What’s wrong with this lineup?

5th November 2009

What’s wrong with this lineup?

posted in Diets, Feminist Topics, Rachel, Television & Film |

So, there’s a lecture series called Smart Talk Connected Conversations and it’s coming to Cincinnati for the 12th year in January. The celebrity-based spoken word series invites intriguing and influential women to present their stories in an intimate setting in what is supposed to be an uplifting, educational and empowering experience for women. Here’s the line-up for the 2010 series in Cincinnati. Can you spot the odd woman out?

Helen Hunt: The critically acclaimed, award-winning actress, known for her roles in the sitcom “Mad About You” and movie “As Good As It Gets,” will speak on her experiences as a director, writer and mother.

Ann Compton: Throughout her journalism career, the first woman to cover the White House on a fulltime basis has balanced her professional obligations with those of her family, and will share unique insight behind the headlines of Capitol stories.

Patricia Heaton: The actress, who earned accolades as the wife in “Everybody Loves Raymond,” will discuss her idyllic childhood in Ohio, career struggles and the challenges of balancing a career and motherhood.

Lee Woodruff: The author, journalist and contributing editor for “Good Morning America” had to face dramatic change when her husband suffered a traumatic brain injury in Iraq.

Valerie Bertinelli: The actress, author and Jenny Craig shill spokescelebrity will relate her struggles with dieting and weight loss.

Does anyone else find Valerie’s recounting of how she lost her not-so-fat ass while following a dubiously effective and outrageously expensive diet of refined sugar, additives, artificial ingredients, added sugars, and hydrogenated oils as vapidly uninspiring as I do?

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This entry was posted on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 7:00 am and is filed under Diets, Feminist Topics, Rachel, Television & Film. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

1 On November 5th, 2009, Me said:

Weren’t Helen Hunt and Patricia Heaton rumored to or have been known to have E.D.’s?

posted on November 5th, 2009 at 10:12 am

2 On November 5th, 2009, Amy said:

In a word…”YES!”

posted on November 5th, 2009 at 10:26 am

3 On November 5th, 2009, mccn said:

At first I was going to point out that they all seemed to be women with kids, too, which is not representative either – but then I couldn’t tell about the last two.

posted on November 5th, 2009 at 10:38 am

4 On November 5th, 2009, Jen said:

*sigh* Does Valerie want an effing medal or something for losing 40 pounds? Lord have mercy I am so tired of hearing about those damn 40 pounds.

posted on November 5th, 2009 at 10:48 am

5 On November 5th, 2009, Godless Heathen said:

That’s an awfully white lineup they put together. Really representative group there. Oh wait, either you’re not supposed to be inspired by women of color or women of color are supposed to aspire to be white.

I know people have this image of the Midwest as being homogeneous, but the cities out here happen to be fairly racially diverse.

Valerie seems to be the (pardon the pun) dead weight in this crew. If they replaced her with, oh I don’t know, Gwen Ifill, I might be interested.

posted on November 5th, 2009 at 10:56 am

6 On November 5th, 2009, Twistie said:

Oh I don’t know, Rachel. Valerie’s weight loss commercials often inspire me to hit the mute button on my remote. It’s just a pity that wouldn’t work at an actual lecture.

I also have to second Godless Heathen’s concern at what a very white panel that is. And hetero. And able-bodied. They really couldn’t find/choose one speaker of color? Or one with a disability?

posted on November 5th, 2009 at 11:05 am

7 On November 5th, 2009, Rachel said:

If I were the other panelists, frankly I’d be a little insulted to have Valerie included in the series. As much as I dislike Patricia Heaton, at least she’ll be discussing something that many women struggle with — career and family — in a constructive way while Valerie will just be crowing about her weight loss and encouraging everyone to go on Jenny Craig.

posted on November 5th, 2009 at 11:06 am

8 On November 5th, 2009, Nicole said:

Do you suppose it’s the Smart Talk Connected Conversations Sponsored by Jenny Craig.*

*Interesting and fulfilling talks not representative. Your speaker may be far less interesting.

posted on November 5th, 2009 at 11:36 am

9 On November 5th, 2009, Shannon Russell said:

Yeah, but she was married to Eddie van Halen, so… um… not sure how that helps, but it’s TRUE!

Peace,
Shannon

posted on November 5th, 2009 at 11:38 am

10 On November 5th, 2009, Lexie Di said:

Not only is her story not inspiring… it’s down right offensive to compare that with the stories of these other women or women they COULD have had in her place!

posted on November 5th, 2009 at 1:15 pm

11 On November 5th, 2009, susan said:

I don’t know if she belongs in the line-up, but her book talked a lot about how she found self-respect and inner strength, as well as learning about nutrition and portion control while on her “weight loss journey”. I can’t say it was the best book I ever read, but it wasn’t just about counting calories.

posted on November 5th, 2009 at 1:19 pm

12 On November 5th, 2009, Karen said:

How embarrassing.

posted on November 5th, 2009 at 3:10 pm

13 On November 6th, 2009, Samantha said:

“*sigh* Does Valerie want an effing medal or something for losing 40 pounds? Lord have mercy I am so tired of hearing about those damn 40 pounds.”

AMEN!!!!

She said on The View that she carries a scale with her all the time so she’ll always know her weight & she uses it as a barameter for how she’s doing.

Valerie, you ARE NOT A NUMBER!

posted on November 6th, 2009 at 1:00 am

14 On November 6th, 2009, Lu said:

She’s so the odd one out. 40 pounds is nothing in the great scheme of things and the Jenny Craig diet is full of junk. Let’s not forget that she has gotten many kinds of “support” from Jenny Craig for her weight loss.

posted on November 6th, 2009 at 1:17 pm

15 On November 7th, 2009, Odessa said:

I do wonder if Valerie’s weight loss will be as lasting as Kirstie Alley’s. I’m not entirely sure how prepackaged meals teaches anyone portion control and nutrition. Maybe she will out the Jennie Craig system.

posted on November 7th, 2009 at 10:22 am

16 On November 7th, 2009, drummergrrrl said:

“She said on The View that she carries a scale with her all the time so she’ll always know her weight & she uses it as a barometer for how she’s doing.

Valerie, you ARE NOT A NUMBER!”

Great, just another new and creative way to promote eating disorders. Doesn’t this just make you feel more militantly aggro about the way even other women marginalize each other? Because you’re a success when you’re skinny, not when you actually contribute to society *smacks self on forehead*

posted on November 7th, 2009 at 1:30 pm

17 On November 7th, 2009, Samantha said:

drummergrrrl I know, it did make me feel more aggro. She also went on about what her weight is now & what her lowest was when she shot the Jenny Craig add. She is clearly & unhealthily obsessed with her the number on the scale.

posted on November 7th, 2009 at 8:57 pm