NBC'S HIT WEIGHT-LOSS SERIES "THE BIGGEST LOSER" LAUNCHING NATIONWIDE, 13-CITY SEARCH FOR NEW CONTESTANTS

Season Thirteen Auditions for Teams of Two and Individuals to be Held in Austin, the New York tri-state area, Detroit, Charlotte, Washington, DC, Atlanta, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Chicago, Dallas, Orlando and Los Angeles

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - July 14, 2011 - NBC's popular reality series "The Biggest Loser" is launching a 13-city cross-country search to find new contestants for the next edition of the hit show. Individuals and teams of two who have at least 85 lbs. to lose are encouraged to apply for the new season, which will begin airing in January, 2012.

Casting producers are looking for outgoing and charismatic teams of two and individuals who have the personality, desire and competitive edge to vie for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lose weight, change their lives forever and compete for a grand prize of $250,000. Candidates must be at least 18 years of age and legal residents of the United States.

People will not be allowed to line up prior to three hours before the start of the open call. Candidates should bring a non-returnable photo of themselves (and their partners if applying as a team).

SATURDAY, JULY 30

AUSTIN 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. The Long Center for the Performing Arts 701 West Riverside Drive Austin, TX 78704

NY TRI-STATE AREA 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Newark Beth Israel Medical Center 201 Lyons Avenue at Osborne Terrace Newark, NJ 07112

DETROIT 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Gardner-White Furniture 45300 Hayes Road Macomb, MI 48044-3846

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6

CHARLOTTE 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Planet Fitness 10215-B University City Blvd. (Located in the Back Creek Shopping Center) Charlotte, NC 28213

WASHINGTON, DC 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex 8001 Sheriff Road Landover, MD 20785

ATLANTA 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Hard Rock Cafe 215 Peachtree Street Northeast Atlanta, GA 30303

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13

ST. LOUIS 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Chesterfield Mall 291 Chesterfield Mall (at the intersection of Highway 40 and Clarkson Rd) Chesterfield, MO 63017-4811

SALT LAKE CITY 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. KSL 5 TV 55 North 300 West Salt Lake City, UT 84180

PHOENIX 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Superstition Springs Center 6555 E. Southern Ave. Mesa, AZ 85206

SATURDAY, AUGUST 20

CHICAGO 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Chicago Home Fitness 2070 North Clybourn Avenue Chicago, IL 60614

DALLAS 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Gilley's Dallas 1135 South Lamar Street Dallas, TX 75215-1036

ORLANDO TBA

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27

LOS ANGELES

TBA

For those who are unable to attend a casting call, information on how to apply to the show and submit a videotape is available on www.nbc.com/casting and www.thebiggestlosercasting.com.

Alison Sweeney is the host of "The Biggest Loser," which challenges and encourages overweight contestants to shed pounds in a safe and recommended manner through comprehensive diet and exercise as they compete for a grand prize of $250,000. The series provides the contestants with challenges, temptations, weigh-ins and eliminations until the final contestant remains to claim the title of "the biggest loser." For season 12, contestants work out under the supervision of professional trainers Bob Harper, Anna Kournikova and Dolvett Quince.

"The Biggest Loser" is a production of Reveille and 25/7 Productions. Ben Silverman, Dave Broome and Todd Lubin are the executive producers.

For embeddable clips and full episodes from "The Biggest Loser," please visit NBC.com's official show site: http://www.nbc.com/the-biggest-loser/