Fat story gets a 'healthy' twist in new TV series
Source: Agencies |
July 1, 2010, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
IF there is one thing that fat people hate seeing on television, it's shows where large people get screamed at to lose weight.
Another is the predominance of waif-like actresses in a nation where some two-thirds of American adults are considered overweight.
"Huge," a new drama series about a group of teens sent to a fat camp, suggests that the "fat acceptance" movement may finally be making some headway in Hollywood.
After years of reality weight-loss and diet shows like "The Biggest Loser," "Dance Your Ass Off" and "Celebrity Fit Club," the first episode of "Huge" on cable channel ABC Family this week featured a rare scene on scripted US television.
"A screen full of actors with rolls of fat who aren't there to be frowned-upon as freaks," said Entertainment Weekly's Ken Tucker, describing the new show as taking a tricky premise and turning it into a clever, well-written hour of TV.
"Huge" features seven male and female teenagers and their emotional journeys at the fictional weight loss camp, called Camp Victory.
"Hairspray" actress Nikki Blonsky ¨? whose swimsuit-clad curves promote the show on billboards around Los Angeles ¨? leads a largely unknown plus-size cast. Blonsky, 21, plays a sarcastic rebel who is quite happy with her size and mad at her parents for sending her to fat camp.
While groups fighting discrimination against fat people lamented the fact the main premise of "Huge" was, again, about weight loss, there were signs of hope.
"So far, we don't see people being pushed and abused like we do on reality shows, which is nice," said Peggy Howell, of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance.
Another is the predominance of waif-like actresses in a nation where some two-thirds of American adults are considered overweight.
"Huge," a new drama series about a group of teens sent to a fat camp, suggests that the "fat acceptance" movement may finally be making some headway in Hollywood.
After years of reality weight-loss and diet shows like "The Biggest Loser," "Dance Your Ass Off" and "Celebrity Fit Club," the first episode of "Huge" on cable channel ABC Family this week featured a rare scene on scripted US television.
"A screen full of actors with rolls of fat who aren't there to be frowned-upon as freaks," said Entertainment Weekly's Ken Tucker, describing the new show as taking a tricky premise and turning it into a clever, well-written hour of TV.
"Huge" features seven male and female teenagers and their emotional journeys at the fictional weight loss camp, called Camp Victory.
"Hairspray" actress Nikki Blonsky ¨? whose swimsuit-clad curves promote the show on billboards around Los Angeles ¨? leads a largely unknown plus-size cast. Blonsky, 21, plays a sarcastic rebel who is quite happy with her size and mad at her parents for sending her to fat camp.
While groups fighting discrimination against fat people lamented the fact the main premise of "Huge" was, again, about weight loss, there were signs of hope.
"So far, we don't see people being pushed and abused like we do on reality shows, which is nice," said Peggy Howell, of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance.
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