With the announcement of Fox’s new reality dating series More To Love — a series that casts "curvy women" and will pit them against each other to compete for the affections of a "single guy with a big waist and an even bigger heart" (yes, seriously) — comes loads of questions…well, at least from me.
First off, the original rose-giver himself, Bachelor exec producer Mike Fleiss (pictured), who is teaming up with Fox’s head ofalternative programming Mike Darnell to concoct the show, has said, "Most of the country isn’t a size 2….It’s the datingshow for the rest of us." With statements like that (and ones like this from Darnell: "Why don’t real women — the womenwho watch these shows, for the most part — have a chance to findlove too?"), I want to know: What exactly does it mean when someone is over the size of 2? Is that seriously what they are deeming as "curvy"? And since when does your size denote how "real" you are?
The press release also stated that this is the first dating show to reflect "what most real single men and women look like." Now I’m dying to know: Is this the tagline being given at casting sessions? How exactly are producers saying such things without worrying about being offensive? ("Uh, yeah, Sally, we really couldn’t use you on The Bachelor, but your merely average looks are perfect for this new project!") No matter how true or not true it is, no one wants to hear that they’re being considered for reality TV because they finally meet the criteria: full-figured and totally mediocre.
On the flip side, maybe I’m over thinking this. Maybe there are people out there who are willing to go the distance to get their 15 minutes of fame for love no matter what sort of stigma comes with it. Maybe this is the chance for these so-called real women and men to shine. After all, Fleiss argues that this dating show is about sending the right message: "Embracing and loving yourself no matter your shape or size." And he adds, "When you are comfortable with your own body, you can really allow yourself to be open to the possibility of finding the right person to love.” Guess I just never realized that past Bachelor contestants — like Jen Schefft and Melissa Rycroft — weren’t, by those standards, comfortable in their own skin.
Bottom line, I’m definitely intrigued by this new show, and can’t wait to see how far it will get before it gets too controversial. Though, controversy always tend to garners viewers, doesn’t it? What do you think of More To Love, PopWatchers? Will you watch or boycott? Discuss below!
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I remember this show, it was called Average Joe.
Yet another show where women beg like dogs for the affection of a man who could care less about them! These shows disgust me!
if they really wanted to break stereotypes of bigger people they wouldnt exploit the contestants in this way. instead the execs at shows like the bachelor should slowly intrigrate a more diverse selection of women onto the show, i.e. bigger gals, more ladies of color etc. the way their going about it is just another circus act to say “hey look at these fatties looking for love” its appalling.
Chubby Chasers Unite!
More to Love, featuring overweight people. If this show was really about the average person, then it would not be catering to overweight women either. It would be anyone who qualified to be on the show. So now, size 0-3, and size 16-22, when will there actually be the “average”, size 8-12 show? Anyway, I agree with the person who made the comment, another show where groups of people grovel for one person’s “love”. UGH!
“The press release also stated that this is the first dating show to reflect ‘what most real single men and women look like.’” Hmm, I wonder if “Fat” America is just as whitewashed as “Skinny” America…
this show has been casting for a while, the website to apply is bigheartcasting.com
I really really really don’t like this. My rant: http://squareeyes.blinkx.com/2009/03/fat-chicks-welcome-on-foxs-more-to-love/
Actually, Carol, sizes 8-12 are THINNER than average. Sizes 16 is the average size of the American woman today.
I think it would be fun to be a contestant on “More to Love”. However, the producers are looking for “Real Women” who are confortable in their skin. Any “real woman” who is confortable in her own skin really wouldn’t try to kick and scratch her way into a man’s heart. Furthermore, any man who would encourage such behavior isn’t a “REal Man”.
You people are lame!! Making fun of the show? Seriously?! My best friend is on the show and she is an amazing person.. She is very confident about her size and has never needed a man.. Its tv people who would pass up the chance? Really?!
This show is coming across as patronizing and insulting. All different types of women should have been included from day one, and trying to attract the “average” American audience is just making the discrimination worse. These women should not be classified by their weight. Why do the words “curvy” and “voluptuous” matter? Were the other bachelorettes labeled “thin” or “svelte”? No. I am completely disgusted with Fox, and I refuse to watch this show. How dare they?!
