'Farrah's Story' draws nearly 9 million viewers; film detailed Farrah Fawcett's cancer battle

[BlueJessamine]

Source: Chicago Tribune

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A documentary that shows Farrah Fawcett's battle against cancer in wrenching detail drew an estimated 8.9 million viewers, NBC said.

"Farrah's Story" details the former "Charlie's Angels" star's treatment and hopes for recovery, following her through chemotherapy and other grueling treatment. Fawcett, 62, was diagnosed in 2006 with anal cancer that has spread to her liver.

The film was NBC's most-watched television program in its Friday night time slot in more than a year, excluding the Olympics, according to preliminary ratings released Saturday.

It was edged out by CBS' airing of the season finale of the crime drama "Numb3rs," which drew an estimated 9.6 million viewers.

Fawcett's video diary was initially intended for private viewing by family and friends, but was shared with a wider audience after the actress realized her story could inspire others, said her close friend Alana Stewart, a producer on the film.


Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/sns-ap-us-tv-farrahs-story,0,2955388.story

[mwb970]

1. Not something I would watch, but I wish her the best. /nt

[ms liberty]

2. I saw clips and the interviews on the Today show...

but I couldn't watch Friday night. I might watch it tonite but I'm not sure...as a survivor of breast cancer, it hits a bit close to home.

[MinneapolisMatt]

3. I watched it

even though I was hesitant to do so, and it was worth it.

It was incredibly touching.

[ronnykmarshall]

4. I watched it too.

It's very touching.

[madeline_con]

5. It was. It blew away my preconceived notions about Farrah.

I had no idea what she was going through, how down to earth she is, or what a great family she came from. Shame on me. Sweet story. :)

spell edit

[Sarah Ibarruri]

7. I agree. I was also very impressed with Ryan O'Neal...

They're human beings and make mistakes, but they have a big heart.

[Baby Snooks]

14. You're impressed with Ryan O'Neal?

Thank you for proving what the original producer has already stated which was that Ryan O'Neal edited the original documentary in order to turn it into "Ryan's Story" instead of "Farrah's Story." And he has sued over the matter.

As for knocking the health care system in this country, why not? Farrah intended to. She in fact gave an interview and she pointed out that UCLA seemed more interested in having her set up a foundation than it was in seeking treatment options for her.

Ryan O'Neal stooped to a new low with this. You can be impressed all you want. Others really are not. With him or with Alana Stewart.

[ronnykmarshall]

15. How sweet.

[rustydog]

17. Wow, get in your cheap shot

Cancer doesn't give a fuck about the healthcare system in America, It doesn't give a Fuck about Ryan O'Neal Farrah or you for that matter.

This is a sad true story that is lived by thousands across this country and World every day.

Take your petty shot at Ryan if it makes you feel better. Farrah will still be dying from cancer.

The show let millions see what the patient goes through every day.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

27. People with cancer are very often abandoned by loved ones....

This is known to physicians that treat cancer. Ryan O'Neal was with her before she decided to make a documentary of her cancer. He's not her husband. He's her ex-husband. I personally know a few cases of husbands (not exes) abandoning their wives when these were diagnosed with breast cancer.

Yes, I admire the man. Yes, I admire her.

In a time of suffering and facing death, not too many people hang around.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

28. Have you ever stuck it out day by day, minute by minute with someone who had cancer?

Or did you merely visit someone? Or do nothing at all and are merely talking to hear yourself talk?

[AtLiberty]

6. Through the entire documentary...

I kept thinking of how "lucky" Farrah is to have the very best health care in the United States, and when that wasn't good enough, she was able to travel to Germany and receive the best health care there.

I don't recall ever hearing the cost of health care in the documentary. Farrah insisted on the reality in this documentary, but yet, the reality is that most people cannot afford her type of treatment.

Being upbeat and inspirational is great only to a point.

I wish we all could focus 100 percent on healing when we're sick, like Farrah, instead of dealing with the agony of paying for the healing.

[SusanaMontana41]

8. I see your point

but it's not her fault that the U.S. health-insurance system is unfair and needs an overhaul. All I saw in that documentary was a brave woman fighting a beast. We cancer survivors are familiar with the beast. While watching the documentary, I didn't think once about how "lucky" she was to be able to afford German doctors. People with cancer, affluent or not, aren't "lucky" in the least. Some of the comments about this documentary that have appeared on other threads here on DU are despicable. Can we not have compassion for a suffering, dying woman, even though she may be wealthy?

