Lessons from The Big C

• Of course you can. Turn all of your “I cant’s into “I can.”
• Stop putting thing on hold. It’s time to do it right now.
• Life happens as it is meant to happen, and it is not fair. All you can control is how you handle what comes at you.
• What’s the point in holding back, never asking for what you want, and waiting around all the time? Who are you scoring points with? You’re just hurting yourself.

More lessons under the jump.

• God gives us problems to learn how to deal with them, not to fix them for us.
• Sometimes we have to give up on certain versions of our life and how we wanted something to be, so we can move on.
• Cancer doesn’t discriminate, it can happen to anyone.
• People that you know and love will come into your life, and also leave.
• You can build your own family.
• Animals should be in your life.
• You deserve what you want. You deserve what you are willing to say you deserve.
• Be nice to yourself. Be nice to other’s. Equally.
• Just because it can’t be a perfect ending doesn’t mean it can’t be a good one.
• Life is precious.
• Life fast. Life is moving.
• You can focus on the positive, or not. But only one is the smart choice.
• You can just have deserts and liquor.
• Bend the rules.
• Some people are going to overwhelm you with their kindness, while others will surprise you by their cruelty.

The Big C starred: Laura Linney, Oliver Platt, John Benjamin Hickey, Gabriel Basso, Gabourey Sidibe

Sony Pictures Television. Created by Darlene Hunt, who also serves as executive producer, along with showrunner/executive producer Jenny Bicks. Laura Linney, Vivian Cannon, Neal H. Moritz, Michael Engler and Richard Heus are also executive producers.

Photo Credit: Showtime

Four years ago, I met Cathy Jamison the way the rest of you did – on my TV. I was skeptical I could love any other Showtime beeytch the way I loved Nancy Botwin (Mary Louise Parker) from Weeds. (Although, I have warmed up to Nurse Jackie.) What I discovered, is that not only did I like Cathy, but I related to her quite a lot.

Introverted and conscientious by nature, I’ve also always been “the responsible one.” I’ve never purposefully caused waves, I’ve always played by the rules and listened to my elders. Ate my vegetables, too. But being this template of this restrained “good girl” doesn’t make the universe give it to you easy. You can do everything “right” and still feel punished by the world when bad things happen. And, oh, they will happen.

As I saw Cathy’s cancer forcing her into action to grab life by the balls, I recognized the same need in myself. It’s been slow (steady!) goings the past few years, but I can report that I’m making big life changes right now. And I can absolutely say that watching The Big C was helpful inspiration in this process of actually living my life.

Plus, I just really enjoy good TV. And The Big C was good TV.

As I write this, I’ve already seen “The Finale” episode that will air tonight. But I’m not here to spill spoilers. I want to honor the show, and thank it for being so high-quality. And by “the show” I mean everyone involved – cast and crew. Plus, the network! I get annoyed at plenty of networks these days.

Big networks often give us watered-down, dumb shows. And the good shows? Half the time they cancel them, because they think they can get bigger ratings with something else. ABC has canceled Cougar Town and Happy Endings AND Don’t Trust the B in Apt 23. NBC canceled Up All Night. The CW canceled Veronica Mars. Fox canceled Arrested Development and Firefly… etc. And the replacements are often not very…well, good.

But Showtime. Showtime has been one of the cable networks that I can count on to always deliver good shows. There’s hardly ever a Showtime series that I don’t want to watch. And I am so glad that they took a chance on The Big C and gave it all these years to play to conclusion. Because this is the kind of great TV that someone like me hopes to find in the world. (Showtime: bringing you the shows you want to watch.)

Naturally I want to praise Laura Linney. She’s got a lovely spirit, and did wonderful with this role. Oliver Platt was also really enjoyable. There was Gabourey Sidibe and Gabriel Basso being like real teenagers for us, being brave on the screen. And someone who really won me over is John Benjamin Hickey. He took a character who was a homeless freegan and did a lot of questionable hygiene things… but made him likeable, even to this serious germaphobe.  (I have really weird ideas about dust and touching things and what has to go in the trash. The idea of eating out of the trash makes me shudder.)

I especially want to mention Jenny Bicks. She was the showrunner and an executive producer for the series. She has also worked on Sex and the City and Men in Trees. I feel glad to know that her career continues to flourish, and I really like everything she has a hand in, you know? We need more strong, smart women like Bicks in this business.

I would write more here, but my big, bright, in-progress life is waiting. So, remember guys, don’t forget to dive deep into your life. Toes-in-the-shallow-end will never be as fulfilling. Cathy Jamison taught us that.

The Big C “HEREafter” The Finale (series finale) airs Monday, May 20th at 10 pm EST on Showtime.

