Lizzo's Watch Out for the Big Grrrls

I was shocked when I came on here to see people's reviews of this show and found that the ratings have essentially been brigaded by people who hate Lizzo and/or fat Black women loving themselves unapologetically. If competition reality shows aren't for you, that's fine. But writing hateful reviews about the size of the show's cast is shameful behaviour. Yes, this show centres women whose BMI puts them in the 'obese' category. Nowhere (at least, from what I noticed) does the show say that non-fat viewers need to gain weight, or that there are zero health risks associated with being fat.

If you think this show is 'promoting obesity', watch one of the hundreds, if not *thousands* of shows on Amazon Prime where fat people only feature as the butt of fatphobic jokes, or in stereotypical roles (like as nannies). The world is not going to end because of one show where fat people are celebrated.

Anyway, onto the show itself. I didn't have high expectations from a celebrity-fronted reality show, so I was pleasantly surprised by how good this is. Lizzo comes across well and you don't need to be a super-fan to be interested. She seems happy to sit back and let some of her talented contacts go on camera to impart their wisdom about fitness, self love, choreography, and more. The self improvement angle reminds me of Queer Eye, but unlike Queer Eye, this is an extremely female-centred show. I'm not exaggerating when I say that cisgender men practically don't exist in this series. It'll ruffle some people, but as far as I'm concerned, it's a refreshing departure from the norm in TV in that respect! And Lizzo doesn't have time for the stereotype of women as 'catty' and incapable of forging bonds with others that they see as competition. Of course there's drama. It's a reality competition show! But the toxicity is really kept to the minimum compared to other shows that are obvious influences in other ways, such as America's Next Top Model or RuPaul's Drag Race.

If you love to see talented, diverse, and confident women on in the performing arts, you need to see this! Especially if you're dying for some body positive TV since Shrill got cancelled.

Lizzo's show is groundbreaking and will undoubtedly make many uncomfortable and outraged and her unabashed acceptance of large bodies. Her focus on bringing women up instead of tearing them down is refreshing and well past due in our society and on reality shows. This show is about strength, coordination, commitment and confidence. These large bodied women do things that most women could not do regardless of body size. Thank you Lizzo and the team for putting yourselves out there and taking a stance against judgement and undeserved negative messaging around natural bodies of all shapes, sizes and skin tones.

I have to say upfront that as someone in their 50s, I am not the target audience for this show. So while all the "you go girl" and "slay queen" sentiments make me wince, I can see that a younger audience would find it inspirational.

Lizzo herself comes across as a fun lady, somewhat bawdy and sweet at the same time, but I think the show has pigeonholed her into being a hyper-positive role model. All people are a combination of good, bad, positive, critical, mean and kind, but we are only allowed to see the good facets of her personality, making her a one-dimensional host.

I would love to see what her full personality is like. The parts where the camera lingers after she delivers yet another platitude are quite telling - she's almost laughing at herself, joking around. I would have like see more of that.

The contestants themselves aren't really all that exciting - LIzzo is the star of the show, and I think most people are aware that shows like this only exist to prop up the host and increase their fan base. Their journey also lacks any real tension because the eliminations are not part of every show, and it's reasonably obvious who is going to make the cut.

All in all, it's a a good time passer and for some it will be more than that. Someone a lot younger and less cynical than me.

Didn't realize how this important it was to see myself and those around me represented in the dance community. Would've loved a show like this as a teen!

Make no mistake, this is a reality show about a talented Grammy Winning Artist with sold-out shows finding new backup dancers for an upcoming performance and stage show at Bonaroo 2022, which pre-pandemic audiences reached 85,000 folks!

Sounds harmless, right? Yeah. But this Grammy-winning talented artist is Lizzo, and the backup dance troupe she envisions for this show are plus-sized women like her, which she dubs "Big Girls."

However, many reviews about this reality program right here on IMDb have NOT been about that, which is unfortunate. It has been about personal preferences for women to look like "dancers " in shows. The reviews are full of negative stereotypes, mean, nasty adjectives and are missing the point of this reality show.

While some reviewers call this "watching unhealthy" or "promoting unhealthy" lifestyles, this reality program is doing something interesting. It's not doing any of those things; it's the opposite.

This reality show shows you how they have to go through the same grueling processes as ANYONE who wants to be a dancer/choreographer. The sweat, the exhaustion, the payoff - the HARSH rejection and getting the job for a lucky few.

The job. Yes, these are women auditioning for a job, a hard one. Being on the road performing in front of audiences. This reality show gives one a peek as all of them do in performing. As a reviewer, I can't write anything wrong with giving them the same props as I offer other dance performers on reality shows - good luck!! Bring on your best. Many did - some didn't. Jayla was my overall out-of-the-gate favorite, as there were a few others, and the game's name in this reality show is who can sustain the best stamina. STAMINA. There is nothing more healthy in dance & grueling, pressuring touring than stamina.

Even with the "ones that were chosen," there is still no guarantee they will make it to the stage for "Bonaroo ."Yep, just like in most performance dance reality shows.

There is the education here, and it seems like many need to be educated. Why is this really upsetting for those reviewers? Why are they so apt to write "promoting an unhealthy lifestyle" when those women are not sitting WATCHING life happen? They are auditioning and dancing just like ANY OTHER dancer - have THE SAME STORIES, and most importantly, the same talent. I question, all those writing bad reviews, did they look at the show(s); or did they just want to rush to negative judgment?

I applaud Lizzo and these dancers for allowing us to see how the process is none and WHY she chose to choose these dancers for her show. However, this reality show is not that spectacularly different from many dance reality shows. It follows the same formula as the ones preceding it. There's entertainment out there for everyone, and that's a good thing. We all do not have to fall for an appearance ideal, which is a good thing. As long as one is qualified and can do the work and gets the chance to do so - that's all that's needed.