By shelz

It seems like the entertainment is finally warming up to the idea that real people exist out of size 6’s and 34 inch waists. That acceptance however, isn’t so cut and dry.  Waistlines have been growing for a while now and Hollywood was going to have to face that and govern their coverage of American life accordingly. If you take a cursory glance, it does appear strides have been made.  There is plenty of programming with large people coming at you from most outlets, but is what we are seeing a balanced presentation? 

It’s a step in the right direction, I suppose. Less than a decade ago, the chunkiest of the characters in most programming was there for comic relief, usually delivering punch line after self-deprecating punch line because it was totally okay to laugh with the fat person; just not at them. Word to Rerun.

The balance is tough to nail though.  With obesity being one of the leading causes of disease and death in the country, it’s easy to hide behind not wanting to present an supposedly unhealthy lifestyle as acceptable.  But drugs, alcohol, gun violence and psychopaths also kill people and there isn’t a shortage of them in entertainment.  On the flip side, presenting a plethora of fat characters as people who have nothing more on life’s plate than a desire to lose weight and be “normal” while battling the demons of low self-esteem is stereotypical twaddle.

The latter of the two concepts is of course the lane most of these shows travel in and this type of show is becoming massively popular with viewers.  Reality shows like “The Biggest Loser” “Money Hungry”, “Celebrity Fit Club” and “Dance Your Ass Off” pull in some grand ratings while we root for the oversized contestants who have finally decided to put down the two pound hamburgers, get off their duffs and sweat it out.  Don’t get mad at me.  This is normally how these folks present themselves. Yes, it’s the angle of the show, but why is that the only angle?

New scripted shows are popping up as well. “Huge” and “Mike & Molly” are new to the TV scene and are expected to do well in the Neilsens.  The lead characters are overweight and billed by the creators as more than just their appearances.  It’s great in theory, but the trailing back stories still present these well-rounded characters weight first.  One show is about fat camp, the other about a couple who meet at Overeaters Anonymous.

Sigh.

The issue here, is that most people are a conglomeration of concerns, attributes, problems and characteristics; except fat people. Whether they are happy with themselves or not, the analysis begins and ends with size.  So media has separated them from everyone else in this liberal stab at representation, but in doing so, have polarized them as people who don’t have any other pressing issues except what the scale reads.

So why do we watch these shows?  Is it for the warm and fuzzy we get seeing the triumph of overcoming a dilemma? Is it the idea that misery loves company?  Or do we enjoy watching big folks make a mockery of themselves, which unfortunately is how most of these shows have been reduced to in their 30 minutes?

It’s all of that.

We are obsessed with weight in this country.  Weight loss is one of the largest industries around, taking in billions of dollars per year and I’m sure big business is aware that as long as fat folks buy into the skinny standard, their coffers will remain full. Within fat character X on any given fat people show, you can find comfort in knowing you aren’t the only one, and inspiration to kill the two pound hamburgers, get off your duff and sweat it out.  You also find derision and a lack of acceptance.  Regardless of how many shows crop up and how many obese actors are employed, if you dig deep enough, you will find that each and every presentation’s final suggestion is that there is something wrong with these people being who they are. That’s hardly fair or balanced.

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