‘Biggest Loser’s’ weighty issues revealed

Wondering about how a certain reality show pulled something off? Have a question about a certain contestant?

Whether it's "Survivor," "American Idol," "The Apprentice," "Real World" or another show, send in your questions. Andy Dehnart, msnbc.com's Television Editor and creator of Reality Blurred, will try to answer them.

Q: What are the bands that the contestants are wearing in Season 4 of “Biggest Loser”? I believe they track caloric intake/caloric burn. Is this true? — Y. M., Troy, N.Y.

A: Yes. The devices, which appear to be slightly larger than an MP3 player, measure how many calories the contestants burn and consume. The specific brand is "the bodybugg"; its Web site says it "(collects) a range of body-data using multiple physiological sensors instead of a single sensor, which is what other calorie estimation devices such as pedometers and heart rate monitors rely on," and that leads to a "calorie expenditure estimation."

The device is produced by Apex Fitness, which identifies 24 Hour Fitness as one of its partners. 24 Hour Fitness, of course, is one of "The Biggest Loser's" sponsors — in case you couldn't tell from all the logos in the gym, on their clothes and elsewhere.

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Speaking of "The Biggest Loser," its fourth season concludes Dec. 18, and for the first time, a new season will start just two weeks later, on Jan. 1. The new season will feature couples competing together, but will not feature trainer Kim Lyons.

Instead, original trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels will continue in that role. Kim, who replaced Jillian for the third season, "had many prior commitments and projects [...] that she had to focus on," her publicists told me. Those include a book and workout video. Because of "the timing of the new season and filming starting so soon after the current season's closure, Kim" couldn't participate.

Both her publicists and NBC told me that she could return for a future season, just as Jillian did this past season. (MSNBC is a joint venture between Microsoft and NBC Universal.)

Q: I thought "The Bachelor" had to sign a contract, and I thought that at the end of the show he HAD to pick at least one girl. How could he get away with what he pulled off and not pick either of the two girls who were left? — Diana, Wisconsin

A: You're referring to the conclusion of "The Bachelor 11," during which Brad Womack decided that neither of the two women left — Jenni Croft and DeAnna Pappas — were right for him. For the first time in the show's history, the bachelor picked neither woman.

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Brad was not required to select anyone. Executive producer Mike Fleiss told Entertainment Weekly that while ABC "would much prefer a proposal and a happy couple like Trista and Ryan or Byron and Mary," selecting one of the women is "not mandatory."

That makes sense. Would it really be a genuinely romantic conclusion if the bachelor was contractually forced to select someone?

Plus, considering that the show has now spawned just two successful relationships in 14 seasons — and the female half of one of those couples, Byron and Mary, was recently arrested for battering the male half.

It's only surprising to me that this sort of conclusion didn't happen until now. Choosing a life partner from a couple dozen options selected by producers for their telegenic nature and potential for drama is perhaps not the best way to go.

Q: When is a new “Hell's Kitchen” going to run again? — D.A., Bellingham, Wa.

A: This spring. The FOX series, starring chef Gordon Ramsay, has aired its past three seasons during the summers. But in 2008, its debut will be moved up to April, or perhaps even earlier.

Right now, "Hell's Kitchen 4" is scheduled to debut April 1 at 9 p.m. ET. And FOX has actually ordered two seasons of the series, which means two seasons could air next year, with a fifth season following the fourth in late summer or fall.

In addition, the network has also ordered 10 more episodes of Ramsay's BBC import "Kitchen Nightmares," and those will also air in 2008. They could air prior to the fourth season of "Hell's Kitchen," or between the fourth and fifth seasons.

Andy Dehnart is a writer and teacher who publishes reality blurred, a daily summary of reality TV news.

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