'Biggest Loser' Producers Defend Controversial Temptation Challenges While Bob Harper Calls Them 'Dumb'
The Biggest Loser is making headlines again because of Netflix’s three-part docu-series Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser and the show’s producers and stars are debating the controversial temptation challenges.
The NBC competition series followed overweight and obese people competing to lose the most weight in order to win a cash prize, but also transform themselves in the process.
Contestants were often hit with temptation challenges throughout the season to win advantages or prizes, but they’d usually have to do something unhealthy in order to win. One controversial challenge gave contestants the chance to compete to win a visit with their family, but only the contestant who ate the most calories in the challenge would win.
So, were those challenges okay? Producers and stars are speaking out.
Keep reading to find out more…
“There’d be just like, all this stupid s–t. Candy, cake, cookies, pop — anything. All the things,” trainer Bob Harper said in the docu-series. “It was so dumb to me. Well, thank [producers] Dave Broome and JD Roth. I mean, it was their show.”
Host Alison Sweeney said, “The temptation challenges were the hardest part of the show for me.”
The show’s producers defended the challenges as they mimicked real life.
“What is a temptation? A temptation is real life. I can’t say 100% of the temptations we got right. But I can say that life is full of temptations,” JD Roth said.
Dave Broome added, “I needed the show to be relatable to the rest of the world who aren’t in this dome that we’ve created. You pass a cupcake in your refrigerator or on your counter or you pass that fast food store or restaurant on your way home from work. How can we get that in The Biggest Loser?”
One of the show’s most iconic winners opened up about gaining all of his weight back.