Cancer is funny?

The new "it" theme in Hollywood seems to be something no one expected, cancer. The new Showtime original series, The Big C stars Oscar nominated actress, Laura Linney (Squid and The Whale) as Cathy Jamison, a suburban housewive who finds out has been diagnosed with cancer. The cast also consists of Emmy nominated actor Oliver Platt (2012) and recent film superstar, Gabourey Sidibe (Precious). Despite receiving kind reviews from critics, viewers of the new hit show are in a heated debate about whether cancer can actually make for a funny premise regarding entertainment. One viewer praised the show calling it a "embasrassment of riches" while another scolded the show saying "nothing makes me laugh harder than a terminal illness."

Laura Linney in the promotional poster for The Big C

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Television isn't the only media that is working with the sensitive topic, the film I'm With Cancer was almost fully wrapped with production before changing it's title to Deal With It. The film stars Golden Globe nominated actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Inception) as a 25-year-old who discovers he has cancer. Co-stars include Oscar nominated actress Anna Kendrick (Up In The Air) and well as one of Judd Apatow's go to men Seth Rogen (Green Hornet). Before the name change, spectators of the film were furious with the film's premise and how they "made a mockery" of the serious disease. Six months later, there is not a peep of the film's previous title on the web and instead discussions are now primarily about how old Rogen looks. Internet film browers are now none the wiser.

Anna Kendrick on the set of Live With It

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Which begs the question, can a television show or movie be sucessful if it deals with such a serious topic as cancer? Will moviegoers be upset after seeing a showing of Deal With It and will the film's trailers lead moviegoers to believe it is purely a comedy or will the big "C" of this film be spoken out loud and proud during its promotional period? My guess is that the sucess of these venues of entertainment will be determined by the audiences ability to have an open mind. Or as a viewer of The Big C put it, "Comedy is in life and death and every step in between. It is all about the execution."