| There are things in life that are appropriate for | | | | downswing, despite the best attempts of smart |
| laughing at, and there are others that remain | | | | television like "Nurse Jackie" and "The United States |
| off-limits. One of the ways that art manages to | | | | of Tara." |
| make people more comfortable with some of the | | | | Starring Laura Linney as a woman who is frequently |
| less pleasant aspects of being alive is by finding ways | | | | too busy taking care of everything else in life but |
| that viewers can find a bit of humor and feel a bit | | | | who suddenly has to deal with a recent diagnosis of |
| less uncomfortable. It was the main reason for a | | | | terminal cancer, the story behind "The Big C" seems |
| show like "Six Feet Under" to succeed so admirably | | | | like the kind of heavy material that might turn off |
| on HBO, the chance for viewers sitting in front of | | | | many satellite tv viewers who aren't as interested in |
| HDTV sets and watching an hour on death to see | | | | watching something so heavy. But the fact is that |
| the lighter sides of some aspects of the human | | | | with an actress as capable as Linney at the helm and |
| condition. | | | | some seriously strong writing, "The Big C" has the |
| Successfully pulling this off is one of the main goals | | | | chance to not harp on the sadder moments of the |
| that directors who want to do more than just | | | | enviable course of action that the show must take, |
| depress the living daylights out of their audiences are | | | | and rather focus on dealing with the same tropes |
| striving for when it comes to making content that | | | | that many Showtime shows tackle: the world of the |
| can sometimes feel as affirming as it feels | | | | living, with its surprisingly annoying, childlike spouses |
| heartbreaking. After all, there's a whole lot more to | | | | and stressful busywork. And with surprisingly choices |
| life than just the good moments, and sometimes | | | | in casting, including Gabourey Sidibe from "Precious," |
| finding a new spin to put on a sad inevitable truth | | | | there are a lot of smart and brave choices being |
| makes it something more palatable for those who | | | | made across the board as far as the show is |
| aren't in the mood for something deep. | | | | concerned. |
| While Showtime's television line-up is nothing if not | | | | With "The Big C" already drawing huge audiences and |
| interested in pushing the limits of satellite tv, their | | | | satellite tv viewers willing to get invested after |
| latest addition is a show that might manage to truly | | | | finding out that the plan is to keep seasons focused |
| change the art of writing for television while | | | | on shorter amounts of time, meaning that if the |
| captivating audiences with strong characters and | | | | show takes off, it can keep going without having to |
| great writing just the same. As the biggest show to | | | | change the ending, this is a completely new approach |
| premiere on Showtime in eight entire years, viewers | | | | to a cerebral and witty drama. Showtime seems to |
| are already buzzing, and the premium channel is | | | | have knocked it out of the park once again, and it |
| enjoying a rebirth in pertinence after last year's | | | | appears that the show is destined for greatness, |
| lackluster season of "Weeds" and a general | | | | even with only a few episodes under its belt. |