From Tracey’s frightening trip to the hospital to the group’s special tour of the White House vegetable garden, it was quite a year on The Biggest Loser. EW talked to creator-executive producer Mark Koops about the show’s most memorable moments and whether we’ve seen the last of the 400-pound plus contestants.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Was this a milestone season by virtue of the fact you went to the White House?
MARK KOOPS: I think every year we gain momentum. There is no greater embrace of how far this show has come. In season 9, we’ll go to the Olympic training facility in Colorado. To be embraced by incredible organizations like the Olympic committee or the NFL or Michelle Obama’s office in the White House is a total validation.
We saw Shay weigh in at 476 pounds, the heaviest contestant in the show’s eight-year history [Editor's note: Thanks to a sponsorship by Subway, she'll return for season 9.] Will you raise the bar come January? Will there be someone over 500 lbs?
Coincidentally we do, but hopefully at some point we tap out. Hopefully, no one gets bigger before they have to come be on the show. It’s a sad thing in terms of physical health. But I hope at some point the contestants begin to get smaller because they’ve begun to make the change without us. There’s only 16 Golden Tickets to come get help from Bob and Gillian. Hopefully, we’ll get a chance to hand out many more Golden Tickets for people but inspire people to do it on their own.
Watching what Tracey went through at the beginning of the season was scary, which is probably why the show invited scrutiny from media outlets, like the New York Times, over whether the rapid weight loss program was potentially dangerous. Is that fair?
Of course it’s fair to ask. We’ve always said these people who come on the show are not looking to lose 20 or 30 pounds; they’re looking to lose significant amounts of weight. They have a lot of excess of fat, they have a lot of medical issues. It is a boot camp. They are working with the best trainers in the world and the best medical professionals in the world while getting the best food and living away from the pressures of everyday life. The results aren’t normal, they are unique. We’ve never said to anyone that you should try to replicate this results at home because you are not living in the compound. That’s why we are working with Jillian on a new show. She’ll go into people’s homes and it will be much more relatable because she’ll show them how to do it at home. The Biggest Loser is a unique place to come. For those who criticize the show, we say you’re welcome to come see what goes into it. They’ll see how hard these contestants work and how hard the trainers work…it’s not a quick fix. These people work their butts off, literally and figuratively.
When will Jillian’s show debut on NBC?
Next summer. We’re doing eight episodes. It shows the other side of what goes on here.
So how are you going to top the White House?
It was so funny, we were in the control room tonight and the package was playing with the White House and we were like, ‘Damn, it’s hard to beat it.’ Hopefully, next time Michelle Obama will be kind enough to grace us with her presence. That’s the only way we can top it, because really, there’s no where else to go.
I don’t understand why this show doesn’t get more flack. Why do they have to turn weight-loss for obese people — which is a serious, life-changing situation — into a contest? That’s why the producers and trainers on this show are such hypocrites. Yeah, they’ll help you, but only in a contest form, meaning you could end up being cut. If you’re going to help them, help them. They don’t care about these people — it’s all about reality-TV drama. It would be like turning drug rehab into a contest. This entire show is phony and self-righteous.
I’ve always wondered how much help they get at home. When they show the “transformation moment” the ousted contestants always seem to have 24Hour Fitness memberships and personal trainers. I have to assume that the show is paying for that, which makes sense because they have an interest in seeing that the contestants continue to lose weight until the finale.
Jon, if the show irritates you so much, why do you watch it? Would anybody really watch a reality show that wasn’t a competition? The biggest reason this show is important is to show people what can be done. If it is so phony and hypocritical, why is the Biggest Loser Club being so successful at helping people lose weight? Come on Jon, get off the couch and lose those pounds. We’ll help you!
Den, you couldn’t be a bigger idiot. While espousing the inspirational nature of the show and praising its work with overweight people, you mock me assuming I’m fat. No wonder you can’t recognize the hypocrisy of the show. And for your information: no, I DON’T watch the show (because I find it offensive) and no, I don’t need to get off the couch to lose weight (I’m 6’3″, 180, and I live a healthy and active life).
Good for you Jon! I agree with you. Until this season I loved the show. I loved this season till they showed Bob and Jillian personally talking about Shay and Amanda. YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO HAVE FAVORITES TRAINERS, YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO BE THERE FOR ALL THE CONTESTANTS! That really turned me off and I won’t be watching another season. While I understand that Shay was the most at risk on the show, they were all there for the same reason. She alone put herself where she was at, she alone should have been held accountable. Every week I saw her boohoo and she stayed. If she didn’t do the work she should have been gone. I have heard and read so many stories about how lazy she was on the show compared to the others. In my humble opinon she should have been the hardest working one on there. I know alot of people thought Rudy stabbed her in the back, but I feel she did that when all of her group started getting off Rudy’s group. I mean he held out till it was between Shay and Allen, why should he pick Shay over Allen when Allen was in his group? Before any of you judge Rudy maybe you should watch that episode again. I am happy for Danny but I sure hope he doesn’t turn into another Eric and gain it back. Also didn’t they use to give money to all three finalist?
