'The Biggest Loser: Couples': Blue vs. Black

February 24, 2009 10:32 PM

The teams on The Biggest Loser: Couples get rejiggered this week, and no one is happy -- but the biggest meltdown may surprise you. Also, we discover just how much can happen in 24 hours, and just how little happens on an hour of this show.

It's time to go from Couple vs. Couple to Blue vs. Black, and as per usual, the show decides who goes where with a challenge. One member of each team has to do up-downs, a classic football conditioning drill that consists of lying on the ground, jumping up to hit a marker, then dropping down again. The first person to make it to 100 touches wins the right to choose their team's trainer. The last person will automatically be split from his or her team. Everyone in between will let a coin toss decide their fate.

Sione starts out strong, but Tara in her usual machine-like self, and she ends up blowing by him. That woman is unstoppable! She does bug me occasionally, but I have to give her mad props for being such a physical bad-ass. She's scary good. Kristin and Helen battle it out to avoid last place, and Kristin, in true Team Purple form, just barely avoids last place. What IS it about Team Purple and the ragged edge of disaster?

The coin toss is fraught with peril -- Sione and Filipe end up on Jillian's Team Black, and they're devastated. They join Tara and Laura, who got to stay with Jillian. Mandi and Aubrey get Team Blue. On the upside, that means they get to stay together, but it also means they have to leave Jillian. Dane also gets Blue, and is ripped away from Jillian. Team Brown gets Black, which means they have to split up. Ron stays with Bob, while Mike goes with Jillian. Team Purple gets to stay with Bob, while Helen, the sole remaining member of Team Pink, gets shunted over to Jillian's Team Black.

The competitors who had to switch trainers -- and who saw former teammates suddenly go to the other side -- are devastated. But that's nothing compared to Bob's reaction. Bob sniffles and sighs and finally weeps openly about losing his former team. Um, Bob? I know that it's tough losing people you trained, but you've got a gym full of folks who need your leadership now. Get over it, ok? And dial back the dramatics -- you just reshuffled a team, you didn't lose lives.

The Challenge
The newly constructed teams have an endurance challenge -- 24 hours on a bike, with every team member putting in a butt-bruising stint at the pedals. The team that racks up the most miles gets a three-pound weight pass, plus every member of the winning team gets a custom bike.

The teams start pedaling -- and almost immediately start complaining. My butt hurts! My knees are bugging me! My back is achy from sleeping on the floor! Wah! It gets bad enough that Mandi and Cathy from Team Blue propose a truce -- why don't both teams agree to stop now, after nine hours? We need our rest to lose weight! Most folks seem to think that eminently sensible -- and it spares their aching asses -- but Sione speaks up. I can't quit. Quitting is what got me here. This sucks, and it hurts, and I'm not happy, but I can't see quitting a challenge before it's done. I respect your decision if you want to break off, but I have to see this thing through.

This turns out to be basically the St. Crispin's Day speech of The Biggest Loser -- everyone rallies 'round Sione and realizes that hey, he's right! We DO need to finish this! Onward, brothers and sisters, unto the breach and into glory! Both teams make it the full 24 hours, and cover a hell of a lot of miles. Team Blue rides 264 miles, while Team Black eats up 301.9 miles. Team Black wins the three-pound pass. Will it be enough?

Highlights, thoughts and odds and ends

Helen wonders whether she made the right decision sending Shanon home instead of going herself. A little late now, Helen!
What did you think of the Trainer-switch drama? The extreme reactions just made the whole situation seem even more cult like than usual for me. Theoretically, both Bob and Jillian are qualified to kick your ass. Is there really that much of a difference between the two of them?
Bob needs to adjust his meds -- I can't believe he had such a strong reaction to seeing his team shuffled like that. Sure, I'd hate to lose Sione and Filipe, too -- those guys are adorable and I love them -- but outright tears? Saying this is the hardest thing he's ever experienced on The Biggest Loser? Dial it back a bit, Bob!
Tara was the biggest bad-ass on the bike, covering the most ground by herself. See? Machine!
I am unclear as to why the team members thought they had to sleep the gym. If they were off for two and a half hours, surely they could have staggered to their rooms for a catnap instead of sleeping on the floor.
I loved Aubrey's reaction to Sione's "I can't quit" speech. "I'm with you. I hate you, but I'm with you." Heh.

