The Biggest Loser Blog

A FUN CHALLENGE / WEEK 10

2008-03-05T17:13:42Z

Thursday
Today was temptation day and the first day without Mark on campus. Of course, every week presents the start of a new week without a recently eliminated contestant. Though the loss of every player is obvious and resonates throughout the house in its own way…the absence of Mark seems particularly noticeable. Certainly part of that is due to the fact that Mark was hands-down the most vocal and gregarious person in terms of how he related to the Casting Department. Part of it is also due to the fact that the loss is plainly written in the eyes of Jay. It’s apparent that not having Mark here is doing a little number on Jay. They are closer than any two people we’ve seen. Aside from maybe the Germanakos twins from last season. Jay is resilient. He’ll be fine. In other news…Dan won 9,500 dollars in the vending machine temptation. Way to go!

Friday
Hard as nails workouts for both teams today. Bob took Blue team to a boot camp at a prison yard…yes – it’s exactly as scary and hardcore as it sounds. Jay still seems a bit down, but he has voiced his intentions to get back on the horse and fight his way through in order to honor not only himself but Mark, as well. Kelly is highly stressed. Bernie and Brittany are almost silent tonight (a rare occurrence for them both!) – overcome by fatigue and mental anguish. It’s like it’s already the end of the week!

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Saturday
It’s a dark day today and not too much to report aside from the usual. It was 24-Hour Fitness for Jillian and her team. Spin classes for Bob and his team. Black Team went to the movies. Blue Team stayed in and had a nice night together.

Sunday
It’s the second dark day. Multiple dark days in a row are relatively rare here and the contestants, trainers and casting people try to make the most of them. Tomorrow will probably present more tribulations and torments, but for now…the kids are trying to enjoy a brief respite and some relative relaxation. At least – as much relaxation as this place can ever afford them.

Monday
Today was the zip-line challenge. Possibly the craziest, most exciting challenge to date (for the contestants at least), it consisted of a zip line stretched across a huge ravine. The contestants had to pull themselves across it and grab flags. The Blue team triumphed and more than a few cast members conquered their innate fear of heights! Jay and Dan seemed to trip out the most. The reward was a flight in fighter jets for the entire team. Some would have preferred that the reward was more strategically related to the game…but Dan was in hog heaven. It was his favorite challenge reward yet.

Tuesday
The kids are learning that no matter how hard they work, no matter how grueling and intense each week gets – it can ALWAYS get worse the following week. The last chance workouts are getting exponentially more nightmarish each week. And they will continue in that vein until the end of the show. It’s rather amazing to witness how creative and innovative Bob and Jillian can be in finding new ways to torture their team members over four or more months!

Wednesday
It’s time for the weigh in and elimination. And we are sad. Who will entertain both cast and crew? Who will provide unending sarcasm and positive reinforcement no matter how hard it gets for everyone? Who will keep the goofy, fun-loving atmosphere alive now that Bernie has been eliminated? The later in the season we get, the tougher the eliminations become on the Casting Department. Bernie was well-loved among our department and it is difficult to imagine the campus without him. We have no doubts regarding his abilities or drive to lose weight and succeed at home. But that doesn’t make us any less upset to see him go!

VIVA LAS VEGAS / WEEK 9

2008-02-27T17:15:47Z

Friday
It’s like the Great Deluge out here on campus! It’s been raining nonstop and everything is either flooded or in the process of turning into a swamp. The gym suffered some heavy-duty leakage, so the trainers have gotten creative with the workouts. The Black Team is rather jealous about the Blue Team’s upcoming Vegas excursion. But they’re also hoping it means they will cheat a bit and Black will have the upper hand in the weigh-in. You can never tell about these things. Other teams in the past have gone all over the world and still managed to pull big numbers. We’ll see.

Saturday
Just because it was the day for Blue to depart for Vegas didn’t mean that Bob was going to give them a breather. He made sure their butts were sufficiently bubble gum for the long bus ride to Nevada. Boot Camp and a spin class before a four-hour bus ride. No mercy. Blue was excited to arrive at Planet Hollywood in Vegas to discover a sign welcoming the Blue Team. They worked out, went to the Stratosphere, gambled and had a great time. Black Team ran their usual brutal workout gamut before seeing a movie and hanging out.

