Did you watch More To Love? Brought to you by the man who offered us The Bachelor, wily producer Mike Fleiss, More To Love gave us Luke Conley, a 26 year-old husky fella, who’ll be winnowing down a passel of plus-size gals.
I’ve watched The Bachelor occasionally, am no great follower of dating-genre TV, so ended up I liking More To Love on its own goofy, summer-vacation level. Luke isn’t smarmy. He’s a bit of a salesman (he does something in real estate, so he probably can’t help it), but one key to staying with a show like this is rooting for the person doing the picking, and so far, I’d like to see Luke fall for a nice person.
But who? More To Love allowed its bevy of women to emerge from cars with their weight in pounds printed below their names, a tacky touch, but then, what did I expect, In Treatment? Some of them seemed a little bitter (wondered one bluntly, why do guys “love the skinny bitches?”), some a tad sad (a woman who proclaimed she’d “never had a second date”).
More To Love suffers from the usual garish visual tropes: the arrival of the contestants, the awkward kissy-huggy greetings, the settling in to a house that looks as though it was decorated by Lady Ga-Ga’s fussy chihuahua. One dull spot last night: Emme, the famous plus-size model, doesn’t add much as host, or at least she didn’t in the premiere, seeming awkward and maybe a tad nervous. I’ve seen her in interviews where she comes off smart and funny, so perhaps she’ll settle in. Anyway, she can’t be a worse presenter than, say, the shrill toothpick they hired for Top Chef Masters, right?
Did you watch More To Love? Do you think it handles its premise well, or that it exploits or condescends to its love-hungry contestants?
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I watched about the first 20 minutes and turned it off. As a happily married plus-size woman myself, I awaited the arrival of this show with an odd mix of hope and disgust. I really hoped that the show would be humanizing to these women, that it would show women who loved themselves and were just as confident and energetic as all those skinny girls. Instead, we got a pity parade–women hardly even into plus-sized territory sobbing over the fact that they’d never had a boyfriend. So now, instead of rooting for these women for who they are, we feel sorry for them for what they’ve been through. To be fair, there were a few larger women and a few who projected real confidence, but the overall tone was incredibly maudlin and, yes, condescending. For a show that actually seems to have something positive to say about plus-sized women, I can’t recommend Lifetime’s Drop Dead Diva and its star Brooke Elliott highly enough.
As a plus size woman myself, I really enjoyed it. Seiing those woman made me realie that I am a bit if a shrinking violet.
No, No, NO. At first I thought “Well, these women have decided to do this, thus they want to. No need for me to feel sorry for them or like they are being exploited.” But I just can’t. This show’s main objective is to make the rest of America feel better about itself. Say what you want about biggest loser and dance your ass off, at least those shows have a positive aim…this show’s pretty much based off the premise ‘big girls need lovin too’…tacky.
All the Bachelor type shows are tacky
Yes, all the Bachelor shows are tacky, thanks to Fleiss. He doesn’t know class, doesn’t have class and will produce ANYTHING for the MONEY.
I’ve been SO waiting for this show so that I can have my rant about the ad campaign. I happen to be 5′ 9″ and wear somewhere between a 4 and an 8 (love that word stretch) According to this show, I’m not a real woman. I beg to differ- I just happen to be blessed with great genes. Then I watched. Quite a few of these women weren’t “real” either. They are plagued with poor self-image and a general sense of unworthiness. How sad. If you are going to be on a show called “More to Love” and allow your weight to be broadcast to the nation, then you better be happy in your own skin.
Darlin’Al, not sure which “real world” you are living in as a “real woman”…but most females have insecurities about their looks whether “fat” or skinny…and some are insecure about their actual worth. These women are real – well as real as they can be for “reality” tv – many real women are insecure! Aside from that peeps, almost all reality tv is exploitive and tacky…that’s why most people watch it! Sad but true. xo
I totally agree with you on this. My thing is why did they have to broadcast their weight and height, what does that matter, we can see that their shell is thick. I do not get that.
