TLC Makes Room for ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY

TLC Makes Room for ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY

- Losing Weight Becomes a Family Affair in Six-Part Series Premiering Tuesday, December 29 at 9PM (ET/PT) -

SILVER SPRING, Md., Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY moves into TLC on Tuesday nights beginning December 29 at 9 PM (ET/PT). This six-part series profiles the Coles, a close-knit family of four dealing with life as a morbidly obese household. Weighing in at a collective 1,400 pounds, each half-hour episode follows the family on their journey of self-improvement -- chronicling everything from their everyday struggles to the larger picture of why they overeat -- as they attempt to lose weight to ultimately save their family from dire health complications.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091015/TLCLOGO )

Obesity rates are at an all time high in America, and the Coles are part of the growing epidemic. The same rituals that have strengthened their family bond -- such as cheerful family gatherings around the kitchen table and hilarious "truth nights" over cheesecake -- have enabled the bad behaviors responsible for their size. With Mom, Dad, daughter and son each weighing in at well over 300 lbs., the Coles are reminded daily that they literally do not fit in, as everyday situations such as buckling a seatbelt and sitting in a restaurant booth are challenging. But, as big as they are, their love for each other is even bigger -- and when one of the family members is diagnosed with a life threatening health issue, the family unites to change their lifestyle for good.

With a healthy dose of humor and love, ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY spotlights the Coles as they pull together as a family to tackle the patterns that are keeping them overweight. Without the help of a nutritionist or personal trainer, the family has only each other to rely on to drop the pounds. It's a long and emotional process full of trial and error and late night "cheats," but through it all, they have each other. No matter what obstacles they encounter or how embarrassing a situation may be, the Coles continue to motivate one another -- and are determined to accomplish their goal of attaining a healthier lifestyle as a family.

Meet the Coles family:
-- Norris, 41 and 340 lbs., is a stay-at-home Dad who cooks, cleans and
loves taking care of his wife and kids almost as much as his best
friend -- the family dog, Coal;
-- His wife, Tameka, 36 and 380 lbs., supports the family and manages to
be both the disciplinarian and the comedian in the house;
-- Amber, 16 and 348 lbs., is a thoughtful young girl who loves to write.
Entering her senior year in high school, she is about to start dating
and getting ready for college;
-- Shayne, 14 and 308 lbs., is a rising sophomore in high school and
always the life of the party

ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY is produced for TLC by RDF USA (Wife Swap, Find My Family, Jessica Simpson's The Price of Beauty). Executive producers include Mike Duffy and Chris Coelen for RDF USA, and Julia Silverton. Duffy created the show.

About TLC

TLC's innovative docu-series and reality-based programming include favorites Jon & Kate Plus 8, Little People, Big World, What Not to Wear, 18 Kids and Counting, Say Yes to the Dress, and LA Ink. TLC added to its menu of programming with Cake Boss and Ultimate Cake Off, and continues to expand into the food genre. TLC's daytime lineup includes the Emmy Award-winning A Baby Story. The channel is available in more than 98 million homes in the US, nearly 8 million homes in Canada and through the website at www.tlc.com. TLC is part of Discovery Communications (NASDAQ:DISCA)(NASDAQ:DISCB)(NASDAQ:DISCK), the world's number one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries.

Photography and Online Screeners Available at press.discovery.com

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091015/TLCLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: TLC

CONTACT: Shannon Martin of TLC, +1-240-662-3004,
shannon_martin@discovery.com

Web Site: http://www.press.discovery.com/

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