AFTER THE ELIMINATION

Michael is the first to return to the house after the players send Maria home.  The rest of the players roll in and waste little time in reminding Michael how lucky he is to be there, since he wasted a good portion of the previous week.

POP CHALLENGE

The next day, Alison meets the group and announces the next Pop Challenge.  Immunity is up for grabs, along with three decisions that will affect the entire game.  The players have to run the Presidential Mile, grab a key card from the 100 on the board, and run back to Alison to try the key in the machine.  If it’s a green check, the team gets one point.  If it’s a red x, they have to try again.  First team to get three checks wins.

Stephanie’s working hard to win the challenge, lapping players in her quest to to get the three checks.  But the first player to get a green check is Melissa.  Orange and Pink Teams are nipping at the Red Team’s heels.   The momentum sticks and Red Team is the first to get the three green checks.   In addition to immunity, Melissa and Lance have three envelopes with penalties to distribute to the players of their choice.   They must decide:  game play or try and curry favor?

They opt for game play for two of the three decisions.   John receives the “no gym for a week” envelope.   Works in his favor as his knee injury keeps him in the pool for most of the time.   Red Team gives “no vote at elimination” to Michael, since the players were pretty harsh with him after the previous week’s elimination.   The 2 lbs penalty at the weigh in goes to Green Team.   Miggy and Migdalia are pissed.

CONFRONTATION WITH RED TEAM

Heads are about to explode!  The trainers are not happy when they learn about the results of the day’s Pop Challenge.  Bob notes how crazy it’s been in the house.   Jillian knows Miggy’s at the breaking point.   Time to confront Red Team, and again the trainers opt for the “tag team” approach.

Bob takes Melissa and Lance aside.  He doesn’t make any headway with them.  Melissa is upset that Bob called her a liar on national television.   Lance says he lost a lot of respect for Bob during the last weigh ins.  They insist Melissa is telling the truth.   Bob hesitates, then decides to let Jillian call the Red Team’s bluff.

Jillian asks Lance to come clean about the game play.   Lance refuses and says he’s not going to work with Jillian.  “Okay,” she says.  “Such is life.”    She trots over to tell Bob what happened – in front of everyone.   The teams split off, one of each pair goes to box with Jillian.  First up, Melissa.  She looks Jillian straight in the face and repeats that she’s not involved in game play.   Ridiculous!  Jillian’s only been doing this for 18 years and 8 seasons on the show.   No fooling the one who knows the science.   Jilllian looks straight at the camera and says, “She’s lying!”

Later, Melissa asks Lance to continue to work with Jillian.  He agrees.  She smiles, noting that she gets what she wants.  I hope it’s a good kick in the rear.

CHALLENGE

Hardhats on deck!  Each team has to hoist themselves one hundred feet in the air to the top of a crane.  And the prize is good – phone calls home for the winning team and the three other teams the winners choose.   Koli and Sam are channeling some kind of super human strength.  We hear a few catty remarks about steroids.   Jealous, Red Team?  It’s a photo finish, but the boys hold off Melissa and Lance for the win.  Koli and Sam’s hearts match their size.  They share the phone calls from home with Melissa and Lance (second place), Migdalia and Miggy (family birthday) and John (because he’s without family on campus).

TRAINER TIP

Jillian has a lo-cal treat to curb your sweet tooth.  Microwave an apple in a small bowl of water for 3 minutes.  Sprinkle with cinnamon and enjoy!

REWARD PHONE CALLS HOME

Gray Team is delighted to talk with family!  It’s the first time that Sam’s Dad has ever said how proud he is of his son.  Koli’s mom tells him she loves him and his aunt promises that she’ll never make fun of either guy for eating organic.

John’s wife tells him that their son is talking!  She puts baby Nicholas on to say hi to Dad.

Lance and Melissa are both excited and sad to speak with their kids.  They really miss them!

Both members of the Green feel like they want to go home.  Miggy speaks to her fiance who’s lost 20 lbs!  Migdalia’s daughter says, “Where are you Mommy?”  Her husband tells her to hang in there.

LAST CHANCE WORKOUT

It’s plug time!  Fill the Brita and head over to Subway.   Bob coaches the players on how to fill up with lean protein and healthy carbs.   Good thing they replenished their energy reserves.    Last Chance Workout moves out of the gym into the great outdoors!

Bob has hill duty.  The teams hike up the mountain, alternating walking with running intervals.   That hill is steep!  It’s John’s first official Last Chance Workout and he’s glad to be with the group.   Daris is running like a machine!  Just when the players reach the top and think they’re done for the day, Jillian’s waiting for them.  With kettlebells.  Wheelbarrows.  And rocks!   Jillian’s gleeful as she pounds the calories out of the players.  She taunts Koli and Sam as they try to push themselves up the hill in the wheelbarrow.   “It can’t be done,” she says.   The Gray Team proves her wrong.

WEIGH IN

Ali reviews the Red Team’s escapades for the week:  John couldn’t go to the gym, Michael can’t vote at elmination and the Green Team has a 2 lbs disadvantage.  Melissa and Lance stand by their decisions as Green Team fumes over the game play strategy.   With immunity, Red Team kicks off the weigh in.  Jillian is absolutely sure that “peer pressure” will cure Melissa’s amazing struggle to lose weight on campus.   And what have we learned thus far?  Don’t.  Doubt.  Miss Jill!

• Melissa – 11 lbs
• Lance – 6 lbs
• Michael – 15  lbs
• Andrea – 5 lbs
• Darrell – 10
• Cheryl – 6 lbs
• Daris – 6 lbs
• Ashley – 7 lbs
• Sherry – 4 lbs
• John – 10 lbs
• Sam – 14 lbs
• Koli – 12 lbs
• Stephanie – 6 lbs
• Migdalia – 5 lbs
• Miggy – 1 lbs
  

The high points:  Michael, Sam, Koli and John lose double digits; Cheryl and Daris hit milestones, dropping below 200 and 300 respectively.

The low point:  Melissa’s smirking response to Green’s less than impressive weight loss.   She actually says out loud, “Ali, just so we’re clear, 2 lbs wouldn’t have made a difference here.”

Migdalia starts to cry and Miggy instantly admonishes her, telling her to stop.  Jillian points out the inherent sadness in this command.  The Green Team is constantly swallowing their emotions, refusing to show stress to anyone.

The pre-elimination conference rapidly goes downhill.  Migdalia flat out says she’ll make it easy for the group.  Someone has to go home.  Pick her.  Melissa, not content to let it play out without drama, cautions the group to remember that the majority of attitude has come from Miggy.

ELIMINATION

The group is clearly conflicted.   I can’t remember another elimination like this one.  The two up for elimination are ARGUING and talking trash before the voting is complete.   Last season, Rebecca and Rudy went at it but that was after she had been eliminated.    The players refuse to honor Green’s request to go lockstep for Migdalia, with Red, Gray and Brown voting for Miggy.   Ultimately, the majority of votes go to Migdalia.