I completely agree with the height and weight thing…I realize it’s a show about “big girls” but how humiliating. Not even skinny girls want their weight broadcast to the whole world.
I think including plus size people on TV is a great idea because it does represent America to have all shapes and sizes included, but here they are just exploiting their weight. Instead of “finding love” in spite of their weight, the show is saying “hey look, its fat people…they fall in love too?”
So true. The fact that they posted their weight and height disgusts me. If you want to pretend to be the bacholor for plus size people, then why post height and weight? They don’t do that on the regular bacholor show. Ughh… so disappointed!
This show disgusted me. Nothing but fat girls crying over their lack of love. Give me a break!!
These girls need to be encouraged to have some more pride and more confidence and not air out their dirty laundry and personal feelings of inferiority on national television.
I am a fat girl…not chubby, not slightly overweight….I’m straight up fat. I have NO problem getting a date or finding a man that is into me….you know why?? Because I’m not projecting myself as undesirable. Who wants a partner who doesn’t think they are good enough??? Besides, finding a man who LOVES me and who I LOVE in return is hard for me, but it’s hard for EVERYONE. NOT JUST US FAT GIRLS!!!
And what’s with calling these women REAL? ALL women are REAL no matter if they are a size 2 or size 28.
I am disappointed in these women. Most of them don’t seem to like themselves too much. How do they expect to find love if they aren’t loving themselves??
Ugh…reality shows are pitiful.
ps…..has there been a couple who found each other on one of these matchmaking reality shows that has stayed together??? I’m guessing NO.
RayRay, you are seriously my new best friend, because you took the words RIGHT out of my mouth. lol It drives me crazy that the entire episode was driven by one woman or another crying about how their weight has held them back – well, I’m a size 26, and I have never had a shortage of dates and am married to a man who LOVES my body and my self-esteem. I will NOT let what everyone else thinks rule over my life and my happiness.
I hate that they are using their weight as an excuse not to live their life to the fullest – they’ll wake up and regret that one day.
And as a fellow fat girl, THANK YOU for using the correct term. ;D
I am totally with you both! I have been every size from a 2 to a 20 and back. Those women have such an opportunity to make such a positive impact. I watched it with my 2 teenage sons, I wanted them to get a different perspective on people than the entertainment industry projects, I was dissapointed, I do not know why they listed their weight, but at least they listed their height too. (I hope people noticed that….some of those women were quite tall.)
anyway, I agrr 100%
Trista and Ryan are still together from the bachelorette!
RayRay, I totally agree with you regarding the statement they use REAL WOMEN, all women are REAL
RayRay, I love you. You go girl!
I agree. As a fat girl myself, this show horrified me. I’ve been dating an amazing guy for four years… and yes, I met him before I gained the weight, but I know he loves me anyway. I’m embarrassed to see these women portrayed in a way that makes them look desparate and unlovable — because if they are desparate and unlovable, are aren’t all fat people? (Or so viewers might think). I’ll keep watching, but just for the motivation to workout and be healthier.
Right on, RayRay!!! I agree 100%. I am a size 28 and have found love and marriage to a wonderful guy. I thought the show was going to be about women who are confident and all they did is sit there and cry. It was ridiculous. Hardly any of them exuded any real confidence.
I can’t agree more. I had several complaints about the show that I had been looking forward to with trepidation, but my main concern, which I might add came true, was that they would do nothing but show the winey girls that make us all look like victims. I won’t lie, I am a size 28 and I have been one of those girls before that was the wounded victim that could not get why I never could have a lasting, fulfilling relationship with anyone I was interested in. However, I grew up and realized that until I love myself I will never be in a lasting, fulfilling relationship. There were a couple of girls on there that I was really routing for that got cut and a couple that stayed but I am sad to see that many of the “victims” stayed and will probably leave with another “victim” story under thier belt.
I am a happy single plus size gal who figured out that my self worth does not lie soley on if a guy likes me/thinks I am attractive/wants to date me, my worth comes from me and now I am afraid that this show will communicate to the plus size young girls that you still need to have the love of a guy/girl to have value instead of looking for it in yourself.
