Topic: The Biggest Loser Season 6

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THE BIGGEST LOSER SEASON 6:

NBC ANNOUNCES CONTESTANTS FOR EXCITING NEW FAMILY EDITION OF HIT WEIGHT LOSS SERIES "THE BIGGEST LOSER,"

PREMIERING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 (8-10 P.M. ET)

Released by NBC

NBC announced today the eight families - eight teams of two -- who will be competing in "The Biggest Loser: Families," premiering Tuesday, September 16 (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 all about families in season six of "The Biggest Loser," which features four husband-and-wife teams and four parent-child duos trying to lose weight through diet and exercise as they compete for a grand prize of $250,000. Harper will train the spouses, while Michaels trains the parents and their adult children.

With the focus on families comes more emotion and drama than ever before, as contestants share their compelling stories, including a mother and daughter who were estranged for over five years before going on the show, newlyweds who want to get healthy so they can have kids, a father with more life-threatening health issues than any contestant in the history of the show, and parents who want to get healthy to be better examples to their kids - including their overweight four-year-old daughter who already outweighs their seven-year-old son.

For the first time in the history of "The Biggest Loser," contestants will learn they've been chosen for the show directly from Harper and Michaels, who fly all over the country to surprise contestants in their hometowns with the exciting news. Then it's off to "The Biggest Loser" ranch in California, where the contestants get a wake-up call from the show's doctor about what ages their bodies really are vs. their chronological ages because of obesity. Then the eight teams compete in their first challenge -- and the lucky winner gets immunity from the first elimination of the season.

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

Parent-child teams:

Renee Wilson (Event manager), 46, and her daughter, Michelle Aguilar (Assistant director), 26, Ft. Worth, Texas.

Tom Desrochers Sr. (Cab driver), 42, and his son Tom Desrochers Jr. (Cab driver), 22, Everett, Massachusetts.

Shellay Cremen (Stay-at-home Mom), 51, Royal Oak, Michigan and her daughter Amy Cremen (Purchasing department representative), 26, Auburn Hills, Michigan.

Jerry Skeabeck (Police sergeant), 51, and his daughter Coleen Skeaback (Receptionist), 23, Cleveland, Ohio.

Husband-and-wife teams:

Ed Brantley (Chef), 31, and his wife, Heba Salama (Pharmaceutical sales representative), 30, Raleigh, North Carolina.

Brady Vilcan (Pharmacist), 36, and Vicky Vilcan (Anesthetist), 37, Houma, Louisiana.

Adam Capers (Contracts manager), 39, and his wife, Stacey Capers (Contract pricing analyst), 33, Gainesville, Virginia.

Phillip Parham (Real estate agent), 41, and his wife, Amy Parham (Real estate agent), 40, Greer, South Carolina.

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THE BIGGEST LOSER SEASON 6 PREMIERE

EPISODE 1:

09/16/2008 (08:00PM - 10:00PM) (Tuesday)

HUSBAND-AND-WIFE TEAMS AND PARENT-ADULT CHILD TEAMS COMPETE IN MUST-SEE SEASON PREMIERE

It's all about families in the new edition of "The Biggest Loser," which features four husband-and-wife teams and four parent-adult child teams trying to lose weight through diet and exercise as they compete for a grand prize of $250,000.

Trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels fly around the country, surprising their teams with the news they've been chosen for the show.

Then it's off to "The Biggest Loser" ranch in California, where the contestants get a wake-up call from the show's doctor about what ages their bodies really are vs. their chronological ages because of obesity.

Then the eight teams compete in their first challenge -- and the lucky winner gets immunity from this week's elimination.

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The Biggest Loser Season 6 Preview 

For all you Biggest Losers fans,

check out a preview of the upcoming season premiering on September 16th only on NBC!

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.... some casting videos

The Biggest Loser Season 6

Adam Capers (Contracts manager), 39, and his wife, Stacey Capers (Contract pricing analyst), 33, Gainesville, Virginia.

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.... some casting videos

The Biggest Loser Season 6

Ed Brantley (Chef), 31, and his wife, Heba Salama (Pharmaceutical sales representative), 30, Raleigh, North Carolina.

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.... some casting videos

The Biggest Loser Season 6

Tom Desrochers Sr. (Cab driver), 42, and his son Tom Desrochers Jr. (Cab driver), 22, Everett, Massachusetts.

