The Fattest Reject

In general, I'm not a fan of reality TV. I have many reasons for maintaining this position. Firstly it ironically often feels unbelievable. I never truely believe or even care that the characters (or contestants or whatever they call themselves) are in any sort of dilema or personal struggle, even though it is probably true. It also stikes me as lazy, the extent of the creativity really only extrends as far as trying to figure out how to further humiliate and inconvenience the people in it. Most of all it's dull. I have no problem with a show that's about nothing or light on plot but only when it is the product of an artist, or a creative director with an ultimate vision or something of the like. I don't think it's ok to just put a camera infront of 12 or so average (or below average in many cases) John and Jane Smith's and watch them read the paper and express pseudo-intelligent or altogether ignorant views on world politics, religion and on how "so-and-so seems really fake to me."

Anyway to get to the real meat of the post I was in the situation the other week in which I pretty much had no other choice but to watch The Biggest Loser Weigh In because my very young cousine is into it for some reason ( he is only 8). I guess one of the biggest problems I have with this show is that it takes itself extremely seriously. It's constantly trying to put the fatties into uncomfortable situations and fading to black and white slow-plays to highlight struggle and overcoming of obstacles. First thing I was skeptical about was how in the opening credits all the contestants are shot in a variety unflattering ways on what may as well be a domestic video camera and then the trainers get long, sweeping glamour shots on the beach. "These people are hot, these people are NOT!" pretty much sums up the message I get from the opening, and no amount of crappy Shannon Nole can fix it.

Now as mentioned before the episode was one of the hour long, Weigh In specials and let me just say straight up that one hour is far too long. For a show that celebrates the losing of weight it is ironically quite reluctant to lose any of their precious, precious filler material. The Weigh In was far bulkier, sluggish and unhealthy than any of the contestants ever were. I mean how long does it take to weigh up 4 people for fucksake? One minute I would think. But no they have to pad it out with unnessessary commentary and interviews that only reiterate what we already fucking knew in the first place. I mean this show is on like every fucking night as it is and then they think they have enough interesting shit going on to warrent a one hour special? I mean I know it's inevitable that as they eliminate contestants the episodes will try and become more personal and in-depth to compensate for less material but really why can't they just lessen the length of the episode towards the end? Would it be so horrible to lose some of the crap? The season finale was never going to be explosive so you'd think the least they could do is make it short. My final thoughts on the show are this. Even though it was always going to be a half-baked kinda show it is only made worse by focusing on quantity rather than quality.