TV Reviews : ‘Fat’ Jokes the Bread and Butter of ‘Babes’

The new Fox comedy series “Babes” is about three rotund sisters. In the premiere (at 8:30 tonight on Channels 11 and 6), Darlene (Susan Peretz) and Charlene (Wendie Jo Sperber) encourage Marlene (Lesley Boone) to get a job as an oversize hosiery model.

The actresses are fine, but “Babes” is not, its few glimmers of real humor obliterated by “fat” jokes, one after the other.

“Babes” is pioneering, however. It introduces a new ism to TV comedy. In its 50-year history, American TV has been guilty of racism, anti-Semitism, sexism, ageism and probably other isms as well.

Now comes fatism.

On the one hand, “Babes” gives lip service to opposing fat bias. Charlene’s boyfriend finds her sexy. Moreover, brassy Darlene tells self-effacing Marlene, “You’re a beautiful woman. Don’t be ashamed of who you are.” And when Marlene is called a “porker” by a commercial director, her sisters are outraged.

On the other hand, the entire premise for “Babes”--its reason for existing, it appears--is that fat is funny.

It’s in the sisters’ body language. Two express anger by butting people in the stomach with their heads a la the Three Stooges.

It’s in the jokes.

* When Darlene shows up, Charlene says, “It’s either my sister, Darlene, or a piece of Sky Lab.”

* A secretary tells Marlene when she arrives for an audition, “Take a seat. Take as many as you need.”

It’s in the sight gags.

* When all three sisters sleep in the same bed, it, predictably, collapses.

* Darlene eats cereal for breakfast--a whole box.

* When Darlene gets up from her chair, it clings to her body.

No, not funny, just gross.