The Biggest Loser

In conjunction with the new season premiere, "The Biggest Loser" is partnering with General Mills and Feeding America to launch the Pound For Pound challenge, an initiative that encourages Americans to lose weight and feed the hungry. For every pound viewers pledge to lose this new year, a pound of groceries will be delivered to a local food bank. The Pound for Pound Challenge gives Americans the opportunity to fight the hunger crisis and help families in their own communities by simply pledging to lose weight and getting healthy.

This week, the contestants are faced with a temptation that will cause each of them to examine the real reason they've come to the ranch. Then it's off to an outdoor challenge where they'll race by sea kayak and then on foot to the top of a mountain, hoping to win immunity as well as a coveted phone call home. Later, one contestant pushes trainer Bob Harper to the limit, causing him to freak out during last chance workouts before a surprising weigh in leads to a heartbreaking elimination.

This week kicks off with a temptation that host Alison Sweeney tells the contestants will allow one player to reunite with their teammate at home and bring their trainer with them. But the reunion doesn't go exactly as planned when fireworks erupt between the two teammates after one player accuses the other of not doing all she can to stay on the ranch. Meanwhile the contestants check in with Dr. Huizenga to see how far they've come - and how many medications they no longer need from the first three weeks of weight loss. Then a wild jump rope-like challenge results in immunity at this week's weigh in for the winner, followed by a surprising elimination that sends another contestant packing.

Warner is a quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, and will be playing in this year's Super Bowl on February 1. He is a two-time NFL MVP and was also named Super Bowl XXXIV MVP after leading the St. Louis Rams to a win over the Tennessee Titans. Warner and his wife, Brenda, established the First Things First Foundation, which is designed to help those less fortunate with projects such as trips to Disney World for ill children, rewarding single parents for achieving the dream of home ownership, and teaching Special Olympians the football basics. More information on his organization can be found at www.kurtwarner.org.

Now that the contestants' partners are back at the ranch, those who've been working out at home will weigh in and see how they have fared away from the ranch. A visit to Dr. Huizenga will reveal the contestants' new "real age" and how far they've come in the first five weeks. Then all the players compete in this week's "rope challenge," and later, an elimination leads to tension on one team when one player thinks her partner hasn't been pulling her weight.

It's the 100th episode of The Biggest Loser,and this week, a balancing competition will bring the winner a coveted prize - a 24-hour visit from a loved one back home. Then the teams all take part in a tough challenge that tests their endurance, and later, one player will be sent home from the team that falls below the dreaded yellow line.

This week, the contestants hike up a hill to find over 100 keys, but only two teams will find the keys that unlock the Biggest Loser gym. The rest of the teams have to learn to creatively work out all week without the use of the gym. Later, a rowing machine challenge pits team against team, and then a surprising turn of events leads to one contestant heading home.

This week brings a shake-up no one sees coming when all of the contestants are divided into just two teams - blue and black - leaving many players without their original trainer. Drama ensues, especially with one team who struggles to get used to their new trainer. And contestants are put to the test with one of the longest challenges ever, in which each team tries to put as many miles as they can on their bike in a 24-hour period.

In part two of this week's two-part episode, the contestants continue to adjust to their newly formed blue and black teams. They also meet Prevention Magazine editor Liz Vaccariello and take a pop quiz about health and aging. Then it's a grueling last chance workout leading up to weigh-in, after which another player is sent packing.

First the contestants meet up with DiSpirito and learn how many calories are really in some of their favorite fast food dishes. Then the black and blue teams have a lively cook-off, preparing healthier, low-calorie versions of pizza, burgers and a Mexican entrée. The team who prepares the tastiest and lowest calorie dish gets a meal specially prepared by DiSpirito, plus a chance to pick a fortune cookie with an especially valuable fortune inside - an extra vote at elimination.

This week brings a pop challenge that will add an interesting twist to the weigh-in, and later, the contestants head to 24 Hour Fitness for a relay race competition. The winning team gets 24 hours of luxury, including spa treatments, but some contestants have trouble resisting temptation during their 24-hour getaway. Also, one contestant has a big blow up with their trainer, and all of the contestants get some welcome and surprising news from host Alison Sweeney after elimination.

All of the contestants head home for a week, where they are faced with the challenge of continuing to make healthy food choices and getting their workouts done in their home environments. After they arrive home, each player gets a DVD with host Allison Sweeney revealing their "at home challenge" - to run a half marathon - 13.1 miles! A cookie temptation adds an interesting twist to the competition, and the players find out the results of their hard work once they return to the ranch. Later, another contestant is sent packing.

