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James Van Der Beek's Diagnosis and Its Impact

When James Van Der Beek broke the news during rehearsals, it became clear how significant their work truly was. As Anthony Anderson said, "For what it means, for our friend to go through this personally to share with us... it really showed the importance of what a show like ‘The Real Full Monty’ means." Van Der Beek's journey since then has been one of strength and determination. In an Instagram post, he shared his diagnosis with the world, explaining that he had been dealing with it privately while focusing on treatment and overall health.

However, his planned public announcement was "altered" when a tabloid was about to run the news. He took a moment to apologize to those who had to find out through the media. But through it all, he remains positive, as he told Fox News Digital that he's "doing great."

The Cast's Reactions and Experiences

"DWTS" judge Bruno Tonioli was immediately struck by Van Der Beek's strength and bravery. He admired the positive attitude and character shown during rehearsals. "The rehearsals were great, it was when we actually had to do it! We loved it," Tonioli added.

"Teen Wolf" star Tyler Posey also shared his thoughts, saying that the training was where the heart of the show was. Taye Diggs initially thought the preparation would be easy but soon realized the hard work involved. "I got to know each and every one of these fellas in a very intimate way. To have one focus, and then have an art form kind of behind that is very powerful," he said.

Van Der Beek joked that "60% of my kids were totally on board" with his participation, adding to the lighthearted moments during this challenging time.

The Importance of the Show's Message

Anderson emphasized the importance of the show's message, stating that it means a lot not only to them but to the community at large. "People understand how important this is. All my ‘Dancing with the Stars’ team, my friends because it is a great show, but the message is important and everybody was totally supportive," he said.

Tonioli further explained that part of his draw to the show was the loss of his friend and fellow "DWTS" judge Len Goodman, who died from prostate cancer last year. "So when you asked me, it’s definitely, definitely because, [we] lost Len. It will make a difference. People will watch this, and they will go out there and get checked. And it’s very, very important," he said.

"The Real Full Monty" premieres Monday, Dec. 9, on FOX and streams the following day on Hulu, bringing this important message to a wider audience.