Biggest Loser casting tips (season 14)
Biggest Loser is getting ready to start casting for season 14! Casting calls will be happening this summer and will be posted soon on the Biggest Loser casting website. Basically, this post is a collection of tips I’ve written based on my experience making the cast of season three, as well as some links to casting advice I don’t think you should miss:
- NBC has posted casting information and the application here. They have all the casting news and information on a special blog just for Biggest Loser casting, which you can find here.
- Pete Thomas, the season 2 $100,000 winner has some of the best casting call advice out there, which you can find at his website, Winning Man.
- Holland, a casting director for Biggest Loser sent me a bunch of great advice on how to be casted, you can find it here. She updated them October, 2009.
- I’ve been posting these casting tips for the last few seasons and they always seem to end up with thousands of comments; just about every season has contestants that were hanging out on here, reading and giving each other thoughts and advice. You can find the most recent one here.
- If you’re dealing with disappointment about not being cast, then check out my post on Biggest Loser casting disappointment.
One of the questions I hear a lot is about money … how do contestants afford to be away from home and work for months at a time? I don’t know what it is now, but when I was a contestant there was a $500 a week stipend for cast members on the ranch. When you received the check you could cash it and spend it, send it home, save it, whatever. All airplane tickets, hotel accommodations, etc., for the contestants and potential cast members are taken care of by NBC, and during the casting process it self there was a $50 per diem to cover food costs.
Another question is timing; typically a season lasts for about 8-9 months. About four of this is spent in filming; if you last all the way until the final three or four, you could be away from home for as much as four months or so. Once the ranch filming wraps and the last few contestants are sent home, however, there is still another four or five months that all the contestants have to continue losing weight until the finale. In addition, potential cast members are flown out to California a couple weeks before filming begins for the final round of casting, medical checkups, psychological evals, etc. NBC brings out more people than what they need and the cast is not finalized until filming literally begins. People have been cut at the last minute and replacements flown in with hardly any time to spare. Nothing is in stone until it’s on camera!
When will you hear from Biggest Loser about your video? There is no way of knowing. I heard back a few weeks after I sent it in, but even after that it’s a big waiting game. If you get a phone number or email from a casting direction, definitely drop them a line/call every couple weeks to find out if you’re still in the running or what’s going on. Schedules and plans change almost every day, so it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle. If you don’t hear back within a month I would think your video didn’t make the cut. That doesn’t mean you can’t send in another or visit a casting call – it’s just up to you!
Finally, here’s my video application tips! This is by no means a recipe for success; it’s based on my video application and the conversations I had with casting directors out in LA in between things. I was pretty curious about the whole process so I was pumping them for info even after filming began. I’m such a nerd!
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They’ve usually decided if they’re interested in you within the first 30-60 seconds of your video, so front load it with your best stuff. Make it interesting! Start off with something funny or exciting!
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Keep in mind, if you’re going to be cast, your video is going to be watched hundreds of times by producers, executives, casting directors, etc. If it bores you or your friends the second or third time watching it … put some more time into it!
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Special effects? Don’t bother! We’ve all got video editing software with all sorts of bells and whistles on our home computers, but fancy transitions are not going to sell you to people who do video editing for a living. In fact, it can distract from who you are. I’m a video editing nerd and I didn’t use any special effects other than putting my name and contact info on as a subtitle at the beginning.
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Don’t bother talking about why you need to lose weight. When I first started filming my audition video I started describing all of my health reasons for losing weight – but when I was watching it back, I realized … they don’t need to hear it! One look at me was all they needed to know I needed to lose weight! Show them why you need to lose it; I said I needed to lose weight for my kids, and then I followed it with a minute or two of the best footage I could find of me with wrestling with my three boys. We probably filmed half an hour of that insanity and I grabbed the cutest, loudest, and funniest few moments for the audition video. Your physical need to lose weight is not nearly as interesting as who or what your losing the weight for.
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Live loud! Reality TV is over the top, dramatic, and filled with loud personalities. They need to see that on your video! I wanted them to know that even though I was morbidly obese I was up to the challenge of the crazy competitions and workouts – so I threw on a bunch of clips from my different youth group activities; me getting slimed, snowtubing, playing paintball, screaming at events, being on stage, running around … you get the idea. Other contestants did things appropriate to their lives; Tim from Oregon had himself spinning out on his Harley, Tim from Delaware recruited his elementary school class to do things with him, Heather Hanson filmed herself running around in a sports bra all day doing her household chores and errands. The less talking and more action you can have, the better (in my opinion)!
