Smallscreen Reviews

Review: 'Big Life' on A&E takes weight off Kirstie Alley

By April MacIntyre Mar 21, 2010, 1:26 GMT

Actress Kirstie Alley and her children Lillie Stevenson and William Stevenson Fame Pictures, Inc - Santa Monica, CA, USA

"Big Life" (premiering Sunday at 10/9c on A&E) chronicles Kirstie Alley's lifelong boomerang weight-loss battle — assisted by her Organic Liaison, a weight-loss program she is selling. (The diet plan recently came under fire for claims that it is a front for the Church of Scientology, a charge that Alley denies.)

Alley has a chubby buddy handyman, Jim, who suspiciously comes from Florida.  Clearwater, Florida is ground zero USA headquarters for Scientology, Kirstie's belief system.

Alley and Jim, courtesy of A&E

Kirstie is a naturally funny woman, and her self-deprecating ways and ease in revealing herself at her worst only endears, and this aspect of her is maddening.  She seems so straightforward and clever, yet is reportedly deeply entrenched in the L. Ron Hubbard cult construct.

In “Kirstie Alley’s Big Life’’ which premieres tomorrow night at 10 on A&E, Alley's weight battle is cleverly spun out in a disarming voyeuristic little fly on the wall series that celebrates her victories and commiserates her setbacks.   Not original, but Alley's talent at least makes it a very watchable pastime, as good schlocky soap opera-ish reality TV is meant to do, such as the 'Real Housewives' franchise.

courtesy of A&E

The show opens with Alley, flanked by her two teens, navigating a departure from a hipster LA restaurant swarming with paps. Like many celebrities, she loves to hate them.  But when these paparazzi, or “spawns of Satan’’ as she calls them, stop showing up, publicists and agents are fired.  Many celebrities love this attention, don't kid yourself.  They freak out when no one cares of their comings and goings.

For whatever reason, her fat is news and she's smart enough to not waste any opportunity to mine that corpulent cash crop via TV deals that play to an obsessive audience that hangs on her every pound. 

Reality TV show deal plus product placement equals big fat dollars.   Alley wants to drop at least 80 pounds.

You would imagine the tabloids she bemoans over which splay horrific shots of her should be taped to her fridge, supplying the inspiration needed to suddenly show up six months later all svelte on Oprah and go 'nanner-nanner' once again in a bikini.

Her business is show business, and she had kids to put through college, a mortgage and retirement to think of.  Alley is 58, a virtual dead man walking zone for actresses of any size, so major props to her for figuring out an angle to get TV shows up and running.

courtesy of A&E

Kirstie and her 300+-pound handyman Jim together fight the chub, and they select the appropriate trainer to make the pounds melt off.  It's a funny round robin interview process of a diverse group of LA fitness trainer-types.  

Kirstie's kids, Jim, and Kyle, courtesy of A&E

Filmed at her swell manse, “Big Life’’ has Kirstie's people constantly popping up around her, including Jim, Kyle, assistant Kelly, a stylist, and her maid. They serve as cheerleader and sounding board in attempts to bolster her self-confidence.  We meet Alley’s likable children, Lillie and True, and the dogs, the lemurs and other critters in Alley's larger than life chaotic home. 

Alley has a big fat overhead, and the idea of downsizing, except for her weight, seems out of the question.

It is frustrating someone as talented as Alley has to resort to reality TV to be relevant when she has such strong comedic chops and still can deliver a zinger like no other.  But in a country where three-fourths of the population could shed a pound or two, kudos to her for taking it on the chins and making the battle of the bulge a vicarious and humorous roller coaster ride.

Well played Kirstie Alley.