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America’s
Fitness Show
The Ratings Are In!
by Fran Harris
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Let’s get real for a second. No one ever truly knows how something will turn out. The best chef in the world isn’t guaranteed a perfect soufflé every time. The perfect-looking jumpshot doesn’t always go down. And even the most experienced copy editor misplaces a comma every now and then. So, as I reflect on my new television show, “America’s Fitness Show (AFS),” I have to breathe a sigh of relief. While I was convinced that it was a good idea, there was really no way to tell if anybody (except those 20 people I’d bribed) would actually tune in to watch it when it debuted at 7 a.m. on KTBC FOX on Saturday, May 10, 2003.
We thought if we combined the proven formula of reality television with fitness and wellness topics, people would watch. Fortunately, we were right. It proved to be a good idea and people do like it, evidenced by the climbing ratings, week after week. I also think the show’s success can be attributed to the diverse personalities in the show. Here’s an appetizer of the segments from AFS Season One.
Adventures with Georgia
Three to four minutes with austin FiT magazine’s publisher and editor-in-chief, Georgia Beth Ridenhour, makes getting up at 7 on a Saturday morning so well worth it. Our goal for this segment was to expose Georgia to a different sport or activity each week in hopes of inspiring others to also try new activities. It hasn’t always been pretty, but it sure as hell is a lot of fun to watch. The bellydancing segment is my personal favorite so far, with the football fiasco coming in a close second.
Get fit, get fine
We’ve taken the The Beat 104.3’s three morning show DJs, Meredith, JMack and Rick The Stick, and armed them with everything from trainers to nutritionists to therapists. Why? Because they told us they wanted to get in shape. In return, we asked them to commit to a total wellness plan, one that works from the inside out.
The First tri
I’ve been so inspired by the Winner’s Circle segment, that I’m doing a documentary on the woman who starred in it, Stacy Scott. She signed up for The Danskin Triathlon even though, prior to that, the most exercise she had ever gotten was turning on the ignition in her Volkswagen. We followed Stacy for eight weeks — from start to finish — and captured nearly every moment of her journey to The Danskin finish line June 8, 2003.
Other segments
The Training Table features clinical nutritionist Pam Machemehl focusing on what athletes put into their bodies. Fitness expert Grace Lazenby does a segment on everything from stretching to workout techniques. The Athlete’s Closet focuses on apparel. And Peak Performance is a new segment that helps athletes at all levels reach their potential.
Looking Toward the future
When “America’s Fitness Show: The Remix” kicks off this fall, we’ll see some new faces but we promise to continue delivering entertainment and education in a format that’s fun to watch and easy to digest.
Fran Harris is president of Tall Tree Productions and the creator/executive producer and host of “America’s Fitness Show.” A former ESPN, Lifetime Television and Fox Sports announcer, she was also a member of the Houston Comets’ first WNBA Championship team in 1997. To contact Fran, inquire about advertising/sponsorship or submit show ideas, send an e-mail to stayfitamerica@aol.com.
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