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Sunday
Bernie, Maggie and Brittany had a photo shoot today with Prevention magazine. These are a common occurrence each season for a few chosen cast members and everyone always seems to have loads of fun. Brittany was excited at her first bit of “real thing” celebrity. Maggie enjoyed the shoot more than anything else so far and Bernie was also pretty pumped. Opportunities like the Prevention shoot can really drive home the changes the contestants are making and solidify the reality of the situation to a group pf people who live every day in a rather surreal environment. It’s great to see them having so much fun. Oh and did I mention the fact that every Blue Team member got tattoos together in Vegas? Oh yes.

Monday
The Blue Team is back on campus. There’s no such thing as a real “vacation” on The Biggest Loser. They came back just in time to square off against the Black Team on an obstacle course challenge. The Blue Team won. They’re looking unstoppable these days and the Black Team is starting to get itchy. The prizes were trips for them all to Puerto Rico. Blue was ecstatic. Black was simply determined to win the next weigh-in if they couldn’t win the trip. And really….a weigh-in victory is way more important in the long run. Dan won’t stop flaunting his “Elvis angel with a guitar” tattoo to anyone who’ll look. He’s very proud of it.

Tuesday
Last chance workouts and everything but voodoo spells from the Black Team to insure they win this weigh-in. We think they have a pretty good shot, despite the hulking intensity of the Blue Team. Black has really busted its collective fanny this week. Believe it or not…there is a definite nervous air about the Blue Team today. Don’t know if it’s typical weigh-in jitters or if they are skeptical about their chances due to Vegas. Tomorrow will tell.

Wednesday
The Blue team fell under. Dan was the biggest loser, so he was immune from elimination. Mark was chosen to go home. Sometimes the team strategy surprises us all. We would have bet a million dollars Roger would be sent home if the opportunity came. However, it looks like Mark bit the bullet and sacrificed himself due to his injured leg. It was a pretty classy thing to do. We wonder how Jay will adjust without his brother around. Mark took the outcome of the elimination with dignity and the proper perspective. He has no doubt he will succeed at home.

LAS VEGAS BOUND / WEEK 8

2008-02-20T19:17:57Z

Friday
The kids have all returned from a brief holiday respite at their respective homes. We have all been wagering on which contestants would return reinvigorated and ready to rock and which ones would take a while to shake off the holiday sluggishness. To our delight (and admiration), every last contestant is glad to be back and ready to go. Bob and Jillian wasted no time in kicking the living crap out of them. It’s interesting to picture the trainers during the holidays, enjoying festive meals and chatting with family and friends…all the while plotting new devices of life-changing pain and hope for their contestants.

Saturday
Challenge day and it looks like it’s Black team again! That’s three challenges in a row…not an easy accomplishment with so many determined competitors. Every production has glitches and The Biggest Loser is no exception. Due to some technical difficulties, the night challenge went long and became truly challenging for the kids. A “jump and duck”-style physical test – it was all about timing and keeping up a steady pattern despite time and cold weather. Mark and Jay (the seemingly obvious choices to take the prize – at least that’s what we thought) were undone by timing – thus the Black team’s victory.

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Sunday
Bernie fell on his butt today during an intense workout. He fell HARD. Maggie is in a particularly bad mood. Dan is becoming edgy and aggressive. Everyone else is at varying states of agitation and frustration. Sometimes it just goes that way. Workout after workout after workout with only production to break the monotony and pain – sometimes the kids forget the really fun times they have here as well. We don’t blame them. There isn’t a single casting person who could keep up with the grind they are going though. They’ll get over it. They’ll persevere and find their happy strides again. They always do.