E-mail

in NBC, Reality TV, The Biggest Loser: Couples

Permalink

| Comments (21)

21 Comments

Correction: It wasn't AFTER nine hours that they wanted to call a truce. It was with 9 hours LEFT. I often wonder if a blogger truly watches the show or is channel surfing so they never catch all the facts. Also, they stayed in the gym to "be there" for their team in case something went wrong and were needed. No way any of them were going to leave to go nap! And of course Bob is going to be upset. The time, work and effort he spends with these contestants is on a level we will never understand and quite emotional. I'm sure Jillian's former team rallied around her also but they have to show Jillian as a bad ***. Tara is truly amazing but she bugs the crap out of me at times. I like this season so much more than last as it seems that all the contestants truly care about one another. This was the first time that I was rooting for ANYONE on Bob's (former) team. I wish they didn't do the split.

causeway | February 25, 2009 2:59 AM

After last night, I gave Tara my most annoying contestant prize. Her constatntly talking about having to show the new team members how awesome she is???? Seriously???? They've been there all along with you Tara, they already know what mad ninja skills you have when it comes to challenges. Enough!! You're unstoppable, invincible, driven, determined, the best...WE GET IT!!!!

Diann | February 25, 2009 4:54 AM

I agree with your ***essment of Bob's reaction. Just a tad over the top, but, hey, NBC saw the drama and let us all share in his 'pain'. Good thing somebody didn't die or we'd be scraping Bob off the floor. Personally, I'm pulling for Tara. She's a real go-getter and it doesn't hurt that she's really quite beautiful, and after a few more pounds, could be a real knockout. Or am I the only one to notice? I know, call me shallow.

westtexgeo | February 25, 2009 5:26 AM

I'm with you westtexgeo. Go Tara!

Great people. Great season!

bostongal | February 25, 2009 6:09 AM

Bob's drama was too much last night. Good thing I can fast forward with my DVR. It didn't even take me an hour to watch it because I fast forwarded thru most of it. Can you imagine how ****ed Bob and Jillian would have been if they had stopped the challenge? From the previews for tonight's show it looks like the father/son will once again be in turmoil. Will the father be able to save his son once again? Will Tara keep kicking everybodies ***? Will Filipe and Sione be able to overcome their despair and rally themselves to be the Biggest Losers on Jillian's team? Find out tonight (right after the usual product placements).

Margie | February 25, 2009 6:14 AM

Bob's reaction was waaaaay over the top. It's not like these people were send packing...."Look Bob, there they are, just across the gym!" Was that dramatic acting on Bob's part to add to the otherwise dull splitting of the team couples?

And to the contestants - when they filled out the application for the show, did they have a box to check for Drama Queen/King, besides asking for your weight? Sheesh, all you had to do is switch trainers. It's not like one trainer treated you nice while the the other one had you on a strict urine and head cheese diet. All the histrionics over the switch was ridiculous.

Cynic | February 25, 2009 6:36 AM

Bob's dramatics were down right creepy last night. I can't believe they made us sit through all that emotional crap.

Linda | February 25, 2009 7:00 AM

I agree with most about Bob's theatrics. Seriously? And what a bad message to send to his old team members. He should have been encouraging them to learn new things and work hard instead of the tears and I can't go in there and see those other people. How unprofessional.

Alia | February 25, 2009 7:13 AM

Loved the shakeup last night. The show needed it. But, as mentioned by others, what is up with the emotions??? Seriously. You all still sleep and eat in the same house and train most times in the same gym. Is it too much to walk 8 feet across a padded floor mat to say hello to your former team member?

As for Bob's actions..no comment

We did notice last night when they were advertising the BL website where you can go to read the blogs of people who have been voted off, that they showed a web page with Kristen's picture. hmm a hint on what's to come tonight?

Too bad Joelle wasn't still on and got re***igned to Jillian. That might have been FUN.

Jillian has the much stronger team now by a mile. She must have been secretly laughing inside.

DenverGuy | February 25, 2009 7:21 AM