I agree with you Jen. If the guy can only see what is on the outside and doesn’t want to get to know who you are inside is obviously not a guy worth wanting to know. I say love you, respect you and don’t let anyone take that from you.
Yes, trista and ryan from the first bachelorette are still together and have 2 kids.
Some of the BMWs, gave me mad wood, but it quickly vinquished when I prongectured on the likely attendant faint whiff of cheese. A bit drunker, I theorize, and much of the self-pitying diametrics other posturers complained about would likely too be vinquished. I’m a regular american mhale, so I relate, but exploit? I wouldn’t apprehend it! Great food for thought!
Prongectured? Vinquish? And a BMW is a car.
THIS FRIST TIME SEE THIS SHOW. IT IS VERY NICE THOUGHT KIND SIZE INSTEAD THIN LADY BUT THEY SIZE ARE BEATUIFUL WOMAN NO MATTER THEIR SIZE JUST HEART INSIDE OR OUT SIDE.. I THINK LUKE GOOD CHOICE ALOTS EASY TO TREAT LADY BUT DO NOT WANT HEARTBROKEN ANY LADY CHOOSE TO LUKE HAS RIGHT WOMAN CHOOSE WHEN HE ABLE FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN.. I WISH SO TOO.. IT SO HARD FOR ME SOME REASON ABOUT DEAF AND HOH FIND SEARCH FOR MEN SIZE OR MUSLES DOES MATTER TO ME LOOKING FOR FURTURE MARRAIGE.. I CAN’T THINK RIGHT ONE I HAVEN’T DATE ANYONE YET .. ONE THING NOT AFAIR FOR DEAF AND HOH WHY NOT SHOW YOUR PLACE GOOD IDEA.. DOES MATTER TO YOU OR NOT… I AM TIRED WAIT SOMEBODY RIGHT ONE ABLE FIX GET MARRIED HAPPY AGAIN FOR ME… WHERE IS 20 GUYS ARE DEAF AND HOH WHY NOT OR DO YOU AGREE OR NOT?
Funny how a show trying to prove a point that love comes in all sizes CONSTANTLY BROUGHT UP THE WEIGHT OF THE WOMEN! My mouth literally dropped open when I saw the “stats” of the women were shown! What the HELL were the producers thinking?! I’ve never seen any of the height and weight stats shown on the Bachelor or Bachelorette. I for one will NOT be watching this show. DISGUSTING, SAD and PATHETIC are the words that come to mind when I think of the way the producers have taken a long awaited reality tv show concept and evolved it into the one thing this show didn’t have to focus on. I wanted to see real people with real bodies fall in love. Not clever clips of chubby women crying about not being loved or a shot of a woman trying to help another women squeeze into a gown. This is what you do for ratings? DISGUSTING, SAD and PATHETIC
It is about flippin time that they put a show on that I can relate to!!! I always have watched the Bachelor and wished that I could have that chance to mean someone like that, but who would dare….I would be off in the first round 90% of the time. I am so excited to watch this! THANK YOU!!!
Man, I have to say I’m a little disgusted with this show so far. The comercials projected these women as confident and strong, when in reality most of them are anything but. It takes a pretty self conscious woman to bash so called ’skinny bitches’ on tv. Is that supposed to represent confidence? If I was any of those women’s ’skinny bitch’ friends, I’d be a little pissed at them right now. Keeping within a healthy weight is not abnormal, despite these women trying to convince themselves that it is. That’s not the most pc thing to say though. Apparently it’s ok for overweight women to bash thin women, but when the opposite happens, the thin girl is a conceited bitch.
There, I feel better
Thanks, La, you bring up a good point. Why is it ok for them to bash somebody because of their weight, but ohhhh, if the tables are turned…….
I can’t take a fat woman seriously when she calls herself plus-sized, chubby, curvaceous, etc…
This is coming from a guy who’s the same size as the dude in the show. If I’m taking a fat chick out on a date, and she calls herself one of those politically correct lies. I’ll get up and leave while she’s still gnawing on her dinner.
