NBC plans 'Biggest Loser' companion

Trainer Jillian Michaels will star in 'Losing It With Jillian'

By HitFix Staff Tuesday, Oct 20, 2009 12:31 AM

Jillian Michaels

Credit: NBC

NBC has ordered eight episodes of "Losing It With Jillian," starring "Biggest Loser" trainer Jillian Michaels.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the series will feature Michaels traveling around the country showing overweight Americans that even without going on an NBC reality series, they can still lose weight and learn to live healthier lives. Unlike "Biggest Loser," every episode of "Losing It" will be self-contained, with Michaels doing a full exercise, nutrition and wellness diagnosis each week.

Also participating in the series will be celebrity chef Curtis Stone, who will be providing cooking and nutrition tips.

Michaels is expected to continue to her duties as tough-as-nails "Biggest Loser" mentor, with "Losing It" shooting starting in December. With "Biggest Loser" already taking up two precious hours of NBC's weekly schedule (and delivering some of the network's best ratings), it's doubtful NBC would premiere "Losing It" before the end of the spring run of "Loser." That would seem to make a summer launch likely, but with NBC, who can predict?

In addition to starring, Michaels will executive produce along with Giancarlo Chersich of Empowered Media, Mark Koops and Howard Owens from Reveille and Ellen Rakieten (NBC's upcoming "The Marriage Ref").