'The Biggest Loser' eliminates Ruben Studdard for the second time

The Biggest Loser eliminated Ruben Studdard -- again -- during Tuesday night's eighth broadcast of the NBC reality weight-loss competition's fifteenth season.


Ruben, the 35-year-old former second-season American Idol winner from Birmingham, AL, was automatically ousted after his Red Team lost the season's eighth elimination weigh-in and he fell below the red line by posting the lowest weight-loss percentage of all the team's members.

"I'm very proud that I lost 70 pounds. Those pounds were hard fought. I earned every one of them. This is just a great beginning. It really showed me I can do anything I want to if I put my mind to it. There are so many things that could lead to us leaving this earth prematurely. I don't want health problems to be one of those. I've given myself over to the process. I'm going into another year of my life with a change," Ruben said following his ouster.

The Red Team's trainer Dolvett Quince used his one "trainer's save" of the season in Week 3 on Tanya Winfield, so Ruben's elimination could not be prevented. Ruben had already been eliminated from the reality weight-loss competition in Week 4 but was brought back as a result of trainer Jillian Michaels violating one of the show's rules.

The Biggest Loser's fifteenth-season eighth episode began where last week's episode had left off, with host Alison Sweeney telling all the contestants one more player would be going home following the elimination of Holley Mangold.


However, another player wouldn't be eliminated. Instead, he or she would leave the ranch for the week and visit home with his or her trainer. While most contestants would've liked the chance to go home, Alison announced a twist in which that person would be representing his or her team at the next weigh-in. Only that contestant's weight would count on behalf of a team, and there would still be a red line.  

The decision came down to a simple spin of a wheel, which featured the faces of all the season's players.

Jay Sheets, a 38-year-old food company marketing associate from Farmington, MO, was selected to head home with Jillian and eventually represent his entire White Team. Jillian was initially frustrated because she felt the girls on her team needed her at the ranch, and she worried once Jay went home and saw his family, he'd never return.

Jay went home to Farmington, Missouri, and although he was thrilled to see his loved ones, he joked that Jillian found plenty of ways to "torture" him during their workouts.  

Last night's broadcast also featured an update on how Holley has been doing since her time on the ranch. She started her The Biggest Loser journey at 351 pounds and dropped to 260 pounds. She's focused on winning a medal at the 2016 Olympic Games for weight-lifting. 


All the season's contestants and their trainers then arrived for the season's eighth elimination weigh-in. Alison explained there would be a red line, so the person on the losing team to post the lowest percentage of weight-loss would automatically be eliminated.

The Red Team weighed-in first.

Ruben stepped on the scale first and dropped from 394 to 392 pounds. He therefore lost only two pounds. Jennifer Messer, a 42-year-old clerk and bookkeeper from Abingdon, VA, lost four pounds after falling from 211 to 207 pounds. Tanya dropped from 216 to 212 pounds, losing four pounds.

David Brown, a 43-year-old construction company project manager and phone company social commerce leader from Edmond, OK, lost seven pounds, dropping from 306 to 299 pounds. Rachel Frederickson, a 24-year-old voice-over artist from Los Angeles, CA, went from 183 to 178 pounds, losing five pounds.

The Red Team lost a total of 22 pounds and posted a 1.68% weight-loss percentage.


The Blue Team, trained by Bob Harper, was next to weigh-in.

Hap Holmstead, a 26-year-old sales consultant and entrepreneur from Pleasant Grove, UT, dropped from 334 to 332 pounds, losing only two pounds. Matt Hooper, a 38-year-old retail manager from Georgetown, MA, dropped from 281 to 277 pounds and therefore lost four pounds.

Chelsea Arthurs, a 28-year-old clinical research professional and event planner from Raleigh, NC, shed six pounds and fell from 191 to 185 pounds. Bobby Saleem, a 28-year-old attorney from Chicago, IL, dropped from 284 to 272 pounds and therefore lost 12 pounds.

The Blue Team lost a total of 24 pounds altogether and posted a 2.20% weight-loss percentage.

Lastly, the White Team weighed-in.


Marie Pearl, a 30-year-old senior staff accountant at a community college from Springfield, MO, fell from 203 to 198 pounds and shed five pounds. Tumi Oguntala, a 41-year-old brand strategist from Clifton Park, NY, lost seven pounds after falling from 250 to 243 pounds.

Jay then stepped on the scale, and only his weight would count for the entire White Team. Jay dropped from 219 to 207 pounds, so he lost a total of 12 pounds and posted a 5.48% weight-loss percentage. Jay therefore defeated both the Red and Blue Teams with his weight-loss, and the Red team ended up losing the weigh-in.

Ruben ended up falling below the red line with a 0.51% weight-loss percentage. Tanya was close to going home with a 1.85% weight-loss percentage.

Dolvett told Ruben to "shock the world" with his success. In return, Ruben announced he was going to turn into the "baddest, finest, freshest" person in the theater at the finale.  






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski