Per lovely Tiffany's suggestion, I decided to tune into the latest train wreck of Fox TV...and train wreck it was.
Thankfully, it was on directly after "Hell's Kitchen," one of Brian's favorite shows. Considering one episode is exactly like the next, I don't understand the draw of "Hell's Kitchen," but I think Brian would be content to sit on the couch all night and yell "Donkey!" at the TV. My dad really likes this show, too, so maybe it is one of those things deeply embedded on the Y chromosome. Anyways, I was able to trap Brian into watching "More to Love" with me and get his expert opinion, too.
The premise of the show, in case you don't know, is that one bachelor has his pick of 20 (25? I don't know, I missed the first episode) gorgeous ladies. The catch is that everyone is overweight, hence the title. I guess it's supposed to be some real world commentary about how "reality shows" don't really focus on "real" people, and somehow, one is more "real" if they take up more space on this planet. And so, we have a chubby bachelor named Luke looking for love among 20+ chubby, er, fluffy, women.
I feel a little traitorous reviewing this show, since technically, my BMI would qualify in the 'obese' range right now. (he's a BIG kid, okay?) Not to mention, God forbid anything ever happen to Brian and I would probably qualify for "More to Love: Season 2." You'd find me crying on camera, talking about my lost husband, my gigantic child, and my grapefruit size fibroid. Hell, at that rate, Fox would probably give me my own show.
Also I need to be honest here, just before the show popped on, I literally was begging - begging - Brian to forge through the freezer to find a vanilla cupcake for me. I laid there and happily ate the frosting while all of these women bemoaned their bad luck of being overweight not feeling the least bit guilty. What? If baby wants a cupcake...baby gets a cupcake.
So with that out of the way, holy crap, I had no idea our fluffy friends had so much angst. All of these women were just so...sad. This show is like a therapsit's mine field. I mean, everywhere you step, be careful because another issue will blow up in your face. One girl had never been on a date in her whole life, another girl only dated guys who never told her she was pretty, and then the third (the sassy one that no one liked) had a chip on her shoulder that just screamed defense mechanism. Fox has got to be paying overtime, not just for the catering bill (aw, snap!) but also for the numerous therapists that are likely available for this bevy of plus-sized gals.
I did find it interesting that a hierarchy of fatness seemed to develop as the show progressed. Kristian (? - the curly haired girl who got the last ring) felt as though Malissa (blond from SoCal) hadn't really "suffered" enough since Malissa only gained her weight after high school. Whereas Kristian has been fat her whole life, this somehow entitles her to more...cheesecake? Pity? Empathy? I have no idea. But fat people, even surrounded by other fat people, can be mean. What started out as this attitude of "Hey, we're all in this together" has devolved into the most basic of humnan conditions. It's near impossible to not compare oneself to another, and whatever the variable is - weight, looks, money, knowledge - it's almost impossible to not get competitive. This is why communism doesn't work. (Tiffany, feel free to add a comment about the evils of socialism, if you wish. :-) )
This show definitely presupposes a great deal. 1.) Luke is allegedly this hot bachelor from Santa Monica. Aside from the fact that I'm pretty sure no one is allowed within Santa Monica city limits that has more than 4% body fat, what says these women are even attracted to a larger guy? Likewise, 2.) is he only attracted to larger women? I think the problem here is that both parties feel like the 'default' - i.e. both are not good enough for the Kiptyns of the world, and so they must settle for the Kiptyn 2.0 (or in this case, 3.0) version. Which then suggests that 3.)these relationships are not being forged out of want, but out of need, which is the WORST kind of relationship to get into. And the kind of relationship that ends the fastest with the most collateral damage.
Also, Luke has the personality of a pancake. This man's voice is so monotone and his affect is so flat that he sounds more like a slightly condescending serial killer than a guy looking for some fun and a good date. I know I've only watched one episode, but he's more boring than Kiptyn. I did not know this was possible. His comment while the women were on the boat - "So, ladies, is your steak cooked okay?' - just made me cringe. Oh, geez. And then all of the wanton kissing and inappropriate groping? Yecht. It's like watching polar bears mate. He's clearly having more fun than he's ever had in his life, and he better enjoy it now. Lord knows he's never going to have this much attention again.
