In an exclusive conversation with TooFab prior to the airing of his new Fox special, Anderson described Van Der Beek’s news as a “bombshell” that caught the entire group off guard. His honesty in sharing such a personal struggle not only revealed his vulnerability but also deepened the bond among the cast.

“James dropped [the diagnosis] on us while we were rehearsing and having dinner on camera. He was very forthcoming and honest,” Anderson shared with TooFab. He emphasized how the atmosphere of the show would have been drastically different had they filmed at an earlier time, without the context of what Van Der Beek was going through.

“Had we talked to him six weeks prior, he would not have been able to do the show due to the state he was in,” Anderson disclosed, highlighting the gravity of the situation and the importance of timing in their production.

Anderson noted that Van Der Beek’s choice to disclose his stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis fostered an even stronger camaraderie among the group, reinforcing their brotherhood during a challenging time.

Anderson remarked that Van Der Beek’s revelation was an incredibly brave act, demonstrating the strength it takes to confront personal challenges openly.

“Sometimes we need to do this,” he stated. “We have to step out of our own way and share our stories with the world, which can be a powerful tool for others facing similar struggles.”

Fellow co-star Taye Diggs remarked that while each of the stars involved in the show has personal experiences with cancer, Van Der Beek’s openness about his diagnosis served as a poignant reminder of their purpose in participating in this project.

“It made it even more immediate and significantly more important to be out there and spread this message,” he stated, emphasizing the urgency of their mission.

“This was a much-needed wake-up call,” he explained. “Often, when faced with the past, it’s easy to leave those memories behind. However, when James shared what he was truly dealing with at that moment, it served as a very welcome reminder of why we were there.”

The core message of the two-hour strip/dance special revolves around raising awareness for crucial screenings and early detection of prostate, testicular, and colorectal cancers. Anderson, Van Der Beek, and Diggs are joined by stars like Chris Jones, Tyler Posey, and Bruno Tonioli in this important initiative.

“I was approached by Fox to participate in this show,” Anderson recalled regarding the early stages of production. “I was familiar with The Actual Full Monty, the film, and the adaptations they’ve been doing in Europe for several years. So when they asked me to be the first host here in the U.S., I was thrilled and eager to join.”

“I lost my biological father and three of his siblings to cancer within a year and a half of each other, and a very dear friend from college also succumbed to cancer just as we were filming The Full Monty,” he continued. “It was crucial for me to participate in this show to raise awareness, especially for men, about the importance of visiting the doctor and getting screened for testicular, colorectal, and prostate cancers.”

Regarding how he managed to gather some of Hollywood’s biggest names to participate in the show, he admitted he wasn’t entirely forthcoming.

“I didn’t exactly tell them what we’d be doing,” he confessed to TooFab. “Taye Diggs would probably come over here and say, ‘Yeah, he asked me to do the show, but he didn’t mention I would be going butt naked.’”

When TooFab spoke to Diggs, he acknowledged that he felt some “trepidation” once rehearsals began, remarking that the choreography was “not as easy as I thought it would be.”

“I’m so relieved that it’s all done, shot, and in the can. I will say that during the process, there were definitely nerves,” he shared. “But once we were reminded of our purpose and having that supportive crew behind me, it all became manageable. It was unexpected but fulfilling.”

Inspired by the 1997 film The Full Monty and based on the unscripted format of The Actual Full Monty that first aired in the U.K. on ITV in 2017, the special showcases the cast as they prepare and rehearse for a grand strip-tease dance, choreographed by Mandy Moore from So You Think You Can Dance, in front of a live audience.

The highly anticipated two-hour special, The Actual Full Monty, is set to premiere on Monday, December 9 at 8 PM ET/PT on FOX and will be available for streaming the following day on HULU.