New Season Marks Return Of Fan Favorite Daniel From Season 7 – And Arrival Of The Heaviest Contestant Ever In Biggest Loser History, A Female Weighing In At 476 Lbs.

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – August 20, 2009 – NBC's hit series "The Biggest Loser" returns for season eight with a special theme of "second chances" – and a must-see premiere on Tuesday, September 15 (8-10 p.m. ET). Alison Sweeney ("Days of our Lives") hosts the popular series, and trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels return to train 16 contestants eager to get their second chances at a new lease on life.

Their individual stories are compelling, from a firefighter (Allen Smith) whose health and job are at risk because of his weight to a military wife and mother of four (Tracey Yukich) who has always put others first. Viewers will also meet a remarkable woman (Abby Rike) who endured the worst tragedy imaginable – losing her husband and two children in a deadly car crash – and who now gets a second chance to restart her life.

Last season's heaviest contestant and fan favorite Daniel Wright will also return for a second chance to finish the weight loss journey he started in season seven, going from 454 lbs. to 312 lbs. He'll inspire a female social worker (Shay Sorrells) that has taken his place as the heaviest contestant in the history of "The Biggest Loser," weighing in at 476 lbs. Also included in the new season of players is Amanda Arlauskas, a 19-year old who was voted in by America during the season 7 finale of the show in May, and hopes to get a second chance to live the life she always dreamed of living. They'll all come together for a second chance to transform their bodies, their health and ultimately their lives.

The new contestants competing for the $250,000 grand prize are:

SEAN ALGAIER (Youth Pastor), 29, Tulsa, OK.

AMANDA ARLAUSKAS (Patient Care Technician), 19, Butler, NJ.

DANNY CAHILL (Land Surveyor/Musician), 39, Broken Arrow, OK.

MOZZIZ "MO" DEWALT (Youth Mentor), 56, Louisville, KY.

ANTOINE DOVE (Health Insurance Agent), 23, Dudley, NC.

JULIO GOMEZ (Mortgage Loan Officer), 40, Algonquin, IL.

DINA MERCADO (Custodian), 28, Commerce, CA.

REBECCA MEYER (Student/Nanny), 25, Des Moines, IA.

RUDY PAULS (Engineer), 31, Brooklyn, CT.

ABBY RIKE (Teacher), 35, Mabank, TX.

ALLEN SMITH (Firefighter/EMT), 44, Columbus, IN.

SHAUNTINA "SHAY" SORRELLS (Social Worker), 30, Newport Beach, CA.

ALEXANDRA WHITE (Student), 20, Harrisburg, PA.

DANIEL WRIGHT (Student), 20, Willow Spring, NC.

LIZ YOUNG (Salesperson), 49, Lewisburg, TN.

TRACEY YUKICH (Homemaker), 37, Allen, TX.

"The Biggest Loser" has become a worldwide hit airing in over 90 countries and produced in 25 countries. Since its debut in 2004, "The Biggest Loser" has grown to become a standalone health and lifestyle brand by developing tools and products inspired by the show and approved by its doctors and experts. Anchored by the online, subscription-based extension of the show, Biggestloserclub.com, The Biggest Loser Meal Plan, The New York Times best-selling books series, best-selling fitness DVD series, a line of appliances, fitness equipment, protein supplements and countless other health and lifestyle based products, The Biggest Loser consumer products program has generated over $50 million in spending with presence at more than 25,000 major retailers to date. Check out www.biggestloser.com for more information.

"The Biggest Loser: Couples" is a production of Reveille LLC, 25/7 Productions and 3Ball Productions. Ben Silverman (NBC's "The Office," "Ugly Betty"), Dave Broome ("A Model Life with Petra Nemcova," "Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope"), JD Roth ("Age of Love," "Beauty and the Geek"), Todd A. Nelson ("Unan1mous," "Beauty and the Geek") and Mark Koops ("Breakthrough With Tony Robbins," "Shear Genius") serve as executive producers.