Biggest Loser 4: A Special Episode and an Early Preview

NBC has released a few more details about the next season of The Biggest Loser. Further, they have indicated that one week before Season 4 commences, they’ll show a special episode that visits with former competitors!

Let’s start with news about the special, called, “Where Are They Now?” Airing on Tuesday, September 4th at 8:00 PM ET/PT, it will catch viewers up with fan favorites from Seasons 1, 2, and 3 (but, apparently, not the “Special Editions” that aired between Seasons 2 and 3). At this time, no names have been released as to who will be featured.

The host of the special will be new series host Alison Sweeney, whose picture accompanies this article. If you missed the story of Alison coming on board, here are the details.

Some contestants will be surprised by unplanned at-home visits. Overall, we will learn who’s kept the weight off and how their lives have changed. Now, not everyone has kept all his or her weight off, but hey, that’s the reality of the process and an important part of the story to be told.

As no true episode of The Biggest Loser would be complete without it, there will be one last weigh-in. The reason for subjecting former competitors to the big scale in unclear, but as a point of comparison, contestants combined for a weight loss of over three tons during the previous three seasons.

Now, let’s turn to the news about the upcoming season. At 8:00 PM ET/PT on Tuesday, September 11th (the week following the reunion special), a two-hour episode will kick off the fourth season.

For those of you unfamiliar with the general format of the show, here it is briefly: eighteen contestants, aided only by trainers and their own fierce determination, must survive challenges, temptations, and each other as weigh-ins and eliminations reduce their number. In the finale, one contestant will claim the title of “the biggest loser.” Although there’s a nice cash prize of $250,000, it’s mostly a show about people reclaiming control of their lives.

NBC promises that this season will be “back to basics.” Hopefully, that means eliminated contestants stay at home! One thing we do know is that the location has changed and the luxury ranch is no longer in the picture. Also, although no names have been released, we do know that contestants include a set of twins, plus the oldest “loser” ever at age 62!

Trainers Kim Lyons and Bob Harper are both back. Former trainer Jillian Michaels returns in what the press release calls “a surprising new twist.” New twist? So much for back to basics!

At 8:00 PM ET/PT on Tuesday, September 18th, Episode 2 of the season will also be a two-hour show. Activities then revert to the regular time period of 9-10 PM ET/PT on each subsequent Tuesday. I suspect the finale will be “super-sized” as well, but that has yet to be formally announced.

According to NBC, this show now airs “in over 75 territories with 25 local productions.” That’s pretty impressive. But what it doesn’t tell us is… how are we going to wait until September to see how all this plays out?

Brian lives in Toronto where he can be reached at uncle_bto@rogers.com. He’d like to hear your opinions and promises to respond to all serious email.

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