The Big C

With Paul (Oliver Platt) recovering from his near-fatal heart attack, and Andrea (Gabourey Sidibe) returning from her African adventure, Cathy (Laura Linney) creates an alter ego as she gets some good news about her chemotherapy trial.

Adam (Gabriel Basso) accuses his parents of being hypocrites after Paul (Oliver Platt) uses his blog to reveal that Cathy (Laura Linney) had an affair. And as Andrea (Gabourey Sidibe) tries to revive the school's Black Student Association, a new phone number provides Sean (John Benjamin Hickey) with a lucrative business opportunity.

As Cathy (Laura Linney) treats a skeptical Paul (Oliver Platt) to a cancer survivor's personal growth seminar, a Valentine's Day concert causes Adam (Gabriel Basso) to rethink his relationship with his girlfriend.

When Cathy's (Laura Linney) health problems become a roadblock to their chances for adoption, Paul's (Oliver Platt) inspiring blog posts could provide a solution. Meanwhile, Sean's (John Benjamin Hickey) ownership of a gay sex phone line is disputed, and Adam's (Gabriel Basso) new girlfriend challenges his faith in God.

As Cathy (Lara Linney) looks to enlist a reluctant Adam (Gabriel Basso) in an effort to impress a couple who are interviewing prospective adoptive parents for their baby, Paul (Oliver Platt) fights back his nerves as he prepares for his first outing as a motivational speaker.

As he and Cathy (Laura Linney) prepare to adopt, Paul (Oliver Platt) entertains a big shot producer's (guest star Allison Janney) offer to turn his blog into movie. But when Cathy decides she doesn't like where the film is going, she balks. Meanwhile, Sean's (John Benjamin Hickey) face-to-face date with a phone sex client produces a surprising result.

As Paul (Oliver Platt) discovers that life on the road with Joy (Susan Sarandon) will require much more from him than he thought, and Cathy (Laura Linney) uses the nursery renovation to help the Coopers, Adam (Gabriel Basso) makes a surprise donation to a church charity bazaar.

As Cathy (Laura Linney) puts an end to the Coopers' adoption scam, she and Paul (Oliver Platt) stumble upon each other's secrets. Meanwhile, Sean's (John Benjamin Hickey) ménage à trois founders.

Stepping in for the late Joy Kleinman, Paul (Oliver Platt) takes the family to Puerto Rico for his own self help seminar. And as Cathy (Laura Linney) gets some bad news about her cancer treatments, she vows to use the vacation to face her fears of the water and her own mortality.

After getting lost during a scuba diving lesson, Cathy (Laura Linney) lands in the boat of a local fisherman. And unaware of the frantic search for his missing wife, Paul (Oliver Platt) creates an alter ego when he is approached by a woman at the hotel bar.