Monday
With the New Year soon approaching, the contestants are reinvigorated and pretty peppy all around. Kelly seems particularly set on completely changing her life once and for all. She and Paul have worked through their usual troubles together and come out strong. Spin bike classes, hiking at Runyon Canyon, boot camps and more – today has been a hard workout day with the trainers. Everyone is eager to turn in early in order to have the energy to do it all again tomorrow and still find some time to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

Tuesday
Right on the heels of all the determination yesterday, we have noticed a sudden spike in stress and rifts between certain contestants. There’s always increased drama before a weigh-in, but it seems particularly harsh today. Perhaps part of it is due to the holiday and the realization that whoever is eliminated tomorrow will go home with the start of the New Year. It must be hard to consider packing up and going home on a day when people are vowing to change their lives and making resolutions to stay healthy. Bernie and Paul had a little verbal sparring – no real reason…just nerves. Kelly is starting to wonder whether she wants to be here anymore. She is convinced that either she or Paul will be leaving tomorrow.

Wednesday
It looks like Kelly’s prediction came true. The Black Team fell under tonight and elected to send Paul home. Paul was…not happy. The eccentricities that make him such an amazing, dynamic contestant have also served to amp up his emotions in regards to the elimination. He feels slightly cheated and hurt, but we’re pretty sure he’s sharp enough to realize that everyone feels that way to a certain extent when they are eliminated. More often than not it’s not an issue of being cheated – it’s just game play. On the ride away from campus, Paul regained his focus and decided he would actually be much better off working from home. By the end of the night, he was looking forward to seeing his girlfriend again and starting a new regiment…one where pesky casting people don’t wake him up at 6am for medical tests and weigh-ins! Here’s to success at home, Paul!

Thursday
Really the only thing to say today is: “Vegas, baby!” That’s pretty much the word on every lip. Jay’s prize for being this week’s biggest loser is a trip to Sin City for the entire Blue team. Needless to say…they are jazzed. Bur of course Mark is fretting about how the trip could derail them at the next weigh-in. Ever the competitor, that Mark.

FAREWELL TO A NICE GUY / WEEK 7

2008-02-13T17:21:42Z

Wednesday
The day after elimination and emotions are mixed and high. The Blue team had a little sit down and discussed the results of the elimination. Needless to say, Dan was not the happiest guy on earth. However, his anger was assuaged by the conversation and it looks like the team is going to try and put it all behind them forge ahead. When Gray returned from taking Jackie to the airport, Mark and Jay asked him how she was doing and how she took it. He told the truth…she was far from pleased, but seemed to take it all in stride. She realized it was part of the game. Mark’s only real regret is that the team was not honest with her upfront about what they had planned. So goes the game.

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Thursday
Challenge day and lots of hard workouts to boot. All the contestants are shuffling about like zombies after the combined torment of working out and trying to balance buckets of water while walking across a beam over frigid water. Bernie, Maggie and Brittany are seriously jazzed about winning the challenge and foresee it as the comeback of the Black Team. There are warm-fuzzies flying every which way amongst the Black Team. Kelly seems to be better acclimating to her teammates and Paul honestly seems to have nothing but love for Kelly. It appears to have been a positive day…even for the losing Blue Team.

Friday
In addition to the never-ending workouts from hell, the Blue Team had the misfortune of having to inform Bob of losing the challenge. He was not pleased. But rather than rant or rave, he chose to take out his frustration on the muscles and joints of his team. Wise choice.

Saturday
Today was a dark day. Now that the game is really in full swing, there are no longer such things as “R+R” days. Dark days now mean that the trainers can utilize every minute to beat the fat from their team members. The casting department has become aware of how much the trainers love dark days. After all, they are free to ply their trade without interruption from pesky things like cameras, lights and frantic assistant directors. Bob’s team unexpectedly ran into some the eliminated cast members from BL4 when they were at the gym off-campus. Since the BL4 finale coincides with the shooting of this season – several of last seasons kids were working out in L.A. before the live shoot. The season 5 cast was shocked and elated. They’ve been watching season 4 here on campus and have come to feel as if they know all of them.

Sunday
Not much to say, since the kids are worked so hard that they simply want to come home and go to sleep. Except for Dan, of course. “Night owl” doesn’t even begin to cover it. That boy never sleeps! He stayed up a few hours after returning from the gyms. He is convinced he will be sent home at elimination. Casting is not so sure.

Monday
The Black Team had the honor of meeting Jillian’s mother today. Being a counselor (and an apparently phenomenal one at that), they were treated to more than just casual introductions and pleasantries. Kelly and Paul were particularly impressed with her. In addition, a good half of the BL4 cast came to campus for a meet and greet. It was obvious to us all how thrilled the contestants were with this.

