Entertainment Tonight's Conclusion

Kick ass! Nice to get SOME coverage anyway. Baby steps.

I hate the whole fat suit thing, but I gotta say, in speaking with us before the cameras and mikes were on, Vanessa really seemed as though she was *trying* to come from a somewhat good place. She really wanted to know about some of the surface prejudice that exists and if nothing else, on a personal level for her, I think she came away with something, especially after talking to Sandy, Kim and I. I think it shocked her that we didn't cry during the segment interview and when we didn't get teary eyed about how much shame we feel as fat people. I want to believe that she started to see the positive side of things. I know that fat is a big ratings grabber for ET, and this was the motivation behind the segment and NOT about getting inside the mind of a fat person. I just hope that in her off camera time, she is now armed with a little bit more information than she had before meeting us. I also want to say that *I* am not the best spokesperson for the fat movement. I get rambly and sometimes answer a completely different question than what was asked of me, but Sandy and Kim did such a wonderfully awesome job. I really, really, really hope that at least half of what they said makes it to air. My fingers are crossed for the segment tonight.

You never know which three minutes they will use out of a 30 minute interview. I think overall we did a pretty good job staying on point. However from the teaser they showed last night I think you'll probably end up seeing the few minutes where we derailed onto Kirstie Alley. Sigh. At least your five seconds was spot on last night, Andi! I agree with Andi about Vanessa seeming sincere. She was very respectful of us, and came to the interview prepared. Evidently this fat suit piece has given her the biggest ratings of her career. So maybe this will open the door to more substantive piece on fat (well, as sustantive as one can get on ET). As I've said before, these venues are not the ideal for talking about fat acceptance. But we have to make the best of every opportunity, especially when it reaches millions of people (interestingly enough, the main ET demographic is women 40-50). If even a little bit of the fat acceptance message gets out, and NAAFA gets some press then we've gained some ground. But yeah, I am hoping for the best on this interview as well.

Congratulations to Sandy, Kim and Andi. People like you who stand up positively for all of us bring us respect and pride. Thanks thanks thanks!

Very nice job tonight, ladies. I am SO Glad they didn't only focus on the Kirstie Alley thing! All three of you were quite articulate and got your points across perfectly. You're to be commended! ::applause::

I just saw it. It was pretty decent albeit far too short. It did seem that Vanessa was sincere. You three were just lovely!! Cheers!

I just saw you guys, and you did great! I also didn't have a problem with Vanessa, though perhaps her comparisons would've been more valid had she been able to encounter the SAME people who'd scorned her when she was "fat." Of course, I also know that that's an impossibility, because the encounters were random in the first place, and, hello, it's a biiig city.

I watched this piece last night and I must give applause to you guys for being able to speak out on a tv show like this. I wish they had given you more time. Vanessa still has much to learn about fat, but she did seem to be trying.

Did anyone happen to catch the show on Saturday night? They did sort of a recap thing and I wondered if anyone else heard or noticed Vanessa compare what fat people go through as being similar to what she went through growing up as child of a mixed ethnicity in South Carolina. Interesting.

It should be noted that ET is doing another series with Vanessa in her fat suit (it's sweeps month!) In summary: new outfit, still kind of odd-looking. But she wasn't able to find a proper size chair at a nail salon, and no one sat next to her on the bus.