Another Blue Team Loss

Another interesting and a bit controversial episode of The Biggest Loser. And I'm really torn about all of it.

First up was the temptation challenge. I hated it. Ok, it wasn't the challenge itself I hated - I actually kind of liked the fact that it was the trainers who had to decide to eat cupcakes or not. What I hated was the message the trainers sent to their teams. First, we all know that it would not have had any impact on the weigh-in for the trainers to eat a cupcake. So why they couldn't take that calorie hit for their team is a little puzzling. I also didn't like the message the trainers sent by not eating, especially Bob (who apparently loves cupcakes). Sure, it's important to stick to your diet and not give in to temptation. But isn't it also important to show that you can have a little treat now and then and still be a healthy person? I wish that that was the message the trainers chose to send to their teams.

The challenge was also an interesting sort of situation. I really question the reward. First, does anyone really think that the immunity prize was determined before the challenge itself? It seemed like the producers left themselves open to do what they wanted by not revealing the prize until the weigh-in. Contestants weigh in before the weigh in we see on tv...the big scale, actually, is just a prop. They weigh in on a real scale, but aren't told the results (the results, however, are video-taped, and the producers know...that's how they decide what order to weigh them in at). So they knew just how much the red team lost the weigh in by before they revealed the immunity. I wonder that if the red team was closer if the prize would have been different. And, of course, there's the the challenge itself. Why on earth did Bob let his team not really participate? He's got to be frustrated with his team and himself.

So, with the immunity, the red team stayed and the blue team lost again. And no surprise, Patty was the next to go. I think she lasted an extra week because of the immunity anyways. Can't wait to see what the new twist is...

Blue Team Down One

It had to happen - for the first time I can remember, the numbers on the scale on The Biggest Loser were "normal." No 15 pound weeks...just lots of 2s and 3s...the type of weight-loss a normal person would have in a week. And for some reason, I'm happy. I've always really liked the show, partly because they are showing that you can (and should) lose weight through diet and exercise instead of gimmicks and surgery. But it was always a little disheartening that they expected so much in such a short period of time. Now, we may see huge numbers again next week. But I'm not sure. There has been talk that there was so much criticism last season about contestants taking extreme measures to win (namely dehydration and not eating) that they might be monitoring them closer this season. I have also read that there are several players with health conditions that are not being shared on-screen. But I am a fan of healthy numbers all around.

The episode itself was good. I loved the challenges. Any challenge like the reward challenge where it is more mental than physical rocks. And Patty messed up the strategy - such good tv to watch. I also found it interesting that she would have been the biggest loser on her team regardless of the 3-pound pass. Makes you think that having those extra calories (which sped up her metabolism) might have been a good thing after all. I also loved the second challenge, where they raced against kids. How funny was it to see a kindergartener dash by them? Classic.

Lots of people online are upset that Jerry was voted off. But not me. I think it was a good move. He clearly had the ability to lose the rest of the weight at home. He got hurt, and couldn't compete in the challenge (and would likely be unable to work out as hard for awhile). And he showed the ability to pull a huge number. Get rid of him while you have the chance. Yes, he seemed like a genuinely nice guy. But this guilt that he "chose" them? Come on...as it turned out, everyone got chosen. So he put a blue shirt on you...it's still a game, and it's a game you want to win.

Jillian is Back

Well, it's "finally" time for the black team and Jillian to return to the Biggest Loser campus. And while I still think that the black team twist was mean, I'm glad they're back. First, I'm not such a fan of Kim. Aside from the fact that she didn't seem to work her team very hard this week, she also wasn't such a great coach to Lezlye & Amy. You could also tell a lot about her relationship with Bob when Bob greeted Jillian. Anyways, no surprise that the red team lost again this week, and another one of the whiny girls got sent home. My prediction? They'll be absorbed by the blue & black teams in the next two weeks.

A New Season of The Biggest Loser

Well, another season of The Biggest Loser is upon us. That's right, the original "fat people on scales" show is back. And even though I'm not so sure about the twists, I'm glad it's back.

It's still too early to rate the contestants this season, but there's no question that they're fatter than ever. It's strange to think that some of the female contestants this season have goal weights that are close to the starting weights of some of the female contestants from season 1. Really. They're also trying to find bigger sob stories as well, like the woman who lost everything to Katrina. And this is where I start to doubt the twist of the black team. These are clearly people who have already been though a lot, beyond their weight and health problems. So why add insult to injury? There were more than a few brief minutes where they thought they had been cast off again. So while I think that the black team twist might be good, the contestants on that team need to be treated like people.

I'm also not sure about the new host as well. I like Allison so far, and she seems to be much more suited for the role. I guess I just wish I knew why they got rid of Caroline.

So in a few hours we'll see the arrival of the black team on the BL campus (not the ranch this year...not sure why they got rid of the ranch...). Can't wait.