Tuesday
It’s the official last-chance workouts today (although we think Jillian views all workouts as a last chance for something). Both teams toughed their way through 6 or more hours of grueling cardio and all-around war on the muscles. When an elimination of a player is looming they take no prisoners.

Wednesday
The Blue Team is regretful. The Black Team is pumped. The casting department is sad. Tonight we lost Trent, a truly beloved cast member. You’ll rarely find a nicer fellow or harder worker than this soft-spoken gentleman. And to boot, he chose to go home himself rather than sacrifice any of his teammates. Some might call that weak in the world of competition. We call that “class”.

CELEBRITY COOKING / WEEK 6

2008-02-06T17:20:04Z

Tuesday
As is par for the course, the kids were worked out to the very limits of endurance after the trainers heard the results of the weigh-in. Very little down time for them today. Which is nice for the casting department every now and then. Bob really turned up the heat today. On the days before a weigh-in and elimination, the trainers refer to the exceptionally brutal workouts as “Last Chance Workouts”. Bob called the first workout of this week a “First Chance Workout”. He worked them just as hard as any last chance. Perhaps that’s why Mark realized he had suffered a stress fracture to his leg. He has to cut WAY back on the workouts in the interest of his own health. Even with this little impediment, casting is fairly certain the brothers can still make magic on the scale. They’re tenacious as hell, those boys.

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Wednesday
Temptation day was dominated by Mark Kruger. Perhaps he decided to take up the slack from his busted leg by eating more Rolos than any human being should even lay eyes on? He consumed forty-three of those little chocolate and caramel candies. Impressive. And disgusting. It wasn’t really a surprise – Mark discussed his strategy briefly with a few of the casting folks. There was no way he was going to allow his team to be split up. After all…all four of the show’s “power houses” already reside with Blue Team. Kelly seems a tad homesick. She assured us she is strong and ready to rock…but she seems down. It comes and goes. This is not an easy show.

Thursday
The teams worked out in gyms outside the campus and ate food outside the campus, as well. It really helps to wrap your brain around the reality of life on BL Campus when you realize how excited the contestants get to eat in public. Jillian tore her team up at Runyon Canyon (also known as Hell). Kelly was forced to slow it down and walk most of the way due to a toe injury. It’s not all wine and roses, folks. It looks like Mark has some competition in the injury department. Roger received a CD from his wife with images of his son on it. After the expected teary-eyed viewing, he quickly grabbed any contestants and casting people in the vicinity and displayed his pride and joy for all to see. It was truly touching. Big bears like Roger and Mark are always the ones to lose it when you mention their families. It was the same with Phil Hawk on season four.

Friday
Challenge day today. It was one of the more unique challenges in Biggest Loser history. Both teams had to try and out-cook one another. The Blue Team lost this one and had to clean the dishes. Having to do dishes might have annoyed them more than actually losing. Mark won’t stop telling anyone who’ll listen about how great his scallops were. The celebrity chef judge really praised Jackie and Dan’s dish. Maybe Dan really can cook…but we’ve the sneaking suspicion that Jackie had a lot to do with that one!

Saturday
It’s the last workout before the weigh-in (last workout for the camera, that is). Not too much to report today. Everybody’s in top form because interviews are being shot today. The trainers are beating the ever-living souls out of all the contestants. Hardcore time. The Black Team got their reward for winning yesterday’s challenge: Dinner prepared for them by celebrity chef, Rocco Dispirito. It seems to have made the toughness of their day melt away.

Sunday
Pre-weigh-in dark day. Bob and Jillian really give the kids what they ask for when a dark day falls before a weigh-in. It makes sense. There are no cameras, no lights, and no hassles…just crunch time. And they give them homework aplenty. Another thing the folks at home might not realize is exactly how often these guys are working out. When the cameras wrap and everyone goes home, the casting department is allowed a glimpse into the rigors of contestant homework. And sometimes it doesn’t even end there. After completing whatever torture Bob and Jillian have assigned them, the more spirited among the contestants will CONTINUE to work out on their own time. Gray and Justin Lamb have seen more than one person wake up in the middle of the night and try to fight off insomnia on a treadmill or a punching bag.

