Mike and Molly: I Love That Billy Gardell and Melissa McCarthy Are Overweight

One of the new shows I’m loving is ‘Mike and Molly,’ a CBS show about two overweight people who meet in Overeater’s Anonymous and embark on a romantic relationship.

mike-and-molly-1I LOVE this, because for once, TV is showing people like they really ARE out here in the real world! Not some Size-0 Hollywood Ken and Barbies starving themselves to stay in the entertainment industry. You KNOW that’s how it is!

But Maura Kelly has a different take on it. She’s a blogger at Marie Claire who doesn’t look kindly on the thought of two overweight people getting romantic, including Billy Gardell and Melissa McCarthy, who play Mike and Molly.

In this post , Kelly writes, “Yes, I think I’d be grossed out if I had to watch two characters with rolls and rolls of fat kissing each other … because I’d be grossed out if I had to watch them doing anything.” She later apologized for the post, but she had to know it would create a sandstorm of controversy. At this writing, 1764 people have commented on the post.

mike-and-molly-2 Fancast writer Matt Mitovich spoke recently with ‘Mike and Molly’ creator Mark Roberts and got his take on the hot topic. In short, Roberts isn’t happy with Kelly’s comments.

“It seemed like something someone would say when they’re really drunk at a party with their other hateful friends, but maybe not good to write down and put it out for people to look at,” said Roberts. “It’s something you would hear one of the really stupid girls say in a high school cafeteria. It’s not something you expect to come from an adult. She did apologize, but I’m taking her off my Facebook friends.”

Roberts joked about sending Kelly a season one DVD wrapped in cotton candy, and also said that an upcoming episode will feature Molly canceling her subscription to ‘Marie Claire.’

I really hope HE does do that storyline, because the show and characters are not only real and heartfelt, but they also give hope to a lot of real-life people who are struggling with the same issues.

What’s your take? Does it bother you to see overweight people on TV? Are you a fan of ‘Mike and Molly’? Or would you rather see size-0 actors who (barely) survive on a diet of watercress salads and sugar-free Red Bull?

Jane Boursaw is a family entertainment writer specializing in movies, TV and celebrities. Visit her home base, Reel Life With Jane; follow her on Twitter; become a friend on Facebook; email jboursaw@charter.net.

Comments

  1. Melanie Avatar

    I’ve always loved Dawn French. She’s hardly a Skinny Minnie. No reason NOT to have people on TV who know what it is to eat a whole meal.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *