Celebrity Fit Club Returns for Season 3 on January 1st  12/23/05

Just In Time For The New Year VH1 Helps Eight Celebrities Get Back Into Shape; VH1's Hit Fitness & Nutrition Series - 'Celebrity Fit Club,' Is Back for a Third Season Premiering on January 1 at 9pm ET/PT* and on December 25 on VH1's Broadband Network VSPOT

Chastity Bono, Bruce Vilanch, Kelly LeBrock, Young MC, Countess Vaughn, Jeff Conaway, Tempestt Bledsoe and Bizarre Are Checking Their Egos At The Scale For VH1's Ultimate Fitness and Nutrition Challenge

Hosted By Actor/Comedian Ant

NEW YORK, Dec. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- VH1's popular fitness and nutrition series, "Celebrity Fit Club," is back for a third season. VH1 has gathered a hot new lineup of celebrities for "Celebrity Fit Club 3," will premiere on January 1 at 9PM ET/PT*, and can also be seen on VH1's broadband network VSPOT (http://vspot.vh1.com) on December 25.

Over two successful seasons, 15 previous Celebrity Fit Clubbers have bitched, battled, bonded (and bitched some more) through 100 days of Fit Club training. Along the way, they learned about fitness, diets and nutrition, all while losing a combined total of an incredible 465 pounds of celebrity flab.

The "Celebrity Fit Club" Season 3 cast includes Tempestt Bledsoe ("The Cosby Show"), Jeff Conaway ("Taxi," "Grease"), Countess Vaughn ("The Parkers"), Bruce Vilanch (writer/comedian, "Hollywood Squares"), Kelly LeBrock ("The Woman In Red"), Young MC (rapper, "Bust A Move"), Chastity Bono (daughter of Sonny & Cher), and Bizarre (actor/rapper), of D12, ("The Longest Yard"- '05). The New Year finds them embarking on their own grueling fitness journeys and fighting together to reach their goals.

* all times ET/PT

Also back for Season 3 is VH1's team of fitness experts. U.S. Marine trainer and drill sergeant Harvey Walden IV, author and medical correspondent Dr. Ian Smith and psychologist/body image expert Dr. Linda Papadopoulos team up to keep our celebs honest with the perfect mix of positive reinforcement and tough love.

"Celebrity Fit Club" alumni include Gary Busey, Jackee Harry, Willie Aames, Victoria Jackson, Wendy "The Snapple Lady" Kaufman, Jani Lane, Toccara Jones and Phil Margera who just concluded their fit club journey in Season 2, losing a total of 241 pounds. Season 1 featured Daniel Baldwin, Mia Tyler, Ralphie May, Joe Gannescoli, Wendy "The Snapple Lady" Kaufman, Kim Coles, Judge Mablean Ephraim and Biz Markie who lost a total of 224 pounds.

VH1's "Celebrity Fit Club 3" is a production of Granada Entertainment and VH1. Richard Hall ("Nanny 911") is executive producer and Jeanne Begley as co-executive producer for Granada. Michael Hirschhorn, Jim Ackerman and Matt Hanna are executive producers for VH1.

Go to the "Celebrity Fit Club" page on vh1.com to get more info on our contestants, see "before" pictures, get exclusive video outtakes from the show and check the contestant's progress reports.

http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/celebrity_fit_club/series.jhtml

VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to them most with series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in over 86 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital services including VH1 Classic, VH1 Soul, VH Uno, VH1 Mega Hits and VH1 Country. Connect with VH1 at www.VH1.com.

VH1 is a registered trademark of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom International Inc. MTV Networks also operates and offers joint ventures, licensing agreements and syndication deals whereby its programming can be seen worldwide.

SOURCE VH1

-0- 12/19/2005