Monday
Just last week Jackie admitted to us that she was becoming a little homesick. We knew what she meant and that it happens to everyone. We knew she wasn’t ready to leave the campus. But, alas, she was voted off tonight. As Patrick, Clarence and Sela load up the van so that Gray can spirit her away, the thought on everyone’s minds is how Dan will take this. We are curious what this means to Dan’s future on the show, too. It’s definitely going to be an interesting week.

BLACK AND BLUE / WEEK 5

2008-01-30T19:19:59Z

Wednesday
Tonight was challenge night and boy it was a doozy! There was a little surprise in store for the winners and the losers. This time, the trainers were rewarded by being able to pick out who they wanted on their teams. Bob got to pick first and he put together a veritable powerhouse: Roger, Trent, Jay, Mark, Dan and Jackie. Jillian was less than pleased. There was no way of keeping track of how many obscenities streamed from her mouth as she let loose with some truly verbose anger. It’s not that Jillian has bad people on her team – it’s that Bob went and snatched away every big number loser on campus. But if we’ve learned anything, it’s that Jillian can make just about anybody shed pounds. We’ll see how she does with Bernie, Brittany, Paul, Kelly, Maggie and Jenn.

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Thursday
Today was dark and all about the post challenge workouts. Jillian murdered her team with intense cardio. Jenn voiced happiness about her new team. She seems genuinely excited. Despite her usual reserved nature, Kelly confided to casting that she is afraid the blue team is going to pick off the black team one by one. Not sure it will be that extreme, but the black team certainly has their work cut out for them.

Friday
Jillian remained on campus with her team while Bob took his to 24 Hour Fitness for the first time. The entire Blue team was thrown a little off by working out in public after being sequestered on campus for so long. They seemed to enjoy it. A little bit later, Jillian took her team to 24 Hour Fitness as well. This morning was profoundly cold and wet and rainy – at least for southern California. The majority of the contestants were surprised by the weather. To quote Bernie: “What the hell, guys…isn’t this supposed to be LA?” Dan had an impressive nosebleed today. Tossed him out of commission for a couple of hours. It’s probably the drastic changes in weather.

Saturday
There was a temptation today that absolutely nobody went for. Temptations are good for the show, sure. They add a little drama to the day and sometimes offer valuable prizes that might help a contestant in their game strategy. But in all honesty, all of casting was very proud of them for resisting the soda temptation.

Sunday
Jillian took her team to hike at Runyon Canyon today for their last chance workout. Runyon is a notoriously grueling route. It’s always funny to see the Biggest Loser contestants pushed by Bob or Jillian into climbing on and on, even when your typical, chiseled LA gym rats are stopping and going back. Jillian took her people to the movies after hours and hours of work. It was greatly appreciated.

Monday
Weigh-in and elimination number five. Some impressive numbers were pulled tonight and there were a few close calls, but in the end it was Jenn who fell below and she was voted off. She was extremely sad. Jenn was definitely one of the contestants who wanted to stay as long as possible. Though Maggie is a very independent player, we wonder how this will impact her.

EXPECT NOTHING / WEEK 4

2008-01-24T00:36:39Z

Sunday
At what seemed like dawn’s first light, the entire cast had interviews for the forthcoming Biggest Loser book. The author arrived earlier than anticipated so she and Gray chatted and drank coffee for a half hour or so until the scheduled time to wake the cast. Despite being woken at 8am on a dark day (no shooting), everyone seemed to be excited about talking with the author. This may be the start of the unavoidable flirtation with the idea of “being a celebrity” that all the contestants eventually experience.

Monday
There was an overnight challenge tonight. Crew and contestants alike had a major test of mettle in the cold…all night long! Due to an interesting twist in the challenge, it was Paul and Kelly versus EVERYONE ELSE. We never run out of excitement around here.

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Tuesday
Justin Messing, Drew, Sela, Clint and Clarence all had long discussions with many of the cast members regarding twists in the show. Or rather, they listened to the cast voice their concerns and opinions. What little information the casting department does know about upcoming events in the show, we keep it under lock and key. Regardless of being sure that nobody knows at this point, much of the cast is convinced that they will soon be taken from their partners and broken into singles. It’s amazing how it takes only a few weeks before minds start racing, tongues start wagging and the cast is convinced they know what’s coming next. Speaking from experience…they rarely know what’s waiting for them.

