TVSquad

Following in the tradition of ... The L Word, I guess? Let's call it the naming tradition, but this on is a lot more provocatively entitled. Showtime has ordered a Laura Linney pilot called The C-Word. But it's not about Linney being a-- It's about cancer, people! It's a dark comedy about cancer.

That itself is enough to probably stir up some controversy. Not that the focus will be on cancer, but that the show is supposed to be a comedy. Sure, Breaking Bad tackles cancer as one of its main subjects, and they call it a dark comedy, but it's more dark than comedy in almost every way. I doubt this series would go that dark.

Playing a housewife and mother, Linney's character will explore the ups and downs of this very real situation she finds herself in. The show itself is, according to Showtime's press release, "A metaphor for the way we all should live, yet rarely do, this is a journey about how to seize the day." Which I doubt has anything to do with going out and cooking meth.

Remember back in February when we told you that Edie Falco was signed for a new dark situation comedy from Showtime about a harried nurse?

Well, they've started filming the show in New York and given it a tentative title, Nurse Jackie. What's more, the cast surrounding Edie includes some familiar faces.

Nurse Jackie will have a boyfriend and he will be played by Paul Schulze. The name may not be familiar, but the face sure is. Paul was Father Phil on The Sopranos, the priest who spent a lot of time with Carmella and had her thinking they were going to replay The Thornebirds.

On this Showtime series, he's Eddie and he works in the hospital in the pharmacy. That's important because reportedly Edie's character has a problem with drugs.

What's this, she's a female House? Could she be popping Vicodin as prodigiously as he does? Could anyone?