In addition to returning shows United States of Tara, Nurse Jackie, Weeds and Dexter, Showtime is readying The Borgias (a period drama starring Jeremy Irons), Episodes (A BBC co-produced comedy with Matt LeBlanc playing himself) and another middle-aged actress vehicle, The Big C (a cancer comedy starring Laura Linney).

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Perhaps the best comparison is in comedy, where a new generation of comedians like Louis C.

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In the first scene of this combined romantic comedy and caper movie, Claire Stenwick (Julia Roberts), a C.

NEWYORKER: Duplicity