Starved

Yes, it can be hard to watch, but it's great. Yes, people do have eating disorders. Yes, our culture is very messed up in terms of it's relationships with food. These folks lean on each other to help them make it day by day while living with their problems, and trying, trying to get better.

Every character on the show is despicable, and yet entirely sympathetic at the same time. They are written as humans, and humans can be very messed up creatures indeed.

I've struggled with eating issues, and I think this show is right on the money in terms of the self-loathing that comes with trying to attain body perfection. The fact that it's funny as well as touching is just a bonus. Great show.

To put it simply, this show is amazing. I feel confident saying that "Starved" is the replacement "Seinfeld" fans have been waiting for. However where "Seinfeld" was a single episode type of show, "Starved" is a continuing story from one episode to the next. The characters have a very similar feel to those from "Seinfeld" in that they frequently discuss rather inane subject matter in an unconventional manner. This is the first sitcom style show that I have really found enjoyment watching in years. Some of the conversations are rather lewd and/or ridiculous, but I can recall similar conversations with some of my best friends over the years.

However if you're looking for a lighthearted comedy -- this is not the sitcom for you. This is definitely a black comedy, and when I say black I mean black. I'm not going to say "trust me" use your DVR to record this, why should you trust me? I'm not going to say "give this show a chance, you'll be happy you did", cause you might hate it. I will say that I am very happy I stumbled across this show on FX and highly recommend it to anyone with a dark sense of humor.

This series was easily the most missed, underrated entry to the 2005 television season. The writing is sharp and witty, the humor far ranging and more than a little subversive. But most importantly, the characters are rich and well developed. It's easy to sit down in the middle of an episode for the first time and be taken aback by the subject matter, or let the fact that it deals with eating disorders cloud your vision of the bigger picture. But at it's core the story is less about disorders and more about how the group of characters struggles with the hardships in life (be they natural or self-generated), and how they are there to help, support and understand one another. The stories are well told and I wish F/X gave us more episodes to see how the lives of the characters unfolded.

Those anti-Starved posters who criticized the show are apparently very close-minded. I am quite close-minded myself, but feel that Starved is the best show out on television right now. Perhaps it is just not right for you, but don't say it should banned and don't ask for it to not be renewed. That is cruel to us viewers who love the show and take something positive away from it after each episode. No one is forcing you to watch it, so don't if you choose not to and don't like the writing style. I love Starved, and I hope it is here to stay. It's humor is extremely prevalent throughout each episode and it also has some serious tones as well. No one can deny that after seeing the end of the last episode. Kudos to Eric for writing this stuff.

I think that FX is doing a fine job by bringing this type of show to the airwaves. Of course, the writing is edgy, different, and awkward--however you want to put it-- just plain good. Just because the premise is hard to digest for our more conservative viewers doesn't make it a bad thing.

I liken the show to Will and Grace. That show, as bad as it was, ran entirely on the premise of gay jokes. In fact, when was it acceptable for gay jokes to become funny by the mainstream? I am sure that homosexuals were upset about the portrayals of gay characters at first, but if I'm not mistaken, they have won prestige, awards, and applause from the gay community.

Starved, I believe will follow the same pattern. Yes, the show makes light of eating disorders but it will also bring light to a problem that is rampant. Will and Grace helped open up conversation and made it all right to be openly gay and Starved will make it okay to talk about Eating Disorders.