The Biggest Loser (Australian TV series)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Biggest Loser | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Reality television |
| Created by | NBC |
| Presented by | Ajay Rochester |
| Starring | Jillian Michaels Bob Harper Michelle Bridges Shannan Ponton Steve Willis |
| Opening theme | "Lift" by Shannon Noll |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 121 (List of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
Dave Broome |
| Producer(s) | Amanda Scott |
| Location(s) | Sydney, New South Wales |
| Running time | 30 mins (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) 60 mins (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, special shows) (inc. commercials) |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Network TEN |
| Picture format | 16:9 SDTV, HDTV |
| Original airing | 13 February 2006 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | The Biggest Loser |
| External links | |
| Official website | |
| IMDb profile | |
| TV.com summary | |
The Biggest Loser is an Australian reality television show, based on the original American version of the same name. It is produced by Crackerjack Productions and screened on Network Ten. It is hosted by Ajay Rochester and first debuted on 13 February 2006, followed by a second season on 4 February 2007. The third season began airing on 3 February 2008. No fourth season has been mentioned.
Contents |
[edit] About the series
The series involves contestants who are overweight to varying degrees participating in a contest to lose the most percentage of weight, with teams and contestants voting each other out. Unlike the American version, weight loss is measured in kilograms instead of pounds, and while pounds are measured in whole numbers, kilograms are measured with decimal points.
Reprising their roles for season one from the American version of The Biggest Loser are personal trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels, who are responsible for training the contestants. Their roles were replaced (although they do appear) by two Australian trainers, Michelle Bridges and Shannan Ponton, in the second season.
The show is filmed in Terry Hills, one of the northern suburbs of Sydney. The Walk, a new addition to this series is filmed at Bobbin Head in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Turramurra, New South Wales.
The Biggest Loser has been parodied since its debut in Australia. The Chaser created a sketch called "The Biggest Muslim". It was about a faux reality TV show in which contestants lost their Islamic faith[1].
[edit] Seasons
[edit] Season 1 (2006)
This is an Australian version of the program first aired at 7.00pm each weeknight on Network Ten from 13 February, to the final episode on 27 April 2006 where the first Australia's Biggest Loser was awarded AUD$200,000. The program featured the same personal trainers as the US version, Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels with Australian host AJ Rochester. Over 6,000 Australians applied to take part, only 12 contestants being chosen to compete, their starting weight ranging from 101kg (Fiona) to 197kg (David).
[edit] Season 2 (2007)
The second season of the Australian version first went to air on Sunday 4 February 2007 on the Ten Network, the eventual winner being Chris Garling who lost 70.1kg and won AUD$200,000. It was introduced with personal trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels, who were then taken over by two new Australian trainers, Michelle Bridges and Shannan Ponton, with one extra surprise trainer, Ex-SAS "Commando" Steve Willis. The contestants starting weights range from 108kg (Mel) to 216kg (Damien), the heaviest competitor so far out of all versions of The Biggest Loser worldwide. The beginning of this series marked some controversy with a contestant quitting, two leaving on medical terms and the introduction of "The Walk" which gave individual immunity winners unprecedented power as to how the game is played. The latest twist in the game was revealed on 21 March 2007, where it was revealed to the competitors and viewers that there was a secret weigh-in involving two "outsiders" on the first day. These outsiders (Chris and Kimberlie) had trained daily with the "Commando" whilst still living at home and going living their every day lives. Their entry into the house caused some upset, especially with newcomer Chris recording a big enough weight loss to see him enter the competition as the 3rd biggest loser, and eventually going on to become the season's winner.
[edit] Season 3 (2008)
The third season premiered on February 3, 2008 in a similar format as the previous two seasons, with the winner receiving AUD$200,000. The two Australian trainers from previous seasons return in addition to Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels, who trained a rival team in the United States. The starting weights ranged from 111kg (Carrianne) to 206kg (Garry).
Applications for the third season opened at the end of season 2.[2]
On May 1, university student Sam Rouen became the show's youngest Biggest Loser.
[edit] Music
- The music used in the third season's promotional cinema, TV and radio advertising is Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime by Robyn Loau.
- The music used in the promotional advertising and the opening and end credits for all three seasons of the show is "Lift" by Shannon Noll.
[edit] Soundtrack
The Official soundtrack for the TV series was released on 17 March 2007 featuring various artists such as Kelly Clarkson, Fatboy Slim, Black Eyed Peas, and Shakira.
Track listing:
- Shannon Noll - Lift
- Black Eyed Peas - Pump It
- Rogue Traders - Way To Go!
- Kelly Clarkson - Walk Away
- BodyRockers - I Like the Way (You Move) (radio Edit)
- Britney Spears - Do Somethin'
- Pink - U + Ur Hand (clean)
- Charlotte Church - Crazy Chick
- The Killers - Somebody Told Me
- Gretchen Wilson - Redneck Woman
- Groove Armada - I See You Baby
- Pussycat Dolls - Don't Cha
- Shakira - Hips Don't Lie (featuring Wyclef Jean)
- Anastacia - Sick & Tired (jason Nevins Electrochill Remix Edit)
- INXS - Pretty Vegas
- Will Smith - Switch
- Fergie - London Bridge
- Planet Funk - The Switch
- Fatboy Slim - The Rockafeller Skank
- Christina Aguilera - Fighter
[edit] Book
The Biggest Loser: Change Your Life is a paperback book published by Hardie Grant Trade on March 1, 2007[1] and offers exercises, healthy diets and eating plans based on those used by the contestants. The book also includes motivational advice from the second season trainers, Shannon Ponton and Michelle Bridges, and suggestions from former season one contestants.
The book has three chapters: Ready, gives a summary of exercises and diets. Set, has over 60 healthy recipes and further detail about exercises. Go [2]. The exercise plans covered include a two-week "KickStart Plan" and a three-month "LifeStyle Program" [3].
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ Still of The Biggest Muslim parody by The Chaser
- ^ The Biggest Loser Series 3 - Have you got what it takes? - Application for series 3. URL accessed April 27 2007
[edit] External links
Hosts/Trainers
- Ajay Rochester's Official Site, and Healthy Body Club (Host)
- Bob Harper Official Site (US Trainer)
- Jillian Michaels Official Site (US Trainer)
- Commando Steve's Official Site (Surprise Trainer)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