Thanks for letting everyone know what a jerk you are.
if she calles herself fat , are you coll with that?
Why would any woman talk about their weight on dates? BORING! I would say the women Markus dates should call herself “lucky” if he gets up and walks away!
I looked forward to watching the show, but was disgusted by how the women’s weight was displayed on the screen when they made a comment on a clip! UGHH! They don’t do that to women on The Bachelor! WHY would they do it to these women on this show? To degrade them! It really is truly sad & turned me off to the show! Only one word comes to mind: exploitation!
Ok first of all, Divid Lavely, you f****** suck…wrong usage on pretty much every “big word” you tried to spew. Second, this show is so f****** hilarious, it is sickening! Cheers to the Fleiss for giving everyone some good old THINSPIRATION! WHOOOOO!!! Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go do some pushups and throw up, because this show was nauseating.
I suck asterisks you say– sounds like you got your sweet, luscious BMW extraimpounded and fatty labia is lost to you– such a trambisty! And doing push-ups over a blow-up fatty doll will not help you regain your mequilibium, neither will Valerie, not Kristy. The problem with big words is people like Long Jowls Bowser here sweathugging them into smallness, then claiming to loathe giants whilst secretly craving them.
The BMWs on this show are serious hypocrites in the sense that they could get plenty of men, but insist on having a choice in the looks of their own partner. They gather in the room, gushing over how his eyes look, etc., Thus, they are guilty–or wish they could be– of the very shallow behavior they lament being directed to them.
You keep doing those ’shups junior– unfortunately they won’t help with your intelligence. Huff… Good! Now puff… Very good.
I just watched this show after being a fan of The Bachelor. Being a size 12 myself I was looking forward to a show with “real women” and after watching was left thinking that these women suffer from serious body and self-confidence issues and are in need of real therapy. If you can’t love yourself, no one will love you either. Sex appeal is 90% attitude. At least 90% of these woman need an attitude adjustment before seeking a long term relationships.
I was expecting one of the “”discarded”" to fall to her knees and beg for just one more chance PLEASE!!
Not very inspiring show. I felt sorry for the women, many of whom suffer from some serious self image issues. The fact that the show focused so much on the “weight” factor by displaying the women’s “stats” at every opportunity turned me off.
I think it would be better if they found average sized confident women. Some of the women were great. I felt sorry for the rest. I think that being kicked off the show is going to really knock them down worse than they already are.
I’m a size 12 at 5′10″ and 175 and just a little fat and even I felt insulted by how this show came off.
I agree with many of the comments here, no show trying to promote size diversity should feature body stats and encourage women to demean themselves by talking about how lonely and unloved larger women are. For some of those women that may be the case, but I can tell you that it is NOT because of their size. Many of my heavier friends are constantly dating or in committed relationships and one of my thinner friends went on her first date at age 30. If someone was truly trying to demonstrate body diversity on reality television, they would include men and women of all sizes in the same dating pool and focus on the relationships that form rather than even bothering to point out various body shapes. That would be the only way to effectively represent that size stereotypes are inaccurate and unfair. Showcasing a bunch of girls who think they have never found love because they are too fat only reinforces beliefs that fat girls are unlovable. While size discrimination does exist, there is no one who seriously feels that way that my friends (fat or skinny) and I would want to date anyway. Wanting your partner to be healthy and enjoy life with you is a priority but assuming that being skinny is the only way to do that is certainly not what I am looking for.
Nicole, I totally agree with you on this regarding the dating pool should be all shapes and sizes. I think they are afraid to do that, because they want to keep Thick people and Slim people separate. Aslo I feel that their are men out there that are embrarassed to admit when they are attracted to a woman and the woman happens to be thick. They do not want to hear it from their family and friends. Same goes for women with men.
