When you're a drop-dead model on your way to heaven, returning to earth in a size 16 body can be a big problem.OK, I don't watch the show (something about the loved one coming back--in whatever form--hits a little to close to home; know what I mean?), but I'm thinking, "Isn't the show about accepting oneself regardless of size?" (Hmm...maybe I should watch after all.) Turns out, it is. From Lifetime TV's "About" page for the show:
In the first season of “Drop Dead Diva,” beautiful-but-vapid model wannabe Deb (Brooke D’Orsay) suddenly finds herself in front of heaven’s gatekeeper, Fred (Ben Feldman), following a fatal car crash. Outraged by her sudden demise, she attempts to persuade Fred to return her to her shallow existence but is accidentally relegated to the body of the recently deceased Jane Bingum (Brooke Elliott). An intelligent, thoughtful and plus-size attorney with a loyal assistant, Teri (Margaret Cho), Jane has always lived in the shadow of her colleagues, whereas Deb has always relied on her external beauty. By a twist of fate and a bolt of divine intervention, Deb must come to terms with inhabiting Jane’s curvier frame and learn to reconcile her beauty-queen ways with her brilliant new mind.Lifetime, might I suggest you have your ad agency rewrite that commercial? I mean, it implies the very opposite of your show's message! It implies that being a size 16 (especially for a once "drop-dead model") is a "big problem." Now, for any individual size-16 woman, if her size indicates a health problem, that's one thing. But somehow, Lifetime, I don't think that's the kind of "problem" a reasonable person could assume the ad's implying. It also implies that someone who's a size 16 is by definition not "drop dead" gorgeous. (Lifetime, I'm sure you agree with me, but in case anyone doubts, I offer a little evidence to the contrary.)
By the way, how did this ad even make it through the approval process?
Seriously...you can do so much better.
I think the ad was intended for those who watched the first year...I got a completely different impression from the commercial because I *have* watched the show. (Actually, my first reaction was, "Jane Bingum is size 16?")
ReplyDeleteBut yeah, I think they could have worded this better, especially since (for the most part) the show mostly deals with Deb dealing with Jane's life (which is about so much more than her size).
You're probably right re: watching/not watching the show. The show's actual audience would have the context. Honestly hadn't thought of it like that.
ReplyDeleteAs we've agreed, they could still stand to change it--especially for the sake of the untrained (by the show) ear.
Thanks for commenting!