Unfit for Television: Review of Netflix Documentary about “The Biggest Loser”

“Beauty is only skin deep “

— an old fable

A new documentary about the once-controversial hit television show, The Biggest Loser now ranks as Netflix’s top program. Against my better judgement, I decided to watch it. To my surprise, I’m glad I did.

Titled Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser it’s a three-part series detailing the origin, rocketing rise in popularity, internal scandals, and ultimately the disgraced downfall of a reality television series that ran on NBC for 12 years. Billed as a weight-loss competition, the program spawned several copycat reality shows in other countries. Licensed “Loser”-themed merchandise even netted more than a billion dollars in profits worldwide, monies indirectly extracted from all the sweat, fat, pain, and vomit on full display each week branded as “family entertainment.” (yeah–several overworked contestants were shown vomiting during the show)