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Biggest Loser Season 10 opener to feature Detroit | detnews.com | The Detroit News
Season 10 of The Biggest Loser will start right here.
Filming for next September's opening episode of the popular reality television series about overcoming obesity was shot Sunday in front of Ford Motor Company's World Headquarters.
About 350 local residents gathered to act as extras, working out with one of the show's trainers, Bob Harper. The spoken purpose was to issue a fitness and lifestyle change challenge to Detroit, but casting executives also wandered the crowd with an eye open for future contestants.
"I am looking for people who stand out," said Holland Striplin, casting director. "Season nine is still airing, the finale will be aired May 25. And the cast of season ten is actually already set. I'm looking for season 11 and beyond."
Other cities will get similar treatment and will be featured in other season 10 shows, including Boston, Portland, Phoenix, Oklahoma City, and Los Angeles.
Contestants start hundreds of pounds overweight and spend 12 to 16 weeks in diet and physical training as they face challenges throughout the television season.
Many of those who gathered Sunday were large people, and some are ready to undergo the life-changing effort of joining the cast.
James Glover, 36, of Ann Arbor weighs 450 pounds -- and is deaf -- which is why he thinks he'd make a great contestant.
"Deaf people don't have to hear to do things," Glover said through an interpreter. "I'm ready. I've watched the show and been inspired. I would like to do sports. I would like to just not die of a heart attack."
And some who showed up Sunday were small, like Helen Phillips of Sterling Heights, winner of The Biggest Loser season seven. She lost 140 of her 257 pounds on the show. She's now a svelte 134 and makes a living traveling the country as a motivational speaker.
"I think what happens here in Detroit is we hibernate," Phillips said. "Losing jobs and feeling down about ourselves doesn't help. We need to encourage each other to plan healthier meals and to get outside and enjoy our beautiful parks. We have so many beautiful places to walk, run and bike."
Detroit resident Carla Triplett, another participant in season seven, also mingled with the crowd, signing autographs and giving advice. The 38-year-old Comerica Bank branch manager was 379 pounds when she started on the show. She now weighs 257 pounds.
"People look at me and say, 'What?' because I'm not skinny," Triplett said. "But, it isn't all about getting skinny, it's about getting healthy. I feel great and it's because I started eating healthy and started having fun working out."
Triplett dances and boxes in her workouts, and she avoids fast food. It's not a diet as much as it is a lifestyle change. She carries an ice chest stocked with nuts, cheese sticks, apples and lots of water.
"There's a fast food store on almost every corner in Detroit, and not many fresh healthy food markets," she said. "I have to plan to buy the right food. I eat chicken and fish and fresh vegetables."
Todd Lubin, co-executive producer of the reality series, said Ford World Headquarters was selected as a backdrop for next season's opening episode because southeastern Michigan has produced numerous past contestants for the show, and the hard hit-economy here is emblematic of a refuse to quit spirit.
"What more iconic place is there in Detroit to say there is hope," Lubin asked, pointing to the huge Ford blue oval logo near the top of the towering glass building. "Everyone can recognize this manufacturer is coming back and they didn't even take any federal money to do it."
He also said the show wanted to partner with Ford's Pink Warriors program that organizes women in the fight against breast cancer.
Lubin said participants on the television show are selected for their unique circumstances and character, and Detroit seems to offer plenty of colorful characters.
"It's not just about the problem of unhealthy eating and weight loss. We want to show the human spirit. We want to tell stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary things, people who will inspire others to help themselves. Not just that I can lose weight, but I can go back to school, I can get that new job I can overcome."
Season 10 of The Biggest Loser will start right here.
Filming for next September's opening episode of the popular reality television series about overcoming obesity was shot Sunday in front of Ford Motor Company's World Headquarters.
About 350 local residents gathered to act as extras, working out with one of the show's trainers, Bob Harper. The spoken purpose was to issue a fitness and lifestyle change challenge to Detroit, but casting executives also wandered the crowd with an eye open for future contestants.
"I am looking for people who stand out," said Holland Striplin, casting director. "Season nine is still airing, the finale will be aired May 25. And the cast of season ten is actually already set. I'm looking for season 11 and beyond."
Other cities will get similar treatment and will be featured in other season 10 shows, including Boston, Portland, Phoenix, Oklahoma City, and Los Angeles.
Contestants start hundreds of pounds overweight and spend 12 to 16 weeks in diet and physical training as they face challenges throughout the television season.
Many of those who gathered Sunday were large people, and some are ready to undergo the life-changing effort of joining the cast.
James Glover, 36, of Ann Arbor weighs 450 pounds -- and is deaf -- which is why he thinks he'd make a great contestant.
"Deaf people don't have to hear to do things," Glover said through an interpreter. "I'm ready. I've watched the show and been inspired. I would like to do sports. I would like to just not die of a heart attack."
And some who showed up Sunday were small, like Helen Phillips of Sterling Heights, winner of The Biggest Loser season seven. She lost 140 of her 257 pounds on the show. She's now a svelte 134 and makes a living traveling the country as a motivational speaker.
"I think what happens here in Detroit is we hibernate," Phillips said. "Losing jobs and feeling down about ourselves doesn't help. We need to encourage each other to plan healthier meals and to get outside and enjoy our beautiful parks. We have so many beautiful places to walk, run and bike."
Detroit resident Carla Triplett, another participant in season seven, also mingled with the crowd, signing autographs and giving advice. The 38-year-old Comerica Bank branch manager was 379 pounds when she started on the show. She now weighs 257 pounds.
"People look at me and say, 'What?' because I'm not skinny," Triplett said. "But, it isn't all about getting skinny, it's about getting healthy. I feel great and it's because I started eating healthy and started having fun working out."
Triplett dances and boxes in her workouts, and she avoids fast food. It's not a diet as much as it is a lifestyle change. She carries an ice chest stocked with nuts, cheese sticks, apples and lots of water.
"There's a fast food store on almost every corner in Detroit, and not many fresh healthy food markets," she said. "I have to plan to buy the right food. I eat chicken and fish and fresh vegetables."
Todd Lubin, co-executive producer of the reality series, said Ford World Headquarters was selected as a backdrop for next season's opening episode because southeastern Michigan has produced numerous past contestants for the show, and the hard hit-economy here is emblematic of a refuse to quit spirit.
"What more iconic place is there in Detroit to say there is hope," Lubin asked, pointing to the huge Ford blue oval logo near the top of the towering glass building. "Everyone can recognize this manufacturer is coming back and they didn't even take any federal money to do it."
He also said the show wanted to partner with Ford's Pink Warriors program that organizes women in the fight against breast cancer.
Lubin said participants on the television show are selected for their unique circumstances and character, and Detroit seems to offer plenty of colorful characters.
"It's not just about the problem of unhealthy eating and weight loss. We want to show the human spirit. We want to tell stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary things, people who will inspire others to help themselves. Not just that I can lose weight, but I can go back to school, I can get that new job I can overcome."