
I should preface this by saying I'm not much of a TV watcher to begin with. I don't even have cable, so when I do watch shows, it's either online (and even then, I only really watch "30 Rock," and not even that lately) or at my parent's house (Jeopardy, every night, as a family). I just don't enjoy much of it, and I'd much rather see a movie, read a book, or do something creative.
That said, I heard about "Mike and Molly," and I was intrigued. I had high hopes for it, but I was also suspicious. There is usually only one way that overweight people are portrayed in the media - constantly hungry, out of control, desperate, and a source of humor. I was hoping this would be different, that the characters would be dynamic and not stereotypical. It's a lot to hope for from a sitcom, but still, I don't think it's asking too much.
While I watched the first two episodes, I felt really conflicted. Within the first minute, I knew it wasn't going to go well. I didn't love it, but I wasn't sure I totally hated it either. There are the discrepancies in Chicago geography I have issues with, but really, that's the least of my problems. The theme song is uninspired (though, fortunately, very brief). Essentially, it's just a few notes with a man singing "For the first time in my life, I see love" - and I don't like the implied idea that the only reason these people have someone to love is because they found someone else who shares their physical characteristics.
The stereotypes are there, and they wear them like badges.

But there were endearing qualities to the show, too. Regardless of what the people around them say, Mike and Molly have good intentions - they're going to Overeaters Anonymous looking for the support they don't get from friends and family. Plus, and I guess it's what initially interested me in the show, I'm intrigued by the idea of two people with issues similar to my own, finding love in the city that I also live in. I've had more than enough bad experiences here, and I want to believe that there's someone in this city with whom I could spend time and who I could get to know and who would be interested in hearing what I have to say and joining me on my journey. Blame it on hormones, but when I was watching it and anything mildly adorable happened, I started bawling.

While watching the first two episodes, I wondered how long the show could theoretically last. Honestly, where could the show possibly go? If Mike and Molly lose weight, the show loses its premise - and the writers lose most of their jokes. I wondered if it would have been better as a movie, but that brought to mind "Shallow Hal." It was a movie that came out about ten years ago, written and directed by the Farrelly brothers (in retrospect, that should have been the first clue about the content). In the movie, a man named Hal (Jack Black) only dates thin, attractive women - until Tony Robbins uses a hypnotic technique that changes his perception. After the chance meeting, Jack Black's character sees people not as they are physically, but the way they look on the inside. He falls in love with a woman named Rosemary (played by Gwyneth Paltrow) who is kind, loving, genuine, and who has dedicated her life to helping others, and therefore she looks beautiful to him. His best friend, however, recognizes Rosemary as being morbidly obese.
There's a message to be found here,

I'm going to continue to watch "Mike and Molly," and I'm hoping for the best. I wish it were focused on two people who are starting to like each other who also happen to be overweight, and not emphasized the other way around, but who knows, maybe it will hit its stride in the next few episodes. I'm just kind of shocked that with two-thirds of Americans overweight or obese, it seems surprising that movies and shows like these still rely on the cheap gags.