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At last, fat chefs
shedding the pounds

Food Network comes up with a twist on weight loss shows

By Louisa Ada Seltzer
Jan 26, 2012

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It had seemed every possible take on the weight-loss reality genre has been tried before, from celebs to the morbidly obese competing to shed pounds.

But Food Network has managed to find another angle.

Tonight at 10 p.m. the network premieres "Fat Chef," in which a dozen chefs attempt to lose weight and develop a healthier relationship with food, a real challenge when they have to work with the stuff every single day.

Along with the weekly show, Food Network is offering complimentary healthy recipe ideas on the show's web site.

Though there have been a plethora of weight-loss programs launched since NBC's "The Biggest Loser" became a hit in 2004, viewers don't seem to be losing their appetite for them.

ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition" was the second-highest-rated new show last summer, averaging a 2.2 Nielsen rating in adults 18-49, matching the average for the now-fading "Loser" last fall on NBC.

This strong interest in weight loss reality shows is no surprise considering one-third of the U.S. adult population is obese. Many people draw inspiration from the glut of weight-loss programs to make over their own lives.

If "Fat Chef" becomes a hit for Food Network, which averaged 572,000 18-49s in primetime last year, it will undoubtedly be back for a second season, but it will have a long time to go before it matches "Loser," which is now in season 13.

A look at this week's top TV draws
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26
Time	Network	Program	Description
8 p.m.	CBS	"The Big Bang Theory" (C)	Raj takes his relationship with his phone's virtual assistant to an unusual level.
8 p.m.	Fox	"American Idol" (R)	More auditions--will ratings stabilize or continue to slide?
8:30 p.m.	NBC	"Parks and Recreation" (C)	Leslie holds a bowling party in an attempt give her campaign momentum.
9 p.m.	ESPN	"Winter X Games" (S)	The 16th annual event begins in Aspen, Colo.
10 p.m.	Food Network	"Fat Chef" (R)	Series premiere. Overweight chefs try to kick food addictions.
10 p.m.	Comedy Central	"Russell Simmons Presents the Ruckus" (C)	Season premiere. Stand-up comedy series hosted by JB Smoove.
11 p.m.	Showtime	"Inside Comedy" (C, N)	Series premiere. Don Rickles and Jerry Seinfeld are the first guests on this interview program.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 27
Time	Network	Program	Description
8 p.m.	Fox	"Kitchen Nightmares" (R)	Ramsay checks up on four restaurants he's helped in the past.
8 p.m.	ESPN	"NBA Basketball" (S)	The Knicks face off against the Heat in Miami.
9 p.m.	NBC	"Chuck" (D)	Series finale. Chuck has to visit the past to save the future.
9 p.m.	Fox	"Fringe" (D)	Peter searches for a girl who has the power to see the future.
10 p.m.	Discovery Channel	"Bering Sea Gold" (R)	Series premiere. Crews try to strike gold at the bottom of the Bering Sea.
10 p.m.	Starz	"Spartacus: Vengeance" (D)	Season premiere. Spartacus takes on a leadership role among the freed slaves.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 28
Time	Network	Program	Description
2 p.m.	ESPN	"College Basketball" (S)	Perennial powerhouse Kansas faces a tough challenge at Iowa State.
8 p.m.	Fox	"UFC Fighting" (S)	A number of matches with the main event a bout between Rashad Evans and Phil Davis.
8 p.m.	Lifetime	"The Pregnancy Project" (M)	A teen pretends to be pregnant for a social experiment.
9 p.m.	NBC	"Figure Skating" (S)	Coverage of the U.S. Championships from San Jose.
9 p.m.	HBO	"Namath" (N)	Documentary examining the life and career of quarterback Joe Namath.
10 p.m.	Food Network	"Iron Chef America" (R)	Two chefs battle in a tailgate-themed cook-off in Hawaii.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 29
Time	Network	Program	Description
3:30 p.m.	ABC	"NBA Basketball" (S)	Eastern Conference finals preview? The Bulls face the Heat.
7 p.m.	NBC	"NFL Football" (S)	The annual Pro Bowl game moves back to Honolulu.
8 p.m.	Fox	"The Simpsons" (C)	Bart asks for forgiveness from Milhouse after they get into a fight.
8 p.m.	TNT	"Screen Actors Guild Awards" (A)	Mary Tyler Moore is given a life achievement award at the 18th annual event.
9 p.m.	HBO	"Luck" (D)	Series premiere. New drama set in the world of horse racing.
10 p.m.	E!	"Kourtney and Kim Take New York" (R)	Season finale. Kim makes a decision about her marriage--we all know where this is headed.
A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show.