by David McAlpine

 

More dramatic and poignant than ever, The Biggest Loser made its return to NBC tonight with it’s 8th season: Second Chances. Sure, Jillian and Bob are always serious, but this time it sounds like there’s a lot of personal connections to these contestants, so I’m really excited to see how this pans out.

 

As NBC has promoted, this season is all about second chances for the contestants. It also features the show’s heaviest contestant to date, Shay, weighing 476 pounds. Right away, the tone of the show is set and it’s clear that many of these contestants are here as almost a last chance, because they really don’t know what to do or where else to do.  Everyone has their own second chance worth fighting for, and it already makes me want none of them to go home.

 

First, there’s Abby, a 35-year-old teacher from Texas who lost her husband and both her kids in a car accident two years ago. Sean, a 29-year-old youth pastor from Tulsa, Oklahoma, has two children and wants to be around long enough to see them grow up—something he doesn’t think he can do at his current weight (which, we later come to find out, has aged his body to almost 50).

 

There’s also Liz, 49, a salesperson from Tennessee, who has nine grandchildren and used to be a college athlete, but now feels her weight gets in the way of being active with them. Shay, this year’s heaviest contestant, is a 30-year-old social worker who was in the foster care system from age 5 to 18 and always centered family celebrations around food.

 

All of the contestants are fighting for that second chance, and rightfully so. The contestants meet host Alison Sweeney on the beach, wondering where the ranch is. The twist is that they’re already having their first challenge before they even hit the gym—with an extra cast member. It’s already evident that this season is going to be the most inspirational yet, but what would be second chances without a returning player? Out steps Daniel from last season, who joins this season’s cast to continue his weight loss.

 

And, in the spirit of second chances, the viewers are getting a second chance to see the contestants run part of last year’s finale marathon—each contestant has to run the last mile of the race, with the winner getting immunity for the week and the chance to pick their partner for the remainder of the competition.

 

Tracey starts off running hard, but Daniel soon catches up to her (since he has a solid fitness background thanks to last season) and passes her. Dan finishes first in 14:07, while other contestants don’t finish so easily. Mo, the oldest contestant, needs to have oxygen immediately after he finishes and Tracey, who tries so hard to win, collapses nearly 100 yards from the finish line. Everyone is able to help her finish, but she loses consciousness soon after and has to be taken to the hospital, along with Mo.

The 14 other contestants arrive at the ranch, where they get to check out their new digs for their stay in the game. Next up is the team picking, which is done based on the order that they finished the race. The teams are as follows (note: the first player picked the second player):

 

Orange: Daniel and Shay

Green: Allen and Abby

Pink: Amanda and Rebecca

Blue: Rudy and Dina

Red: Antoine and Sean

Brown: Liz and Danny

Black: Alexandra and Julio

 

Everyone also learns that both Tracey and Mo are fine and they’ll both remain in the game, thus they make up the remaining team, purple. Now comes the first weigh-in, where contestants have to face their true weight. The results are:

 

Amanda: 250 pounds

Rebecca: 279 pounds

Pink Team Total: 529 pounds

 

Allen: 325 pounds

Abby: 247 pounds

Green Team Total: 572 pounds

 

Alexandra: 309 pounds

Julio: 407 pounds

Black Team Total: 716 pounds

 

Rudy: 442 pounds

Dina: 253 pounds

Blue Team Total: 695 pounds

 

Liz: 267 pounds

Danny: 430 pounds

Brown Team Total: 697 pounds

 

Antoine: 367 pounds

Sean: 444 pounds

Red Team Total: 811 pounds

 

Daniel: 312 pounds

Shay: 476 pounds

Orange Team Total: 788 pounds

 

This is the point where the teams usually find out their trainers, which this season isn’t Jillian or Bob, but Jillian and Bob. In a total switch-up, the two will be working together instead of competing against each other, which seems appropriate considering the theme of this year’s show.

 

Shay is the first one to really feel the pressure from the workouts and quits, which Jillian doesn’t have any problem with. Shay heads outside and cries, then comes back in and wants back into the workout, but Jillian warns her that if she quits again, she’ll be going home for good. Everyone else is sweating, crying, vomiting and collapsing in exhaustion from their first workouts.

 

Mo gets in a late workout after he returns safely from the hospital, but it’s still unknown where Tracey is and when she’ll be coming back. It looked pretty serious when she collapsed, so I’m wondering if it’s even safe for her to stay in the competition, especially showing the competitive drive she did.

 

One of the goals this season is to set the contestants on the right path and give them the information they need to live healthier lives. So, thanks to Dr. Rob Huizenga, all the contestants get some shocking news about how life-threatening their weight actually is. Sean is told he has diabetes, several of the contestants have biological ages well over their actual age and Shay is she has 55% body fat—so much that it could be overflowing into her lungs.

 

After all the emotions, it’s time for a last chance workout, where the team with the lowest percentage weight lost will fall below the yellow line and be eligible for elimination. The results are as follows:

 

Daniel: -12 (-3.85%)

Shay: -17 (-3.57%)

Orange Team Total: -29 (-3.68%) [immune]

 

Amanda: -6 (-2.40%)

Rebecca: -18 (-6.45%)

Pink Team Total: -24 (-4.54%)

 

Rudy: -28 (-6.33%)

Dina: -8 (-3.16%)

Blue Team Total: -36 (-5.18%)

 

Antoine: -18 (-4.90%)

Sean -22 (-4.95%)

Red Team Total: -40 (-4.93%)

 

Liz: -10 (-3.75%)

Danny: -24 (-5.88%)

Brown Team Total: -34 (-4.88%)

 

Allen: -19 (-5.85%)

Abby: -15 (-6.07%)

Green Team Total: -34 (-5.94%)

 

Alexandra: -13 (-4.21%)

Julio: -13 (-3.19%)

Black Team Total: -26 (-3.63%)

 

Mo: -19 (-5.35%)

Tracey: absent from weigh-in

Purple Team Total: -19 (-5.35%)

 

Even though he spent the night at the hospital, Mo is able to get himself (and his partner) back into the game, while Alexandra and Julio fall below the yellow line. Alexandra is furious with Julio, while Julio feels there’s no one to blame but himself. After an intense debate with the teams, they all vote:

 

Purple: Alexandra

Pink: Julio

Red: Julio

Orange: Julio

Brown: Alexandra

Blue: Alexandra

Green: Alexandra

 

In a close 4-3 vote, Alexandra is the first contestant eliminated, while Julio is left to step up his workout routine. Since being home, though, Alexandra has lost 60 pounds and it trying to motivate everyone in her family to accomplish what she has. She also mentions she had a crush on someone on the ranch but was too afraid to talk to him—perhaps on finale night instead?

 

Be sure to tune in to see if Tracey comes back and who will be the next contestant eliminated on The Biggest Loser 8, Tuesday at 8/7c on NBC.

 

(Image courtesy of NBC) 

 

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