Kudos to Kirstie Alley

[Matt_G]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 10:45am

for her new show, FAT ACTRESS. This made me laugh harder than anything in a long time. It really is refreshing to see someone like her not taking any of it seriously.

Did anyone else see it?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 10:46am

I was never a big fan - until last night.

[Mamamia Sammy2]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 10:46am

That was the worst piece of crap I've ever seen in my life.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 10:47am

You're just jealous.

[Mamamia Sammy2]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 10:51am

I could play that role and be twice the woman she was.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 10:51am

I just bet you could.

[Jimmcf]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 10:54am

I am with you Rath - never liked her on "Cheers" (was never the same for me after Shelley Long left), but loved "Fat Actress." The only other show currently on that makes me laugh out loud like that is "Arrested Development" (and well, maybe "The Starlet" but for other reasons). I loved the scene in the men's room, when her assistant is pumping the guy for information...also, when she pulls the fries out of her clevage!

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 11:08am

Yes! Another cable show that makes me laugh out loud!

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 11:12am

Argh! Is Fat Actress available on Demand? I must see it!

[Matt_G]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 11:14am

It's on again tonight at 9.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 11:27am

You can see "Fat Actress" Yahoo TV on streaming video. I plan to do this later on. The only problem is, I fear I'll fall in love with it and need to buy Showtime. Decisions, decisions.

[Jimmcf]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 11:56am

I know I will be pounded for this (and I am overweight myself), but on this topic, Kristin looks plumper than before...or is it me?

[DAME]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 12:34pm

I just wanted to say that months ago when I saw the pilot I was the first to say how wonderful this show is. I also said in early December that Million Dollar baby would be the not to be missed film of the year. Last night I saw the new Joan Allen film wich I will start a new thread about. But needless to say it was fantastic.

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 3:17pm

Well, someone has to do it, so it might as well be me to dive in and over-analyze.

I was curious enough after all the hype, to order Showtime for a month. I was prepared to like this show. I *wanted* to like it. The potential...a comedy about a plus size actress coming to terms with who she is and making it work. And maybe that is where it’s heading, but I wouldn’t be the bank after what I saw last night. Yes, I found some of it funny. But it was a relentless, one joke show. I found her to be irritating and unlikable...not because she's fat but because she's obnoxious.

Kirstie’s problem isn’t that she is fat or ugly. Her problem is that her physical image doesn’t match who she perceives herself to be. I’m not unsympathetic...in my mind’s eye, I’m 20, svelte, and rather stunning. But I also understand that what the world sees is a middle-aged woman, no longer svelte, from whom the banter I might have engaged in twenty years ago would seem ludicrous. Kirstie is older and she’s gotten heavy. But she’s still attractive and funny. Her problem seems to be that she wants to still be the hot young actress.The sex object. And that’s not who she is anymore.

My biggest concern is that the message of this show is going to be counter-productive. If it turns out to be that she accepts herself and then finds she has the ability to lose weight and is even happier, then I’ll be fine with it. But it seems to me that it is more likely that she is going to continue to be filled with self-loathing and be the target for every conceivable fat joke imaginable until she slims down and looks hot again. As if looking good makes everything okay.

Rather than empowering people with weight problems, I suspect this will inadvertently create a situation where it is going to become more socially acceptable to say some of the crass and cruel sound bytes in daily life. In Fat Actress, Kirstie Alley seems to be out to make more fun of herself than anyone else possibly could. It’ll probably all work out well for her, but I’m wondering what the impact might be on scores of women dealing with the same issue, who aren’t suddenly going to find themselves with a resurrected TV career.

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 3:55pm

I agree, Beav, that that is probably the intent. My concern is that its going to be taken out of context, and that the jokes and the sound bytes will infiltrate daily life...even by people who have never seen the show. In the same way that Queer Eye was a double -edged sword for gays by reinforcing a very superficial stereotype of gay men. I'm just saying that I have some concerns that Fat Actress is going to reinforce negative stereotypes of aging women with weight issues. That may not be the point of the show, but that's what will be imprinted in the minds of the general public who is going to remember the image of Kirstie sprawled out on the bathroom floor, shoving a crueller in her mouth. In the same way that if you mention Queer Eye to someone in middle America (sociologically, not geographically), I'd be willing to be that a vision of Carson squealing about something comes to mind.

I initially thought that Queer Eye could have a positive impact, but have long since reconsidered that opinion. Guess that's why I'm skeptical about Fat Actress.

That being said, I'll watch again next week, and maybe I'll see something different. I'd be open to changing my mind about this.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 4:03pm

Well said, Iflit. I understand where you're coming from, and to an extent, I agree. But I'm hoping that this is just an expositionary (is that a word?) first episode and we'll see more of a character arc that will address your concerns later on this season.

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 4:51pm

She's adorable and I did laugh out loud a few times but I can't help but think the "fat" thing will get boring after a few episodes. I'll keep watching though because she's so appealing and such a good comedienne

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 5:02pm

"Kirstie’s problem isn’t that she is fat or ugly. Her problem is that her physical image doesn’t match who she perceives herself to be."

So if her perception of physical things is that far off, can we assume that she was wrong all those years ago when she thanked Parker Stevenson for giving her the "big" one?

[newyorkuniq]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 6:27pm

I like what Rosie O D had to say in her blog about KA-

"ka
she is chatting with larry
she still giggles like a skinny girl
someone should tell her fat gals
can't pull it off

she told matt
she started at 201
losing weight isnt difficult for her
she has lost 20 lbs
so far
she says
jenny craig is easy

i fear a train wreck
the zeal of the almost converted

i know no one with the kind of papparazzi hell she describes
not even madonna
and she's elvis

20 minutes and counting
fat actress
hmmm
i bet i hate it

"fat sex is when your attention would be on your fattness instead of who you are with"
"billionaires don't want fat girls"

the worst part of being fat - again she lost 20 lbs , she says
she lost her agility and the
first class seats were suddenly so small

POP

was is it with scientologists?

ok she owed money to the irs
and this is her hail mary
i will try to cheer her on
as if she were
a friend"

[Katecab99]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 9:57pm

i just love the weight loss commercials!

"they have fettucini - FETTUCINI!!!!!"