The teams split up and the competition goes to playing as singles, and the weigh-in finds one player breaking a Biggest Loser record. (TV-PG)

PAST SEASON WINNERS ALI VINCENT AND MICHELLE AGUILAR GUEST STAR -- The contestants get a blast from the past this week with visits from season five winner Ali Vincent and season six winner Michelle Aguilar, both filling in as host while Alison Sweeney is on maternity leave. The contestants are also surprised by the arrival of some old friends, whose return promises to shake up the competition. And while one player is sidelined by medical issues, the rest compete in a balance and endurance challenge that finds each contestant standing on a platform, suspended six feet over a pool. One by one, the lines supporting the platform are removed, making it harder to stand, until only the winner is left standing. Later, Bob has last chance workouts at the beach before the weigh in, which is followed by a surprising elimination.

The competition heats up when the eight remaining contestants are faced with a temptation that will give the winner all the power this week. The players come to the gym and find 100 trays before them, under which there are high calorie snacks, cash prizes and the golden ticket - the one and only vote at this week's elimination. They can uncover as many trays as they like, providing they eat whatever they uncover. Then Chef Rocco DiSpirito returns to teach the contestants how to make healthy, lower-calorie versions of the dishes they used to order in restaurants, and later, two familiar faces from last season give the players encouragement and advice. This week's challenge finds the players running up and down the steps of the Pasadena Rose Bowl competing for an incredible vacation prize. And after the weigh-in, the temptation winner casts the sole vote to send another player home.

First, the contestants head to Macy's where they find fashion guru Tim Gunn waiting to help them pick out stylish new outfits to flatter their slimmer selves. Guest hair stylist Tabatha and celebrity stylist Brandon Martinez transform them further with complete salon makeovers. Then it's time for amazing reveals and emotional reunions when the made-over contestants show off their incredible new looks to loved ones flown in to help them celebrate their big day.

The contestants' food and fitness knowledge is put to the test this week when Good Housekeeping Magazine's editor in chief stops by for a trivia challenge that will give the lucky winner an all-expense paid trip to New York. Then contestants face a different kind of test when trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels send them grocery shopping on a budget - and then critique their purchases. Later, a unique challenge tests each player's balancing skill, and one contestant hits a big milestone at the weigh-in before a shocking elimination sends another player home.

This week, the tables are turned when contestants get to train their trainers and are only too happy to put Bob and Jillian through the paces! Later, the remaining five players have to race up and down hills while carrying bags representing their total weight loss so far in a particularly grueling challenge. Then it's time to visit Dr. Huizenga for a progress report and to find out their new "real ages" now that they've lost so much weight. The players also try on their "goal outfits" and are amazed to see how far they've really come. Then after weighing in and eliminating one more contestant, the final four players head home, where they'll stay for 30 days before returning to weigh in at the ranch one last time.

First, the final four contestants - Tara Costa, Mike and Ron Morelli and Helen Phillips head home for 30 days. After heartwarming reunions with family and friends, they try to get back into their routines but find it challenging to make diet and exercise a priority back at home. Adding to the challenge is the news from host Alison Sweeney that when they return to the ranch at the end of 30 days, their final challenge will be their toughest one yet - running a full marathon. Trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels make surprise visits to the finalists to help steer them back on track.

In the most recent episode, which aired May 5, Tara Costa and Helen Phillips weighed in above the yellow line, securing their spots as two of the three finalists. Ron Morelli and his son, Mike, both fell below the yellow line, leaving viewers to choose between father and son to determine the third place finalist competing for the grand prize of $250,000. America's choice will be revealed in the first part of the finale on May 12, and the contestant who didn't get chosen will compete with the other 18 eliminated players for an "at home" prize of $100,000. Viewers voted by phone and online and the voting window is now over.

Mike and Ron, below the yellow line on the latest weigh-in, learn who America voted for to proceed to the final three with Helen and Tara. Before season 7 is completed, season 8 already begins with two hopefuls, Amanda and Erinn, vying for the one remaining spot for next season's competition. The decision on who that person will be is made by popular vote by the American public during the airing of this live episode, voting based on part on how each does in a workout with Bob and Jillian. The results on the "Pound for Pound" Challenge is presented, this program which aims to tie weight-loss programs across the United States to food bank donations, with the amount of weight pledged and lost equaled by the weight of food donated. The nineteen non-finalist contestants weigh-in to see who has the highest percentage of weight loss to earn the $100,000 "at home" prize. The final three weigh-in last, to see who will take home the $250,000 grand prize. By happenstance, the three finalists do have the highest percentage of weight loss this season, the only three contestants to have lost more than half of their original weight.