28 September, 2011

Biggest Loser S12E02 - Dumb As Poo

The Biggest Loser begins this week with a new song. I'm not talking about the opening credits, Vinny is playing a song on his guitar when suddenly Alison shows up. And you know what that means. It's time for the first challenge of the week. Alison asks for three volunteers (from each group) to take part in the challenge first. Vinny (Red Team), Antone (Black team) and Mike (Blue team) are led to the first temptation challenge. The room they are led to is filled with doughnuts. Vinny wonders if they have found Homer Simpsons hideaway. Before the temptation begins, Alison explains what's going on for the week. Normally the gym is open to all at all hours, but for this week it will only be open during three time slots. In the morning between 5-7, in the afternoon between 12-2 and in the evening between 9-11. The catch for the temptation challenge is whichever team eats the most donuts, will be able to decide when each team works out.

A plate of 35 calorie each doughnut holes are presented to each contestant. Vinny and Antone refuse to eat any, but Mike from the older team downs 11 doughnuts (385 calories) to insure he'll be able to choose when his team works out. The second group is Patrick from the younger red team, Joe from the middle-age group and Becky from the older teams. As each person is hidden, and there is no knowledge of what the group before has done, Becky hopes Mike has not done anything foolish. All three decide not to partake but Joe tries a little strategy to make it sound like he's eating. However Patrick and Becky can tell he's obviously faking as he simply rattles a water bottle provided to help the doughnuts go down easier. The third group is Courney, Sunny and Bonnie from the young, middle age and older teams respectively. Again, no one consumes anything and Bonnie is even afraid to open her mouth for fear of gaining weight from the fumes. The next group is Ramon, Jennifer and Johnny and turns out to be the highlight of the show.

After Jennifer says she's not going to play games, Johnny agrees there is no way he's eating. Instead he decides to make it sound like he's eating a 'feast'. So the grunts and groans he makes as he's sitting there makes everyone laugh, Alison included. As the time runs out Alison can barely blurt out, "Stop, Please stop". The next and final round includes Jessica, John and a randomly picked (yea right) Johnny, since the blue team is down by one player. John is determined to work out when he wants to so begins his own personal doughnut eating challenge. By the time the powdered sugar has settled, John has scarfed down 37 donuts; a total of 1,295 calories. He decides to take the early morning time slot of 5-7 and gives the blue team the afternoon time slot of 12-2. He says he has done so because he 'respects' the blue team. The time slot of 9-11 is given to the red team and none are too happy with John for implying he doesn't respect them, Jessica is especially offended.

At the crack of dawn, Bob wakes up his team with a megaphone, and he's really getting into it. But things don't look good in the gym. Jessica is having problems with her knee and Bob has Antone on the ground crying. To top things off, Sunny is upset with John who has already begun game play. He's already said he wants to start a four horsemen alliance with Antone from his team and Vinny and Ramon from the younger team. He also insults her intelligence and says she's as dumb as a box of rocks and dumb as poo. Joe is just as upset with John for trying to make deals with the other team members. Joe feels John has already turned his back on the team. Bob encourages them to refocus because the other teams are going to LOVE the crack that has started to appear in his group.

Other moments of interest in this episode are Johnny struggling in his workout with Anna's team, Dolvett does his first product placement for Yoplait yogurt and Doctor Huizenga stops by to give some bad news to the contestants regarding their health, and why they need to improve. Also he doesn't sugar coat it, if you'll pardon the pun.

The Next challenge rewards the first two teams to complete it, weight advantages. In the center of a pool is a large raft with a maze on it. The teams must navigate balls through the maze, using their weight to tilt the raft, thus moving the ball. First place will win a 2 pound weight advantage and second place wins a 1 pound weight advantage. Essentially, you don't want to come in last. The first team to go is the red team and they finish the task in 7:45. The older, blue team, is next but require 14:45. Finally, the black team is up and they are on par with the red team. They have a bit of trouble getting the ball into the hole at the end, but still beat the red team by 3 seconds.

So Black team wins a two pound advantage and Red team receive a one pound advantage at the weigh in. Speaking of which, here are the results.
Red Team
Vinny -5
Jessica -7
Courtney -7
Patrick -6
Ramon -9
Total 34 (35 with advantage) 2.18%

Black Team
Joe -2
Jennifer -6
Sunny -6
Antone -10
John -15
Total 39 (41 with advantage) 2.38%

Blue Team
Becky -5
Mike -7
Bonnie -3
Johnny +2
Total 13 1.2%
Johnny is shocked he has gained two pounds but Anna says he makes too many excuses during the work outs and he needs to fight to stay on the ranch.

Elimination is an easy choice, Mike is the biggest loser of the team so he's safe. Bonnie gets one vote, but even in a tie Johnny goes home for having lowest weight loss (or gain in this case). The rest of the team agrees and Johnny is sent home singing. (Olivia he is not). Having started at the Biggest Loser ranch at 328, he's currently weighing 269 for a total weight loss so far of 59 pounds.

Next: NFL week

20 September, 2011

Biggest Loser S12E01 - Premier

Biggest Loser has officially began. Did you catch the first episode? If not, here's what you missed.

The contestants are dropped off in the middle of a desert. Suddenly the transports which brought them, depart, effectively stranding them. But soon Alison arrives and divides the teams into 3. Those under 30, 30-49 and 50 and up. Because there will be 3 teams, there are 3 trainers and Alison next calls them in via helicopter. Once the helicopters land, out comes Bob, Dolvett and Anna. Alison informs everyone a race is going to determine which group gets what trainer. Teams are grouped together and must run a mile towards the trainer they want. The Biggest Loser challenges have officially begun.


