the biggest loser couples

['The Biggest Loser' - 'Week 13']

"How is this a prize?" --Contestant, after winning a Challenge

Easter was the theme this week, and because NBC is shoving 'Hop' down our throats this week, it was all over this episode of 'The Biggest Loser.' Alison hyped the premiere this weekend, made a sneak preview of the film a prize at one of this week's challenges and even had a massive Easter egg hunt.

But that's not where most of the drama happened. Thankfully, it wasn't from anyone throwing the weigh-in this week ... or did someone?

['The Biggest Loser' - 'Week 13']

"This is not a prison!" -- Alison Sweeney

Last week it was all one, big happy family. But this is 'The Biggest Loser.' You didn't expect that to last, did you?

This week, the game changed in a most unexpected way as the show took advantage of the four trainers to divide up the contestants in a way we've never seen before. In doing so, they opened up new challenge possibilities, a whole new strategic element and threw out everything that had come before.

['The Biggest Loser' - 'Week 12']

Justin's family got a lot bigger this week as the contestants abandoned red and black and united as the Blue Team. They now could work together toward a single goal: Losing more weight combined this week than they did last week, when they dropped 64 pounds. If they could pull it off, no one would go home.

It was certainly a lofty ambition, and one worth fighting for. As I said last week, the elimination of Sarah seemed to be the last "easy" cut these people were going to be able to make. On both sides of the original colors now all that remained were people they considered family.

['The Biggest Loser' - 'Week Eleven']

You know, it kind of feels like a whole new 'Biggest Loser' without Arthur. I'm not saying I hated him, as I thought he had some good qualities. Some bad ones as well, but he was clearly dominating the show. Never is that more clear than without him in the house. Now I suddenly find myself paying more attention to everyone else in the house to see what they bring to the table.

And now that none of the girls on the Black Team are worrying about Arthur, they can focus on one another and come together even tighter. This week, the tight bond of both teams was put to the test when they had to select a team leader to represent them throughout the week. Neither choice was much of a surprise.

['The Biggest Loser' - 'Weeks Nine & Ten']

If TV makes you cry, you probably didn't enjoy the first half of this week's episode of 'The Biggest Loser.' Actually, you may have had a difficult time with the entire thing.

The contestants were sent home for two weeks, and basically left to their own devices. In seasons past, this has proven disastrous for most people. To add to the temptation for Austin, his 21st birthday was going to occur during his stint at home. As happy as he was to be going home, I'll bet he was more than a little scared of how that night might play out.

After the two weeks at home, they came back to campus for a remix of the first challenge of the season. This time, each contestant had to to a solo 5k on a treadmill, and then again they could choose their trainers. Would anyone change voluntarily?

['The Biggest Loser' - 'Week Eight']

I certainly have a lot of feelings about what went down at this week's weigh-in, but they're mixed. My initial reaction was far more negative than what my more reflective self has been considering in the house since the eliminated players were sent packing.

Oh, and you did read that right. Two players were eliminated this week, as promised. One was the victim of the red line while the other went the more traditional way by being voted out by his/her teammates.

It was the red line that seemed to be driving one team to despair and craziness. But were they crazy?

['The Biggest Loser' - 'Week Seven']

After throwing the house into chaos by switching two members from each team, Arthur had a huge target on his back this week on 'The Biggest Loser.' The Black Team won the weigh-in last week, which saved them from having to consider sending him home.

His team has been protecting him through some pretty disappointing weigh-ins the past few weeks, but their patience has been weighing thing.

Arthur wisely declared that this week he needed to lay low, listen and most importantly, keep his mouth shut. He even took some cooking advice from the women of the Black Team, who helped him cut cheese and red meat out of his diet. The question is, can this team of underdogs do it again?

['The Biggest Loser' - 'Week Six']

Well, I'm not even sure what to say about that Temptation Challenge and the fallout of it. Certainly the winner revealed some deep-rooted insecurities, but they may also have simply pushed their luck too far in the game.

With Cara and Brett on the Ranch with their players, it was time for Alison to switch things up. That picture should give you a pretty good clue.

