Starved
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder | Eric Schaeffer |
| Defunct | 2005 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | Television sitcom |
Starved is a U.S. television sitcom that aired for a single season on FX in 2005, comprising seven episodes. The storyline centers on four friends grappling with various eating disorders who attend a "shame-based" support group named Belt Tighteners. The characters depict struggles with conditions such as bulimia, anorexia, and binge eating disorder. Created by Eric Schaeffer, who also took on writing, directing, and acting duties, the series was inspired by his own experiences with eating disorders as well as those of the main cast.
Starved was positioned as the lead-in to FX’s hour-long "Other Side of Comedy" programming block, paired with It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. FX’s goal was to broaden its comedy slate and attract a wider audience base. The series debuted on August 4, 2005, but met with unfavorable critical reception and was cancelled in October 2005 when FX opted to renew Sunny instead.
Characters
- Sam (Eric Schaeffer) works as a commodities trader and struggles with anorexia alongside compulsive overeating. His obsessive behaviors strain his relationships, though he secretly harbors feelings for Billie.
- Billie Frasier (Laura Benanti) is a singer-songwriter battling anorexia and bulimia, compounded by alcohol addiction. Raised by two gay fathers and formerly a ballerina—the source of her eating issues—she identifies as bisexual.
- Dan Roundtree (Del Pentecost) is a novelist who deals with compulsive overeating. Concerned that his weight endangers his marriage, he repeatedly plans but cancels gastric bypass surgery.
- Adam Williams (Sterling K. Brown) is a police officer suffering from bulimia who misuses his position to obtain food, ultimately resulting in job loss.
- Belt Tighteners Group Leader (Jackie Hoffman) manages the support group with a sarcastic and abrasive demeanor, frequently scolding the friends before leading their rallying slogan, "It's not OK!"
Production
Eric Schaeffer developed Starved drawing upon his personal recovery from addiction and experiences with "anorexic thinking" to shape the show's narratives. Several cast members brought their own histories of food-related struggles, lending credibility: Benanti faced anorexia during her Broadway career; Pentecost weighed 310 pounds at filming time and contributed real-life experiences such as a scene involving weighing himself on a postal scale; Brown’s portrayal was influenced by his childhood "fat kid mentality." These shared backgrounds emerged only after casting concluded.
Under FX president John Landgraf's vision to diversify content and grow viewership beyond the network’s established edgy dramas, Starved and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia were developed. These programs represented FX's first ventures into sitcoms since the brief run of 2003's Lucky. Bruce Lefkowitz, then EVP of Fox Cable Entertainment, highlighted FX’s ambition to establish a distinct comedic identity. Both series were greenlit for seven episodes each.
Filmed during spring 2005 in New York City, Starved employed a single-camera format without a laugh track. Alongside Sunny, it was among FX’s earliest internally produced comedies.
Reception
Prior to its launch, Starved generated considerable debate, as experts on eating disorders expressed apprehension that the series might either downplay or romanticize these serious conditions. On the other hand, some argued that the show had the potential to increase public understanding of eating disorders as critical health concerns. The National Eating Disorders Association urged viewers to boycott the program, alleging that sponsors such as Diageo and Nautilus had pulled their advertising support. Creator Schaeffer responded by affirming that his intentions were genuine despite the challenging subject matter.
The premiere attracted an audience of 1.54 million, achieving a 0.8 Nielsen rating and a 2 share within the key demographic of adults aged 18–49 targeted by FX. Critical reception skewed predominantly negative. Variety dismissed the series as "not OK," criticizing its contrived attempts at emotional depth and lack of genuine feeling. The Washington Post likened the concept to a "Seinfeld" cast afflicted with eating disorders but faulted the show for its crude dialogue and superficial character portrayals, ultimately describing it as leaving a "sour aftertaste."
While The New York Times recognized the show's daring premise and occasional sharp satire, it criticized the heavy reliance on shock humor. The Los Angeles Times deemed the series "vexing," pointing to Schaeffer’s multiple creative roles as an example of insufficient editorial control, noting that personal experience did not necessarily translate into engaging narrative.
New York honored it as the Best Show You Probably Never Watched, and NBC included a segment from Starved in its compilation titled "The Most Outrageous TV Moments."
In October 2005, FX announced the cancellation of Starved. FX president John Landgraf cited resource allocation considerations between Starved and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, with the latter continuing successfully on sister channel FXX, where it was renewed through its eighteenth season as of 2025.