I’m puzzled. Not everybody’s a size 2, but if you’re not, there’s simply “more to love?” My wife and I find this somewhat insulting.
My initial reaction was like the other commenters who found it patronizing and insulting. These shows tend to promote that only like should be with like – heavy with heavy, white with white, etc. You’re not going to really increase acceptance and awareness that way. That said, I suppose it is a step somewhat in the right direction to recognize that who you see on television is not representative of the whole. This is definitely far from where we want to be with acceptance, but maybe one day people will be more accepting of different shapes and sizes.
I find this show to be a bad thing because younger people will think that its alright to be overweight and unhealthy instead of trying to build healthy habits. People don’t need to learn to accept that they’re overweight, they need to change their habits to do something about it and become healthy. To me it has nothing to do with the looks it has to do entirely with health. Obesity is a huge problem in this country and throughout the world right now because of lack of exercise and portion control issues but instead of people doing something about it they want everyone to just accept them. And its rarely (roughly 5%) a biological issue that you can’t overcome, like a thyroid problem. I like The Biggest Loser because it shows people getting healthier and making healthy choices. Obesity is also costing the country billions of dollars a year yet people don’t want to put in the hard to get to being healthy. And “average” in this case is not true due to statistical outliers, ie 350lbs women.
why do they have to compete for a fat guy? Why can’t they compete for a thin guy? or an athletic guy? not all bbws like big guys!!!
fat chicks are gross
I won’t be watching this show, if I want to see normal I can go for a walk past the local McD’s and get a double big mac worth of normal…no thanks. Nothing real about reality TV anyhow …all the situations are contrived. Lets face it, the producers know their demographics and they are providing a ‘comfort program’ that says ..”hey there are lots of others just like you who won’t take their own health seriously until it almost kills them” …boo on endeavoring to normalize unhealthy living.
Great Show! Great IDEAL! This show will be number! Good job!
Great Job! Great show!
I so looked forward to watching the show tonight and was disappointed at most of the crying, whining, women on that show which give the impression that all voluptuous women are to be pitied and are desperate! I am a beautiful, curvy, woman who had more dates than my thin friends and am married to an attractive, well built, great guy who never made my weight an issue. I’d have liked to have seen some big, bold, confident women who had a sense of self worth. Most of gals perpetuated the myth that big girls aren’t worthy, lovable or cool. Fox needs to adjust the slant of the show or they’ll have no viewers left!
I feel like the show was so sad. The women who were lovely and successful where shaking that they would have to go home and be lonely again, begging o get a date, talking constantly about never having a date.. people wanting to date their skinny friends… and of course food. What a way to make larger women look desperate. EVryone cried about being unloveable and undateable. Many whined about embaraasing dates or nver having one. Not geting jewelry, afection or attention. Wow.. what a group of women who didnt represent larger women for being strong and loveable…. I felt like they were weak, desperate and sad. I felt lke someone would go BEN AND JERRY on us if they missed their one chance for a real date. I kno wthat it had to be edited but not sure what they object of the game here is a comedy or a tradgedy. Jill from the bacheleorete was dedcdedly common looking with aweak mouth and a large nose…. and her confidence and self worth made the whole world fall in love with her.
I watched the show and was tired of being reminded about his weight issues and how much he likes voluptuous women. Even in his speech you get the message of last chance efforts. The show should instead focus more on dating and less on the weight issue. This way, the audience might loss site of the persons weight and just see the actual person and their personality. Oh and all that crying is really tooooooo much!!!
I saw the show tonight. Being a plus size girl myself I can relate to these women. I am these women. I saw an add in a magazine that read, “Fat is in.” They were saying there were more shows now with an emphasis on the more shapely people like Dance Your A** Off and Biggest Loser. Those shows are about conforming the fat person into the mold they want us to be in. This show is just saying hey we are out there, and we deserve love just like the rest of the skinny world. If you are looking for your next bachelorette I am your girl. Your show is great, and I am anticipating the next episode.
I love this show. I know that these women are on there for the RIGHT reasons, because they have had so much stigma attached to their bodies in this skinny obssessed US.
The bachelor is a wonderful guy and I see a few potential mates for him. I don’t understand why it took so long to come up with this idea. But, I really hope it stays on and continues, just as The Bachelor and Bachelorette have.
Kudos toMike Fleiss!