There have been very few fat (ie normal to overweight) people on television in my lifetime, and the ones who did grace my HD were usually the subject of a reality show. If I saw someone above a size 4, s/he was either on a scary documentary about morbid obesity (I'm not making light of that, by the way, although the fear tactics rub me the wrong way), or part of a competition to lose weight faster than other heavy people (I know some of you really love The Biggest Loser, but I still think it's a bit cruel), or, once and never again (yet), a Bachelor-esque competition to win the heart of a meaty man who digs 'curvy women.'
But regardless of how I feel about the portrayal of fat people on television, the shows that pack a bit more poundage must be doing pretty well, since they're multiplying every year. I can think of at least 4 get-fit shows, where BL used to be the only one. TLC has upped its number of weight-centric fear documentaries, too. And now fictional shows are starting to catch on, it seems.
First was Huge, which is set in a fat camp and is borderline terrible. The acting isn't great, but then again, how can you blame young actors who probably could never get a role until this show? The writing can tend toward clichè, but that's forgiven by the occasional snappy comeback or poignant description of a body part. In general, actually, it's a pretty decent show, and although certain aspects of the plot are totally ridiculous (a camper-counselor relationship at fat camp? Really??), the fact that it regularly gives me flashbacks to my own experience with weight loss camp means there must be some serious authenticity going on. I won't lie: I make the effort to watch every episode online.
And now there's a new sitcom coming out called Mike and Molly, about an overweight couple. And based on the NYTimes review, it sounds like it might do a nice job of straddling the line between being all about the fat and being a regular sitcom (which would ignore the two elephants in the room). Now that's something Huge doesn't really do. Huge's plot lines and character relationships depend on the fat; it's the best part of the show. But if MandM can show the effect that the main characters' weight problems have on their everyday lives without making it out like fat is all they are, then we just might have a real show on our hands. Not a reality show, but a show that demonstrates the reality of being overweight through fiction.
Because isn't it often the case that fiction demonstrates reality more accurately than the truth? (Well, I hope that won't be the case with my nonfiction memoir, obviously...) All I know is, every little step toward balancing the scales on tv, in magazines, and generally in the media is a good thing. And shows about how obese people can't stand and get bedsores don't count as an accurate representation of the weight problem that most people in America and the UK and now even France (HA) are facing. But hopefully these fictional shows will.
But regardless of how I feel about the portrayal of fat people on television, the shows that pack a bit more poundage must be doing pretty well, since they're multiplying every year. I can think of at least 4 get-fit shows, where BL used to be the only one. TLC has upped its number of weight-centric fear documentaries, too. And now fictional shows are starting to catch on, it seems.
First was Huge, which is set in a fat camp and is borderline terrible. The acting isn't great, but then again, how can you blame young actors who probably could never get a role until this show? The writing can tend toward clichè, but that's forgiven by the occasional snappy comeback or poignant description of a body part. In general, actually, it's a pretty decent show, and although certain aspects of the plot are totally ridiculous (a camper-counselor relationship at fat camp? Really??), the fact that it regularly gives me flashbacks to my own experience with weight loss camp means there must be some serious authenticity going on. I won't lie: I make the effort to watch every episode online.
And now there's a new sitcom coming out called Mike and Molly, about an overweight couple. And based on the NYTimes review, it sounds like it might do a nice job of straddling the line between being all about the fat and being a regular sitcom (which would ignore the two elephants in the room). Now that's something Huge doesn't really do. Huge's plot lines and character relationships depend on the fat; it's the best part of the show. But if MandM can show the effect that the main characters' weight problems have on their everyday lives without making it out like fat is all they are, then we just might have a real show on our hands. Not a reality show, but a show that demonstrates the reality of being overweight through fiction.
Because isn't it often the case that fiction demonstrates reality more accurately than the truth? (Well, I hope that won't be the case with my nonfiction memoir, obviously...) All I know is, every little step toward balancing the scales on tv, in magazines, and generally in the media is a good thing. And shows about how obese people can't stand and get bedsores don't count as an accurate representation of the weight problem that most people in America and the UK and now even France (HA) are facing. But hopefully these fictional shows will.
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