Not Being Defined by Your Illness

Not Being Defined by Your Illness

Laura Linney - The Big C

The Big C, Mondays on Showtime with the “C” meaning cancer, is humorous look at life when faced with our on reality. This series so far has clicked on on cylinders, cast, writing, and production. There is not the pity focus nor is there bucket list gaiety. Some times the things you miss out on are some of the simplest we can imagine.

Obviously the show is not about Cancer, it is deeper then that. It is about the appreciation for what we can still do, regardless of the time.  It’s fun.

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There is a Chance for Parenthood

There is a Chance for Parenthood

Lauren Graham

Lauren Graham

First of all Peter Krause (Six Feet Under) belongs on HBO or Showtime and maybe this creation from Ron Howard and Brian Grazer may prove too big and complicated for NBC, which has been stuck in “Law and Order” mode for the last 10 years, and the show will wind up on cable, just like Southland. Parenthood has a large cast that helps to answer the question “I wondered what happened to Bonnie Bedelia, Erika Christensen, Craig T. Nelson and Monica Potter?” which suggests that TV and cable is where the work is. The writers in the first episode pick up on themes that are reminiscent (they watch cable too)  of Weeds, Nurse Betty, Modern Family and Californication in fact Lauren Graham as Sarah Braverman, reminds me of a less lethal Nancy Botwin as played by Mary-Louise Parker.

Mary-Louise Parker

Mary-Louise Parker

The story lines are diverse and challenging and I am afraid that NBC will chicken out like they did (I believe) with Southland.  Here is a chance in a drama format to educate a large portion of our society who still believe that if your kid is Autistic that its your fault, that families without a traditional mother and father setup are doomed or still see race as black vs white. For certain this program is about a white family and I think the creators of the show want to touch on something real, so we will see plenty of “post racial” issues as they go forward.

I was surprised that I enjoyed the first show, they are usually hectic attempts at establishing who people are. I will be looking to see if NBC can pull this off.