113 replies to this topic

[TWoP Gadget]

"THE BIGGEST LOSER” TACKLES THE CHILD OBESITY EPIDEMIC BY INCLUDING KID PARTICIPANTS FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER - In a season unlike any other, NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” takes on child obesity by featuring kid participants for the first time ever on the show, joining 15 fiercely determined adults eager to lose weight and change their lives forever. The focus for the three kids – 13-year-old baseball enthusiast Biingo, 16-year-old honors student Sunny, and 13-year-old former cheerleader Lindsay -- will be on getting healthy rather than numbers on a scale, so they will not be eligible for elimination and will not weigh in on camera. They will work at both the ranch and at home, and their progress will be featured in every episode. New mother Jillian Michaels is also back, ready to whip contestants into shape with her tough-as-nails, no nonsense approach, alongside returning trainers and top fitness experts Bob Harper and Dolvett Quince. Contestants include a high school special education assistant and mother of four, a former college football player and the show’s first openly gay contestant, who was bullied for both his weight and his sexuality when he came out at age 14. Alison Sweeney hosts the series.

[StephInMN]

Well, TC. Not sure what to say here. Your child was seriously injured by your weight, but you still waited TWO YEARS to get on TBL to do anything about it? Then, like that, you are eliminated?

I sometimes don't understand why people keep trying out for TBL when they could at least TRY to lose weight at home first? He is a prime example of someone who should have taken action ASAP.

[windy31]

Welcome back people with attractive, soon to be hot, faces and large bodies! I have missed you.

Feels like they could have saved TC since Nikki left. I hate when people take a spot on this show and then give up. It's not fair to those who would put in the effort. With the plan of having 15 contestants why not skip elimination after she left, show.

[Bavct]

First and foremost - thank the goddess that Jillian is back. I missed her so much. I can't wait to see what a new mommy, sleep deprived Jillian will bring this season.

I wish Nikki had the intestinal fortitude to stick it out until the weigh in and throw herself on the sword then. I really am pissed that Jillian lost two people because of that whiny bitch.

I will say it again as I do after every season opener - have these people ever watched the show? I'm so sick of the same crap every single opening episode - wah, wah, I didn't know it was going to be sooooooooo hard....wah, wah, I have exercise on my first day????? I didn't realize that....wah wah...STFU.

Dolvet is looking exceptionally fine - I'm over Jackson already. The older man with the beard looks like he could be okay.

I'm not sure of anyone on Bob's team yet - I couldn't get past Bob's glasses.

Was that little blonde from the red team hitting on the guy from Jillian's team - in his room - is he the one trying to lose weight to propose to his girlfriend? In any case, she annoyed me - like a troll doll would.

[gardendiva]

They must have been reading these boards and decided to listen to their fans. I like the new positive tone of the show, without the ugly dramas and mean people. I know it is still early, but they seem to be emphasizing the "all for one" attitude vs. the "us vs. them" mindset that had been poisoning the last few seasons.

[3NV7]

So the gay dude on the red team... are we sure he's not the kid from Jerry Maguire all grown up?

[auntlada]

I get that doing this show is probably harder than it looks, but those three on the white team on the first day seemed as though they'd never even seen the show. They looked like they had no idea they were going to have to keep going and that people were going to throw up. People throw up on the first episode every season (and I wish they'd quit showing it -- puts me right off my brownies). People cry every first episode. They can't all be wusses who just can't handle the pressure; I mean they do go on (at least most of them do), some of them for a long time. It just sucks to see someone leave voluntarily -- although it's better than seeing someone who does want to be there have to leave.

Was the woman who left the one who had been bulimic?

[dvrsavedtv]

Nikki is a pathetic loser. I can't believe she just walked off. Someone who really wanted it could have been there.
She is a ridiculous quitter and she should be ashamed.

There should have been no elmination tonight

[Dittohead]

That first girl to leave the ranch (Nikki?) would probably still be there if she had been assigned to either Dolvett or Bob. Good grief, why do they insist on working the new contestants to death during their first workout? Start them out with something they can handle for maybe their first half hour in the gym. Then start to push them to work harder. There is no need to cause people to vomit and/or pass out from exercise. Would it really kill the trainers to let these obese, out-of-condition but highly motivated people adjust first? This vomiting and rolling off the treadmill and passing out has happened on day one of every new season. Enough already.

