68 replies to this topic

[TWoP Gadget]

REMAINING EIGHT PLAYERS GO TO SINGLES AND FACE A VALENTINE’S DAY TEMPTATION -- It’s halfway through the competition, and the remaining eight players go to singles this week. The contestants face their first temptation in honor of Valentine’s Day, featuring favorite Valentine’s Day treats and the promise of the winner getting a weigh-in-advantage for themselves and a friend. Meanwhile, the trainers continue to motivate the kid participants to stay active and work toward their goals at home. Jillian arranges for Sunny to take a Bollywood dance class, Dolvett motivates Lindsay to attend a cheerleading practice, and Biingo anxiously waits for news from the doctor about whether he’ll be able to start practicing for the youth baseball league tryouts that Bob set up for him. Back at the ranch, one player displays an amazing act of kindness, and another has an emotional, heart to heart talk with a trainer about the circumstances leading to his weight gain. Later, a racing challenge leads to two players winning heartwarming reunions with loved ones, and in this week’s Challenge America segment, Season 11 winner Olivia Ward and her husband share a healthy way that couples can celebrate Valentine’s Day. And finally, the elimination following the weigh-in forces one contestant to make their most difficult choice yet at the ranch.

[tvgoddess]

I like Danni a lot, but she doesn't need to be at the ranch anymore. I don't know why she practically had a meltdown at the thought. Gina has become an insufferable bitch, and don't even get me started on Jeff. I hope Mike can continue to do what he needs to do at home, and here's hoping he wins the at home prize.

I guess I'm rooting for either Francie or the other big guy who doesn't talk very much.

[Dittohead]

Alex betrays Francelina by voting against her, after Francelina shares her two pound advantage with her. Jeff votes against Michael after promising he wouldn't. Nice.
I hate it that Francelina only survived because of the two pound advantage she got for stuffing her face. Michael lost 10 pounds but he gets sent home. I don't blame him for being upset by the way it all went down.

[IzzleZizzle]

And now the drama begins, because we are at singles. I was kind of enjoying the drama-free show, to be honest.

It never ends well when there is a temptation challenge. I did laugh at Gina moving dishes around for fun. That's something I would do. And Danni was smart to work out during the challenge.

Speaking of Gina: I see they are trying to edit her as a super manipulator. Honestly, I think people do what she wants to she will stop whining and crying. (DAMN, her husband is handsome.)

I wonder if Alex would have dropped below the yellow line without her 2 lb advantage?

One good thing about the voting scoreboard is that I can fast-forward through the fake excuses and baloney and still keep track of who voted for who. It is quite the time saver.

Jeff is a jerk. He finally did something for himself? Seriously, THIS is when you pull out that line? When you vote against a friend the first chance you get? Wow, you are a piece of work. Buzz off.

[hoosiermom]

Jeff disgusts me more than ever. So glad Danni is still there. She seems like a genuinely nice person. I sure hope Michael wins the at home prize!

[bigskygirl]

OMG!!! Poor Jeff was ask by his dad to watch out for his mother if he died from cancer. Yes, Jillian lets blame his dead father for his weight gain. When my husband was in high school, his parents put in their will that he would be the legal guardian for his two younger sisters in case something happened to his parents. I guess we should blame his parents for his life threatening illness because that put a major burden on him that lead to his kidneys shutting down. Give it freakin' break!!! Lucy from the Peanuts comics gives Charlie Brown better advice.

The gloves are coming off, and the nicey nicey is coming to an end. This year's contestants are bugging me more than last season's unmentionables.

Olivia looks old and her husband looks like a creepy serial killer. Btw, taking a person's blood pressure over a person's sleeve does not give an accurate reading. Is Walgreen that desperate to get new customers by using this promo. *rolling eyes*

Who dresses Ally? Her bottom look like it was sagging big time in her dress during the weigh-in. How did Gina get a nice guy for a husband when she is a whiny *itch? The only ones I did not want to slap were Ally and Dolvett.

Edited by bigskygirl, Feb 12, 2013 @ 12:22 AM.

[Anacharsis]

Francelina, Danni, and Michael were my top three favorites, so having all of them at the bottom was horrible. I was hoping Jeff would be the next to go ... maybe next week. Alex and Gina can follow any time, please.