The middle-aged group consisting of Sunny (41), Jennifer (39), Joe (46), John (40) & Antone (44) are first, and have run towards Bob. The young team consisting of Jessica (26), Courtney (24), Ramon (27), Patrick (26) & Vinny (27) are next to come in and have chosen Dolvett as their trainer. Finally, Anna stand alone. It sucks to be picked last, but it also sucks to finish last. She decides to run out and finish with her team consisting of Becky (51), Debbie (60), Bonnie (63), Mike (62)and Johnny (65).

When the contestants enter the gym for the first workout they are greeted by motivational posters hanging on the walls featuring past contestants. Suddenly, a phone call comes in for Becky and she is informed her father has passed away. She leaves the Biggest Loser ranch for a few days to be with her family and attend the funeral, but she's back knowing her dad would want her to change her life.

The time has come for the first last chance workout of the system and Bob notes he is the only one who has ever been in this situation before. He knows his team is going to do well. Dolvett has something to prove and channels his best Jillian by yelling at the contestants to do what he instructs. He throws a fit when he spots Patrick continuing to hold the sides of the treadmill. Patrick does it again so Dolvet kicks him out of the gym. Meanwhile, Anna has problems of her own when Johnny decides he wants to quit and leaves the gym. Both contestants rethink their decisions and rejoin the gym.

Results from this weeks weigh in:
Older Team (Anna's) 49 pounds lost - 3.58% percentage.
Middle Age Team (Bob's) 126 pounds lost - 6.82% percentage.
Young Team (Dolvett's) 89 pounds lost - 5.26% percentage.

The older team has lost the first challenge and have an hour to decide who is going home. As they are debating, Debbie lets everyone know she's got great support at home and is a member at a gym but doesn't want to leave. She thinks Bonnie should be sent home. She complains about Bonnie crying and says she's doing it for sympathy. In the end, the rest of the team take Debbie's words to heart. If she's got great support at home, then she's the one to go. A prime example you should be careful what you say, just before voting someone out.

19 September, 2011

Biggest Loser 12 - Battle of the Ages

In the newest season of Biggest Loser, Jillian Michaels has left. She's been replaced by Tennis pro Anna Kournikova and Master Trainer - Dolvett Quince.*

The twist starting off this season is called 'Battle of the Ages'. There will be three teams, each team consisting of a different age group.


Team One - Ages under 30.

Name: Jessica Limpert
Occupation: Nurse
Age: 26
From: San Francisco, California
Starting Weight: 254 Pounds














Name: Courtney Rainville
Occupation: Internet Marketing Specialist
Age: 24
From: Scottsdale, Arizona
Starting Weight: 270 Pounds














Name: Ramon Medeiros
Occupation: Tattoo Artist
Age: 27
From: Florence, Colorado
Starting Weight: 355 Pounds














Name: Patrick Ferrari
Occupation: Adult Mental Health Care Worker
Age: 26
From: Albany, Oregon
Starting Weight: 387 Pounds














Name: Vinny Hickerson
Occupation: Songwriter
Age: 27
From: Nashville, Tennessee
Starting Weight: 426 Pounds














Team Two - Ages 30 - 49

Name: Sunny Sinclair
Occupation: Teacher
Age: 41
From: Frisco, Texas
Starting Weight: 277 Pounds














Name: Jennifer Rumple
Occupation: TV Producer
Age: 39
From: Alameda, California
Starting Weight: 330 Pounds














Name: Joe Mitchell
Occupation: Home Health Therapist
Age: 46
From: Knoxville, Tennessee
Starting Weight: 348 Pounds














Name: John Rhode
Occupation: Teacher/Football Coach
Age: 40
From: Mesa, Arizona
Starting Weight: 445 Pounds














Name: Antone Davis
Occupation: Restaurant Manager & Former NFL Player.
Age: 44
From: Knoxville, Tennessee
Starting Weight: 447 Pounds














Team Three - Ages 50 and older.

Name: Becky Comet
Occupation: Math Teacher
Age: 51
From: Benton, Arkansas
Starting Weight: 238 Pounds














Name: Debbie Lounds
Occupation: Administrative Assistant
Age: 60
From: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Starting Weight: 239 Pounds














Name: Bonnie Griffin
Occupation: Retired Payroll Supervisor
Age: 63
From: Picayune, Mississippi
Starting Weight: 254 Pounds














Name: Mike Danley
Occupation: High School Teacher
Age: 62
From: Spencerville, Indiana
Starting Weight: 309 Pounds














Name: Johnny Forger
Occupation: Realty Company Owner
Age: 65
From: Canton, Massachusetts
Starting Weight: 328 Pounds














Which team will get what trainer? Who do you think will win this season of Biggest Loser? Jennifer Rumple at 330 pounds is the heaviest woman and Antone Davis is the heaviest male at 447 Pounds. They certainly have the most to lose. Antone should have enough training and discipline from his former days to do very well; unless we have another Rulon this year - Then he may go the way of the 'Gridiron Grill', a restaurant he once owned (no longer in business). Becky Comet at 238 pounds weighs the least of anyone. Will she be able to put up the numbers to stay week after week, or will she be one of the first to go? What about Ramon Medeiros, the tattoo artist? Will he make a mark this season or will his contribution be hidden away? Courtney Rainville is the youngest 'loser' this season at only 24. Compare that with Johnny Forger, 65 years old. Will age before beauty triumph this season? Or will we have another female winner?

Don't forget to watch!
NBC - Tuesday evening - 8/7 Central
Season Premiere Sept. 20

*Click HERE for more info on this season's trainers.