Wednesday
The gas that runs the hot-water heater went out today. Justin Lamb, Justin Messing and Clint are now responsible for shuttling the cast to a nearby hotel to take hot showers while Gray holds down the fort between trips. Most of the cast is taking the news pretty well. Some general grumbling and eye-rolling but for the most part they are too tired and into the game to really care at the end of the day. Not to mention our casting people are masters of subtle courtesy and manage to keep them as happy as possible through most any hitch. Paul and the Kruger brothers didn’t give a rip about the cold water. They opted to stay on set and just tough it out in unheated showers. To quote Mark Kruger: “This is nothing compared to what we go through in that gym everyday.” Truer words have never been spoken.

Thursday
Today was Thanksgiving. The kids had a full break from their trainers and their normally torturous work out routine. That’s not to say that many of them weren’t still at it in the gym like lunatics…they just waited a little later before they got started. We provided them with a healthy Thanksgiving dinner including low-sodium turkey. The cast dressed up in their Sunday best and all ate dinner together at one table. They even had little name cards at each seat and candles! It was actually rather sweet. The poor souls who had to work today (Justin Messing, Clint and Gray) joined them for dinner. Today was a great day for injecting a smidgen of normalcy back into the cast’s life and for the group to bond.

Friday
Dan had the hangnail to end all hangnails today. We’re talkin’ the hangnail from hell. Our on-set medic, Sandy went at it with a pair of tweezers and Dan nearly fainted. Smelling salts were involved. Dan was fine after his “minor surgery”, but it went to show how serious a little thing like a hangnail can be when a person is exhausted and physically drained. Sandy is a godsend. The cast likes him almost as much as the casting department does.

Saturday
Dark day today. Pretty laid back and chill. Laid back and chill in regards to scheduling, that is. There was nothing laid back about how hard Bob and Jillian worked the kids today. The days leading up to official weigh-ins are always intense, but this one was downright insane. The cast is sore, exhausted and probably several pounds lighter each just from the sheer will power it takes to survive a full day with the trainers. It really is incredible and admirable what these guys push through.

Sunday
Alliances have begun to form. The plotting and planning that naturally comprises the game-play element of the show. It’s the opinion of most of the casting staff that the Grey team is probably the greatest threat…but Roger and Trent keep that possibility hidden through being so soft-spoken and likeable. It should be interesting to see how everything plays out in the coming weeks. Will people start to sabotage their own alliances in order to avoid the elimination room? It’s anyone’s guess at this point. And that’s the name of the game.

Monday
It is time for weigh-in and elimination today. It was a shocker. Against most everything we could have predicted, Bette-Sue and Ali were eliminated. Not sure if it came down to a genuine threat factor or if personal politics played a part in the choice. No doubt it was a little of both. The entire casting department was on hand to see them off. Bette-Sue was undoubtedly one of the funniest, most quirky characters the show has ever seen and they will both be sorely missed.

Tuesday
Gray drove Bettie-Sue and Ali to the airport today after their exit photos. Their usual cynical humor aside, they were quite grateful for their experience on The Biggest Loser and displayed real class in their exit. Two more down…who will be next?

DAY BY DAY / WEEK 3

2008-01-22T22:13:57Z

Monday
Today was the challenge reveal day. This is the day where the winners of the challenges are made known to Bob and Jillian, as well as the awards (if any) for winning. This week it was Roger and Trent. The trainers and cast seemed to be pleased that it was someone other than Mark or Jay! Earlier tonight Justin Messing, Drew and Gray were discussing the win with Roger and Trent. Everyone agreed that Roger and Trent are actually bigger threats than Mark and Jay, the rest of the cast hasn’t realized it yet. We all told them to ride that unknown advantage as long as they can!

Tuesday
Dark day. Bless the dark days. Clint took Bette-Sue to a specialty shoe store in Reseda to pick up a pair of shoes that she insisted upon. They are these strange, elevated athletic shoes with huge springs extending from the heels. She looks like a cyborg. A spring-footed robot programmed to lose weight. When we told her that she laughed her hilarious, gruff laugh and shook her head.