Little Mike is an adorable baby. Good for Big Mike for getting his whole family involved in getting healthy. He looked great.

Lisa also looked amazing. I'm glad they're showing up these updates along the way, so long as they don't do any more updates on Pam. That weird jerking dance and finger wiggling she does is obnoxious.

Yes, Jillian lets blame his dead father for his weight gain.

And it didn't make any sense. Jeff was already pretty big in the photos of him with his Dad, so how could the dad asking Jeff to take care of the mom six weeks before he died be the cause of Jeff's problems?

Edited by Anacharsis, Feb 12, 2013 @ 12:33 AM.

[Meushell]

I like Gina, so she's one of the people I'm rooting for. Jeff can go anytime now.

I liked the challenge, but yeah, that was asking for a painful fall. Ouch. Glad no one tripped or slipped.

[Bavct]

There is no one left that I like and now that it's singles and the !drama! of it all begins, I can't wait for the finale. Although that too is ruined by showing us updates every week of where the eliminated contestants are - I like the surprise at the end.

Gina and Jeff are just loathsome as was the fuckery with the two pound advantage. Alex grates for some reason and she needs to go. Two weeks ago.

Danni, please don't side with Gina, she will betray you.

Mike, you are so nice, your wife is lovely and that baby - so smooshable!! I hope you win the at home prize.

The only one I think I can root for is the guy with the beard, but I'm waiting for him to flip to crazy next.

Oh and Jillian? I love you but did you see any pictures of Jeff and his father? Boy was pushing 300 at 17 - what was his excuse then?

ETA: Did Gina's husband ping for anyone else? (Yes, already waiting for the express bus to Hell - it's late today)

Edited by Bavct, Feb 12, 2013 @ 8:52 AM.

[bendercat]

Boy oh boy. Jeff would never vote out Mike? Alex gets a 2-lb advantage from Francelina and then votes her out? Not very nice people!

Sorry to see Mike go, but he looks great and his son is such a cutie-pie. He's better off home with his nice family than with the "family" on the ranch.

You can get your blood pressure taken at Walgreens? Is this the only place in the world to do this? Poor acting on Olivia and her husband's part. I know they have to mention a sponsor, but if you have a weight problem, go to the doctor! Get your blood pressure taken, along with other important tests.

So far, Danni, Francelina and Joe for the finale. The rest, eh.

[ClaireO]

What I like about this season is that so far, the eliminated contestants are doing a reasonably good to great job of continuing the weight loss while picking up their normal lives again. No trainer wannabees, no 12 pounds lost in 11 weeks, none of that. It's a good group.

I thought Gina moving the food around was funny. But she can go. Jeff and Alex can go, too. And Danni doesn't need to be there any more. She's looking very good and can lose her remaining weight at home as long as she continues to have some structure there. I like her, but she's not obese.

My final 3 would be Francelina, Jackson, and Joe.

[dvrsavedtv]

Jeff is an ass. His whole speech about doing something for himself was ridiculous. He broke his word to a friend. What he proved today was he was a man with no character. A man whose word means nothing.

Alex is another ass. SOmeone give you a 2 lb advantage, an advantage that saves your ass from elimination and you freaking vote for her??? Ungrateful bitch.

[ProfCrash]

Not a bad episode. Sunny looks great, the other two kids are clearly struggling. Anyone want to bet that Biingo makes the team?

[toddthomas]

I had to watch this episode with two eyes.
Well, I guess I always do, but I mean...one part of me enjoyed the usual "let's lose weight!" inspirational pablum that I tune in for. But I was also really bothered by the "sugars are evil" and "toxins" and whatever else happened in that challenge. It's not new commentary about this show by any means, but the lack of a sensible approach to daily eating habits really bugs me.

[mk26]

Is the at home prize definitely in play? I haven't heard it mentioned this season.

[katje]

One thing that I liked about the episode was the trainers choosing contestants they haven't usually worked with. It seems as though the producers might be trying to counteract the "individuals in name only" syndrome that typically happens on the show. Left to his own devices, I am pretty sure Bob would have been all about "his" blue team, despite the official designation of "individuals" and the new shirt colors.

I know I've already harped (not to be confused with "Harper") on this before, but I just really wish the show would use those voting booths to have anonymous voting. The vote justifications bore me at best, and annoy me at worst.

