'The Biggest Loser' season 17 cast heavily Southern (with five Georgians)

THE BIGGEST LOSER -- "1701" Episode 1701 -- Pictured: (l-r) Lauren Clark, Vicki Clark, Hope Williamson, Colby Wright, Luis Hernandez, Roberto Hernandez, Sarah Gilbert, Robert Kidney, Felicia Bufkin, Whitney Clay, Tonsheia Grandison, Britney Anderson, Erin Grace Willett, Richard Hatch, Jacquelyne Kmet, Stephen Kmet -- (Photo by: Tyler Golden/NBC)

By Rodney Ho

Dec 2, 2015

By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Wednesday, December 2, 2015

NBC's "The Biggest Loser" generates headlines nowadays by adding a celebrity or two each season. This year, it's Richard Hatch, season one "Survivor" winner and a season two "The Voice" contestant Erin Willett are teamed up. Former "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard and pro tennis player Zina Garrison have participated in the past.

But I also noticed that the South was heavily represented in this season's cast of 16, which features duos of siblings, spouses and parents/children and the like. Ten of the 16 are from the Southeast, five from Georgia.

None are from metro Atlanta. Two are from K'ville, near Savannah. Others are from Perry, Statesboro and Warner Robins. Another is from Kissimmee, Fl. and four are from North Carolina.

This isn't quite as flattering as "American Idol," which has had plenty of contestants from the South over the years, from Clay Aiken to Chris Daughtry to Georgia's own Phillip Phillips. A majority of the winners are from the region.

"The Biggest Loser" returns January 4, 2016. The winner takes home $250,000.

The breakdowns are as follows:

Best Friends

Whitney Clay (Nanny), 30, Raleigh, North Carolina
Felicia Buffkin (Nanny), 29, Raleigh

Parent-Adult Child Teams

Vicki Clark (women's health care nurse practitioner), 54, Bladenboro, North Carolina
Lauren Clark (nutritionist), 32, Bladenboro
Rob Kidney (small business owner), 56, Warner Robins, Georgia
Sarah Gilbert (makeup artist), 27, Perry, Georgia

Relatives (Aunt/Niece)

Tonsheia "Toy" Grandison (store manager/part-time caretaker at a girl's group home), 35, Statesboro, Georgia
Britney Anderson (health unit coordinator and makeup artist/hairstylist), 27, Kissimmee, Florida

Siblings

Luis Hernandez (physical/health/driver's education teacher), 36, Chicago
Roberto Hernandez (physical/health/driver's education teacher), 36, Burbank, Illinois

Spouses

Jacky Kmet (high school counselor), 42, Hainesport, New Jersey
Stephen Kmet (pharmaceutical sales recruiter), 43, Hainesport
Hope Wright (housewife), 35, K'Ville, Georgia
Colby Wright (car dealership salesman), 31, K'Ville

Strangers

Richard Hatch (television personality), 54, Newport, Rhode Island
ErinWillett (singer/songwriter), 26, Brooklyn