Anybody see Fat Actress on Showtime?

[trumad]

Kirstie Alley stars in it and it is fff'ing hilarious.

[CO Liberal]

1. Not to Fat People, It Isn't!!!!

They managed to cram every single stereotype about fat people into 30 minutes of ABSOLUTE CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[trumad]

2. Oh please

the main culprit was errr Fat. I think it's great that she can make fun of herself and at the same time show just how prejudice people can be toward fat people.

[CO Liberal]

6. Obviously, We're Looking At This From Different Perspectives

And I can tell you that as a larger American, I was highly insulted by the whole show.

Oh - they DID get one thing right. My wife goes out in her nightgown when I'm not home to hit the fast-food drive-thrus - NOT!!!! :eyes:

Kirstie Alley is setting the Fat Acceptance Movement back 30 years with this crap.

[medeak]

22. ditto

she's going to make fat the new sexy...love her!

[CO Liberal]

25. Fat Already IS Sexy

And us larger Americans can do very well without Kirstie Alley.

[medeak]

28. I think you've made your point perfectly clear

perhaps you will allow us on the west coast to form our own opinions.

[CO Liberal]

43. So, Now That It's Been Shown on the West Coast.....

...what do you think?

[CatWoman]

4. From what I understand, Kirstie is poking fun at herself

is that so bad?

[CO Liberal]

8. It Most Certainly Is...

...when she drags every fat person down with her. And that's exactly what she's doing.

[CatWoman]

10. I think it's great that she can laugh at herself

but that's just me.

[auntAgonist]

12. Don't get me wrong, please..

if she wants to laugh at herself, that's fine. I am offended that a show like that will probably have a good following. Once again it affirms that if you're fat, you're jolly, along with being lazy, and too dumb to put the fork down. WE might laugh on the outside ..
I don't trust her or this show to shed any positive light on 'fat' people at all.

[CO Liberal]

18. I Don't Trust Her At All

She's making a buck by insulting a large percentage of the TV viewing public. Good business move - NOT!!

[CatWoman]

23. *gasp*

I hit the trifecta!!!

I'm fat, jolly and BLACK!!!

excuse me while I dust off my tap shoes.

[CO Liberal]

27. Some Of Us Were Insulted By That Show

And fail to see the humor in it.

[Fenris]

29. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

:loveya:

:hi:

ROFL.

[Ellen Forradalom]

66. You're Santa?

If so, can you tell me what I'm getting next Christmas?

[CatWoman]

105. HO-HO-HO

Your'e getting a lump of coal!!!!

[CO Liberal]

13. She's Not Just Laughing At Herself, CatWoman

She's putting down all fat people. A group of people who are ridiculed, put down, and discriminated against every day of their lives.

[tjdee]

17. It sounds like when black people do something...

that's what this exchange is reminding me of.

It's like, Kirstie can't be just talking about herself, as the show isn't called "Kirstie", it's called "Fat Actress", and she is now being the torchbearer for all overweight people everywhere, and she should think about how this affects all larger people everywhere.

Kind of like when...um....some black person does something, and then you hear black people saying stuff like that. I can't think of a good example, and I'm probably being incendiary....but do you kind of get what I mean?

[auntAgonist]

20. yes.

[CO Liberal]

21. I Get EXACTLY What You Mean

When she was on "Veronica's Closet" and made jokes about her weight, it was about her. On this show, she's playing to stereotypes.

[tjdee]

34. I don't think that's always fair though.

And it puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the celebrity to do what their group wants them to do, and it can be incredibly restrictive to a person's creativity.

As a black person, actually, when I hear it about a black person, I find it irritating more often than not although I realize why it happens--and obviously that is the truth, that one sometimes speaks for all.

There are, of course, obvious "thanks, asshole!" moments...I haven't seen this show, so I can't comment on that.

[CO Liberal]

35. It's Not Worth Watching

As a black person, actually, when I hear it about a black person, I find it irritating more often than not although I realize why it happens--and obviously that is the truth, that one sometimes speaks for all.

Unfortunately, I'm afraid it's human nature to stereotype groups based on perceived characteristics. I wish is wasn't so, but it is. And this show plays to every negative stereotype about fat people.

[liberalpress]

46. A televsion show? Playing to stereotypes?

I'm shocked, I tell you, shocked.

I find it amazing that we all know what television is, and then are shocked when it behaves exactly as expected.

[CO Liberal]

62. The Thing That Shocked ME....

...was that Showtime apparantly had nothing better to show during those 30 minutes last night. Even a test pattern would have been more entertaining.


Source: http://www.rap.ucar.edu/

[redqueen]

92. I think you can find 'Get A Sense of Humor' courses online now.

Well... you should be able to, anyway.

Good luck with the outrage!

:hi:

[CO Liberal]

109. It Takes Outraged People to Make a Difference In This World

Remember that.