HOW THE ELIMINATED PLAYER LOOKS NOW

Startling to hear Migdalia say she’s opened up and learned to deal with her emotions during the final interview at the ranch!  After a brief period of uncertainty at home, Migdalia gets back on track.

NEXT WEEK

They’re baaaaaaack!  After battling it out at home for 30 days, who will get to return to the ranch – the Blue or Yellow team?

Random thoughts on Week 2:

• It’s a sobering experience when Dr. Huizenga gives the contestants the results of their medical testing.  Quite a wakeup call to see decades tacked onto your chronological age.
• Why is anyone with a fear of water applying to be on the show?  You’re going to be in the drink within the first three weeks.  Poor Maria.
• Red is the new Purple.  Tracey passes the crazy game play hat to Melissa.
• Highs and lows – Patti sets the weight loss record for women during week 1, ends up going home.
• Week 2 curse – now officially a myth?

Understandable for Patti to sacrifice her time on the ranch for Stephanie, but I was sad to see her go.  She’s doing well at home though, aided by her strong family support system.  Daily workouts with her daughter, dancing with her husband and family running sessions have helped her lose 43 lbs. Patti’s also made huge progress in her battle against diabetes.  Looking good Momma!

Why I cried:  the season 9 premiere gives us not one, not two but the three heaviest players in Biggest Loser history.  The 11 couples are also the sickest bunch to date.   At this rate, we’re bound to see a 600 lbs player on Season 10.

MEET THE TEAMS

Bob and Jillian phone each team at home to tell them they’ve made the cut for Season 9!  Team colors are selected for each pair, then the trainers throw the first curve.   The teams have to do the first weigh in before their family and friends, in public!  I am personally horrified.  It takes a lot of courage to strip down in front of EVERYONE you know.  I don’t even like getting on the scale in front of myself!

More info on Red, Pink, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Brown, Black, Gray and White Teams.

Starting weights:

• Cheryl (Mother), 247 lbs
• Daris (Son), 346 lbs
• Patti (Mother), 243 lbs
  
• Stephanie (Daughter), 264 lbs
• John (Identical Twin), 484 lbs
  
• James (Identical Twin), 485 lbs
• Sherry (Mother), 218 lbs
  
• Ashley (Daughter), 374 lbs
• Darrell (Father), 419 lbs
• Andrea “Drea” (Daughter), 238 lbs
• Cherita (Mother), 277 lbs
  
• Victoria (Daughter), 358 lbs
• Miggy (Mother), 240 lbs
  
• Migdalia (Daughter), 265 lbs
• Melissa (Wife), 233 lbs
  
• Lance (Husband), 365 lbs
• Koli (Cousin), 403 lbs
  
• Sam (Cousin), 372 lbs
• O’Neal (Father), 389 lbs
• Sunshine (Daughter), 275 lbs
• Maria (Mother – White Team), 281 lbs
  
• Michael (Son – White Team), 526 lbs

Speculation that the one of the “Half-Ton” twins was the heaviest player – completely shattered by 40 lbs!  Mamma Mia Michael!  The son of Chicago’s Italian-American duo takes the top honor.

CHALLENGE

The players arrive at the ranch to meet Alison.  (”Smoking hot!” according to Lance.  Who said it in front of his wife!  Oh Lance.  But he’s right, Alison looked fantastic!)  Hugs all around, then Alison brings the contestants up to the gym.  All the equipment is gone!  We know it’s the first of many season surprises.   Alison reveals 22 stationary bikes and announces the first challenge – 26.2 miles on the bike.  Immunity’s at stake, with another twist…the bottom two teams must leave the ranch immediately.   Without even meeting the trainers?!

No product placement yet, another surprise and probably a Biggest Loser first.   The teams hop on the bikes and the feet start flying.  Green Team mother Miggy gets out in front and never lets up.   She is fiercely determined to stay on the ranch.  The Gray Team cousins are a close second.  Neither Koli or Sam can believe how quickly Miggy is cycling.  Everyone’s covered in sweat as Miggy and Migdalia are first to 13 miles.  They rocket all the way to the finish, guaranteeing themselves immunity.   Gray Team finishes second.

The other teams roll through the finish, one by one.   Blue Team mom Cherita suffers extreme stomach pain forcing Dr. H to take her off the bike.  This leaves daughter Victoria biking alone against the other two remaining teams, Yellow and Purple.  The mother/daughter team of Patti and Stephanie squeak out ahead, assuring the Purple Team will stay on the ranch another week.

Blue and Yellow are going home.  Cherita and Victoria knew it would be an uphill battle with mom’s injury, but O’Neal and daughter Sunshine are devasted!   Good thing the limos stuck around.  The two teams load up and prepare to go home, but surprise!  Ninja Jillian and Bob leap out of the bushes.   The teams go home for 30 days.  Yellow gets Bob, Blue gets Jillian – the team losing the highest percentage returns to the ranch.

TRAINER TIP

Bob and Jillian show how easy it is to exercise as a team.  They demonstrate various strength exercises, including plank/leg lifts and toe-to-toe situps with a weighted ball.

FIRST WORKOUT WITH TRAINERS – FI-YYAAAAAAA!

Bob and Jillian pull the fire alarm to get the players out of bed and to the gym.  What a rough wake up call, especially on the first day of certain pain.  As they meet the players and Michael nearly squashes Jillian, the trainers point out the obvious.  The players get bigger and bigger each season.   Bob and Jillian are training together again this season.  Pain, puke, snot and tears commence before the trainers even get ramped up!   Cheryl quickly becomes the gym standout, pounding the mat, screaming like a bad ass with each push.   Everyone’s impressed.  As Jillian says “Somebody wound up the mama and let her spin!”

Wow, first product placement comes 55 minutes in – double Brita and WalMart whammy.

AROUND THE CAMPFIRE

As the first week on campus draws to a close, the contestants tell each other how they gained the weight.  While the specifics differ, the stories sound oddly similar.   Heartbreaking to discover that most of the kids in the parent/child teams have never been in love or even kissed.  Maybe we’ll get more love connections at the ranch this season!  Maria is stuck in the sandwich generation, caring for elderly relatives and raising her kids.  She has little time for herself, another common theme, especially with the mothers.  Koli and Sam saw themselves in Season 7’s Tongan cousins Filipe and Sione.  Koli cried during the makeover episode when he saw Sione’s wife meet him on stage.  He is desperate for love and acceptance.  Migdalia’s husband may be deployed to Iraq again; she’s all her kids have and she’s in terrible health.

LAST CHANCE WORKOUT

Last Chance Workout?  Did someone say Last Chance Workout?! We got another 30 Day Challenge going on…details here.

