We don't get Showtime, so "Fat Actress" seemed like a myth to me. People talked about it but since I couldn't see it, I didn't believe it actually existed. But, I managed to catch the first episode on Comcast's OnDemand thing.
Oh, God. Why? WHY did I watch it?
I don't even know where to begin. I was just so asbolutely mortified by the entire show from beginning to end. I'm actually having trouble writing this post because I'm speechless.
Ok, first of all, the stereotypes. Ok YES, some black men like big, bootylicious white girls. Y'know, just like how some white guys like skinny girls with big tits. I'm sure the whole "date a black guy, black guys love fat girls!" thing was supposed to be some sort of comedic device but it failed to be... uh, funny.
Please don't think that I'm a prude with no sense of humor. That couldn't be less true. "Fat Actress" is so completely not funny that it ventures right into appalling. Sometimes making fun of stereotypes can be funny! Because stereotypes are sometimes true! But, really, it's just poorly executed, like the rest of the show.
What pisses me off the most is that Kirstie Alley had a chance to make a positive statement about size and just completely tossed that out the window. She's a miserable, self-hating, spoiled brat. She spends nearly the entire first episode in some sort of dressing gown, which does nothing but make her look sloppy. We see her shoving food down her face because she's depressed, whining to John Travolta (ahem, notice the belly on him?) because she can't get her own show, and generally doing whatever she can to perpetuate every negative stereotype that goes with being a fat woman.
In short, "Fat Actress" is awful. Maybe if Kirstie Alley had a shred of self-worth, it might've turned out to be an empowering, refreshing portrayal of a plus size woman. But TV doesn't want that. They want her miserable, self-loathing, and obnoxious.
What would happen if there was a show about a fat woman who didn't hate herself? Would the world come to an end if there were fat people on TV who weren't portrayed as pathetic, lazy, or just plain foolish? Would FAT become the new THIN?
I felt the same way when watching the Anna Nicole show—that is to say, mortified. I'm curious to know if either show ever had a different format that maybe performed badly with test audiences...either that, or both of these women were just truly desperate for another 15 minutes.
*sigh*
Posted by: Jeanna | April 25, 2005 at 11:15 AM
I totally agree about Fat Actress. I tivo'd it and watched about half of the first episode. I was so disgusted by it that I stopped watching it mid-stream and deleted my season pass.
Posted by: Lori Herrington | April 25, 2005 at 05:19 PM
sigh. i know, it makes me sad. they put her in the ugliest clothes and never ones that fit, too. i watched one episode by force and i'm trying to avoid ever doing it again.
Posted by: brittany | April 25, 2005 at 08:40 PM
I was thinking I read somewhere that it was supposed to be stupid and wrong and make fun of her. I think its all fictious, but it is a crappy show.
Posted by: Melanie | May 06, 2005 at 09:37 AM
You are so dead on with this! I watched it a few times and thought, she could have done so much better.
Well, now that I have more time, i am working on a weblog version of our ideal Fat Girl show, so stay tuned.
Also, still loving your Lane Bryant updates! The Torrid near me is hiring now, and although it's not LB, I've noticed they have some really awesome clothing as well lately, and I'm considering taking a job there.
you rock, miss thang!
Posted by: monique | May 27, 2005 at 02:38 PM
OMG You are so right. When I watched Fat Actress i wanted to strangle someone. First off not all fat women are little piggie shoveling burgers and anything in distance down. all I could think is if NAFTA was as powerful as AARP this crap would be a class action lawsuit...
Posted by: Crawford | June 29, 2005 at 10:54 PM
Oh, I couldn't agree with you more!
Just a side note: it was a small thing, but in that baseball movie with Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore (I can't remember the title, darn it)Drew's character had a buddy that was fat, fit (they showed her working out) and married to a great looking guy. They never said WORD ONE about her weight. The actress didn't get a lot of screen time, but it was cool to see nonetheless.
Posted by: Cecily | August 10, 2005 at 04:09 PM