What better time for the start of another season of NBC’s weight-loss behemoth, The Biggest Loser, than the beginning of a new year — a time when many of us are begrudgingly nibbling on chicken breasts and steamed broccoli when we’d rather be downing Cool Ranch Doritos and Phish Food ice cream? And what better motivation than watching a group of 22 contestants drop the equivalent of a pre-schooler every week? So let’s raise our bottles of filtered Brita water and 100-calorie packs to toast a new year and a new season of tough love from Bob and Jillian!
As my colleague Annie Barrett mentioned earlier this week, the series’ seventh season is indeed its biggest ever. The heaviest contestant weighs 454 lbs., and he’s only 19! And the trainers have some heavy lifting ahead of them, too, which became especially evident as Bob and Jillian secretly watched the couples via hidden camera during their first workouts — sans trainers.
After the couples were split into two teams, they found their way to a dimly lit bridge — why do all the challenges on this show seem to happen under the cover of darkness? — for their first challenge. I give this one a 2.3 out of 10 on the creativity scale. Running across a bridge and climbing over a pile of sand? That’s the best the show’s producers could come up with? How about forcing the teams to do it three-legged-race style or with one of them wearing a blindfold? Anyway… Though the sister duo of the yellow team gave it a valiant effort, it was the dude cousins of the black team who won — and got immunity. Here’s how the rest of the episode played out:
Heaviest moment: Undoubtedly, 63-year-old Jerry collapsing after his first workout — before Jillian even sank her maniacal claws into him. Thankfully he’s okay, and lost an impressive 25 lbs.
What the #$*@ moment: I think I’m going to like the feisty girls of the "silver bullet" team, but why did Carla think her workout needed the flourish of a parallel-bars routine? Honey, the Olympics were last year. Leave that crazy Nastia Liukin business at home.
Biggest twist(s): The entire elimination played out like a soap opera, maybe even like an episode of Days of Our Lives,Ms. Alison Sweeney! First the perky host announced that there would beno elimination. After the whoops and cheers subsided, she got to thecatch: No one would be eliminated, but nine people would be sent home(each team except for the Biggest Loser team and the team with immunitywould have to nix one player). I was really starting to question whythis season is called Biggest Loser: Couples, when there’d beno, you know, COUPLES. But then the final Ding Dong dropped: The playerswho were sent home could return to the ranch in 30 days if theirpartners were still in the game. By this point, Allison could have toldme I had a long-lost twin named Rupert and I probably would havebelieved her.
Biggest Losers: In the end, the father/son brown team werethe Biggest Losers having dropped a combined 54 lbs. Dad Ron lost 32 ofthem himself (the largest amount ever for one week).
Honorable mentions: The yellow team’s Aubrey for sprintingthe last 50 yards of the elimination challenge and almost overcoming the black team’s lead. Also, 19-year-old Dan for dropping 30 lbs.Perhaps it’s his youth, but every time he opens his mouth — in particular, when he shared his dream of growing old andsitting on the porch with his bud David — I get alittle teary eyed.
Tell me I’m not alone in that department, PopWatchers. I’m also curious: Who are your favorites sofar? What were your favorite moments from last night’s premiere? Andhow many product placements did you catch? (I saw three.)
More Biggest Loser:
‘Biggest Loser 7′ preview: Gonna need a little more effort from the Orange Team
‘Biggest Loser’ season 6 winner: The 110-pound finale
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Were both Season 6 and Season 7 participants on the ranch at the same time? Judging by the state of the host’s pregnancy it appears that the answer is yes. She is due this month. Does anyone know?
I wondered about the timing too b/c Allison did not look pregnant (or at least not very far along) in last night’s episode, similiar to episodes last season. She was very pregnant at the live season finale in December.
By far my fave is Tara, the green team member that stayed. Loved her “C’mon, Cupcake. You’re not the only fat chick here!” comment about her partner, Laura, when Laura was complaining about working out. And then Tara threw up on the treadmill!!….and kept going!! Now THAT’S a girl Jillian is going to loooove training. She seems the most determined to me. Oh, and her “lose 21 lbs. in one week? Who does that?!? I do!”. Yup…she’s m’girl this season!
