Bret Michaels Says 'Life As I Know It' Is 'Authentic'

Bret Michaels spent three seasons on "Rock of Love" — and had an offer for a fourth — but decided against it. Maybe it had something to do with his health scares or his winning turn on "Celebrity Apprentice," but whatever the case, Michaels was ready to do something new.

That's why, on his VH1 series "Life As I Know It," which premieres Monday night (October 18) at 10 p.m., viewers will get to see a brand-new side of the bandana-clad bad boy: the soft-spoken family man.

"The inspiration for the new show was simple. Even when I was doing 'Rock of Love' ... I wanted to do 'Celebrity Apprentice,' to raise awareness for the American Diabetes Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation," Michaels said. "And I'm so lucky I got to go over there and do it. And from that, the idea for this show was sort of spawned. ... It's a great balance between my passion and love for my family and my passion and love for being on the road. And they're two different ends of the spectrum, and then you watch it collide, and the whole show is about finding that balance."

And so, on "Life As I Know It," there are no tequila-fueled make-out sessions. Instead, the show documents Michaels' on-again, off-again relationship with Kristi, the mother of his two daughters, and his attempts to get back on the road after his various health issues. It's not reality TV; it's just plain real. And that's exactly how Michaels wants it.

"Initially, [VH1] wanted me to do a show called 'Rock of Love Boat,' but I came to them with this idea, and they were interested," he said. "I said, 'Listen, sometimes it's going to be exciting, and sometimes it's going to be me, scooping up dog poop ... that's life.' And I think the authenticity of it is what people are really going to love. They're going to see me as both a parent and a dad and also being on the road, rocking it."

Will you check out Bret's new show? Let us know in the comments!