Back on the ranch, Jillian smirks, “Welcome to the Biggest Loser gym -  family fun for all!”  The contestants get down to business.  Bob reminds them all to input all of their calories and exercise into their bodybugg every day.  Melissa says there’s a lot at stake in the Last Chance Workout.  Patti knows she’s put in the effort but worries that it won’t be enough.   Bob has the twins walking the pool to compensate for their limited mobility, especially James.  He and John are worried about the competition.  As Jillian reminds us,  every day is the Last Chance Workout at the ranch.  You don’t want to end up there, because it’s the last stop, end of the road.

FIRST WEIGH IN

Alison shows off the Biggest Loser scales and reviews the weigh in rules – team that loses the lowest percentage of weight falls below the yellow line.  The rest of the teams will choose which player goes home.

Green Team has immunity, thanks to Miggy’s cycling prowess.

• Miggy, 13 lbs
• Migdalia, 16 lbs
• Koli, 29 lbs
• Sam, 18 lbs
• Daris, 29 lbs
• Cheryl,  14 lbs
• Darrell, 30 lbs
• Drea, 14 lbs
• James, 23 lbs
• John, 23 lbs
• Melissa, 19 lbs
• Lance, 21 lbs
• Patti, 23 lbs (highest % of any female competitor 1st week on ranch)
• Stephanie, 16 lbs
• Ashley, 17 lbs
• Sherry, 21 lbs
• Maria, 13 lbs
• Michael, 34 lbs (most amount lost by any contestant 1st week on ranch)

Holy crap! Michael gets out of the 500s, yelling “are my abs showing?”  Purple Team has the highest percentage of weight loss at 8.09, carried over the top by Patti’s stunning individual loss of 9.4%.  Brown Team falls below the yellow line with a combined percentage of 4.75.  They look alike, weigh almost the same and each lost 23 lbs.  I can’t even tell them apart.  Now the rest of the teams have to send one of the twins home?!

ELIMINATION

Each of the twins argues that the other should remain at the ranch.  Ultimately for the rest of the teams, it comes down to which twin has the time and ability to do it at home.  They choose James.

HOW THE ELIMINATED PLAYER LOOKS NOW

James vows to win the at home prize.   He says that John doesn’t understand what a gift this elimination was for both of them.   Then he says we’ll finally be able to tell the twins apart because he’ll be the more handsome, skinnier twin.   Boy did he make good on that promising, losing 100 lbs in 2 months!  Imagine what John will do at the ranch.

NEXT WEEK

A wild first week!  A total of 5 players sent home.  Public weigh ins before the players even got to the ranch.  Season 8’s Abby Rike blogs this week about the courage it takes to get real with yourself (apparently something that Season 3’s winner – or whiner – Erik Chopin hasn’t mastered yet).  The stakes remain high, while the yellow line stays low.

Coming up…the dreaded week 2 curse.  Which didn’t turn out so bad last season.  Just saying!

Danny, Danny, DANNY!!!

It was the finale of my dreams, except for two small little incidents.  The first occurred promptly at 7:59 and 58 seconds as the Boston NBC affiliate LOST THE FEED!!!  Thought I was going to have a heart attack.  Missed the beginning three minutes and the live Tweeters got me up to speed quickly.  The second snafu…we’ll get to that shortly.

AMERICA VOTES

Alison Sweeney looks unbelievably gorgeous in her red dress.  I am still awestruck that she didn’t lose the microphone in her cleavage, what with all the hugging going on!   As Amanda and Liz take the stage to hear how America voted, I was stunned by the resemblance between Amanda and Ali.  If Days of Our Lives needs Sami flashbacks that don’t fit with the storyline, they should definitely call Amanda.   Simply stunning.  Liz also looks great, but even with the weight loss, she’s still looking much older than 49.  Residual marriage stress?   America seconds it’s original choice:  Amanda wins the chance to weigh in for the grand prize!

AT HOME PRIZE RESULTS - $100,000

By order of elimination, the first four are Alexandra, Antoine, Sean and Julio.  Alexandra dances, saying how lucky she was to share the weight loss journey with Antoine, her boyfriend since they left the show.   Antoine is glowing with pride, accomplishment…and a secret!   Sean’’s life announces that he’s a proud papa for the third time, a daughter named Jillian!   Julio is swoonworthy.  Didn’t even recognize him with his new mustache.   Very dashing.

Bob and Jillian wow the crowd in their sleek sexy black outfits as the first four contestants change for weigh in.  Gorgeous, both of them.  I find myself wondering if Bob’s mohawk will return in Season 9.   Back to business – the first set of weigh in results:

• Alexandra – start 309 lbs, finish 218 lbs,  total % lost 29.45
• Antoine – start 367 lbs, finish 215 lbs, total % lost 41.42
• Sean- start 444 lbs, finish 289 lbs, total % lost 34.91
• Julio – start 407 lbs, finish 227, total % lost 44.2

Julio’s in the lead!  Coach Mo, Dina, Abby and Tracey stroll out.   Coach Mo looks svelte in his purple sweater.   If Alison surprises her with a bench, I’m  confident Dina could jump onto it.  She’s looking strong.  It is so good to see Abby smile in her sexy red dress!  Tracey is clearly in contention for the 100K but her words of strength don’t match her appearance.  She looks like a skeleton among the healthy glow of all the other players.  Has to stand out, even in the finale!

• Coach Mo – start 355 lbs, finish 263, total % lost 25.92
• Dina – start 253 lbs, finish 174, total % lost 31.23
• Abby – start 247 lbs, finish 147, total % lost 40.49 (an even 100 lbs, meeting her goal!)
• Tracey – start 250 lbs, finish 132, total % lost 47.23

Good god.  Second stumble of the night occurs.  A wave of nausea crashes over me.  Tracey has taken the lead from Julio!   No, no, NO!!!  Is she actually going to win the at home prize?!

Shay, Daniel, Rebecca, Allen and Liz are the final five to weigh in.  It’s been such a long journey for Shay as the heaviest player to date.  She knows her journey will continue well past the finale.  Daniel, rocking the v-neck, looking so handsome with his new muscles!  Dr. H tells the Orange Team that they did get their Second Chance.  With the pounds they lost, Shay gained 13 years of life, Daniel an astonishing 23!  Rebecca’s doing the previous incarnations of the Pink Team proud, flaunting arms that scream “SLEEVELESS!”  Not sure about the new blonde hair color though.  Loved that glossy dark brown.  Allen lives up to the hunky firefighter image – he looks awesome!

• Shay – start 476 lbs, finish 304, total % lost 36.12
• Daniel – start 312 lbs, finish 201, total % lost 35.58
• Rebecca – start 279 lbs, finish 140, total % lost 49.82 (she takes the lead from Tracey!!!)
• Allen – start 325 lbs, finish 209, total % lost 35.69
• Liz – start 267 lbs, finish 176, total % lost 34.08

And once again, karma come back to bite Tracey in the butt.  Rebecca scores the $100,000!

