Auditions attract Oklahomans who want to be losers
April Choi
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Published: July 26, 2009
Angela Tompkins stayed up all night to make sure she got a good spot in line to try out for "The Biggest Loser,” the popular NBC reality show about people trying to lose weight.
Tompkins, 39, of Lindsay, arrived at midnight anticipating a large crowd. Instead, she was the first in line. After years of trying all kinds of weight loss methods — everything from
Weight Watchers to surgery — she’s hoping the TV show’s fitness experts can help her out.
"I just want to participate in life without any physical barriers,” Tompkins said. "I have a 13-year-old, and it’s hard to keep up when he moves three times faster. ... I’m just really hoping that with this show, I get all the tools I need to get to where my body should be.”
By the time tryouts began Saturday, about 300 other hopefuls had joined her outside O’Connell’s Irish Pub & Grill in
Norman — drawn by the prospect of improved fitness levels and the chance to compete for $250,000. On the show, overweight contestants compete to lose the highest percentage of their starting weight.
The show is casting for its ninth season. This time, it will feature teams of two family members trying to lose weight together.
T.J. Stone, 26, of Seminole, was a high school football player. Back then, he weighed in at more than 400 pounds. He’s always been big, he said, and he and his brother,
John Stone, 20, also of Seminole, tried out because they know their weight is hurting them.
"We wouldn’t care about the money; we’re just trying to change our lives,” T.J. Stone said. "If not, we’re not going to live to be very old.”
Teresa Baker, 43, of Choctaw is auditioning for the fourth time.
"I need to be pushed. I can’t do it on my own, obviously. I need to be held accountable,” Baker said. "I don’t mind the yelling and screaming.”
Baker is 314 pounds and wants to lose at least 150.
"There’s a skinny Teresa inside of me, yelling to get out,” she said.
She tried out with her cousin,
Jennifer Owings, 34, of Choctaw. Owings is a member of the Red Dirt Rebels roller derby league. She’s 225 pounds and wants to lose at least 100.
"I want to be the hot roller girl instead of the fat roller girl,” she said.
Producer Brandon Nickens, 34, of
Los Angeles, hinted that there may be
Oklahoma contestants on the next season.
"Our goal is to make
America thin one at a time,” Nickens said.
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