How Vanessa Bayer's Childhood Battle With Leukemia Inspired 'I Love That for You' (Exclusive)

etonline.com:

, Vanessa Bayer has co-created and is starring in her first original series,, which is loosely inspired by the actress’ own childhood battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

On the Showtime comedy, Bayer plays an aspiring home-shopping program host named Joanna Gold, who has overcome her own childhood battle with cancer and is determined to be a top seller like her idol, longtime SVN host Jackie Stilton (Molly Shannon).

But when her job at SVN is on the line, she says that her cancer has returned, much to the surprise of her colleagues as well as her own parents, played by Bess Armstrong and Matt Malloy. “This character had childhood leukemia and I had childhood leukemia,” Bayer tells ET, explaining that she always wanted to write something about that time in her life because not only was it a difficult time but it proved to be interesting and darkly funny, especially in the way she was treated. “I would sort of use the fact that I was sick to get special treatment and I would sort of capitalize on the perks of having cancer.” She adds, “So, I thought it would be fun to do something where I explored that element about it,” especially when it all goes away. “We sort of love the special treatment that we get and when that time is over, when people forget about it, we’re like, ‘Well, where’s my special treatment?’” she explains.

In addition to that, Bayer is a lifelong fan of the home-shopping experience. “I’ve always thought it was such a fun world,” she shares, revealing that one time, “I bought a ring that was rose gold and yellow gold.