Gluten Freebies by Miel

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2 Broke Girls: Heavily Breaded with Misconceptions

Posted on | October 4, 2011 | 13 Comments

It seems like there are so many new sitcoms on this television season.  There’s New Girl, Happy Endings, How to Be a Gentleman, and Whitney.  Most of them are pretty funny too.  There was one show in particular that I wanted to like so badly, mostly because of the cast, and that was 2 Broke Girls with Kat Dennings.

2 Broke Girls is about a rich girl named Caroline (Beth Behrs), whose father loses all of their money, forcing her to move in with Max (Dennings), who comes from a working-class family and works at a diner in Brooklyn.  Okay, it sounds like a pretty good setup, albeit a little clichéd and perhaps a The Odd Couple wannabe.  It has potential though.

Watching the first two episodes was painful.  The writing was lame, the acting was forced, and the comedic timing was completely off.  But still, I liked Kat Dennings enough to continue watching.  I’d seen her be funny before and knew that there was a chance that the creators (Michael Patrick King and Whitney Cummings, star of Whitney) would turn it around.

Nope.  They didn’t.  Within the first five minutes of the third episode, I switched the channel over to PBS to watch Prohibition.

Let’s set the scene.  Max and Caroline are at the diner, working as usual.  Caroline approaches Max and says that one of their customers has asked if they have anything gluten-free.  Max’s reply is, “Tell her she’s not allergic to gluten.  She’s just masking an eating disorder.”

I wanted to puke.

I understand that television shows nowadays have to find ways to be edgy and funny.  Nothing can be considered “crossing the line” anymore, which in certain ways is a very good thing.  I was never one for being “politically correct.”  This, to me, doesn’t excuse television from its responsibility to those watching.  Television can be a great way of spreading awareness and understanding.  It can also, however, spread bigoted beliefs and misconceptions unlike any other medium.

For example, a lot of people could have walked away from this episode of 2 Broke Girls, thinking that those of us with Celiac Disease and gluten intolerances are just using it as a cover for an eating disorder.  When they had the chance to spread even the smallest bit of awareness that there are those with special dietary needs out there, they instead made a mockery of it.

In my personal opinion, the comment is doubly offensive because of the way it treats those with eating disorders, as though their problems are something about which we can joke.  Maybe some people find this kind of humor funny.  I don’t think humor that is hurtful to any group of people is funny.  Period.

I’m not saying that I expect Celiac Disease or eating disorders to be represented our favorite comedies or dramas.  However, I would appreciate it if they refrained from spreading anymore misconceptions in the future.

If I were ever treated this way in a restaurant or bakery, I’d leave and never come back.  And when I’m treated this way on television, I change the channel and erase past episodes from my DVR.

Miel

Category: 2 broke girls, celiac disease, gf, gluten, gluten free

Comments

13 Responses to “2 Broke Girls: Heavily Breaded with Misconceptions”

  1. Joan A Vairo via Facebook
    October 4th, 2011 @ 4:23 pm

    Good post. Totally agree.

    [Reply]

  2. Tina Vairo Byrnes via Facebook
    October 4th, 2011 @ 5:01 pm

    their show sucked already. are they trying to fail?

    [Reply]

  3. Theresa
    October 4th, 2011 @ 6:38 pm

    Wow, I can’t believe how rude that is! It’s awful how many people actually think that though, that we have an eating disorder or are making things up.
    The other thing is, I know someone who thought she was gluten intolerant, but ended up having an eating disorder instead. Just like we’re accused of doing, it happens in real life. It’s a serious thing and shouldn’t be joked about!

    Great post! Good on you for standing up for the coeliac community!

    [Reply]

    GFree_Miel Reply:
    October 4th, 2011 at 9:54 pm

    So many people told me I looked anorexic when I was a kid, up until I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. A lot of us suffer from malnutrition because of it.

    I’m sure it actually happens in real life. I wonder how your friend would have felt watching the show. I feel like it isn’t the place of someone else to make that kind of judgement when someone asks for something gluten-free. It just really hit me the wrong way.