A collective cheer among the live Tweeters!  And Bob dishes out the first surprise of the night, inviting Shay to weigh in again at the Season 9 finale in May.   Jillian tells her that Subway is going to give her $1,000 dollars for every pound she loses.  That is AWESOME!  Finally, a product plug we can be proud of!

THE FINAL THREE GRAND PRIZE

The second surprise of the evening – Antoine whips out a ring and proposes to Alexandra, who is overwhelmed with shock!   And of course, she says yes!

Erin, who competed with Amanda to get on Season 8, returns with her at-home weight loss – 76 lbs!  Then it’s down to Amanda, Rudy and Danny.   It was so strange to see the thin contestants walk side by side down the stage with their heavier doppelgangers.   Actually, a little disturbing.  But I did like that the contestants got into it, especially Rudy who gave his alter-ego a nice little pat on the ass.

We’ve already seen Amanda, but Rudy and Danny…WOW!  The “big boys” look amazing.  Who knew how cute Rudy was?  Danny’s channeling a younger version of Judge Reinhold.  I’ve been a Danny girl since the first week, but seeing Rudy, I know it’s going to be close.  Very close.  No way Amanda’s even in the running.

Danny picks the order since he lost the most weight on the ranch.  And finally, what we’ve all been waiting for:

• Amanda – start 250 lbs, finish 163, total % lost 34.80
• Rudy – start 442 lbs, finish 208, total % lost 52.9 (gulp!)
  
• Danny – start 430 lbs, finish 191, total % lost 55.5

AND IT’S DANNY!!! What a finish!  Rudy’s a warrior, coming THAT close to snagging a cool $250K.    Season 4’s Hollie Self is back to interview Danny after the finale:

The Biggest Loser Season 9:  Couples III returns to NBC on January 5.   Can’t wait!

FLASHBACK

Pasty, gray images as the contestants recall the last three months.  It’s as if the death knell is sounding!  Slowly the images change from torture in the gym (Jillian:  “Rudy, it’s never going to stop until you die!”)  to the ever-smaller players hoisting weights (and trainers) they struggled to move during the first few weeks.  They’ve lost pounds and gained strength, both physically and mentally.  The achievement is amazing.

GOING GOING GONE

Ali surprises the fab four by telling them they’re going home for 60 days.  They’ll have to face the same things that got them to the ranch in the first place.  Their only support: the lessons they’ve learned from Bob and Jillian.   After two months, they’ll return to the ranch to face the scale one last time before the finale.

The limos drop them off at home and reality sets in.   Rudy’s missed his family and is grateful to his wife for holding it together while he’s been away.  But he’s worried that he won’t be able to mix family life with his rigorous diet and exercise schedule.  Danny thanks his wife for her support and tells family that he wants to renew their vows.   Liz remembers how she threw a fit to go home the first week.  But every week it got easier.   This version of Liz is very different than the one who left family behind 12 weeks ago.   She’s made changes and she’s expecting her family to do the same, especially her husband.   Amanda’s broken the pattern of giving up when things got difficult.  She hopes her friends and family will be able to see her as a changed person.

Watching the players trying to integrate into their previous lives is like putting a jigsaw puzzle together.  Eventually with a little time, the pieces all fit together.   Rudy, Danny and Amanda settle in more easily than Liz.  She and her husband are uncomfortable discussing her journey at the ranch.   As Liz herself admits, they have had difficulties in their marriage, leading to bitterness and resentment on both sides.  Feels as if we’re eavesdropping on marriage counseling!

SPECIAL DELIVERY

The players receive video messages from Bob and Jillian, asking them to embrace the people they’ve become.  Neither of the trainers ever want to see the individuals they met at the ranch on Day 1 again.  Instead, they ask Liz, Rudy, Amanda and Danny to live life fully and with happiness…without losing sight of themselves.   The trainers follow up with a phone call, informing each contestant they’ll be running a marathon!  Surprise factor seems to be wearing off here.  Wonder if the Season 9 contestants will do a triathlon!

AT HOME VISITS

We’ve grumbled quite a bit on Twitter each Tuesday night about the insufferable amounts of product plugs this season.   The only time I thought it worked seamlessly and seemed completely appropriate was tonight when Danny’s kids were playing The Biggest Loser game No stilted setup or dialog,  just kids having fun while exercising.  So darn it, I’ll take the cue and plug it myself!

Curtis Stone makes good on the last week’s prize and teaches Danny’s family how to make lighten up favorite recipes.  He revamps a classic potato skins dish by stuffing the skins with turkey vegetable chili.  MMMMmmm!   The trainers are also on the move, sneaking up on the players at home.   Bob goes one-on-one with Rudy and Amanda, while Jillian does mini family interventions with Liz and Danny (a pretty good promo for her show actually).   Everybody agrees that it’s stressful to be home, but the trainers keep the players on course with helpful tips.

RACE DAY

Ali meets the players at the starting line to wish them luck.  She also tells them that they have a chance to pay it forward.  Each player who finishes will receive $10,000 to donate to the charity of his/her choice.   The starting gun fires and the players start running.   Rudy and Amanda settle into a comfortable pace, each running alone.  Danny and Liz decide that teamwork got them to this point – and teamwork will carry them through to the finish line.

Motivation comes in the form of running partners.  Tara Costa surprises the Brown Team and Liz is overjoyed, telling Tara that she watched her run the marathon last season!  The trio is later joined by Danny’s wife and Liz’s husband, and another former Brown Team member, Season 7’s Mike Morelli.  Meanwhile, Dina joins her former Blue Team partner at the halfway point.  Amanda scoops up her friend Brian around mile 15.  Everyone keeps running (or walking/jogging), despite the serious pain they’re all feeling…knees, hips, everywhere!  Tara moves up to run with Amanda, giving her small goals – “walk to the post, then run.”    Rudy puts it best:  “Who puts the finish line 26.2 miles away from the starting line?!”  Mile 25 has significance – they’ve been there before on Day 1!  It was the first mile they ran.  Now it’s the last.

One by one, they roll through the finish line. Rudy’s first, followed by Amanda, then Danny and Liz cement their partnership by finishing together.  No time to savor the achievement; they’ve got one last weigh in!

WEIGH-IN

Ali outlines the ground rules – the two players with the highest percentage of weight loss automatically make it to the finale.  The last two will ask America to decide which one will compete for the grand prize.  The announcement will be made live at the finale.

• Liz, 16 lbs
• Amanda, 16 lbs
• Danny, 54 lbs ASTONISHING!
• Rudy, 43 lbs WOW!

America will decide between Amanda and Liz.

NEXT WEEK

The live 2- hour finale!

POST ELIMINATION

A jolt for Amanda – Rebecca’s gone and she’s truly alone.  She has to start worrying about herself and no one else.  If it works out that America made the right choice, cool.  Getting to the Final Four is her responsibility.  The rest of the team discusses what they’ll have to do this week to stay – take advantage of every second with Bob and Jillian.

