Subtitle: Thanks, James Van Der Beek, for making a hero move.
See, I figured out why this special from December of 2024 was re-aired.
On February 11th, that actor who'd been in "Dawson's Creek" died.
James would have been 49 years old next month on March 8th.
The woman to the left is Mandy Moore, the choreographer of their burlesque dance routine to Joe Cocker's "You Can Leave Your Hat On."
Starting from the left, the men are Bruno Tonioli, Taye Diggs, Anthony Anderson, Chris Jones, James Van Der Beek, and Tyler Posey.
As diverse as their ages (in 2024) are their distinguishing features.
Bruno is the 68-year-old Italian dance machine of the stars.
Taye is the 53-year-old hunk that once helped a new divorcee find her strengths and get her groove back.
Anthony, at 54, represents the chunky boy next door that could always make you laugh and feel pretty, as a game show host always should.
Chris, that tall drink of water in the middle, at 30 years old and a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs, fulfills every woman's fantasy of making it with a buff football player.
James, 47 years old, was the genteel white dude who had been a teen-bop heart throb on television.
Tyler, the tattooed 33-year-old Latino with the musical background, is the perfect addition for the six-man team.
But let me set the record straight: this was not a Chippendales strip show.
Anthony Anderson had lost his father and three brothers to cancer and wanted to do something to encourage men to take action.
He knew that men, no matter what race, have a problem with associating going to a doctor with stripping down and showing weakness.
What might put that action into proper perspective than to strip down with a few others, in front of an audience, and to bare all in the name of fighting prostate, testicular, and colorectal cancer?
He went ahead and booked the theater where the show would be held.
The problem, then, was trying to get other male celebrities to bring their star power for that fundraiser.
The first to show up was Taye Diggs, unsure of whether he really wanted to strip down, but wanting to honor the deaths of his mom and dad to cancer.
Bruno Tonioli was the next to walk through the door for the training session; he'd come to honor his friend and mentor.
Chris Jones showed up just a few days before the show, to replace a man who'd had to leave; Chris was there to honor his coach.
Tyler Posey's mom had died of breast cancer, having postponed going to the doctor until it was too late.
That had almost been James Van Der Beek's story, but with him being the one who had waited until almost too late.
As he finally told the others at dinner a few nights before the show, he had known something was wrong, but he didn't want to see the doctor, afraid his worst fears might be true.
That sounds like exactly what Daddy had done in 2008, and like exactly what Mother Pat had done in 2006.
Both of them were dead within a year.
The re-airing of the 2024 special was done to continue to raise awareness.
Fox even kept the QR code onscreen at all times, encouraging viewers to donate to support colorectal cancer research.
That truly is a disease that should claim no lives and cause no heartbreak, as a simple screening can lead to its discovery and treatment.
Want to be a man that takes care of his loved ones?
Get a colonoscopy.
Have a prostate exam.
See your doctor on a regular basis so they know you.
Cancer doesn't discriminate, it's an equal opportunity killer.
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