More to Love is supposed to be positive. The marketing and commercials are full of “you go, girl” lingo, lots and lots of “real women have curves” platitudes (as if thin women somehow aren’t real). But this forced positivity feels awkward, another symptom of the tension this show embodies—and the tension found in most media portraying the fat set.
Is showing plus-size women in prime-time enough to promote understanding? Or do producers have a responsibility to follow through with the idea and create something that doesn’t fall back on cheap clichés?
A really great piece about More to Love from The Rotund. I chose not to watch the premier last night, mostly because I don't like these types of reality shows to begin with. I'm going to watch another episode or two of Drop Dead Diva before I share my opinion but I like it so far. I don't see myself giving More to Love any of my time, though.
Further reading:
- Critics Have Mixed Feelings About More To Love, Overweight Women from Jezebel
- Look at the fat girl from Salon
- Fatty TV: OMGWTFBBW! from Shapely Prose
I was going to watch the premiere but I forgot it was on last night. My BFF texted me, she is about a size 6, and said she was offended by the whole posting of the weight. I just think that it is unnecessary and changes the meaning of the show. Why can't plus size women/men just have a regular show? Why does it always have to turn into weight loss or "look at how much they weigh" type situation? I may watch next week but I doubt it. I have been hearing about Drop Dead Diva, I will have to check it out. Love your blog.
Posted by: Nicole | July 29, 2009 at 06:33 AM
Marianne's article on the Daily Beast is awesome, but my one word of advice is to preserve your Sanity Points and not read the comments. Nothing good can come of it.
Posted by: Leslie | July 29, 2009 at 08:57 AM
Yep, take Leslie's advice. Marianne wrote a nice, thought-provoking article and 99% of the commenters are only obsessed with how much "the obese" are costing them when it comes to healthcare and how unhealthy the ladies on the show look.
Posted by: Bree | July 29, 2009 at 10:54 AM
Thank you for stating this! I kind of felt the same way and I'm so off the Reality show bandwagon. Too much good quality scripted small screen scripted entertainment is getting shafted due to the cheap production and insta-ratings bonanza of Reality shows.
In any case, I will check out that article it seems very interesting. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Noel | July 29, 2009 at 01:37 PM
I was just reading the link to the business reviews of the show. I am not sure how I feel about The Boston Herald using the descriptor Ruby-esque. What do you all think?
Posted by: Catgal | July 29, 2009 at 03:05 PM
I am enjoying Drop Dead Diva so far, but I was a bit offended watching the last episode of Dating in the Dark. The guy said he didn't like plump ladies and the one he was talking about is actually average size. What a skewed idea of what ladies should look like.
Posted by: Roni | July 29, 2009 at 04:24 PM
Watched more to love last night. First, I don't like they show the weight of each contestant. They dont do that on the regular bachelorette shows.
Second, the women said some terrible things about themselves. At the end we had "i'm just afraid i'll never find love like this." "Who will ever love me? This was my one big chance." and "I've never had a boyfriend in my entire life!"
Worse than that they were saying things about the male like, "I think I am already falling in love with him" which switched to montage of him kissing on pretty much ALL of them in the coming episodes.
Bleh. And these are smart educated women with good jobs.
Posted by: Hazel | July 29, 2009 at 07:06 PM
Gee Women's don't think like that? Sounds like something out of a Fiction Book.
National Geo TV always has something better than this. I remember one time in my life had a Woman who would not leave me alone. She in her 20's or such and me about 19. Worthless Husband who had to watch every sports show on.
She was married and I was not really interested in another man's wife.
SteveD
Posted by: SteveD | August 01, 2009 at 07:16 AM
Jeez, I watched the second episode of this on Megavideo (couldn't find the first) and what a load of tripe it is. I blogged about it myself actually.
I hated how the women were depicted as weepy, man-hungry, insecure little puppies trailing behind this benevolent messiah who "loves them for who they are". *Gag* with a capital G. I don't think I could stomach another. Any chance it gets canceled early?
Posted by: Solace | August 10, 2009 at 12:56 PM