Is 'Glee' Character Good or Bad for Overweight People?

by SodaHead TV Posted 2011/02/18 22:00:00

Related Topics: Twilight, Rosie O'Donnell, susan boyle, Glee

446 votes
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	Good	331 votes	74%
	Bad	115 votes	26%

We definitely think that putting more focus on Lauren Zizes, an overweight character on "Glee," is a step in the right direction, but Rosie O'Donnell has spoken out on how she thinks the character could have been done better.

She told Access Hollywood, "That character is so unlikable. Why didn't they get a pretty heavy girl? They should've gotten someone beautiful like Brooke Elliot. I'm like, 'Every story deserves to be told. And the way that you're relating to it means that it's doing its job. It's evoking a lot of emotion inside of you.'"

Lauren, played by Ashley Fink, has been a part of the "Glee" cast since season one, but recently took on a more prominent role as she got Puck, an attractive male character, interested in her. Fink is characterized as being president of the A/V club and into "Twilight."

"It really, really strikes a chord with every overweight woman I know," O'Donnell explained. "Every woman I know who's heavy has strong feelings about that storyline ... I just was like, 'Where's the Susan Boyle moment? She's going to belt it out of the park!' and then she did, 'I know what boys like, I know what guys want'? I was like, 'I want more than this.'"

+12

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Spent 2011/02/19 02:20:22

Bad

+15
Every character is bad, the show sucks.
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More polls by SodaHead TV

YoItzBram! 2011/04/29 00:00:54

Good

She gives us faith that we can make it in the acting business!!!

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julia_lucci 2011/03/08 03:16:25

Bad

makes overweight ppl seem ugly and talentless :(

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♥Hannah♥~GSA 2011/02/25 22:33:28

Bad

Honestly, media goes from one extreme to the other. Some things give girls unrealistic body images, and others say "Its ok to be overweight. Be proud of being fat!"

The thing is you shouldn't be proud of being fat. While I think its wrong for people to bully overweight people, and for the only characters on TV to be skinny people, I think that certain characters make it seem good to be fat, but it isn't. It's not just that it looks bad, it also hurts your health, so no, characters that portray "Be proud to be fat" messages, are not good.

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lovesounds777 2011/02/22 03:40:29

Bad

as bad as the overly skinny main character, lea.
this show is stereotyping, and telling that losers shall stay losers, and should be happy when they can have fun for their famous 5 minutes. then "shut up" (says the dragon, interrupting telephone song).
BTW where is charice/sunshine? how mad are they to ditch the best singer and most genuine person they ever had?

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angel 2011/02/21 23:38:02

Good

yes it is dont judge us even if were overweight and nowa dayz itz all about very skinny b*tchz and there attitude every1 needz a chance 2 do anything they want without any1 sayin anything about there size so if any1 wantz 2 mess with overweight people they better mess wit me first

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Dirty Work 2011/02/21 22:57:36

Good

She's strutting her stuff. That's a good message for any "overweight" person.

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Brats 2011/02/21 22:52:06

Good

Rosie O'Donnell is just jealous it's not her in the spotlight. This show is doing wonders showing all aspects of teenage life to coming out as gay when your a jock, stuggling with sexuality, teenage pregnance, underage drinking, teenage sex, and last but not least loving yourself for who you are.

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Themovieguy 2011/02/21 22:38:05

Good

It's always good to add that in, But this character IMO, Just isn't likable! She has almost no emotion, Pretty much just reading lines from a script, No real acting involved.

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lildevil 2011/02/21 22:34:22
RockyMtGirl BN 2011/02/21 22:01:40

Good

A lot of what keeps obese people 'obese' is their feeling of isolation and totally feeling so inadequate that they feel like "what's the use". The media is responsible for the epidemic of "neurosis" when they insist on only featuring bolemic stars and models so that every woman in America goes neurotic trying to look like those characters, who also happen to be 16 and 17 year old models! Don't forget some folks are genetically big boned and rounder... imagine what those folks endure trying to change what their genes made.
I mean, I saw a piece on one of the morning shows where now they're putting "fetuses" on diets because some anal doctor decided that obesity starts in the womb!! I mean, I am all for being healthy, but this obsession of dieting is extreme, we don't see it because we're in the middle of it, hypnotized by the hype.
Next time you're in the store, look at all the Diet, Low Calorie, Non-Fat hype on the shelves ! Not only are they doing this, they're turning food into laxatives as well - Fiber everywhere, even in Kids' cereal and Fruit Juice!!! ??? Are they just running out of ideas to market new food products?
I remember when, if someone was on a diet, they would eat yogurt for lunch or cottage cheese with fruit. Now, they're cramming Ultra-Lite Yogurt i...