And they should have let TC stay since the girl who left was from the white team.

But again, I can't help but think she would have been able to make it past week one if Jillian hadn't psyched her out.

[auntlada]

Was that little blonde from the red team hitting on the guy from Jillian's team

That's what I wondered. But isn't she married? I keep getting the blondes mixed up. One of them, possibly her, reminds me of some actress, but I can't think who.

[dreamer55]

Ahh, hello again fellow Biggest Loser fans! I've missed you and Potes!

So far I like the blonde southern lawyer lady - my heart broke when she was talking about her husband's "next wife" and her face crumpled. Crumpling faces always get me. I also like the special education teacher on the red team - she seems sweet.

I'm so very glad Jillian is back, but she did seem more vicious than I remember. I mean, that's why we love her, but it seemed worse than before. It was ironic, though, that last season we were all screaming for Jill because she never would have put up with those jackasses, but then she does come back and she's the one whose team members quit. I wanted to slap that chick who left, but I am glad that she's getting help. I hope she follows through. Something ain't right with her.

The whole bit where the Red girl went into the White guy's room to "say hi"... that was weird. We've already established that he has a girlfriend. Are these two about to embark on some scandalous BL affair, a la Marty & Amy?

I adore the kids. They all seem very sweet, especially Sunny. She's remarkably smart and articulate for being 16.

Ali looked AMAZING in the beginning in that red and black dress! But she was a hot mess at the weigh-in. Literally. Someone needed to powder down her glistening cleavage.

I was trying to make out the former contestants who were in the giant gym posters, and I don't think I saw anyone from last season. I'm hoping they never mention any of them ever again.

[missbloom]

Woo! The biggest loser, how I missed it..

Rather than red and yellow lines for the least weightloss, I would love the show a thousand times more if they eliminated contestants for 'most egregious use of cliche'... The two prime offenders this week:

1. That guy who moaned 'boo hoo, this is the hardest week of my LIFE!!!' (I haven't remembered anyone's names yet). Yes, because being a white, middle-class American male who has lived his entire life in caloric excess and has now spent one whole week attempting to actually do something about is really doing it tough. Meanwhile, his job is waiting, he has access to all the expertise, equipment and healthy food he could possibly ask for, his partner is bearing 100% of the home tasks, and he has a massive financial incentive to succeed.
Cry me a ****ing river, buddy! Oh, you vomited one instead? Unimpressed, sorry.

And contender number 2: White, middle-class, employed female who chirps 'finally I'm doing something for ME!!' Now, she does indeed have a difficult and very admirable job, but really, sitting down regularly to oversized meals is an act of self-sacrifice? How does that help the kids? It seems to me that all that food is doing something for her alone - it tastes good so she eats it.
Spare me the martyr b****t, lady! There is NOTHING altruistic in overeating because you're 'putting everyone else first'.


And bonus points for mentions of 'journey' 'inspiring america', and any variations on 'I'm going back home to show my whole overweight family that they are disgusting lardasses and I am now a FITNESS EXPERT!!'

Wouldn't that make the show so much more enjoyable? I think so!

Ah, BL, I'm so happy it's back.

Edited by missbloom, Jan 6, 2013 @ 11:24 PM.

[auntlada]

Was that little blonde from the red team hitting on the guy from Jillian's team

That's what I wondered. But isn't she married? I keep getting the blondes mixed up. One of them, possibly her, reminds me of some actress, but I can't think who.

That was Cate, right? (I had to look her up on the official site.) Apparently not married. But Cate is the one who reminds me of an actress, and I think it's Reese Witherspoon.

[soulatomic]

Oy. Some observations:

I'm going to hell, but I laugh whenever someone falls off a treadmill.

A 400+ pound person shouldn't be doing burpees. Modified or not.

The editing spoiled the elimination. Jillian was heard yelling "Pam!" during the season preview montage. Obviously she wasn't going home yet.

