Laura Linney To Star In Cancer Comedy

LOS ANGELES — Laura Linney is taking on an offbeat role in a Showtime comedy pilot – a woman who is diagnosed with cancer.

Showtime said Thursday that Linney will star in and executive produce the half-hour show, "The C Word," with the pilot episode to be shot this fall.

The cable channel says the series will delve into the life of a suburban wife and mother as she confronts her illness and finds the light side in a dark situation.

In a statement, the Emmy Award-winning Linney said she's excited to tackle such "potentially rich, funny and complicated material."

Comments

[Mr-Larry]

Having had cancer and beaten it, at least for the time being, I say yes lets laugh at it. We should not live in the dark ages where cancer has to be hidden from view. A thoughtful and humors examination of how a person deals with it, is well called for.

My own experience is that a person who has cancer does not want to be fully defined by it. Dealing with it is a part of life, not the every minute obsession. I hope that this show helps educate the friends and family members of the cancer afflicted how to treat them.

[oldschoololdsoul]

Cancer comedy? Someone get Hollywood a shrink. Now I know LaLaLand is nuts.

[fabricnthreads]

Not much to laugh about when in comes to cancer as a subject.

IMO

That said, some posters think it may be a good program and I hope they are right.

But probably not a show I will watch.

[JAL12]

Laura Linney is a great actress and beautiful as well. I only hope "irony" doesn't catch up with her later in life because of this.

[ranch111]

Cancer?! That's hilarious!

[cdinsf]

LOVE Laura Linney! I will go out of my way every time to see anything she's in. The PERFECT Mary Ann Singleton (Tales of the City)!

[LMPE]

That should be interesting.

[jalowe1957]

The one time they dealt with the cancer issue head-on as a story arc was on "Murphy Brown's" last season.

[learntofly]

Not many people could pull that role off. But Laura Linney is an excellent actress - She'll do a great job.

[progressivelady]

Laura Linney is an awsome actress

[marred]

and at 45 very hot!

[mockley]

I'd watch an hour of her folding laundry.

[rektruax]

Cancer?!? That's hilarious!

- Jerry Blank

[sheeshbrother]

wow you tools! I actually open up and you censure that post.

[marred]

censure?

[Pansey]

Cancer comedy.........the words made me pause. I am a 9 year breast cancer survivor; humor helped me get through the lumpectomy, the chemo, the shaving of my head, and the radiation. My family and friends helped me to laugh when the "going got rough". Not all will agree, but this "comedy" just may be, what-the-d­octor-orde­red.

[bibb]

Humor is an awesome weapon to confront many obstacles, including cancer. I watched it empower my husband when he was battling lymphoma. Done well, this show could demonstrate this power and benefit and validate those who face this challenge.

[Italianmom94]

I have been fighting this disease over 5 years and I find nothing funny about it. Everytime I turn on the TV or go anywhere, it's something about cancer. And you're right, between this race and that race and this and that and still, supposedly there is no cure....kinda hard to believe. But believe me, I don't care how good the actress is, we DO NOT want to be reminded every time we turn around.

[DialectDerelict]

I'm sorry you have this illness, but it's not a show specifically about you.

[marred]

No subject is off limits for film, tv or books and nor should they be. Of course there is nothing funny about cancer and I doubt that this will be the main selling point of the show. Whether it is a good show or not remains to be seen. But the day when the film and tv industry has to tick all the boxes on their material so they don't offend anyone will and should be a cold day in hell. You can always not watch it I guess.

[jsundreamer]

Love her! A truly great actress.