Of course you're correct: We all should have the right to the kind of health care Farrah received. And we should keep demanding it.

Best wishes to Farrah and her loved ones.

[Doremus]

9. As I watched I was thinking that for all her $$$ she still can't buy a cure.

Death has a way of leveling all playing fields.

She is a better person than my previous perceptions led me to believe. I wish her well.

[newinnm]

29. The rich will always have better healthcare

Unless we do something about economic and social equity. There is no reason for anyone..I mean anyone to make more than 500,000 per year. There should be a 100% tax on income over $500,000 per year and that funds social services in our country.


nnnm

[Akoto]

10. I watched the show.

Some parts of it were very difficult, having watched both grandfathers die slowly of cancer, myself. It hit close to home, and I feel very badly for her. People knock Farrah because she can afford the treatments depicted, but she can't be blamed for the way things are in the world.

On a side note, her documentary did help me. I am 24 and have recently become disabled with chronic pain. What I watched helped me to remember that, even though I may be stuck in bed dealing with vicious pains, some people still have it much worse.

[Joanne98]

11. CBS is making another cop show geez don't they have a million already!

[AtLiberty]

12. I am not knocking Farrah...

I am not knocking Farrah. I wish her well.

But if the harsh realities of cancer are what she intended to portray in this documentary, then she fell short. For many of us, the nightmare of not having access to health care is just as terrifying as the illness/injury/condition itself.

I wish everyone could have access to health care.

[pacalo]

13. I thought it was extremely well done.

Her bravery in exposing her private suffering is on the same level as her award-winning roles in which she dared to show a less glamorous side. How many other actresses would show their awkwardly-shaved bald heads to the world, as Farrah, who is known for her beautiful hair, did in this documentary?

It was hard seeing her in pain during & after the treatments & her agony as she heard the L.A. doctor tell her that new lesions were seen on the MRI. But seeing her son visit her from jail with his "LA County" jumpsuit & leg chains on, & Ryan telling him that "this may be the last time you see her" was heart-wrenching. "Do you know who this is? This is your son."

She was an influence on my life & I'll always be grateful for her existence. I adored her.

[ronnykmarshall]

16. The part w/ Redmond was heart breaking.

I also loved seeing Kate Jackson and Jackie Smith at Farrah's side.

My heart just goes out to Farrah's dad. Losing two daughters to cancer. Parents are not supposed to bury their children. I know this will hard for my mom to watch.

[rustydog]

18. At the end of the day, we are Mothers, Fathers, sons and daughters

to those we love most. All of us will die all of us have to deal with dying in our own way.

Rich, poor, black, white, no one is immune. It is so easy to label people, Farrah is this blond vacuous actor, Ryan is whatever..the son an addict and convict.
They are human beings who have every right to be on this planet just like you and me.

Cancer does not care who or what you are. When you go, you went as someone's love of their life, their mother, father, son or daughter and you were loved by them.

Can't we respect that fact?

My heart goes out to Farrah's family.

[AtLiberty]

19. Of course I respect that...

Just as I can respect that Farrah would have probably died two years sooner without the very best health care money could buy.

She got to experience the love of her family and friends two extra years because of it.

[ronnykmarshall]

20. xoxoxoxox

[SusanaMontana41]

21. What rustydog said

n/t

[llmart]

23. Her role as a battered wife.....

in "The Burning Bed" (I think that was the title) was amazing. I'll never forget that movie.

[hollowdweller]

22. Her poster was in tons of dorm rooms when I was in college

I didn't see the show but it makes me sad that somebody was sort of part of my life in some way growing up in the 70's is suffering like that. Especially someone who was so pretty and had a lot going for her.

Life ain't fair.

[closeupready]

24. This is available for viewing on Hulu - I started watching it tonight but

I've been juggling things and will have to finish it tomorrow. Makes me so sad because she was outrageously beautiful - even though Charlie's Angels was the bulk of work that made her famous, really, she was THE face of the 70's.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

25. proud to not be counted among them

[Vidar]

26. I thought it was pretty good.