As reality TV shows go, it didn’t get much bigger than The Biggest Loser, says streaming columnist NICK OVERALL.

In its heyday, The Biggest Loser could amass 10 million US viewers in one episode alone, establishing a brand worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Other countries were quick to jump on board. India, Canada, the Netherlands, even Turkey to name just a few

Of course, in Australia even those who didn’t watch probably caught Shannon Noll belting out the intro of our own spin-off every now and again.

But around 20 years since its peak, the perception of The Biggest Loser has transformed more than some of its most famous contestants.

Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser now examines that transformation. 

This three-part docuseries on Netflix looks back at the height of The Biggest Loser’s popularity and features interviews with former contestants who describe a harrowing experience while filming the show.

It’s a strange and sad watch.

These former competitors explain that in their desperation to get the body they dreamed of they were willing to do absolutely anything, even putting themselves through hell on TV.

One woman recounts how she came within an inch of dying. After running a marathon on the show the mother of two collapsed and needed a helicopter to rush her to hospital.

Another contestant explains the torrents of hate they received due to the show’s producers wanting to frame her as the “bad guy” of her season.

One man says he would survive on nothing but caffeine for days leading up to the weigh-ins.

Even more shocking is that, despite their remarkable transformations, many of the contestants have put back on all the weight they lost on the show. Some even more.

Medical experts now say that the practices and fitness routines weren’t healthy or the proper practice for getting fit.

In contrast, some are ultimately still thankful for the experience though, explaining it did ultimately change their lives for the better.

Watching back the footage now though, even they say it’s aged like milk.

All of this adds up to make for one hell of a conversation starter. It’s a fascinating look at reality TV and how far the spectacle was pushed for the sake of entertainment.

To their credit, the show’s producers actually fronted the camera for this documentary and were willing to defend and explain what went into making The Biggest Loser.

That alone gives this doco a lot more intrigue than the average Netflix escapade. 

Getting both sides of the story and having them contrasted right next to each other makes for a much deeper examination.

It also makes one wonder how the huge reality shows that now dominate streaming charts will be looked back at 20 years from now.

PEDRO Pascal is the man with the midas touch right now.

It feels like the Chilean-American actor is in everything, buoyed by his immensely popular portrayal of Joel Miller in The Last of Us.

Materialists, now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, is no exception.

This romantic comedy was generating talk when it hit cinemas in June and it’s Amazon that’s scooped up the streaming rights. 

Pascal plays Harry, the seemingly perfect man who catches the eyes of matchmaker Lucy (Dakota Johnson).

But things get messy when Lucy’s ex John (Chris Evans) comes back into her life. Does she go for the slick, tidy lifestyle that Harry offers or is she drawn to the messy chaos that John brings?

Yes, it’s all pretty standard rom-com stuff, but there are some incisive insights on the modern dating world in here thanks to director Celine Song, who worked as a matchmaker herself in real life, inspiring her to write the script.

Not necessarily one to push to the top of the watch list but Materialists does make for some easy weekend streaming.