http://www.realitytvworld.com/index...tory.php?s=2940

NBC's 'The Biggest Loser' weight-loss reality show to premiere October 19

By Wade Paulsen, 09/28/2004

If you have been super-sized, NBC claims it might be able to help you.

On Tuesday, October 19, at 8PM ET/PT, NBC will premiere The Biggest Loser, a show in which overweight contestants lose weight -- or, in NBC's words, they "receive the opportunity to undergo a radical physical makeover without any kind of surgery." The show will be hosted by stand-up comedian and former talk-show host Caroline Rhea, who has discussed her own weight-loss struggles in her comedy routines.

The firm announcement of The Biggest Loser means that NBC's much-ballyhooed boxing-reality show The Contender, which was originally scheduled for this time slot, will now definitely be postponed, probably until the rumored January date.

The simple idea of the one-hour unscripted series, familiar to dieters the world over, is that "whomever loses the most...wins." Losing weight will be difficult, though, as the 12 contestants (six male and six female) will be faced with "real-life temptations" that their new "approved weight-loss skills and resources" should help them overcome -- if they want to win, that is.

The twelve contestants will be divided into two teams of six, cleverly named the Blue team and the Red team. The teams will be mixed by gender (unlike, say, the current editions of Survivor and The Apprentice) and will be organized to be approximately equal in weight. Each team will then be assigned a "team trainer" to teach it individual fitness and nutrition regimens. According to NBC, one trainer has a tough 'boot camp' attitude while the other offers a much calmer approach yet remains strict and focused on results. So ... will the carrot or the stick work better?

Viewers will also have the opportunity to study and learn the two dieting methods that the "celebrity trainers" incorporate into their team's nutrition plan. If the success of the Atkins and South Beach diet books is any indication, this part of The Biggest Loser will soon become its own book.

During each week's broadcast, the teams will face difficult and demanding daily work-outs culminating in a weekly competition in the form of a challenge, but the moment of truth will come during a weekly weigh-in. At the weigh-in, each team member will be weighed to determine the total pounds lost as a team. The team that loses the least amount of weight is faced with having to eliminate one of their own. In the end, the winner of The Biggest Loser walks away with $250,000 and a healthier body augmented by new coping skills ... or so NBC claims.

We have another suggestion: the teams could go on the Mark Burnett Survivor diet.

The personal fitness trainers on The Biggest Loser will be Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper. Michaels' celebrity clientele includes entertainment mogul David Geffen, Amanda Peet (Something's Gotta Give), Vanessa Marcil (Vegas), Amber Tamblyn (Joan of Arcadia), Sarah Paulson (Down with Love) and Jeremy Renner (S.W.A.T.). Harper is a consultant to trainers and teachers alike, and has trained such celebrities as Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, Ellen DeGeneres, Melissa Etheridge, Guy Ritchie (pre-Kabbalah, we guess), Lauren Dern, Selma Blair, Jessica Alba and Dermot Mulroney.

To be sure that the contestants do not drop dead on the air from all the unaccustomed exercise, they will be under the supervision of off-camera medical experts, including Robert Huizenga, author of "You're OK, It's Just a Bruise," the book on which the feature film Any Given Sunday was based, and UCLA nutrition professor Dave Heber.

Executive Producer Ben Silverman stated that "The Biggest Loser celebrates hard work and rewards discipline. Hopefully we will inspire an overweight America to get fit." But not so fit that couch potato Americans stop watching television on Tuesdays at 8PM, of course.

The Biggest Loser is a production of Reveille, 25/7 Productions, 3 Ball Productions and NBC Universal Television Studio. Ben Silverman (The Restaurant), David Broome (Jingle Ball Rock), and the trio of JD Roth, John Foy and Todd A. Nelson (For Love or Money, Endurance) are the executive producers.

here is the shows site, looks like the red team is going to be low carb and the blue is lower carb/lower fat. hmmm...whats that saying about low carb hmmm??? perhaps that it might, gasp...work???
http://www.nbc.com/nbc/The_Biggest_Loser/teams/

They're gonna play dirty, just like every other stupid reality show. No thanks.

I love reality shows! So this so is a definate must to watch!

I kinda want to see it cause I'm curious what they'll do, but like sugarjunky said, they're going to play dirty - offer people cupcakes and other temptations. That's just cruel. I'm not sure, maybe I'll watch the first and if it's too bad I'll boycot...

I won't be watching. I hate reality shows!

I think I will watch the first episode and go from there. I don't believe that temptation in the form of sweets is etc. is fair. That's down right mean.

Sandie

I agree with Sandie, I may watch the first and see where it goes. I really do hate the "dirty" aspect of these shows.

Looks interesting. Of course they are going to play dirty-- what's a reality show these days without that?! I went to the site and checked it out. Guess what-- I worked with one of the guys on the show a few years back -- too weird! Reality shows are so popular that I guess it's only a matter of time before every knows at least one person who's been on one.

I realize that, but this is a sensitive subject, and I just think that the exploitation of eating disorders/weight problems is lame. It's their decision though. "Reality TV" just seems like freak shows to me.

My husband and daughter watch "Fear Factor."

Reality shows... yuck!

yeah i dont watch reality tv. i just never sat down to actually watch a show. but this could have been an interesting show i think if they didnt bait people with treats and i also think its stupid that they vote each other off instead of the person that lost the least. so it will probably end up being just like all the others.

"Play dirty"
You mean like the dozen cupcakes, cookies, & brownies I had to make for my son's bake sale a couple of weeks ago? ;-)
Now that is dirty!
I'll probably tune in to see the first episode & if it is interesting I might watch. I can take or leave the TV most of the time.

I look forward to it, I'm a reality TV junkie and proud of it .
Alli

Ditto ......

One of the sad things that comes to my mind...

How emotional has failing at this been to some of you in years past? Imagine what an emotional slam it could be in the context of this type of venue. Everybody will cheer on the top contenders while the losers (or more appropriately, the "non-losers") crawl away to deal with not only their weight and eating issues, but their potential public humiliation as well. Where will they be 2 years from now?

I have never liked reality shows, but this particular scenario hits too close to home and kinda bothers me (no offense to those who plan on settling in the Laz-e-boy with a bag of pork rinds and a Diet Rite on Tuesday).

Just an opinion...