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The Small Screen: A Professional Fatass Gives Drop Dead Diva A Second Look
Drop Dead Diva: "Fat Things Should Not Happen To Skinny People"
Critics Deem Drop Dead Diva Different, Daring & Delightful TV

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lmarmst
09/23/09

In reply to The Small Screen: A Professional Fatass Gives Drop Dead Diva A Second Look
I've never seen the show (don't have cable!) but I'm curious as to whether the issue of age ever comes up in the Deb/Jane transition. For a 24 year old woman to be shape-shifted into the body of a 30-something seems like it would cause another layer of disappointment, given the young old, thin fat message to which women are constantly subjected. Does this issue ever come up? Or does fat trump age in the hierarchy of undesirable female traits?
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mariamariamaria
09/23/09

@lmarmst: I have this whole season DVR'd but have yet to see it... but I do recall seeing commercials for the "Oh my God I'm 30!" episode, so yes, New Jane also addresses being older too (I think!)
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Alessar
09/23/09

@lmarmst: Lifetime.com does have whole episodes available for online viewing.
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lemniskate67
09/22/09

In reply to The Small Screen: A Professional Fatass Gives Drop Dead Diva A Second Look
Just FYI, the "old" Jane didn't die so that Deb could live. Jane died when she was fated to die, and that just happened to be at the same moment Deb pushed the button and got herself sent back to earth - they took over Jane's life, but she had lived as much of it as she was originally fated to do.

Yes, weak story - but Jane didn't die so Deb could Learn A Very Valuable Lesson. She died in the confrontation with the gunman who was after her boss, plain and simple.
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Trulymadlyme
09/22/09

@lemniskate67: yup. That was going to happen regardless according to the terms of the universe the show created.

I love the quirky legal stuff mixed in with the crazy universe this character is living in. In an odd way, it reminds me of Ally McBeal. It's fun, fluffy, and they actually are handling the whole death of both women pretty well. I also love, love, love that Jane's (I mean, er Deb's) model friend is not the typical magical "black best friend."
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Le Kangourou de Kataroo
09/22/09

In reply to The Small Screen: A Professional Fatass Gives Drop Dead Diva A Second Look
This show is probably my biggest guilty pleasure. Sure, it can be contrived and over the top, but I think it, while it takes steps back with size stereotypes, it also brings to light issues that people may not think about if they're not above a size 10 (the biggest size in the boutique Jane sued). I also like the Jane/Kim interaction, especially with Deb getting used to the judgement in Jane's body that she gets from Kim, and Kim not trying to hide it.
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Scal
09/22/09

In reply to The Small Screen: A Professional Fatass Gives Drop Dead Diva A Second Look
This is a great article and I don't want to detract from that, but I am not sure why you call yourself a PUF? In your headshots you look like a healthy woman - not skinny, sure, but hardly "fat". I'm curious then as to what your motivations for identifying as "fat" are. Is it because you wish to normalise the use of the word to describe certain physical characteristics, thereby removing the judgmental subtext?

Also, while I am not a "fat" woman, I am probably 14 or 15 kgs over my ideal weight. I am healthy and exercise, but my portion control is pretty bad. I recently went to the doctor to talk about my weight to work out how concerned I should be, and she point-blank refused to discuss it with me, even though I have good self-image and objectively need to loose weight. Some doctors are so concerned about body image and self-esteem that they won't discuss what is essentially a medical issue.

So while I agree that the "normal" fat-person interaction with doctors is unhelpful, I think the reverse issue is also problematic.
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Kate Harding
09/22/09

@Scal: Short version: I'm clinically obese, and yes, the reclamation of fat is partly about normalizing it/removing the judgment. Long version: [www.salon.com]
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Bitingpika
09/22/09

@Scal: Hmph. I'm almost exactly the same size as Kate Harding, and my last doctor suggested weight loss surgery within 10 minutes of meeting me. No, he did not ask what I actually eat. No, he did not bother reading the chart that included information about my endocrine disorders. Maybe he's a freak who enjoys the idea of destroying functioning digestive systems or maybe his Porsche needed serving, but he's far from rare.
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Vidya108
09/22/09

@Scal: So, you're faulting a medical professional for refusing to buy into a medically unsupported cultural myth that higher body weights are unhealthy and can/should be altered?
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Scal
09/22/09

@Kate Harding: thanks for the link. It's good to know.
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Edited by Scal at 09/22/09 9:04 PM Scal was starred Scal was unstarred

Scal
09/22/09

@Vidya108: Carrying an extra 14kgs is bad for your knees, if nothing else.