    [Reply]

  4. Vanessa
    October 4th, 2011 @ 7:24 pm

    As someone who lives with Celiac Disease, I was shocked and appalled by the comment made on that show. I even went out of my way and complained to CBS about it. I encourage others to do so too. Gluten related illnesses need to be taken seriously, not mocked and made-fun of.

    http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.php

    [Reply]

    GFree_Miel Reply:
    October 4th, 2011 at 9:50 pm

    Thank you so much for the link. I eagerly sent them my opinion on the matter.

    [Reply]

  5. Cheryl
    October 4th, 2011 @ 8:55 pm

    I too was appalled by the comment made on this show! It amazes me that they even thought it was funny. Seriously! Would they make a joke like that about cancer? I’m sick of people saying that Celiac isn’t real or that it’s psychosomatic! I’m Italian, raised with pasta’s, breads, and cookies! I love pizza, ravioli’s, beer and hamburgers,(sandwiches in general) and miss them terribly! Does anyone really think that I choose to have to eat this diet? Does anyone really think that I choose to have the foods I love rip me up inside? I wouldn’t wish this condition on my worst enemy! I refuse to watch this show ever again or “Whitney” on NBC, and I will also be writing a complaint to CBS. Thank you so much for this blog! I’m filled with gratitude and hope that there are others that won’t stand for this ignorance! Thank you so much!

    [Reply]

    GFree_Miel Reply:
    October 4th, 2011 at 9:56 pm

    Thank you for your comment!

    I, too, am Italian and understand what it’s like having to switch my diet so drastically. It drives me crazy that people honestly think we’re just whining or complaining when there’s nothing wrong with us. It’s why I find it so hard to ask about it at restaurants.

    [Reply]

  6. Niki
    October 6th, 2011 @ 3:07 pm

    Great post, thanks so much. I have CD, as well as 3 of my 4 children. I found this joke to be doubly offensive, also. I understand that this Max character is supposed to be offensive but for me, this was the straw that broke the camel’s back. So long, CBS. You just lost a loyal viewer of *all* your shows.

    [Reply]

  7. Tonja
    October 9th, 2011 @ 1:56 am

    So frustrating! Thanks for sharing.

    [Reply]

  8. Lana
    October 12th, 2011 @ 11:19 pm

    My brother DIED because of gluten!! He died of bowel cancer because the doctor’s didn’t see the connection of gluten and constantly misdiagnosed him. I AM FURIOUS that this show could mock something so serious. I was a faithful viewer until now.

    [Reply]

  9. Jill
    November 15th, 2011 @ 3:15 pm

    I feel exactly how you do on this subject. I wanted to like this show but after this comment I wanted to scream. Of course I was watching this show with a few friends and when this comment was made they all thought it was hilarious and I was livid. How dare they make fun of a condition that I almost died over? I would have hoped that any air time that celiac disease would get was to educate the population on it and spread the word about a disease with a 97% undiagnosed population, especially one that has a 72% increased rate of death when undiagnosed.

    [Reply]

  10. Tracey Ginter via Facebook
    December 20th, 2011 @ 4:29 am

    Did anyone see the Sitcom Man Up a week or 2 ago? They aired a show titled “Gluten Free Family!” The son was diagnosed w/ CD. I thought that was a nice addition to the story line. However, I didn’t care for the remainder of the story line. Watch a except here: http://www.hulu.com/watch/305441/man-up-gluten-free-family. The parents got into a competition to see who could go the longest without consuming gluten – both started sneaking & consuming products pretty quickly, to the extent of fishing Gluten filled foods from a bag in the outside trash can. The Moms sister has a boyfriend that is GF, he attempts to educate them on it. The sister “claimed” to be GF w/ her boyfriend, then divulges to her BIL later that she never went GF, and shows him places where she stashed junk food all around her house. It became to much of a joke regarding the subject matter, in my opinion.

    Again, another funny show that could have helped raise awareness, and took a turn in the wrong direction. Let’s hope they’ll revisit this subject matter and select to educate the public, instead of acting like getting Gluten is such a hardship and is a joke.

    [Reply]

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I'd love to hear what you think about the content of my posts or my writing. I'm always looking for advice and constructive criticism. So thank you in advance. -Miel





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