Talk:The Big C (TV series)

Why the redirect?
Currently The Big C redirects to The Big C (TV series). Since there is no other "The Big C" page, is there any reason for this? Or should this television series site be moved to The Big C? I'll wait for any feedback here before I make any such change... —  Hun ter   Ka  hn  16:36, 17 August 2010 (UTC)


 * At present, that doesn't make sense, I'll agree. Whoever did it may have been trying to distinguish the show title from the expression it's named for, which refers to cancer. However, it would have made more sense, in that case, to have "The Big C" (all by itself) redirect to cancer. My best guess is that whoever created the article for the series simply assumed that there would be an existing link to "Cancer" (the article) from "The Big C" and that an article on the TV show would need the parenthetical. Later, someone else typed "The Big C," looking for the TV show, and when it turned out that wasn't the name of the article, created the redirect. The most logical move, I think, would be to combine the article move that you suggest WITH one of those disambiguation lines that explains, "For ______, see _______" so that anyone who was looking for the meaning of "The Big C" could be directed to the article on cancer.Lawikitejana (talk) 05:16, 19 August 2010 (UTC)
 * I started to do just what you suggested, but found I had trouble making the move. Then I found out about the article The Big "C". Since that title is very similar, it seems to me there is need for a Big C disamb page, so I edited it accordingly. I think as a result, we should keep this article titled "The Big C (TV series)" after all. Let me know what you think... —  Hun ter   Ka  hn  14:57, 19 August 2010 (UTC)

Controversy section
The current controversy section added at the end cites no external websites or news articles. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Glamking (talk • contribs) 18:27, 4 October 2010 (UTC)

Main character vs. recurring character
The standard for these categories is pretty simple. If an actor's name is in the Main Title Sequence, then that person is playing a main character. In The Big C only those actors who play the immediate family are in that sequence. Everyone else is listed AFTER the main title sequence, making them secondary or recurring characters. They should not be listed in the section called "main characters." Their pay scales are different, for example. They may or may not show up in every episode in any given season. Technically it has nothing to do with how many episodes they're in, but rather their status on the show. No one other than Cathy, her husband, son, and brother are considered main characters on this show; everyone else is secondary, or recurring.--TEHodson 21:58, 13 July 2011 (UTC)

Comedy vs. drama
The show is described by Showtime, its creators, critics, the actors, and the writers as a comedy first, drama second. Why do people keep listing it as a Drama? Shouldn't we respect the decision of the people who make the show? It's also called a "dramedy". I'm putting it back to comedy-drama. Let's continue the discussion here, rather than on the article itself.--TEHodson 00:42, 29 July 2011 (UTC)
 * I have a loose opinion on the subject matter, but I think you should have a source besides Showtime. Showtime is known for pushing all of their shows as comedies even when they aren't.--Beausalant (talk) 22:02, 29 July 2011 (UTC)
 * Sorry? You're saying that the Network which produces a show can't be trusted to know whether they're making a comedy or a drama? "Parks and Recreation" could be categorized as a drama here if you didn't find it funny, or "CSI" could be called a comedy because it makes you laugh? Or you need a non-network source to confirm what the network tells us? Not sure I'm following your logic. Which shows is Showtime pushing as comedies which are really dramas? "Weeds"? "The United States of Tara"? The problem seems to be that a comedy about a serious subject, i.e., cancer, is being called a drama. The term "dramedy" has been in use for quite a long time now, to cover such shows as this one. In any case, I went beyond Showtime and read the bios and comments of the creator and the writers, all of whom call it a comedy and are established comedy writers. Here's the link to IMDB, which calls it a comedy first, drama second. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1515193/  Creator Darlene Hunt is an established comedy writer, producer, and actress. I think I take her word for her intentions over yours, or mine. This site isn't meant to be about opinions, right?--TEHodson 22:19, 29 July 2011 (UTC)
 * Calm down. I only said what I said because of fan (and some journalist: see this article) backlash, not my own opinion. I personally don't mind what this show is labeled under. And by the way, I think IMDb just lists the genres in alphabetical order, but I may be wrong.Beausalant (talk) 22:21, 30 July 2011 (UTC)
 * I'm clam. I mean, calm. I was tired and probably not choosing my words carefully. But have you noticed how many times it's been changed back to drama? Getting silly. I'm about to retire the page from my watchlist.--TEHodson 00:14, 31 July 2011 (UTC)
 * Well, in their defense, when you're watching this show, you are more or less in suspense and it keeps you wondering what is going to happen next. These are the general elements of a television drama and are the things the common viewer usually associates with that genre. People look for jokes in comedy shows, and rightfully so. We watch drama to be intrigued and comedy to laugh.--Beausalant (talk) 17:25, 31 July 2011 (UTC)

