Is your family making
you fat?
If so, NBC wants to meet you and hear your
story.
Hundreds are auditioning for a new reality
TV show called "Losing It with Jillian."
The concept is one-part "Nanny
911" and one-part "The Biggest Loser," with a
splash of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." It will
air in 2010 and boasts producers with ties to heavy hitters
including "Loser" and "Oprah."
The star is trainer Jillian Michaels of
"Loser" fame. After choosing eight families, she
will move in with each for one week to observe their
environment, habits and food and fitness choices. She hopes to
cut through the clutter of excuses, bad decisions and enabling
peers to help those families find solutions to make their
lives healthier.
"Everyone has their own set of ways
they could make changes," said Jodi Thomas, the show's
casting director. "Maybe they don't eat dinner together,
maybe there are family issues, maybe there are things they
haven't discussed or haven't thought through. They're not
communicating with each other; they're playing too many video
games. We're going to get people to open up and talk. It's
about working things out as a family."
Michaels will handle not just the fitness
intervention but also will help people with emotional
struggles, something Thomas said she's had success with on
"The Biggest Loser." Curtis Stone, known as the
"Take-Home Chef" from TLC, will provide cooking
lessons.
Sheila Kitchens, 35, is sure Michaels could
exorcise her weight-loss demons. At 4-foot-11 and 250 pounds,
the Milwaukee mom of four admits she's overweight. Kitchens
was a teen mother four times over; her kids range in age from
16 to 20.
Now she's trying to get her life back on
track by taking business classes online through American
Intercontinental University. But she said she has tried and
failed to lose weight and needs help. "I have the ab
lounge, the ab roller, all those things," she said.
Kitchens believes Michaels, known for her
no-nonsense attitude served with a side of sugar, could help
her. That's why she plans to head to the Chicago audition next
week.
"I'm definitely excited," Kitchens
said. "I believe she's a strong person with a sincere
heart to help people lose weight. It would be a dream come
true."
The show is looking for families with kids,
but couples can apply, too. The individuals don't need to be
drastically overweight, but should have at least 25 pounds to
lose.
People will be seen at the auditions in the
order they arrive, and Thomas said she expects to speak with
every family. If only one family member can make it, that's
OK. Bring non-returnable photos of each family member.
Thomas said the show "definitely"
intends to cast a family from Michigan, one of eight casting
locations. Why? It seems the state's track record of being fat
and friendly makes for good TV.
"I've cast 'Biggest Loser' and for the
last three seasons, I've been to Michigan and found the people
are hard-working, loveable, amazing people," Thomas said.