Starved

I have read the other comments and I just want to say that while eating disorders are a serious issue (I have one myself), being too serious and cynical is pretty serious also. What's the saying..."Laughter is the best medicine"? While the show isn't hilarious, I think it takes a very serious subject and lightens the mood around it a little. I really feel that people take themselves and their "problems" a little too seriously most of the time.

That's just my humble opinion...I'm sure someone out there without a sense of humor will take offense. Too bad! I mean really, now. There is famine in, what, 2/3rds of the world, hurricanes and tsunamis are destroying parts of our planet and killing thousands, and there are actually people getting upset over a stupid TV show. Here's an idea: if you don't like what "Starved" has to say, don't watch it, but don't act like it's supposed to be some show like Intervention that is helping people. And, I think that saying that people with eating disorders would be offended or possibly even cause them problems is saying that people with eating disorders are stupid. As I previously said, I have an eating disorder and I am much more offended by people assuming that I am too dumb to realize that this is just a TV show...not real life!

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.

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.

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.

It just hit Australia! :-( Its not a medical, legal or police show, and it has people acting like people without being a reality TV! In other words its great :-)

It rather reminds me of the opening to Stripes with Bill Murray's place when he looses the job, the girlfriend and the dinner (pizza) all in a matter of an hour.

I don't agree that this is in the Sinefeld mold. I don't expect to wait for a gag at every opportunity, and so I found myself trying to understand the characters, so the writing is really good.

I could watch this, but a bit less of the gross images...

The show seems to have, on first viewing, too much emphasis on the therapy group. Do group members really affect each other's lives so much, and maintain relationships outside of the group meetings?

All in all its a really innovative and watchable show Full marks A+ :-)