Jillian Michaels to star in new TV series

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Oct. 21 (UPI) -- NBC says it has partnered with popular health and wellness expert Jillian Michaels for a new U.S. program called "Losing It With Jillian."

Also collaborating on the alternative series are Giancarlo Chersich from Empowered Media, as well as "The Biggest Loser" producers Mark Koops and Howard T. Owens of Reveille, and former "The Oprah Winfrey" executive producer Ellen Rakieten.

"In the series, Michaels invades a different family every week to give them her own characteristic brand of tough love," NBC said in a news release. "She will get to the bottom of the issues each family member faces -- ones that affect their health and happiness -- and will arm them with the tools necessary to make life-altering changes."

The series will also feature celebrity chef Curtis Stone, who will rid the family's kitchen of all unhealthy foods and educate them on proper nutrition, healthy ingredients, cooking tips and recipes, the network said.

The announcement was made Tuesday by Paul Telegdy, executive vice president of alternative programming for NBC and Universal Media Studios.

"Jillian is the world's leading lifestyle expert with a signature style all her own," Telegdy said in a statement. "Increasing numbers of families seem to need a motivational boost, and we know that Jillian is an awesome force of nature who will help them transform their lives from the inside out."

"When your health is out of balance everything else suffers -- finances, relationships, work and family dynamics. I'm moving in with families across the country, getting down and dirty and rooting out bad habits in every corner of their lives that are preventing them from health and happiness," Michaels added.

The eight-episode series is to air in 2010.