At least I got to miss the "Dr. Phillian" moment with Jeff, because that corresponded with my son's bedtime routine.

[tvgoddess]

ETA: Did Gina's husband ping for anyone else? (Yes, already waiting for the express bus to Hell - it's late today)

Save me a seat, because he majorly pinged for me. I find the relationship dynamic there confusing.

Agree with all those that say Little Michael is adorable. What a cute baby.

I did like seeing the contestants with different trainers.

[cosmic1]

I thought the same thing about Jeff - he was overweight in the pictures with his father. I'm sure losing his father so suddenly didn't help.

That being said, Jeff showed no personal character. Since when is Francie his best friend (as well as the other guys?). Or, is that a euphimism for alliance? He should have voted Francie and explained that he had to keep his word. I hope he doesn't win this thing.

[bigskygirl]

And it didn't make any sense. Jeff was already pretty big in the photos of him with his Dad, so how could the dad asking Jeff to take care of the mom six weeks before he died be the cause of Jeff's problems?

Jillian seems to think that parents are the cause of the contestant's weight gain no matter what. She put weight on in her teenage years because mommy and daddy did not love her enough so in her mind, that is true for all overweight/obese people.

Jeff was overweight before his father was diagnosed with cancer and died. Yes, parents should teach their children good eating habits and fix healthy meals, not use video games and television for babysitting, etc. etc. The contestants and trainers *cough* Dr. JPhonyian and Cult Bob *cough* need to realize once a person gets past a certain age that blaming mommy and daddy for not eating right and sitting on their couch potato behinds is not the right route to take. I would love for one of the contestants to admit that laziness and very bad eating habits led to his or her obesity. I seriously doubt that would happen because of the much needed drama factor and no more armchair psychology moments.

Jeff was given a all new reason to act like an a$$hole and Jillian help give it to him. I do not buy into his I am now learning to do this for me speal. He is playing a game, plain and simple. Just like Gina crying and whining. She has Danni wrapped around her finger. I noticed Gina did not try that hard in the challenge for having a family member visit the ranch for a day and turn on the waterworks right away. Imo, she is a smaller version of Shay. I am waiting for her special counseling moment with Jillian to come. *gag me*

Jackson lost one pound one week and the next week thirteen pounds. I find that interesting too. I chuckled when Alex? did not give him the two pound advantage. Talk about a little boy lost moment. I also question how Gina is having at least nine pound weight loss at the weigh-in when she is being lazy and obnoxious during workouts and challenges. Biingo slacking off because of his injury. Big surprise. Why is that one girl trying out for the cheerleading squad? That one cheerleader saying she is an inspiration for her and the other girls. I was surprise she was able to say that with a straight face.

Edited by bigskygirl, Feb 12, 2013 @ 12:36 PM.

[loki1957]

Gina and her chin can go home any time. I find her bitchy, annoying and just a real pain in the ass. She can't be trusted. Maybe she learned from ANA-Conda from last year?

Jeff can STFU and get the hell out. What a douche.

I like Joe and I like Danni. The rest of them really don't do much for me. Alex is a backstabber, Francelina is meh, Jackson has a good heart but kinda grates on you after a while.

The kids are doing OK. Sunny I really like. She's committed. Not really sure about the other 2. Biingo seems to be making so many excuses and Lindsay seems to be trying but not doing very well. We'll see.

Love how Lisa looks. She'll be gorgeous by the finale.

[mk26]

Jeff might be ok or he may be a douche, I'll never know. He reminds me of Jeremy and I fast forward him.

[ari333]

I can't recall the exact numbers, but I know Francelina gave, literally gave Alex the 2 lb. advantage. Now I'm pondering what weight Alex had. Was it such that the 2 pounds actually saved her? And then Alex votes for Francelina's elimination. BRU-TAL. I hate the stupid stools confessional-esque part where they act all sad and give some contrived, lame, veiled "reason" for why they supposedly voted for whoever it was that they voted for. (Wow to my bad syntax there.)

Anyway, I don't enjoy the "Here's my reason... " portion. Yeah, right. GACK. Skip it.

I really hated that temptation thing. It is counter intuitive (is that the phrase?) and counter productive, imo, at the least. And seeing them shovel food with the night vision glasses was not pretty. Stuff your face and get a 2 lb advantage. I don't get it. I really don't.