That's right, it's Red vs. Black. Bob and Jillian's team got to pick from the two colors the two trainers usually represent and opted for Black. Brett and Cara's team are tackling Red, which meant Q got to keep his color the same. Maybe it's the kind of kick in the butt he needs in order to stay in his team's good graces.

['The Biggest Loser' - 'Week Four, Part 2 & Week Five']

This week's episode of 'The Biggest Loser' saw the Unknowns return to The Ranch, but remain separate. It also saw two weigh-ins that were essentially three, a huge breakthrough for Hannah, and a huge moment spoiled by the announcer.

Maybe they're hoping we're not paying attention. Well, I am. In fact, I'm paying so much attention, I have some serious questions about the Unknown weigh-in we saw. Certainly, it was eye-opening, but was it sincere?

The Unknowns participated in a Challenge that revealed a rift within their "family," while the On-Campus players united toward a common goal.

['The Biggest Loser' - 'Week Four, Part 1']

Thanks to the State of the Union Address, 'The Biggest Loser' was cut in half this week. And while in the past, we've seen the editors truncate the events of the episode to fit in a single hour's running time, that wasn't the case this week.

What that means is that we didn't get a weigh-in, or any eliminations. But that doesn't mean we weren't treated to the usual twists and turns we've come to expect. And the drama.

You didn't think Bob and Jillian were going to let that double 9lb weight gain go, did you? Dan and Don each gained nine pounds last week, and while Dan's elimination saved him from their wrath, his twin brother Don remained to take the full brunt of it.

['The Biggest Loser' - 'Week Three']

It was a week of revelations and surprises. Finally, after two weeks of pointlessly keeping them a secret, the identities of the two unknown trainers was revealed. America responded with a collective, "Who?"

We got to spend some time connecting personally with the "Unknown" contestants, which is important as they'll soon be merging back with the gang at the Ranch. If you payed close enough attention, you even got to see how they did at the Weigh-In.

But it was the Weigh-In results among the "Ranch" contestants that left jaws on the ground. Did one team throw the weigh-in? We've wondered this in past seasons, but have never seen numbers like this.

['The Biggest Loser' - 'Week Two']

In the first week of 'The Biggest Loser,' the contestants were divided into two groups. Five pairs were sent to work with two unknown trainers -- and securing four weeks of immunity -- while the rest had the privilege, so to speak, of training with Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels.

What happened, though, was that the Unknowns, as they've come to be called, actually lost more weight off the Ranch with mysterious trainers than the six teams who stayed and worked with Bob and Jillian.

This cannot stand! So host Alison Sweeney threw out a challenge.

['The Biggest Loser' - 'Week One']

It looks like 'American Idol' isn't the only reality show ringing in the new year with big changes. 'The Biggest Loser' returned to its popular 'Couples' format, but pairing up the contestants wasn't the only change from last season. This time around, the contestants had a choice between two pairs of trainers.

Of course, Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels were back on the show -- though Michaels has indicated she will not be returning next year -- but they were joined by two new trainers.

And since this is 'The Biggest Loser,' they couldn't just introduce the new trainers. Instead, they staged a challenge on the first night on campus and had the contestants choose Bob and Jillian, or the new trainers.

Each season of 'The Biggest Loser' brings a new twist. For season 11, which premieres on Jan. 4, it involves the two trainers brought in to help replace Jillian Michaels when she leaves the show at the end of the season.

Depending on where contestants place in the first challenge, they'll be able to decide whether they want to work with Bob Harper and Michaels on the ranch, or move to a secret location and work out with two mystery trainers in exchange for four weeks of immunity. NBC promises "a riveting ride of intense emotions, surprising turns and 'can't miss' moments" will ensue.

It's fitting that the newbie trainers will be paired up together, since the next 'Biggest Loser' will be a couples edition. After the jump, learn more about the latest batch of 'Losers,' courtesy an NBC press release.

It must be hard to have come so far -- and still have so far to go. Contestant Michael Ventrella has lost 192 pounds on 'The Biggest Loser' (Tue., 8PM ET on NBC). But he's still the fattest contestant on the show, and he's having a little trouble handing this fact.

[Spoiler alert.]