'Biggest Loser' contestant goes to Market for last supper

A "Biggest Loser" contestant from Minnesota pigged out at Market Bar-B-Que on Nicollet Avenue.

"They ate to their hearts' content," said owner Steve Polski of the party of five, led by the contestant, that dined on "slabs of ribs, pork chops, onion rings, corn bread. It was truly like the last supper."

Who picked up the tab? "I didn't," Polski said. "I believe NBC."

When Polski got a phone call from a woman who said she was calling from Hollywood on behalf of the show, "I thought it was a prank, so I said, 'Oh you must have heard I lost 11 pounds.' She went Noooo, but that's nice. We'd like to send a film crew. We have a contestant from Minnesota and we asked him what his favorite restaurant was and he said Market Bar-B-Que. His name is O'Neal Hampton."

Polski said he knew it definitely was not a prank when the release forms arrived in the mail. Polski called Hampton in advance of his eating expedition. "He was a very nice man. He said he had been eating at Market Bar-B-Que for many, many years, and he wanted this to be his last meal [for TV purposes] before he went on the program."

On Wednesday Hampton's wife, Sarah, said he and their daughter, Sunshine, were away shooting the show. These three family members plus sons Arece and Jazz dined at Market BBQ.

Polski said he believes Hampton will be on installments of the show that will air in January. Polski estimated that Hampton weighs four bills. "I'm shocked at how many people are addicted to that show -- not all big people, but medium and normal size," Polski said. "It's the conquest of mind over matter, people who want to change their lifestyle, transform themselves into a healthy person. I don't have that kind of drive. I like food too much."

Death in the family FOX network religion correspondent Lauren Green returned home Friday to join family members at the bedside of her artist brother Ken Green, who died of cancer Wednesday afternoon.

During an earlier trip home this month, Lauren was among family members who accompanied Ken to the St. Paul Art Crawl. Nurses thought Ken would be too weak to attend, but he was there all three days. With the help of his family and friends Dan and Sandy Dobson, Lauren said, Ken sold lots of pieces.

On Sunday, Ken was unable to attend a celebration of his life and works put on by Art Crawl friends. "They videotaped it," Lauren said. "They talked about what he brought to the arts community. He's been a big supporter of artists in Minnesota. He's just a well-known and well-liked kind of guy."

My thoughts are with Lauren, her brother Les Green, her mother, Bessie Green, and other family members. You can appreciate Ken's work at artcrawl.com/kengreen.html.

Insights into Adrian The woman who captivates Adrian Peterson's heart must be as smart as she is attractive.

The woman behind theadventuresofmelindajacobs.com asked Peterson whom he'd like to be if he could be anybody else for a day. After some thought, about 2 minutes and 6 seconds into the video, the adorable Peterson told Melinda Jacobs: "Maybe Will Smith."

I can see a similarity. Both Smith and Peterson seem quite comfortable with their celebrity, unlike a certain dorky fashion designer.

Jacobs and Peterson shared their fondness for "Fresh Prince of Bel Air," one of Smith's early signature works.

"And Jada's not bad, either," Peterson added with a laugh.

Flipping through cable channels Monday night, I caught an interview show called Vizio Pro Files featuring Peterson. At one point during the interview, his dad, Nelson Peterson, was crying. Then I was crying. It was a mess. Adrian didn't cry on camera, but he claimed that he has shed tears about the tragic loss of two brothers. Never trust a man who can't cry or doesn't appreciate the brain and heart of Jada Pinkett Smith.

Michael and Prince In the weeks before Michael Jackson died, his mind was being flooded with song ideas, Kenny Ortega told Oprah.

Ortega said Jackson was channeling and couldn't sleep. "I was like, 'Can't you talk to your higher power?'" Ortega said. "Ask it to shelve these ideas until we open in London. We'll make sure you have a recording studio at the gig and at the house, and you can work on the records from that point on.' And he was like, I can't do that. He'll give the ideas to Prince."

Ortega said Jackson "admired Prince, by the way. 'Purple Rain' -- he used to talk about that song."

It's a great song. I am assuming Prince privately expressed his grief regarding Jackson's death, although readers wish he'd done so publicly.

C.J. is at 612.332.TIPS or cj@startribune.com. E-mailers, please state a subject. More of her attitude can be seen on FOX 9 Thursday mornings.