The Biggest Loser

Underscoring this season's theme of "second chances" is last season's heaviest contestant and fan favorite Daniel Wright, returning for a second chance to finish the weight loss journey he started in season seven, going from 454 to 312 lbs. Also getting a second chance will be the show's new heaviest contestant ever, a female social worker (Shay Sorrells) who spent much of her childhood in foster care and now weighs 476 lbs. Other contestants include a youth pastor (Sean Algaier) hoping to help himself so he can better help others, a college student (Amanda Arlauskas) who missed the prom she had dreamed of attending because she was so unhappy with her weight, and a remarkable teacher (Abby Rike) who lost her family in a tragic accident and wants to restart her life.

Stone is the specialist chef on "The Biggest Loser," teaching the contestants how to make good nutritional choices and prepare healthy and delicious meals. The Australian native is a master chef, bestselling author, TV host and entrepreneur. In fall 2008, Stone launched his line of sleek and eco-friendly kitchen solutions at Williams Sonoma, and he will continue to unveil new products throughout 2009. Stone's fourth book, Relaxed Cooking with Curtis Stone: Recipes to Put You in My Favorite Mood, was released in April 2009. His passion for food can also be seen on the show "Take Home Chef," which is currently in reruns.

This week, the contestants get an inviting offer from host Alison Sweeney to gain an advantage at weigh-in, but the offer comes with a steep price tag - losing trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels for the week. Later, the players are faced with their first temptation, which will give the winner considerable control of the weigh-in. While Jillian gets very frustrated with a contestant who she thinks is far too focused on gameplay, another player finds she has an injury that will dramatically affect her workouts. Then an incline challenge tests the players' stamina before a very tense weigh-in, in which one contestant alienates the others with questionable choices, leading to a heartbreaking elimination.

This week, one contestant is sidelined due to a medical condition and frustrated about not being able to work out to their full capacity. And all of the contestants are in for a big surprise when they learn from host Alison Sweeney that the kitchen is off limits this week and why. A pop challenge about calories brings one winning team an amazing prize, and trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels take the players out to a restaurant to help them learn how to make healthy choices when eating out. Later, a tough challenge tests all the players' endurance before a weigh in, after which another contestant is sent home.

Week five on the ranch kicks off with contestants getting the news that they're all going to be joining either trainer Jillian Michaels' black team or Bob Harper's blue team. But the bigger news from host Alison Sweeney is that whoever wins this week's temptation gets to make the critical decision of which contestant goes on which team. And when one person wins that much power, all of the contestants are worried about being potentially separated from the partner who has been with them since the beginning of their weight-loss journey. Later, a challenge tests the contestants' ability to work together in their newly-formed teams, and one player gives another a very special gift. Then a weigh-in leads to a tough elimination, sending another player home.

This week, the black and blue teams head to the beach to square off in a wild challenge that sends them digging for a buried treasure. The winning team will get a huge prize - tickets home to see their loved ones -- but there's also a surprise twist! One team of contestants goes home and has emotional reunions with loved ones, but is quickly faced with the challenges of continuing to eat healthy and work out back in their everyday lives. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the other team is determined to make the most of their time alone on campus in the hopes they can lose more weight than their opposing team. Also, contestants lend a hand at a food bank this week, and one contestant has an emotional breakthrough with trainer Jillian Michaels. And the team who made the most weight loss progress is revealed at the weigh-in before another player is sent packing.

It's an intense week on "The Biggest Loser" when the contestants learn from host Alison Sweeney that they will each face off against a player from the opposing team at weigh-in. The winner of the pop challenge gains considerable control by getting to choose who faces off against whom. Then New York Yankee and four-time World Series champ Derek Jeter gives the players a pep talk about the importance of teamwork before they embark on a wild baseball challenge. The challenge winner then gets a delicious and healthy Mediterranean meal prepared by acclaimed chef Curtis Stone. Later, one player breaks a "Biggest Loser" record at weigh-in, and then the contestants say goodbye to one of their own in the most emotional elimination so far of this season.

The players travel to Washington DC and get a tour of the White House. They meet the White House chef for the tour, and they are shown Michelle Obama's garden where she grows vegetables to eat in the White House. The contestants help to pick and prepare vegetables, then eat them at lunch. The weigh-in is held at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

Tensions rise when contestants learn from host Alison Sweeney that two players will be eliminated this week ? so only six of the eight remaining players will still be in the game after the weigh-in. With the stakes so high, players are more determined than ever to stay above the yellow line. First, there's a tennis ball pop challenge that rewards the winner with an advantage at weigh-in. Then the contestants have to jump through hoops ? literally ? when they head to the circus for a lively challenge with the coveted prize of immunity for whoever wins. Later, contestants are led by trainer Bob Harper through a wild, trapeze-swinging last chance workout, only to return to the ranch and find trainer Jillian Michaels ready to put them through a second, grueling last chance workout. Then a dramatic weigh-in leads to heartbreaking eliminations as the contestants say goodbye to two more players.

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 and hear their emotional speeches. Later, the contestants face a high-flying challenge across a canyon divide, and the winner is rewarded with a two-week trip to "The Biggest Loser" resort at Fitness Ridge in southern Utah. Then a tense elimination follows the weigh-in, sending another contestant home.

This week, the five remaining contestants get a surprise visit from financial guru Suze Orman, who talks to them about the connection between health and wealth and gives them tips on how to be financially fit when they get home. The players take a health quiz about the high costs of poor health, and later, they talk to trainer Bob Harper about leaving the ranch and the challenges they may face back home. Later, Hall of Famer and Super Bowl champion Rod Woodson helps kick off an NFL challenge involving the weight they've each lost all season. Then it's off to the weigh-in, where this week's winner will get a home visit from chef Curtis Stone to show them how to cook healthy meals after they return from the ranch. Then one contestant is sent home, leaving the four "Biggest Loser" finalists.

The final four contestants go home to reunite with family and friends, and learn that when they return to the ranch, they'll face their toughest challenge yet - running a full (26.2 mile) marathon. It's a daunting challenge, but cheering them along the way will be some familiar faces from the previous season -- season seven winner Helen Phillips and finalists Tara Costa and Mike Morelli, plus a surprise visitor to cheer Rudy on. Later, it's the very last "last chance workouts" with trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels before a final weigh in determines who the two definite finalists will be - and which two contestants fall below the dreaded yellow line, leaving America to vote which one will be the third finalist to compete for the grand prize of $250,000.

In the most recent episode that aired on December 1, Danny Cahill and Rudy Pauls weighed in above the yellow line, securing their spots as two of the three finalists. Amanda Arlauskas and Liz Young fell below the yellow line, leaving America to choose between them to determine the third place finalist competing alongside Danny and Rudy for the $250,000 grand prize.