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The Biggest Loser Season 6 Update:

NBC ENCOURAGING AMERICANS TO LIVE HEALTHIER, MORE ACTIVE LIVES WITH "THE BIGGEST LOSER LEAGUE,"
A SUPPORTIVE SOCIAL NETWORK ON NBC.COM, KICKING OFF IN CONJUNCTION WITH NBC'S SEASON PREMIERE OF "THE BIGGEST LOSER:  FAMILIES" ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 (8-10 P.M. ET)

Released by NBC

NBC is committed to helping Americans live healthier, more active lives with "The Biggest Loser League" www.thebiggestloserleague.com), a supportive social network on NBC.com kicking off right before the premiere of NBC's "The Biggest Loser: Families" on Tuesday, September 16 (8-10 p.m. ET).

"The Biggest Loser League" will allow people to create their own teams and recruit members from their communities at any level - families, friends, cities, companies, schools, organizations and neighborhoods. The site will provide the tools and resources needed for team leaders to create motivational messages, grab tips and weight loss tracking widgets, and utilize a tool kit of food journals, workout logs and challenge tips. Teams will also be able to compete against other teams to start living healthier, more active lifestyles while earning points for participation.

In addition to user-generated challenges, there will also be a weekly challenge that relates to that week's on-air episode of "The Biggest Loser: Families." The site will include helpful features like profiles, message boards, photo and video galleries and blogs for teams and members, a weight/BMI tracker, exercise, diet and motivational tips and a robust search page to help users find new friends or teams to join. It will also offer welcome kits for captains, leaderboards to track top point-earning teams and members, and special promotions and offers from the NBC store and www.biggestloserclub.com. Select teams may also be featured online and on NBC's local affiliate stations.

"'The Biggest Loser League' is the perfect example of what can happen when great television meets an active online community. With NBC.com's social networking capabilities, the possibilities are endless," said Vivi Zigler, President, NBC Universal Digital Entertainment. "We're really excited to see how far these enthusiastic, engaged fans will take it."

Some of the teams already proposed by fans include:

College Crusaders - College students who want to get healthy while getting their degrees!

Super Stay-at-Home Moms - Stay-at-home and work-from-home mothers who want to get fit!

Bay Area Beauties - For people who live in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Single & Sassy - Single gals looking to get back their confidence!

The Fifties - People looking to stay fit at 50.

The Wild Oats - The Biggest Loser League's vegetarian team!

Newlyweds - Newly wed, not newly fed...stay fit after saying "I do."

Yummy Mummies - Moms trying to lose the baby fat, even if their babies are all grown up!

Brides to Be - Dropping the weight in preparation for the big day.

"The Biggest Loser League" is the ideal way to encourage everyone from viewers at home to employees of major corporations to improve their health and their lives through a supportive and motivational online community. One top company already on board is Willis Group Holdings Limited, a leading global insurance broker which develops and delivers professional insurance, reinsurance, risk management, financial and human resource consulting and actuarial services to corporations, public entities and institutions around the world. Willis has more than 300 offices in some 100 countries, with a global team of approximately 16,000 associates serving clients in some 190 countries.

"We are excited to be partnering with NBC's 'The Biggest Loser' to promote 'The Biggest Loser League' and our new Winning With Willis program. We share a common goal: to help Americans lead healthier lives," said Mike Barton, leader of the Willis Employee Benefits Practice. "Nearly 80 percent of medical claims today are the result of long-term lifestyle choices. That's why companies want to encourage diet and exercise among their employees as a way to better manage ever-escalating healthcare costs, workers compensation losses and absenteeism. We can help them do that with our innovative program to support employee health and wellness. And the power of 'The Biggest Loser' brand gives us the instant recognition we need to make this program a tremendous success."

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.... an interesting article:

Rodale, NBC Universal, and Reveille Extend The Biggest Loser Partnership Through 2008/2009 Season

Rodale to publish two additional The Biggest Loser books, including a companion cookbook in November

The Biggest Loser Club, the show's companion subscription Web site, to debut mobile application this fall

Rodale Inc., NBC Universal's Television, DVD, Music and Consumer Products Group, and leading production company Reveille announced today an extension to their partnership that includes more books, mobile, and Rodale integrations into the 2008/2009 seasons of the hit series The Biggest Loser, premiering September 16 on NBC at 8 p.m. EST. With the addition of a mobile application for the subscription Web site The Biggest Loser Club, the launch of two new Rodale-published The Biggest Loser books, multiple editor guest appearances on the show, and a comprehensive print promotion program, the integration will extend across more Rodale platforms than ever before.

