Original Air date: 04/17/2012
Catch The Biggest Loser on OMNI.1

Season 13 Highlights:

Preview Week 16
It's early in the morning of Week 16, and the camera operators can't find any of the contestants - and none of them are wearing their microphones. A few of the contestants are eventually spotted going to their rooms, closing doors. Crying, Kim shuts herself into her bathroom, and it looks like Mark is - packing his suitcase? Supervising Producer Joel Relampagos finds Bob brushing his teeth in the makeup room and explains what's happening: The show planned to bring past contestants back to give them a chance to win a place in the finals, just like they always do. The final five got wind of the plan and are now threatening to quit. Bob can't believe it - it's insane. This happens every season!

The Biggest Loser: No Excuses
Season 13 Premiere, No Excuses!


The Biggest Loser returns with a bang for  season 13 on Tuesday, January 3 (8-10 p.m. ET) when the contestants arrive at the ranch and get one of the biggest surprises ever in the series' history.

They arrive in teams of two - including mother/daughter, father/son, brother/sister and husband/wife, all eager to change their lives together. But they're shocked to discover that they will not only be split up - they will also be competing against the person they came with. They'll be pushed out of
their comfort zones in a way they have never been before - and one team won't even make it
on to the ranch-as the season of "No Excuses" begins.

All of the contestants have the same goal: losing weight and getting healthy. But they all
have different excuses for why they never lost the weight before, ranging from being too
busy, not knowing how to eat right, being emotional eaters, knowing they could always start
a weight loss program "tomorrow," and more. So the season of "no partners" will also be a
season of "no excuses" - as week in and week out, all the typical reasons for not getting in
shape will be addressed.

The contestants will hit the ground running with a three-part challenge as soon as they
arrive, and though 18 of the 20 contestants come to the ranch with loved ones, two will
initially be paired as strangers. Once divided, the two groups of players will be trained by
Bob Harper and Dolvett Quince, both fiercely competitive and determined to whip their
contestants into shape, and deliver the season's $250,000 grand prize winner.

Hosted by Alison Sweeney, "The Biggest Loser" will feature new contestants that include
Nancy Rajala, who has 13 children and 55 grandchildren and didn't gain weight until she
became a widow at 52, Kim Nielsen, a former professional wrestler and single mother of three
whose career ended when she broke her back in a wrestling match, and Roy Pickler, a Santa
Claus and scout leader who wants to get in shape so he can continue taking scout troops on
adventures as he has for almost 25 years.

Also competing this season will be former Junior Olympic weight lifter Emily Joy, music
producer Adrian Dortch, who has been a background vocalist for artists like Seal and David
Foster, Ben Shuh, a father of nine children with a 10th on the way, and Cassandra Sturos,
whose weight has held her back from pursuing her dream to move to New York and be a writer.

The new contestants competing for the $250,000 grand prize will be:
PARENT AND ADULT CHILD TEAMS:
Gail Lee (Realtor), 57, and her daughter, Lauren Lee (Exercise physiologist), 26,
Poolesville, Maryland.
Mark Cornelison (Youth pastor), 43, and his son, Isaac "Chism" Cornelison (Student), 19,
Magnolia, Texas.
Kim Stone (Registered nurse), 48, and her daughter, Megan Stone (Student and support staff
for organization that assists disabled adults), 21, Dittmer, Missouri.

GRANDPARENT AND GRANDCHILD TEAM:
Nancy Rajala (Retired), 63, and her granddaughter, Cassandra Sturos (In-home senior
caregiver), 25, Fowlerville, Michigan.

SIBLINGS:
Conda Britt (Nutrition health services tech), 24, and her brother, Jeremy Britt (Banker),
22, Rockford, Michigan.
Adrian Dortch (Music producer and community activist), 34, and his sister, Daphne Dortch
(Paralegal/Kids activity team member), 37, Evanston, Illinois.
Joe Messina (Truck driver), 38, Auburn, New York, and his brother, Mike Messina (Cook), 41,
Oakland, California.
Allen "Buddy" Shuh (Pastor), 42, Wayne, Michigan and his brother, Ben Shuh (Retail store
manager), 34, Howell, Michigan.

SPOUSES:
Christine Pickler (self-employed), 42, and her husband, Roy Pickler (Self-employed/Santa
Claus), 63, Middlebury, Indiana.

STRANGERS:
Emily Joy (Teacher), 29, Huntersville, North Carolina, and Kim Nielsen (Former professional
wrestler), 38, Roswell, Georgia.