NBC'S HIT WEIGHT LOSS SERIES "THE BIGGEST LOSER" ANNOUNCES SEASON 5
CONTESTANTS, WITH COUPLES COMPETING FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN THE
HISTORY OF THE SHOW
"The Biggest Loser: Couples" Rings in the New Year with January 1 (8-
10 p.m. ET) Premiere!
BURBANK ? December 13, 2007 ? NBC announced today the 20 contestants
ten teams of two who will be competing in "The Biggest Loser:
Couples," premiering Tuesday, January 1 (8-10 p.m. ET). Alison
Sweeney (NBC's "Days of our Lives") hosts the popular weight loss
series, and trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels also star.
This all-new "couples" twist shakes up the fifth season of "The
Biggest Loser," heightening the emotion and tension in the
competition. For the first time ever in the history of the show,
teams of two will compete against each other rather than individuals.
Nine of the ten teams ? including a mother and son, husband and wife,
a divorced couple, best friends, brothers and former football
teammates -- already have a special bond so they're playing not only
for themselves, but also for their loved one. One team, however, will
be made up of two complete strangers who don't meet until they are
surprised with the news they're being paired together.
In the compelling season premiere, viewers will meet the new
contestants and learn what their personal motivations are for coming
on the show. Then the teams have to pick their trainer, weigh in and
compete together in a challenge that has the duos pulling a giant hot
air balloon across a field, with the winner getting a coveted 2 lb.
advantage at the first weigh in of the season.
The new teams competing for the $250,000 grand prize are:
Brittany Aberle (Hair stylist), 22, San Jacinto, California and
Bernardo Salazar (Teacher/Dancer for Chicago Bulls), 27, Chicago,
Illinois ? STRANGERS
Curtis Bray (Graphic designer), 35, Los Angeles, and Mallory Bray
(Business owner), 36, Los Angeles HUSBAND AND WIFE
Bette Sue Burkland (Hair stylist), 53, Mesa, Arizona and Alison
Vincent (Hair stylist), 32, Mesa, Arizona MOTHER AND DAUGHTER
Jackie Evans (CEO of non-profit organization), 49, Frankfort,
Illinois and Dan Evans (Camp counselor/musician), 21, Frankfort,
Illinois MOTHER AND SON
Kelly Fields (Nurse), 38, Titusville, Florida and Paul Marks (Missile
Support/Space Center), 43, Rockledge, Florida EX-WIFE AND EX-HUSBAND
Neill Harmer (Web developer), 28, Bethany, Oklahoma and Amanda Harmer
(teacher), 29, Bethany, Oklahoma HUSBAND AND WIFE
Maggie King (Camp counselor at a weight loss camp), 23, Denville, New
Jersey and Jennifer Widder (Assistant director at a weight loss
camp), 22, River Edge, NJ BEST FRIENDS
Mark Kruger (Aerial device sales representative), 35, Dartmouth,
Massachusetts and Jay Kruger (Aerial device account manager), 31,
Bedford, Massachusetts BROTHERS
Roger Shultz (Associate athletic director), 40, Enterprise, Alabama
and Trent Patterson (School safety and security coordinator), 39,
Endicott, New York FORMER FOOTBALL TEAMMATES
Lynn Westphal (Interior Decorator), 60, Elyria, Ohio and Jenni
Westphal (Nanny), 31, North Ridgeville, Ohio FATHER AND DAUGHTER
"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.
Source: NBC Press Release
