Huey Lewis, the legendary frontman of Huey Lewis and the News, is the subject of a new mockumentary series titled Whatever Happened to Huey Lewis? This satirical project, inspired by the style of Curb Your Enthusiasm, promises to blend humor with a poignant exploration of the singer’s personal battles, particularly his struggle with hearing loss.
Produced by Fox Entertainment Studios, Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment, and Jimmy Kimmel’s Kimmelot, the show is written and executive produced by Kirker Butler of Only Murders in the Building fame. The series follows Lewis as he navigates life after losing his hearing, using humor and heart to explore the challenges of his new reality alongside his eccentric celebrity friends and co-dependent family.
The series, set to premiere on Fox, marks a significant comeback for Lewis, whose career was abruptly interrupted in 2018 when he was diagnosed with Meniere’s disease, a disorder of the inner ear that causes severe dizziness, tinnitus, and progressive hearing loss. The condition forced him to cancel the band’s remaining tour dates and left him grappling with a sudden and devastating change in his ability to perform music—something that had been at the center of his life for decade.
The mockumentary format, known for its ability to address serious issues with a comedic twist, provides an ideal platform for Lewis to share his experiences with hearing loss in a way that is both entertaining and insightful.
Whatever Happened to Huey Lewis? offers a fictionalized take on Lewis’s life post-diagnosis, blending reality with humor as it follows a version of the musician navigating the absurdities of everyday life while dealing with his hearing loss.
Bringing Increased Awareness to Hearing Loss
The series is expected to strike a chord with audiences, particularly those who are affected by hearing loss or who have followed Lewis’s career. By bringing attention to his condition through this new format, the series not only aims to entertain but also to raise awareness about the impact of hearing loss on musicians and the broader population.
Hearing loss is a significant issue in the music industry, where prolonged exposure to high decibel levels can cause permanent hearing loss and tinnitus. Lewis’s journey, as portrayed in the series, highlights the often-overlooked challenges that musicians face when their careers are threatened by health issues.
For Lewis, the transition from a rock icon to a person managing a hearing loss was not only a personal struggle but also a public one, as fans and colleagues alike watched him confront the possible reality of a life without the music that defined him.
The series’ development also underscores the broader societal conversation around hearing health. While hearing loss affects millions worldwide, it often goes unrecognized or untreated until it severely impacts daily life. By featuring a well-known figure like Huey Lewis, the show brings much-needed visibility to the condition, potentially encouraging viewers to take proactive steps in managing their hearing health.
For fans of Huey Lewis and the News, the mockumentary serves as a nostalgic look back at the artist’s career, filled with the music and energy that defined the 1980s pop-rock scene. But beyond the nostalgia, it offers a deeper narrative about resilience and adaptation in the face of life-altering changes.
**Readers interested to learn more about the struggles faced by Lewis can check out this January 2020 interview with the musician:
Source: Consequence, Billboard
**featured image adapted fromm Tankboy from Chicago – IMG_2338, CC BY-SA 2.0, Link