"We are pleased to continue our partnership with Reveille and NBC to expand The Biggest Loser's assets to additional media platforms and revenue streams," said Gregg Michaelson, Executive Vice President, Customer Marketing, Rodale. "As a health and wellness media company, Rodale is always looking to work with partners who share our mission of promoting healthy living and embrace innovative ways of delivering content. Reveille has been such a partner for the past three years, and this season holds even more great opportunities for both of us than ever before."

"Rodale has built its reputation on helping people transform themselves through health and wellness," said Kim Niemi, Senior Vice President, NBC Universal Television, DVD, Music and Consumer Products Group. "It has been an ideal partner for us on The Biggest Loser and we are looking forward to our continuing success together." Mark Koops, managing director at Reveille, added, "Our aim has always been to provide great programming that engages our viewers. In the instance of The Biggest Loser, we have an additional goal--namely, to change lives. With the upcoming premiere of The Biggest Loser: Families, we are excited to work with Rodale to deliver another season of compelling, life-altering viewing integrated with online tools, books, and mobile applications."

For the first time, Rodale's companion subscription service Web site, The Biggest Loser Club (www.biggestloserclub.com), will be available via mobile devices. Users will be able to access many of the site's tools and features--including shopping lists, recipes, and customized diet and exercise plans--with their cell phones, ensuring that they can make the right choices and track their progress, anytime, anywhere. The site, which launched in 2005, will be highlighted during the "Where Are They Now?" segment of each The Biggest Loser episode this season as a key element of each participant's weight loss strategy.

Building on the success of the bestselling The Biggest Loser Cookbook, released in 2006, and the three additional The Biggest Loser books since, Rodale will publish a second cookbook in November. Author Devin Alexander will help readers recreate the healthy meals and habits they see on the program in their own homes with all-new recipes, trainer tips, and motivational stories. Rodale will also publish another The Biggest Loser companion book early next year, in conjunction with the launch of season seven in January.

Also new this season will be guest appearances from Men's Health Editor-in-Chief David Zinczenko and Prevention Nutrition Director Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD. Zinczenko will appear on the October 28 episode to show contestants how to make the right food choices, based on his bestselling book Eat This, Not That!, which has sold more than 600,000 copies to date. Sass will appear on the November 11 episode to show participants how to prepare healthier meals and overcome common food obstacles.

The Biggest Loser will also be integrated throughout Rodale's print properties. Contestant(s) from The Biggest Loser will again be featured on the cover and in the pages of the December issue of Prevention magazine. Editorial content related to The Biggest Loser will also run in the December editions of Men's Health, Women's Health, and Best Life. In addition, Rodale will publish The Biggest Loser-branded special interest publications in October, December, and February that will include meal plans, exercise programs, and other advice from the series' trainers, nutritionists, and contestants. Finally, a The Biggest Loser advertising campaign will run across all of Rodale's magazines.

Source: http://www.centredaily.com/business/technology/story/825270.html

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BROWN TEAM

Husband and Wife Team

Brady Vilcan (Pharmacist), 36, and Vicky Vilcan (Anesthetist), 37, Houma, Louisiana.

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ORANGE TEAM

Husband and Wife Team

Ed Brantley (Chef), 31, and his wife, Heba Salama (Pharmaceutical sales representative), 30, Raleigh, North Carolina.

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RED TEAM

Husband and Wife Team

Phillip Parham (Real estate agent), 41, and his wife, Amy Parham (Real estate agent), 40, Greer, South Carolina.

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GREEN TEAM

Husband and Wife Team

Adam Capers (Contracts manager), 39, and his wife, Stacey Capers (Contract pricing analyst), 33, Gainesville, Virginia.

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GRAY TEAM

Parent Child Team

Tom Desrochers Sr. (Cab driver), 42, and his son Tom Desrochers Jr. (Cab driver), 22, Everett, Massachusetts.

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PINK TEAM

Parent Child Team

Renee Wilson (Event manager), 46, and her daughter, Michelle Aguilar (Assistant director), 26, Ft. Worth, Texas.

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YELLOW TEAM

Parent Child Team

Jerry Skeabeck (Police sergeant), 51, and his daughter Coleen Skeaback (Receptionist), 23, Cleveland, Ohio.

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PURPLE TEAM

Parent Child Team

Shellay Cremen (Stay-at-home Mom), 51, Royal Oak, Michigan and her daughter Amy Cremen (Purchasing department representative), 26, Auburn Hills, Michigan.

