Frisky Rant: Enough Already With The Reality TV Weight Loss Shows!

Just when I thought no one could exploit her struggle with weight any more than Carnie Wilson, Kirstie Alley is fat again and eager to capitalize on it. Rumor has it that she signed on to do a reality show on A&E about her struggle to lose weight. I wonder if it will air in the same time slot as Carnie’s show, “Unstapled”? And I wonder what it will be called—my best guesses are “Tipping The Scale” and “Really Fat Actress.” Inner grimace. Inner groan.

Now, I’ve always supported Kirstie, fat or thin. I loved her on “Cheers” and was a total fan of her series “Fat Actress.” I could laugh at the show because, while it was about her weight, it was not about her struggle to lose weight. It was just good-old fashioned comedy about a woman who was comfortable enough in her own skin to see the irony and humor in her weight gain. I still liked good-natured Kirstie when she became a spokesperson for Jenny Craig and went on the “Oprah” show in a bikini. She looked hot and, hey, I was happy for her that she wanted to get healthy. But I am thoroughly irritated by her announcement to do this reality show. Why? Because Kirstie is intelligent, funny, and talented—she doesn’t need to do a show about her struggle with weight and, quite frankly, I don’t know why she would want to.

I mean … I don’t know why anyone would want to participate in a reality show about weight loss. And why are we as a country so interested in watching them? I know we are an overweight nation that needs to get serious about health, but I still don’t understand why reality shows like “The Biggest Loser,” “Celebrity Fit Club,” and “Dance Your Ass Off” are popping up left and right. What bothers me the most is that these people are not motivated to lose weight per se—the goal is always to “compete to lose the most weight.” It’s a competition, which breeds its own unhealthy habits. If the point of being on one of these shows was to “get healthy” or “change your life” or “makeover the country’s skewed perception of body image,” I could understand. Newsflash: being on a diet SUCKS. It’s not interesting or fun to watch. It’s painful and vulnerable; it’s hard work. I totally support health and fitness, but I resent watching dieting as a form of entertainment. I’m disappointed that Kirstie thinks she has to entertain us this way. [Celebitchy]