Carnie the "Fat Whale"

A friend suggested two other web sites to add to my Wall of Shame. Let me take a random stroll through one and see...

The Skinny Website

This one is about celebrity diets etc. On this link they have a photo of Jack Nicholson lookin' all oldy, with the comment "Considering that he’s turning 71 in less than a month, he doesn’t look too bad…" and many positive comments from the readers. Well, that's nice and all. It would be nicer if we were as accepting of women. Somehow I doubt reactions to a photo of a flabby 71 year old woman would be so mild.

The main story today is about Carnie Wilson regaining weight since her operation. Some of the reader comments:

"oh my!!!!she is still a FATSOOOO!!!who cares if it was 57 instead of 79??still fat!!!"

"she looks like fat gwyneth from shallow hal.. i dont know how someone could let them self get to this point? like obviously she has a mirror so use it!"

"she’s fucking massive either way."

"Oh my god, what a fat whale."

"She needs to stop snacking and start exercising. period!"

Most of the posts are not like that, but they basically circle around the "she's fatter than she's admitting" theme. It's one long discussion about how much she must really weigh. I will only say this, however--if you make a Big Deal about your surgery and weight loss, and write two books about it, you're gonna be a target.

But the real point here is: Why would you subscribe to a regular blog about how skinny or fat stars are? And then sit around arguing with strangers over the details? As Ms Notdieting points out on her blog, it's the way we talk about and think about our bodies and food that's the problem here.

The Vicar of Dibley

I never watched this show, though now I regret it. I randomly caught the finale of the series, in which the very overweight woman vicar (played by top Brit comedian Dawn French) and a super-gorgeous newcomer to town (played by super gorgeous Richard Armitage) fall in love at first sight. It's unbelievably rare to get a romance like this on tv, even in a comedy. As Chef Ramsey might say: Lovely, my darling.

pig noses

The reviews for this Christina Ricci Pig Nose movie seem to be mediocre. But hey, why not a mediocre comedy romance about a pig nosed girl, rather than a mediocre comedy romance starring the usual hot actress (who at some point makes a Mousy Librarian to Hot Mama transformation.)

Chick Dancers!

Been watchin' and lovin' Randy Jackson's America's Best Dance Crew. There were a couple female dance crews, and there are plenty of mixed crews. The Fysh N Chicks were a lot of fun til they got eliminated, just because they really promoted the idea that they didn't want to have to be sex kittens to prove they could entertain. They talked about it a lot, and called that "selling out."

So... up against the "Next Pussycat Doll!" and "Girlicious!" type reality shows on Much Music, they (and really all the chick dancers on this show) were a refreshing change.

Wisdom from Fernando Lamas, a makeup lady, and a soup can

1. Carmindy, the makeup lady on What Not to Wear, was encouraging the woman this week to look in the mirror and say positive things about herself. She had a cute expression for it, but I can't remember it -- something like Mirror Affirmations.

2. I enjoyed a recent soup ad where the container of soup catches site of its reflection on the cooking pot, and is all "Ooo you gorgeous thing--look at you!" Well... if soup can feel this good about itself, surely the rest of us can too.

3. In high school I loved the Billy Crystal song "Youuuu lllook mahvelous!" My favourite lines...

* "When I look into your eyes darling, I see the reflection of me! Look at me dancing around in there! I look mahvelous! Absolutely mahvelous!"

* "And this is from my heart, which is deep inside my body: It's better to look good than to feel good!"

* "My father used to say to me: Fernando, don't be a schnook! It's not how you feel it's how you look! He was mahvelous."

Definitely time for a video flashback:

what not to wear

What Not to Wear has changed a bit this season. They seem to be putting more focus on the whole "self esteem" angle. It's become a little less fashionista, a little more humanista.

O Where Are the Eccentrics?

It's been award season, so the best and worst dressed lists are out. Is it me or does no one take kooky fashion risks anymore? Is it just because Cher and Geena Davis aren't in the limelight these days? Aren't there any wacky dressers to take their places? Who will bring out the next swan dress? No one forgets the swan dress.

JS Mill warned that when there aren't enough eccentrics in society, you're in trouble because there isn't enough innovation / new ideas / variety of thought and opinions, which societies need to grow. ;-)

Here are a couple dresses that made some random "worst" list, but that I think have some kooks appeal. Especially the little mermaid thing.

And here are a couple that made some random SAG best list, clearly written by someone with a little imagination. These dresses are funner than the usual "oh-it's-so-Hollywood-40s-glam" that usually gets the spotlight.


And here are some of the olllld classics, that no one does anymore. Sigh.