By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices

VH1's celebrity weight loss competition 'Celebrity Fit Club Men vs. Women' is set to premiere April 22 at 9 PM.

And as you may already know, this season's cast includes 'The Brady Bunch' star Maureen McCormick, 'Saved by the Bell's very own Dustin Diamond, 80s pop starlet Tiffany, country music crooner Cledus T. Judd, groundbreaking former hip-hop superstar Da Brat, 'The Tonight Show' personality Ross "The Intern" Mathews, former West Coast chart-topper Warren G, and 'American Idol' fave Kimberley Locke.

For its fifthseason, producers mixed things up a bit, turning it to a gender race.

According to a show spokesperson, "this season is more about getting fit than shedding pounds as none the cast is more than 40 pounds overweight but that doesn't mean the drama is any less weighty. This spring will have them embarking on their own grueling fitness journeys while also working together to reach their fitness goals."
Though there's a new psychotherapist, Dr. Stacy Kaiser, in place, drill sergeant Harvey Walden IV (and his big, juicy lips) are back in the fray, along with the dapper and debonair nutritional and diet expert Dr. Ian Smith.

"I will say that this is the most successful season we've ever had in terms of the number of celebrities who've hit their target," Smith revealed to AOL Black Voices producer Angela Bronner, while making the rounds promoting his new book 'Extreme Fat Smash Diet.'

"There are always problems," he continued, "but they overcome their problems and become inspirational to everybody who's watching. Because they have problems just like you and me and that's the beauty of it. That people you hold on a pedestal, that you've watched for many years, you come to realize, they can't stop that urge at night also. Or it's hard for them to get to the gym, so they have the problems we do."

"The instructive part of the show is that we help them overcome it with a vision that the viewers are also watching the methods so they can do the same thing," Smith concluded.

Well put Good Doctor.

BV Extras:

-- AOL Black Voices Producer Angela Bronner gets up, close and personal with Dr. Ian Smith here.