Movies

Deuce Bigalow. Male Gigolo. In this movie, the character, “Deuce Bigalow,” dates a woman with TS. However, the only symptom of TS that the woman has is that she speaks obscenities out of the blue. This example of TS teaches the audience that all people with TS say bad words and that it is funny. Rated R

Not Another Teen Movie. This movie has a character who is a cheerleader with TS. Her only symptom is that she swears. Again, this example shows the audience that TS is all about swearing. Rated R

The Tic Code. The Tic Code tells the story of a 12-year-old jazz pianist with TS. It was inspired by the life of Michael Wolff, a jazz pianist, with TS. It is a very accurate and inspiring movie featuring a character with TS. Rated R

TV

The Practice. Season 2: Episode 14 - "The Pursuit of Dignity." This TV show set in a law office featured an episode with a story about a girl with TS and her struggle to stay in her school. The story was realistic and showcased TS in an accurate way.

Ally McBeal. Season 4: Episode 76 - "Reasons to Believe." This show is also set in a law office. For several episodes, the actress Anne Heche portrayed a woman with TS. Her character had many different types of tics and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms, and she gave an accurate and sensitive depiction. However, while the symptoms of TS were portrayed accurately, the character accidentally runs over someone when she experiences a leg tic while driving. This association of TS with murder is questionable and insensitive.

7th Heaven. Season 4: Episode 80 - "Words." On an episode of this show, a boy with TS who exhibits echolalia (repeating words) has trouble with a bully. The episode gives correct information about the diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, and support available for those with TS.

Celebrities

Jim Eisenreich has been in the news lately because of his new Foundation. Since retiring from baseball, he started the Jim Eisenreich Foundation, which holds fundraisers, hosts call-in chat sessions, and offers educational programs for children with TS, peers, and medical professionals.

At age 24, Tim Howard has just been signed to Manchester United, a top national soccer league in England. As the U.S. national team goalkeeper, he allowed only four goals to be scored in seven games! ...Oh, and did we mention he has TS? He's had tics since he was 11 but never let them slow him down. Tim is a spokesperson for the Tourette Syndrome Association and has received numerous awards for his dedication to spreading the word about TS. He was recently featured in an article in the July 2003 issue of Sports Illustrated.

World wrestler Goldust publicly displays strange behaviors, including twitching, yelping, and screaming, which he claims is TS. Experts argue that these symptoms are not typical of TS, and his behaviors make a mockery of the disorder. There is nothing funny about having TS!