Bob and Jillian are more surprised by the “whys” of the vote than the fact that Rebecca’s gone.  They tell the remaining five to admit it – Rebecca was a threat!  Game play aside, it’s the last week on the ranch.  Everybody’s going home.   The trainers pile it on in the gym – it’s the last chance they have to make sure that the players leave the ranch prepared to do it at home.   Rudy is able to laugh at how easy the workouts are now, compared to what they were at the beginning.  Allen, Danny, Amanda and Liz are exercising like pro-atheletes, focused and strong.

MINI CHALLENGE

Ali introduces a surprise guest, financial expert Suze Orman.   Suze asks the players if they’ve ever made the connection between wealth and health.   It’s expensive to be overweight!   After reviewing their personal finances in detail (no big deal to talk FICO scores after the entire country knows how much you weigh, I guess!), Suze gives the players a chance to make some cash while they burn off a few calories.   The players hop on treadmills and answer a series of money questions.   Right answer means $1,000, wrong answer bumps up the treadmill speed.   Amanda collects $3,000 while Rudy, Liz, Danny and Allen bring home $4,000 each.

SPOT IN FINAL FOUR

The players evaluate each other and their individual chances to stay in the final four.   Amanda makes peace with herself and what she’s already accomplished.  She knows the others will vote her off if she’s up for elimination.  Rudy and Danny think they’re each other’s biggest competition.   Allen’s wondering if he can stay above the yellow line.  Percentage-wise, he’s smaller than the big guys.  They have more weight to lose.  Liz has to fight like she’s never fought before.

Bob is trying to figure out where everyone is mentally.  He insists that he won’t be accepting any Miss America answers; he wants an honest admission that they are afraid.   And they are.  They know it will be hard.   Danny thought he had won the battle years ago but the weight still came back.  Will they be able to keep it off?  Amanda, overwhelmed by tears, says this is the happiest she’s ever been.  She’s not going back to the person she was before.   Amanda later speaks privately to Bob and thanks him for getting her on track.   He’s convinced that America chose her for a reason and he counts her as his biggest success this season.  Danny and Liz also have a heart-to-heart.  They each recognize their partnership was instrumental in getting them to the final week on the ranch.

CHALLENGE

The team mets Ali at a football field and are surprised by Biggest Loser fan (and NFL Hall of Famer) Rod Woodson.  Each contestant runs up and down the football field, harnessed to a barrel containing 10 footballs.  The balls equal the amount of weight lost while on the ranch.  Rod cheers them on as the players move the footballs out of the barrel and down to the other end of the field.   Allen takes the early lead and despite a challenge from Rudy and Amanda, maintains the number one position.  There’s no immunity this week, but Allen wins two tickets to the 2010 Pro Bowl.  The NFL also donates $5000 worth of athletic equipment to his daughter’s school.  Ali congratulates the players and tells them to enjoy the rest of their time on the ranch.

TRAINER TIP

Rod Woodson joins the NFL in its effort to eradicate childhood obsesity, encouraging kids to exercise at least 60 minutes a day.

LAST CHANCE WORKOUT

Is Biggest Loser looking for a new theme song?  Danny’s been flexing his musical muscles and debuts a song he wrote about his time on the ranch.   Jury’s out – heartfelt or cheesy?  You decide!

Bob and Jillian are all about the tough love during the last Last Chance Workout.   Rudy and Danny battle it out on the stair climber, while Allen throws punches for Jillian.   Bob reminds Amanda that the Pink Team has had it good at the ranch.   He wants her to continue the streak.    Liz ups the intensity by adding Jillian to her routine, dragging her across the gym and doing pushups as the trainer sits on her back.  They are fighting for it!  No one wants to be the one who doesn’t make it.

TRAINER TIP

Bob and Jillian say drink up!  Water, Brita filtered water that is.   The Brita filter is an inexpensive way to make sure that your water is as clean as possible.

WEIGH IN

Ali reminds the final five – no immunity tonight!  However, the winner will win a healthy cooking lesson at home visit from Curtis Stone.   Each player has earned this second chance and now it’s all about staying above the yellow line.   Rudy ends up setting a record – the most weight lost of any player on campus.   Danny also breaks a record – most weeks of double-digit weight loss.  And overall, it’s Danny who ends up on top and wins the home visit from Curtis!  Hope the Danny trend continues at the finale.  Results are:

• Liz – 5 lbs, 2.46 %
• Rudy – 12 lbs, 3.9 %
• Allen – 8 lbs, 3.36 %
• Danny – 16 lbs, 5.26 %
• Amanda – 6 lbs, 3.63 %

So it’s Liz and Allen below the yellow line!   Liz and Allen figure that Amanda will be the swing vote…and they’re right.   Liz has voted for Amanda in a past elimination, and Allen speaks to Amanda privately, reminding her that this is a game.  Allen has not been able to get the percentages each week; Liz is more of a threat to Amanda.

ELIMINATION

Danny votes for Allen, Rudy votes for Liz and Amanda casts the tie-breaking vote for Allen.  Amanda explains that she wants to see another woman in the finale.  Will that prove to be a good decision?  Only America knows for sure!

HOW THE ELIMINATED PLAYER LOOKS NOW

Before Allen leaves the ranch, he vows to be a smoking hot fireman!  Judging by his wife’s reaction, he’s more than  fulfilled that promise.

NEXT WEEK

Finalists from last season cheer on the Season 8 finalists as they prepare to run a marathon!

SURPRISES

• We didn’t see the trainers’ reactions to the younger team doing extra exercise rather than getting sleep during Week 9.  That’s a big reason why Amanda and Shay fell below the yellow line and Daniel went home immediately  Both Bob and Jillian consider proper rest as important to weight loss as nutrition and exercise.   If NBC is reading this, please add this footage to the behind-the-scenes web clips.  Thanks!  :0)

• Rudy’s sister died of leukemia when he was in his early teens.  Jillian flipped out when she and Bob found that out during Rudy’s motivational speech.  Exercise beatdown followed shortly thereafter.  Hard to believe Rudy had never made the connection between his sister’s passing and his weight gain.

• And Rebecca had a meltdown over Rudy’s vote at the elimination.  If I had been in Rebecca’s shoes, I wouldn’t have been surprised.  It’s Young vs. Old at this point.  No reason to expect Rudy to deviate from that.

If you missed the Makeover Episode, check out these stellar recaps from PhillyBurbs and Celebrate Weight Loss. And Alison has a great collection of “Before and After” photos of the final five!

HOW THE ELIMINATED PLAYER LOOKS NOW

NEXT WEEK

(Okay, this week!)  Back to back episodes on Tuesday and Wednesday!  First, financial guru Suze Orman and NFL Hall of Famer Rod Woodson pay surprise visits to the final five contestants on Tuesday night.  Then, are they still winning the battle of the bulge? Contestants from the previous seven seasons return in a 2-hour special Wednesday night.

