Ian Karmel spent eight years writing for “The Late Late Show With James Corden” and for much of that time, he willingly fed the host a steady diet of fat jokes. Karmel knew whereof he quipped — he’d been fat his whole life and at one point during his “Late Late” tenure topped the scales at 420 pounds. Looking back from a healthier place — not just because he’s nearly 200 pounds lighter but because he has learned to control all his bingeing and self-soothing habits — Karmel regrets going for those cheap laughs.
That evolution is part of Karmel’s funny but serious memoir, “T-Shirt Swim Club: Stories From Being Fat in a World of Thin People.” It’s an unusual memoir in that the second half of the book is written by his sister Alisa, who also has struggled with weight issues. A clinical psychologist, Alisa writes a chapter corresponding to each one in her brother’s book, examining the “why” behind what he went through.
Ian Karmel recently discussed both the book and his life, explaining that he wanted to make clear he had plenty of great times growing up and throughout his life, despite people mocking him, his own shame and health issues that accompanied his weight. “Fat people are either the punchline or we are this pitiable figure,” he said in a video conversation. “You’re either Fat Bastard from ‘Austin Powers’ or you’re ‘The Whale.
’ I wanted to write an emotional, honest story that is hopefully also funny and relatable.” This.
