SIXTEEN NEW CONTESTANTS SEIZE THEIR "SECOND CHANCE" TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES WHEN THE NEW SEASON OF NBC'S HIT SERIES "THE BIGGEST LOSER" KICKS OFF TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 (8-10 P.M. ET)

Trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels Join Forces to Train New Contestants Together � Including The Show's Heaviest Contestant Ever � And The New Players Face An Eye-Opening Beach Challenge

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. � September 10, 2009 � Sixteen new contestants get a "second chance" to transform their bodies and their lives when season eight of NBC's hit series "The Biggest Loser" premieres Tuesday, September 15 (8-10 p.m. ET).

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.

The new season begins with the contestants on a bus, heading to the ranch until they make an unexpected stop at the beach. Host Alison Sweeney is waiting for them with the news that before going to the ranch, they have to complete their first challenge on the show � running the last mile of the marathon that the four finalists ran at the end of the previous season. The winner will get not only immunity at this week's weigh-in, but will also get the chance to pick who their teammate will be for their weight loss journey.

One contestant has a health scare during the challenge, which proves to be a sobering wake-up call for all the players who are reminded of just how unhealthy they really are.

After the challenge is over and they finally arrive at the ranch, the contestants get to know each other and share their own very personal stories of why they wanted to come to the ranch. Then they are off to meet trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels, who will join forces and start the season training all of the contestants together.

Later, the players head to the California Health and Longevity Institute, where they meet with Dr. Huizenga to better understand all the medical conditions they're facing because of their extra weight. Then an emotional weigh-in is followed by an elimination, sending home the first player of the season.

On Wednesday, September 16, shortly after the season eight premiere of "The Biggest Loser," season five winner and first female Biggest Loser Ali Vincent is scheduled to return to QVC for "'The Biggest Loser' Healthy Lifestyle" shows at midnight, 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (ET), where she will unveil the latest additions to "The Biggest Loser" product line. Vincent, who lost 112 pounds during the show, has continued to inspire others by keeping the weight off a full year later with the help of "The Biggest Loser's" wide array of products. Visit www.biggestloser.com for more information about "The Biggest Loser" product line.

"The Biggest Loser: Couples" is a production of Reveille LLC, 25/7 Productions and 3Ball Productions. Ben Silverman (NBC's "The Office," "Ugly Betty"), Dave Broome ("A Model Life with Petra Nemcova," "Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope"), JD Roth ("Age of Love," "Beauty and the Geek"), Todd A. Nelson ("Unan1mous," "Beauty and the Geek") and Mark Koops ("Breakthrough With Tony Robbins," "Shear Genius") serve as executive producers.