Not So Nice, After All

Michael Schur’s television shows are celebrated for their feel-good sensibilities and focus on connection over conflict—an aesthetic dubbed “Nicecore.” Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Good Place, and Rutherford Falls won over audiences and critics with their optimistic take on humanity. However, beneath the layers of niceness, there is a troubling pattern of fat shaming and anti-fat jokes that starkly contradicts the progressive values these shows claim to uphold. This paper examines the pervasive use of fat-shaming humor, fat suits, and the exclusion of fatness from Schur’s idealized worlds, arguing that these depictions reinforce harmful stereotypes about body size and perpetuate anti-fatness in popular culture. The essay also explores the intersection of fatness with race and gender, illustrating how Schur’s work reflects broader societal anxieties about fat bodies. By analyzing one of the most influential voices in contemporary television, this essay underscores the necessity of holding even well-intentioned media to a higher standard, pushing for a more inclusive and compassionate portrayal of diverse body types.