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If you have footage or photos of yourself thin, include those at some point on the video. If you can show them what your after will be, then do it!
Remember, enjoy the conversation here and know that I will never compromise your anonymity – not to NBC, 3Ball, Casting Directors or anyone. You can post anonymously, or you can leave your names and contact information … just remember that NBC likes to be the one announcing their cast for the show, so if you start identifying yourself publicly as a finalist, you’ll probably find yourself eliminated from the casting process. Be aware that casting directors do check in at my blog to see what people are saying, get a feel for what questions are going on out there, and sometimes to give us updates. Good luck to everyone … and let me know if you make the show! I get a kick out of hearing about the different contestants that have hung out on my blog before making the show! 
I'm Matthew, and you've found my blog! I'm married to Heather, a father of four boys, the Youth Pastor at Brandywine Valley Baptist Church, and former contestant on NBC's Biggest Loser.
It was last edited June 27 where allstars?
On Wikipedia it says All Stars: Forever Fat. Idk if its real or not.
If it is real…. what could THAT mean? LOL. It is a weight-loss show!
I wish Matthew would “weigh in” his opinion!
Well, from my view down here in Jamaica (missions trip!), the Wikipedia entry is someone messing around. All stars ‘forever fat’ would imply former contestants and there is nothing in the wind about that whatsoever. Actually, other than the one or two the show has acknowledged gaining weight back (and that was probably because the other media outlets did it first), we alumni all know gaining weight back is the quickest way to having NBC forget we exist. They really don’t want to admit any kind of relapse, but the reality is, the show does not do much for all the psychological parts of weight gain, so for many former contestants they come off the show with unresolved issues that are only intensified by all the scrutiny and attention.
All that to say, the Wikipedia entry is someone messing around.
Thanks for weighing in…seemed fishy all the way around. There I a lot with the psychie aftermath, huh?
About your view in Jamaica, is it nice? Get any fresh coconut water? Great for you on your mission trip. Wouldn’t it be fun to do a McFatty blog mission?
Just random logical exercise. If they’ve already determined to do prior contestants, as all stars, why do casting calls, videos etc. sure fire way to upset hopeful contestants. Sounds like a ruse to me too.
Decided not to make a video…. My wonderful wife has always supported me in every weight loss attempt…. But she has serious reservations about the possibility I could be away for 5 months. Of course we recognize the odds of being selected, but if by rare chance I were, not sure how we’d deal. I’m the only income, would she have to go to work for 5 mo?? I may still go to CC in a few weeks, but honestly, I’m torn.
Anybody feel my pain?
D E S E R V I N G = “All Stars: Forever Fat”.
I think not…
“BL CC Rookie says:
July 6, 2012 at 11:51 pm
Just random logical exercise. If they’ve already determined to do prior contestants, as all stars, why do casting calls, videos etc. sure fire way to upset hopeful contestants. Sounds like a ruse to me too.”
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Maybe, that’s what was meant by the commenter on here, who went to the Atlanta CC and said they were told there, CD’s would be doing back to back periods of casting BL. Another set of casting to take place immediately following the closing of this season’s casting (July 20th).
Very, very interesting page
http://www.fitnesscenter.0rg.pl/?fitness=The_Biggest_Loser_(U.S._TV_series)
Very, very interesting page
http://www.fitnesscenter.0rg.pl/?fitness=The_Biggest_Loser_(U.S._TV_series)
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That took me to a page in a language I can’t read. Accident, or can you interpret please
BL CC Rookie says:
July 7, 2012 at 1:47 am
Very, very interesting page
http://www.fitnesscenter.0rg.pl/?fitness=The_Biggest_Loser_(U.S._TV_series)
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That took me to a page in a language I can’t read. Accident, or can you interpret please
===================================================
Accident…
When I clicked on, both yours and my post’s links, they both opened right up to the page, in ENGLISH.
Maybe, you should give it another try or copy and paste the link into the address bar.
If it still doesn’t work for you, let me know and I’ll go back out to Google and find another link for it, whereas many websites have posted the same data.
Good Luck…
Should have been a PI.
Not sure why it isn’t working, maybe it’s because I’m on my iPhone. I’ll try it on my computer tomorrow.
I had forgotten about the rumor of another season immediately on the heels of 14. That might make sense. Or they could be bringing back past contestants to be part of the whole season, maybe paired with a new contestant, or guest trainers (somebody here mentioned that as an idea several weeks ago).
I don’t know how interested I’d be in watching people who had re-gained their weight have another shot on the ranch though.
I have the iPhone and it’s coming up German. PI can you copy and paste info for whatever is interesting?