A lot of what keeps obese people 'obese' is their feeling of isolation and totally feeling so inadequate that they feel like "what's the use". The media is responsible for the epidemic of "neurosis" when they insist on only featuring bolemic stars and models so that every woman in America goes neurotic trying to look like those characters, who also happen to be 16 and 17 year old models! Don't forget some folks are genetically big boned and rounder... imagine what those folks endure trying to change what their genes made.
I mean, I saw a piece on one of the morning shows where now they're putting "fetuses" on diets because some anal doctor decided that obesity starts in the womb!! I mean, I am all for being healthy, but this obsession of dieting is extreme, we don't see it because we're in the middle of it, hypnotized by the hype.
Next time you're in the store, look at all the Diet, Low Calorie, Non-Fat hype on the shelves ! Not only are they doing this, they're turning food into laxatives as well - Fiber everywhere, even in Kids' cereal and Fruit Juice!!! ??? Are they just running out of ideas to market new food products?
I remember when, if someone was on a diet, they would eat yogurt for lunch or cottage cheese with fruit. Now, they're cramming Ultra-Lite Yogurt in a cup that is no longer cup size but sample size... heaven forbid you should have a full size of this Ultr-Lite no taste yogurt!!
So why are so many still FAT???
How about eating smaller portions of normal, regular food and doing normal (not turbo "biggest-Loser" kind) exercising like walking. Oh, but then no one would really benefit from something that wouldn't cost extra except us, right? And if you think I notice all this because I'm fat, I'm not. I'm just very skeptical and conscientious of what the media seems to dictate we should do, feel or think and I feel this largely contributes to part of the reason so many of us are obese.
(and to my relatives, if I turn up missing, or dead, or just disappear; please check with the FBI, CIA, NSA, FDA or some government agency who might have gotten really pissed off that I'm bringing this to light!! LOL)
(more)

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Just Missy 2011/02/21 21:48:27

Good

+1
I think Glee's Mercedes is a great and beautiful overweight character. However, the character Lauren getting an attractive male to like her seems too unrealistic to me, but maybe it will give some girls a self-esttem booster.

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Shadow-Fire 2011/02/21 21:03:42

Good

+1
There are so many skinny people on television shows these days. I think it is a great thing that they have a larger person on the show (even though I don't watch it, or like it)

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wicked soda boy 2011/02/21 20:14:57

Good

Actually, though I answered "good", she and mohawk dude are my two least favs on that show.
Well, Sue and her challenged assistant are probably the worst, but they're antagonists, so they're in a different category of their own.
As for the actual members of Glee Club, within the Glee show, Lauren and Puck would be my least fav's, but that kind of makes sense, since they both find the other attractive - they kind of deserve each other. Ha ha ha! It's kind of hillarious that Lauren thinks she's "hot". Just part of the wirters' humor which is the main reason I watch the show, together with the music.

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RawRsaurus 2011/02/21 20:11:48

Good

+2
Oh, no! God forbid we put a fat person on air. Hell, we never see them walking around on a daily basis. Must be a new species of human. /endsarcasm

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Chardestar 2011/02/21 19:54:29

Good

+1
gotta luv glee!!!!

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Dadgi 2011/02/21 19:41:12

Good

I hate this show, but this is great.

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aymee 2011/02/21 19:41:11

Good

+3
Yeah, maybe shes overweight. But should we put down everyone who is? Shes not setting a bad example. Shes not running around half naked. If anything shes boosting the self- esteem of other overweight people because shes giving them hope. Its not as if they woke up one morning and decided "i think i want to be fat". this woman is helping more than hindering. leave well enough alone.

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wicked ... to aymee 2011/02/21 20:29:17

Bottom line on Rosie, she's a hater.

