Suze Orman, two cars, plenty of tears on ‘The Biggest Loser’

The first hour of the episode features a visit by financial guru Suze Orman, last year’s winner Danny, and the gift of two cars!

At first I’m a little confused why Orman is on the show. I soon learn that The Biggest Loser is attempting to address the whole person—not just the weight-loss issue. (Yes, I’ve sipped the Kool-Aid.)The first challenge requires the contestants to balance as many quarters as they can on a tray. The contestant who holds their tray the longest wins $10 for every quarter on their tray. Subpar Daris is the first to drop out of the challenge. (Surprise, surprise.) O’Neal follows soon after. The competition comes down to Michael and Sunshine. Sunshine winds up dropping her tray, which gives Michael the win. Like a bad Spanish soap-opera star, Sunshine collapses to the ground and cries to the point of dehydration. (Seriously? Was it that big of a deal?) All the crying is for nothing when it is announced that Michael and Sunshine will both get the cash. At least Sunshine can use the clip if she ever wants to pursue a career as a bad actress.

Later, when Orman speaks to the group, she brings along Danny, who I believe she predicted would win last year. Danny later works out with Daris in the gym. I actually think the assistance from Danny helps the underachiever. Daris winds up having the greatest weight loss percentage of the week. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

The car challenge requires the contestants to pick one of two car keys attached to balloons. (Did the show’s producers purposefully schedule the competition during a storm so that there could be more drama?)
Anywho, Andrea and O’Neal win the cars. O’Neal says he’s giving the car to Sunshine. (Lucky! And more screen time for Sunshine.)

At the last chance workout Bob quickly reminds the contestants that a majority of them will not be making it into the finals. (Gut check time.)

Jillian hones in on Victoria. But she doesn’t break her. In a confessional, Victoria quickly points out that she has only been on the show for three episodes while everyone else has been at the ranch for 13 weeks. She’s basically saying that she has no plans of going anywhere.

Meanwhile, Michael completes a five mile run on the treadmill. He’s pleased with his performance.

“You’re going to be in the final four if it kills both of us,” Bob tells him after he finishes up the run.

During the commercial break Jillian Michael’s new show “Losing It” is plugged. Apparently she is going to be visiting the homes of obese people, and essentially pulling a Gordon Ramsay and kicking them into shape. (Gosh, I hope I don’t have to blog about that. LOL!)

At the weigh in, it becomes apparent that Sunshine is in trouble. She loses three pounds, which immediately frustrates her.

“It’s not a number I’m used to,” she says.

Bob says that her number should have been doubled.

For the rest of the weigh-in Sunshine continues to cry.

Lucky for Sunshine that Andrea continues to put up mediocre numbers. (How on Earth is she still in the competition?) Sam doesn’t manage to lose any weight at all. That’s right—a big old goose egg.

Both contestants plead their case to their fellow contestants turned jurors. Neither bad mouth each other. And both stress how much each wants to remain on the show.

Andrea essentially loses to Sam because he’s popular and well liked. She definitely has a lot further to go with her weight loss. And Sam is two steps away from pursuing a career as a swim suit model. (Well darn close!)

Victoria votes to eliminate Andrea because she says that Sam was the first one of the two to help her. Michael says that he looks up to Sam and Koli. See? The vote is a popularity contest.

In Andrea’s update she appears to have lost a little more weight. She’s actually teaching a spinning class. (Her father, Darryl, is one of her students.) And her dog is now struggling to keep up with her when the two of them run. John-John Williams IV