The Biggest Loser season premiere: Dallas-area contestants bring the drama

by Alex Bentley

The first episode of every new season of the NBC weight loss reality show The Biggest Loser (which airs on Tuesdays from 7-9 p.m. Dallas time) always promises big drama, and the premiere of Season 8 was no different. The current crop of contestants features four men above 400 pounds and the heaviest woman (or contestant, period) they've ever had, Shay, at 476 pounds.

Tracey Yukich, a 37-year-old homemaker from Allen, is the lone competitor that we in the Dallas-Fort Worth area can truly call our own. However, right off the bat, it seemed as if we were going to lose her without even getting to know her.

The first challenge happened literally right as the 16 contestants got off the bus. Host Allison Sweeney told them that they would have to run the last mile of the marathon that four Season 7 competitors ran. Tracey showed some spunk, racing out to an early lead. However, that fast pace proved to be her downfall, as she quickly fell back. Just 100 yards from the finish line, Tracey fell to the ground and tried to crawl the rest of the way.

It was soon apparent that she couldn't even do that, and the rest of the contestants went back to help her make it to the finish. She was still close to collapse, however, and as soon as they crossed the line, she fell down again and appeared to faint. She, along with Mo, with whom she was later partnered, was sent to the hospital, where she remained for the rest of the episode. Because she was in the hospital, she was the only contestant not to weigh in. She was only saved from elimination by Mo, who lost 19 pounds (taking him from 355 to 336) to put their team well above the yellow line. The show ended with no indication as to whether she will be able to continue next week, so ... cliffhanger!

Abby, from Mabank, Texas (a scant 53 miles southeast of Dallas), provided the other big storyline of the night with her tragic backstory. Three years ago, her husband, five-year-old daughter, and infant son were all killed in a car accident. Of all the reasons to gain weight, one could hardly blame her for neglecting that part of her life. She obviously proved inspirational for the rest of the contestants, even more so when she lost 15 pounds (from 247 to 232) to keep her and her partner Allen safe.

The eliminated contestant was Alexandra, who seemed to get the shaft after losing 13 pounds (309 to 296), the same amount as her much heavier partner, Julio (407 to 394). The vote was 4-3, with Abby and Allen casting the deciding vote. But not to fret -- as is typical of contestants sent home, she was shown to be very successful, losing a total of 60 pounds so far.