I agree, I was a little upset that the guy they picked was a “plus sized” guy. My first thought was, “so only fat ppl should be with fat ppl?” Why not have a “normal” sized guy wanting to date the plus size woman, why is it that they never have a bigger guy on the Bachlor? They should have a dating show with ppl of all sizes
The lack of confidence in the contestants was sad and painful to watch. What was worse however, was the sleaze Luke who took advantage of each of them. He got way too touchy the first night and kissing was unnecessary and manipulative.
Why did the producers of the show post the height and weight of the women? Were they not trying to go against the stereotype that you have to be thin to be lovable? Any why do the people that go on these shows suddenly act as if the bachelor is the last man on earth? So what if he is not into them! They are many more fish in the sea! They all seem to lose sight of the fact that they may not find love on a reality show. Afterall, aren’t they stacking the odds against themselves by going on a show with one man and 20 women? Ridiculous!!! People should be loved for who they truly are and not only for how they look on the outside. Isn’t character much more important than looks? Looks will eventually fade but your character will remain the same.
Um, it’s FOX. Really, what did you expect?
Real nice FOX, give a girl a ring and then tell them to take them off.
Let em keep the ring
i caught that too! I am with you! Tacky!
I’m not suprised that fat girls date alot. 60% of Americans are fat or obese. I would be surprised if this show is a success. I personally don’t want to see average-looking folks on entertainment shows. If I wanted to see that, I’d walk out the front door (or watch Jerry Springer)
This is going to be a tough sell with American viewers, I think. Even amongst the self purported BBWS and “women of size.” Me? I’m fat and there’s no man hot enough for me to broadcast my stats on national television. I haven’t had to, however. I’ve dated more at my heaviest, than I ever did at my thinnest… IN LA, of all places! Sure, I’d do quite a bit for the sake of finding the right man, but humiliate myself? No thanks. Blubber at age 23 about this being my LAST CHANCE to find love? Not likely, knowing what I know now. But leave it to the TV industry to work that into the deal for these women.
Don’t think for a moment, that isn’t intentional. They know that there will be thousands of viewers (probably hoping more for millions) who will watch this show for freak factor alone. Another poster said that this is a partial ploy to make the rest of the country feel better about themselves. Bingo! If this was about showing how there are plenty of dynamic, beautiful, confident women over size 14, then why are the contestants they’ve chosen all crying before they even get started? Because most of these women were chosen for one outstanding factor… low self-esteem. Not all of them, mind you. But they’ll be booted soon enough.
Yes, of course some of them (if not all of them) are being encouraged to bring the tears and the producers want a steady river of them. But what’s sad, is that there are still a lot of women out there who truly are as pathetic and disheartened as many of these contestants are. Just join a “BBW” dating site with Bulletin Boards and Chat Rooms and watch how desperate and catty things turn when a man… ANY man… enters the scene. Even when the men applaud their rolls and jiggles, the immediate assumption is that the thinnest of the bunch will get the guy and the fur starts flying. Un… real. But you know… the “skinny bitches” on the other dating shows… are just as bad.
Luke’s cute. I’ll give him that. And already I like him much better than the last three Bachelors I’ve tried to watch. If this lasts past one season, I’d like to see someone more cool and edgy in his place. We’ll see how this goes. But at the moment, I’m predicting I lose my ability to stomach the whining women by episode 3.
I agree, the dating pool should be mixed, it shouldn’t be “all skinnies” or “all fat” people. Besides, even though I am fat I wouldn’t necessarily choose a man who was. But I don’t like the assumption that since the girls are fat, they will want a man who is, also…or that they’ll be happy to take anything.
In addition, the experience of more than girl on the show was that no man had ever been anywhere near her, and I don’t think that’s very usual. The fat women I’ve known have been very much in demand for dating and marriage, just not for magazine covers.
My guess? If this show stays on all season, FOX will throw in some skinny competition to see if the bachelor really means what he says.