[redqueen]

115. This I know.

It's just knowing which things need to have a difference made about. (My, wasn't that well written! Hope you know what I mean...)

From the Salon review posted below, it seems like she's using these over-the-top depictions to drive home a message. Maybe that's wrong... I dunno... but I do know that a prime-time show on ShowTime isn't something I'm going to worry myself sick over.

[CO Liberal]

127. What Level Does an Injustice Have to Rise To....

...in order for you to worry about it?

This show never should have seen the light of day; I hope it's cancelled within the next few weeks.

[Cyndee_Lou_Who]

130. Exactly!!

"...seems like she's using these over-the-top depictions to drive home a message..."

That's exactly the point. Depicting the ludicrously of A) what MSM depicts as 'normal' B) the EXTREMES that are taken to avoid being labeled a 'fat actress'

Really, to be offended means that you entirely missed the satire. Like others have said, change the channel. But, the outrage is a bit, well... outrageous.

[CO Liberal]

134. I Know Satire When I See It

And "Fat Actress" was no satire. It was nothing but televised garbage, IMHO.

[Cyndee_Lou_Who]

142. Right, and opinions are like assholes: everybody's got one.

Some people enjoyed it and others did not.

[CO Liberal]

152. But I Can't Understand....

...how anyone can enjoy anything so demeaning and unfunny.

:shrug:

[Cyndee_Lou_Who]

160. Because, dear friend, humor is subjective.

Cest la vie...

I am amazed that folks continue to pollute their bodies with processed foods, eat fast food, and consume more refined sugar in a day than they should in a week... and I find that garbage DISGUSTING!

But am I OUTRAGED enough to freak over a Ben and Jerry's commercial. Nope. To each his own.

[CO Liberal]

161. Agreed - Humor IS Subjective

But there was nothing humorous about that program. At all.

[Cyndee_Lou_Who]

165. IN YOUR OPINION... how many people have already made that point??

I dunno why you keep beating a dead horse.

[CO Liberal]

172. I'm Gonna Stop Now

But I reserve the right to speak out again if people continue to praise this piece of drek.

In fact, I'll be putting this thread on "Ignore" in a few minutes. Besides, I get the feeling it's gonna be locked any minute now.

[El Fuego]

3. I don't have Showtime!

I read it was good, but I'll have to wait.

[CO Liberal]

15. Then I Invite You To Read This

It's a review of "Fat Actress" I posted earlier today to the Fat Acceptance Group.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=299x221

[Skittles]

39. that show does not sound appealing at all

not one bit

[CO Liberal]

44. Believe Me, Skittles

It's horrible.

[El Fuego]

84. Then I don't care if I don't get showtime, sounds awful

[CO Liberal]

90. And The Show is Even Worse Than It Sounds

After seeing the first episode, I'm glad I don't subscribe to Showtime, and I never will subscribe as long as they air this crap.

[ronzo]

5. I checked it out and liked it.

"Super Size Me" was the perfect lead in. Came for the flick, stayed for the show and Fat Actress was pretty damn funny if you ask me... I've always liked Kirstie. :)

[CO Liberal]

11. I Have to Disagree With You

I'm totally pissed off after watching "Fat Actress". And my wife says that she's so stunned by it she hasn't formed an opinion yet.

Speaking as a larger man who has admired plus-size women all my life, I cannot find the words to adequately express how unfunny, insulting, and just plain bad that piece of crap was.

[ronzo]

33. That's fine, friend.

Low brow at times, yes... I got a kick out of the the self deprication.
I understand how some would take offense. I didn't.

[merh]

110. Your rants are so boring

and since I am a large person myself, I can say that. If you don't like the program, don't watch it.

Depreciating humor has been a centerpoint for comedy for years. Some people like jim carey, some don't, some people like seinfield, some don't, some people like chris rock some don't.

You don't like Kirstie, so don't watch it for god's sake and stop brow beating folks who did.

[CO Liberal]

114. For What it's Worth....

...if we say nothing, it gives people an excuse to keep making fun of fat people. Just MHO.

[merh]

119. Guess what, I am a grown up and know people don't need an

excuse to make fun of us or to discriminate against us or to ridicule us. If you recognize the subtle irony that the show contains, you will see that is the point she is trying to make - how dare the skinny broad give me dieting tips and how far will I go to be successful - how dare the pot belly pig of a man lecture me on my weight.

I personally applaud the fat broad for getting a job and her own series despite her weight, a definite disadvantage in her industry, an industry that discriminates because of weight.

[CO Liberal]

129. Subtle IRONY?????

Gimme a break.

It was CRAP - nothing more, nothing less.

[Name removed]

145. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[auntAgonist]

7. I refuse to watch it.

I wonder why this is acceptable programming.

[CO Liberal]

9. I Wonder, Too

The Princess and I watched it just so we could comment on it from a position of knowing what the show was like. And after seeing it, I will NEVER subscribe to Showtime.

[ImpeachBush]

169. That's too bad ....

There's some very good programming on Showtime ... my favorites are "Dead Like Me", a very delightful and witty show, and "Queer as Folk". QAF plays to a lot of gay stereotypes too, and has degraded in quality since its' first season. I've heard Huff is a good drama, but not had the chance to view it.

Showtime airs gay programming from time-to-time (Night Out), and that's why I subscribed. As far as I know, its the only cable station that does that. Anybody know of others?

I planned on watching Fat Actress, mostly because the previews looked to me like it was a show about a person who was struggling with acceptance of their situation with some humor, but that was just what I got from the previews. I'm sorry it offended you.

[comsymp]

159. Question-

If you refuse to watch it, on what do you base your concern that it isn't "acceptable programming"?

[CO Liberal]

164. I For One Don't Have to Go Down Into a Sewer.....

...to know it's not a place I'd like to spend time. And this show is the same as a sewer.

[comsymp]

171. And I, for one, prefer to rely on my own observations as opposed

to just accepting whatever "they" tell me. It's that whole Facts vs Assumptions thing. In fact, I find the idea of (reacting to / condemning) something based not on personal experience, but on hearsay, to be as offensive as you seem to find this show.

I'm really sorry that you find the show and its premise so upsetting - but have you considered that you may be just a tad hypersensitive on the issue?

[tjdee]

14. Comcast blows, so no. No free Showtime for me!

:cry:

[CO Liberal]

16. Lucky You!!!

You weren't subjected to that garbage.

[medeak]

19. miss her commercials for Pier One

terribly...she was so much more bubbly and entertaining that this new queer guy for straight guy..guy.

Am looking forward to her show...Letterman liked it..that's good enough for me!

[CO Liberal]

24. Before You Use Letterman as a Judge of Good TV....

...remember he was a featured performer on The Starland Vocal Band's variety show. He's also a fatphobe, who is constasntly making fat jokes. That's why Oprah Winfrey refuses to ever appear on his show - because of all the jokes he used to make about her weight.

[medeak]

26. can you make that frog chill out?

jeesh..it makes my eyes hurt :-(

[Beausoir]

30. As a fat Diva myself...

I thought her show was a piece of shit.

Could they have possibly included more racial stereotypes into one 30 minute show?

I was expecting/hoping for a biting, funny look at what it's like to be fat among the walking skeletons of HollyWood. What I saw was just head shakingly sad.
Fuck you, Kirstie! Oh...and here's a little hint...the weight you lost? It's coming back baby. With a vengeance.

[CO Liberal]

31. Well Put, Beausoir

:hi:

[redqueen]

101. You're a fat Diva... yet you rag her for gaining weight?

Ironic much?

[CO Liberal]

111. What She's Talking About is Karma

And Kirstie is generating a lot of bad karma right now.

[redqueen]

116. Didn't sound like it.

It sounded like she was ragging Kirstie for gaining weight.

No biggie, though... I'm sure Kirstie's used to it. She's a big girl. ;)

[flamingyouth]

32. Episode 2 sounds creepy...

To wit: In Episode 2, Alley lunches with a director, after she takes a mega-laxative to help trim pounds. She gets the call during lunch, and two scenes follow set in the ladies room, including one in which Alley borrows a diaper when all of the stalls prove occupied. Something like a third of the episode is about excrement. Trouble is, the '70s are long gone, and the intentional crassness of "Fat Actress" isn't groundbreaking, just gross.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-0503070129mar07,1,5755544.story?coll=chi-homepagenews2-utl

[CO Liberal]

36. Glad I Won't Be Watching It

Bathroom humor is truly the lowest form of humor. I couldn't imagine that show getting any worse than the premier episode, but the synopsis you provided proved me wrong.

[flamingyouth]

37. I won't be watching either

I mean, that just sounds unbearable to me. :scared:

[trumad]

38. Well good...

That's what the off button on your TV is for.

[CO Liberal]

45. But When There's Pure Unadulterated Crap On TV....

...don't I have the right to comdemn it? :shrug:

[trumad]

47. In your humble opinion, sure you do. BUT

If you don't like the fucking show, then turn it the fuck off. If it hurts your feelings because you're fat, then turn it the fuck off. if it hurts your feelings because Black men are better endowed, then turn it the fuck off. I thought the show was was hilarious. My wife, who has a bodacious booty call herself loved it as well. She said it was about time that a large woman embraced that she was indeed large.

You sat and watched the whole thing...WHY? You couldn't figure out in the first 5 minutes that she was going to make fun of her weight problem.

Agree to disagree...Peace

[CO Liberal]

55. I Guess We Have to Agree to Disagree On This One

I just wish you could see how insulting that show is to many of us. And totally unfunny.

