Michael Ventrella

Top Moments: Lost Lets Go, 24 Moves On and Idol Says Goodbye

Season finales provided a lot of healthy closure this week, at least according to our shrink Mitzi Cohen-McGinty, Ph.D. She says that The Biggest Loser is not just about how we look on the outside. She praised Glee for showing us that there is no "right" when it comes to the relationship between a child and the mother who gave her up for adoption. She thinks Jack and Chloe are totally 24's most codependent coworkers, so it's good that they've decided to spend some time apart. And finally, according to Dr. Cohen-McGinty, Lost's season finale is just a metaphor for the journey to self-actualization that we all must take — except, you know, while we're still truckin' on this mortal coil — and preferably from the couch of her stately Upper West Side salon. Welcome to Top Moments: Everybody in Therapy Edition.

Fri, May 28, 2010

Top Moments: Lost Lets Go, 24 Moves On and Idol Says Goodbye

The Biggest Loser Champ Michael: "I Learned How to Focus on Me"

When Michael Ventrella showed up at the Biggest Loser ranch as the largest contestant in history, imagining himself $250,000 richer and weighing half his body weight a few months later was not so easy. Despite starting out as 526 pounds, Michael's charm, willpower and competitive nature got him to the live finale, where he won after losing a higher percentage of bodyweight (50.19 percent) than his fellow competitors Ashley Johnston and Daris George. The Biggest Loser finale: And the winner is... Michael told TVGuide.com that teaming up with his mother Maria on the show was "amazing ... because she's not just my mother, she's my best friend."

Wed, May 26, 2010

The Biggest Loser Champ Michael: "I Learned How to Focus on Me"

The Biggest Loser is...

[SPOILER ALERT! The following story reveals the winner of The Biggest Loser] After four months on campus and weeks spent at home, it came down to four finalists to be the Biggest Loser: Ashley Johnston, Michael Ventrella, Daris George and Koli Palu. While Ashley and Michael had already secured their spot in the live finale, it was up to America to decide if Daris or Koli would join them. Watch full episodes of The Biggest Loser in our Online Video Guide Daris and Koli walked out as their new fit selves and Alison revealed that the last member of the final three would be 25-year-old Daris. Before they weighed in, the at-home prize of $100,000, for the highest percentage of weight loss, went to Koli for losing 215 pounds, 53.35 percent.

Wed, May 26, 2010

Alison Sweeney: "Definitely Some Friction" on the Biggest Loser Ranch

Don't let all the good feelings fool you: for all the teamwork — and even romance — on the Biggest Loser, host Alison Sweeney tells TVGuide.com there was "definitely some friction" during filming this season. "Let's not forget Michael's choice of teams, the elimination of Stephanie, and Melissa's strategy" the 33-year-old says. She also talked about why Stephanie's surprise elimination wasn't a surprise to her and why she doesn't play favorites. TVGuide.com: Were you surprised at how much of a game-player Melissa was? Alison Sweeney: At this point, I'm never surprised to see a game player. People watch reality TV, most of our contestants are fans of Biggest Loser before they join the show, and at that point, it's just a personal choice how to play the game. Melissa chose her path, and that's...

Mon, Apr 19, 2010