I called the agents and spoke with them--they truly are two of the sweetest ladies ever. I expressed my skepticism and explained why shows like More to Love are really disappointing (apparently you can't find love if you're over 170 lbs?) We talked for a while, and they reassured me that their show would be positive. However, they then said that there will be a weight loss component. You can imagine my disappointment. As we continued to the conversation, they said that about 75% of the show will be based on the girls' relationships, friendships, and daily lives, and only 25% will be about weight. It will not be a competitive show, and again, weight loss will not be the main focus.
Since speaking with them, I have been wrestling with whether to post about their casting call, but I (obviously) decided that I would. I knew, as always, I would just be as transparent as possible with my readers. The thing is, (based on emails I've gotten), I know that all of you are extremely different. Many of you are fat acceptance activists, many are not. Some of you are trying to lose weight, some think pursuing weight loss is the very antithesis of fat positivity. The only thing we all have in common is the fact that we're fat and we love fashion. I hope some of you fabulous fatties do in fact go to the casting call, make the show, and represent us well on TV. I'd really like to see some bigger women in the media who aren't crying about how terrible their lives are because of their weight. For those of you interested, here is the info:
A major television network is looking for FABULOUS plus size girls for a new reality series.
The show will follow a group of friends (21-35) who are spunky fashionistas, that love life and have great personalities! Our docu-series will showcase their daily lives: work, going out, relationships, drama etc. (Think Sex and the City meets Entourage)
Casting IMMEDIATELY in Chicago and Louisiana! If you are interested or know someone that might be interested, please send an email to castironchicagofp@gmail.com and be sure to mention you saw this on the Young, Fat and Fabulous blog!
For the rest of you, tell me what you think about this in the comments! I'm sure I'll be getting some interesting responses.
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16 comments:
i wish they would take the weight lost portion out of the show, but...baby steps i guess.
I don't know. I'm concerned about this concept that we fatties only hang out with other fatties.
There's a ongoing negative run in the media about fat and "death fat" (thanks to Definitely Natalie for that introducing me to that term :-) being contagious and that having fat friends will make you fat (oh, if it was as simple as that I'd have an eating disorder and be starving myself to stay slim ... nearly all of my friends are doing that).
Having said all that, I am still in a daily battle attempting to lose weight. I don't want to be skinny, but I would like to be able to fit into the regular range of clothes offered here in Australia. It's just too difficult to find decent plus-sized clothing in Australia. I'd like to be a US size 14.
I don't think people should have to diet to fit into clothes. But I've been fighting this battle for nearly 30 years and in a lot of ways, things are as bad as they ever were.
I hope the producers are sympathetic, but it concerns me as that this might become another reality "freak show".
Cheers
Kate F
in theory this sounds awesome. i think it's important to show that just because a woman is plus size doesn't mean she dresses in stretch pants and tent-size t-shirts. i have seen some amazingly fashionable and stylish women who don't come in society's ideal size.
but i also think that the reason they feel they have to keep in the weight loss component is to make it seemingly more acceptable to the "normal" size crowd. because who wants to see big, gorgeous women actually enjoying their lives?
so is it a positive step in the right direction or just another niche market for a weight loss show?
who knows.
I'm very disappointed there had to be some weight loss component. I mean, why can't they have at least one of the fat fashionable friends that ISN'T trying to lose weight? At least those of us who are fat and happy staying fat would have someone representing for us.
this seems like a really un-real reality show, at least when compared to my own life. i have like, two plus sized friends, and we hate exercising. but...whatever. maybe i can just watch the first 75% of every episode.
I echo a lot of the feelings here. Interesting concept, disappointing execution. I'll post this for our Twitter followers, too.
Why is it assumed that all fat people are on a journey to lose weight? Or that we want to be thin? Sure, I'll admit that I want to lose a few pounds, but I don't want to be thin. I just want to have fabulous clothes and look fabulous in them! ;o)
Unlike everyone else, it's the Chicago and Louisiana bit that threw me. Big 'ol city up north... and the entire state of Louisiana. Where are they planning on filming? Is it an either/or? And are they planning on finding a natural group of fat friends or creating one for the show? 'Cause I'm seeing getting a whole group of friends to take up the weight-loss-on-TV thing as a problem.
Well, I'm fat (and fab, duh), and I have maaaybe 2 "fat" friends. And by fat, I mean over size 12. Is it expected that all of us death fatties hang out in some big chubby clique? I wish I had more friends like me, but I think this show is highly unrealistic (and the weight loss proponent is just disappointing).
Great Post Gabi!!
The entire casting sounds really confusing...
They are casting people to pretend to be friends?
Will they all put them in houses in the city they choose to shoot in? How is it a docu-drama if the people don't know each other?The only reason SATC is so amazing is because the ladies have been friends for years and they live in such a busy place like NYC.I guess this is some kind of scripted reality series like The Hills?Hmm..I might attend a casting in Louisiana(I'm in East Texas) just to find out the scoop.
I believe they want to cast a group of REAL friends, and no they are not putting them in a house. they will be following their separate lives, but also filming them together. it's not scripted.
I second you on your initial reaction -- the concept of segregating people by body type seems so weird to me. Could you imagine if they did that with, say, a group of redheads?
But then again, most reality TV isn't exactly high class, so maybe it's too much to ask that they portray people in a way that goes beyond the superficial.
At the height of his playing career in the NBA, everyone wanted to "Be like Mike" and play basketball like Michael Jordan. Owning a pair of Jordan shoes was one way to try to make that connection.
Since Jordan's retirement in 1999, fans still want to emulate the greatest basketball player ever, and continue buying Jordan shoes.
I think the best way to find clothes that fit perfectly and look awesome is to learn how to sew. It's a lost art. The best thing (I've found) is that with basic sewing skills, you can take a shirt, or dress, or whatever, that you already have and like, and use it as a pattern to make more in different types of cloth. Just a suggestion, I know a lot of people are busy, but hey, if it helps...
Seems like tokenism to me, especially when they threw in the weight loss thing at the end.
I'll be waiting for someone who can handle making a show about fat women, without weight loss having to be a part of it. It's absolutley demeaning. They think that the show won't sell if it doesn't play into the happily-ever after once their thin fairytale? That's just shallow.
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