'The Biggest Loser' Premiere: It just keeps getting bigger
Tonight starts another season of "The Biggest Loser: Couples" and once again, it's touting the biggest and unhealthiest contestants EVER. To be fair, they've got a rather large pool of possible contestants to choose from. Thanks, America. As we're introduced to this season's batch, there's one common theme that stands out: being unlovable. Big people need love too, yo. But it's hard for someone to love you if you don't love yourself. By the end of this season, hopefully that will change. But Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels certainly have their work cut out for them; along with the heaviest contestant EVER (Michael is 526 pounds, but looks like more like 450), we've got the half-ton twins. Seriously, these dudes are huge. To rub salt in the wounds, NBC decides to make them weigh-in in front of their entire hometowns. There's nothing more embarrassing than having your middle school English teacher see you with no shirt.
Once the contestants arrive on the ranch, Alison Sweeney ushers them all into an empty gym. Of course, it's time for their first challenge. With Dr. H and the rest of the medical staff standing by, each team prepares to bike a marathon. That's 26.2 miles of biking. Which might not sound like a lot, but for these people (the unhealthiest contestants EVER) it's going to be difficult. Here's some added pressure: the two teams that finish last will be sent home while the winner gets immunity. The first casualty is Blue team's mom Cherita who is pulled off the bike by Dr. H due to stomach cramps.
The first team to finish is the Green Team, followed by Gray and Orange. After more than an hour on the bikes, the last two teams are Blue and Yellow. Alison sends them away in their own stretch limos, but - surprise, surprise--Bob and Jillian jump out and bring exciting news. After 30 days at home, both teams will be able to come back and face off against each other for a spot on the ranch. So at least we've got that to look forward to in a few weeks. On with the workouts! Bob and Jill, to put it lightly, beat the crap out of these guys. People are puking in trash cans and out of windows. Sweat is flowing from every pore. It's always fun seeing a contestant fall off a treadmill, isn't it? It happens at least once a season.
The first weigh-in is typically a record-breaking event. These people have drastically changed their diets and lifestyles, and the scale reflects that. This time, two records are broken. The first is by Purple Team's mom Patti, who loses 23 pounds in one week, which is more than any female ever. The next record broken is by Michael (the fattest contestant) who drops out of the 500's with his 34-pound loss. That's also more than any male contestant has lost in one week. Those two records help secure their teams for another week, so the rest of the players have reason to be nervous.
Even though they weigh more than any other team, Brown only loses 23 pounds each with a 4.75% loss. That sends them under the yellow line, leaving the rest of the players to choose which twin to send home. This is a head-scratcher considering they started out the same weight and lost the same weight. They weigh the pros and cons. John is stronger thanks to his brother's bum knee, but James wouldn't have to go right back to work. They decide to send James home despite the fact that John might be competition down the line. It was probably the right call, because James has made going to the gym his full-time job. In two short months, he's dropped a whopping 100 pounds! That's a lot even for the Biggest Loser ranch. Well, as much as breaking up a set of twins is difficult to do, it looks like the contestants made the right choice.
Next time... it's the dreaded Week Two Curse! Someone will gain weight! But who?
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I still miss Sarah (who used to do the recaps).
I was surprised by how often I switched the channel last night away from BL. Has the show finally become boring?
I've enjoyed it for the most part the last few seasons and find the transformations inspiring, however last night I didn't know if I was watching a new episode or an old repeat. The contestant's comments were the same rehashed ones everyone always say, people's backstories were repetitive and the editing was as poor as usual. I guess it just isn't as fresh as it used to be. It just felt like NBC rushed a new season into production to save their ratings freefall. Bummer
I enjoyed Sarah’s re-caps as well. She gave a good women’s perspective. Brandon, you’re doing a heck of job. I like your recaps. You hit on a lot of the same things I see in the show. I also notice you usually include a picture of Allison. Sarah never seemed to do that :)
It seems like a good crop of contestants. I like the idea of Bob and Jillian sharing the training. This gives the contestants a chance to bond with the trainer of their choice. The show should not be Bob’s team versus Jillian’s team. It should focus on the contestants.
I thought the first “twist†was extraordinarily mean. It broke my heart to see Sunshine and her dad have to leave. Kudos to the Director/Producer for getting the viewing audience emotionally connected to the contestants then stomping on their hopes and dreams, only to give them a second chance. It’s hard to root for one team over the other, they all seem like nice people, but I gotta root for Sunshine.
How exactly did the marathon work? Was it the combined distance of the two teammates or did each teammate have to peddle 26.2 miles? They may have explained it during the show but I missed it.
I know from personal experience that jumping on an exercise bike when you are grossly out of shape (which I’ve been) can be very tough. Lots of sore thighs and butts. Once you are in reasonable shape, the bike is usually a nice break (I’m not talking psycho spinning here). I question how safe and responsible it is to immediately throw these people on bikes and tell them to peddle as if their life depends upon it. I guess it’s no different than having them start with a mile run. Yea, I know Dr. Kildare was on site to prevent any serious injuries or worse.
As if getting weighed in front of a bunch of other contestants isn't uncomfortable enough - let's do it in front of the entire town - WTF!?! that's just mean.
WTF 2 !?! Don't bring these needy people to the ranch to send them right back home dangling the carrot of coming back after 30 days.
I'm sorry that's just wrong
I hope I don't hate this season.
I'm still not over Season 6.
Jeff- yes it was the combined distance of the two bikes. Also, Allison posted on twitter that while it was not seen on air, each team did complete the challenge & one of the male contestants paired up with the daughter on the blue team to help her reach 26.2 miles
Erin - Thanks. I think it would have been cool to show the person helping the blue team daughter complete the marathon. Maybe I'm an old softie, but I like to see when teams help and encorage eact other.
Antigone - Help me out, I'm not good with the math. What was Season 6, or I should say who was the villain, then I'll know which season you are talking about.
Where's the recap for last Monday's two-hour episode of "Heroes"?
Has Zap2it given up on the show?
Last night was kind of a bore snore.
I mean, last season started off with a bang, showing Tracey's determination and Coach Moe's patience.
Oh, and WAY too many closeups of the spit-strings in people's gapig open mouths!!!
All I could think of when they were on the bikes was that those are some huge people on some tiny bike seats... that's gotta be uncomfortable!