They usually start filming them a month or two apart I believe. I think they had mentioned it once in season 5
The timing issue was bugging me also. If they were on the ranch at the same time, how did Bob and Jillian manage to train two groups at once? The nine person “elimination” really pissed me off, why get us invested in the groups, only to send half of them home? All these people NEED help from the trainers, what a let down.
Did NOT like the ‘twist’ at all. As for the timing issue, remember that contestants go home for several months before the finale, plenty of time for a new ‘crop’ to be brought in and filmed.
I felt really bad for the 9 people sent home. How can you choose who needs to be there more? They are all so huge! I loved the faces Jillian & Bob were making at the weigh-in. So much for them to work with (so many broken people for Jillian to fix!). Tara may be my favorite. I’m glad Laura went home because she was definitely going to hold their team back.
I turned it before they could spilt up and decide who would go home. I knew it would be too emotional for bedtime. LOL I thought they should have at least given them 2 weeks to get used to the lifestyle change and learning how to exercise to attempt to be successful at home. SOme of those people took leaves from their jobs. I think that this will be a good season because the high weights make the playing field more level.
This is the first time I’ve really watching this show aside from it just being on in the background. It was really good, but too long. I’m rooting for Jerry and Estella. Something about an older couple who have been married forever going through something like this together really gets me!
Also did not like the 9 sent home twist – thought it was dumb. Imagine thinking your in this together and then you’re not. Not a fun premise, I thought. Thanks for the insight about the pregnancy – I just assumed she had already had the baby – but that was only 3 weeks ago, the finally.
Go Daniel – and everyone – good luck. I have never weighed more than 150 lbs, but I love this show and the good vibes it gives me. Well, except for last season – I missed the last 4 weeks because of those ugly-spirited people!! I only watched the finally to see them lose and vowed not to watch BL again if anyone but Michelle won! Now I get to continue watching even with the dumb twist last night.
I have watched every episode of BL from day 1. Yes last season was the absolute worst because of nastiness of the final 5 except for Michelle. If Heba hadn’t won $100,000 it would have ended perfectly in the realm of what goes around comes around. In regards to this season I was furious with the 9 going home. Those 9 were there for 7 days and get sent home. Big whop. Those 7 days are not enough to get them on the right track back home. I have been on a medically supervised weight loss program since early November .. 9 weeks ago and I am still having a really hard time. If I had to go it alone after 7 days… forget it.
Bob & Jillian have truly changed people’s lives so when they get to the pearly gates I suspect they’ll just walk right thru. Good for them!
Last I hope the 2 models come out on top. I think most people who are fit and trim in youth and gain 100lbs over the years draw inspiration in knowing the weight can come off. I LOVE Bob’s words.. DRIVE PAST THE DRIVE THRU PEOPLE!
At the last season finale, Allison said she was 3 or 4 weeks from her due date. I think the finale was on 12/16. I guess she’s due any day.
I agree – didn’t care for the twist. If they were going to do that, they should have waited two or three weeks so that the contestants had an idea of what they were doing. Week three is usually one of the hardest in any weight loss program – that’s going to be tough for them at home.
I missed the elimination the cable went out who went home?
I think the twist of sending 9 home came from how ugly last season got. Remember, this was taped while last season’s contestants were home losing their final weight. Certainly the producers knew the audience’s reaction to the drama taking place. Too many viewers were taken aback by Vicky’s ugliness and I believe this was an attempt to break up that kind of negative team building.
Oh, the events taking place at night? I thought that was because of Allison’s day job.
I Love Love Love this show! It is so inspirational! Go Jillian! Go Bob!
I wonder if the players being sent home get access to a 24 hour fitness and a personal trainer. I thought it was really unfair sending 9 of them home, because they don’t really know what they’re doing yet. Unless it wasn’t shown on camera, they didn’t even learn about good nutrition yet. Plus, what about the emotional support that comes with losing weight with a loved one? What would that Laura girl do without Tara pushing her? I like Tara; she is a good friend and has a great attitude. Laura complains too much. I also like the elderly couple and the heaviest contestant on the orange team.
love the green, silver and orange teams! i’m happy to see NICE people playing the game who want to win but still support the other teams. hating the twist…why get these people so excited to be there and then send 9 home? LAME…it should be called The Biggest Loser: Couples (for 1 week ONLY). i wonder how much the trainers hate the twists.
