Last Tuesday, Danny Cahill became the biggest “Biggest Loser” ever when he dropped 239 pounds in seven months to win the eighth-season title. Now, as NBC goes back to a couples edition of the hit series, the contestants and the challenges they face get bigger as well.
On Jan. 5, “The Biggest Loser: Couples” premieres with 11 teams of two competing for the Season 9 crown. Among the players are Michael Ventrella, a 30-year-old deejay from Chicago, who at 526 lbs. becomes the heaviest contestant ever on the series, and his mother, Maria, a 51-year-old corporate travel agent.
“I would do anything for Michael,” Maria, who starts at 281 pounds, tells PEOPLE. “At first I didn’t think I could do it because I have too many responsibilities at home: I have a husband who is disabled, my mom in a wheelchair, a full-time job, home cleaning — it’s a lot. But then he needed it so bad and so I am here, and I need it for myself, too!”
The Ventrellas are one of eight parent-child duos on the show this season.
Attorney Melissa Morgan, 39, and her husband Lance, 38, a rancher, hail from Aspermont, Texas, and are interested both in losing weight and saving their marriage.
California-based cousins Sam Poueu, 24, and Koli Palu, 29, were inspired by the success of Tongan cousins Sione and Filipe in Season 7. They hope to do the people and culture of American Samoa equally proud.
Orlando, Fla., identical twins James and John Crutchfield, 30, weighed in at a combined 969 lbs. “I’m glad I’m here,” says James, “because my only other alternative is surgery.”
Here are the other teams vying for a $250,000 winner prize or $100,000 at-home prize:
Mom Patti Anderson, 55, a business owner, and daughter Stephanie Anderson, 29, a radio sales executive, from Lafayette and West Hollywood, Calif.
Mom Cherita Andrews a 50-year-old homemaker and daughter Vicky Andrews, a 22-year-old student from Houston, Texas.
Mom Miggy Cancel, 48, a Pemberton, N.J. chef and daughter Migdalia Sebren, 28, a homemaker from Sanford, N.C.
Mom Cheryl George a 50-year-old store-owner and son, Daris George, 25, a salesman, from Ardmore, Okla.
Father O’Neal Hampton, Jr., a U.S. Postal Service station manager, 51, and daughter SunShine Hampton, 24, a restaurant server, from Minneapolis, Minn.
Father Darrell Hough, a press operator and mechanic, 46, and daughter Andrea Hough, a 24-year-old executive assistant from Ann Arbor, Mich.
Mom Sherry Johnston, a 51-year-old non-profit administrator and daughter Ashley Johnston, a 27-year-old manager and esthetician from Knoxville, Tenn.
Also, season 7’s Tara Costa will return to PEOPLE.com to blog for season 9!