I believe there are several mistakes being made in1000-lb Sistersthat I feel are affecting its entertainment value.1000-lb Sisterspremiered in 2020 on TLC and quickly became a hit among fans. Originally, the show followed sisters Tammy and Amy Slaton, who collectively weighed over 1000 lbs at that time. The quirky rural Kentucky natives were known for their funny mispronunciations, comical demeanors, and sometimes volatile dynamics. The sisters were looking to improve their lives with bariatric surgery, and they were both seeing a surgeon out of Atlanta, Georgia.
While Amy was approved for, went through with, and lost weight from her weight-loss surgery, Tammy fell behind. Tammy’s poor and addictive habits around food spiraled, and her health and well-being continued to go downhill. Tammy was referred to a doctor closer, and even tried in-patient weight-loss rehab, but it took her almost losing her life and being on life support for her to take her weight loss seriously. After her near-death experience, Tammy entered an in-patient weight-loss rehab again, but really put her mind to it. She lost enough weight there to qualify for the surgery, andshe has gone on to lose over 500 lbsbetween the rehab and losing weight on her own at home.
Tammy also had skin removal surgeryin season 7. With Tammy and Amy’s success, their siblings, Misty Slaton Wentworth, Chris Combs,Amanda Halterman,followed suit with the surgeries, and their family interactions and relationships have become just as prevalent on the show as their weight-loss journeys. While I find the changed and transformative narrative of the show to be enjoyable, I think that1000-lb Sistersis missing the mark in some areas.Production’s efforts to keep the show engaging and fresh have been subpar, in my opinion, as1000-lb Sistersseason 7plays out, and I see room for improvement.
6Tammy’s Social Life Should Be Focused On More
Tammy Leaves Home A Lot
While Tammy was at her heaviest, I felt some of the most cringy, but good reality TV moments were when she was partying with her friends.She had drinking buddiesthat would enable her bad habits but provide her companionship. While I saw her former friendships as bad, it did give a glimpse into Tammy’s personality more, and I noticedshe is a very social person.Tammy, or Queen Tammy, as she is dubbed, likes being the center of attention, and that makes me think there is something missing from her storylines in recent years.
While I understand Tammy has been focused on her weight-loss, habit improvements, and health as a whole in the last few seasons, Tammy’s social life hasn’t been shown much. Tammy’s friend Steve has made several appearances in1000-lb Sisters, and I think production should show more of him and how Tammy is expanding her social circle. Now that Tammy is more mobile and has the admitted desire to branch out, I think production should be harnessing that.
5Production Isn’t Showing Amy & Brian’s Relationship Dynamic Enough
Amy & Brian Are Controversial
Amy has been known to be a poor decision maker, and that’s become abundantly clear in how she’s conducted herself in her new relationship with Brian Lovvorn. Amy was previously married to Michael Halterman, who is coincidentally the brother of Amanda Halterman’s ex-husband, Jason Halterman. They had two boys together, Gage and Glenn, but broke up when the boys were still in diapers. Amy admittedly has poor taste in men, and her family members echo that sentiment.
To that end, Amy met Brian when he approached her during a concert, and they became inseparable. 37-year-old Amy and 50-year-old Brian became mired in controversy after Amy was bitten by a camel during a safari park ride, and the police who responded found marijuana and mushrooms in their car while they had Gage and Glenn in the backseat.Amy and Brian were arrested and faced jail time, although both pleaded guilty and settled for probation and fines. Amy has been harshly criticized for her lapse in judgment, and she has said she’s trying to do better after the incident.
I think Amy and Brian’s relationship presents a lot of red flags, and I don’t feel the show is doing enough to capture the mess.
Amy’s decision to move into Brian’s house seemed abrupt, and I would have liked to see more of Brian’s backstory. Moreover, I think the show should have aimed to showcase more of their connection and how they interact throughout season 7, instead of highlighting the larger narratives of their relationship.
4Tammy’s Season 7 Edit Is Overly Positive
Tammy’s Real Personality Hasn’t Been Shown
The Tammy I remember from the seasons before her surgery, recovery, and weight-loss efforts became her personality on the show, was hot-headed, demanding, and wholly problematic. I’m not getting those revelations about Tammy anymore, as I believe production has been striving to give her an overly positive edit. Tammy can’t change her temper and behavior completely without some of the old Tammy and her ornery ways rearing their head, soI don’t think production is painting a realistic picture of her anymore.
31000-Lb Roomies Should Not Replace 1000-Lb Sisters
Expansion Or Takeover?
Another point against1000-lb Sistersproduction that isn’t sitting right with me, is the introduction of the newTLCshow1000-lb Roomies, which just premiered as1000-lb Sistersseason 7 has been wrapping up. To me, the debut of a show so similar in premise to1000-lb Sistersand what it has achieved is concerning, as I feel1000-lb Roomiesis trying to take1000-lb Sisters’place. While1000-lb Roomiesmay be an expansion of the franchise, I am still worried that its premiere doesn’t bode well for the future of1000-lb Sistersas its core storylines are running their course.
I know1000-lb Sisters' production needs to step up its effort to continue keeping the OG show engaging and worth watching so it doesn’t get pushed out.
2The 1000-Lb Sisters Family Should Go On Vacation Again
The Family London Trip Was Very Entertaining
I also think that production is being remiss by not teasing another family vacation. During the Florida and England trips the family took, drama was at an all-time high, and I foundthe family interactions and comments to be compelling. Given the potential for reality TV-worthy iconic moments, I think1000-lb Sistersproduction needs to give the audience more travel and vacation content. Watching the family explore a different culture in England often proved hilarious, and the humor of the show and its cast, I think, has taken a backseat in recent seasons as more serious storylines have taken over.
1Amanda’s Personal Life Isn’t Explored Despite Interest
Amanda Is A Fan Favorite
1000-lb Sistersmiddle sibling Amanda has become a fan favorite forher quick wit, spitfire personality, and penchant for riling her siblings up.Amanda’s love life after her divorce from Jason has been talked about but never shown, and now that she isdating her controversial “manager,” Leonard Moore, I feel diving deeper into her personal life could add more value to1000-lb Sisters.By leaving things surface and hearsay with Amanda, I believe production is dropping the ball.
1000-Lb Sistersseason 7 airs on Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT on TLC.
