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Op-Ed: Could a fat girl win American Idol? - TV Squad »

Posted by: TVblogger 2 years, 11 months ago

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I'm not sure what the voting demographics are for AI (my guess would be teenage girls, housewives, and me), but whoever the voters are, their choices seem to fall in line with some greater societal stereotypes: men get a pass on their looks, women don't.

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TVblogger

I'm a TV blogger for a network called 451press. I blog about the monolithic TV show 24. I'm a college student attending Utah ...

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Comments: 42

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TVblogger
Jan. 19, 2007, 3:29 p.m.
I loved this article.
It's true though. American Idol, in my opinion should be as much a beauty contest as it is a signing contest, if they really want to find someone that is marketable to the American public.
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Mintyfunk
Jan. 19, 2007, 4:17 p.m.
They ironic part is that I suspect the viewing audience for Idol is predominatly female. If so, it's odd that women would be perpetuating the stereotypes. I'd actually like to see demographic breakout for this.

1 Reply
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  TVblogger
  Jan. 19, 2007, 4:23 p.m.
  Well, sadly it seems that in real life girls are more critical of other girls and the way those girls look.
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mozzer
Jan. 19, 2007, 5:40 p.m.
Could a fat girl win? Conceivably, yes.
In reality, no.

1 Reply
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  TVblogger
  Jan. 19, 2007, 7:36 p.m.
  Well put Mozzer. Well put.
SusanParrishComment has been removed: User banned.

1 Replies
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  not2needy
  Jan. 20, 2007, 1:40 p.m.
  Where is it written that a large woman is not attractive? I am not a large woman, but i have seen lots of large women who look a lot better than the bone racks that people today think are the attractive ones.
  Personally i don't like to see BONES poking through the skin, with a gaunt hallow look in the cheeks and face. What's wrong with actually looking healthy, size 10 or 12, that's reality!!! Hollywood and their view of what is attractive is just completely wrong in the world of reality, and if you struggle for that 'attractiveness' then you had better hope you never have a serious illness, you won't have enough body fat to get you through it.
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NelsonR
Jan. 19, 2007, 7:15 p.m.
Wouldn't work to have an obese women win since it would distract viewers, during the airings, by reminding them to go to the refrigerator, who would watch the show and commercials.
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fotoman1133406
Jan. 19, 2007, 7:38 p.m.
Guys, come on...a fat girl win? NO WAY. That's the dictates of society. Fat people have no talent, beauty or anything else...according to society.
According to society.. a size 0 or 1...can get/do anything. Fat...NO.

1 Reply
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  krayzdrayzor
  Jan. 19, 2007, 8:57 p.m.
  I know you are being ironic in your remarks. Remember the scandals MTV went through when they'd do videos with attractive females who were lipsynching while the real deep down to your toes soul singing came from what society considered unattractive?
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AJaye
Jan. 19, 2007, 7:55 p.m.
Is rude crude program...Will not support sponsors by buying their products...The limey on program is a arrogant jerk...
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maxdiputs2
Jan. 19, 2007, 9:20 p.m.
You guys are all full of ******, of course a fat girl can win!! If she loses weight.
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natashas
Jan. 19, 2007, 11:25 p.m.
I think all three judges will make fun of her, and then if she got in the top three they would praise her for being a plus size romodel. Then kick her off!

3 Replies
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  mr-sir
  Jan. 20, 2007, 12:50 a.m.
  Well, I don't know if they would make fun of her, but it wouldn't supprise me if you are right about the rest.
  
  2 Replies
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    maxdiputs2
    Jan. 20, 2007, 2:53 p.m.
    Plus size modeling is the biggest crock i have heard of. Its just a very clever marketing tactic aimed at making fat women buy things. When it comes down to it, no body wants to see a women who is wider than she is tall. Everyone needs to remember that being fat is not an uncontrollable disease, its just a lifestyle choice. They choose to be that way.
    
    1 Reply
    - Avg rating: (+6/-0 6)
      maxdiputs2
      Jan. 20, 2007, 2:58 p.m.
      More on topic this time, want more proof that a fat women cannot win american idol? Look at that mandisa tub of lard from last year. In all honesty, she probably had the most technical talent in regard to singing, but do you remember the song she sang when she was voted off? It was a song in which she started dancing like she was really sexy, and guess what, america had enough of it.
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1-2-Oscar
Jan. 20, 2007, 12:28 a.m.
Kate Smith and Pearl Bailey wouldn't stand a chance with today's shallow audiences.
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ilgbf
Jan. 20, 2007, 1:11 a.m.
I love watching the audition portion of A.I. It's SO funny watching these butt plugs go out thinking their SO great, only to be reduced to tears and their dream shattered. I LOVE it. LOSERS! Bawl you itty bitty heads off. Most of you couldn't carry a tune in a bucket. And what's with that fat retard and his bug-eyed friend? I don't understand why people want to embarrass themselves on national TV.
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McBird
Jan. 20, 2007, 1:23 a.m.
Ok now yall may get mad at me but this is the way I see it. Could a Black Person of Size win on A.I.,...maybe. Could a fat white person win?? Not a chance in heck. Look around you, see any white LARGE pop stars? Naw, but you see any Black stars of size? LOTS!

2 Replies
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  Gee35Coupe
  Jan. 20, 2007, 8:58 a.m.
  You beat me to it. There have been a few plus sized black contestants on A.I. that had quite a large following. But I can only think on one white plus sized contestant that made it to the final group. She was promptly dismissed.
  Kelly Clarkson does have the big ole booty though. And she won. I guess it depends on your definition of fat. Cause in some social circles she would be labeled a cow.
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  VulgarCelebrity7
  Jan. 20, 2007, 1:28 p.m.
  Well, I was rooting for Kimberly Locke in season two....over "Gayken" and Studdard. She was a plus size girl who placed at number three....probably only because she is mulatto. Patti Austin (the '80s protege of the Quincy Jones dynasty) probably could have achieved bigger success if she would have been thin. She still did quite well with album sales and session work. If she would have looked like Kelly Pickler, she would have skyrocketed. (recites BABY GOT BACK)
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Iamsmartandyouarenot
Jan. 20, 2007, 4:28 a.m.
I don't know and I could care less about the subject including the show itself!! So freaking stupid!!
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justthinkfirst
Jan. 20, 2007, 6:50 a.m.
in our fast paced american society packaging is everything
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justthinkfirst
Jan. 20, 2007, 6:51 a.m.
in other words the consumer buys what is "pleasing " to the eyes
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HondaMan
Jan. 20, 2007, 8:32 a.m.
If this were just the days of radio...ie..the 70's, then yes a fat girl could win based on talent alone. Since MTV broke through and turned our society into an image is everything world. No, a large girl is judged by a different standard than a larger man...say Ruben. While it is possible for them to make it to the final 12...like Mandisa last year...when only the judges vote counts. America will never let them win.
And that is a sad shame.
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Bobcat6
Jan. 20, 2007, 9:37 a.m.
A fat man won it once. Why not a fat woman? I think it's possible.
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swrvn2cali
Jan. 20, 2007, 12:01 p.m.
i think that a fat girl should win it if she deserves it. I mean.... America is considered to be the "fattes country in the world".
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not2needy
Jan. 20, 2007, 1:48 p.m.
ONLY A DOG WANTS A BONE!!
Talent shouldn't be judged on how you look in a thong!
There was a day when a healthy woman was a sign of wealth and men adored them. I know a lot of young men today that love healthy women, Thank God!
Jamie Fox said in an interview that he dated women based on what Hollywood dictated he should be seen with, but when the time came for him to marry, he would marry a healthy woman, he didn't like boney women, good for him!!
There's nothing wrong with being a size 10 or 12, you don't have to be a size 2 or 0 to be attractive.
Marilyn Monroe wore a size 14, so there you go!! By today's standards she wouldn't stand a chance of making it in Hollywood.
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laylasgram
Jan. 20, 2007, 1:50 p.m.
Ella Fitzgerald, Mahalia Jackson,Trisha Yearwood, Kate Smith, the R.E.S.P.E.C.T. gal (her name escapes me at the moment), Rosemary Clooney, skinny once but not for long, Peggy Lee, I bet they cried all the way to the bank!! I totally dislike your "can a FAT Girl win", do you ever "say can a skinny girl win"? One's size does not make you brainless or less talented. You either are or you aren't talented, size shouldn't make a difference. Fantasia is fabulous but she is not a tiny person, Katherine from last year had a big butt, it does not make her less of a singer. We need to "get over ourselves"!

1 Reply
- Avg rating: (+15/-1 14)
  not2needy
  Jan. 20, 2007, 1:55 p.m.
  Aretha Franklin!!
  Hey and now women are having their behinds done to give them the JLo look, and she is anything but a bonerack! Baby got back!!
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laylasgram
Jan. 20, 2007, 1:55 p.m.
Thanx not2needy! Aretha, I could see her face and not her name!!

1 Reply
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  not2needy
  Jan. 20, 2007, 1:57 p.m.
  You're very welcome!!
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urstruly
Jan. 20, 2007, 2:16 p.m.
Did anyone ever hear of Kate Smith?

2 Replies
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  not2needy
  Jan. 20, 2007, 2:26 p.m.
  I have, lol, telling our ages.
  Also, the majority of the opera singers are healthy women, i know that opera isn't the big thing going for the young people today, but nonetheless, not all areas of entertainment base your talent on your size and whether you will look good when they expose you at the super bowl.
  
  1 Reply
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    krayzdrayzor
    Jan. 20, 2007, 5:18 p.m.
    The opera angle was where I was heading, some opera singers actually lost vocal ability when the became looks conscious. They made changes to regain some weight to retain their vocal power.
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SDCEP3
Jan. 20, 2007, 2:28 p.m.
As a society we should look down upon "Healthy" people. They are a burden to society in many unnecessary ways. As much as it is nice to believe, no one is genetically "healthy", it is a cause and effect relationship. Wasting resources so that you can overeat and become "Healthy" so that you become a burden on the health care system as well!
Would anyone support a weight tax?

1 Reply
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  not2needy
  Jan. 20, 2007, 3:20 p.m.
  That is a double edged sword as well, starving yourself into a skeleton is also a burden on the health care system as it calls for extended therapy, hospitalization and leads to other more serious health care problems than being actually healthy. Healthy doesn't mean you have to weigh 300 and wear size 28, it means you exercise, keep body fat and weight under control and eat right.
  In some instances genetics play a role as well, lots of people who look like they eat a lot really don't. I love people who are fast to judge, yet know nothing about the subject.
  (As a society we should look down upon "Healthy" people)
  That was one of the stupidest comments i have ever read on here! Bar none!
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ilgbf
Jan. 20, 2007, 4:05 p.m.
Well, an elf-faced fem even LOST to Ruben Studdard. I'll never forgive the stupid, pathetic American public for unleashing Achin' Klay Femko onto the world. That guy's as arrogant as he is 'sissified and ugly', and that's pretty f(bleep)ckin' arrogant. Besides, the thing can't sing. I've heard a better sound coming from a backed up toilet.

1 Reply
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  not2needy
  Jan. 20, 2007, 4:46 p.m.
  LOL
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caimen62
Feb. 1, 2007, 1:11 p.m.
Our society needs to get a clue. Just because some is fat or not very pretty doesn't mean they aren't as good. This shouldn't be a looks contest, but our society unfortunately has come to this.