NBC'S HIT WEIGHT LOSS SERIES 'THE BIGGEST LOSER' ANNOUNCES SEASON 5 CONTESTANTS, WITH COUPLES COMPETING FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE SHOW

"The Biggest Loser: Couples" Rings in the New Year with January 1 (8-10 p.m. ET) Premiere!

BURBANK, Calif. � December 13, 2007 � NBC announced today the 20 contestants � ten teams of two � who will be competing in "The Biggest Loser: Couples," premiering Tuesday, January 1 (8-10 p.m. ET). Alison Sweeney (NBC's "Days of our Lives") hosts the popular weight loss series, and trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels also star.

This all-new "couples" twist shakes up the fifth season of "The Biggest Loser," heightening the emotion and tension in the competition. For the first time ever in the history of the show, teams of two will compete against each other rather than individuals. Nine of the ten teams � including a mother and son, husband and wife, a divorced couple, best friends, brothers and former football teammates -- already have a special bond so they're playing not only for themselves, but also for their loved one. One team, however, will be made up of two complete strangers who don't meet until they are surprised with the news they're being paired together.

In the compelling season premiere, viewers will meet the new contestants and learn what their personal motivations are for coming on the show. Then the teams have to pick their trainer, weigh in and compete together in a challenge that has the duos pulling a giant hot air balloon across a field, with the winner getting a coveted 2 lb. advantage at the first weigh in of the season.

The new teams competing for the $250,000 grand prize are:

Brittany Aberle (Hair stylist), 22, San Jacinto, California and Bernardo Salazar (Teacher/Dancer for Chicago Bulls), 27, Chicago, Illinois � STRANGERS

Curtis Bray (Graphic designer), 35, Los Angeles, and Mallory Bray (Business owner), 36, Los Angeles � HUSBAND AND WIFE

Bette Sue Burkland (Hair stylist), 53, Mesa, Arizona and Alison Vincent (Hair stylist), 32, Mesa, Arizona � MOTHER AND DAUGHTER

Jackie Evans (CEO of non-profit organization), 49, Frankfort, Illinois and Dan Evans (Camp counselor/musician), 21, Frankfort, Illinois � MOTHER AND SON

Kelly Fields (Nurse), 38, Titusville, Florida and Paul Marks (Missile Support/Space Center), 43, Rockledge, Florida � EX-WIFE AND EX-HUSBAND

Neill Harmer (Web developer), 28, Bethany, Oklahoma and Amanda Harmer (teacher), 29, Bethany, Oklahoma � HUSBAND AND WIFE

Maggie King (Camp counselor at a weight loss camp), 23, Denville, New Jersey and Jennifer Widder (Assistant director at a weight loss camp), 22, River Edge, NJ � BEST FRIENDS

Mark Kruger (Aerial device sales representative), 35, Dartmouth, Massachusetts and Jay Kruger (Aerial device account manager), 31, Bedford, Massachusetts � BROTHERS

Roger Shultz (Associate athletic director), 40, Enterprise, Alabama and Trent Patterson (School safety and security coordinator), 39, Endicott, New York � FORMER FOOTBALL TEAMMATES

Lynn Westphal (Interior Decorator), 60, Elyria, Ohio and Jenni Westphal (Nanny), 31, North Ridgeville, Ohio �FATHER AND DAUGHTER

"The Biggest Loser: Couples" is a production of Reveille LLC, 25/7 Productions and 3Ball Productions. Ben Silverman (NBC's "The Office," "Ugly Betty"), Dave Broome ("A Model Life with Petra Nemcova," "Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope"), JD Roth ("Age of Love," "Beauty and the Geek"), Todd A. Nelson ("Unan1mous," "Beauty and the Geek") and Mark Koops ("American Gladiators," "Shear Genius") serve as executive producers.