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Wednesday
Dark day. The cast is finally settling into the idea that they might actually have personal time on dark days! Though the workouts continue, everyone is starting to get comfortable with hanging out in down time, watch movies, etc. It’s nice to see. Patrick, Sela and Rachel spent hours with the cast, talking with them about their concerns and just generally making them feel at home. Since tomorrow is the weekly stress of the weigh-in and elimination…it’s the least they could do to ease their minds.

Thursday
Neill and Amanda Harmer have been eliminated.

They didn’t seem to take it so well. The other contestants cited Neill’s “lack of effort” as a major reason for the results of the vote. Neill told the casting people that that was not the case and that he would now be even more motivated to lose weight and do well at home. Both he and Amanda seem pretty dedicated to that goal, so hopefully they will follow through and show up at the finale ready to turn heads. As Clarence told them on their way out: “What you’re going to do now is even more important than what you did here. Sure, you’re gonna’ lose weight on the campus with trainers and nutritionists. But now you get to be an inspiration to all the viewers at home who might not feel like they can do it on their own.”

Friday
Gray took Neill and Amanda to the airport today as the remaining cast started the first day of their new week. As he told them on the way: “The music keeps playing and the ball keeps rolling…and your spin ain’t over yet. Not until after the finale.” That’s true of any Biggest Loser contestant. And even after the finale – we all hope the changes they’ve made will last a lifetime.

DOING IT ALL / WEEK 2

2008-01-18T23:59:24Z

After the first elimination, there has been the expected increase in the contestants’ dedication to working out. The trainers have been sure to tell them that the second week is always the hardest. It’s only natural for the big numbers pulled on the scale to balance themselves out the second week as the contestants’ bodies get used to their new regimens.

Aside from the grueling daily workouts and nutritional focus, the cast is becoming a bit lighter, a bit more comfortable with one another. One late night poolside conversation quickly turned into a hilarious performance when Paul dug out his karaoke machine. By the end of the night several of the contestants as well as Justin, Clint and Clarence had taken a turn singing songs that over-worked casting people should never attempt in public. It was a great release for the cast and for us.

]]> Clarence took Dan to Lens Crafters. It’s funny how such a mundane, even annoying trip in the “real world” has turned into a treasured break from the daunting routine on the campus.

Drew got up close and personal with some of the local wildlife on elimination night. After-hours crew parking is located on an empty tennis court, a scant hundred miles or so from the control room and base camp. Well, at 3am it certainly seems like 100 miles. We were all shocked and amused when Drew’s frantic call of “mountain lion! There’s a mountain lion looking right at me!” came across the walkies. Since the largest predatory wildlife anyone has seen was a bobcat…we all wonder if Drew’s imagination got the better of him. Then again, this place IS pretty wild.

Curtis and Mallory. The sweetest couple you’d ever want to meet were eliminated this week. As sad as it is, that’s the name of the game and someone has to go home. Since they are semi-local, Gray was set to drive them home in the morning after their exit photos. At the last minute, he got a little surprise. Production wanted him to take a DVX camera with him and videotape their reunion with their kids when they came home from school. So Gray took them away from campus at 3am, took them for their photos in West LA at 6am and drove them 2 1/2 hours home. There he waited an additional six hours until the kids came home from school. Good thing Gray loves to read. By the time he returned to campus that night, Gray had worked 19 hours and had been awake for over 24. And he’d returned with DV footage of the Gray family reunion.

Biggest Loser Casting Department: Casting, gophers, amateur psychologists, contestant-wranglers and now…camera operators. We’re the reality TV Jacks of All Trades.

MOVE TO CAMPUS / WEEK ONE

2008-01-14T23:31:20Z

The higher-ups have finally decided upon the cast of Biggest Loser 5.

The casting department is pleased, for the most part. Although it will be a week or so before most of us form opinions on the personalities of the chosen 18. Most of us are the little people – not necessarily in charge of choosing the cast – but definitely in charge of taking care of them. Organizing their daily routines, stocking water, wrangling them for shoot days. Perhaps the most important part is to keep them sane. Keep them as comfortable and positive as possible. It’s inevitable that we develop real friendships with these people over the weeks.