But as luck would have it, I got sick this week and never managed to convert my rough draft into a polished recap post.   And lucky you!  Once I read this, I figured, “Why bother?!”

Alison…“Baby, You’re the Best.” Thanks for bailing me out.

I reserve a special place in my heart for Washington, D.C.

I discovered the city as a high school junior when a friend enrolled at Catholic University.  Fell head over heels for one of my friend’s college buddies.   An older man!  (Okay, 4 years.  Just old enough to make Mom nervous.)  Walked around the Memorials, hand in hand.    After that fizzled out, I returned to D.C.  the next year as part of a Young Leaders Conference.  Met a girl from Michigan on that trip.  We ended up meeting again as randomly paired college roommates.    I spent a college semester there, working as an intern for the Senate, writing my thesis and house-sitting for a couple whom I still consider part of my family almost 18 years later.   I always thought I’d end up living there again.  Lots of personal history.   And now I can add one more fond memory – it was the site of my favorite BL elimination to date!

IN THE ELIMINATION ROOM

After Black sends Abby home, Alison invites the Blue Team to join the rest of the players.   Alison reminds them that America looks to them for inspiration.  They’re losing the weight.  All over the country, Americans are fighting the same battle against obesity.  The statistics are staggering.  Alison gives the teams a new mission:  help Americans lose those pounds.  And the best place to make it happen:  the nation’s capital!

TRAVEL

The last time they flew, no one could buckle their seatbelts without the extender. What a difference 8 weeks makes!  Black and Blue board their JetBlue flight to D.C. and settle themselves into their seats. No spillover, no discomfort, no embarrassment, plenty of room to stretch out!

Alison, a vision in another “Mad Men” inspired outfit, greets them at the Jefferson Memorial. Shay cannot believe she’s right down the street from the President. Everyone’s excited to play a role in helping Americans lead healthier lives. Who better to assist them? Bob and Jillian, of course! Both trainers marvel at how far the show has come in just eight seasons – it’s not a normal reality show. And when Alison tells the group they’ll be going to the White House, Bob nails it: if that doesn’t say that the show has had an impact on America, he doesn’t know what does.

As Jefferson was a proponent of individual rights, meeting at the memorial has special significance. The game is going back to singles! Each man or woman stands on his or her own, in his or her previous color shirt. The players are delighted to hear Alison say this, especially Daniel whose lower than expected weight loss has hampered the Black Team.

POP CHALLENGE

If you want to affect change on a national level, you need grassroots support to promote your cause. This becomes the cornerstone of the day’s Pop Challenge. Alison announces that in a few hours, Bob and Jillian will hold a public workout in front of the Washington monument. Each player has 60 minutes to get the most people assembled in front of the monument, ready to workout. The winner will get a huge advantage at the next challenge, but of course Alison keeps mum. She does reveal that the winner will also get to take his or her entire team to Subway for a post-workout dinner.

The contestants scurry and start working the streets around the National Mall. They start selling like crazy to corral as many people as possible. Color-coded stickers in hand, Danny tells a group that he’s proof The Biggest Loser works. He’s lost all this weight in 7 weeks. Amanda discovers her unique selling proposition: people start recognizing her from last season’s finale. She’s racking up the votes. Allen’s not messing around. He heads to the nearest fire station and issues a 911.

Oh Lord, Liz says as she approaches a group and they start chanting “Amanda, Amanda!” She searches for people who aren’t wearing pink stickers and finds some young boys. She bribes them with promises of cute younger female contestants, telling the camera, “I left cute behind 30 years ago. I’m relying on guilt and charm!” Shay and Rebecca try staking out their individual turf, as Rudy and the others taunt them with their growing numbers.

Getting the people turns out to be easier than keeping them. Talk about a political schooling! The D.C. tourists and residents turn out to be a fickle bunch. When Amanda’s groupies see Daniel, they have an immediate change of heart and start hooting, “Daniel, Daniel!” Rudy crosses party lines by slapping a Blue sticker on Daniel’s back. But Daniel refuses to move to the middle.

Time’s up! The fire trucks start rolling into the monument site as the teams assemble – it really looks like the Brotherhood will lock this up for Allen. Ali introduces the contestants and says that it came down to one vote separating the top two finalists, Allen and Liz. And Liz wins! Yes, you definitely go girl.

It was awesome to see the crowd start working out. Bob grabs the headset and starts leading the crowd. He is pumped, it’s what he loves about his job…the ability to help people. Jillian’s also pretty happy, strolling through the crowd, picking on total strangers. Poor tangerine-suited woman tells Jillian she can’t and everyone else ends up doing 20 extra squats because of it. Tangerine gets in line pretty quickly after that! As the winner, Liz gets to take her team and Jillian to dinner at Subway. Jillian instructs them to order off the 9 gram menu, pick lean protein and load up on the veggies.

NEXT DAY

The Biggest Loser storms Capitol Hill! The trainers and players lobby two members of Congress on obesity issues and how they affect children specifically. The contestants all tear up a little talking about their own experiences. Jillian makes an empassioned plea for Congress to pay more attention to what’s in the food supply. Our bodies don’t recognize this Franken-food! The general consensus: reps need to hear the people on these issues.

CHALLENGE

Alison meets the team at Constitution Gardens and announces a 4 station challenge. Winner gets immunity! Liz’s advantage is that she can choose not to compete in a certain section. As every politician knows, you’ve got to run hard to make it to D.C. The first part is a one mile run around the Constitution Gardens. The first six finishers will go onto the second station and Liz decides to participate.

Tracey freezes when she hears Alison say “one mile run.” Amazing to see how much goodwill surrounded her during flashbacks to the first week…and how she squandered it over the next 6. But she’s game. Allen and Rebecca take an early lead, Shay and Tracey bring up the rear. Shay says the difference this time is that it’s a matter of when, not if she completes the race. The top six are Rebecca, Daniel, Allen, Amanda, Rudy and Liz. Tracey ends up finishing the race ahead of Shay, happy to have conquered the distance.

Fundraising time! Probably the worst part of being a politician. 17,954 pennies cover the steps of the Watergate Hotel. The amount of pennies equals the amount of pounds lost to date on the show. Each player has to scoop enough pennies to fill their tube. First four move on. Liz decides to sit this one out. I would have done the same thing! Rudy and Daniel secure the next two spots, with Rebecca beating Allen for the final position.

TRAINER TIP

Bob says that everyone asks how to handle workouts during vacations. With a flight of stairs and a little creativity, you can stay on track. Walk or run the stairs for 20-30 minutes for cardio. Then finish with chair dips, side squats and pushups on the stairs.

After another impromptu happy dance from Rebecca, the competitors move to the next station in front of Capitol Hill. Getting things done in Congress requires a certain amount of balance. The players have to stand on a pedestal, balancing on a narrow ledge as they hold a Pilates ball over their heads. What?! This one’s over pretty quickly. Daniel folds almost immediately, Rudy worries about his big feet but manages to beat out Liz before falling off. So it’s Rebecca and Rudy at the top of the ballots!

Or maybe just in front of the White House. They’ll have to take 206 steps, the amount of contestants in the show’s history. All the cable networks would have called this pretty quickly. Rebecca opens up a 30 step lead and never looks back. She’s an immunity-winning monster machine.

In the first open rebellion to excessive product placment, Twitter nation contemplates a Gumcott as Bob has a heart-to-heart with Amanda. (I think he wants to squeeze her as much as he wants to squeeze the Obamas.) If she wants to stay in the game, she has to focus on healthy snacks, like Extra gum. Sigh.

WHITE HOUSE TIME

The group gets to meet the White House personal chef, who takes them on a tour of the First Lady’s organic vegetable garden. They pick the produce for their lunch and then trot off to the White House kitchen to prepare their salads. Bob is very impressed to learn that the Obamas eat healthy every day. If it’s good enough for the President, it’s good enough for the country. I’m sure at this point, Secret Service was keeping a very close eye on Mr. Harper. You know he’d be leaping across the counter to squeeze those Obama kids! Jillian, slightly less huggy, admires the standard being set by the 1st Family.

LAST CHANCE WORKOUT

Back to singles means back to joint training. Torture, sings Jillian! Especially for Tracey. She’s been dying to beat the gameplay out that girl. Jillian barely gets a sumo squat out of her before Tracey turns on the waterworks. Don’t fall for it Jillian! Everyone else is happy to be back on track, especially Amanda who is getting her groove back with Bob.

WEIGH-IN

A spectacular site as the scale sits underneath the Lincoln memorial. The usual amount of panic sets in, but as Danny says, no one knows what a week away from the ranch will mean. Shay is set on getting below 400. Daniel hasn’t lost much in the last two weeks, so he’s hoping for big numbers. And Amanda wants to see results from her renewed Bob connection.

Results are:

• Rebecca – 4   Immunity
• Shay – 9  Bye bye 400!
• Tracey -  3  Jillian didn’t make a dent.
• Daniel – 11  Just 7 short of 200 lbs lost since last season!
• Allen – 9
• Danny – 12
• Rudy – 9
• Liz -  3  Needed 4 to stay above yellow line.
• Amanda – 7  All that “extra” attention from Bob!

ELIMINATION

It’s Liz v. Tracey!  Mentally kicking Liz, who better be kicking her own ass for not taking it Tracey when she had the chance.   I mistakenly cue the Rocky song, thinking they’ll go a few rounds in a last ditch effort to keep themselves safe.   Liz doesn’t fight at all.  AGAIN, just like she failed to stand up for herself a few weeks back.  And Shay points this out, noting that her vote will never be based on strategy.  Now I want to do the punching.  Room starts to get hazy and I’m having trouble tweeting.  Alison isn’t helping me with her repeated banana hands tweets.    Can’t breathe.  Tracey may pull this out again!!!

Luckily, it’s pretty cut and dried.   Shay casts the lone vote against Liz; Amanda, Danny, Daniel and Rebecca give the four needed to cut Tracey loose!

HOW THE ELIMINATED PLAYER LOOKS NOW

24 hours later, Tracey departs for home…in a helicopter just like the one she needed the first day on the ranch.  Her family is delighted to see her and even cheer her on when she returns to Malibu for another go at the “Miracle Mile.”    Safe to say Tracey inspired a lot of people across America, maybe not in the usual way other players have.  Ultimately, she fought hard to stay, she played the game and the choices came back to bite her.  She says she’s a new person, a happier person.  Definitely a leaner person as we saw on Leno. I  believe her.   But that doesn’t mean I have to like her!

NEXT WEEK

Nervous squabbling, treadmill user error (Rudy!) and heated outbursts as players learn two will be eliminated!

BLACK SENDS DINA HOME

Rudy is sad to learn Dina’s fate, but the rest of the Blue Team knows it was the obvious choice.   As Liz notes it wasn’t difficult.  Black knew the outcome when they left the weigh in.  Danny had immunity and strong ties have developed among Amanda, Abby and Daniel.   The real test:  if Danny wins immunity this week.  Then Liz hopes to see tears!

POP CHALLENGE

New day and a sudden realization – we’re halfway through this competition!  Alison meets the group and reminds them that Rudy is only 13 lbs from losing 100 lbs.  Will he beat the record set by Dane last season in week 8?

She also announces face off week is officially underway.   “Bring it,” says Shay remembering how Season 7’s Kristin had a picture of Filipe on her treadmill.    The winner of the Pop Challenge will choose the face-to-face matchups.   Two discs are strung overhead on opposite sides of a limbo-type pole.  Players have to touch one disc, then duck under the pole to touch the other disc.  First team to touch 500 times wins.  The rules – only one player competes at a time for each team and the players can only take one turn.

The tall players are at a clear disadvantage.  Allen and Rudy would be better off jumping the middle pole instead of weaving underneath.   Abby, in her first official pop challenge, does the first leg for Black while Tracey starts for Blue.  Abby has to swap out after only 20 touches, aggravating her injuries.  Shay goes in and gets over 100, leaving Tracey in her wake.  But as soon as Allen swaps in for Tracey, Blue starts cranking.  Black team’s best chances are Amanda and Daniel, who narrow Blue’s lead to under 5.   Ultimately, Rebecca wins it for Blue when she passes the 490 mark and never looks back.

Power!  And Rebecca is LOVING it.  The Blue Team realizes that they only need to win 3 of 5 matchups at the weigh in.  They choose carefully:

• Rebecca v. Amanda
• Tracey v. Abby
• Allen v. Danny
• Rudy v. Shay
• Liz v. Daniel

Blue plays it strategically.  Only surprising pairing:  former partners Rebecca and Amanda.  They are famous for their Pink Shirt happy dance.  How could it go so wrong?  Apparently, both are competitive…and both are jealous.   Black team takes it in stride, especially Shay who knows she’s at a disadvantage against “lumberjack” Rudy.  But she’s got courage and heart, “and that can get your further than your head and the numbers.”

It’s on, baby!  DING!

TRAINER TIP

Jillian says that swimming is a great addition to any cardio routine.  Mix up laps with intervals of treading water or pushups on the side edge of the pool.

WORKOUTS BEGIN

Bob’s taking Jillian’s advice on swimming.  He’s got the entire Blue Team in the pool, splishing and splashing.  As Rudy says, it’s sink or swim, literally.