Laura Linney, Oliver Platt, John Benjamin Hickey, Gabriel Basso, Gabourey Sidibe and the rest of the cast take their final bow on Monday, May 20th in the gripping finale of The Big C: hereafter mini-series, which concludes Cathy’s (Linney) journey that began four years ago with The Big C. We’ve laughed and cried along with Cathy as she braved terminal cancer, while living her life to the absolute fullest. Tune-in to see the surprising way it all ends for Cathy, Paul, Sean, Adam and Andrea and for the culmination of Linney’s powerhouse, tour-de-force performance as a woman seizing life while staring down death.

The limited event series is produced by Sony Pictures Television, and was created by Darlene Hunt, who also serves as executive producer, along with showrunner/executive producer Jenny Bicks. Laura Linney, Vivian Cannon, Neal H. Moritz, Michael Engler and Richard Heus are also executive producers.

“The show came to me in a period of time … when I was having real

existential moments of thinking about time and the time

that we have and that it is limited.

It just is.

It’s human nature to — thank god — not have [death]

be the first thing you think about

every single second,

but there is a reality to it

and as I’ve been aging and parents are dying

and I’ve unfortunately

lost friends who were way too young to go,

you realize,

what a privilege it is to age

and that’s not a message

we hear a lot

in the United States.”

- Laura Linney, NPR Fresh Air, talking about The Big C

Marlene: Go places. Buy crap you want. Don’t be afraid. When it’s really time to go, I’ll be waiting for you. Until then, live your life as hard as you can.

Cathy Jamison: You can’t be fat and mean, Andrea.
Andrea Jackson: What?
Cathy Jamison: You heard me. If you’re gonna dish it out, you gotta be able to look it up. Fat people are jolly for a reason. Fat repels people. Jolly attracts them. I know everyone is laughing at you’re joke, but no one’s inviting you to the prom. So, you can either be fat and jolly or a skinny bitch.

Andrea: I, for one, think you’re a pretty brave bitch.

Cathy Jamsion: And whether you know it or not, your life is pretty f*$king great. You need to realize that before you die and maggots eat your eyeballs out.

Cathy Jamison: Can we concentrate on the positive here? Be happy! There’s so many other things not to be happy about.

Cathy Jamison: Sorrow, you can drown. Rage…floats.

Cathy Jamison: [to her husband] It’s hard not to treat you like a child when every time I make a sandwich you ask me to cut the crusts off your bread.

Cathy Jamison: Oh, I’m gonna burn my couch in the backyard on Friday if you want come over for a bonfire.

Sean Tolkey: Starting to get your weird back, sis.
Cathy Jamison: You have no idea.

Cathy Jamison: I’m hanging on as long as I can, and I’m going out ugly.

Cathy Jamison: Life is so precious and it’s way too f*#king short. So don’t delay the happy.

Cathy Jamison: Why can’t anything ever go the way it’s supposed to?
Lee: It did. Just didn’t go the way you wanted it to.

Cathy Jamison: And maybe there’s never gonna be a guy, so you need to just give up on that version of your life. Because it’s probably not gonna happen.

Click to enlarge: The Big C Quotes

Marlene: I think God gives us problems so we can learn to deal with them, not so he can fix us.

Cathy Jamison: Cancer sucks. Put that in your God damned inspirational poster!

Woman: Rules are rules.
Cathy Jamison: You should put that on your tombstone. You’ll impress a lot of people.

Andrea: I’m fat and you’re gay so we’re supposed to get along.

Cathy Jamison (Laura Linney) on The Big C.

Cathy Jamsion: Oh God, it feels good to laugh.

Man: There is something wrong with you.
Cathy Jamison: Yes, I know.

Cathy Jamison: Yea, I am a bitch! A tough, brave bitch. And if you let me, I could turn all of these girls into tough, brave bitches too. We could go all the way to the championship.

Cathy Jamison: And I could do chemo, but I’d just be buying a little more time and it would mean a lot of people taking care of me and it’s just not my thing. You know what makes me feel better, though, if I’m being honest? It makes me feel better to think that we’re all dying. All of us. And when you have a kid, you expect that you’ll die before they do. I mean, even though you try not to think about it, at least you hope to God you do. So if I think about it that way… hey, I’m living the dream! I’m here all year! performing at stage four. Oh, come on, you got to give it up for me a little bit. It’s kind of funny. Death comedy.

The Big C starred: Laura Linney, Oliver Platt, John Benjamin Hickey, Gabriel Basso, Gabourey Sidibe

Sony Pictures Television. Created by Darlene Hunt, who also serves as executive producer, along with showrunner/executive producer Jenny Bicks. Laura Linney, Vivian Cannon, Neal H. Moritz, Michael Engler and Richard Heus are also executive producers.