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The Biggest Loser Contestant Bios

ED



Ed is a laid-back Southern chef. He is sincere and an extremely hard worker while running his own “one-man-show” catering business. With specialties like his irresistible mac’n’cheese, and shrimp and grits, how could he resist not tasting his dishes all day long? Ed was raised in a home where food was the center of everything. He began to really put on weight in his early teen years due to a combination of laziness and junk food. With his wife, Heba, Ed keeps a very busy social calendar where wine, food and friends make it hard to stay healthy. An all-around good soul, Ed wants to change his life in hopes of having a family someday. He is ready to turn his life around for good!

This hard-working, super-social husband and wife are always on the go! Both extremely competitive, they definitely help balance each other out. Heba brings the fire and energy and Ed cools things down with his laid-back Southern charm. They complete each other on many levels; from inspiring each other’s competitive spirits to being each other’s biggest cheerleaders. They have a giant love for life and it is obvious to everyone who knows them

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The Biggest Loser Contestant Bios

Heba



Heba is an energetic go-getter. She is definitely the feisty element in the relationship. She wears her emotions on her sleeve and says whatever is on her mind. She works in the competitive world of pharmaceutical sales and her size makes each day an extra challenge. Heba began to put on weight around age 12 and gained 50 pounds her first year of college. To make things even more interesting, she married an amazing professional chef, Ed, who can whip up anything at anytime—who could resist? Due to her busy career and even busier social life, Heba’s health has taken a back seat over the years. One thing is for sure, she is ready to make a change forever, and wherever she is, there is sure to be a good time!

This hard-working, super-social husband and wife are always on the go! Both extremely competitive, they definitely help balance each other out. Heba brings the fire and energy and Ed cools things down with his laid-back Southern charm. They complete each other on many levels; from inspiring each other’s competitive spirits to being each other’s biggest cheerleaders. They have a giant love for life and it is obvious to everyone who knows them!

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The Biggest Loser Contestant Bios

Brady



Brady married Vicky when he was eighteen years old. He received a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and then put Vicky through anesthesia school. Part Native American, Brady’s Chitimacha heritage is something he takes great pride in and he donates his time to a local indigent pharmacy to help those less fortunate. There is nothing more important to him than his family. His two children are energetic, bubbly and bright but their four-year-old daughter is very overweight (67lbs) and it is all-consuming. He and Vicky would love nothing more than to teach their little girl how to eat right and exercise.

This competitive couple will be unstoppable! Their Southern roots have given them a big appetite for life and spicy food. They are united by a unique unbreakable bond. Surviving seventeen years of marriage and struggling through school while working has proven that they can beat the odds and still come out on top. This team has it all; Brady acts as the counselor and Vicky is a true competitor. Together they will win the hearts of America, but beware of the voodoo they will put on you if you try to get in their way! These two will not be afraid to stir up the pot if it means winning the game.

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The Biggest Loser Contestant Bios

Vicky



Vicky is a very strong willed and goal-oriented person. Some may see her as an overachiever, but she sees herself as an ultra-competitive person who strives to be the best. She was always known as the “fat kid” in school and has had to use her personality to fit in. Vicky has mastered juggling a career, children, managing a home and being a wife. The only problem is she does not take time for herself; she puts everyone else first. Vicky desperately wants to get active and healthy. She wants to start living life instead of just existing in it! She is ready to stop her overeating and sedentary way of life and be a better example for her children. Vicky is an avid poker player and excellent at strategy and reading people—she plans on using this to her advantage on the show. She loves a good challenge and is ready to prove to herself and her family that working moms can have it all!

This competitive couple will be unstoppable! Their Southern roots have given them a big appetite for life and spicy food. They are united by a unique unbreakable bond. Surviving seventeen years of marriage and struggling through school while working has proven that they can beat the odds and still come out on top. This team has it all; Brady acts as the counselor and Vicky is a true competitor. Together they will win the hearts of America, but beware of the voodoo they will put on you if you try to get in their way! These two will not be afraid to stir up the pot if it means winning the game.

