Montina Cooper

Season 10 kicks off with a new theme of "paying it forward"‘ and 21 contestants vying for a spot at the ranch to get healthy and change their lives forever. With obesity now one of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States, "The Biggest Loser’" wanted to broaden their reach this season, pay it forward and motivate communities -- not just contestants -- to get healthy. So trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels and host Alison Sweeney travel to seven cities in the premiere episode, with each trainer leading community fitness challenges like a one--mile race or a 500 step--up competition. In each of the seven cities -- Detroit, Los Angeles, Portland, Atlanta, Phoenix, Oklahoma City and Boston -- there will also be three contestant hopefuls competing in the challenges. The two candidates who complete their fitness challenge first win a spot at the ranch, while those who don’t make it will get a chance to vie for a spot on the show in a later episode. Guest starring in the premiere will be three popular past season contestants -- season eight winner Danny Cahill, season seven finalist Mike Morelli and season five finalist Mark Kruger.

It’s a week of surprises for the contestants, starting with news from host Alison Sweeney that the competition is getting bigger with the addition of two new players who didn’t make it to the ranch in the premiere but have been saved by trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels. After all of the contestants get through their first grueling workout, they get eye--opening news from Dr. Huizenga about their health, revelations that are shared with surprise guests. Then the surprise of an early weigh--in -- and a twist resulting in more players falling below the yellow line -- comes as a shock to all the contestants. Later, they race each other in their first challenge, and then must make a difficult and emotional decision to determine which player will go home first.

One contestant expresses a wish to go home this week, creating drama and tension in the house, while another group of players form a secret alliance. Trainer Bob Harper puts the contestants through a grueling workout, zeroing in on one player he thinks has shown him disrespect, and later, trainer Jillian Michaels tries to bring out the athlete in two contestants she thinks need extra attention. Tennis superstar Anna Kournikova gives all the players tennis lessons for a total body workout before a tennis ball pop challenge. Then the players are surprised by another early weigh-in, and those who fall below the yellow line face a wild elimination challenge involving 175 tons of sand before another contestant is sent home. Alison Sweeney and Jillian Michaels also star.

The contestants start their week hearing surprising news from host Alison Sweeney that at this week’s weigh-in, only one person’s weight will count for the blue team and the black team. It will be up to the opposing team to decide whose weight will count and the two contestants chosen won’t be revealed until the weigh-in -- leaving the blue and black teams busy strategizing on who they should choose. Then the players get a visit from celebrity chefs Curtis Stone and Lorena Garcia. Each chef is paired with a team to help coach them through a timed cooking competition -- but neither chef is allowed to actually touch the food, adding to the tension as they race against the clock to finish in time. The winning team gets an advantage at this week’s challenge, a dragon boat race pitting blue team vs. black. It’s the ultimate test of teamwork and timing as both teams race to win the challenge and a prize that will give them a valuable advantage at weigh-in. Trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels also star.

Five contestants who didn’t make it to the ranch in the premiere episode now return, all vying for a spot back in the competition. Whoever has the highest percentage of weight loss wins their way back in, and also wins one of the most important, game-changing decisions of the season when the competition moves to blue team vs. black team this week. In their first challenge as blue team vs. black, they race through food stations in downtown Los Angeles, answering food trivia questions that come with a physical challenge penalty if they choose the wrong answer. And the stakes are high with the winning team getting "The Biggest Loser" meal plan by Ediets for each member, plus the always-coveted reward of letters from home. When one team proves victorious, members of the losing team get a heartwarming surprise. Later, the drama heats up when a rumor spreads of one team possibly throwing the weigh-in, and after a tense weigh-in, the players send another contestant home. Alison Sweeney hosts the series, and trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels also star.

This week, the competition moves to singles, so contestants will compete on their own without partners or teammates from this point forward. The most recent elimination is still a big topic of conversation, with trainer Bob Harper trying to determine why the vote went the way it did and one player still upset over the departure of a close friend. But the players all perk up with news from the trainers that they’re getting a special gift from loved ones -- heartwarming videos from home that move everyone to tears. When one player doesn’t receive a video, the other contestants thoughtfully plan an uplifting surprise to try and make up for it. Then a pool challenge tests everyone’s balancing skills, and later, one player reaches a milestone at the weigh-in. Finally, one more contestant is eliminated, and heads home to an emotional reunion with loved ones. Trainer Jillian Michaels and host Alison Sweeney also star.