Monday 5 October 2015

Coming to America

You may be wondering why i'm maybe about to talk about a classic 80's Eddie Murphy movie. But, as brilliant as that movie is, and as much as Lisa and I used to love watching it in our youth, I'm onto something much, much bigger and better than that. Recently, Lisa has made it known that she's still looking down and spreading her awesomeness. Those of us closest to her already knew that of course, as does anyone who has read this blog, read her book or watched "The C-Word" when it was aired in the UK in May this year. Now though, she's going international and spreading "The C-Word" to our friends over the pond in the USA. You read that right by the way, our bird, my sister, having her story shared with a whopper of a country.

So, America, on Wednesday (7th October) at 11pm on KCET, you will get to see just exactly how influential our Lisa Lynch still is. Just as with everything else that Lisa and "The C-Word" has achieved so far, i'm so bloody proud. To be honest, I don't really have much idea at all how it came to be that the USA will get to witness Lisa's awesomeness, and to be quite honest, I don't really care. What I do care about is the amazing impact that Lisa has had for people living with cancer through this blog, her book and "The C-Word" so far. The amount of messages of support we received in the aftermath of the UK airing in May has been well documented by me already on here and through my Twitter and Facebook feeds. As I've said before, we never really knew what to expect with regards to the public response to "The C-Word", but as soon as it aired and we saw #TheCWord going pretty much ape-shit on Twitter, we knew our girl was helping so many more people. To think that the USA will also benefit from this now is pretty overwhelming.

From what I understand, KCET (or @KCET for all you Twitter folk) is a Southern California-based independent public TV station, and has partnered with two US-based cancer charities in Beyond Boobs! (@BeyondBoobs) and Pink-Link (@PinkLinkTweets) with the airing of "The C-Word". Their timing is pretty impeccable too, with it being Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As many of my friends will know, I'm a big fan of the work and awareness that is raised in the USA during the month of October. My friends will let you know that I have a pretty unhealthy obsession with the San Diego Chargers American Football team and I always seem to end up getting on my high horse during October when i'm watching the NFL games and all the players are showing support for Breast Cancer Awareness with their pink boots, mouth-guards, towels, gloves etc etc, whilst wishing our professional sports teams could do something similar. Having "The C-Word" being shown in the USA during this time is such a great idea, and with a bit of luck, it will have the same impact over there as it did over here.

It is obviously common knowledge that getting exposure for many things in the USA is a big deal. Of course, America isn't the be all and end all (we all know that that is obviously Derby!!!) but it's such a major milestone for many things. Think about it, lots of actors and actresses want to crack it in Hollywood, musicians always have an obsession with cracking America, boxers always want to fight in Las Vegas, I could go on. So, to think that my Sister is going to have her influential story shared in the USA is a big, big deal. As I've said before, the whole point of "The C-Word" is to raise awareness, and this is pretty much just another, albeit major, step in that process.

As a family, we're still in touch with many people who were involved in the creation of "The C-Word". Only this week I got hustled on the golf course by the better looking version of myself, Nate Fallows. It's so good to see how much pride everybody involved in the project has for Lisa's story. Everybody obviously has their own lives and jobs to get on with, just as we all do. But the odd message every now and then from members of the cast and crew is so thoughtful. Another proud aspect of this USA airing is that so many more people with get to see how bloody brilliant everyone involved with "The C-Word" is, and how phenomenal Sheridan Smith was as our Lisa. America is in for something special. That bird ain't half gonna break some hearts!

Some of our happiest family moments have actually been spent on our holidays taken in the USA. You could definitely say that (apart from Lisa being quoted an obscene amount of money to insure a proposed trip to New York City – all becomes clearer in "The C-Word") America has been good to us as a family over the years. I guess it is only fitting then that Lisa returns the favour, and helps to raise even more awareness over the pond. If "The C-Word" has a fraction of the impact in America as it has over here, it will be amazing. She just continues to make me so proud, every single day.

In closing this post, I should really post a direct message to the American-based blog readers. That message is very simple.

