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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.