Queen Size

Cable TV, in its 1000 channel plethora of vivid color, HDTV, fibre optic glory has no shortage, especially today, of after-school special variety "feel good about yourself"/improve yourself programming- in both the reality and non-reality based forums. The past week I noticed a few weight-focused things that caught my attention.

Yesterday, whilst putzing around the boards there was a post about a new Lifetime/WE variety made for TV movie with Nikki Blonsky (the plus-size chick from the new Hairspray). Titled the same as my post, it was about an obese high school girl who is nominated for Homecoming Queen as cruel prank, and then (I think) goes on to win and change the minds and hearts of her fellow students and administrators. Say it with me people....AWWWW. In some cruel twist of fate, this movie was on late last night when I couldn't sleep...on Lifetime or WE, I can't remember which, and basically they're the same channel, and I watched it for the better part of two hours until I couldn't stand it anymore. The fat girl, her socially acceptable slender best friend, her non-understanding, and in fact berating mother, her plight through the torturous gauntlet of high school, the boy that secretly likes her, and the requisite binging scenes of Blonsky downing Haagen Dazs and cupcakes.

Here's the thing. I get it. It's nice to have a message of "love yourself, and others will love you." It's nice to see something that shows teens a positive message. It's nice to see someone Blonsky's size (at 4'10" and clearly around an 18/20 [I'm guessing, but tried to find something on Google]- not so different from where I was 50 pounds ago) on TV; but good GOD this was so over the top unrealistic it does nothing to really help the younger generation with similar problems. I couldn't watch, except to think.. "jesus, was my ass that big when I was her size?"

At the other end of the spectrum, there's a new show called "How to Look Good Naked," (another fine product from the Lifetime/WE set) that I absolutely love. Hosted by an over the top queen-like guy who's not afraid to put your headless mostly naked body in full color on the side of a building for comments from passerby's; this is something far different from Biggest Loser, The Swan, or Extreme Makeover. It gives the same message about self-acceptance that the Blonsky movie does, but it manages to do it without making me cringe.

When I started down the surgical weight-loss road of life, I became obsessed with shows like the latter, thinking in my lawyerly black and white way that I was going to either be everything I wanted, or unhappy.

Watching this show in particular reminds me how far I have come; and frankly, I just flat out love the format. For me, Blonsky can go back to Hyde Park, or continue making cheesy movies for girls that won't help them in the end except to join her in a cupcake and say, "see, she gets it"...