We welcome you with open chubby arms

New Show: Mike & Molly

May 5th, 2010

Emily alerted us in the comments about this TV pilot going into production. From the WSJ:

The formula: “Mad About You” meets “The Biggest Loser”

The plot: A romantic comedy about a couple that meets at a support group for overeating.

The brand names: Co-creator Chuck Lorre can do no wrong for CBS lately with hits like “Two and a Half Men” and “Big Bang Theory” under his belt.

Off screen: Media buyers say they wonder how advertisers will respond to overweight lead actors. Sitcoms like “Roseanne” may have featured heavy stars but didn’t center around weight.

The buzz: Mr. Lorre’s cred with CBS comedies could catapult this sitcom pilot to a sensation.

There’s also a discussion going on about this at Entertainment Weekly’s website:

Two people who meet at a weight loss support group…” yea there’s no way this will be a series of half-hour fat jokes.

Other people are optimistic because it stars Billy Gardell (who I’ve never heard of). I guess we’ll see… I’m not optimistic, but at least it isn’t going to star Jenna Elfman in a fat suit. Or… is it?

Posted by mo pie

Filed under: Fat Positive, Fatism, Magazines, TV

You might also like

  1. The Morning Show With Mike And Juliet
  2. The Photoshop Diet
  3. The TV Show Idea That Is About To Make Me Very Very Rich

17 Responses to New Show: Mike & Molly

  1. Queenofnuffink, on May 5th, 2010 at 5:08 am Said:

    I sit here and make this face :/

    We shall see.

  2. O.C., on May 5th, 2010 at 7:32 am Said:

    Since the premise of the show already equates fat people with overeating, I am not optimistic. I forsee a lot of jokes about “those fatties, they sure eat a lot! Hur hur!” If I want that kind of “humor” I can turn on Letterman or Leno.

  3. boots, on May 5th, 2010 at 8:45 am Said:

    I read that the female lead is going to be the woman who played Sookie on “Gilmore Girls,” which is good because I liked her a lot on GG, but not so good because I feel like the concept of this show is kind of a step back from the character she played on GG. Ah, well.

    I will say that Chuck Lorre’s other two shows have been fairly even-handed in their treatment of fat people (from what I can remember), so maybe this won’t be too bad…?

  4. Madame Suggia, on May 5th, 2010 at 8:57 am Said:

    When I saw this last week I actually thought it was a suggestiopn for a spoof show…because it sounds just so ridiculous! And about as funny as bubonic plague.

  5. Jezebella, on May 5th, 2010 at 9:20 am Said:

    Two and a Half Men is absolute sexist dreck with a humor IQ in the single digits. Big Bang Theory is certainly smarter and less offensive, but the entire premise is “nerd falls for hot blonde as soon as he lays eyes on her hotness”.

    This new show sounds like 24 minutes of fat jokes, which much of America will find HILARIOUS. I suspect it will make me want to shoot my television.

  6. Katie, on May 5th, 2010 at 9:31 am Said:

    I love Melissa McCarthy. Does anyone here remember “Starved” a show on FX about four friends in an eating disorder group. I kind of liked the show because it showed several different sides of eating disorders and how it can affect men and women. It was definitely not a perfect show, but it did speak to me on a certain level.

  7. Annette, on May 5th, 2010 at 10:20 am Said:

    They may have bought the rights to a show I saw in the UK with this premis called “Fat Friends”. I thought that show was actually very good.

  8. Meegs, on May 5th, 2010 at 10:46 am Said:

    If it has Sookie (the REAL Sookie, forget Anna Paquin!) (though I do love me some True Blood) then I’m definitely in. I love Melissa McCarthy.

    Though really, I found it both refreshing and completely unrealistic that Gilmore Girls never once in 7 seasons mentioned Sookie’s weight. I think it’s great, but also seemed totally like a crazed fantasy world where she never struggled at all due to her weight. It almost bugged me, but I loved it so much I ignored it.

    She was able to date and marry a regular sized guy, have kids, and even have noticeable weight fluctuations (well maybe I only noticed because I watched most of the series in a short amount of time on DVD) without ever a fat joke or “oh my new diet starts tomorrow” offhand comment thrown in. She was enthusiastic about food in a major way, being a chef. Heck there was never even ever a fat chef joke! And all the while she had a best friend who was very thin despite stuffing her face all the livelong day with every piece of junk food she could get her hands on and eschewing exercise…and we never heard Sookie even mention this paradox. It both delighted and bugged me.

    Anyway, tangents aside, if she’s involved I can see it being good. Knock wood.

  9. Carol Gwenn, on May 5th, 2010 at 11:45 am Said:

    Madame Suggia got it right! I, too, thought this was a sketch for SNL, certainly not a REAL show or even a pitch for a real show. It’ll be #1 (with a BIG bullet) on my list of “what NOT to watch” next season.

  10. Amanda, on May 5th, 2010 at 11:52 am Said:

    I’m a big fan of the Big Bang Theory, although their treatment of fat has been uneven. On one hand they had the very cute Sara Rue on playing a love interest and it wasn’t played for laughs, but there have definitely been moments at the other end of the spectrum as well.

    That said, while I’d love to have a show on my tv with an actual plus-sized leading lady… I’m skeptical. At best.

  11. Elise, on May 5th, 2010 at 11:57 am Said:

    Madame, I thought it was a joke, too! I like 2 1/2 men and my favorite character is Berta, played by the amazing Conchita Ferrel. I don’t think they ever mention her weight.