I think that's probably generally true, at least sort of, when it comes to major network situation comedies, but the great thing about HBO's and Showtime's comedies is the way they play with form. They don't write for a laugh every X number of seconds or minutes, but rather the humor grows from the characters. Larry Sanders was seldom laugh-out-loud funny, and yet it would be absolutely incorrect to call it a drama. You also have to look beyond the surface--comedies are lit and photographed and edited very differently than dramas. They are also traditionally 1/2 hr. long. I think the hyphenate Comedy-Drama works quite well here. The Big C is made like a comedy, and the creators wanted us to laugh, but it goes deeper than the usual sitcom.--TEHodson 22:10, 31 July 2011 (UTC)
 * I know that (I am an avid television fan and an Emmy predictor and voter), but people don't. I personally think that no show that HBO or Showtime airs (exception Curb Your Enthusiasm) is a comedy. I think they're all dramas (I'm looking forward to Laura Dern's new show Enlightened to see what genre that ends up being). And clearly, others agree with me, since the genre label for this show keeps fluctuating. Wikipedia is a reference used by many people, and so people are clearly writing for people, and want each other to know what to expect when watching this show. When you see the word comedy, you think laugh. This show doesn't make you laugh much. So putting it under drama will, in a sense, brace you for impact. I don't think the creators truly want to make the people laugh, and the people who edit Wikipedia have clearly responded to that. Also, addressing your lit and photographed argument: the promo for the second season of this show was Laura Linney (who, on an unrelated note, I can't stand), standing with an hour glass as if she is preparing to fight, with the bolded words "Bring It On" above her head. I'm not an expert on the topic, but I'd say this prettymuch shows off dramatic tones. I'm simply trying to say that the fight to keep this under Comedy-Drama is a fight you're going to lose, since there are people in the world (especially comedy writers and comedians) who watch this show and curse it every night for considering itself funny. I, for one, am a true believer that the traditional, just-for-laughs sitcom is live and well and will one day overshadow the Showtime and HBO "dramedies."--Beausalant (talk) 01:03, 3 August 2011 (UTC)
 * You've made my point better than I did, my point being that as an encyclopedia, we must call things what the sources call them rather than what individual people feel they should be called. The sources call this a comedy-drama, so that's the end of the argument.--TEHodson 06:56, 3 August 2011 (UTC)
 * No, you're putting words in my mouth. My point is that people don't care whatever Showtime calls this. Comedy? Drama? Dramedy? Whatever. Fighting to get this called what Showtime wants is a fight you won't win.--Beausalant (talk) 20:38, 4 August 2011 (UTC)

Speculative Fiction (ghosts!!)
After season 2 it seems like the series is turning into Cathy sees dead people. In her husband's death scenario she saw him as dead even though she did no know he was dead. So that verifies she is not hallucinating the dead people. Therefore I am wondering if anyone would like to add a section that points out this increasingly science fiction element of the show (I don't feel like it particularly but I was kind of wondering if that had a mention yet) ... there is already a casts of ghosts larger than the number of seasons, it seems like the show might be going in a totally different direction than a coping with cancer drama. --12.213.80.36 (talk) 22:24, 27 September 2011 (UTC)


 * I've watched all the episodes but the season finale, but I'll give it a watch and put my views in if it is worth putting in the article. I remember at the start of the series, Cathy could see Marleen. I'm no doctor, but from watching other TV series, cancer can cause things like this. Keycoke (talk) 12:44, 29 September 2011 (UTC)


 * After watching the season finale, this dose seem pretty significant   but I'm not sure it's on the grounds of symbolism (The dead people in her life waiting for her to join) or she can actually see dead people. I'm not sure, but I don't think it's something to put in the article till the next season. However, this should go in to the episode summary for Ep. 26, which I already think it is. Keycoke (talk) 12:44, 29 September 2011 (UTC)