Keeping moving and motivated. My health scare earlier this year really has been a blessing in disguise.
I was trying before, but I feel like I am desperate for it now. I have too much to lose, (other than the obvious weight) and want to have a long and happy life with my family.
I will be auditioning in Philly next week. Maybe I will see some of you there. Been awhile since I auditioned alone so I must admit, I am nervous.
Hope you all are well and staying out of the heat today.
Should have been a PI.
link worked on my laptop, seems the iPhone just didn’t like it. pretty good summation of the show, good site
I even have my doubts about the back-to-back casting calls. It just doesn’t make sense to me. 14 is scheduled to air in January, so when would 15 air? Unless they are linking the seasons somehow, or starting a new season from the finale of the old? IDK.
With no callback, I am on the fence about making yet another video, too. I would love to, but I can never get the images I want! It plays out so much better in my head than it does on the video
In the meantime, still crossfitting…. not really losing, in fact seem to be gaining. I just picked up a book about a paleo diet. I love the concept, I just don’t know if I can make it happen around here.
I was even TEMPTED to hit another CC in a couple of weeks, but that would require 4 hours drive time and probably a hotel. So… if you get a callback it is worth it, if not it is a total waste. AND because I didn’t get a callback here, chances are I wouldn’t get one there.
In alumni circles, it’s pretty common knowledge that for the time being Biggest Loser is doing one season per year, so back to back casting is highly unlikely. With some of the alumni actually being production staff, I’m pretty confident that’s accurate.
So just curious how other people feel. Do the negative comments about the program affect you at all? Do you worry about the possibility that this is an unhealthy way to loose weight? What about Matt’s comment about psychological issues being left un-attended to at the ranch?
In many ways, I feel like this is “the way” for me, that I’d rock the weight loss and be done being fat. But there are occasional nagging thoughts in my brain that make me worry.
Of course it is 3:00 AM as I write this 0_o
^Negative comments about this show do not affect me in any way, because people are entitled to their opinion, and I know I love it.
Personally, from everything I’ve seen, if people’s emotional issues aren’t solved, it’s the contestant’s “fault.” They don’t necessarily let people in all the time, no matter how hard Bob/Jillian/Dolvett/etc are trying to help. So if they don’t “get it” I don’t exactly feel it’s due to the show, or the trainer.
Glad to have power returned so I can start eating healthy again and not relying on canned and processed food
Hope everyone is having a wonderful week!
@Nanny and anyone else!
I still feel TBL is more support than I have here, doing it on my own. I’ve spent YEARS trying to lose weight and have NO SUPPORT. I have sabotage all around me. Some may say it is excuses, but I honestly feel like a good solution for me is to be removed from my environment so I can feel success, gain supoort and have enough strength to battle what I have to come back to! So, the negative comments IMO have to do with expectations others had that TBL would fix something other than weight.
TBL won’t fix my sabotors…. or my situation, but I feel like if I can get some success behind me I will be strong enough to battle them myself. Does that make any sense?
Tempted, All I can say is “DITTO”! I have something to do every minute of the day. Thats not an exaggeration, I have so much to do and so many people wanting more from me that I feel I should get away from it all too. I need to eat, drink, and sleep fitness and health in order to get healthy and find some balance. It won’t hurt for my family to figure out how to do some things without me too. My husband doesn’t have a weight problem despite the fact that he expects to eat in true southern fashion. I can’t eat the way he wants to eat and he won’t eat the way I need to eat.
Tempted and Nanny I completely understand! I work in the theatre which means long days with short breaks. I try not to let myself be sucked in to using excuses, but for me it’s a specific weight that I never get past… I think that if I have help to get under 200 I’ll be able to get the rest off. I just have a mental block about that stupid number!
I usually dont post stuff…but I just wanna say anyone can do it… I work 56 hours a week.. plus hep run a t-shirt printing business… Ive lost 103lbs since the last week of March… Just stay positive and keep your eye on the ultimate goal!! Some weeks will SUCK! but just keep focused! Take one step at a time… Ive slowed down some, but I keep moving! I was 578lbs now im 475lbs.. I still have around 225lbs to go… Reach out to people.. talk to people.. but most of all.. this is about YOU!!! If your not willing to do it for yourself then no show will help you!!! Start now and show the CD’s and everyone else that your ready!! Sending positive vibes to all of you!!! You can all do it!!!
@ youknow!
Nice to see you….I know who you are
You are right, anyone CAN do it. I have been trying/working at it and I know it can be done.
