Madeline Jones Responds, Radar.com Article Misleading

I posted an update on my article “I Do Not Feel Betrayed When A Plus Size Model Loses Weight” which had some pretty scathing comments aimed at PLUS Model Magazine Editor-in-Chief Madeline Jones. In my original post, I wondered whether this … Continue reading Madeline Jones Responds, Radar.com Article Misleading

In Defense of Reality Television


Reality TV is really, really easy to dislike – we all know this. I’m pretty tolerant of craptastic shows, movies, etc, but there are some that even I can’t handle. I’m talking to you, Teen Moms, Toddlers & Tiaras, and Real Housewives of any city! But I can’t take the high road, because I indulge in other pieces of reality TV trash like Jersey Shore, any competition show on Bravo, and my new favorites, the storage unit auction shows.

So yes, it’s easy to compile a list of all that’s wrong with reality television. But I’m not going to front like I’m too classy to enjoy the MTV Real World/Road Rules even though there hasn’t been a new season in like 5 years Challenges. Here are my top 5 fave things about reality shows, and the people who are on them:

1. Reality television is like the best psych experiment ever

Back in college, my pursuit of a BA in psychology led to many observation scenarios. You try to stay as removed from the subjects as possible, often behind a two-way mirror, lest you contaminate the environment you’re attempting to observe. Now, though, I can observe a huge variety of human behavior from the comfort of home! Maybe I’m wondering what it’s like to be a real estate agent in New York, or a Gypsy in the UK, or a cheerleader in Texas. Or, maybe I’m curious about how people react to losing large amounts of weight, having their car repossessed, or having pranks pulled on them.

One click of the remote and I have hundreds of two-way mirrors that I can peek through. Reality TV is also appealing to anyone that is nosy about basically anything. You can see inside people’s bedrooms, watch them break down mentally and then pull it together again, or get a voyeuristic thrill from seeing the Real World roomies strip down beneath the sheets. It’s like having a universal key that opens any diary you see! Continue reading “In Defense of Reality Television”

How I Met Your Mother (& How I Know She Won’t Be Fat)

Click here for a compilation of all the clues and theories about The Mother!

“So fat, after you have sex with it, you don’t tell your buddies about it…”

“Over 200 women, spanning six continents, 17 nationalities, 74 sexual positions, and not a single fatty. It’s impressive.”

Quotes like these make it difficult for me to enjoy HIMYM sometimes. How I Met Your Mother is easily one of my very favorite TV shows. I saw every episode when it originally aired, and I watch the reruns all the time. I like to have them on as background noise when I’m reading or writing. Anyway, I’ve got major love for this show, but I do take exception with the constant references to how undesirable overweight women are. Based on all of these quotes, it’s pretty clear that there’s no way the mother will be fat. I think we all assumed that anyway, since fat leading ladies aren’t the norm on sitcoms. Plus there is other evidence that she is slender/skinny, but that’s not my point today. My point is that I would enjoy this show even more if it didn’t frequently insult people just like me for the sake of comedy. We get it – fat women are HILARIOUS and deserve to be mocked and disregarded. Message received, unfortunately.

(Note – Ted remembered this moment incorrectly. Not surprisingly, Barney did not say this – Lily did.)

Full list of quotes after the jump – click “read more” at right for the rest! Continue reading “How I Met Your Mother (& How I Know She Won’t Be Fat)”

“I Never Planned On Marrying A Fat Girl”

That was the description/episode title for the premier airing of Lifetime’s new show “Love Handles: Couples In Crisis”. That statement was also the only reason I bothered tuning in. Why would that attract me? Because, unfortunately, I’ve heard similar things before. So I gave this show a whirl, fully prepared to hate and despise the man who uttered that phrase. I do, by the way, loathe him quite a bit. He seems like a jackass who never considered that perhaps his lovely bride never planned on marrying a fat GUY. Apparently the fact that he gained 55-60 pounds compared to her 45 pound gain was not important. He also noted “If Meg gains more weight, the relationship is over.” So, you know, altogether he seems like a peach. I got the impression that he was using her weight as an excuse for not proposing, and was ultimately just sticking with her until a better (ie thinner) prospect came along. But he did propose in the end, so I had to revise my thoughts a bit. (I still think that relationship is doomed, but whatever). Continue reading ““I Never Planned On Marrying A Fat Girl””

But Gaga, You Weren’t Born That Way

I don’t get it, I really don’t. I mean, I understand the general appeal of Lady Gaga, and I think that she has a good message, more or less. I also think she rips off her supposedly original sense of style, but if Madonna and David Bowie aren’t complaining, why should I? Her music is also not particularly original, in my opinion, but that’s not what I’m taking issue with. Basically I just don’t understand how Lady Gaga can proudly sing lyrics about loving yourself exactly as you were born – when she’s sporting facial implants on the album cover? Gaga, you weren’t born that way.

Continue reading “But Gaga, You Weren’t Born That Way”

More (But Not Too Much!) Than Just A Pretty Face

Marie Claire urges its readers to be “more than just a pretty face”, but the magazine’s recent editorial decisions indicate that there is a limit on just how much “more” a woman should be.  Maura Kelly’s article, “Should Fatties Get … Continue reading More (But Not Too Much!) Than Just A Pretty Face