Rebel who is telling us about a cause

Is fat funny?

 

I don't think so.

 

Recently I watched a sitcom starring an actress by the name of Rebel Wilson.

 

This young lady is a terrific comedic actress 27 years old and she is on top of the world.

 

ABC is promoting the television program "Super Fun Night" starring Wilson in  one hilarious moment after another.

 

Here's the problem.

 

Half of the jokes revolve around Miss Wilson's rather gigantic waist, chunky legs, and conglomeration of chins, all of which are testament to her extreme obesity.

 

All of us know that the fat comic has been a staple of humorous entertainment for very long time.

 

Oliver Hardy.

 

Fatty Arbuckle.

 

Jackie Gleason.

 

John Candy.

 

These folks are legends of comedy and were willing to let their  rotund figures serve as important aids in their slapstick  escapades.

 

But what does that say about us?

 

We know the dangers inherent in carrying around extra pounds on our frames.

 

Despite this, we continue to reward film and television producers who parade one jiggly fatty after another before us in search of ratings and box office bonanzas.

 

There is  something wrong about that.

 

But there is something even worse.

 

I'm troubled that we are willing to let these larded court jesters make fun of themselves to earn the dollars the networks and film studios are willing to throw at them.

 

We've turned these giant sized gluttons into  pathetic victims in a tragic comedy.

 

And that's not just because so many of these media clowns have come to a bad end in the county morgue wearing a tag marked drug and alcohol victim.

 

There's  something about living a life that's larger-than-life in a body overtaxing the cardio-pulmonary  system that seems sadly typical for these giant comedy giants.

 

Belushi and Farley's horrible demise at the hands of booze and cocaine.

 

Unfortunately not uncommon.

 

I have a theory.

 

It's wrong for us to encourage these entertainers to eat themselves into ZIP Code size trousers as a way of promoting their art.

 

And their careers.

 

But I also think that deep down inside these objects of their many fans love are killing themselves with  loneliness.

 

Loneliness and sadness that is a function of the realization that they are desired, not because of who they are, but because of the laughter created by their overweight appearance.

 

The fat guy is always the life of the party, right?

 

You laugh at their antics?

 

I hope not.

 

But the fact is that we have been laughing at their shenanigans for very long time.

 

Rebel Wilson is a clever and talented actress and I have only  best wishes for her.

 

But for the rest of us, I wish us to look into our hearts and stop laughing at those whose hearts are enlarged by years of obesity.

 

And to stop laughing at those whose hearts are breaking.

 

I began this column by asking if fat was funny.

 

Here's the answer.

 

It's not.