Lace up your sneakers and grab a hankie -- ‘The Biggest Loser’ is having a casting call

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Are you 100 pounds or more overweight? Have you tried everything under the sun to lose some pounds? Then do we have the solution for you! There’s only one catch: You have to be 18 or over and completely comfortable with appearing in nothing but shorts, or shorts and a sports bra, in front of millions of people.

You’re OK with that? Great. Because ‘The Biggest Loser’ is coming to town for an open casting call for Season 9 on Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Citadel Outlets in Los Angeles. Besides the conditions already mentioned, there’s one other important thing to note: the show is looking for couples who need to slim down, as in parent and child, husband and wife, brother and sister, even cousins if there’s a good dynamic.

‘That bond between parent and child, siblings and spouses is so incredibly relatable,’ says Allison Kaz, vice president of casting for 3 Ball Productions. She’s cast every season of the hit show that has spawned books, videos and an online community.

‘This is one of the few shows where people are not looking for their 15 minutes of fame,’ she adds, ‘because no one wants to stand in front of America in a sports bra and shorts and flaunt their insecurities to the world.’

We may have to disagree with her there, because for many people, showing your fat rolls on national television is worth it for a chance at winning the grand prize of $250,000. And what’s not to like about being berated by trainer Jillian Michaels while enduring some torturous bout of exercise? Everyone looks forward to that.

Kaz says about 500 people are expected to show up for the casting call, the final one of 15 held for Season 9. On tap to appear are the show’s host, Alison Sweeney, and Season 5 contestants Curtis and Mallory Bray.

But even those who don’t get chosen may still benefit: ‘All the people who come to the open call have gotten to a place where they’re taking control of their life,’ Kaz says. ‘They’re saying, ‘I’m not going to live this way anymore.’ ‘ Another upside: Kaz says that while waiting on line, friendships develop, and even weight loss groups form.

Are you ready for your closeup?

-- Jeannine Stein