Our kids (the contestants) have moved into the dorms and are doing their best to assimilate to the new environment. There’s no time for easing into the situation. From the get go they are thrust into challenges (such as the first “Balloon Challenge”), eating and exercise regiments, interviews and more. At night, when they might think their responsibilities are over, Justin Lamb and Gray come around to make sure they are doing their blogs and Body Bugg nutritional programs. It really is non-stop. Even when they sleep, Gray and Justin are on the premises. Casting is the only 24-hour department on the show. Most of us are just fine with that…even if it occasionally makes us temporarily insane.

]]> Case in point – during the first week contestant Bernie Salazar was rushed to the emergency room. Despite warnings and prescriptions from Dr. Huizanga, Bernie was not eating or resting properly. He refused his medicine in fear that it might upset his chances on the weigh-in scale. He was dehydrated and in need of immediate re-hydration. At this point, only Justin Lamb and Rachel were on set. Justin could not leave, as he had to stay on campus with the cast. After having worked an entire day, Rachel volunteered to take Bernie to the emergency room and wait with him. And that’s what she did. After several hours, Bernie was released and a-okay. Rachel might have needed a brief stay herself, however, since she had been working close to 24 hours by this point.

It’s hard to imagine how Kat, Justin Messing and Drew survive. They must be casting robots from some secret underground Biggest Loser laboratory

The end of the week brought the first elimination. Obviously a difficult, even harrowing time for contestants, eliminations are also hard on the casting department. The later into the show you get, the closer we all become to the contestants. It’s never easy to see new friends go home. Lynn and Jennifer Westphal were not happy to leave. They were especially unhappy to leave Clarence. In the short week on set, they took a liking to his easy-going demeanor and sense of humor. Lynn personally asked for Clarence’s phone number, so they might keep in touch after the show.

HOTEL SEQUESTER

2008-01-14T23:29:37Z

Another season for the ever-ready and sleep-deprived Biggest Loser Casting Department!

On board for the hotel sequester (a week long process where potential contestants are weeded down to the final 18) we have Kat Elmore, Talent Director. Justin Messing, Talent Coordinator. Drew Lewandowski, Asst. Talent Coordinator. Gray Creasy, Hotel Sequester Coordinator/Overnight Casting Coordinator. Justin Lamb, Casting Associate. These make up the Biggest Loser alumni. Kat and Gray have been with the show since season one. This is the second season of BL work for Justin, Drew and Justin Lamb.

In addition, the casting department is happy to welcome our new Casting Associates: Patrick Reina, Clarence Nelson, Marisela (“Sela”) Rivas, Clint Brandel and Rachel Bingham and Tristan Akahoshi. All are proving capable and up to the demanding tasks of organizing a week of medical testing, psych testing, network interviews and more. Everyone has been putting in more than their fair share of hours, with the coordinators working as many as 18 hours a day in preparation for the final casting decisions and the move onto the Biggest Loser Campus.

]]> The medical and psyche testing have run as smoothly as possible due to the level heads of Justin Messing and Drew. Props must be heaped upon to Tristan and Sela for rocking the psyche testing with Gray. Trying to coordinate two days worth of tests around a veritable onslaught of interviews and errands is no small task. Props also to our resident master van drivers Clarence, Clint and Justin Lamb. Not once have they been late or missed an appointment, regardless of occasional 4am call times.

Rachel and Patrick apparently have the minds of seasoned A.D.’s – trapped in the bodies of casting associates. Both have rarely stopped moving since the week began. One of the best conversations overheard on walkie all week went like this:

Patrick: “Can I get an available casting person to help us move some stuff from the interview room?”

Rachel: “Copy that, I’m on my way.”

Patrick: “We’re gonna’ need a guy up here. It’s heavy stuff.”

Rachel: “Kiss my ass, Patrick…I can lift anything you can!”

With that, Rachel stormed to the elevators to help out.

That pretty much sums up the work ethic of this department so far. No doubt we’ll all be tearing each other’s hair out after the stress of a couple months of shooting, but for now…we’re on the right track.