[ScreamingMeemie]

40. We don't have Showtime. I wish we did. The only problem I have is that now

that Kirstie is losing weight, the show loses the appeal it could have had. She is a very talented actress. But I must say, I hate the Jenny Craig, "You're fat too!" commercials. I mean, I'm watching the commercial and I'm not heavy. What does that say to my daughter who is even skinnier than I? Bad marketing, but I don't see a real problem with the show, unless we want to make one. :hi:

[CO Liberal]

42. I Saw The Show

It's about 30 minutes of real problem. The worst part about the premier episode (to me) was when they had Kelli Preston (John Travolta's wife) playing a "diet expert) who was giving Kirsti Alley "diet tips" over the phone. They consisted of tips on how to make yourself vomit, and eating cigarettes so the tobacco would "burn holes in your stomach". Would-be anorexics got a how-to lesson last night, thanks to Showtime.

[trumad]

49. Would-be anorexics? LOL

Should I prevent my daughter from watching Harry Potter? After all, she might be a would be witch.

[CO Liberal]

57. When You Consider....

...that eating disorders are running at near-epidemic proportions in this country (especially among teenagers and young adults), I find it flat-out irresponsible to place instructions in a so-called "entertainment" TV show.

And personally, I find nothing humorous about anorexia.

[trumad]

64. Jesus Christ.

The segment highlighted how utterly stupid it is to be anorexic. Murder is running at near-epidemic proportions so I'm guessing every cop show, etc. should stop using guns because it might influence my kids to go out and shoot someone. Get a grip... It's a pay perview TV show that's on at 10 pm.

[CO Liberal]

69. Here in Colorado, It Was On at 8:00 PM

When impressionable young people could view it.

[chickenscratching]

94. it's not humerous no...

but these "diet tips" on the show, wern't they just making fun of what a lot of celebrities do to lose weight? ie laxatives, cigarettes, throwing up....??

[Misunderestimator]

41. I was asleep... Showtime doesn't have qualms about doing whatever

they like... If you've seen Queer as Folk or the L-Word, you'd think that ALL gay people fuck eachother silly and sleep with every one of their friends eventually, and that the guys hang out in bars every night and the women in coffee shops. Ridiculous stereotypes but I still like the shows. I'll check it out, though I don't care much for Kirstie.

[trumad]

48. They don't?

:shrug:

[Misunderestimator]

50. ass

:P

[Love Bug]

51. I noticed from the photo with the review John Travolta was on

He can sure stand to lose a few but was he the butt of any fat jokes? I'd be surprised if he was. It's sad that it's ok for men to be overweight in hollywood, but never, ever women.

Didn't see the show -- have no interest in it. Sounds like it reeks of self-loathing.

[trumad]

53. Travoltas not overweight.

Not even close. Now Kirstie, that's a different story.

BTW: You say "It's sad that it's ok for men to be overweight in hollywood, but never, ever women." Ummmm..Kirstie Alley is the star of the show and she aint exactly elfish.

[CO Liberal]

58. He Sure Is

Didn't you see his belly hanging out while he was "lecturing" Kirstie about her weight? The hypocrisy was sickening.

[trumad]

61. The hypocrisy?

Kirsties in the mid 300's. Travolta probably weighs around 220.

[CO Liberal]

63. Which Makes Him Overweight

Period.

[trumad]

65. Oh really.. I'm 220 at 6:2

Am I overweight?

[CO Liberal]

68. It Depends

Are you muscular, or flabby like John Travolta?

The hypocrisy comes from this: John Travolta is overweight, yet has no trouble finding acting jobs. Kirstie Alley is overweight, and can't get arrested in Hollywood? NOW do you see why I'm so pissed off????

[trumad]

72. I can think of several actresses who work all the time.

Hell, Oprah is one of the richest women in Showbiz and half her career she was overweight. Kathy Bates. Kathy Najimy. Nia Vardalos. etc

John Travolta is a mega movie star and has been his whole career. To bitch because a star like Travolta gets movie roles while at the same time having a small gut, is being a bit disengenous in your argument. I just watched Travolta's "Be Cool" flick over the weekend and he sure didn't look overweight to me.

[CO Liberal]

79. Only a Handful

Without realizing it, trumad, you've proven the point those of us in the Fat Acceptance movement have been trying to make for years - that size discrimination is running rampant in our society, and too many people think it's something to gloss over or laught at.

[trumad]

85. So then you should embrace the fact

that Kirstie Allen aint tucked away somewhere hiding because she is fat. She doesn't give a fuck about making fun of herself and being who shit is, why should you?

[CO Liberal]

89. Because She Isn't Just Making Fun of Herself

She's making fun of ALL fat people.

