Posted on 12/22/2008 by RealityWanted
New Season Full of "Firsts" For Popular Series
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – December 18, 2008 – NBC announced today
the 11 new teams of two who will be competing in "The Biggest Loser:
Couples," premiering Tuesday, January 6 (8-10 p.m. ET). Alison Sweeney
(NBC's "Days of our Lives") hosts the popular series, and trainers Bob
Harper and Jillian Michaels also star.
It's the biggest season ever on "The Biggest Loser" with 11 couples
who begin the show with a combined weight of more than 3.5 tons. Season
seven also marks several "firsts," with the series' oldest players yet
(63-year-old grandparents), youngest male contestant (18), heaviest
female contestant (379 lbs.) and heaviest contestant ever in the
history of the show (454 lbs.). Teams of two – including
mother/daughter, father/son, sisters, best friends, grandparents,
cousins, an engaged couple and former models – will all come together
hoping to transform their bodies, their health, and ultimately, their
lives.
The new teams competing for the $250,000 grand prize are:
BEST FRIENDS:
Carla Triplett (Assistant bank manager), 36, and her best friend Joelle Gwynn (Non-profit founder), 41, Southfield, MI.
Daniel Wright (Student), 19, Willow Spring, NC, and his best friend, David Lee (Student), 23, Fuquay-Varina, NC.
COUSINS:
Sione Fa (Owner, landscape company), 28, Maricopa, AZ and his cousin, Filipe Fa (Lube technician), 26, Mesa, AZ.
Blaine Cotter (College counselor), 27, Gilbert, AZ and his cousin Dane Patterson (Real estate appraiser), 27, Mesa, AZ.
ENGAGED COUPLE:
Damien Gurganious (Industrial designer), 31, and his fiancée Nicole Brewer (Wardrobe stylist), 37, Brooklyn, NY.
FORMER MODELS:
Tara Costa (Model/Finance manager), 23, New York, NY, and her friend Laura Denoux (Model/Sales director), 24, Miami, FL.
FATHER/SON:
Ron Morelli (Retired food distributor, currently City Councilman), 54, and his son, Mike Morelli (Student), 18, South Lyon, MI.
GRANDPARENTS:
Estella Hayes (Retired nurse), 63 and her husband, Gerald "Jerry" Hayes (Retired engineer), 63, Wheaton, IL.
MOTHER/DAUGHTER:
Helen Phillips (Retired retail manager), 47, Sterling Heights, MI
and her daughter, Shanon Thomas (Massage therapist), 29, Centerline,
MI.
Cathy Skell (Title sales closing agent at real estate firm), 48,
Shiocton, WI and her daughter, Kristin Steede (Business owner), 28,
Greenville, WI.
SISTERS:
Amanda Kramer (Cosmetologist), 30, Boise, ID, and her sister,
Aubrey Cheney (Information and education specialist), 28, Gooding, ID.
"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 ("American Gladiators," "Shear Genius") serve as executive
producers.
(Photo courtesy of NBC)
NBC's 'Making It' Season 3 Winner is Crowned
CNBC's 'Jay Leno's Garage' Season 6 Premieres Sept. 22
Bravo’s “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles” Season 13 Premieres Sept. 2
NBC's 'American Ninja Warrior' Season 12 Premieres Sept. 7
Season Two of 'Backyard Envy' Premieres August 4 on Bravo