“The Biggest Loser” begins its 17th cycle at 9 p.m. Monday on NBC with a new host, Bob Harper, a return to the team versus team competition, a modernized gym, renovated house and changes to the weigh-ins.
Harper had been a trainer on each of the weight loss series’ previous 16 cycles. He replaces Alison Sweeney, who had been the host since 2007.
Harper said on a recent conference call with reporters he was asked by NBC executives what he thought about becoming the host.
“I was just over the moon about it,” Harper said. “I thought this would be something new, something exciting and it really gets to show me in a different light.”
As host, Harper said that in addition to doing “what’s expected of me” — running the challenges and weigh-ins — he gets to work with the contestants in “an open forum and turn our house into that rehab center which I believe that is is.”
“It’s just been a very rewarding experience because I think that when you get a group of people in a room together and they just start talking to one another… there’s nothing but growth that can happen there,” said Harper, the author of “The Skinny Rules,” “Jumpstart to Skinny,” “Skinny Meals” and “Skinny Habits: The 6 Secrets of Thin People.”
There will be eight, two-person teams competing for the $250,000 grand prize. Seven have an existing connection — spouses, parent and adult child, siblings, relatives or best friends. The eighth consists of Richard Hatch, the champion of the CBS competition series “Survivor,” and Erin Willett, a semifinalist on the winter 2012 season of the NBC singing competition, “The Voice.”
The theme of the season is “Temptation.” Contestants will spend more time off-campus than in previous season, learning to face a variety of temptations ranging from food to electronic devices that can be stumbling blocks to living a healthy lifestyle.
Money will be the temptation in Monday night’s episode with an early $25,000 offer to any team who wants to quit.
The initial challenge will be racing up a ladder to the top of a tall building in downtown Los Angeles, with the winning team then facing another money temptation — choosing between $40,000 or an eight-pound advantage at the weigh-in.
—City News Service