I feel frustrated when people say “don’t wait on a show” because I am not! I haven’t stopped trying for YEARS. At one point I had the food and exercise BOTH working for me! I was so excited… and the weight still wasn’t coming off. Ended up being a medication issue. The medication was adjusted and I lost focus AGAIN. I feel all alone in a huge guessing game of what is going on with my body! And months go by without success….
The problem IS ME. I feel completely incapable of putting myself first. COMPLETELY. I don’t know how to do it. And no one in my life ecourages it, either. That is why the appeal of removing me from this environment is so strong! I would be forced to focus on me.
At this point I have basically given up hope of ever getting to the ranch. But, the dream is and probably always will be there!
Oh! And for the record… I am up at 5 am for a crossfit class at 6. I am on the go all day long…. and to bed around 11 or midnight. I don’t stop all day except for the occassional 10-15 minutes here or there to check the computer. Many days I struggle to brush my teeth or shower because the minute I walk in the door from my class I am hit with demands or have a schedule to keep.
You can do it Tempted
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Thanks, supercyber15! I know I can… just been working an awful long time now with no results. I think I need a life coach if I am going to do it on my own….
hey he hey! anyone ever get a callback from the cc and not the video? i sent in the video a few weeks ago.. but never heard back…but am planning to goto to cc in a few weeks.. i also have a fotl pass sent from barb.. but just becasue i requested one.. not like she saw the video and saiid hey here you go!
BL14 says:
July 9, 2012 at 6:04 pm
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So glad it was announced (I believe) in the CD’s “LIVE Video Chat” on June 11th that VIP passes DO NOT come from the CD’s (they don’t get any to give out), but they come from local radio stations, etc. instead. Have heard them say that during previous season’s casting periods, but also have heard of applicants receiving them from the same group of CD’s (each season).
Good Luck to you.
the radio station didnt have one for my city so thats why
have any of you received a call back from just the casting call & not your video?!?
any former BL contestants from the blog too!?
Yes, lots of them and Yes, several (unknown number), but definitly not me in either case.
Tempted, perhaps sleep is part of your problem losing weight. You have to have the 7/8 hours per night. Then hydration, fiber, good fats, exercise, vitamins, etc. But sleep is reeeeally key. My ENT suggested that it may be the problem why my high blood pressure didn’t get any better even though I lost a good amount of weight last year.
BL14, a good number of former-McNutties made it onto the ranch. There was a husband and wife team I remember in particular. Amy, I think, was the wife’s name. There were a few couples off of here and some singles too.
Anyhoo, I wrote about my open call experience if anyone’s interested in reading it.
http://queenofmentalvomit.blogspot.com/2012/07/tbl14-open-call-follow-up.html
Does being a family member of a past contestant disqualify someone from the show? I saw a video application recently where someone was “endorsed” by a previous contestant…turns out the person he was endorsing is his daughter.
BigMamaLove, I’m guessing that might help if the show has a good rapport with the former contestant.
SCQUEEN- I’m sure it is some of the issue, I just don’t know how to get any more sleep and still get what I need to done. I’ve done sleep studies and I was reprimanded for the amount of sleep I get on a regular basis! I have a TON of responsibility, and that makes it very difficult to squeeze in more sleep!
Like I said, I know I can do this. Anything is possible if you are determined and focussed. I am simply saying I really need my distractions out of the way
And the ranch is my dream way of doing it! And maybe I need the local drive-thru to blow up! 
SCQUEEN, I guess I was thinking that part of paying it forward would be contestants to help their own. Caught me off guard.
Tempted, I definitely understand. I have to get a sleep study done. I know I sleep too little but the ADD and the internet keep me from closing my eyes at a decent time. Like why am I up at 1AM right now. I felt tired hours ago. Like you, I could definitely use the getaway. I would feel guilty about it because guilt goes with the occupations of teacher and mother, but I need it. I feel my heart doing funny things, I got incredibly tired just biking 30 minutes, I was beyond winded skating for just 5 minutes, and my son can hear me breathing from across the room (I didn’t know I breathed that loudly). I need the change but I’m patiently waiting for my foot to heal (on track with that) so exercise is only skating/biking and, frankly, I think I’m terrified of the way both made feel. And food, well, I’m broke so it’s the lack of food that’s the problem, not the abundance. My kids devour any and everything that enters the house. So, yeah, I get ya.
Wow so alot of people have made it on the show from here? Do we know any names? And I hope they come by sometime for encouragement!
So I got a “Front of the Line Pass,” any suggestions?! I watched the BLCasting video and they said just stand in line and meet everyone around you. Anyone else willing to share what questions were asked at the CC?
