Review of Biggest Loser Season 8 Premiere
Competitive Weight Loss Show Returns September 15, 2009
Sep 16, 2009
The two-hour season premiere of The Biggest Loser airing September 15, 2009 at 8PM gave viewers a taste of what may be to come in the future. There was drama, tearful moments, and plenty of surprises. Returning this year as host is Days of Our Lives actress Allison Sweeney, and Jillian Micheals and Bob Harper return as trainers.
Diverse Contestants
The contestants of season 8 of The Biggest Loser are diverse in character and experiences. Some of the contestants have heart wrenching back stories that grab the hearts of viewers. Abby for instance is a 35 year old teacher. Three years ago her husband, 5 1/2 year old daughter and 2 1/2 week old baby boy were killed in a car accident. She used food to cope with the devastating losses and came to the ranch to try and get her life and weight back to some sense of normalcy. Shay is a thirty year old social worker who was raised by a heroine addicted mother until the age of five. After that she was in the foster care system until the age of 18. Viewers can really feel for these characters.
Highest Weighing Contestant in Eight Seasons
The contestants in season eight have a lot of barriers to overcome because they are some of the heaviest contestants since the show first aired. Shay for example is the highest weighing contestant ever, weighing in a nearly 480 pounds when the competition began. The trainers and the contestants have their work cut out for them.
Daniel From Season 7 Makes a Surprise Return
Viewers and contestants of The Biggest Loser were pleasantly surprised to learn that season 7 contestant Daniel was asked to return to the ranch for a second chance. In season 7 Daniel began the competition weighing 454 pounds and at that time was the heaviest contestant ever, a record that has now been replaced by Shay. Daniel's return fits well into this season's theme for The Biggest Loser which is second chances.
Health Issues
The first challenge of the season required contestants to run/walk/crawl a mile in order to gain immunity. During this competition one character collapsed and another finished the race and had to be taken to the hospital. All characters were labeled as being sick with one problem or another after a thorough medical workup and one character discovered he had undiagnosed type 2 diabetes.
Viewers have a lot to look forward to this season. The contestants all have a lot of potential and each has a story that is waiting to be told. Jillian and Bob are in top form and slipped easily back into the roles of drill sergeants with hearts. Abby's story even had Jillian in tears at one point. The Biggest Loser is a show that loyalists will return to watch every Tuesday night.
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