http://www.wxyz.com/news/local/story/Biggest-Loser-Arrested-For-Flour-Throwing/3nm0s9_LKUepqjDHXfTbCw.cspx
CENTER LINE, Mich. (WXYZ) – A Macomb County woman, who is competing on the current season of “The Biggest Loser,” has been charged with domestic violence. Shanon Thomas is accused of throwing flour in the face of her tenant.This isn’t Thomas’ first run-in with the law. Court records show that in 2004 she was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in Royal Oak, and in 1996 she was charged with forgery in Troy. Thomas pleaded guilty to operating while intoxicated, in connection with the 2004 charges, and was put on 12 months probation and fined $1,345. Punishment on the forgery charges was defered after she was sentenced under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act. She now faces up to 93 days in jail on the domestic violence charges. A trial day has not been set.
I am a long time fan of biggest loser. I too did not like the 9 people elimination on the very first show. They was all excited to be chosen for the show, only to find out after the first day that they were going home. That would be a major disappointment. I can’t wait for next weeks show. Thanks for keeping this show going.
I dont think the challenges being at night are becuase of Allison’s day job. If you remember from last season they do have day challenges too, like the slip in slide, and 80’s themed one with the buckets of water. I think the night atmosphere just adds another element of suspense. I agree with EWs previous article that Biggest Loser seems to use Lost’s soundtrack of intense music and its bit over the top for a weight loss show. p.s. whats the deal with the new theme song? are they serious with that? that was just plain awful
My husband and I did not like the fact that 9 were sent home. The people on the show need the help of the Biggest Loser and need to be on the Ranch–We enjoy watching the couples and them working as a TEAM–Very disappointed with first episode.
Totally rooting for Jerry and Stella! I also like the orange, green and yellow teams. Everyone seems to have a good attitude so far. Didn’t like the twist but can see how that will be a total motivator for everyone on the ranch to bring their loved one back to them.
i really think this is a good show and it motivates anyone that wants to lose weight big or small.
Liked pretty much everyone except the one girl on the silver team… “this is a test of our firendship”??? “You didn’t try as hard as I did”??? What a self-centered B! Interesting that about 2/3 of the footage of contestants explaining their thoughts afterward were of the one girl from the green team. I know she’s a “former model” and well-spoken, but give some other folks some air time!!
Also, did anyone else think the Big Dad guy on the brown team looked like one of the bugs in A Bugs Life when he took his shirt off?
I too was extremely dissappointed in the elimination of the 9 people. It is obivious that these people were in need of physical and mental help. For the producers of this show to allow this kind of exploitation to get ratings was ruthless. What an opportunity you missed by allowing all of these people to stay and allow the tv viewers to watch all of their transformations. I know your bottom line is ratings but you are now marketing yourselves during the commercials and what a waste, you are dismissing what I feel would be your best marketing tool. Allowing these people to stay and through your training become the fit individuals that so desparately want to be.
its going to be interesting to see how the father on the brown team does, since he’s already had weight loss surgery. cleary he didnt follow the advice the surgeon gave himor he would of lost it already. I wonder if it will have any effect on his numbers now that hes following the diet and working out? I dont know much about that type of surgery but I would think he has an unfair advantage.
Tara’s my girl. She just fills up that big screen with attitude and fun. She better not have been the one sent home because her partner wouldn’t last…no way cupcake.
I also am very upset that they sent 9 people home. Like other posters, I feel these people really need this show, let them be on it, give them a chance! The people are so excited when they are picked, then half are immediately sent home?? Just seems cruel and unneccessary. Another ratings ploy, and I am so disappointed in that.
I really hate that they sent so many people home. It’s like the show ran out of money and couldn’t afford to house them anymore. I love Dan, but really, that one model who cried constantly…whew, she needed to go HOME!!!
I personally think that 9 people being sent home was NOT about ratings. I don’t think the producers of the show realized how much special attention each contestant would need in order to get started. I realize people think it’s unfair, but I think it’s more unfair leaving them there and not having everybody benifit. It makes sense really. The next 4 to go home PROBABLY would have been the lowest on their couples team anyway. By taking 22 contestants, reducing that number to 13 contestants for a month, bringing back 5 contestants makes it 18. In the meantime, the trainers gave more attention to the ones who need it.