America Peals

Last night, I wanted something lite to watch and got hooked into the new reality TV series, More To Love.

More To Love is akin to The Bachelor with the exception that all the girls competing for the affection of one man are plus size, heavy set women.  To put it plainly, this show not only drives feminism back into the Paleolithic ages, but continues to purport that not only are fat women unlovable but they are lazy and sloven. The bachelor in this series is heavy but he reeks of confidence. I easily have seen this type of guy at the Harvard Club yukking it up with his buddies without a care in the world. It sucks but that is reality.

Last night, I watched an episode where Melissa, a 21 year-old nanny, was deemed a “bad bride” by her peers. Melissa is a beautiful young woman. She has glossy chocolate hair, a sense of style and is incredibly endearing albeit shy.

In a ridiculous segment, Emme (the plus size model), the host, gives the women dishes encrusted with diamonelles. One side of the dish it reads, GOOD WIFE. The other side reads, BAD WIFE.  One by one each girl went to the head of the room to stand next to Emme and watch her peers flip their plates indicating whether or not she was good or bad. In Melisa’s case, she was almost unanimously voted, BAD WIFE. Making matters worse, each girl explained why Melissa was no good for the bachelor. She is too shy. Not savvy enough. She doesn’t stand up for herself. Her lack of self-confidence is unattractive. Ad naseum. Subtle as a flying mallet subtext: Why don’t you go shoot yourself now Melissa? The tribe has spoken: you are fat AND unlovable. In fact, don’t waste the bullet.  Scuttle under night sky below the bridge with the other pustular trolls.

First of all, shame on the producers for a poor concept.  Secondly, why provide a forum that encourages these self conscious women to further abuse themselves by having to label their peers in reductive terms: Good and Bad. And, lastly, the fat bitches who took on Melissa and proclaimed her unworthiness and furthered her already apparent and profound lack of confidence, who are you to judge? If I got it right, you are all there, fat or  not, because you haven’t been wildly successful at relationships.

But, it gets better. Because Melissa was voted “Bad Bride,” she got to go on a date with the bachelor.  The bachelor wanted to find out the real scoop (right).  And, if I didn’t see it, I wouldn’t of believed it. The bachelor took Melissa (this was her FIRST DATE EVER) to a low rent Moroccan restaurant where they gently drank mint Berber tea. Ummm…On ABC’s The Bachelor “alone dates” get to go on helicopters to famous vineyards, meet celebrities, 5 star restaurants or overlook a mountain from private suisse chalet. Melissa got a dumpy Moroccan restaurant on Hollywood Blvd. Oh, and enter stage left, skinny belly dancers enter to perform for Melissa and the bachelor. It was painful. Not to mention, that Melissa was obviously acting courageously by trying to not be shy on date and eventually getting up to belly dance herself.

COME ON PEOPLE. THIS AIN’T RIGHT. More To Love is designed to give the public the stereotype they believe. An overweight woman is unattractive, shy and clumsy. Also of note is the fact that when More To Love films dinners, there are abundant closeups of heaping portions on the womens’ plates. In one scene, the girls were all drinking, Red Bull. So, health is not pushed on show. But, having regular pool scenes were these women must wear bathing suits (some for the first time ever in public) for the whole world to panoramically gaze at their Zaftig curves is required.

Melissa, if you read this, this is my open invitation for you to do CrossFit with me in Boston. You confidence will soar and you can forget Luke. You deserve someone better. Damnit.

On a gleeful note, your daily dose of pleasure: