The promotion for the new series of The Biggest Loser has been appalling, and if it is indicative of what we’ll get this season it’s setting itself up for an audience backlash the show has not seen in its seven year history.
With each new series there’s a twist and in 2012 it’s the delivery of 16 contestants who are all single and all seeking to lose weight. Not outrageous in itself as when you sign up for Loser your relationship status is noted but not necessarily drawn out as your motivation. Until now.
The assertion that people who are overweight cannot find “real love” is absurd. Yes obese people suffer from self-esteem issues, but no more than skinny people (given some of the images we see in magazines and advertising, some skinny people clearly have their own set of self-esteem challenges to deal with too). To anchor the program on anything other than people wanting to lose weight is a new low, & adding in the emotional manipulation that they’ve not found love due to their weight, while the contestants feel it may be true, sends a very strong and altogether absurd message (the first promo can be seen here).
Love is a choice. You choose to love someone, including yourself. What makes relationships work is the consistent choice to love/be in love with your partner. It’s not rocket science but it can be hard work. In the end, real love is about sacrifice.
Sure, we want to see how the inter-personal relationships of those involved suffer or progress. Such is the nature of the blow-ups by contestants with their trainers, and with others at elimination time. Conflict is core to the reality genre. It doesn’t help that in the promotion now coming out as “news”, we’re getting the inevitable some-of-the-contestants-have-hooked-up-who-woulda-thunk-it revelations. Hmmm… stay classy, Shannan.
Then there’s the advertising focused on the trainers, such as the title image to this article and the picture show to the side. They’re great to draw the punters in however the pictures entirely misrepresent the show. It’s not about the trainers – is it?
It’s not the trainer’s fault they’ve been represented this way. Sex sells. Given it’s The Biggest Loser why not use the contestants in these advertisements? Would it be that appalling? Aren’t we going to see them in essentially all their glory anyway? Wouldn’t it provide a great opportunity for advertising later in the series with silhouettes of the contestants in their new form in comparison? Has all creativity left the Biggest Loser camp in search of ratings now that they have a program up against them that may prove more popular? Why resort to lowest common denominator advertising when the show attempts to be anything but, fighting against fad dieting and celebrity-endorsed programs. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
The newest series of ads has the trainers, again in all their glory, offering sage words of pseudo-psychiatry to inspire & promote the show:
It’s all gotten way out of hand. What happened to the show where we watched in awe at Bob’s amazing commitment and success? Or Lisa’s dogged determination? Or Adro’s glee at his personal triumph? Why has it fallen into the self-indulgent spiral of trying to make itself sexy when, at the start of each series, it’s anything but?
“Real love” is not guaranteed for anyone – skinny, tall, short, fat, morbidly obese, winner or second place of this series of The Biggest Loser, or whoever you are. Real love is about vulnerability, grace and sacrifice. Show me any show that embraces this understanding of real love and you’ve got my attention. For every episode.
The Biggest Loser – Mon through Thu 7pm, Ch10.
Starts Mon 23 January 2012.
Spot on. I’ve never been a fan of these shows, but the last one (the families) drew me in, because it really did show the multi-layered reasons why so many people battle with their weight. And it isn’t about food, or greed, or laziness. That was quite clear, and it was quite the education lesson for my little humans. And a couple of the trainers were very human in this (in particular the commander). And it was suprisingly good tellly.
So I’ve been disappointed this time round, that’s it seemingly returned to the tired-old, lose weight, get gorgeous/handsome, find love and everything will be perfect. Maybe I’ll be proved wrong, I hope so. Let’s see!
It’s not been te same since Bob & Jillian left.
That is so interesting Molks. You know what, I hadn’t actually thought of it that way at all… but now, I totally see it from that perspective.
I actually thought it was a pretty good angle… and that perhaps these contestants felt as though they couldn’t really try to meet a partner and move into the next stage of their life, until they they had sorted out their lifestyle and health problems (as in many cases there is some kind of baggage attached to obesity). So I kinda saw it as a nice twist for the show… more of a complete package makeover.
However, I agree with your point that it lacks creativity – as it’s a bit of a no brainer (given the way Leigh turned into a complete man-whore after he lost his all his weight last season – and started shagging anything in a skirt). Seems once the contestants taste the sweet juices fame (not to mention, a size 12 dress) they’ll crack onto anything.
So I guess it’s pretty safe to say that NewIdea will have a now skinny TBL couple splashed all over it’s front cover in about 6 months time.
As for the trainers in the buff… well, that’s a hook that totally works for me.
Does that make me Bogan (rhetorical question.. I think…)?
I think you’re projecting just a bit there Molks…
Maybe for these guys their weight has held them back to finding love, it’s not out of the question.
And who wants to love someone who looks like they’ve eaten all the Chistmas ham anyway? I mean really?
Thought provoking. I’m carrying “excess baggage” and feel less sexy as a result. What impact that has on “Love” won’t fit into this comment box. I was totally amazed by the first promo and thought it brilliant, but Molk you’ve made me think twice…. Hmmm.. Good one.
for anyone who thinks a proscribed body shape is the key to a happy relationship, i exhort you to go to your local shopping mall and watch the families walking past — big people little people skinny people fat people — amazing how happy so many of them look.
i hadn’t seen the trainer photos though. what the … ? ‘courage’?, ‘learn to love yourself’? it is these people’s occupation to look like that … pah! xt
[ps. maybe they’re trying to show how many calories masturbation burns? i really should have not said that, huh?]
@traceyb65
How many calories does maturbation burn? (just asking for research purposes only). 😉
the ads just trying to promote people to get their butts of the couches and become healthier human beings.
and if they have to ultimately come down to using love as a motivation, good on them.
be honest here for all those who do not yet have partners. would you rather fat…or a partner who is at a healthy weight?
I’d prefer a partner who loved me and I they in the same sacrificial way I wrote of above.
Yes we all would like to be loved and love in the same way you wrote of above. That is true for everyone. But this hypothetical partner of yours, would you not care that she is at a dangerous weight, only that she love you? Would you really not rather her lose weight to be healthier, for her sake?
Therefore, the Love should her motivation to lose weight. Because for if she does not do it for herself, she would do it for you. For LOVE.
And this is what the contestants at The Biggest Loser are there for. They are not specifically there to ‘find love’. They are there so that when they come out and develop a relationship(if so), they will have more confidence in themselves, knowledge and stronger mental and physical health, which are major factors of building a healthy and successful relationship.
“Real love” is not guaranteed for anyone – skinny, tall, short, fat, morbidly obese, winner or second place of this series of The Biggest Loser, or whoever you are. That is truely correct. but being healthy (that you cannot be by being obese) and active really does build a livelier relationship
i’m not against everything you’re saying. I’m 15 and just really interested in these things:)
Thanks Anna. The problem is the promotion for Biggest Loser has stretched beyond “just losing weight” to being all about the contestants finding love. Of course I would want my partner to be healthy – both physically and emotionally – and losing weight will not guarantee you the latter (and maybe not even the former). Like I said, Love is something you work hard at. It’s no gift. While someone’s weight may hold them back physically it does not stop them or hold them back from finding love – real or otherwise.
Thanks for dropping by the website.