Finally, I just have to comment on the women's claims that being fat has been such a terrible part of their lives and has caused them undo amounts of pain. Um, I hate to point this out, but being overweight is NOT a chronic illness. You are not an amputee. You do not have cancer. You are not in a wheelchair. (ask me about that some day...using a wheelchair during this pregnancy has been one of the most interesting social experiments I've ever embarked on). You are overweight, and this is most likely by choice. Sorry to be so harsh, but put the Cheetos bag down and listen up: if you don't like it, change it. It's not fun. It's not easy. I've certainly had my own struggles with the battle of the bulge and losing weight can be a major hurdle to overcome. Most of the skinny people I know are mean because they are hungry, but they prioritize their health over their impulses. Spin class is not fun, but the end justifies the means.
I also refuse - REFUSE - to give anyone overweight an ounce of sympathy for their "condition." If food is truly an addiction, let me be the first to say that help is out there. Likewise, if these women have experienced trauma (such as sexual abuse or sexual assault) and are using food to compensate, again, seek treatment. I don't know if the producers of "More to Love" are expecting their audience to relate to these women, but it is downright offensive in my opinion. It just collaborates with this new attitude that is emerging in this country that allows - and exaults - victimhood. Poor, poor me. Feel bad for me because of x, y. z. It doesnt' promote any level of empowerment or solution-focused thinking, but instead contributes to this self-pitying cycle of martyrdom. I mean, c'mon people, break out of it. Rise above whatever demons you have and get a grip. No one is force-feeding you pudding. so make a decision to stop being a victim.
Obseity is causing healthcare costs in this country to soar. Heart disease and Type II diabetes are at record levels. All of these are PREVENTABLE conditions. I understand that fat is allegedly the 'last discrimation,' but again, it's a condition that is TREATABLE. I don't feel badly for these women because they are fat, I feel badly for these women because they don't see any way out of their emotional prisons.
::stepping off soapbox::
And in the end, Luke handed out rings (Rings? Why rings? I told Brian donut holes would have been more appropriate, but he corrected me quickly and said they are actually Ring-Pops) to all but three women, thereby crushing those three women's hopes and dreams. Not really; only one seemed genuinely upset. Which means the drive-thru at Taco Bell was probably fairly busy that night.
Grade: C
Thankfully, it was on directly after "Hell's Kitchen," one of Brian's favorite shows. Considering one episode is exactly like the next, I don't understand the draw of "Hell's Kitchen," but I think Brian would be content to sit on the couch all night and yell "Donkey!" at the TV. My dad really likes this show, too, so maybe it is one of those things deeply embedded on the Y chromosome. Anyways, I was able to trap Brian into watching "More to Love" with me and get his expert opinion, too.
The premise of the show, in case you don't know, is that one bachelor has his pick of 20 (25? I don't know, I missed the first episode) gorgeous ladies. The catch is that everyone is overweight, hence the title. I guess it's supposed to be some real world commentary about how "reality shows" don't really focus on "real" people, and somehow, one is more "real" if they take up more space on this planet. And so, we have a chubby bachelor named Luke looking for love among 20+ chubby, er, fluffy, women.
I feel a little traitorous reviewing this show, since technically, my BMI would qualify in the 'obese' range right now. (he's a BIG kid, okay?) Not to mention, God forbid anything ever happen to Brian and I would probably qualify for "More to Love: Season 2." You'd find me crying on camera, talking about my lost husband, my gigantic child, and my grapefruit size fibroid. Hell, at that rate, Fox would probably give me my own show.
Also I need to be honest here, just before the show popped on, I literally was begging - begging - Brian to forge through the freezer to find a vanilla cupcake for me. I laid there and happily ate the frosting while all of these women bemoaned their bad luck of being overweight not feeling the least bit guilty. What? If baby wants a cupcake...baby gets a cupcake.
So with that out of the way, holy crap, I had no idea our fluffy friends had so much angst. All of these women were just so...sad. This show is like a therapsit's mine field. I mean, everywhere you step, be careful because another issue will blow up in your face. One girl had never been on a date in her whole life, another girl only dated guys who never told her she was pretty, and then the third (the sassy one that no one liked) had a chip on her shoulder that just screamed defense mechanism. Fox has got to be paying overtime, not just for the catering bill (aw, snap!) but also for the numerous therapists that are likely available for this bevy of plus-sized gals.