Also thought you might like to read this:
http://news.yahoo.com/exclusive-interview-biggest-loser-season-14-supervising-casting-163400131.html
Q: Any changes we can look forward to for Season 14?
BN: “The next season will air on January 1, 2013 to kick off the New Year! We’re all very excited to bring together a new cast and a slightly different approach to the show.”
@Soooexcited
Adam and Stacey (Green Team, Season 6) were on this blog. I believe whoever mentioned a girl named Amy would either be Amy P. and Phillip (Red Team, Season 6) or Amy C. and Shellay (Purple Team, Season 6). Courtney Crozier (Aqua Team, Season 11) was also on this blog for a short time, but as far as I know, was not an consistent, active user.
SuperCyber15 says:
July 10, 2012 at 12:37 pm
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So, do you know what their Avatars were too? As a long time McNutty, I’d love to know.
Haha, no I have absolutely no clue what their avatars were. Sorry buddy
. This is all stuff I’ve heard from BFG I’m guessing, and other users that have been around forever. I did not meet any of those contestants, although maybe I will some day 
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Posted on Facebook:
NBC‘s The Biggest Loser won’t be returning until January of 2013, but all of the fans who witnessed the complete nightmare last season can rejoice for the new season. Why? Because the show is looking for more appreciative contestants for the upcoming season! Hooray for not having to deal with anymore Condas! Keep reading for more…
That’s right, the new season of The Biggest Loser on NBC will not include any ungrateful contestants, or at least the casting department is doing their best to avoid that happening again. In a recent interview, supervising casting producer Brandon Nickens told Yahoo news: “For Season 14, we’re doing things a little differently. Instead of looking for someone that meets a certain profile, we’re asking the question, ‘How deserving are they?’ We’re looking for real, genuine people who will appreciate this opportunity to change their lives! It’s really a golden ticket! We spend four to five months searching for the ideal candidates for this show and we listen to their personal stories.”
And the casting team is dead set on keep the dramatics to a minimum for the new season, as Brandon added: “We’re looking for people who are willing to be vulnerable…give in to the process. We’re also looking for strong personalities and positive energy – no drama or conflicts. Our team is really serious about making this a ‘feel-good’ show.” Of course, the show is probably doing so after learning how upset the fans were last season, which eventually led to a ratings drop for the show. Brandon also revealed that the new season will kick off on January 1, 2012 – what a way to start the new year!
Now we can rejoice! Hopefully, this means next season will full of grateful contestants who truly want and deserve to be there!
my question is this? who is most deserving? the people with the biggest sob stories? I think we are ALL deserving! I don’t have a major sob story. I was never a successful athlete that let it all go, I’ve never lost a child or spouse, I wasn’t abused as a child, I’m just your average mom, wife, teacher, friend that ALWAYS puts everyone else first and myself dead last if EVER!
Posted on Facebook:
NBC‘s The Biggest Loser won’t be returning until January of 2013, but all of the fans who witnessed the complete nightmare last season can rejoice for the new season. Why? Because the show is looking for more appreciative contestants for the upcoming season! Hooray for not having to deal with anymore Condas! Keep reading for more…
That’s right, the new season of The Biggest Loser on NBC will not include any ungrateful contestants, or at least the casting department is doing their best to avoid that happening again. In a recent interview, supervising casting producer Brandon Nickens told Yahoo news: “For Season 14, we’re doing things a little differently. Instead of looking for someone that meets a certain profile, we’re asking the question, ‘How deserving are they?’ We’re looking for real, genuine people who will appreciate this opportunity to change their lives! It’s really a golden ticket! We spend four to five months searching for the ideal candidates for this show and we listen to their personal stories.”
And the casting team is dead set on keep the dramatics to a minimum for the new season, as Brandon added: “We’re looking for people who are willing to be vulnerable…give in to the process. We’re also looking for strong personalities and positive energy – no drama or conflicts. Our team is really serious about making this a ‘feel-good’ show.” Of course, the show is probably doing so after learning how upset the fans were last season, which eventually led to a ratings drop for the show. Brandon also revealed that the new season will kick off on January 1, 2012 – what a way to start the new year!
Now we can rejoice! Hopefully, this means next season will full of grateful contestants who truly want and deserve to be there!
INTERESTING!!!!!
my question is this? who is most deserving? the people with the biggest sob stories? I think we are ALL deserving! I don’t have a major sob story. I was never a successful athlete that let it all go, I’ve never lost a child or spouse, I wasn’t abused as a child, I’m just your average mom, wife, teacher, friend that ALWAYS puts everyone else first and myself dead last if EVER!
sorry for the double post! The first one said server error so I redid it.