Teen Wolf cast in the woods. Looking pretty. And a bit confused?

The Teen Wolf Season 2 DVD! Check out my review after the jump.

For those who don’t follow me on Twitter (why? I need love! Follow me!) I am a very big fan of Teen Wolf. It’s just a smart and fun show, and thankfully nothing at all like the movie (minus some names and some clever t-shirts). I love the movie, so remaking that would have been awful. Season 2 ramped up the intensity. There were new creatures, Stiles and Derek scenes to send the fandom into a tizzy, lacrosse games, shirtlessness, gay bars, Alpha Packs, Werewolf Makeovers. I mean… the season was good stuff. But the fun part of any DVD would be the special features, and the fine folks at MTV have packed this set full of them. Here they are (except for any commentary or standard alternate/extended/deleted scenes)…

Teen Wolf Season 2 Paley Center Panel

I love the Paley Center. Just the fact that it exists brings me a lot of joy. So, when shows include their panel on the DVD I’m always happy. If only because maybe someone who isn’t familiar with what the Paley Center is will look it up. But for fans of the show, this is a fun 20 minute extra. The cast genuinely seems to get along for the most part, especially Tyler Posey (Scott). Tyler Hoechlin (Derek) and Dylan O’Brien (Stiles), so it’s fun to see them get to be themselves and not all stoic while worrying about werewolf problems. Although audience questions can lead to uncomfortable encounters, especially one between Colton Haynes and Holland Roden. It’s cute watching that they are still basically very green when it comes to being stars of a TV show.

CGI REEL

Interested on what those action sequences with the creatures look like when they are just computer renderings that aren’t finished? Or when Jackson spends quality time with a snake? Then this 3 minute feature is for you. Not interested in that at all? Go ahead and skip it. There isn’t even any narration to give you insight.

FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY REEL

This one is slightly more interesting because you see final edited version with music and sound effects versus the uncut version from set with the stunt doubles for a lot of it. It’s cute how tame a lot of it seems. Especially when they get to a gunfight and it goes from *BANG* *BANG* to *puh* *puh* without any effects.

ALTERNATE STILES TAKES

I don’t review alternate/extended/deleted scenes. For the most part, while they may offer a bit of insight, it’s usually been cut with a lot of thought from the showrunner, in this case Jeff Davis. They are good to watch, but I don’t have much to say about them. This separate 5 minute feature, however is the stuff that hopes and dreams are made of. Dylan O’Brien is a national treasure, as any of my “Sex And Ginger Ale” friends will tell you. Extras of Dylan being brilliant as Stiles… well that’s just good stuff. The fact that it includes extra versions of the “I think we’re in a gay club” scene… well that was just more than I could have begun to hope for. Happy Happy Day.

GAG REEL

This cast is funny. So is their gag reel. What is there really to say? Have I mentioned that Dylan O’Brien is a treasure?

SHIRTLESS MONTAGE 2.0

As you may remember from the first DVD – there was a shirtless montage feature. they came back with another this time. A whole two minutes of gratuitous nudity. Not just boys, so keep that in mind if you are a fan of Crystal Reed (Allison). Also – they rub in our faces that the audience is continuously denied shirtless Stiles. The whole thing is pretty tongue in cheek, but since it’s a running joke for this show, I kind of love they embrace it. I mean… why not?

TEEN WOLVES: MEET THE NEW PACK

New wolves emerge this season and this 5 minute feature focuses on Erica, Boyd and Isaac – the members of Derek’s new pack. Gage Golightly, Sinqua Walls and Daniel Sharman all brought a nice new aspect to the series. Sometimes it can be hard to accept new characters – do we like them? Do we even want to? These three characters remained engaging and I appreciated how quickly they melded into the fold. This also gives a brief glimpse as to what the end of the season set up (spoiler alert) –  Peter Hale (Ian Bohen) realizing that an Alpha Pack is on their way and all the wolves we’ve come to know and love are going to be in some trouble.

So that’s the run down. Overall, it’s some fun stuff. But mostly the show is just plain great and I highly encourage everyone to marathon in to refresh or catch up on the series. I know I look forward to watching and talking about it with friends soon!

DVD and Photo courtesy of MTV.

It airs tonight, May 16 at 8 pm EST on The CW. Don’t miss it!

In the episode, we tackle a graduation ceremony and a prom. Plus, there’s the cure – who will take it? And what about all those unleashed ghosts? And why isn’t Bonnie dead, huh? Didn’t she die? So she’s ghosting around town? But, forget all that because we heard that Elena is going to pick between Damon and Stefan. We think … well, let’s just wait to see.

