NY Times takes a look at ‘Drop Dead Diva’

The New York times has an interesting piece about “Drop Dead Diva,” Lifetime’s series starring plus-size Brooke Elliott.

Elliott plays size-0 model Deb, who through a mixup in heaven got sent into the body of Jane, a successful curvy lawyer. The show realistically portrays some of the struggles larger people have with their bodies and their weight — being a helluva lot of fun to watch.

The NY Times piece, called “In TV Series, Some Reality on Weight,” includes this insight into why some of us will likely never be thin, no matter how hard we try to diet:

The show’s premise raises an obvious question: Given Deb’s success at maintaining a model-like figure, why doesn’t she just put her new body on a diet and lose the weight?

Shows like “Biggest Loser” proffer the message that all it takes is exercise and willpower for fat people to become thin. But “Drop Dead Diva” — 9 p.m. Eastern time on Sundays — explores a different reality. While the slim Deb could comfortably subsist on a diet of grapefruit and celery, Jane’s plus-size body craves chocolate doughnuts. While Deb spent her days working out and obsessing about the size of her knees, Jane discovers that long hours at the office drain her of the desire and energy to exercise.

When a friend suggests a strict diet, Deb (now in Jane’s body) makes a valiant effort to return to her model eating habits. But she discovers that Jane’s body craves chocolate and Cheez Whiz. When she is inside Jane’s body, Deb says: “I don’t like celery. I like sandwiches.”

The NY Times article also mentions Jane/Deb’s sense of curvy style, noting that she carries a green Michael Kors purse, and Entertainment Weekly spotlighted the beautiful Kay Unger shirtdress worn by Elliott during a birthday party scene.

Click here to read the New York Times article

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