The Big C (TV series)

Last updated
The Big C
The big c.jpg
Genre Comedy drama
Created by Darlene Hunt
Starring Laura Linney
Oliver Platt
John Benjamin Hickey
Gabriel Basso
Gabourey Sidibe
Phyllis Somerville
Opening theme"Game Called Life"
by Leftover Cuties
Composers Marcelo Zarvos
Jesse Voccia
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes40 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers Darlene Hunt
Laura Linney
Jenny Bicks
Neal H. Moritz
Vivian Cannon
Mark J. Kunerth
Michael Engler
ProducersCara DiPaolo
Lou Fusaro (pilot only)
Melanie Marnich
Production locations Minneapolis–Saint Paul (setting)
Stamford, Connecticut (actual filming location)
Running time
  • 28 minutes (season 1–3)
  • 56 minutes (season 4)
Production companiesPerkins Street Productions
Farm Kid Films
Original Film
Sony Pictures Television
Showtime Networks
Original release
Network Showtime
ReleaseAugust 16, 2010 (2010-08-16) 
May 20, 2013 (2013-05-20)

The Big C is an American television dramedy series which premiered on August 16, 2010, on Showtime. [1] It drew the largest audience for a Showtime original series premiere. [2] Season 2 premiered on June 27, 2011. [3] Season 3 premiered on April 8, 2012. [4] On July 31, 2012, The Big C was renewed for a fourth and final season, named "Hereafter", which premiered on Monday, April 29, 2013, [5] and concluded on May 20, 2013.

Contents

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1 13 August 16, 2010November 15, 2010
2 13 June 27, 2011September 26, 2011
3 10 April 8, 2012June 17, 2012
4 4 April 29, 2013May 20, 2013

The show follows, in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area, Westhill High School teacher Cathy Jamison a reserved, suburban wife and mother  who is diagnosed with melanoma. The realization of this forces her to really begin to live for the first time in her life, in particular by doing what she had previously forbidden herself to do. At first she chooses to keep her diagnosis from her family, behaving in ways they find puzzling and increasingly bizarre. She finds new freedom to express herself. As the show progresses, Cathy allows her family and some new friends to support her as she copes with her terminal prognosis, and finds both humor and pathos in the many idiosyncratic relationships in her existence.

Cast

ActorCharacterSeasons
1 2 3 4
Laura Linney Cathy JamisonMain
Oliver Platt Paul JamisonMain
John Benjamin Hickey Sean TolkeyMain
Gabriel Basso Adam JamisonMain
Phyllis Somerville MarleneMainRecurring
Gabourey Sidibe Andrea JacksonRecurringMain

Main cast

Recurring cast

Critical reception

The Big C's pilot episode was received positively by critics, while subsequent episodes received mixed reviews from critics. Season One received an overall score of 66 on Metacritic based on 27 reviews. [7] Alessandra Stanley of The New York Times wrote: "The Big C works because most of the writing is strong and believable, and so is Ms. Linney, who rarely sounds a false note and here has perfect pitch... the series is at its best when sardonic and subdued." [8] Washington Post critic Hank Stuever said: "Buoyed by scalpel-sharp writing and even keener performances, The Big C …walks a fine line of having it both ways. It's for people who are repelled by the warm-fuzzy, disease-o'-the-week dramas of cable television." [9] EW.com's Ken Tucker quibbled with its major plot point: "My big problem with The Big C concerns a crucial decision the show made for the early episodes: Cathy declines to tell those closest to her that she has cancer. While this is one of the many different reactions people have to such a diagnosis in real life, in a comedy drama like this, it makes everyone around her seem a bit dim." [10]

The second season received similar reviews to the first, receiving a score of 64 on Metacritic based on reviews from 6 critics. [11] Maureen Ryan of AOL TV stated that "Having a character and her family deal with a potentially fatal illness is such a rich arena for both drama and black comedy, but so far, The Big C hasn't been able to mine that topic with consistent freshness and depth." [12] Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly was critical towards the show, but commended the acting, stating that "Much of The Big C's unoriginal dramatization of cancer concerns is mitigated by the fresh, dynamic performances of Laura Linney and Oliver Platt." [11] [ better source needed ]

The third season received a score of 65 on Metacritic based on reviews from 4 critics. [13]

The fourth and final seasonconsisting of four hour-long episodes received a score of 73 on Metacritic based on reviews from 10 critics. [14]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNomineeResult
2010 Satellite Award Television Series (Musical or Comedy) SeriesWon
Best Actress - Television Series (Musical or Comedy) Laura LinneyWon
2011 Golden Globe Award Television Series (Musical Or Comedy) SeriesNominated
Best Actress - Television Series (Musical or Comedy) Laura LinneyWon
American Cinema Editors Award Best Edited Half Hour Series for TelevisionBrian A. KatesNominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Laura LinneyNominated
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Idris ElbaNominated
Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series Julie Tucker and Ross MeyersonNominated
Satellite Award Television Series (Musical or Comedy)SeriesNominated
Best Actress - Television Series (Musical or Comedy)Laura LinneyNominated
2012 Golden Globe Award Best Actress - Television Series (Musical or Comedy)Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Casting for a Comedy SeriesBernard TelseyNominated
2013 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Laura Linney Won
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie John Benjamin Hickey Nominated

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References

  1. "Showtime sets summer premiere dates for 'The Big C' and 'The Real L Word'". Los Angeles Times . March 17, 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  2. Hibberd, James (August 17, 2010). "Showtime's 'The Big C' Draws Record Premiere". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  3. Reiher, Andrea (September 20, 2010). "'Weeds,' 'The Big C' Renewed by Showtime". Zap2it. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  4. Gorman, Bill (January 20, 2012). "'The Big C' Returns On April 8; Victor Garber Dials Up Trouble In The Third Season". TV By the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 23, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  5. Seidman, Robert (January 12, 2013). "Showtime Announces Premiere Dates for 'Nurse Jackie,' 'Dexter' (Returning Early) 'Ray Donovan,' 'Homeland,' 'Masters of Sex' & More". TV By the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  6. "Exclusive: The Big C Promotes Gabourey Sidibe to Series Regular". 3 February 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  7. "The Big C: Season 1". Metacritic . Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  8. "It's Hello Cancer, Goodbye Inhibitions". The New York Times . August 15, 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  9. Stuever, Hank (August 16, 2010). "'The Big C': Showtime Series Takes Cancer Seriously, but in a Funny Way". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  10. Tucker, Ken (August 11, 2010). "The Big C". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  11. 1 2 "The Big C: Season 2". Metacritic. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  12. Ryan, Maureen (June 27, 2011). "Review: Laura Linney Fights Cancer (and Cliches) in 'The Big C'". AOL TV. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
  13. "The Big C: Season 3". Metacritic. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  14. "The Big C: Season 4". Metacritic. Retrieved January 1, 2021.