Jon – that’s one way of looking at it. Another way is that people really do get inspired. I lost 40 pounds while watching this show. I didn’t get training tips from it, but it helped keep me motivated. As a reality-show, of course there’s some phony aspects, and the melodrama is hyped (I’m sick of seeing fat people cry). At the same time, the message about better nutrition, hard work and long term dedication ring true. Would a PBS version with no prize be better? Sure – but as it is, its a half-glass-full that is miles better than Survivor or Big Brother.
Thank you, Smoove, for writing this. It was informative and allowed me to see the show from your point of view. I still think the show is hypocritical, but I can surely understand now why it is also very important for people who suffer from this problem.
Jon, what reality show isn’t hypocritical? It’s a ratio. This show more than most other reality shows help people more than not. If this show saves 1 person’s life each season then I’d say it’s worth airing.
Compare that to Survivor, Big Brother, etc.
Jon, I agree with some of what you are saying. I don’t watch the show anymore, it is too frustrating for me. I hate seeing people voted off, especially those who need to be there. I would think that being on the ranch is a big motivator so I would like to see a show where all could stay. Just my opinion!
The whole competition aspect acts as motivation. These people who apply for the show who are morbidly obese see this as their motivation. And your acting like its a terrible thing that you think the producers don’t “help” them enough. They’re there for themselves, even the trainers say, you need to be here for you, and you need to be able to help yourself.
This is one of the best of the “reality shows” on TV! My whole family watches it – so keep it up and ignore the nay-sayers, the whole country needs a big wake-up call regarding obesity. It’s making people realize that healthy eating and exercise is the only way to get in shape and keep it off!
i really like the show u see im 6ft 402pounds and i really want to be apart of your show and it would mean a great deal if i could
Hey Jon,
Of course they care and it appears NBC cares as well. The ratings for this show are not that great. Yet, they keep producing new seasons to help inspire people who are obesed.
Actually, it’s one of NBC’s higher rated programs (that’s how bad the network is doing). I don’t watch the program regularly, but don’t they have a contest where watchers at home compete – in which case they are inviting people to ‘replicate [these] results at home’? That criticism aside, it is giant steps above the reality shows found on VH1 and elsewhere.
I’m curious on the limitations or regulations related to use of plastic surgery before the Finale. Is any allowed? Does NBC help fund for some of the procedures?
I looked up that, because some of these people have to get their skin snipped. My understanding is that none of that happens before the finale.
What a fitting shot of Tracey.
I just love that the Biggest Loser has produced more REAL marriages/couples than ANY of the dating shows combined!!
the two men who were in the finale had plastic surgery to remove excess skin if you look in previous shots of the series serious skin hanging 3 months before the finale and the night of the finale there is none. danny looked like he was in pain by his speech was halting and the way he walked like he hadn’t healed. he looks amazing and i am glad he won he deserved the 250 thousand dollars.
Umm, can we keep presidential spouse and president OFF THE SHOW!! PLEASE!!
I work with a group of nurses that all watch the show, often together, and we were all glad we didn’t have to see em during the White House visit.
No one had plastic surgery before the finale — they’re not allowed to have any work done before the finale. Danny has consulted with plastic surgeons but has not had anything worked on. I’m pretty sure there was some supportive undergear under their clothes, though. That’s allowed.
To stay on the air the show must also be commercialized. So many of the ‘stunts’ the contestant do, like Jill riding on the back of a contestant as they work out, are completely unhealthy in my book, not to mention over-theatrical. Then on to the commercials themselves, within the show, ‘chew Extra Gum to curb appetite’ and let’s not forget the top sponsor, Subway.
However, the fact that these VERY ill people come to the show taking needed drugs for diabetes, high blood pressure, etc and leave the show completely free from these drugs is the draw for me. If that isn’t proof that we as a nation can control many illnesses just by proper diet and exercise I don’t know what is.
Oh! And I hate what Rebecca did to her hair, I hope Danny keeps the weight off and I hope Shay continues between now and January with noticable weight loss.
this show is inspirational and i can’t beleive anyone is critisizinig it when the obesity in america is as bad as it is. i know that it has inspired me to become healthier. i think that the dramatics have gone over the top this season with jillian becoming a personal phsyciatrist but what show doesn’t ahve its drama. the most important thing is that it is making a differnece.
and i know exactly what you mean by wanting all the participants to stay on but it just isn’t realistic. what would the point of the show be if all the participants stayed on?? the competition is what motivates them. when they go home they are helped. do you really think that the contestants would work half as hard if it was a free ride? and i know i wouldn’t be watching the show if there wasn’t a bit of competition.
elisabeth is right. without competion this show would be pointless. sure the contestants would get the help they need but without the competition they would loose weigth much slower. they wouldn’t have to work to stay on the ranch. each player has the task of staying above the yellow line one more week and loosing as much weight as possible. and once the contestants are eliminated they still want to continue to loose wight and win the at home prize. and they build healthy workou habits for themselves in the process. this show motivates people other than the contestans from each season. there is another season coming up hich proves that more people are being inspired to loose weight and start their lives again. the show donates money to different charaties and allen even won the challenge and donated money to his daughters school so that young kids can stay physically fit. for somepeople this show is their last chance at life and i believe it saves lives. you see the people at the begining of the show and almost all of them are miserable. everyone of them says “i want my life back” and that is exactly what the show does. and so what if it has its dramatic parts…what show doesnt. you should stop wasting your time watching it if you really feel that way!!
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