IT WAS INSULTING-THERE WAS NO REASON TO SHOW THE WEIGHT OF EACH WOMAN. I WONDER HOW MANY OF THESE WOMEN KNEW THAT THERE WEIGHT WOULD BE ON NATIONAL TV. I’M A FAT GIRL MYSELF AND WHILE I’M NOT EMBARASSED ABOUT BEING FAT, MY WEIGHT IS NO ONE’S BUSINESS. LIKE I TELL EVERYONE WHEN I WEAR A BATHING SUIT-IT’S NOT LIKE THIS IS A SURPRISE. LADIES RESPECT YOURSELVES AND OTHER FAT WOMEN-DEMAND THE WEIGHT DISPLAY BE STOPPED. PROJECT A POSITIVE IMAGE BASED ON WHO YOU ARE, NOT A NUMBER.
Some of these girls have such severe self esteem issues that I have to wonder how damaging participating in this show is going to be for them.
I think the height and weight part was a bit tacky, but like another poster, I think – I know! – women of all shapes and sizes have body issues and insecurities; plus-size gals just have our broadcasted more easily. As far as them likely not being near a guy, I can believe that. I had guy-friends all through high school and college, but not boyfriends, I was not confident enough I think. I’m married now – to a larger man – and to be honest, all the skinny ones I met before I thought I’d break or something. For the record – I’ve never called myself fat, always fluffy, zaftig, etc, because I refuse to name myself in such a negative light. It’s not about being PC, it’s about having a little self respect.
Wanna see some poor woman with body image issues? Have you see Madonna lately? She’s starting to look frighteningly devoid of body fat! I’m starting to be afraid for her!
Maybe fan – I’ve been genuinely curious about something for a while and since you brought it up, I’ll ask it here. When did the word “fat” become perjorative? I’m actually afraid to call anyone “fat” because it almost seems like I’m insulting them when all I’m trying to do is describe their body structure.
Found the show a little insulting but at least they posted Luke’s numbers as well. My biggest problem is that all of the women instantly feel for his dreamy eyes and oh he is sooo cute…. It all just felt desperate. Having been heavy my whole life and dealing w/ the teasing and the cruelty, it makes me sad that these women are so man hungry that they “love” him and feel “connected” after a 5 minute meeting.
I don’t really watch these types of shows, but isn’t that how it is on all reality shows? All the contestants are man-hungry due to some mental (or in this case physical) deficiency or another. That’s how they get on the show!
its the same way on the regular bachelor and bachelorette shows… all 25 women on bachelor always want the chosen bachelor. its partly competition and partly that these women were picked for this man (I hope)
I watched the show last night. I questioned why the poundage was listed with their age and height. I don’t remember this being listed in the “normal” model type women on other shows. This seems to be making a mockery of the fact that they are a full bodied women. The issue of the crying over lack of love, there are many many people out there looking for love and not finding it. It seems to provoke pity and even anger. I am a tall plus size and I do not feel that a lack of “love” from a man is the main existence of ones’ life. Its about being the best person you can be, no matter what your size end of story.
Wow, what an awful show! As an “average American woman” who is 5′7″, 170 and wears a size 14 I was so looking forward to watching this show. I am now disgusted on many levels. Firstly I don’t believe that the weights posted were correct, I think many weighed more, however; what does it matter? Why doesn’t it say on the Bachelor “Jillian, 5′5″ 105 pounds” Please, talk about putting these already esteem-challenged women down. It’s obvious when you look at them that they are plus-size. There is no need to put it out there, which only emphasizes the negative stereotype society has placed on a normal person. I’d like to see a show that is really normal. A 6′0″ 200 pound guy without washboard abs, with a 5′7″ 160 pound girl without breast implants who wears a one piece. But I guess that would just be real life, and who wants to see real life on reality TV anyway?
who wants to see real life on reality TV anyway?
ur cracking me up.
I felt embarrassed to watch the show. I thought I would be watching “More to Love”, in context of there is more to love than the physical characteristics of someone. Nope, that did not come across. I cringed at comments made: Do you know how to milk a cow?, and in response to what do you like to eat, “Anything big and juicy.” I would like to think it was only MY ears hearing it, but I am truly afraid they were lines fed by the producers. Displaying the height and weight of the women was terrible. Shame on the producers, shame on me for watching the entirety.