HUNTINGTON -- If having an unscripted television series in Huntington will lead to positive changes in the community, then many local health advocates and officials say they approve.

The Tri-State will serve as the backdrop for a yet-to-be-named show on ABC that will focus on healthy food choices, according to Pat Preblick, the network's publicity director. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver will host the show and "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest will produce it, she said. Oliver first became known to American audiences as part of his cooking show "The Naked Chef," which ran on Food Network.

Huntington Mayor Kim Wolfe and Brandi Jacobs-Jones, the city's director of administration and finance, have met numerous times with people involved with the show. Their primary concern is how the city and West Virginia will be portrayed in the show, Wolfe said.

"We've stressed to them throughout our discussions that we don't want to see any of the traditional stereotypes," he said. "They've assured us it will be a positive production focused on health awareness."

People involved with the show also have met with other groups in the community. On Friday, some met with officials at St. Mary's Medical Center.

"I have a good feeling about it," said Doug Korstanje, director of marketing and community relations at St. Mary's Medical Center. "My initial impression after meeting with the people from this show is that they are focused on how to make positive changes in this area."

Preblick said the show will be loosely inspired by Oliver's "Jamie's School Dinners," a British television series that focused on Oliver's efforts to remove unhealthy food from school cafeterias in his native England. In the American version, Oliver will work with local officials to offer healthier food choices. In addition to school lunch menus, the show also may address availability of fresh produce at local grocery stores, the rapid growth of fast-food restaurants and food choices at offices, Preblick said.

"And we'll use the resources that are available in the community," Seacrest told Broadcasting & Cable, an industry trade publication, in May. "We're not flying in experts and trainers and gym equipment. We're really going to roll up our sleeves and dig into the town and (work with) the people who are there."

Huntington is expected to serve as the base for the show's productions, although filming also may include Ohio and Kentucky. Filming will begin this fall, and ABC has ordered six episodes, which will begin airing in the middle of the upcoming season, Preblick said.

"This chef has a reputation of doing good things," Korstanje said. "When you have somebody like that involved in it, you seem to already have a clear indication that it will be a positive thing."

Wolfe said he was first contacted about the show this spring. Producers said they were looking for a town to base the show in, and they read an Associated Press article that labeled Huntington as the unhealthiest city in America, he said.

Two months after the initial contact, the city received a call from the West Virginia Film Office indicating the producers were seriously considering Huntington, Wolfe said.

Some were skeptical at first, especially considering the city's portrayal in The Associated Press article late last year.

"One of my pet peeves is stereotypes about Appalachia, and I did not like The Associated Press article because I felt it focused only on the negatives," Korstanje said. "It was full of stereotypes."

Korstanje said he thinks people may still see negative things in the show, but he hopes they will be shown in the proper context and alongside positives.

While many other officials have not spoken with anyone from the show, many still say they will support it if it's positive.

"As director of the health department, any effort to improve the health habits of our community and make us a healthier community would certainly be welcomed," said Dr. Harry Tweel, director of the Cabell-Huntington Health Department.

Tweel said he welcomes efforts to improve the area just as the local health department has been trying to make a difference with the WalkItUp! program, created by the Cabell-Huntington and Kanawha-Charleston health departments to encourage people to walk at least 30 minutes on most days.

Tweel said he hopes producers are positive and encouraging, especially as Huntington falls at the bottom of many health-related lists, including those concerning obesity and incidence of diabetes and heart disease.

Rhonda McCoy, food service director for Cabell County Schools, said she hopes the ABC show will talk about the good things, too.

McCoy said the schools' nutrition program offers more fresh fruits and vegetables, has lowered fat and sodium in meals and increased important vitamins.

She said the schools have made many changes in the last few years and students are sticking with the program.

"At Huntington High (School) we're still feeding over 1,000 students at lunch a day," she said. "We work hard to do what's best for students and that's what we would hope the show would also want to do."

Korstanje said St. Mary's would likely assist the show's staff by connecting them to people and resources in the community, but he thinks it's up to each person to decide whether they want to participate.

"With reality television, there can be some exaggerations and things that can make an unflattering portrayal," he said. "At least from my initial meeting with them, they seem to have the right approach to make this a good show. I hope that we continue to have that impression as things move forward."

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The Tri-State will serve as the backdrop for a yet-to-be-named show on ABC that will focus on healthy food choices, according to Pat Preblick, the network's publicity director. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver will host the show and "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest will produce it, she said.