What if all the teenagers in the late, lamented "My So-Called Life" were fat?
You might end up with something like "Huge," a very promising new series from executive producer Winnie Holzman and her daughter, producer Savannah Dooley.
In 1994, Holzman created, wrote and produced "My So-Called Life," a critically adored (but ratings challenged) drama that revolved around 15-year-old Angela (then-unknown Claire Danes). Angela was a typical teen — meaning she was angst-ridden, insecure and dramatic.
Not the typical TV teen of the time.
In "Huge," another teenage girl is at the center of the narrative. And, she's also not your typical teen. Willamena "Will" (Nikki Blonsky) is an overweight girl forced to go to a "fat camp."
Unlike the impossibly gorgeous, physically perfect teens who populate TV shows like "90210," the cast of "Huge" is, yes, huge. They're fat. Like a lot of real American teens.
Sure, these kids have body-image problems. But what teenager doesn't?
Will is the polar opposite of the character Blonsky played in "Hairspray." She's not sunny and optimistic — she's sarcastic, sardonic and bitter.
While the kids at Camp Victory are there with varying levels of enthusiasm, Will is openly antagonistic toward the camp director, Dr. Rand (Gina Torres) and any attempt to help her lose weight.
"You know, this could be my summer to gain weight," she proclaims. "I feel like inside me, there's an even fatter person just trying to get out." And when one of Will's fellow campers Becca (Raven Goodwin) tells Will that all the kids get a journal "so we can express our feelings," Will's response is succinct:
"Don't have them."
She is, of course, masking her true feelings. Which eventually come out, albeit briefly.
"No, I don't want to change," Will says. "Why should I? Just because my parents are ashamed of the way I look?"
Ouch.
Whether you were an overweight teen or not, that kind of honesty rings true.
Not that "Huge" is all angst and drama. There's a good deal of humor as well. And a talented cast that includes Harvey Guillen, Hayley Hasselhoff (David's daughter), Ashley Holliday and Ari Steadman.
It's not perfect. The "Biggest Loser"-esque trainer is a cartoon martinet, and the various girls ooohing and aaahing over the hunky assistant trainer (Zander Eckhouse) is bordering on trite.
But "Huge" will strike a chord with both teenagers and former teenagers.
FAMILY AFFAIR: There are actually a couple more family connections in "Huge."
Paul Dooley co-stars as the chef at Camp Victory — and he's the husband of Winnie Holzman and the father of Savannah Dooley.
Holzman's uncle, Ernest Holzman, is the show's director of photography.
THAT'S WICKED: Early in the pilot episode, one of the campers can be seen wearing a T-shirt emblazoned Shiz University.
That would be where Glinda and Elphaba met in the musical "Wicked."
And Holzman wrote the book — the script — for the musical.
(Stephen Schwartz wrote the music and lyrics for musical, which was adapted from Gregory Maguire's novel.)
If you watch
What: The new series "Huge"
When: Monday, 10 p.m. (repeats Tuesday at 10 p.m.)
Channel: ABC Family
The bottom line: This very promising series about a group of teenagers at "fat camp" might just be the "My So-Called Life" for a new generation.
e-mail: pierce@desnews.com