Was that Hannah taking to a contestant? Lady, blonde STILL ain't your look.

TC had how long after the accident to start losing weight?! And he hadn't made any progress?! The eff?! I don't think we've seen the last of him.

Dolvett - how YOU doin'?

[pnina]

So true, StephinMN, so true. While his story was compelling, my jaw dropped when TC said that he had tried 5 times to get on the Biggest Loser. I wonder if he weighed more than the 375 lbs when he had the car accident. I would like to think that he had managed to lose some weight after the accident and prior to the Biggest Loser.

What did I miss about Nikki? What demons did she have that Jillian couldn't psycho-babble out? I hope the next few episodes become less of the Jillian Michael show and become more focusedon the "athletes". as Bob called them. I never cared for her in-your-face style or her attempts at psychoanalysis so I'm really not that excited that she's back. I guess she's good for ratings.

Does anyone know if they going to continue the below the red-line elimination technique for all episodes. In a way, I hope so since the focus of the show should be on weight loss and not game-playing and "strategy".

By the way, I really like Biingo. Hope the kids are going to be given some type of college scholarship money at the end.

[ljones62]

I'm still not convinced that anyone (other than Nikki) is going home, why else would they drag out the elimination when we can determine who has the least amount of weight loss using simple math.

[gryphonmage]

I agree, StephinMN, if TC was so guilt ridden he didn’t do anything but apply to the Biggest Loser over and over? I don’t see anything wrong with people wanting to go on the show, but the idea that they “can’t” lose weight or exercise without it is ridiculous and they seem to get trapped in that mindset.

I do not know how to feel about anyone at this point. They seemed like even bigger drama queens than ever this year with the falling down puking crying leaving.

The girl who left…way to steal a spot from someone who might have made it work, moron.

Otherwise, it’s too early in the game for me to figure out who is who, but so far I like the changes. I like that they didn’t bring a bunch of people on and then immediately make them face a challenge. I like the red line, I wish they would keep it. Eliminate the voting and eliminate the back biting and nastiness. Interested to see where they go with the kids.I was NOT a fat kid, but I thought I was, and I totally sympathize with them. The feeling that you can’t do what you want because people are watching and judging your body…I feel so bad for them all.

[Bavct]

To chime in about the kids - how to put this nicely...hmm....Bingo (really) is giving me serious Honey Boo Boo vibes. I feel like TBL is his big audition.

Off to hell now....I hope they have devils food cake there.

[soulatomic]

Off to hell now....I hope they have devils food cake there.

Mind if I join you? Meet me by the fire pit.

[zookeepertx]

I found myself torn between not wanting white team to lose, (since they were kind of hampered) & wanting them to lose, (because Jillian was annoying the crap out of me)! I don't think it's necessary to be just so downright hateful towards these people! I would be really uncomfortable running on the treadmill without being allowed to touch the sides, not because I'd want to hold any weight on the sides, but just to keep my balance! And Jillian's constant screaming would NOT let me focus on balance, so I'd probably fall off the thing a dozen times & wind up crippling myself! Not to mention that she'd have me feeling so self conscious & stupid that I'd probably curl up in a corner & think about dying! I really hope one of Bob or Dolvett's people win this season; anyone but one of Jillian's! (And I feel bad for feeling that way, because I don't have a problem with her team).

[circlesquare]

Bingo (really) is giving me serious Honey Boo Boo vibes. I feel like TBL is his big audition.

Holy cow, I got a similar vibe. What did he say in the beginning? "You can call me Bingo because that's how I do" or something like that. It rubbed me the wrong way, but I'll give him a pass. Maybe it's all bravado.

It was lame that Nikki left so soon, but something was not right with her. I have to give her credit for saying she was going to go home and see a therapist. I thought it showed a certain amount of self-awareness.

Other than that, I enjoyed the vomiting and falling down. Also loved the gay guy speaking in tongues after he collapsed.

Bob is hot. Those socks (are those for rugby?) do something to me.

[bigskygirl]

Super heroes, athletes and Jillian is an expert because she was a little chubby when she was a teenager. Seriously...