This is the 21st century equivalent of "Amos n Andy". It was on radio and TV for years, making fun of black people. CBS finally listened to the people who complained about it, and pulled it from worldwide syndication in the mid-'60s.

[displacedtexan]

136. That's the first thing I thought of during the show!

Amos & Andy!

I didn't think "Fat Actress" was funny...

Merely mildly amusing.

I sensed that Kirstie was taking advantage of a temporary fat period in her life.

I have no doubt whatsoever that she'll lose the weight once the series is canceled.

[CO Liberal]

146. I'm Not Sure She's Even That Fat

They showed one scene where she was cutting a size 18 Lane Bryant label out of an article of clothing, and replacing it with a size 8 designer label.

For a woman Kirstie Alley's height, size 18 would equate to around 200 pounds. If (as Executive Producer and writer) she was the 300 pounds she's claiming to be, she would know that she would require a much larger size than a Size 18.

And throughout the episode, she seemed to change size. She was wearing a semi-tight top in one scene when they showed her from the back, and she didn't have the "love handles" that a 300-pound woman would normally have. And they had her totally covered during the sex scenes with the guy from "Hanging With Mr. Cooper".

Bottom line?? I think she's not that big at all, and is wearing a series of badly-fitting "fat suits".

[radwriter0555]

80. Kathryn Manheim breaks all those rules... & travolta was fat in the Angel

movie he did...

Remember him walking down the stairs, shirtless, scratching his balls with his hairy gut hanging over his drawers?

We'd NEVER seen JT like THAT!

[CO Liberal]

81. She's Camryn Manheim, And Not Any More

She recently lost 80 pounds. Her "Wake Up - I'm Fat!" days are gone.

[prolesunited]

100. So, she lost some weight

and probably to improve her health. Maybe she developed diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, arthritis, heart disease or dozens of other medical issues confronting people who are obese.

She's far from celebrity-thin and certainly looks happy and healthy here:



She clearly seems like the person who lost weight on her own accord. Did she have some sort of moral obligation to *not* lose weight?

[trumad]

82. Yeah..and DiNiro was fat for Raging Bull.

[radwriter0555]

103. Rene Zellwiger packed on some 40 lbs for Bridget Jones... she's

almost too tiny now, but looks good either way.

[Love Bug]

137. I've met Nia Vardalos and she is NOT overweight

She's a size 6 if she's anything. She looks "overweight" because the average actress is a size 0-2 nowadays and Vardalos looks "big" next to them.

Oprah's weight fluctuates but with the exception of "Color Purple" she has to produce her own acting projects.

Kathy Bates was the lead in the Broadway production of "Frankie and Johnny." Who played her part in the movie version? Michele Pfeiffer.

Kathy Najimy is a character actress who almost always plays sexless roles like nuns and best friends. I think her character on "Veronica's Closet" had boyfriends, but I don't recall ever seeing any love scenes, because people (men, actually) don't want to see a fat woman in a love scene any more than they want to see Will on "Will and Grace" do the tongue tangle with his hottie cop boyfriend.

Hey, I like Kirstie Alley. I think she's beautiful and talented and I sympathize with her weight issues. It's too bad she has to allow others to make fun of her in order to get roles. Will we see her play the romantic lead opposite a male equivalent of Uma Thurman any time soon? I doubt it.

[ScreamingMeemie]

113. Camryn Manheim did pretty well for herself if I recall

:shrug:

[Love Bug]

155. I have Mannheim's book (autographed!)

She had to fight like hell to get that role on "The Practice." Once she had the role, she had to deal with stuff like the prop guys putting a candy dish on her character's desk because they assumed that is what a fat woman would have on her desk at work. She made sure they removed it.

When she was working on her BFA she was only one time cast as the ingenue -- again because people don't want to accept the idea that a)the male lead would be interested in a fat chick; and b)most men don't fantasize about "doing" fat chicks, so they don't want to see anyone else "do" one, either.

I understand Mannheim lost weight recently because she wants to have another baby and wants to get in shape. Perhaps she had some serious weight-related problems with her first pregnancy she is trying to avoid this time. I know from reading her book she did lose a lot of weight when she was younger, but she ended up in the hospital over it, because she was not eating and taking diet pills. Hopefully she will be able to keep it off after her pregnancy but the stats are against it.

[ScreamingMeemie]

170. and yet here she is, a millionaire. Yes, it's difficult to get into acting

as a heavier actress, but I still see nothing wrong with what Kirstie's doing. :shrug:

I understand, from what she said at a recent celebrity poker game, that her years on the Practice were wonderful...and she still has the cast and crew over.

[merh]

117. That was the damned point of the scene for god's sake!

It was hypocrisy, it was irony! Don't watch again - get over it and find another battle to wage.

[CO Liberal]

122. This Battle is Far From Over

And I will NEVER "get over" how fat people are treated in our society. Tell me - did you "get over" the stealing of the 2000 Election?????

