I’ve been waiting for something like The Big C to come along for a while now.

I hate how television shows have to peak and fall like they do but that’s the reality of the business. Weeds and True Blood are almost entirely different shows than they started out to be. I enjoy them both, even still, but they’re different. The Big C… it’s at that point where everything is just perfect.

Enter supporting-star Precious aka Gabourey Sidibe… who neglects to be included in the opening credits leading me to believe she’ll be axed before the second season. Also, I’m not sure she can actually act but the character makes me laugh, so I don’t care.

I’m not sure how long the show can work legitimately but I don’t even really care at this point. The plot centers around a fourty-something mother who discovers that she’s living with terminal cancer. She keeps it a secret from those in her life and goes from boring housewife drone to Nancy Botwin within the initial pilot episode. The episodes following have thus far been progressively better and better. I’ve noticed that critics consider the primary narrative, the fact that Cathy can die at any moment, at a fault; however, if a show like True Blood can show three seasons over the course of a two month period within the narrative than a show like The Big C can do the same. Who cares if it’s 2010 within the narrative for a few years screening time, right?

The show is simple at this point. The lead, Laura Linney as Cathy, discovers the cancer and subsequently is step by step becoming more and more rebellious and fun. It’s so smart, though, in that most of the other characters are so unlikable, in that they abuse Cathy and take her for granted, that the audience gravitates towards her unbelievably.

I’m not sure how long this process can last before the show has to become more complicated but I’m honestly hoping it doesn’t pull a Weeds and sharply deter from the starting point. I mean, screen an episode from season one of Weeds back to back with an episode from the current season to someone who has never seen the show before and they’ll be fucked. I still love Nancy though and, if you’re a Nancy fan too, you’ll most likely enjoy The Big C because Cathy is reminiscent, in a strange way, of Botwin. She’s just a little more likable.

Bad Girl Bombshell of the Day: Elizabeth Perkins as Celia Hodes on Weeds

This post comes at a strange time. I, however, have recently learned that Celia will be axed from the series this coming season, one way or another. I hear rumors that Elizabeth Perkins is looking to get into more movies. I also hear rumors that people are unsatisfied with what Celia hodes has become. I say, fix the character because she’s absolutely necessary to the show’s wellbeing at this point. This, to me, could be a fatal blow to what I consider to be my favorite television show.

I feel as though, if nothing else, Celia represents where Nancy Botwin came from. Even if they absolutely loath each other a the moment, I feel like every single time the characters look at each other they can’t help but think, “look at how far we’ve come. what happened?” You need that in Weeds. These people are lost in a war of Mexican politics at the moment and everyone hates this! You need Celia to remind both the characters and the fans of where the show came from.

I feel like what they have going with Celia right now is good. The fans of the show want Nancy to return to mid-grade weed dealing but that just doesn’t seem feasible at the moment. Having Celia get into the business could be fun. I get that she’s the show’s punching bag and it’s been nice over the course of some mediocre seasons. I, however, much prefer the times when Celia and Nancy recognized each others flaws yet chose to be friends. Call me crazy, but I thought that made sense. 

Elizabeth Perkins, please make a quick return to Weeds. Your return is of dire consequence. 

The Ten Types of Music No Man Should Own… by Mary Louise Parker

1. Records by any act whose name is of a greek or a latin etymology, i.e. Styx, Megadeth, Yanni.

2. Any recording of Carousel, original Broadway cast or national tour. 

3. Any recording by an act or artist who owns a copy of any recording of Carousel.

4. Any soundtrack involving earnest undersea creatures who sing or play drums as they snuggle to find their way home. 

5. The soundtrack or singles from any aerobics movie featuring Olvia Newton-John or John Travolta.

6. Any album containing a pop song with recordings of whales or dolphins in the background.

7. Any album by Paul after George died, any album by George after John died, and any album by Ringo after Elvis died.

8. Any of the volumes of Lilith Fair: a Celebration of Women. The DVD is equally, if not more, unacceptable.

9. Any album released between 1984 and 1988 by men wearing unitards or kimonos. Except by Boy George.

10. Any tracks or bootleg records of Kiss: Alive II Tour. Unless you are twelve.

Esquire Magazine

Dear Silas,

Happy birthday Happy 18th Birthday. Um I think you’re an amazing son. I’m so proud to be your mom.

Dear Silas,

If you never see me again I’ve probably been murdered. Enjoy the dried apricots and butter cookies.

Thanks for raising yourself these past 18 years. You’ve done a great job.

You are loved.

Me, Mom.

Weeds Season 4 Finale

Bad Girl Bombshell of the Day: Anna Paquin as Sookie Stackhouse

So some of you may have noticed at this point that every once in a while I feature a character instead of an actress. I think this is probably the most distinctive time I’ve done so because Anna Paquin has never looked better than she does playing Sookie on True Blood.

Don’t get me wrong, she’s a great actress regardless, and I’m a huge Rogue fan, but this is definitely her calling. I tuned into True Blood late, as I’ve done with most of my favorite shows like Weeds. I wait till the show generates steam, then I buy the season blindly without having sampled anything. That’s in my nature as a film kid, I think. Having said that, I think I ate through True Blood faster than any other series, and I find myself craving more.

I tuned in with just a bare skeleton of an understanding of how it worked, but I can say that I expected Paquin’s Sookie to play damsel in distress. She actually kind of reminds me of a Willow Rosenberg type, (if you didn’t know that was a Buffy reference, get off the blog.) only hotter, in that she is thrown into an alternate reality kind of universe and is forced to adjust regardless of her feelings. Instead of rejecting it, she embraces it and pretty much kicks ass.

Also, I think there’s something innate in Anna that makes Sookie hot beyond just looks, which was obviously a priority in casting the character. A lot of the show surrounds Sookie’s x-factor and attractiveness to guys, both human and not-so-much-human. I like Sookie because in a reality filled with vampires and shape shifters, she still stands out. Granted she has telekinetic abilities, but she still comes off as pretty human. I think this is a credit to both Paquin’s acting, and the show’s writers… but more so to Paquin. The show on the surface is vampire themed, but when you really get into it you realize it’s Sookie themed, in that you slowly begin to realize that’s she’s something special.