★★★★★ 0/5

It’s all about Laura Linney

If you like United States of Tara, Nurse Jackie and Weeds why on earth aren't you watching The Big C?

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If you haven’t yet caught an episode of The Big C you’re missing out.

Laura Linney is just too wonderful. Episode Two this week is better than Episode One.

The show is only 30 mins, and if you like those other cable mini dramas like United States of Tara, Nurse Jackie and Weeds (which follows after it) you will love this one.

There’s a great moment where she is looking at the blurry reflection of her naked, middle-aged body in the fridge in her kitchen. And she says to herself “Oh stainless steel, you are so kind…..” It’s funny and moving at the same time.

The cast includes Oliver Platt and Gabourey Sidibe who was nominated for an Oscar for Precious.

It’s playing on GEM (Ch 90) on Wednesday nights at 9:30 (yes against Tara), but the Pilot is replaying on Tuesday at 10:30.

33 Responses

  1. Your loss, Lalla.
    I’ve seen the first 3 eps now, and loved them.
    Not depressing at all, sometimes sad, yes.
    Very moving.

    David – there are so many complaints from people who’ve shelled out big bucks to get an HD television, only to find that the stations are using their HD channel for non-necessary HD shows, like old re-runs or the news. Meanwhile great HD stuff is shown in SD on the main channels. Typical example would be the ABC with their 24 hour news channel in HD, while masterpieces such as David Attenborough’s “Life” is broadcast in SD. Crazy. I’ve read this will last for 3 years – until analog is switched off. Can this be true?

    My STB has virtually no sound on the GEM station.
    I’m not buying another STB just for GEM.
    Will I have to visit Uncle Torrence for all GEM’s programs?

  2. Yep, really gunna watch a depressing show like this. give us all a break, please. we have enough ads about cancer, heart disease macular degeneration etc etc every 5 minute on aust TV to last us a lifetime.

  4. @Daniel – just gets a HD STB, hook that up via the RCA connections and then you can record the new HD channels on your existing recorder and it will cost you less than $100, that’s what I’m going to do.

  5. I love Weeds, and was looking forward to the latest series, but only have an SD PVR, unfortunately having spent $500 on a whiz bang system 2.5 years ago, I cannot justify $500 again to upgrade.

    Considering the low ratings these 3rd digital stations are likely to provide, is there much chance the networks will shift the stations to standard definition to keep their HD stations for higher rating programs?

  7. A big thankyou David, for the heads up last week. I would have overlooked this series if not for your recommendation 🙂
    I love Laura Linney, and did wonder how they were approach this sensitive topic, but I found it quite refreshing and entertaining. Hopefully GEM will look at running more shows like this in the future!

  9. I haven’t seen it yet.
    Unfortunately my recording of both this and Weeds from last week had almost no soundtrack. Seems my STB has problems with GEM.
    Tried rescanning the stations and GEM still isn’t a goer.
    Have sourced those two programs from elsewhere, and look forward to seeing them both.
    Love Jackie & Tara & Weeds, so this should be good too!

  10. I would love to watch it but I live in an area where I don’t get the station yet. I wonder if NBN are ever going to start the digital channel here…

  11. I’d say it’s lack of promotion by Nine/GEM, you’ve done a great job David.

    It’s a great show and I agree the language is real, but thats always the case with cable shows from the US. Network TV is too restrictive.

    @Rob – I guess the point was she wanted a swimming pool, she know she might not have much time and it’s the one thing she wants and builders be damned!

  13. Jimbob….most people who run a blog write about things they are interested in, and they attract readers who connect with their writing style and ideas. I’ve often waved the flag for shows I enjoy (it’s a personal blog after all), and readers have often thanked me for alerting them to shows they might not have otherwise discovered. So yes, that would be the point..

  15. The Big C is a great little series, and Laura Linney is very very good.

    However it isn’t perfect and is really suffering from some unrealistic plotting problems and Very annoying side characters, including her ‘homeless’ brother.

  17. I started watching the others when there was nothing on (so now want to finish them) but I just don’t have time to start another new show at the moment.

  18. The reason I don’t watch the Big C is because United States of Tara is on at the same time 🙂 Yes, I’m one of those normal people without those recording things.. (whatever you call them!!!)

  19. Now you tell us!

    Is the first episode being repeated soon (or has it already been repeated). I had not heard the Tara/Nurse Jackie comparisons before, but now I’m interested if it can hold its own against those great shows.

  20. A few reasons…
    For 98 % of the population…”What is GEM ?”
    But Tara is on !
    The big C is hidden behind yet another repeat of, yawn, CSI.
    GEM target market is women, yet last week on the main channel at the same time was RPA. Isn’t that the going for the same target market ?
    “Everyone” said the first episode is not good wait for the second !!!!!!!

    But even after all that, watched it – loved it.

  23. Still has the typical US feel i.e. it works out in the end but at least the language is closer to reality although when I was diagnosed the last thing on my mind was a pool and dealing with builders.

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