Why was it that on the running toward light challenge that someone was started behind the others?
If there isn't room to start them all side by side on the stairs then start them on the floor. It was a race, was it not? Damn.

There is something else that screams unfair. The person who lost the least percentage should go. PERIOD. Having the bottom two up for elimination and allowing the other competitors to vote who gets booted just blows on so many levels. I'm new to this show and I like it; but I can't stop bitching either, so I'm torn.

Edited by ari333, Feb 12, 2013 @ 2:08 PM.

[Frost]

I loved it when Dolvett was walking with Michael and his wife (and adorable baby) and after affirming that Michael was going to do his best to get in shape and be there for his family, Dolvett told her that bsaically she needed to lose weight too! I thought she looked a little shocked and put out before she agreed to start following the plan as well.

Gina's attitude really bugs me. She's a quitter and never even tries during the challenges. She just assumes she won't win so why should she put forth any effort. Why wouldn't you treat it as a work out opportunity even if you know you're not as fast as the others? She did the same thing with the swimming challelnge. I can see her putting all the weight back on pretty quickly unless she has a miracle breakthrough with Dr. Phillian.

[ari333]

Gina bugs.

Not sure why Danni is there.

I feel so bad for the hanging skin on some of these folks who are clearly trying so hard. That is just brutal and sadly there's nothing they can do about it short of surgery (that I know of.) sigh. There are bound to be infections/ fungal problems or IDK what. But they have medical care on hand, so I assume they treat the seemingly superficial problems as well as the serious or life-threatening ones that may pop up unexpectedly. I say seemingly superficial but I imagine skins problems and subsequent infections could get serious and painful if out of control. Back to the hanging skin [and exposed skin in general] on the weigh-in, I wish they would give the ladies a shirt too. And frankly, I don't see why all of them have to be humiliated (shirtless) on the weigh-in. The shirts only weigh a few ounces.

This endeavor can't be easy, so kudos to all -- even the ones who get booted.

On the other hand...

The kids. I am almost reticent to type this about a child because it yet again reveals the depths of my cold, black heart, but here it goes. To me, Biingo seems like a little baby douche in training.

There I said it.

Sorry about the foot injury and the boot. Been there; Done that; Got the t-shirt. But still... BDIT (Baby Douche In Training)

Ok, I'll see myself out. I'll be in hell if you need me.:)

Edited by ari333, Feb 12, 2013 @ 3:08 PM.

[loki1957]

Ari333, LOL. I agree with you about BDIT. Save me a seat in hell.

[DakotaJustice]

The shirts only weigh a few ounces.

The actual weigh-in happens on a real scale, before the filmed weigh in. The contestants aren't told what the numbers are. they don't even NEED to take their clothes off. it's all for show.

[katje]

And frankly, I don't see why all of them have to be humiliated (shirtless) on the weigh-in. The shirts only weigh a few ounces.

Even if they were ten-pound shirts, it wouldn't matter, because the real weigh-in happens off-stage. What we see on TV is for show only. The scale is fake.

[Watcher73]

I don't understand how TBL can show the percent weight loss to two decimal places when they round their actual weight to no decimals. I'm sure contestants have gone home when their weight was rounded up and others were rounded down.

Edited by Watcher73, Feb 12, 2013 @ 5:06 PM.

[fivestone]

I'm not exactly an Alex fan, but she didn't owe Francelina a darn thing - and I like Francelina! Alex didn't ask for the advantage - Francie gave it to her of her own free will, so Alex isn't beholden to her. In this game, you gotta do what you gotta do as individuals. It would have been different, if Alex had promised to never vote for her or something, but there was no agreement like that in place. Michael was Alex's teammate for all these weeks, so I can see her feeling more loyalty toward Mike with that in mind.

Now Jeff, on the other hand, actually had made a promise to Mike. If he didn't intend to keep it, he should have never made the promise in the first place. In terms of gameplay, voting him out was the thing to do, but it's just too bad he had to show his lack of integrity in order to do it.

[Meushell]

I don't understand how TBL can show the percent weight loss to two decimal places when they round their actual weight to no decimals. I'm sure contestants have gone home when their weight was rounded up and others were rounded down.

Yeah, the last two differing by .01% didn't really mean much of anything, except maybe Mike might have really been second to last.