Big surprise people were passing out and getting sick. What the hell do they expect!!! I am waiting for someone to drop dead. Jillian would be screaming at the poor person to get up.

Waiting for Dr. Crappola to come in with his dire contestant's diagnosis and telling them they all can be cured. The show is flat line and this season does not look any better since season 8.

[Blue Stingray]

After a much needed respite, I'm actually looking forward to this season. Yay, Jillian! How I've missed your evil.

Bingo is very cute, but I'm keeping my eye on him. Encouraging the adults in the challenge by calling them "sweetheart" - oh, no no no. Don't do that. So far I like the girls.

While not pleased to have a quitter, at least she didn't walk out over a "twist" in the game. So she's not the *literal* biggest loser. That title remains unchallenged.

I was cracking up when Dolvett was outside with the kids and you could hear Jillian screaming from inside the gym.

[Holliday]

I was glad to see TC go home even after quitter Nikki flaked. His story bothered me. If going through what he did with this son and seeing him in that condition wasn't motivation, I'm not sure what would be - clearly Jillian Michael's rants were not. Jillan is right: Dude needs to stop playing the victim and get his crap together.

[chewy101]

LOVE that the kids get to participate without being exploited or eliminated. Other kids need to see them, but I'd hate for minours to get abused by the manipulative drama that comes with reality TV.

Missed you, Jillian! But I am so happy that Dolvett did not get squeezed out for your return. I noticed black has been retired and Jill is white team now. Black team always wins, so now who knows!

I know it's frustrating to see someone quit and "take away a spot" from someone else, but it's not like the producers can't twist that around at any point. And self sabotage is a huge part of what got some of these folks to this point. That is not necessarily going to change immediately just because there are cameras on them. If I ever become overweight, Going on TV and humiliating myself would be the last option I'd take ever. Ugh.

I didn't mind Jillian showing no mercy. There were medics there to take care of people, but she wants to cut through all of the bullshit self denial going on. Everyone is so quick to feel overwhelmed and quit and they need to recognize the fight ahead. I have seen the elderly hold up longer! Jillian kicking people out was awesome, because them could rest without anyone SEEING them rest and starting to slow down themselves.

Pam (gasping) : I just don't want to pass out
Jillian : What was that- didn't hear you?
Pam : Nevermind, I'll figure it out.
LOL!

Nikki is bulimic, if she had stayed on the show it would have been a disaster. Whatever she is using a disorder to hide from, she needs a therapist to strip away the disorder, not a trainer. Jillian snuffed it out and drove her away, and it's for the best, I think. I would not call her a moron - I think she was hoping she could circumnavigate around the emotions and just get in shape. She wasn't afraid of a tough workout, she is simply terrified to strip away the layers.

Jillian is finally going to lose a season. I doubt she gives a crap, as she can probably afford her own planet by now and the bonus is chump change. But I do think she tends to come down hard on people initially and bond with them later, as the boys like to immediately bond and form crazy weird connections. Bob and Dolvett need to be adored, and I have seen their team members crumble many times without them. Switch up the teams and they are the ones sniveling and bawling like toddlers. The attachments to the boys are weird sometimes. I don't want to crush on my trainer, I'd rather view them as a bitch and get the work done.

Bob, I am a huge fan of glasses, but I think yours came with a giant nose and a mustache. Get rid of them!

TC lost fifteen pounds in a week. He missed most of the first workout and still lost fifteen pounds. Sucks that they let him get booted. I have never been a fan of first episode having an elimination.

Anyway, liking it so far!

