Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this reality show deals almost exclusively with weight loss and the effects of being overweight. Through the magic of television, contestants seem to magically "melt," dropping upwards of 30 pounds in just eight episodes -- even though the actual weight-loss period spans 100 days. But while the series makes a concerted effort to emphasize healthy weight loss over fast results -- setting sensible weight-loss goals customized to each contestant -- the message could easily be misinterpreted by impressionable teens who might try to slim down on their own at a faster rate without a doctor's supervision. What's more, the show could also make overweight kids and teens feel worse about their bodies.
Families can talk about the realities of a world in which thin bodies are prized, fat ones are scorned, and deliciously unhealthy food is more widely available than ever before. Why is thin so in -- and how do the sculpted celebrity images we see in the media affect our perceptions of our own bodies? Why are chubby children teased -- and why do heavy people so often become the butt of jokes in television and movies? Why do Americans as a whole tend to eat to excess -- are we really that hungry, or are we eating for other reasons? Are all diets truly healthy? And is there such a thing as being too thin?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Kari Croop
There's an undeniable side-show quality to VH1's CELEBRITY FIT CLUB, a reality competition series that rounds up overweight, C-list stars past their prime, splits them into two teams, and challenges them to replace their fatness with fitness.
The celebrity who loses the most weight at the end of the 100-day challenge wins a prize package and bragging rights as Celebrity Fit Club champion. But the losing contestants tend to walk away with something too: slimmer bodies and the tools to continue losing weight on their own.
Some of the familiar faces who've subjected themselves to trainer Harvey Walden's drill sergeant-like care include Daniel Baldwin, Gary Busey, Jeff Conaway (Grease), Tina Yothers (Family Ties), Ted Lange (The Love Boat), Vincent Pastore (The Sopranos), Victoria Jackson (Saturday Night Live), and Carnie Wilson (Wilson Phillips) -- who lost an astonishing 160 pounds after her 1999 gastric bypass surgery but went back to battling the bulge in the wake of her daughter's birth.
While some people might view Celebrity Fit Club as a genuine opportunity to cheer on celebrities and learn from their mistakes as they struggle to eat right and exercise, the show's producers seem to assume that most people just want a peek at the side show.
The truth is, Celebrity Fit Club makes every effort to exploit the fact that these one-time A-listers are now desperately out of shape. The show's staples include unforgiving camera angles, humiliating challenges that require bathing suits, and overly dramatic weekly weigh-ins conducted in front of a panel of health and nutrition experts. The full-body, 360-degree views of each contestant that broadcast their height, starting weight, and weight-loss progress are particularly painful to watch. They say the camera adds 10 pounds, but this is ridiculous.
In essence, Celebrity Fit Club is the kind of show that makes it easy to gloat about your own physique, mostly because you're too busy gaping at bodies that have fallen from grace. And is that really the kind of judgmental behavior you want to pass on to your kids? The show isn't straight-out bad, but for family viewing, it's probably not the best choice.
Although it lacks the celebrity element, NBC's The Biggest Loser offers similar content. Mo'Nique's Fat Chance goes in the other direction, throwing weight loss out the window and celebrating larger bodies.
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Sexual ContentTwo female contestants have posed nude for Playboy magazine, prompting the display of a few suggestive pictures for nostalgia's sake. One of those pictures shows the rear view of a woman wearing a thong bikini. |
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ViolenceWhen pushed -- or confronted with too many lame excuses -- trainer Harvey Walden becomes a belligerent force to be reckoned with. His screaming, which is a hybrid of drill sergeant-style motivation and verbal abuse, might be too intense for young children. |
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LanguageContestants occasionally lose their cool with each other and with the experts, prompting a torrent of foul language that's mostly bleeped out. Curse words like "f--k," "s--t" and, oddly, "God" (as in "God damn!") are bleeped, while words like "ass" and "damn" remain. |
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Social BehaviorOn its face, the show is a crass exploitation of people who struggle with their weight, and it seems to derive most of its entertainment value at their expense. That said, the core message is a healthy one: Eat right, exercise, and always work together as a team. Contestants' personal stories can also be heartwarming -- and inspiring. |
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CommercialismWeight loss experts are introduced by a host who notes the books the experts have written -- which, in turn, are advertised during commercial breaks. The show also presents "healthy eating tips" that are sponsored by Xyience, a company that sells weight-loss supplements. And, naturally, the winner walks away with a carload of fabulous prizes. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoOne contestant talks about the fact that he quit smoking to improve his health and avert a heart attack. |
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