Meanwhile, Black’s also getting wet, only they’re dripping with Jillian-induced sweat in the gym.   Amanda has a complete meltdown on the treadmill as Jillian tries to break her out of her comfort zone.  Rather than manage her stress in a safe controlled evironment, Amanda begins whining and ends up in tears, unwilling or unable to complete her routine.  An exasperated Jillian questions why these contestants are so difficult.

CHALLENGE

It’s baseball!  Black and Blue march into the field wearing baseball jerseys.  Danny is ecstatic to be wearing number 73, as it evokes championships he’s won as a former athlete.  The group is startled to confront life-size blowup pictures of themselves 7 weeks earlier.  Talk about morphing into different people!

The Jumbotron begins to flicker as Alison announces a surprise message from a mystery guest.  Both teams are happy to see NY Yankees star Derek Jeter (pains me to type that as a Red Sox fan.  And Kevin Youklis would have done it live.  Just sayin!).  He cheers them on by name and actually chides the Black Team for not winning a challenge.  Nothing like being called out by a baseball star on national television, says Abby.  The important takeaway from Jeter – you have to work as a team in order to win.

The rules:  In order to eliminate the opposing team’s players, each team collects and throws balls at the pictures of the players they want to “bench” for the game.  It takes 316 balls (Jeter’s batting average) to eliminate a player.  The team who eliminates the other team first wins.  The prize:  Curtis Stone whipping up lunch.  Awww!  PLUS, a 2 lbs advantage at the weigh in.   Nice.

Abby has to sit out due to injuries and Blue selects Tracey to even up the teams.   The strategy is clear:  take out the strongest player first!  Black gangs up on Allen, while Blue opts to strike randomly.  We discover Danny’s got tremendous aim, a human pitching machine.   And Blue begins trash talking!   Shay blocks it all out with a determined strut.    It comes down to Liz against Danny and Shay.  After more than 90 minutes, Danny sinks the 316th ball in Liz’s column to get Black Team’s first win!

Curtis prepares a backyard BBQ for the Black Team – Mediterrean Burgers featuring lean Jennie-O turkey breast.  He combines thyme, garlic, cherry tomatoes, onion and red wine vinegar with the ground turkey and replaces the bun with a portabello mushroom cap.   Throw the burgers onto the grill or sandwich press for a delicious 244 calories.

COOKING TIP

Curtis favors stocks and broth to enhance flavor, but points out that most are high in sodium.  A quick homemade version of vegetable broth:  boil onion, celery and carrots for 30 minutes, scoop out the veggies and you’ve got stock.

WORKOUTS CONTINUE

And Jillian continues to make her contestants fold like card players.   She asks Abby:  what’s it like to lose everything you love?  A heart-stopping question.   It’s no secret that Jillian’s utilizes many therapeutic techniques with her contestants, techniques that she no doubt picked up from her mother, a licensed therapist.   Jillian’s very effective at forcing players to confront their issues in a safe zone.  It’s always tough to watch, but this is the only time in BL history when I wondered if she had gone over the line.  As Abby recounts how she lost her husband and children, she tells Jillian that being at the ranch is the hardest thing she’s ever done.  But she’s strong and getting stronger.  Jillian admits that she could not have handled it herself if she’d been in that situation.  She tells Abby that she’s made a choice to survive, to continue to love and it’s working.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

The new Biggest Loser Interactive Fitness game!  If it’s half as good as the commercial…loved seeing Bob break into that couple’s house.   Is that the same one Ali Vincent plugged in earlier episodes?

PRODUCT PLACEMENT

Amanda changes the Brita filter in the kitchen and has an epiphany!  She admits to Jillian that she hated being the fat girl and now she hates feeling like a failure.  She apologizes to Jillian, who responds by telling her not to be afraid!  It’s learning from your mistakes.  It’s how you grow.

LAST CHANCE WORKOUT

Bob presides over an amazing feat – Allen jumping 3 feet into the air at 270 lbs and landing on a box.  And he made it look EASY!  Mind over matter.  If only Dina had watched that!

Shay and Jillian have a heart-to-heart.  Shay says the stupid ladder, as painful as it is, mirrors the pain of her life.  She chose food before.  Now she’s choosing something else.   Jillian asks, have you figured out how not to die?  She takes Shay off the treadmill and puts her on the floor with a bar on her chest.   She truly breaks her down, forcing the bar into Shay’s chest.   Jillian tells her to listen:  it wasn’t your fault.  You were a child.  You couldn’t save your mom.  Be angry.  But deal with it.

Jillian succeeds in her mission to break down the Black Team’s emotional barriers.  Is it enough to supercharge their weight loss for the week?

WEIGH-IN

Black decides to give entire 2 lbs to Amanda.   Did it pay off?

• Rebecca 9 Amanda 4 (6 with advantage) 
• Tracey 5 Abby 3
• Allen 8 Danny 12
• Liz 7 Daniel 5 (nice upset for Granny!)
• Rudy 14 Shay 9

Nope.  And Jillian is dismayed by Amanda and Daniel’s numbers.  She’s not getting though to them.  Or maybe it’s too much emotion.   Either way, Liz gets her wish.  Danny has immunity and the Black Team will be crying over a tough decision.   Great individual week for Danny – double digits!   Shay had a solid week too, but up against Rudy, not enough.    In fact, Rudy sets a new Biggest Loser record losing 101 lbs in 7 weeks!  Classy that Dane came back to witness it, even though he was doing a triathlon the next day – he looked fantastic!

ELIMINATION

Devastating!  Abby makes the case – for the team to send her home!  She knows who she is.  Her journey isn’t like the others.  This perturbed me, as I think Daniel should have fallen on the sword here.   But Abby has asked them all prior to this night – if I ask you to send me home, abide by my request.

They go to meet Alison.  Abby selects Amanda, because she thought she’d be the one player not to get a vote, she doesn’t want to vote for Daniel and she can’t vote for herself.  Shay is sobbing as she tells Abby she’s the mother she never had and reveals Abby’s name on the placard.  Amanda also picks Abby.  Danny has second thoughts, he votes his conscience (another reason he’s my guy this season) and chooses Daniel.  The final vote is Daniel’s and he does as Abby asked – he sends her home.  Alison says they’ll see her at the finale and Abby hugs Shay, saying she better win!

WRAP-UP

Personally crushed by this outcome.  But Abby is okay with it.  She has proven to herself that she’s where she wants to be.  It’s working.  She started on the ranch after the lowest point in her life.  Abby doesn’t know what the next chapter is, but she’s ready to fly again.

HOW THE ELIMINATED PLAYER LOOKS NOW

Abby reveals that she started dreaming since the ranch.  She’s discovered her mission:  to help others who are hurting change their lives.

NEXT WEEK

The Biggest Loser show travels to the nation’s capital!  Dining in the White House kitchen and maybe a Last Chance Workout on the National Mall?  Tracey wonders whether some of her choices will come back to bite her.  I hope so – with very big teeth!