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The Biggest Loser Contestant Bios

Adam



Despite his towering presence and bodyguard physique, Adam is a friendly and affectionate guy who people look up to for guidance and leadership. However, Adam has struggled to take the lead in regards to a weight-loss plan. Adam has a twin brother and as a child, Adam was dubbed the “heavy twin.” Although Adam enjoys exercising—his basement is full of weights, resistance bands, and even a treadmill—a schedule full of frequent business travel usually gets him off track. He has been blessed and cursed with a wife who loves to cook. Adam has never been pushed to lose weight because he is always given a clean bill of health. As he approaches his 40th birthday, he knows that he needs to make a change as a measure of prevention. Being married and having children have also given Adam a new perspective on his health. Together with Stacey, he will show just what competitive spirit means.

Power punches come in twos—this husband and wife know how to get the job done. They work together, commute together, and raise a family together. As former athletes, this focused pair is going to be tough to beat!

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The Biggest Loser Contestant Bios

Stacey



Stacey is a determined woman. When she sets her mind on something, it is as good as done. Growing up as the youngest child, she always felt she had to prove she was the best and could do anything. It is something that her parents instilled in her at a very young age. However, she has never been able to maintain that mindset when it comes to her weight. Stacey has been overweight all of her life. As a child she was always heavier than most of her classmates and often teased. Even though she was very athletic in high school, someone wrote in her friend’s yearbook that she was fat. After a long commute, preparing dinner and helping with homework, the time available for exercise is time that most people use sleeping. When time does present itself, it is usually not enough to be effective. Stacey is a great cook so meals are always bountiful, but not always healthy. The recent death of a close friend only one year older than she is has forced Stacey to re-evaluate how she is balancing her life so that she can be around for the very thing she cherishes the most—her family. She will finally prove to herself that every goal that she has is attainable, even those that have precluded her since childhood. With Adam by her side, she is even more motivated to get it done.
 
Power punches come in twos—this husband and wife know how to get the job done. They work together, commute together, and raise a family together. As former athletes, this focused pair is going to be tough to beat!

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The Biggest Loser Contestant Bios

Phillip



Phillip is a strong competitor under that easygoing exterior. Raised as the oldest and only boy of three children, he began to be concerned about his body image at a young age. Even though he was a normal weight during high school, college and his young adult years, when he served in the U.S. Air Force he still saw himself as heavy and soon after began to gain weight. When he married his college sweetheart, Amy, 20 years ago, he weighed 185 pounds. Desperate to be a better husband and a healthier father for his sons, Phillip has vowed to get trim and healthy!

Charismatic and fun, Phillip and Amy are a married couple determined to win people over with their positive attitudes and competitive spirits. No strangers to a challenge, these two know how to work together and make it through any obstacle. College sweethearts, co-workers, parents and married for nearly 20 years, this couple is ready to add new chapters to their lives as they lose weight and get in shape together! Look out for these two because together they make a powerful team!

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The Biggest Loser Contestant Bios

Amy



Amy is very competitive and knows how to set a goal and reach it. She and Phillip were the top agents at their realty company last year. Her youngest son was diagnosed with autism five years ago. This proved to be a challenge so overwhelming that Amy turned to food for comfort and in the process gained 80 pounds. Amy feels like now is the time to focus on getting her body fit and healthy so she can be a good role model and parent for her sons.

Charismatic and fun, Phillip and Amy are a married couple determined to win people over with their positive attitudes and competitive spirits. No strangers to a challenge, these two know how to work together and make it through any obstacle. College sweethearts, co-workers, parents and married for nearly 20 years, this couple is ready to add new chapters to their lives as they lose weight and get in shape together! Look out for these two because together they make a powerful team!

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The Biggest Loser Contestant Bios

Jerry



Jerry is a dedicated father who has always worked hard for everything in his life. He is honest, outgoing, funny and has a huge heart. Working as a police officer for over 25 years, Jerry has had to balance the wacky shift schedules along with the stress that comes with the job. But Jerry suffers from multiple health risks. He could possibly be the most unfit person to walk on the Biggest Loser campus. It has always been convenient for him to stop at any fast food place during his shifts, on his breaks or at the end of a shift before heading home. The poor food choices, along with working extra hours just to pay the bills, have really taken their toll on Jerry and caused him to packed on many extra pounds. As a former athlete, he is constantly wishing he had the extra push to fill those voids. Trying to keep up with his kids over the years has become difficult, and Jerry has had to miss out on many things in their lives due to his weight.

As a hardworking, fun and dedicated father/daughter duo, both are motivated to start living the best possible life by being healthy and fit. A true equation for entertainment, these two will inspire you with their drive for life. Both born and raised in Cleveland, they are not only good company, but great competition. Jerry feels that with the help and inspiration he gets from Coleen, together they will be unstoppable