I watched the pilot then read the reviews….and now I feel like I need to write some sort of an open letter to the media critics who have written about the show.  Actually, not about the show per say, more about star Rebel Wilson’s weight – see This New Work Times article or this E! Online article or this LA Times article.

What I find obnoxious and tiresome are the critics who, for some reason, still to this day, don’t know how to handle seeing someone of Wilson’s size on screen sort-of poke fun at themselves without it being emotionally destructive or even a fat joke at all.  References to Wilson’s character – Kimmie Boubier, who makes a scene when jelly doughnuts are discovered in the office break room, when she recalls getting her hand stuck in a vending machine or the topic of Spanx are not fat jokes but jokes in general when other characters like her boss Richard are in on the joke.  I question, had the same scenes, same lines and same co-characters had the same humorous effect had Wilson been replaced with Malin Akerman?  To be blunt, these people call it a ‘fat joke’ because Wilson delivered the line, not Akerman.

So, I removed myself from those emotionally harmful reviews and hit social media.  I wonder what the people watching had to say about the issue because we all know on twitter and places like it, everyone is free to say what they want (and usually do) and it turns out – they didn’t say much at all.  After reading tweet after tweet, forum posts and Facebook comments, only a few people took it as a show of “23 minutes of fat and spanx jokes”.  It appears the only real offensive issue presented in Super Fun Night is Rebel Wilson’s American accent.

Like any new show, people were divided.  Yes I liked it….thought it was hilarious, not my thing, didn’t like it…it goes on and on, but when it really comes down to it, the issue of Wilson’s size or these self depreciating fat jokes was barely mentioned yet to quote The Associated Press’ Frazier Moore “Wilson has burdened Kimmie Boubier with constant tiresome references to her less-than-perfect physique. Wilson doesn’t put Kimmie’s high spirits center stage, but instead her girth.”

All I can say is “Bitch please”.

Kimmie Boubier is a socially awkward girl who at times, suffers from foot-in-mouth but will happily talk to anyone.  She’s a lawyer who just received a promotion but isn’t confident with public performances thanks to a traumatic experience at a middle school talent contest.  She’s clumsy but isn’t afraid to entertain the possibility of having a secret crush on her boss and like most women, she has trouble putting on spanx.

I liked Super Fun Night.  I found it entertaining and quite funny.  There’s a fun dynamic between the main characters and no one (not even the shows bad girl character Kendall Quinn) is unlike-able.  Yes, Wilson’s American accent will make you pause and ask “what the?” and yes, seeing Wilson portray a character who isn’t ballsy is giant leap to the left (we all love Pitch Perfect’s Fat Amy) but by the end you will find yourself rooting for Kimmie Boubier to come out on top.

Related articles

• Premiere Particulars: Super Fun Night (caragaleblog.wordpress.com)
• ‘Super Fun Night’ premiere: Is the Rebel Wilson comedy super fun? (popwatch.ew.com)
• How to Talk About Rebel Wilson’s Weight (entertainment.time.com)
• Rebel Wilson: Five ‘Super Fun’ facts about her new show (csmonitor.com)
• Why Are Critics So Squeamish About Rebel Wilson’s Weight? (newrepublic.com)
• Super Fun Night IS Super FunnnnNY! (entertainmetv.com)
• Super Fun Night Review – ABC Hopes Rebel Wilson Is All You Need (areyouscreening.com)