Skip to Content
reality TV reviews, news, and analysis since 2000

“Trainer save” added to Biggest Loser; cast includes 462-pound Ruben Studdard

American Idol 2 winner Ruben Studdard will be on the 15th season of The Biggest Loser this fall; the 462-pound singer will be “the show’s first celebrity player,” according to NBC, and he’s also the season’s biggest person. The 15-person cast also includes Olympic weightlifter Holley Mangold.

Also a first: the trainers helped cast the show, and will each be allowed to save one contestant during the season–kind of like Tim Gunn’s new power on Project Runway. That continues a trend of reality competitions giving people second chances, which perhaps not coincidentally is this season’s theme.

In a preview video, linked in the playlist below, Jillian says, “This game is fundamentally unfair, because it is a game.” She says the save is “the great equalizer” because the contestants “want to be worth saving” so they will work harder and rely less on alliances.

All reality blurred content is independently selected, including links to products or services. However, if you buy something after clicking an affiliate link, I may earn a commission, which helps support reality blurred. Learn more.

More great stories

About the author

  • Andy Dehnart

    Andy Dehnart is the creator of reality blurred and a writer and teacher who obsessively and critically covers reality TV and unscripted entertainment, focusing on how it’s made and what it means.

Discussion: your turn

I think of writing about television as the start of a conversation, and I value your contributions to that conversation. We’ve created a community that connects people through open and thoughtful conversations about the TV we’re watching and the stories about it.

To share our perspectives and exchange ideas in a welcoming, supportive space, I’ve created these rules for commenting here. By commenting below, you confirm that you’ve read and agree to those rules.

Happy discussing!