The Biggest Loser
(Note: This is NOT an official NBC website)
O.K., so I'm a fan of the show and all-too-fond of spouting off my opinions and observations about it so I figured maybe I'd throw up a page on it so that other people could be bored with my opinions and observations.
Week 11 (or is it 12?!)
Editor's Note: It's late and I'm tired so I'm just going to cut to the chase here and I'll fill in the rest as I can.
This week was makeovers week and nobody got more of a makeover than Vicky.
Let me start by saying that all of the contestants looked GREAT. Of course. They've lost a ton of weight, they had great makeovers, new clothes. They should all be very proud. But...
...and I have to wonder if this was because the producers heard the rumbling of the audience...did anybody see the makeover that Vicky got this week? I don't mean the hair, makeup and a dress, I mean the PERSONALITY makover! For weeks she couldn't go 5 minutes without smirking to the camera or calling one of the other contestants names. She became the poster child for devious gameplay. She's been called every name you can imagine by fans of the show who clamored for her to get kicked off. But this week...
...this week she turned into Mark! She couldn't go 5 minutes without weeping on camera. Talking about her kids, about her personal growth, about being scared. Could they have spent any more time making her look human?
Now...cynic that I am when she was sitting there on the scaffold refusing to jump into the water I couldn't help but wonder if it was an act. An attempt to make herself look weak and helpless, garner sympathy with the audience and maybe the other players as well. I half expected her to turn and smirk at the camera as they walked back to the house.
Hmmm...on with the show.
New York City
So this was makeovers week. At the beginning of the episode they were told they were going to New York for makeovers and a reveal on the Tyra Banks show and the girls all clapped and squealed. Ed, having fun with it a bit, joined in, which I admit made me chuckle.
So...off to New York. First thing we get to see, they arrive at the Stuart Hirsch Salon to get their hair done. Vicky and Ed both get a bit of color, everybody gets a nice cut. Renee is the only one with a dramatically different cut I think - Vicky goes red which I admit looks pretty good on her.
After that they head to Macy's where they are surprised by Christian Soriano of Project Runway who helps them pick out some clothes. There's a nice moment when Heba gets into a size 14 black dress that she didn't think she'd fit into. She was a size 24 when Biggest Loser started and she's in tears realizing how far she's come.
Once they have their hair and clothes done it's off to the Tyra Banks show to show America what they've accomplished. One by one they come out and walk the runway and chat with Tyra; to the applause of the crowd of course. What they don't realize is that in the crowd (well, off-stage) is one of their loved ones who have come to see them. Michelle's dad is there, Renee's husband, Vicky's sister, Heba's brother and Ed's dad. All have nice reunions though Michelle's and Heba's were perhaps my favorites.
Challenge
For tonight's challenge the contestants are led to a pool and find 5 glass boxes suspended above the pool about 15 feet in the air. Each competitor gets put into a box, then has to hold themselves in there by bracing their feet or hands up against the glass. If they let go they'll fall into the water and be out of that contest. Last one in, wins. The prize this week was a 2-week spa vacation to some spa in Utah.
Vicky quits after about 30 seconds, right after a 1-shot of her telling the camera how she really really wants to win any challenge that has a spa trip as a prize. But she won't jump into the water. She sits there on the scaffolding for the rest of the challenge.
One by one the other competitors go in, first Heba, then Ed. Finally it's down to Michelle and Renee. Michelle quips that she's not buying Renee another purse, but Renee was ready to drop anyhow - so after the laughs subside she drops in and Michelle is the winner. Michelle celebrates then jumps into the water...but Vicky is still up there. She looks like a frightened rabbit and says she can't do it. The rest are waiting on the deck of the pool shouting encouragements, but Vicky won't jump.
As I said above I have to confess that I wondered if the whole thing was an act by Vicky to try and garner sympathy and/or soften her image.
Finally Ed jumped back into the pool and swam over to give her encouragement and, at long last, she did jump in.
Weigh In
| Contestant | Weght Lost |
| Heba | 7 |
| Michelle | 5 |
| Vicky | 4 |
| Renee | 4 |
| Ed | 3 |
Strategy
So it was 3 blue against 2 black. Renee and Ed fell below the yellow line this week and the swing vote was Vicky. I did actually have a few moments of hesitation when I wondered if she'd turn on Ed since he seems to be the bigger threat, but in the end I wasn't surprised that she played her cards just as expected - keeping her alliance together into the final four.Bye Renee! Sorry to see you go, I really liked ya.
Articles
HOME