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Two new trainers and a new twist deliver a game-changing season like nothing seen before on NBC's 'The Biggest Loser: Couples'

by jmaloni

New season premieres Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011

Tue, Dec 14th 2010 02:00 pm
NBC's popular series "The Biggest Loser" launches season 11 on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011 (8 p.m. ET). This time, there will be two new trainers and an engaging new twist that will change the game completely for the 11 teams of two coming to the "Biggest Loser" ranch hoping to transform their bodies, their health and their lives. 

In the premiere, the contestants will compete in a challenge and then get to make a game-changing decision in the order in which they finished.  Host Alison Sweeney will offer the 11 family and friend teams of two the unprecedented opportunity to choose whether to work out with trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels at the ranch -- or work out at a secret location with two unknown trainers, whose identities will initially remain a mystery.  If the contestants choose the new trainers, whom they know nothing about, they'll receive four weeks of immunity. If they choose to stay at the ranch and be trained by Bob and Jillian, they're at risk of going home after just one week.  What ensues is a riveting ride of intense emotions, surprising turns and "can't miss" moments as the two groups fight their weight loss battles separately with two sets of trainers equally committed to giving these players a new lease on a healthier life. 

The new contestants include Rulon Gardner, an Olympic gold medalist; Don and Dan Evans, identical twin policemen who started gaining weight when they joined the police force; Ken Andrews, a pastor who wants to spare his overweight son from the challenges he faced because of obesity; and Sarah Nitta, a woman who has lost pregnancies because of her weight and wants more than anything to be a mother.  Viewers will also meet Arthur Wornum, this season's heaviest contestant at 507 lbs.; Courtney Crozier, a student whose family owns a Dairy Queen and who was already inspired by "The Biggest Loser" to lose 112 lbs. on her own, but wants to finish her weight loss journey on the show; and Olivia Ward, an opera singer who wants to look as good as she sounds so she can be cast in better roles professionally.

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

FRIENDS

Rulon Gardner (gym owner and motivational speaker), 39, Logan, Utah, and his friend, Justin Pope (business owner, city worker and bounty hunter), 39, Logan, Utah.

BROTHERS:

Dan Evans (police captain), 54, and his twin brother, Don Evans (police lieutenant), 54, Oklahoma City, Okla.

SISTERS:

Olivia Ward (opera singer and manager at plastic surgery office), 35, New York City, and her sister Hannah Curlee (human resources representative for a healthcare company), 32, Nashville, Tenn.

SPOUSES:

Larialmy Allen (student services program coordinator), 26, and her husband, Jaquin Allen (patient services representative), 27, Columbia, S.C.

PARENT AND ADULT CHILD TEAMS:

Ana Alvarado (letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service), 50, and her daughter, Irene Alvarado (student), 26, Portland.

Austin Andrews (radio board operator), 21 and his father, Ken Andrews (pastor), 49, Pasadena, Calif.

Courtney Crozier (Student and restaurant manager), 22, and her mother, Marci Crozier (General Manager of a health club and restaurant owner), 49, Valparaiso, Indiana.

Jennifer Jacobs (entrepreneur, digital media) 28, Long Branch, N.J., and her father, Jay Jacobs (Entrepreneur), 53, West Orange, N.J.

Sarah Nitta (college admissions counselor), 27, Las Vegas, and her mother, Denise "Deni" Hill (administrative assistant), 59, Bountiful, Utah.

Jesse Wornum (insurance agent), 61, and his son, Arthur Wornum (stay-at-home-dad and day care provider), 34, Portland.

Kaylee Kinikini (student), 20, and her father, Moses Kinikini (garage door installer), 47, Shelley, Idaho.

"The Biggest Loser" is a production of Reveille LLC, 25/7 Productions and 3Ball Productions.  Ben Silverman (NBC's "The Office," "Ugly Betty"), Dave Broome ("Shedding For The Wedding," "Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope"), JD Roth ("MasterChef," "What's Eating You"), Todd A. Nelson ("Unan1mous," "Beauty and the Geek"), Howard T. Owens  ("MasterChef," "The Buried Life") and Todd Lubin ("30 Days," "Nashville Star") serve as executive producers.

 

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