The Biggest Loser follows a similar formula as other reality
television shows. In most reality shows
the contestants are chosen for a reason and compete for a prize at the end, usually
a large sum of cash. The shows need a
variety of personalities to make the show interesting. This means that some people are put on the
show just to stir up trouble or cause drama and you can usually pick out those
contestants on day one.
There are five steps that I’ve
identified as the formula for The Biggest
Loser show. It’s currently in its
fourteenth season. Over the years the
show has established a formula or pattern that it will follow. The five steps in the formula are group
training, excuses month, reward challenge, elimination, and finale winners. The contestants will go through each one of
these steps during the show.
The first step is group
training. Throughout the years the
creators of the show have mixed things up to keep the show interesting but they
always start the contestants off by letting them work together in groups. This has been done by pairing them up in twos
or by splitting the group up between the trainers. This allows the contestants to rely on others
in a sense while they get used to the idea of change. I like to refer to the first month of the
show as excuse month. The contestants
make excuses for why they’re in the situation they are, whine and cry about the
workouts, and get ill or injured during that first month. The third step in the formula is the reward
challenges that are held each week. During
the challenges contestants can when prizes, money, family interaction, or an
advantage for the weigh-in that week.
The fourth step is the elimination ceremony. The biggest loser for the week has immunity
but everyone else on the losing team can be voted for to be sent home. The person with the most votes is off of the
show. It’s not the end of the road for
the contestants though because there is an at home prize for the contestant
that got sent home and loses the most weight among at home contestants. This prize is awarded at the finale which is
the final step of the formula. The
contestant who lost the most weight that made it to the finale is the
winner. Even though there is one crowned
winner of the show, everyone is a winner if they were able to make lifestyle
changes in order to live a longer and healthier life.
I enjoy watching reality
television shows even though I recognize the formulas behind them. Sometimes it upsets me when they put people on
the show that are just there to cause drama.
I think that is the wrong reason to be there but I can understand the
creators aspect in wanting to make sure that the show remains interesting
enough for people to watch. The formula
for reality shows are able to bring out people’s true colors. You get a great insight on the values and
morals of people when they have a chance to when a large cash prize. The nice thing about the formula for The Biggest Loser is that it creates
change in people. The setup or formula
for the show is what’s responsible for people to sustain change once the show
is over.
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