A Fat Acceptance Activist’s take on “Wanted”

Thanks to Lucinda, who sent in the following review! I didn’t see Wanted this weekend, but my students have told me it’s really good. Did you guys see it over the holiday weekend? Did you have the same reaction as Lucinda did?
I was psyched to see WANTED, the new summer blockbuster action flick — [...]

Will You See Wall-E?

Sorry for the sporadic updating this week. There were some back end issues with the blog (they should be resolved for now), I had a couple of interviews to do (one for Japanese television, which I definitely will need to write a report on at some point, especially because I’m pretty sure one of the [...]

Wide Screen: Made of Honor

Originally uploaded by mo pie
Character: Hillary, played by Emily Nelson
Credits: It looks like she’s only been acting a few years, although she looks really familiar to me. Maybe I saw her on ER?
Plot points: She plays one of the bridesmaids in lead character Hannah’s wedding, along with Bitter Cousin Bridesmaid [...]

I Believe The Bratz Dolls Are Our Future

In the spirit of Michael Apted’s Up series, a documentary is following the lives of children born in the year 2000 until they’re 20. Obviously, here and now, they’re around seven years old, giving us a glimpse into the lives of the millennial generation. Here’s the part that struck me especially:
These seven year old [...]

The World’s Most Beautiful Woman Is Too Fat

In 2004, Aishwarya Rai was called the most beautiful woman in the world. And hey, I’ve seen Bride and Prejudice; I don’t disagree. But apparently, she’s… well, Bollywood Fat.
In 2005, one source posted a picture of her showing her belly and said in tones of shock and horror:
Is this is the petite, [...]

Hyacinth Hippo

hyacinth hippo Originally uploaded by mo pie
Those of you out there who have seen Fantasia and who fondly remember the hippo ballet sequence might appreciate this rare glimpse into the history of Disney animation: photos of actress Hattie Noel, who was the live action reference [...]

WALL-E: Funny Or Offensive?

So, I listen to this Disney podcast called Magical Definition (hey, I enjoy Disneyland) and they were talking about an upcoming Pixar movie called WALL-E; perhaps you’ve seen the previews for it? It looks super cute.
Jim Hill talked about the test screenings for WALL-E on the podcast, and he also mentions it on [...]

You Think She’ll Do The Stricken Chicken?

A gossip tidbit courtesy of La Wade that is very appropriate for Feel Good Friday: next season’s cast of Dancing with the Stars will include Marissa Jaret Winokur, the original Broadway Tracy Turnblad! I don’t even watch the show, but I admit, now I’m tempted. Also Sean Hayes will be on, and I love [...]

Feel Ambivalent Thursday

I was going to save this for Feel Good Friday, but instead it will be here, on Feel Ambivalent Thursday. First the good news: Norbit has been nominated for a ton of Razzies:
Murphy’s “Norbit,” released amid a film-honors season that earned Murphy an Academy Awards nomination for “Dreamgirls” last year, received eight Razzie nominations, [...]

Your Workout Playlist Should Be All Rise, Baby!

I loved reading this article about workout playlists. I’ve worked very hard on my playlist, which is incredibly cheesy and includes things like “Pop Goes My Heart” (Hugh Grant) and “I Think I Love You” as performed by American Idol’s Constantine. (I can’t help it; my response to that one is now Pavlovian.)
I need [...]

Lifetime Movie Alert

From the fine network that brought you such titles as Mother May I Sleep With Danger? and Baby Monitor: Sound of Fear comes a film that may be of more interest than usual, as it stars Nikki Blonsky of Hairspray fame as a plus-sized girl. The movie is called Queen Sized.
Unlike Hairspray, which was [...]

Et Tu, Latifah?

When I got to work this morning, I had alerts in my mailbox from Shawn and Erin, who wanted to make sure I found out that… I can barely bring myself to type it… Queen Latifah is going to start shilling for Jenny Craig in the new year.
“We are thrilled to have Queen Latifah support [...]

The Fat Suit Zeitgeist

Maybe we can declare this fat suit week at Big Fat Deal! We talked about J. Love in a fat suit (in the wake of Tom Cruise and Posh Spice fat suit news, oh god, is this a trend or what) and now, there’s more!
First of all, there’s a Santa in Scotland who is [...]

Congratulations, Nikki!

Our girl Nikki Blonsky has been nominated for a Golden Globe for her work in Hairspray! My first thought when I heard this was I can’t wait to see what she wears. Here is her video response to the nomination.

My Humps: The Body Peace Project

Seventeen has launched the Body Peace Project, “aimed at changing the way young girls view their bodies.” Three celebrities have signed on: Fergie, Brittany Snow, and Ashlee Simpson. According to IMDB news:
The trio want teenagers to stop obsessing about the shape of their bodies. Editor in Chief Ann Shoket launches the year-long project [...]

Fat Suit Up!–Tom Cruise

Following in the footsteps of fellow Scientologist and heterosexual John Travolta, Tom Cruise is wearing a fat suit (and a bald wig) for a movie role. Photos have been leaked online. He’s pretty pissed off though, because it spoils the surprise. (I won’t name the movie, in case you want to be surprised [...]

The Fat Lady Detective

I read a book recently that is both wildly popular and fat positive: The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. I wrote about it in my book blog:
The heroine (Mma Ramotswe I think is the spelling) is one of the best characters ever, seriously. How much do I love her? And sure, I’m biased because [...]

News About Celebrities & “Celebrities”

Two bits of celebrity news I just had to share. First of all, in a rare instance of fatism against male celebrities, Ryan Gosling reportedly was fired from The Lovely Bones for being too fat. And also annoying. But mostly fat.
A source tells Us Gosling “was fired” because “he just gained too much weight!” [...]

Did You Learn Nothing From Tracy Turnblad?

I was on a plane yesterday and I bought a couple of magazines, including the new issue of OK with Ricki Lake on the cover. The headline is “Thin, 39, and Looking for a Man.” The article is called “How Ricki Stays Thin” and you can read it here. (Interestingly, she claimed that her weight [...]

Hey Mama, Say Mama

While you guys continue the important conversations in the comments, here’s a little Feel Good Friday fun for you.

It’s a clip from the Hairspray movie soundtrack of the three Tracy Turnblads (Nikki Blonsky, Ricki Lake, and Marissa Janet Winokur) singing “Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now.” I’m obsessed with this soundtrack, you guys. [...]