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lildevil to aymee 2011/02/21 22:37:52

ur soo right!!!!!!! larger peopleshould be influnced by her

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cookie monster 2011/02/21 19:38:14

Good

+3

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loved by him 2011/02/21 19:25:29

Good

+1
JUST BEAUSE THERE OVERWEIGHT DOES NOT GIVE ANYONE TO JUDGE THEM LEAVE THEM ALONE

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83Pats12 2011/02/21 17:42:44

Bad

http://www.accesshollywood.co...

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renRIOT! 2011/02/21 16:48:55

Good

+3
She's beautiful. Rosie O'Donnell is the unlikable one. xD

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wicked ... to renRIOT! 2011/02/21 20:18:50

If I had to choose between Lauren and Rosie, I'd go with Lauren.
Having said that, thank God I'm NOT faced with that choice. :O

Footnote: Mercedes is not exactly slim either. I like her as a character just fine. :D

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Ruthielove 2011/02/21 16:34:29

Good

+2
It is a step up encourages people that anyone no matter weight or size can follow and accomplish their drama

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kimlyn 2011/02/21 16:08:59

Good

+4
i think it would be a good thing for people to gain confidence with their own body

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Rob 2011/02/21 16:05:31

Good

+3
I said good because if the show is to protray an American public high school correctly, then it should showcase diversity

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Brother Bo 2011/02/21 15:19:09 (edited)

Bad

+1
I've never watched GLEE and have no desire to do so. Promoting a lard butt on a show just so other lard butts watching can fee good about themselves is ridiculous. If you show the lard butt actively working hard to lose the weight and showing progress in subsequent episodes, it would probably be acceptable.

Like Rosie has anything to say about it...

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Shadow-... to Brother Bo 2011/02/21 21:14:02

+2
How could you say such horrible things, and be so insensitive? God help us all if a person stars on a Television show and isn't a size zero. Just because they are overweight, does not mean that they do not have feelings.

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Brother Bo to Shadow-... 2011/02/21 21:55:28

I used to be an actor (theater) and I was slim. After I retired I became a lard butt myself. When I saw a picture of myself and realized I had become a lard butt I went to a nutritionist, changed the way I eat and the way I live and lost 125 lbs in less than a year. I can be insensitive towards lard butts because I WAS a lard butt and changed myself without living in self pity. Time to pull up your big girl panties and change your life.
Have A Nice Day!

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Shadow-... to Brother Bo 2011/02/21 22:39:51

No, even if you were overweight, you cannot be insensitive towards overweight people. Some are unable to loose the weight because of medical problems. Bringing them down by calling them insensitive names is not helping them change their lives.

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Brother Bo to Shadow-... 2011/02/22 00:16:50

Realizing they have a problem, seeking a good nutritionist and possibly even psychiatric help will change their lives.

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Shadow-... to Brother Bo 2011/02/22 00:22:27

Yes, but do you know how many people cannot afford some of that stuff? And, are you going to just completely disregard my comment that there are actual medical problems that make them unable to loose weight?

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Brother Bo to Shadow-... 2011/02/22 00:34:25

"actual medical problems that make them unable to loose weight?" The very rare "gland disorder" is an exception, another is if you are physically unable to exercise. The majority of overweight, fat and morbidly obese people simply spend too much time stuffing their faces with unhealthy food and not exercising enough or not at all. It's like people with AIDS, there are those who are infected through no fault of their own, but most are infected because of the choices they made and continue to make.

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Shadow-... to Brother Bo 2011/02/22 00:39:01

You make it sounds as though they openly choose to be fat (although there are a few people who have actually chosen to be obese). In many cases, people turn to food for comfort because of abuse or depression. Food can be as addicting as drugs or alcohol.

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CrystalRain 2011/02/21 15:17:04

Good

+3
Although obesity is very unhealthy, don't discriminate.

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Charlie 2011/02/21 14:41:18

Bad

Look at the girl in the picture.She is wearing glasses and how is she dressed is terrible.Big people are always shown in a bad light.

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angel to Charlie 2011/02/21 23:39:52
TooMi 2011/02/21 14:20:58

Good

+2
You know, i never understood the difference between fat and thin, their both human at the end, and none of them shall be judged, just because their fat doesn't mean it's a bad thing, everyone in this world have rights, and having a bit more meat doesn't change anything...

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Kristen Jareth 2011/02/21 14:12:22

Bad

"GLEE" is not a good thing, as are all of its characters.

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