[merh]

141. Get over your outrage about the program, it is doing you no good

and not everyone agrees with you in this thread - that is what I meant by "get over it". - Find important battles to fight, changing minds on DU about this comedy show is not one of them. Boycott it, write Showtime, write Kirstie, but stop banging your drum here - you have high jacked another's thread and everyone that has posted in this thread is well aware of your outrage. Your point is made, it won't change my mind or the mind of others. That is what I meant by "get over it".

[CO Liberal]

148. I Will Not be Silenced

Simply because my opinion makes you uncomfortable.

[merh]

157. It doesn't make me uncomfortable, it hurts the cause as much

as Kirstie's show does. Humor has been the means to reach out to others and teach a better understanding of the issues associated with the sterotype. You're outlandish outrage and attacks on others depreciates your credibility on the subject. Understanding on both sides is vital to diffusing sterotypes, but you don't chose to practice it so why should others?

[CO Liberal]

163. Oh - In Other Words....

...I'm just suppsed to shut up now???

Well, FORGET IT!!!! If you don't like what I have to say, I invite you to put me on "Ignore".

[the Princess]

88. Sorry but Travolta had a gut that was hanging over his belt

But he was wearing all black so it was hard to see.

Fat men are OK in our society

Fat women are to be loathed and punished.

Patriarchal society will do shit like this.

[the Princess]

97. OK so then how about looking at it this way

Look at most shows on TV today. What do you see? chubby sometimes extremely overweight and unatractive men married to extremely beautiful skinny women. Name ONE - just ONE - TV show ever where a fat woman (and I am talking John Goodman fat) was married to a thin model type man. Just one.

So now I as a fat woman - am supposed to be happy - no thankful - that Kirstie Alley - a pretty disgusting human being - who is now fat (and she's probably more like 200 lbs she's nowhere near 300) has a show on a cable channel where she portrays every ugly stereotype of fat people there is.

Have I got that right?

Fat men can be fat and considered sexy and attractive because that's how our patriarchal society has set it up. It's makes me sick.

[redqueen]

107. I didn't see the show,

but IMO Travolta's fat.

Sounds like they were in fact doing a bit on the way women are treated differently for being overweight.

Then again, I didn't see it.

[Bouncy Ball]

52. I won't watch it because I don't have Showtime

but even if I did have Showtime, I wouldn't watch it. NOT because she makes fat jokes (GEEZ), but because it's probably a poorly written show and I don't care to waste my time on crap.

If you don't like it, don't watch it.

[trumad]

54. probably a poorly written show

How would you know if you didn't watch it?

[CO Liberal]

59. That's Why I Watched It

So I could condemn it from a point of having subjected myself to that 30 minutes of garbage.

[Bouncy Ball]

75. I've read several reviews on it.

And if it's anything like the reviews indicate, it's not something I would watch.

But take that with a grain of salt: I watch very, very little TV anyway.

[CO Liberal]

78. It's Not Something ANYONE Should Watch

What next? A show that makes fun of the disabled? :shrug:

[chickenscratching]

96. we can only hope n/t

[Bouncy Ball]

139. Do you not watch a lot of TV or movies?

[LynneSin]

56. I heard it was good but pretty much a clone of "Curb Your Enthusiam"

....which one of those shows is enough for me

[CO Liberal]

60. Then Someone Misinformed You

It was 30 minutes of the worst television imaginable.

[trumad]

67. In your humble opinion

You're simply upset because your overweight and it made fun of the overweight Kirstie Alley. (You do know she produces the show).

[CO Liberal]

70. I Would Be Equally Upset....

...if I was African American and a program was on that portrayed African Americans in a bad light, even if it starred African Americans and was produced by an African AMerican. The same thing for a negative show about gays, Muslims, or any other group.

[trumad]

74. How about bald guys...

Fuck...I'm glad you're not with the FCC or taking over Jack Valenti's spot with the Motion Picture Association.

I'm guessing Touched by an Angel is PC enough for you?

[CO Liberal]

76. Why Are You Defending That Piece of Crap?????

:shrug:

[fluffernutter]

99. because not everyone is you and not everyone

thinks the same way as you do, or feels so strongly negative about this show.

i'm confused at why you are ticked if people liked it.

[CO Liberal]

120. Because I've Been Fighting Those Stereotypes For Years

And now along comes a show that includes every negative stereotype about fat people, and people think it's hilarious. I think that's sad.

[Misunderestimator]

93. I'm not upset by The L-Word or Queer as Folk, both on Showtime.

Even though they stereotype gay people as promiscuous and party-loving sex animals some of whom never seem to work or have jobs. For that matter, Will and Grace is more insulting since its written so badly... but I don't get upset... I just don't watch it. As for the two Showtime shows, I do watch them, but I realize that they represent only a small fraction of the gay community. I watch them because they are well-written and well-acted... and the women are gorgeous in the L-Word (and that's a refreshing NON-stereotype).

