Moving quickly to capitalize on the momentum from the second season of “Biggest Loser,” NBC has scheduled a series of themed “Loser” specials to air in January and February to help easy the pain of waiting for the show’s third installment.
Each of the specials will condense the weight-loss journey to two hours, pitting family against family or engaged couple against engaged couple.
Each special will begin with the contestants going to the “Biggest Loser” ranch and training with Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels, and the first episode will end with a weigh-in and prize.
The second hour will follow the teams back to the real world to show which group has lost the greatest percentage of weight and will win a $50,000 prize.
Caroline Rhea will host the specials.
“The Biggest Loser: Special Edition” will have a two-hour premiere at 7 p.m. Jan. 4. In the episode, the Muha family from Tampa and the Samuel family from Atlanta will have what NBC coyly describes as a “dessert battle in the desert.”
During one-hour episodes Feb. 1 and Feb. 8, the Sapienza family from the Bronx and the Senti family from Peoria will go head-to-head.
The second season of “The Biggest Loser” looked like a minor disappointment for NBC, but the series added viewers each week leading up to its Nov. 29 finale. It’s unclear when the third season will air.