[Barton]

What was that god-awful outfit that Jillian had on during the opening. Not flattering at all. Not to mention her tied in the back T shirt scene.
Has Bob always had all those tattoos?
I tend to fast forward thru a lot of this show, so I don't have a real handle on the people yet, but the two older guys seem the most likeable. The lawyer lady was cool also

[Rhettwoods]

I, too, was surprised that TC had not lost any weight since that horrible accident with his child, plus, in his "audition" tape, the kid was STILL behind him in the car seat. I hope that the child got some big money for his injuries from the driver of the motorhome, and the manufacturer of whatever car TC was driving at the time. Even though he weighed 375 lbs., the seat should have withstood the crash from behind. While TC was blaming his weight (and the car manufacturer probably made him feel it was all his fault for being overweight), I used to do legal work on products' liability cases, and I have seen instances where a car seat broke in a rear end crash and the driver weighed 150 lbs, and the rear end crash was at 15 mph. TC could have done something in the last 2 years, but the picture of his little boy in that condition might have made him feel so guilty that he did a lot of comfort eating just to stuff down the guilt.

[suzysite]

(because Jillian was annoying the crap out of me)! I don't think it's necessary to be just so downright hateful towards these people!

Exactly! I was so annoyed with her being over-the-top mean to her team that for the first time ever, I'm not sure I want to watch this season. Something about this whole season's setup is just... off to me.

[torreador]

It was ironic, though, that last season we were all screaming for Jill because she never would have put up with those jackasses, but then she does come back and she's the one whose team members quit.

I missed the part when they assigned teams. I'm guessing that they deliberately loaded her team with the whiners and quitters to up the drama.

But I do think she tends to come down hard on people initially and bond with them later, as the boys like to immediately bond and form crazy weird connections. Bob and Dolvett need to be adored, and I have seen their team members crumble many times without them. Switch up the teams and they are the ones sniveling and bawling like toddlers. The attachments to the boys are weird sometimes.

This. Bob is especially guilty of this. It does the contestents no favours at all.

[JLVerde]

Just when I thought this cookie cutter show couldn't surprise me. BAM. Red line elimination. LOVED that. I vote that Red Line become a member of the regular cast.

Other than Red Line, it was pretty much same old same old. Though I think there was more of the "doing it for me" schitck than normal (or maybe being away from the show for a while just made me forget how much they trot that cliche out?). We also had the classic "doing it for my kids", not to be confused with "doing it so I can HAVE kids".

They laughed, they cried, they puked. It was just like "Cats".

Oh, and there were some kids there, too.

I get the feeling the kids are there as a way to try and keep folks (contestants and viewers) from being mean. Come on, I'm as snarky as the next person but I can't rag on overweight kids who are trying to better themselves (ok, except to say the nickname "Bingo" had me singing the b-i-n-g-o song, I'll admit it).

I'm one of the view folks who wasn't keen to have Jillian back and now that she is I'm not enjoying her new "baddest bad ass" routine and I'm wishing she'd stayed away. Yes, I can appreciate she's trying to cull her herd by being extra nasty to them but I don't enjoy seeing it. I do enjoy seeing her horrible outfits, though. The one at the weigh in was worthy of Cara (remember when she was a trainer for that one season--all the heinous outfits she wore!).

What did I enjoy (well, besides Dolvett--is it just me or did he get more ripped?)? Jackson. There, I said it. I loved all his flapping and flailing and queenie squealing. I want him to at least make it to the makeover show. Then I want Jackson to have a full on queenie meltdown over the celeb makeover guest (don't care who it is). Just please, please, please don't let Jackson get TOO queenie. I don't want him "girlfriend-ing" everyone or shit like that. I just want him to remain his flapping, squealing self.

I was glad they had an elimination even with Nikki walking out. And unlike a lot of other posters here, I don't feel like Nikki "stole" a spot from other more worthy fat folks who so desperately "need" The Ranch. The Ranch isn't Willy Wonka's factory. These folks didn't just randomly find a magic ticket in their subway sandwich. They were CHOSEN by casting folks to fit the script they were hoping to write. They saw Nikki for the quitter she was and chose her because of it. Just like they chose TC (finally) because he had the "I've been trying for so long" storyline.

I also really liked that TC was the one given the boot. His whole story irked (like others noted, why are you sitting around waiting for someone/thing to save you but not trying to save yourself?) so BYE BYE.

The only problem I have with the show so far is the change to Monday nights. I have a yoga class 7:30-8:30 (and no dvr). I'm going to have to watch online the next morning. How DARE TBL be on when I'm trying to exercise and better myself!!