I’ve never seen the TV show “The Big C.” That’s because it’s on Showtime, and we have el-cheapo cable at our house. I’d tune in if we did get it, because I really like to analyze how cancer is depicted when it’s unraveled on television and in movies.
That’s what “The Big C” is about — cancer. Since I can’t comment on it, though, how about I share someone else’s take?
OK. I’ll do that.
Writer Mary Valle’s “That’s Cancertainment” reveals that she’s not all that happy about media portrayals of cancer. She, herself a breast cancer survivor, believes shows like “The Big C,” and other outlets for communicating with the public, glamorize the disease, when really, it’s not all that pretty.
Pretty hot, eh?
Ads for “The Big C” have actress Laura Linney “in the top part of an hourglass, in a come-hither pose, high heels kicked up behind her, lookin’ all smug and sexy with a beach ball,” writes Valle. “The sand is, of course, running into the bottom of the glass. Because she has cancer, get it? Time is running out! But the look on her face says ‘Oh my God, you guys, the cancer? Is totally scary? But now that I might die sooner rather than later? I am having a total blast! It’s weirdly kinda fun (and sexy!)’”
Valle understands that disease can be a great opportunity for personal growth and liberation. What she doesn’t get: the suggestion that it’s actually fun, and sexy.
“Cancer is bad enough without feeling exploited on top of it,” she declares.
Shame on Showtime — not because I have personally experienced their inaccuracies, but because Valle has. And I think her concerns are right on!
Caroline R on 10/22/2010 at 5:54 am said:
I heard about this show over the summer and was pretty appalled as well. Shame on Showtime!
Kristi on 10/22/2010 at 11:03 am said:
hey Jackie! I do have showtime (it is a must because of Dexter..lol). I did tune into The Big C one time. I kind of liked it. They really don’t focus on her diagnosis or give a lot of details. Apparently she has melanoma that has spread but having no treatment doesn’t really make much sense. Plus, she hasn’t told anyone.
I did like it because her character is someone who is uptight but now that she does have limited time she wants to be different. Oliver Platt plays her husband. I have always liked him.
It’s is kind of a funny mixed with serious kind of show.. For instance, she was out to dinner with her husband and when the waitress came over she said “I’m only having alcohol and dessert”. Her husband was telling her how mad she got when he spilled wine on the couch. She said that she wanted to be the wine spiller. He said that just wasn’t her. So, i guess she wants to be less reserved from now on and that is a lot of what the show is about.
Another funny part was that the lady across the street is really miserable looking and the woman with cancer finally said to her..I lived here five years and you never f-ing said hi to me, not once. Then it shows how you really don’t know what someone else is going through and they started to talk.
I do understand how the writer felt. I mean, she has long hair and looks good and it doesn’t show her going to the doctors a million times and all the needles and surgeries. Plus, I don’t think metastatic melanoma is just ‘so easy’ to live with like this character seems to portray.
I’m curious to see how they take the show. Hopefully they will be true to life and show how it ‘really’ is to have cancer and not just alcohol jokes.
If I do watch it more I’ll let you know what I think.
Kristi
Jacki on 10/22/2010 at 11:07 am said:
Thanks for sharing, Kristi!
Nancy on 10/22/2010 at 3:14 pm said:
We have showtime free for three months and I have been going to watch this new show especially since I really like Laura Linney. But, somehow I just haven’t been able to get myself to watch yet. I think it’s too much of a leap for me right now, reality into tv fictionalized cancer. I think it will all depend on what they try to do with this idea. Who knows??
Hope you can visit nancyspoint.com again soon and comment. Thanks again for inviting me to do the guest post.
Pam on 11/16/2010 at 4:06 am said:
I have cancer. I watch the big C. It’s good. Helps me to feel validated on some things…many things. It is kind of like a group therapy of sorts.
Criticizing something you haven’t watched b/c you “think” it says or does something is silly.
The show doesn’t glamorize cancer or the effects of it. The show depicts her struggle at many levels… telling her family, choosing a therapy, dealing with mortality, planning for a future that you likely won’t be a part of, carrying about herself in her last months, living life, finding life, loving those around you.
I’ve learned things about cancer that oncology doesn’t share readily.
I hope it helps people feel less victimized by the stinkin disease. I hope it makes them feel as if they aren’t so alone in the struggle.
Jess on 2/9/2011 at 12:22 pm said:
Its a wonderful show, its important and it allows people whose lives have been taken over by this horrifying disease to be validated on many many levels. We meet Cathy in the very beginning of finding out- allow the show to grow and go places before judging it- and certainly, please, watch it before forming an opinion. Its also important to note that the writers seemed to have pick melanoma for a very specific reason- it is a cancer that often does not cause one to be bed ridden until the very final stages- they did their homework. Cancer can and needs to be funny sometimes- otherwise every minute of everyday is just not worth living.