the typical quirky, socially awkward kid. It's maybe not totally accurate, but there's definitely a television precedent for writing a character in that way. But Parenthood chose not to take the easy route, and instead created a character that shows a different side of autism. And a huge amount of credit for that has to go to Max Burkholder, who plays Max Braverman on the show. He's gotten a lot of attention over the past few years for his honest and realistic portrayal of Aspergers. His preparation for the role has been meticulous, especially given the fact that the actors on the show have a tendency to ad lib -- he has to fully immerse himself in the character of Max, ready to react to anything the way that Max would. That's acting on a completely different level than kids who are simply required to memorize lines and deliver them realistically, and he does a fantastic job.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
