Elizabeth Ruiz

It’s a week of surprises for the contestants, starting with news from host Alison Sweeney that the competition is getting bigger with the addition of two new players who didn’t make it to the ranch in the premiere but have been saved by trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels. After all of the contestants get through their first grueling workout, they get eye--opening news from Dr. Huizenga about their health, revelations that are shared with surprise guests. Then the surprise of an early weigh--in -- and a twist resulting in more players falling below the yellow line -- comes as a shock to all the contestants. Later, they race each other in their first challenge, and then must make a difficult and emotional decision to determine which player will go home first.

Season 10 kicks off with a new theme of "paying it forward"‘ and 21 contestants vying for a spot at the ranch to get healthy and change their lives forever. With obesity now one of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States, "The Biggest Loser’" wanted to broaden their reach this season, pay it forward and motivate communities -- not just contestants -- to get healthy. So trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels and host Alison Sweeney travel to seven cities in the premiere episode, with each trainer leading community fitness challenges like a one--mile race or a 500 step--up competition. In each of the seven cities -- Detroit, Los Angeles, Portland, Atlanta, Phoenix, Oklahoma City and Boston -- there will also be three contestant hopefuls competing in the challenges. The two candidates who complete their fitness challenge first win a spot at the ranch, while those who don’t make it will get a chance to vie for a spot on the show in a later episode. Guest starring in the premiere will be three popular past season contestants -- season eight winner Danny Cahill, season seven finalist Mike Morelli and season five finalist Mark Kruger.

In this must-see, exciting live finale, all of the contestants from this season return for a special reunion and a chance to weigh in one last time -- and show America how much weight they’ve all lost since beginning their weight-loss journeys. There are four contestants left, but America has voted on the two that fell below the yellow line in last week’s episode to choose who will be the third finalist in the game. After America’s vote is revealed and the third finalist is announced, the eliminated player will then weigh in with the other 18 eliminated contestants to compete for the $100,000 "at home" prize. Then it’s the moment viewers have been waiting for, when one of the three finalists will be named this season’s "Biggest Loser" and win the coveted grand prize of $250,000! Alison Sweeney is the host, and trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels also star.

One contestant expresses a wish to go home this week, creating drama and tension in the house, while another group of players form a secret alliance. Trainer Bob Harper puts the contestants through a grueling workout, zeroing in on one player he thinks has shown him disrespect, and later, trainer Jillian Michaels tries to bring out the athlete in two contestants she thinks need extra attention. Tennis superstar Anna Kournikova gives all the players tennis lessons for a total body workout before a tennis ball pop challenge. Then the players are surprised by another early weigh-in, and those who fall below the yellow line face a wild elimination challenge involving 175 tons of sand before another contestant is sent home. Alison Sweeney and Jillian Michaels also star.

After hearing from host Alison Sweeney that two people will be going home this week, the contestants face their first temptation in the form of cupcakes, one of which represents a potentially huge prize for the winner that could grow more valuable each week. Later, chef Curtis Stone shows them that desserts can still be part of their lives by teaching them to prepare delicious, low-calorie cupcakes. At an early weigh-in, trainer Jillian Michaels grows frustrated with one contestant who doesn’t celebrate her successes, and then trainer Bob Harper invites the players to his house for a vegan meal. Then those who fell below the yellow line face an elimination challenge involving large rolls of carpet, but one player fears elimination when sidelined by an injury. And despite two players being sent home this week, the contestants learn that the competition is about to get bigger.