Friday, August 6, 2010
ENTERTAINMENT
The Daily Beacon • 3
Linney helms smart new Showtime comedy throw it out. Sean’s life is a zany sitcom existence, one that, if analyzed for too long, might douse a bit of surrealism on a show that is Laura Linney getting her own show on decidedly supposed to be about Showtime is equivalent to if real-life scenarios and feelings. HBO debuted a show starring Sean’s character does not exactly Christian Bale. It’s the perfect fit in with the rest of the bunch, place for one of the best actors but it’s in the same way that Steve in Hollywood. It’s practically Carell’s character did not exactly fit destined to succeed. into “Little Miss Sunshine,” nor did Indeed the premiere episode even Juno fit into her own movie. of “The Big C,” Showtime’s It’s OK to have a bit of surrealism, newest comedy, shows just how especially if it comes from such a much potential the program has, scene-stealing character. mostly based on an outstanding And let’s not forget that it is cast. absolutely fabulous that Phyllis Of course “The Big C” is Somerville from “Little Children” propped up by the Big C herself, has regular work on this television Cathy (Linney) who has another show. Somerville plays Marlene, Big C, cancer. Cathy’s neighbor across the street. Linney is hilarious in the Marlene’s friends have died, her first episode, thanks to her natuhusband died and now she says ral wit and the strength of the she’s waiting to die. Essentially writing. There are plenty of Marlene adds yet another pesnotable one-liners in the first simistic, morose character to an episode alone, most memorably already pessimistic, morose show a conversation between Cathy chock full of those type of characand her husband Paul (Oliver ters. But the premiere episode Platt). Paul has recently moved shows that Cathy and Marlene’s out, and the two are having dinrelationship looks like it will develner, so Paul can plead his case op past this. to move back in. But Cathy, who “The Big C” seems like a show realizes how much time she has that is using cancer as a launching left, is re-evaluating her pad for a “Bucket List”-type exislifestyle. She remembers that tence for its protagonist. Except, Paul’s distaste for onions is the instead of skydiving and racing like main reason she has not had the mediocre “Bucket List” movie onions in awhile. “I want onions had, this seems more an existentialto be a major part of my life in • Photo courtesy of IMDB ist, introspective look at Cathy as the next year,” she says, as sto“The Big C” is a new Showtime comedy series, centering on the life of a suburban mother diagan individual. Perhaps it will not ically as if she was speaking nosed with cancer. The series stars Academy Award nominee Laura Linney, as well as a cast that last very long, due to the obvious about her illness. It’s a dinner includes Oliver Platt, Gabourey Sidibe and Phyllis Somerville. Though the series debuts on restraints of the narrative it’s set conversation that ends with Showtime on Aug. 16, “The Big C” series premiere is available online now at sites like YouTube.. up for itself, but as long as it does Cathy telling the waitress that last, expect the fire of “The Big C” she’s just having desserts and to burn bright and turn in some of the will only consume trash because he thinks Andrea, a student in Cathy’s summer liquor. best television on the best network in telschool class, casually strolls into class late the country wastes too much as it is. So, Just when someone might start to evision. And expect Linney to add yet as a patron leaves the fast-food restaurant and does not worry too much about it, think Cathy is an unsympathetic characanother strong female lead character to a where Sean and Cathy are dining, Sean saying Cathy usually takes forever to get ter, the viewer meets Cathy’s son. Adam network that already has three of them in asks for the departing patron’s tray full of to her point anyway. Cathy is a bit cruel (Gabriel Basso) constantly torments Nancy Botwin of “Weeds,” Jackie of half-eaten scraps. He then takes a seat Cathy with the most lurid pranks. We first in her accosting of Andrea for this behav“Nurse Jackie” and Tara of “United States next to Cathy and commences to eat. Yes, ior, but it seems well-deserved with meet him as he pretends he’s a home of Tara.” it is disgusting, but it is charmingly Andrea’s devil-may-care attitude. intruder, putting Cathy in a headlock and “The Big C” premieres on Showtime quirky at the same time. The only way But the main comedic force of the waving a gun at her. Later on in the Aug. 16 at 10:30 p.m. To view the preCathy can get Sean to take some food, show is, ironically, a virtual no-name, at episode, he fakes cutting his own finger miere episode early, visit YouTube.com sealed in a tupperware container, is by least in a show that already has Linney, off while helping to prepare dinner. Adam and search “The Big C.” saying it is leftovers and she was going to Platt and Sidibe. John Benjamin Hickey as probably needs to add a third dimension
Robby O’Daniel
Editor-in-Chief
to his character in future episodes. Then there’s sassy Andrea, played by the actress who portrayed the title character in “Precious,” Gabourey Sidibe.
Sean, Cathy’s homeless, bleeding-heart brother, provides the most laughs in the premiere. See, Sean has an odd way of life. He