I did find it interesting that a hierarchy of fatness seemed to develop as the show progressed. Kristian (? - the curly haired girl who got the last ring) felt as though Malissa (blond from SoCal) hadn't really "suffered" enough since Malissa only gained her weight after high school. Whereas Kristian has been fat her whole life, this somehow entitles her to more...cheesecake? Pity? Empathy? I have no idea. But fat people, even surrounded by other fat people, can be mean. What started out as this attitude of "Hey, we're all in this together" has devolved into the most basic of humnan conditions. It's near impossible to not compare oneself to another, and whatever the variable is - weight, looks, money, knowledge - it's almost impossible to not get competitive. This is why communism doesn't work. (Tiffany, feel free to add a comment about the evils of socialism, if you wish. :-) )
This show definitely presupposes a great deal. 1.) Luke is allegedly this hot bachelor from Santa Monica. Aside from the fact that I'm pretty sure no one is allowed within Santa Monica city limits that has more than 4% body fat, what says these women are even attracted to a larger guy? Likewise, 2.) is he only attracted to larger women? I think the problem here is that both parties feel like the 'default' - i.e. both are not good enough for the Kiptyns of the world, and so they must settle for the Kiptyn 2.0 (or in this case, 3.0) version. Which then suggests that 3.)these relationships are not being forged out of want, but out of need, which is the WORST kind of relationship to get into. And the kind of relationship that ends the fastest with the most collateral damage.
Also, Luke has the personality of a pancake. This man's voice is so monotone and his affect is so flat that he sounds more like a slightly condescending serial killer than a guy looking for some fun and a good date. I know I've only watched one episode, but he's more boring than Kiptyn. I did not know this was possible. His comment while the women were on the boat - "So, ladies, is your steak cooked okay?' - just made me cringe. Oh, geez. And then all of the wanton kissing and inappropriate groping? Yecht. It's like watching polar bears mate. He's clearly having more fun than he's ever had in his life, and he better enjoy it now. Lord knows he's never going to have this much attention again.
Finally, I just have to comment on the women's claims that being fat has been such a terrible part of their lives and has caused them undo amounts of pain. Um, I hate to point this out, but being overweight is NOT a chronic illness. You are not an amputee. You do not have cancer. You are not in a wheelchair. (ask me about that some day...using a wheelchair during this pregnancy has been one of the most interesting social experiments I've ever embarked on). You are overweight, and this is most likely by choice. Sorry to be so harsh, but put the Cheetos bag down and listen up: if you don't like it, change it. It's not fun. It's not easy. I've certainly had my own struggles with the battle of the bulge and losing weight can be a major hurdle to overcome. Most of the skinny people I know are mean because they are hungry, but they prioritize their health over their impulses. Spin class is not fun, but the end justifies the means.
I also refuse - REFUSE - to give anyone overweight an ounce of sympathy for their "condition." If food is truly an addiction, let me be the first to say that help is out there. Likewise, if these women have experienced trauma (such as sexual abuse or sexual assault) and are using food to compensate, again, seek treatment. I don't know if the producers of "More to Love" are expecting their audience to relate to these women, but it is downright offensive in my opinion. It just collaborates with this new attitude that is emerging in this country that allows - and exaults - victimhood. Poor, poor me. Feel bad for me because of x, y. z. It doesnt' promote any level of empowerment or solution-focused thinking, but instead contributes to this self-pitying cycle of martyrdom. I mean, c'mon people, break out of it. Rise above whatever demons you have and get a grip. No one is force-feeding you pudding. so make a decision to stop being a victim.
Obseity is causing healthcare costs in this country to soar. Heart disease and Type II diabetes are at record levels. All of these are PREVENTABLE conditions. I understand that fat is allegedly the 'last discrimation,' but again, it's a condition that is TREATABLE. I don't feel badly for these women because they are fat, I feel badly for these women because they don't see any way out of their emotional prisons.
::stepping off soapbox::
And in the end, Luke handed out rings (Rings? Why rings? I told Brian donut holes would have been more appropriate, but he corrected me quickly and said they are actually Ring-Pops) to all but three women, thereby crushing those three women's hopes and dreams. Not really; only one seemed genuinely upset. Which means the drive-thru at Taco Bell was probably fairly busy that night.
Grade: C
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