because society says its perfectly acceptable to kick a big girl while she's down

I like making statements. I tend to boycott things I don't like. Like Walmart. Can't stand the Waltons. Can't stand what they do (or rather don't do) to their employees. Won't forget how they refused to stock Plan B in their pharmacies until the Court stepped in. And Smoking Loon. They make wine I won't buy. Why? Because the owners use some of their profits to donate to anti-choice causes in California.

And then there's Fox. I hate Fox so much I now prefer to watch The Simpsons online. Thankfully, my boycott of Fox allows me to miss this monstrosity of a show--More to Love.

More to Love is a reality dating show for the people Fox has deemed as "Real People". It's like The Bachelor but with big girls and a big bachelor. And instead of inspiring viewers to root for the hottest/nicest contestant to win the heart of the suave, successful bachelor like on The Bachelor, the show elicits more of a pitying or mocking reaction. Why? Because unlike The Bachelor, the girls on More to Love have sob stories which the show's producers want you to know about every opportunity they get. Apparently, if you wanted to be a contestant on More to Love, you had to be:

Overweight
Had attempted dieting at least 2 times in your life
Had failed at such attempts
Have long flowing locks
Wish you were skinny
Have skinny friends that you envy because they get everything they want and you don't

Bonus points for:
Having never been in love
Having never been on a date

(Megan from Jezebel actually auditioned for the show and wrote a post about it. It's a great read. Don't stop at the end of the post. The comments are good too.)

What More to Love does is encourage stereotypes about big girls and elicit pity as it is an acceptable reaction to big girls and their "pathetic" lives. While I certainly don't expect any better from Fox (after all, this is the network that brought us Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire?), it still upsets me to see these women edited to appear as they they are nothing without a man. And the only man who is capable of loving them is a big man. Come on, Fox! One of them is an actual rocket scientist for chrissakes!

And don't get me started on the bachelor of this show. If you look up "smarmy" in the dictionary, his picture will be right there.

I have news for Fox. I'm a big girl. I've never dieted in my life. I play tennis, I work out on the Wii, and I do a lot of walking in this city. Yes, I indulge in the occasional slice of pizza, but I balance that with healthy snacks. When I get upset, I play with my cats instead of eating a tub of Ben and Jerry's. My hair is short and dyed red because I like to take chances with my hair. I don't wish I was skinny (shocker, I know). I actually like who I am. Oh and when good things happen to my friends of all sizes, I'm happy for them. Moreover, I've been on many dates and I am currently in love. By the way, my boyfriend is big, but it's muscle, baby. Just feel his biceps (actually, don't because I can get a bit possessive).

And while it's totally cliche for me to tell you "You can kiss my fat ass!" I won't. I will tell you that if you don't stop that sh*t I'm going to send my boyfriend to beat you up.

friday brain dump: boob tube edition

• Project Runway is back, starting November 14th! Woo hoo! I’m so excited.

• Speaking of Project Runway, I heart Tim Gunn and I love his makeover show, Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style. However, I’m just not feeling his co-host, model Veronica Webb. Where Tim Gunn exudes warmth and kindness, Veronica is a little cold and almost unfeeling. Every episode I’ve seen has involved Tim getting all emotional and sometimes teary, while Veronica looks on stoically. Lighten up, V Webb.

image courtesy of bravotv.com

• I swear that I do watch shows about stuff other than fashion, but I’m kinda not digging the new season of America’s Next Top Model. Why are all of the other girls picking on the one girl with a disability? Heather, whose social awkwardness can be attributed to her Asperger’s Syndrome, has been picked on and ostracized without merit on the show. She’s not my favorite—I personally like Lisa, the exotic dancer—but I’m pulling for her.

image courtesy of buddytv.com

• Did you watch Ugly Betty last night? (if you didn't, move on to next bullet) How sad was it when Hilda ‘spent’ the whole episode with her fiancé, Santos (who was shot and presumably dead in last season’s finale), only to find out that it was a figment of her imagination! I seriously thought that maybe Santos had made it. And that scene where she is clutching a pillow instead of Santos almost made me cry. Why did the season premiere have to be so depressing?

image courtesy of channel4.com

• My knowledge of celebrity gossip and my college football fandom collided last weekend. Take a listen:

• The Hills is my little guilty pleasure. However, it’s so disappointing to see LC and Audrina go after the wrong guys. Sure, it’s never fun to see an ex get engaged or anything, but this is Jason for crying outloud. This the same Jason who cheated on LC with his ex, Jessica, and the denied it even though MTV had taped the whole thing. The same Jason that LC gave up a job in Paris for. The same Jason who was in rehab for substance abuse and has been arrested countless times. Let it go, Lauren. He’s some other girl’s problem now.

image courtesy of mtv.com

• Oh and Audrina? 1990 called and wants all of Justin/Bobby’s flannel shirts back.

image courtesy of usmagazine.com

Ok, peeps, I’m outties. Have an awesome weekend and I’ll see ya’ll on Monday.