If I am objectively overweight, and I have questions about it, it seems odd that the doctor wouldn't talk about it with me. I wasn't asking for surgery or diet pills - I was asking whether it was an issue that required immediate redress, or if I could aim to loose the weight over a period of time. She became flustered and brushed my question off.

I once went to the doctor to talk about my greying hair (I was 22). Sure, grey hair is a cosmetic issue only, and perhaps on that basis you would think that a doctor refusing to look into it a aplaudable. However, I would say that it - like weight gain - can suggest underlying problems. Also, even if it's not a a problem in itself or a symptom of a problem, if you want to have it fixed, and medicine can provide that fix, wouldn't you expect your doctor to talk to you about it if you asked her to?
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rixatrix
09/22/09

@Scal: My doctor doesn't really want to talk about it with me, either, but I'd guess I'm only 20-30lbs overweight. (And I say I guess because I've had my body fat percentage tested and carry an above-average amount of lean mass, so I'm going by those calculations rather than the height/weight charts.)

But the thing is, your doctor isn't there to help you improve your proxy of health. Your doctor is there to make sure you are healthy. If your bloodwork, blood pressure, hormones and knees are all functioning at a good level, then there would be no reason for them to suggest you go to lengths to lose weight. Dieting can be even unhealthier than staying a bit heavy but in good health. And unfortunately, a lot of people don't think, "I have a few extra pounds, I'd better eat sensibly and get some more exercise," they think, "I'm fat, time to eat nothing but grapefruits and chicken broth for a week."
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philoclea
09/23/09

@rixatrix: I have to say, I really get Scal's point on this one. I've also gained weight in the past years, and you know what, for my body, it's really *extra* weight. My back is weaker, I've had knee pains, gall bladder problems. Most of this time I've been under BMI 25 (and yes -- BMI is bullshit), but I've been unhealthy. It's not a huge amount either -- 15 lbs -- and I wasn't skinny to begin with, but for my body, it's too much.

A good general practitioner should be concerned with any unusual signs. Maybe the weight gain is due to a birth control pill? Maybe due to stress that will also have other negative effects on health? I also had my OB/GYN brush off my mentions of my weight gain, and yeah, it made me feel better, but that feeling went away when I realised I had health problems I didn't use to have.
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iheartapocalypse
09/23/09

@Bitingpika: I'm only like 15 lbs overweight and the first thing my new doctor said to me is "Have you tried Weight Watchers?" I was like, first of all, "Wow," second of all, "What can you tell me about the other doctors in your practice?"
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Lolita Hazed
09/22/09

In reply to The Small Screen: A Professional Fatass Gives Drop Dead Diva A Second Look
My mom's boyfriend's sister writes for this. We're not sure how we feel about it.
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Acefreakly
09/22/09

In reply to The Small Screen: A Professional Fatass Gives Drop Dead Diva A Second Look
ugh - You are so right about the gulf between a straight 14 or 16 and a plus. I'm a straight 12/14 and I can't tell you how many times I've gone shopping and tried something on that I either swam in or busted out of. Can anyone recommend a store that does it right?
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Kate Harding
09/22/09

@Acefreakly: The best solutions I found at that size were junior plus sizes, where the 1X will often bridge the gap (missphit.com, some b&lu, faith 21, several brands at alight.com, a couple of Target brands, and I think SWAK Designs) and stuff geared toward a somewhat older market -- Eddie Bauer, Land's End, J. Jill, etc. -- where everything tends to run a bit bigger.
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NewsBunny
09/22/09

In reply to The Small Screen: A Professional Fatass Gives Drop Dead Diva A Second Look
I'm fat and can go fifteen rounds with a heavy bag.

I can also go twenty miles on my bike in a little over two hours.

AND my new activity running -- I'm up to 3.5 m iles.

When, O when, will society realize that an overweight woman can kick ass?
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brokenscope
09/22/09

@NewsBunny: About the time it starts to associate health with fitness not thinness and health magazines stop touting cardio as the only form of exercise.
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boobookitteh
09/22/09

In reply to The Small Screen: A Professional Fatass Gives Drop Dead Diva A Second Look
What bothered me about this weeks show was the utterly distracting amount of Botox in Liza Minnelli's and Delta Burke's faces. They could barely move their lips. It was creepy. And made me wonder if the lesson is - it may be ok to be chubby, but don't get old!
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sassyredhead
09/22/09

In reply to The Small Screen: A Professional Fatass Gives Drop Dead Diva A Second Look
I have said before on this site that I adore this show, faults and all. It's just so cool to see someone that looks a bit like me(big girl) on tv. I think it's a funny, charming show. And yes, More Fred please!
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boobookitteh
09/22/09