  12. Emily, on May 5th, 2010 at 4:36 pm Said:

    I was actually reasonably optimistic when I first read it — I mean, I’m also a nerd, and I love the Big Bang Theory for it’s portrayal of nerds and both authentic nerdiness (and I was MIT for 6 years, so I know of what I speak) and real people.

    I could imagine this being about real fat people… not just caricatures of them. With all the reality that entails, including some of the weight-related issues the Gilmore Girls never touched.

  13. Tim O'Rourke, on May 13th, 2010 at 10:58 pm Said:

    Billy Gardell has been a regular on Yes Dear, My name is Earl, The Heist and was a standout on the short lived FX comedy, Lucky. Trust me folks, it is not 22 minutes of fat jokes… This sitcom has a heart.

    • Jan, on October 28th, 2010 at 4:26 pm Said:

      I love Mike and Molly-no matter what their size!! I think this is one of those shows that takes all the characters to make the show work..It is FUNNY- I love all of them~! Keep up the good work ! I am however, wondering where the writers can go next since the “deed” had been done now~??

  14. Pingback: Big Fat Deal » Mike & Molly

  15. Pingback: Big Fat Deal » Marie Claire Thinks Fat People Are Gross

  16. Jim Wood, on October 27th, 2010 at 7:58 am Said:

    Folks, just watch Mike & Molly and give it a chance. I believe that it will have a following. I didn’t start watching Big Bang Theory at first either but now it’s my favorite show.

Subscribe to the comments for this post (RSS)

« The Myth Of Fat In The Black Community
Rotundities: A Links Roundup »

RSS button Entries RSS

RSS button Comments RSS

Email us

Look around
  • What's the Big Fat Deal?
  • Introduce yourself
  • How do I love myself? And the follow up.
  • Our Facebook group
  • BFD greatest hits
  • 10 Ways to be a Body Positivity Advocate
  • Our pet fish
  • Press and media
We are...
Image of Mo Pie Image of Weetabix Image of Jenfu
Find it
Meta
+ Click to display
  • Log in
  • Entries RSS
  • Comments RSS
  •  
  • Google Reader or Homepage
  • del.icio.us 43 Folders
  • Add to My Yahoo!
  • Subscribe with Bloglines
  • Subscribe in NewsGator Online
  • Furl 43 Folders
  • Add to Technorati Favorites!
  • Add to netvibes
  • Health Blogs - Blog Top Sites
  • Pop Culture Blogs -  Blog Catalog Blog Directory
  • Blogging Fusion Blog Directory
  • I fight fat-hate!
  • B-List Blogger
  • Bloggapedia, Blog Directory - Find It!
  • As Seen on Delightfulblogs.com
  • Blogarama - The Blog Directory
  • Top HealthCare Sites
  • + Click to hide
Your comments
  • Babs: So sorry to hear that you are moving to Facebook. I’m one of those “dinosaurs” who refused to...
  • Trish: I’m a heavier girl, and throughout my pregnancy so far I’ve not thought too much about looking...
  • Rhonwyyn: Hi Mali, So sorry you’re feeling this way. I was never very skinny, but I learned to hate my body as...
  • Jody: I just got this cute Disney Nerds bag at Disneyland this January. It was only $20 and the strap is super long....
  • Courtney: I found one at H&M. Can’t wear a damn thing from that store except their bags, and it was under...
Recent entries
  • New BFD Page on Facebook
  • Recommend A Crossbody Bag
  • It Happened To Me: I Read xoJane.com
  • Actor Gains 50 Pounds, Becomes "Much Funnier"?
  • Nordstrom Rack Fall Outfit Extravaganza
  • Say Yes To The Dress: Big Bliss
Notes from the Fatosphere
Most Popular Categories
  • Advertising Advocacy America Ferrera American Idol Art Ask BFD Beth Ditto BFD Classic BFDudes Biggest Loser BlogHer08 Books Britney Spears Carnie Wilson Celebrities Cold Hard Cash Comics Courtney Love Dance Your Ass Off Diet Talk Diet Talk Warning Drop Dead Diva Eating Disorders Exercise Fashion Fatism Fat Positive Fat Suits Feel Good Friday Feminism Food Gabby Sidibe Glee Gossip Guest Post Gwyneth Paltrow Hairspray Health Huge Humor International Jenfu Jennifer Aniston Jennifer Hudson Jennifer Love Hewitt Jessica Simpson Kate Winslet Keira Knightley Kelly Clarkson Kids Kirstie Alley Links Magazines Media Meta Mike & Molly Mo'Nique Mommyblog More To Love Movies Music Nikki Blonsky NSFW Old Navy Old Timey Oprah Personal Photoshop Politics Project Runway Queen Latifah Question Race & Ethnicity Renee Zelwegger Review Ricki Lake Ricky Gervais Science Sex & Romance Star Jones Theater The Office Tidbit TV Tyra Banks Uncategorized Video Weetabix Weight Loss WLS Work

Twitter
[aktt_tweets count="5"]
Most Comments
  • Nordstrom Rack Fall Outfit Extravaganza (232)
  • How Do Strangers Treat You? (134)
  • "The Beautiful People Are The Skinny People" (103)
  • "You Do Not See Fat People In Concentration Camps" (100)
  • Are You Insecure About Your Height? (97)
  • Big Fat Ad (91)
Archives
Powered by WordPress & WPDesigner :: Design by Pattycake Designs & modified by Make My Blog Pretty :: Logo by Evan Carothers