The Vampire Diaries “Graduation” Synopsis

WHO WILL TAKE THE CURE? — On Graduation Day, Mystic Falls is overrun with ghosts intent on settling old scores and fulfilling their supernatural destinies. Damon’s life is in danger after a ghostly encounter, while Matt and Rebekah join forces to battle a ghost determined to find The Cure. As everyone gathers for the graduation ceremony and the ghosts converge, help comes from an unlikely hero. Caroline receives a touching and unexpected graduation present, and Bonnie’s plan leads to the closing of the veil. Elena makes a decision about the Salvatore brothers and faces an epic confrontation with Katherine. Finally, Stefan discovers a terrifying clue to the mystery surrounding Silas.

Directed by Chris Grismer

Writing Kevin Williamson (developer) & Julie Plec (developer)

We all know that Rebekah just wants to be a normal girl and go to a normal prom. Do you think she’ll get her wish? In The Vampire Diaries “Graduation” actress Claire Holt wears a yellow Jolene prom dress. It costs $360.00.

The costume designer, Leigh Leverett told EW that the dress was a “quintessential prom dress” and that’s exactly what Rebekah would want to wear. Something big, poof, and with a full ball gown! I have to admit, the only thing I have an issue with is the bright yellow color…but maybe that’s because I don’t think I can ever pull off yellow. What do you think? Are you loving this dress on Rebekah?

I actually love the hair that Rebekah has here. It’s very Veronica Lake, and got a smooth wave to it. The key is that it’s pin/sprayed so it only goes over one shoulder to show her hair’s length. It’s a great compliment to the sweetheart necklace of the Jolene gown.

It’s navy aka midnight blue aka a dark blue that is divine, and it’s by Theia. I love this dress, even though it’s got nothing “princessy” about it and I often like that idea for proms. It’s strapless, and has layered tiers.

Bonnie is also wearing a special necklace with this dress.

Costume designer Leigh Leverett told EW that in this episode Bonnie, “does a lot of walking around, with purpose, so we wanted it to be really pretty [as she moved around].”

In The Vampire Diaries “Graduation” Caroline Forbes (Candice Accola) attends prom.

Caroline is wearing a long gown with a mermaid skirt from Sherri Hill ($898.) The cream and white dress has jeweled accents and crossed beading, giving it a truly unique look. It’s very elegant and romantic, with a tough of the old world…which Klaus will surely like.

“I was trying to find something vintage-looking but one that was still new,” TVD costume designer Leigh Leverett told EW. She mentioned that with Caroline, it’s okay to go for girly, glamorous looks. I think this is a perfect look for her. It’s soft and beautiful, and also such a special dress that she’ll always remember wearing. (And as a vampire, she’s gonna have a loooong life.)

Caroline Forbes Hair at prom.

To get similar hair, do a braid (french?) from one ear to the other, then twirl the rest (braided) into a bun. Hair pins are pushed in, and use hairspray. And to keep that bun up, skip the bobby pins and go for the Goody Spin Pin – I have 2 and they work magic with my heavy hair!

Who wore it better? Caroline Forbes, duh!

This strapless pink dress is perfect for prom, even if you are a vampire. It has an A-line skirt and sweetheart neckline. The dress is silk, and by Theia. The highlights in her hair match this edgy magenta dress perfectly.

Her hair is half up, and half down. And there was definitely a curling iron at work. It’s a simple look, but I love it. If you want to copy it, make sure you leave shorter layers framing your face. And if you’re brave…try some clip-in highlights in a wild color!

Costume designer Leigh Leverett told EW that this is a “watercolor” dress.

It costs $1,495 so you better save up if you want to wear this prom dress to your own dance.

Scarlett O’Connor (Clare Bowen) sang this song on Nashville tonight. Please help us correct any lyrics we have mixed up!

Looking for a Place to Shine Lyrics

I jumped in
looking to make a wave
I was working with what the good lord gave
Well baby here I go
You”l be praying for land while I’m rocking the boat
I’ve been waiting for the rhythm to change
Now that time has come

You can turn up toe flame
Turn on that sun
Like fireworks shooting into the sky
I wanna color the dark with the light
Like a diamond
Sitting on a ring
I’m just a girl that wants to be seen
Every time
I’m looking for a place to shine
So take ten
if I’m a little too much to take
You’re gonna let a good thing go to waste
It’s better …
If you sit on the side
Now I’m thinking of busting through
the door
Leaving everybody begging for more
You know it’s true
A girl like me has nothing to loose