Andrew Corselli

By: centraljersey.com
Not only did township resident Janine Erickson and five of her friends get to be featured on Dr. Oz’s Show, they were also recognized as his biggest fans.
In early January, Ms. Erickson was watching the health and fitness show and saw choreographer Stepp Stewart come on and perform a dance routine, which he does "every so often." Following the episode, she went to the show’s Web site and filled out a form.
"There was a (link) that said ‘if you’d like to be on the show’ and ‘do you like to dance?’ and ‘would you like to be on the show with the choreographer,’" she said. "I wrote in and said ‘I’d like to be on the show. I do Zumba and lost 80 pounds.’ They called me the next day. When they called me they asked if I knew five other girls who would like to come on the show, and I did."
A couple of weeks later, on Jan. 26, Mr. Stewart surprised the ladies at Pamela Yula’s Zumba studio Mueve & BFit at 409 Route 206 near the intersection of Amwell Road.
"We did a whole taping because they actually called us Dr. Oz’s biggest fans, so there was a side (segment) on his biggest fans," Ms. Erickson said. "Not only did they make us do the dance but they also put us in the winners of the biggest fans. We taped a little bit, like a segment (for the biggest fans portion before the show), and Stepp Stewart was there working out with us."
Two days later, Hillsborough residents Vivian Campbell, Sofia Monaco, Jennifer Kowitski, Mary Tyson, Ms. Yula and Ms. Erickson got the thrill of a lifetime when they traveled to the Big Apple to be on a show they all watch religiously.
"(The surprise at the Zumba studio) was on a Wednesday and on Friday we went to New York City to be on the show," Ms. Erickson said. "We showed (Dr. Oz) three exercises and then we did them altogether. That was the segment we were on but it was also wrapped into this surprise party for Dr. Oz with his biggest fans. It was a cool thing."
The episode with the Hillsborough Zumba fans aired on Feb. 14.
"It’s a talk show with Dr. Mehmet Oz. He used to be on Oprah but now he has his own show," said Ms. Erickson. "It’s on every day on Channel 5 (Fox). He does health information. He’s a renowned cardiologist. He does all health information: things to eat to stay healthy, ways to fight cancer. It’s very fun, interactive and easy to understand. It’s a real popular show."
Ms. Yula said last fall, "Zumba is basically a combination of Latin and international rhythms with fitness moves and it provides a fun and easy workout. It doesn’t feel like you’re working out, it’s supposed to feel like a party atmosphere. The hour just blows by in two seconds because each song is different so you’re getting a different rhythm with each song. You don’t need any experience, you don’t need any coordination. It’s fun, it’s easy to follow. When the music comes on it’s like you can’t not move."