Last night, Fox debuted More to Love, the dating show in which a plus-sized man sought a date from a bevy of plus-sized beauties. Like many reality shows, its premise scandalized some people before the show even aired; as in many such instances, the reality was much more tame. More to Love does not seem to be interested in making fun of its subjects; just the opposite, if anything it has a sweet attitude toward them.
Mainly, though, it simply showed that contestants of size on dating shows act like—well, contestants on dating shows.
There was pool jumping, kiss-stealing and sniping, as well as the requisite interviews about how I Really Hope I’m Going to Find the Real Thing Here. If I found one fault with its treatment of its bachelorettes, it was how much attention the interviews focused on the sadness and vulnerability of the overweight. I’m sure the interviews and the feelings are real—and the editing’s focus on them probably meant to stir up sympathy—but that can quickly turn into pity and condescension. The show would be more interesting if it just took the participants’ size as a given and let the dating games play out.
Of course, then it would just be another dating show. Would you watch that? And did you watch this to begin with?