[merh]

131. So, I take it, "In living color" upset you?

Didn't that show poke fun of African Americans, use all sorts of sterotypes for humor and wasn't it produced by African Americans?

[the Princess]

91. my husband (COLiberal) is NOT overweight

I'm the fat one and he is upset becasue he loves big women and Kirstie Alley just contributed to the fucking prejudice I and other fat people have to endure every fucking day of our lives. If you have NEVER been fat then making stupid flippant remarks like this one are not even worth answering because you have no idea what the fuck it is like to be fat in a thin obsessed society.

Fuck Kirstie Alley and fuck idiots who think fat jokes are STILL funny.

[redqueen]

104. To be fair, CO said that he was in post #6. n/t

[CO Liberal]

121. According to The Height-Weight Charts, I Am

I'm comfortable with the way I am, but totally uncomfortable with how society treats fat people.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

123. I had noticed that.

meh.

Really - who cares if someone is offended. TURN IT OFF. It's not going to set any cause back. Did Richard Pryor set back the civil rights movement?

[prolesunited]

112. I'm just looking at the pictoral evidence

in your sig line. But, I guess "overweight" is relative to what comparisons are being made and what charts are being used.

[ScreamingMeemie]

126. We have to be honest with ourselves. "Let he who is without Prejudice

cast the first stone"...I can't claim perfection. I laugh at macho, idiot man jokes, blonde jokes, fat jokes and slim jokes. We live in an imperfect world, and I'm not going to waste my time being upset about Kirstie Alley making money hand over fist using her God girth. I don't see why we're getting twisted about that. For what it's worth, there was a time a few years back (after the birth of my son) that I would have rivaled Kirstie's weight. Wish I could have made some of that money.

[trumad]

162. 60 pounds overweight

Yeah, I've been there. 260 at one time and got down to 208. If bitching about this show somehow makes you feel better about yourself, then by all means, Bitch.

[comsymp]

71. I liked it

But then again, I've never held a particularly narrow view of what I consider funny.

[CO Liberal]

83. It's Funny To Make Fun of an Entire Group of People????

That's never funny. Remember "Under the Rainbow"? - a movie that made fun of little people? Thankfully, it failed at the box office and faded into the obscurity it so richly deserved. Let's hope "Fat Actress" suffers the same fate.

[comsymp]

138. "Let's hope "Fat Actress" suffers the same fate."

Sorry, can't do that.

Again, I liked it. I thought it was funny.

And, frankly, I didn't / don't share your perception of the show as having made "fun of an entire group of people." But that's your perception and that's fine - humor being subjective, and all.

[Missy Vixen]

73. I'm fat and I thought the show was funny

I thought Kirstie Alley was making more fun of herself than she did fat people on the whole. I'm not insulted by the writing. Being fat in Southern California is considered unpardonable, and those writing the parts of the executives that met with her during the episode made that clear.

I also enjoyed Penn and Teller's latest last night as well. I'm sorry we don't get to watch them more often, but we don't get Showtime.

Julie

[CO Liberal]

77. I Thought It Was The Worst Show I've Seen In Ages

Showtime should be ashamed of themselves, putting that garbage on the air.

[trumad]

86. In your humble opinion again

I applaud Showtime for airing the show.

[prolesunited]

102. Well, since we don't have government censorship,

let the marketplace decide.

If the show is that awful, it will fail on it's own. The way you're going on, it seems like you wanted it not to air because it made fun of fat people.

Dave Chapelle pokes at African-American stereotypes all the time. Do you think the FCC should take that off the air as well?

Lots of things offend me every day, but I don't expect life to conform to my beliefs and ideals and everyone to share my opinion.

If a poster says they liked the show, aren't they entitled to that opinion in just the same way you're entitled to yours? Why are you trying so hard to convince them they are wrong? Why is your opinion more valid than theirs?

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

118. Also to say that the American public are too unintelligent to know the

difference between humor and reality is always dissapointing to me.

Your Chappelle analogy is quite good.

[HalfManHalfBiscuit]

87. Fat $cientologist

It was damn funny, but I'll bet she sneaks an Elron Hubbard reference sooner or later.

[Crankie Avalon]

95. I don't have SHOWTIME and am not interested in getting it...

...but in her TV column for SALON (just yesterday's, in fact) Heather Havrilesky wrote about the show you mentioned and she seemed to like it.

Posting the text for you in case you are interested:

"Kirstie Alley may have chosen one of the more arduous routes to rediscovery. Having been continuously featured on the covers of tabloids as her weight ballooned to 200 pounds over the years, Alley got fed up and decided to take her big-girl status into her own hands with a brand new show, "Fat Actress" (10 p.m. Monday on Showtime; will also stream on Yahoo, available until March 12).

