NBC'S HIT SERIES 'THE BIGGEST LOSER' TO FEATURE COMPETITORS FROM ALL 50 STATES WHEN NEW SEASON PREMIERES WITH SPECIAL TWO-HOUR EPISODE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

NBC'S HIT SERIES 'THE BIGGEST LOSER' TO FEATURE COMPETITORS FROM ALL 50 STATES WHEN NEW SEASON PREMIERES WITH SPECIAL TWO-HOUR EPISODE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

Fourteen Contestants Will Stay at the Ranch While 36 Contestants Will Compete at Home After Going Through a Fitness and Nutrition Boot Camp

BURBANK, Calif. � August 14, 2006 - Season three of NBC's hit reality show "The Biggest Loser" will feature 50 contestants representing every state in the country when the new season premieres with a special two-hour episode on Wednesday, September 20 (8-10 p.m. ET).

In addition, the season premiere will showcase a surprising twist. Thirty-six contestants will leave the ranch to compete at home after going through an initial fitness and nutrition boot camp, leaving 14 to continue on with the competition at the Biggest Loser Ranch. One man and one woman from the 36 state contestants who lose the largest percentage of weight will then rejoin the game at the ranch in a later episode. Each of the 36 contestants will have access to www.thebiggestloserclub.com, a 24-Hour Fitness gym, "The Biggest Loser:" The Workout DVD and book while making their lifestyle change at home. The show's medical team will also monitor the contestants on a regular basis.

"This season we decided to hold a 50 state competition because of 'The Biggest Loser' weight loss challenges starting up across the nation in schools, gyms, churches and workplaces. We are thrilled that our show has inspired the nation to make a lifestyle change." said executive producer Ben Silverman.

The 50 contestants representing each state are:
Melinda Suttle, 32, Huntsville, Alabama
Kai Hibbard, 27, Eagle River, Alaska
John Turner, 42, Phoenix, Arizona
Jaron Tate, 27, Hot Springs, Arkansas
Brian Starkey, 33, Valley Village, California
Stacie Farr, 33, Westminster, Colorado
Chris Smith, 29, Milford, Connecticut
Tim Clausen, 31, Lewes, Delaware
Mark "Wylie" Wylie, 40 Miami Beach Florida
Angie Moore, 33, McDonough, GA
Elisha Purdy, 35, Honolulu, Hawaii
Linda Houseman, 54, Boise, Idaho
Katherine Smith, 35, Chicago, Illinois
Pam Smith, 25, Martinsville, Indiana
Steve Pilchen, 52, Urbandale, Iowa
Alyssa Brockert, 26, Leavenworth, Kansas
Jamie Dean Lucas, 40, Elizabethtown, Kentucky
Sabrina O'Neal, 29, New Orleans, Louisiana
Matthew McNutt, 31, Boothbay, Maine
Amy Hildreth, 27, Baltimore, Maryland
Nelson "Nellie Potter, 35, Lawrence, Massachusetts
Kally Fox, 35, Dexter, Michigan
Jennifer Eisenbarth, 32, Shakopee Minnesota
John Weatherford, 24, Forest, Mississippi
Marty Wolff, 25, Kansas City, Missouri
Mark Monaco, 42, Missoula, Montana
Evelyn Garcia, 38, Omaha, Nebraska
Joscelyn Cook, 22, Las Vegas, Nevada
Walter "Wally" Bressler, 38, Bedford, New Hampshire
Poppi Kramer, 34, River Edge, New Jersey
Mitzi McCaleb, 35, Artesia, New Mexico
Erik Chopin, 36, West Islip, New York
Ken Canion, 41, Greensboro, North Carolina
Adrian Kortesmaki, 22, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Nikki Myers, 34, Columbus, Ohio
Jason Ramsey, 28, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Tim Thomas, 34, Terrebonne, Oregon
Valerie Robinson, 34, E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Erin Jeffrey, 30, Charlestown, Rhode Island
Latorria Ladd, 22, Clemson, South Carolina
Dru Van Kley, 22, Vermillion, South Dakota
Bobby Moore, 31, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Tiffany Hernandez, 27, Kingsville, Texas
Heather Hansen, 36, West Bountiful, Utah
Virginia "Ginnie" Bourque, 27, Lyndonville, Vermont
Jennifer Kerns, 32, Arlington, Virginia
Ken Coleman, 43, Tacoma, Washington
Christopher Blackburn, 24, Buckhannon, West Virginia
Kevin Theis, 32,Verona, Wisconsin
Sarah Mitchell, 26, Burlington, Wyoming

Viewers can get more information and follow the progress of the state contestants each week on NBC.com.

The first reality series in which everybody "loses," "The Biggest Loser," hosted by Caroline Rhea ("Sabrina the Teenage Witch"), challenges and encourages overweight participants to undergo physical makeovers, without any kind of surgery, in a safe and recommended manner through comprehensive diet and exercise as they compete for a grand prize of $250,000. The series has become a worldwide hit airing in over 65 territories and 20 countries. It has also produced a New York Times best-selling book and a burgeoning online lifestyle club www.thebiggestloserclub.com.

Bob Harper returns as the blue team trainer and new to the show this season is red team trainer Kim Lyons. With over a decade of experience in the fitness industry, Lyons brings her positive attitude and winning spirit to all of her clients. Since 2000, Lyons has participated in fitness competitions and won numerous contests nationally and internationally. In addition, she has also become one of the fitness industry's most photographed models, appearing on more than 30 covers worldwide.

"The Biggest Loser" is a production of Reveille LLC, 25/7 Productions and 3 Ball Productions. Ben Silverman (NBC's "The Office," "Ugly Betty"), Dave Broome ("Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope," "StarTomorrow"), JD Roth ("Unanimous," "Beauty and the Geek"), Todd A. Nelson ("Unanimous," "Beauty and the Geek") and Mark Koops ("Blow Out," "The Restaurant") are the executive producers.