Viewers of this season’s Biggest Loser on NBC have been grumbling for weeks now about dissatisfaction with the cast. The “cast” being those lucky people who were chosen to compete on the show with the hopes of winning $250,000 by making it to the end, and losing the greatest percentage of weight. Why the grumblings? Simply put, the majority of the cast comes off as less than likable.
When you watch The Biggest Loser, you want to connect with the people on the show, and you want to root for them to succeed in their weight loss journey. It is part of the attraction and charm of TBL, and it encourages us to get off our own couches and start moving. There have been so many wonderful contestants on past shows. Gen Xer Abby Rike showed all of us that you can go through devastating and heartbreaking events in your life, and still keep going. Sam Poueu (who was recently released from a hospital ICU after suffering a terrible accident at his home), changed his life, fell in love and became a real man right before our eyes. Ali Vincent became the first female winner of TBL and still inspires women everywhere to get healthy. Tara Costa came with a smile, and focused so intently that she broke numerous BL records. Her “can do” approach made an impression on millions of people. All of these contestants and many others had great stories, but more importantly they had great attitudes and a real desire to change their lives. That just does not seem to be the case with the Season 13 contestants.
Twenty adults who need real help to gain back their health and their self-esteem came onto Season 13. Then something strange happened, as we got to know them, they overwhelmingly appeared to have bad attitudes. They complain, they snipe at each other, they talk about one another, they underachieve and then they complain some more. It’s the season of no excuses, yet excuses are all we hear. It’s not inspiring, it’s disheartening.
Since trainer Jillian Michaels left the show a couple of seasons ago, it just isn’t as good. Jillian and Bob Harper were a great match; they fed off each other, they were competitive, but they were still friends. Bob and the newest trainer, Dolvett Quince, seem to have little respect for each other. Egos are in play with the trainers and with the contestants, and the biggest losers in the end, are the viewers.
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