Although the show is the most blatant rip-off of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" yet and Kirstie Alley has always struck me as a flatly annoying, whiny, screechy personality with little to offer, the show is remarkably entertaining, and Alley is fantastic. From the moment she steps on a scale and then collapses on the floor, crying hysterically, I loved this show. Next we see Alley shoving down a burger and shouting at her agent on the phone, "How about James Gandolfini? He's like the size of a whale. He is way, way, way fatter than I am!"

See, that sounds awful, but it's ridiculous and funny and Alley really, really makes it work. I mean, really. From urging John Travolta, "Let's do 'Look Who's Talking 4'! Come on!" to squealing, at a soul food restaurant, "I love black people!" Alley is really perfect for this format.

And yes, I know. For the entire first episode, the word "fat" is repeated over and over and over, with everyone going on and on and on about how disgustingly fat Alley is, over and over. But it works, because this is how people feel about fat women, and that's messed up, and it's about time it was exposed so baldly and ruthlessly. Alley's confidence in taking on this role not only demands respect and admiration, but makes you want to keep watching. That, and the fact that, upon hearing that Jenny Craig wants her as a spokeswoman, Alley blurts out, "Jenny fucking fuck-me-in-the-ass Craig!" and then fumbles for her misplaced French fries. The irony? Alley has since become the new spokeswoman for Jenny Craig."

Link: http://www.salon.com/ent/tv/review/2005/03/07/i_like/index1.html

[CO Liberal]

154. "But it works, because this is how people feel about fat women"

And that's the saddest part of all.

[Love Bug]

167. Yep. That review sounds like the excuses made for

Eminem's homophobic and mysogenistic lyrics. "He's a genius!" "Don't you understand he's really just making fun of those attitudes?" etc., etc., Uh-huh.

[arwalden]

98. Is It Fiction Or Another Reality Show?

[CO Liberal]

125. It's Fiction

Kirstie Alley played herself, as did John Travolta and Jeff Zucker, an exec at NBC. but Kirstie's agent was played by Michael McDonald from "MAD TV", and the "diet expert" was played by John Travolta's wife, Kelli Preston.

It's fiction, and piss-poor fiction at that.

[Cadence]

106. I meant to see it but I forgot...

that free showtime thing was just for the debut of that show wasn't it?

[CO Liberal]

132. Lucky You

:-)

[Cadence]

140. That frog is so annoying I can barely read this thread.

[arwalden]

Yeah... It's A Bit Spastic. Press Your ESCAPE Key To Stop The Animation...

... or click your browser's STOP button after the page has finished loading. Maybe that will help. (It's what I do to stop distracting animated gifs.)

[WoodrowFan]

151. thank you!!!!! (NT)

[AngryAmish]

108. Why would anyone watch that?

[gulfcoastliberal]

124. Self-delete

No desire to get into this.

[LoZoccolo]

133. This is a good post.

People should read it.

I think it's funny when people call it "racism", when you say that people should lose weight. My cardiologist is evidently committing genocide in making me go back every two months to get my weight checked to make sure I get it off before I have a heart attack or my cardiomyopathy returns.

[LoZoccolo]

135. Aw man, why'd you delete that? It was good!

It wasn't inflammatory or anything. Seriously, you shouldn't give a fuck when the shrill contingent posses up on threads like this. There are probably tons more less obnoxious people that don't whine about every last thing who'd agree with you.

[gulfcoastliberal]

149. I didn't to exacerbate a flame war...

But for the curious, I mentioned the beginning of Supersize Me when the doctor contrasts overeaters with smokers; that it is considered "ok" to say something to a smoker about their lifestyle but it is totally not ok to do the same to someone fat. Eating can be addictive for some folks. Those who eat to excess need help so they can put their health before their appetite.

*dons flame-retardant suit*

[CO Liberal]

158. Not Everyone Who Is Fat Overeats

Yet another of society's stereotypes.

[WoodrowFan]

128. is it true woody allen directs it?? (NT)

[Blue-Jay]

143. Good thing I didn't just have a mouthful of coffee.

[Bouncy Ball]

144. Whistles....

[terrya]

147. Very good.

:thumbsup:

[CO Liberal]

150. It's The Only Way That Show Could Be Worse

:-)

[WoodrowFan]

153. it sound slike it!

i did like her Pier One ads though.

[DrGonzoLives]

156. Dumbest. Thread. Ever.

n/t

[trumad]

166. Jesus Christ

All I said was I like a fucking TV show. :shrug:

[CO Liberal]

168. Inspired By The Dumbest. TV Show. Ever

[Midlodemocrat]

173. I am going to lock this.

It has become a flamefest.

Thank you
DU Moderator