A friend of mine asked me to explain whether or not Kirstie Alley’s new Showtime series "Fat Actress" ( see photos) should be considered a reality show. I had to admit that I was a little confused myself. I have heard it referred to as a reality show in some publications, but I am also aware that there will be actors playing characters on the show. So, what’s the deal?
I think Showtime explained it best in a press release:
"Taking her life experiences and recreating them in the extreme, Alley plays a fictional version of herself -- a successful television and movie star whose weight gain has become the subject of every tabloid imaginable as well as the bane of her existence as she tries to find work and true love in an unforgiving Hollywood. This irreverent series, which will be co-created and executive produced by Alley and Brenda Hampton ("Seventh Heaven"), will be unscripted, with each episode emanating from a story outline and the actors largely improvising the dialogue."
Kirstie also discussed the series in an interview with People Magazine. When asked how much of the show is taken from her personal life, the actress said "Probably 20 percent. A low percentage. It's more what's taken from my mind. I think what I would've done if...For each episode, we come up with a very detailed outline so we know where we're going. But we deviate from there. We just go off."
So, to clear up the confusion, "Fat Actress" really isn’t a reality show if you consider that there are story outlines, actors playing characters, and only 20% of material taken from Alley’s real life. But the fact that the show is unscripted makes it more real than the other comedy shows you'll see on TV.
The first episode of "Fat Actress" premieres on the Showtime network on Monday, March 7 at 10 pm EST. If you are not a Showtime subscriber, you can still watch the show on your computer. Showtime will team with Yahoo to stream the complete first episode of the show simultaneously with the TV premiere.
