Lifetime Kicks Off the New Year With the Provocative Lifetime Original Movie 'To Be Fat Like Me,' Starring Kaley Cuoco ('8 Simple Rules') and Caroline Rhea ('The Biggest Loser'), Premiering Monday, January 8, 2007

Inspired by the Real-Life Experiences of New York Teen Ali Schmidt Who Went Undercover in a Fat Suit to High School for a Network News Special on Obesity

Movie Launches Lifetime's Second Annual 'Living Healthy' Initiative to Encourage Viewers to Make Healthy Lifestyle Decisions and Promote Tolerance

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 30 -- Kaley Cuoco ("8 Simple Rules") and Caroline Rhea ("The Biggest Loser") star in the Lifetime Original Movie "To Be Fat Like Me," the story of an attractive high school junior who experiences first-hand the extreme prejudice and heartbreak overweight teens face when she attends class undercover in a fat suit and prosthetics as part of a statewide film competition. "To Be Fat Like Me" also explores the idea of intolerance for the overweight even within one's own family. The telefilm is inspired by the true story and experiences of New York teen Ali Schmidt, who went undercover for a 2003 network news special on obesity. "To Be Fat Like Me" premieres Monday, January 8, 2007 at 9pm ET/PT on Lifetime Television.

In "To Be Fat Like Me," athletic and popular high school junior Aly (Cuoco), always planned on getting into college by landing a softball scholarship. But when a sports injury leaves her sidelined, Aly decides to enter a documentary film contest in hopes of winning the prize money to pay for college.

Convinced that her overweight younger brother Adam and mother Madelyn (Rhea) use their struggles with weight as an excuse for all that is wrong in their lives, Aly arms herself with a fat suit and hidden camera to find out the truth as the subject of her film entry. With the help of her classmate Janie and neighbor Warren, a resourceful make-up artist, Aly devises a plan to attend summer classes at a rival high school where no one knows the real "Aly" and shows up on campus as a 250-pound student.

Although she expected some negative reactions, Aly is shocked by the level of cruelty she encounters. Having anticipated that her naturally buoyant personality would eventually win over her fellow students, Aly is surprised at the assumptions and judgments being made about her. Her confidence is quickly shattered when she is teased, mocked and harassed and Aly soon begins to understand how intolerant she has been of her own family's weight issues.

More than 60 million people in America are obese and the percentage of young people who are overweight has tripled since 1980. "To Be Fat Like Me" is a pivotal component of Lifetime's annual "Living Healthy" campaign, encouraging health and well-being, including body image, fitness and diet. Lifetime is joining with nonprofit organizations, such as Girls Inc. and the National Women's Health Resource Center, to promote these messages of health, as well as tolerance, and for a PSA with Kaley Cuoco to follow the film.

"To Be Fat Like Me" is produced by Ardmore Productions for Lifetime Television. Mike Jacobs, Jr. (Lifetime Television's "Their Second Chance") and Michael Givens ("Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love") serve as executive producers. Paul Rayman ("The Engagement Ring") and Michael Shepard ("Imaginary Playmate") produced and Doug Barr (Lifetime Television's "For the Love of a Child") directed. The telefilm is written by Michelle Lovretta ("Instant Star").

Lifetime is the leader in women's television and one of the top-rated basic cable television networks. A diverse, multi-media company, Lifetime is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and their families. Lifetime Television, LMN, Lifetime Real Women, Lifetime Home Entertainment and Lifetime Online (http://www.lifetimetv.com) are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of The Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.

SOURCE Lifetime Television
http://www.lifetimetv.com