@sassyredhead: Fred is way too good for stacie!
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Kate Harding
09/22/09

@boobookitteh: Co-signed! I actually wish Stacy were a more interesting character to me -- it actually seems too easy that the conventionally beautiful foil is dumb as a stick. And because of that, I find Fred's all-consuming attraction to her incredibly disappointing. (I mean, on one level, it's realistic, but I'd expect that character to go for a smart chick, regardless of what she looks like.)
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tessa
09/22/09

@boobookitteh: I think that chemistry-wise, Fred and Jane are much better suited. I know that we are supposed to ponder whether or not Jane and Grayson can be together (read: can this dude who was with a model love a fatty fat fatty?), but I hope they recognize that it comes across differently on screen.
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Kate Harding
09/22/09

@tessa: And I will co-sign that as well. I keep forgetting I'm supposed to give a damn about Grayson. (I mean, I like him fine. But do I care if he's with Kim instead of Jane? Not really.) I've been all about Jane/Fred from day one, because that's where I actually see chemistry. Like to think maybe they're going there eventually, with Stacy and Grayson just being distractions at the moment, but who knows?

I do like that she's apparently going to date a guy who's not in the regular cast now.
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ArtfulSlinger
07/14/09

In reply to Drop Dead Diva: "Fat Things Should Not Happen To Skinny People"
I liked it, I didnt love it. I really adore the woman who plays Jane and do hope that as the show progresses we can get better character development as opposed to cliche nonsense.

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HaukSydor
07/14/09

In reply to Drop Dead Diva: "Fat Things Should Not Happen To Skinny People"
I eat cheez whiz and donuts all the fracking time - at 11pm at night even! I'm what most would call 'skinny'. Fat people don't just eat junk - hypoglycemics do too.
Thanks mom's genes!
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scarletwine
07/13/09

In reply to Drop Dead Diva: "Fat Things Should Not Happen To Skinny People"
It's too bad that the cheez whiz debacle played into a fat stereotype so easily, because comfort eating/binging is a part of most people's lives at some point, at any weight. I've known plenty of skinny people stuff down some serious calories in moments of stress or anxiety. I wish there was a more nuanced way to show that it's a very common facet of unhealthy food relationships in just about everyone.
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smopenna
07/13/09

In reply to Drop Dead Diva: "Fat Things Should Not Happen To Skinny People"
To clarify: brunette lawyer (Jane?) was in a coma? I don't understand how the skinny girl stepped into her life without anyone questioning what happened to the real person.
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Alessar
07/14/09

@smopenna: I'm not sure if I understand your question; the model was in a car accident and died instantly. The lawyer was shot and was in the hospital about to die when the model's soul went back.

Once that happened, when model Deb's soul went into not-quite-dead/just died that instant Jane's body, a little reality warp happened to undo the damage to the body. The staff at the hospital was puzzled and said somehow the bullet had just grazed her -- yet the physical damage had killed Jane. Hence, reality warp.
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Edited by Alessar at 07/14/09 9:27 AM Alessar was starred Alessar was unstarred

smopenna
07/19/09

@Alessar: You may have not understood the question, but you answered it. Thanks!
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shananigans aka reluctant california resident
07/13/09

In reply to Drop Dead Diva: "Fat Things Should Not Happen To Skinny People"
I didn't watch this because initially I thought it was just a movie and i didn't want to get sucked into another summer series but after reading the review I'll try it.
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thequeenofstartingover
07/13/09

In reply to Drop Dead Diva: "Fat Things Should Not Happen To Skinny People"
Watched this last night, and had the same conflicting opinions. What I enjoyed most about the show was Brooke Elliott's likability, sometimes "bubbly" character's eat at my nerves, but for Brooke, I was rooting for her. I'm very interested to see where the relationship between her and the boyfriend/co-worker goes, I can see something quite good there if the writers can handle it right. This show was just the cheese I was needing to start my week off.

Speaking of cheese...the Cheez-Wiz injection WAS down-right unnecessary and totally stereotypical. My mouth literally dropped at that, I mean really? Just unnecessary. Also another thing bugged me and it was the usage of Fergie's "Big Girls Don't Cry" towards the end...that was really just cliche as hell...but it's Lifetime so I shouldn't snark.
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The Small Screen: A Professional Fatass Gives Drop Dead Diva A Second Look

Drop Dead Diva: "Fat Things Should Not Happen To Skinny People"

Critics Deem Drop Dead Diva Different, Daring & Delightful TV

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