Plot Synopsis

A reserved schoolteacher is diagnosed with cancer and decides to make drastic changes to her life. Cathy Jamison has always been conservative and structured, but she's tired of being 'the sensible one' and for the first time she is going to make choices that suit her own needs. She still hasn't told her husband Paul that she has cancer, and even though he's no longer living in the house, he is determined to win back Cathy's heart. As part of her life makeover, Cathy has vowed to be a better parent to her bratty son Adam, who constantly plays pranks on her. Cathy even finds a way to help herself by helping one of her students at school when she challenges Andrea, a mean and snotty but spirited student. When she takes a look around her life, she finds even more people with whom she can better relate: Sean, her eccentric brother, is selectively homeless and appreciates living life on his own terms -- like Cathy is starting to do; Marlene, her grouchy and older neighbor, sits on the porch waiting for the day she can join her dead friends but she and Cathy become unexpected allies; and Dr. Todd, her attractive oncologist, gives her the chance to also talk about her personal life. In Season 3, Cathy sets about finding more joy in her life, while the series features a long list of guest stars, including: Mamie Gummer and Hamish Linklater as a young couple who could give Cathy a shot at said joy with an unexpected offer; D'Arcy James as Tim, who helps Sean get over his past relationship in a most unusual way; Susan Sarandon as motivational speaker Joy; Alan Alda returns as Cathy's oncologist; Allison Janney plays a famous Hollywood producer; Victor Garber's Willy Wanker and Sean go mano-a-mano over ownership of an adult phone line; and Tammy Blanchard plays Giselle, who unintentionally brings some much-needed order to Sean's chaotic life. On Monday, April 29, 2013 at 10pm ET/PT, THE BIG C returned for its fourth and final season, with four episodes airing under a new title, THE BIG C: HEREAFTER, during which Cathy continued her battle with cancer with the support of old friends and family and a few new characters -- including: her father, Bud (Brian Dennehy); and shrink (Kathy Najimy) -- while wrapping up Cathy's story four Mondays later in a series finale that aired on May 20 at 10pm ET/PT.