Ahead of "The C-Word" hitting your TV screens on Wednesday night, you're most welcome!

Big Love,

Arseface

X

16 comments:

marsha said...

SO AMAZING!!! I have so many Facebook chums in the US, I'm so stoked to tell them about this!!

Unknown said...

So glad The C Word is getting international exposure. Well played to KCET. America gave us the West Wing and Friday Night Lights... now we're even. :)

Unknown said...

I'm watching The C Word now on my Boston, MA, USA public TV station - WGBH tonight - 8 October 2015. What a brilliant, funny, amazing person Lisa Lynch was and is. Bravo to her and her family for showing the rest of us how to live with grace and kindness in the face of terminal cancer.

My mom just died of ovarian cancer last month. Lisa's words and indomitable spirit have lifted me up already.

Anonymous said...

I saw the film about Lisa yesterday, she was a great person :-)
I too have cancer, I too have a blog at http://www.mariahoffbeck.blogspot.dk
I started my blog as Lisa, then I got cancer.
Wish Lisas Family all the best ever :-)
Love

Unknown said...

Just watched this. Your sister is amazing!! This touched my heart, watching and thinking of what my Grandmother went through. Thinking of what a strong woman like your sister went through. ❤

Lenexa, KS

Unknown said...

I just watched in Chicago. Thank you to your family for generously sharing. I, too, lost a sister to cancer and my father was recently diagnosed. Lisa's story is so hope-filled, it is a great reminder for me at just the right time.

Clare said...

Just watching right now in New Zealand. Not quite as flash as the US, but still :)

Dem said...

Watching The C-Word right now with my Mum, and we're both laughing and crying. It's October 25th and we're in New Zealand.

What is remembered lives. And Lisa will be remembered for a long time, across the globe.

Unknown said...

Just watched this in New Zealand and was touched by your sister's story. She was a strong and talented lady. Much love to you and the family x

Mandie said...

Further reason to be proud, I have just watched it in NZ! What an amazing person she must have been, thanks for telling her story. Mandie

MelB said...

Hey, I followed Lisa's blog and still follow Kris's. Soooooo excited as 'The C Word' screened here in New Zealand tonight. More tears shed for Lisa but also lovely to see a glimpse of the person she was in Sheridan's portrayal. Much love to all who were close to her... her legacy lives on xx Mel

Anonymous said...

DAMMIT. I knew I should have checked in here sooner. To be fair, for the last month I've been suffering from a condition known as Wedding Brain that made me unable to focus on anything non-nuptial-related. I can't watch KCET streaming because I'm not in their viewing area, but I see that thankfully other PBS stations have shown The C Word too, so I'll check the schedules of my local PBS affiliate and those of our honeymoon destinations. I know it's going to make me ugly-cry, but I'd love to have my husband learn a bit more about the friend I miss so much.

Yesterday our pre-wedding music was a Spotify playlist of Vitamin String Quartet covers, and the first song we played was their version of Foo Fighters' "Everlong." I wanted to have a little bit of Lisa there with me on a day I know she would have been so excited and happy about. <3

Anonymous said...

Watched the C Word last night in NZ (recorded from the night before) - I am originally from Burton on Trent and am a mad Derby County Fan ... The programme really touched me, I lost my Mum to cancer 15 years ago, and the scene choosing a wig in the hospital resonated with me so much ... we both also got the giggles and came away with a horrible hamster looking thing, that I don't think she ever wore!
What a lovely way to remember a special person and all the good she did and is still doing with this blog xxx

MargoBowBells said...

I still drop by here, it was good to see shes still sharing her good energy. XX

Unknown said...

Stumbled across it last night on our Public Broadcast Station channel in Tempe (Phoenix), Arizona, and couldn't take my eyes of the TV. Even my husband got caught up in watching the movie unfold. Neither of us are impacted at this time by cancer, but Lisa's story left an impression. I am so glad she is still helping so many!

MargoBowBells said...

Remembering Lisa today, I drop by now and then.....

Amanda XX