The Biggest Loser 2, Episode 10: “I’m Not Going to Live My Life According to a Yellow Line”

Welcome to Week Ten of The Biggest Loser 2. This is the series that pits two teams of overweight contestants in a competitive struggle to lose weight and, in the process, regain control of their lives. Challenges and temptations bar their way to a nice prize.

Last week, the teams were disbanded and everyone is now on their own. After some early fun with dunk tanks, Matt won immunity in a skipping-style challenge. He had a plan to make this week easier for him… he was going to gain a little weight. Unfortunately, he gained a surprising twelve pounds! Shannon and Andrea were the ones who had lost the least, and it was diva Shannon who was eliminated.

As a reference, the contestants in this year’s show are listed below. We’re down to the final five!

• Andrea, the soccer mom
• Suzy, the single girl
• Jeff, the doctor
• Matt, the ex-athlete
• Seth, the new dad

Eliminated, in order:

1. Reuben, the arrogant single guy
2. Kathryn, the loner attorney
3. Nick, the disruptive comedian
4. Ryan, the preacher’s daughter
5. Suzanne, the pushy bride to be
6. Jen, the med student
7. Pete, the devoted husband
8. Mark, cop and dirtbag associater
9. Shannon, the diva

This episode begins with Bob, Suzy, and Andrea talking. Soccer mom Andrea is feeling sorry for herself because no one takes her seriously. She is destined to fill the role that Mo did last season – the person who doesn’t lose weight as quickly and is not regarded as a threat to win.

What, she’d be happier if she got tossed from the show? I don’t really get it, so let’s move on.

It’s time for the trainers to use the limited hints they’re given to prepare the contestants for the upcoming challenge. Jillian says it’s about, “Endurance, strength, balance, focus… in a bathing suit.” Dr. Jeff knows he’s in trouble when “balance” is involved, but he’s working hard at it nonetheless.

Meanwhile, Bob has chosen a yoga workout for his ladies. Suzy admits, “I hate every minute of yoga,” because her mind wanders. Both of them are holding some good positions, though. Too bad “flexibility” wasn’t in that laundry list of desirable characteristics!

Back in the gym, Jillian starts giving ex-athlete Matt a hard time about not working hard enough, and Matt is getting petulant. She knows he’s not focused and that he has a lifelong tendency to sabotage himself at the last moment. Jillian gives the three men a chance to quit the workout, and when Matt does, a discouraged Jillian shakes her head in dismay.

Off by himself, Matt realizes his problem and is determined not to quit. He decides to take a hike to think things over before returning to Jillian. Finally, they talk. He starts with misdirecting complaints about being sick of the equipment, but shifts to the truth. What’s behind Matt’s behavior is actually that he’s terrified that returning home to the life environment he failed in before. He admits to alcohol problems and says he’s “terrified of going home.” Jillian gives him a pep talk. We’ll see how it works out.

Maybe this show needs a psychologist, as Matt’s not the only one of this group who eats for deep-seated reasons that I don’t really see being addressed. It’s certainly issues beyond the scope of what the trainers ought to be expected to handle.

It’s time for the weekly Temptation. There’s lot’s of carnival food like cotton candy and popcorn, and a skeeball machine. They’re going to play a specially labeled skeeball machine. Anyone who decides to play and hits the right target has a chance to keep another competitor from partaking in the next challenge. However, an errant play will mean eating some of that rich carny food.

Jeff and Seth are interested in the food. Andrea is interested in the food too, but more so in controlling the game.

No one wants to be the first one to say they will take the temptation. Andrea is mighty anxious to be second one in, though. But in the end, everyone resists. The risk was really high, and the reward wasn’t really worth it. Smart decision. And now you know why I didn’t explain skeeball a little better!

It’s time for the next challenge. Host Caroline Rhea informs them they’ve been at the ranch for almost three months, and the winner of this challenge will get to spend the night at the new Sheraton Delfina hotel in Santa Monica. What’s second prize, two nights? Do I hear a rim shot? I looked them up – three stars out of five.

Caroline also delivers some bad news, that the winner of this challenge no longer gets immunity at the next weigh-in. Ahh, so that’s why Caroline didn’t call it “the Immunity Challenge!” However, the winner will have earned the right to assign two extra pounds to another player.

The challenge works as follows – each player grabs a column that is swaying above the pool, and hangs on tight. Last one hanging on wins. The columns are about 18 inches in diameter, with about a one-inch platform ring around the bottom to stand on. I’m liking the ladies’ chances, I think they have the smallest feet. Dr. Jeff has about size fourteen triple-E clodhoppers, he can only get his big toe on the bottom ring. After just four minutes, he’s the first one into the water. Dr. Jeff really had no chance at all – the foot supports should have been based on the variable size of the individual’s foot.

Matt starts rocking the whole structure by pulling on it. No one comments, but I think it’s funny. A couple of minutes later, he jumps into the pool. Three people are left.

Seth tries to talk to Andrea, but she’s in yoga mode and doesn’t acknowledge him. I notice that that little ring at the bottom somehow supports much of her foot. Time passes slowly. At the forty-minute mark, Seth is suffering and soon enters the pool.

We’re down to the two ladies. Time continues to pass. This is not the most riveting TV I’ve seen all week. Forty-five minutes passes, an hour, more. Eventually, Suzy looks like she’s getting a cramp, and despite struggling mightily to overcome it, into the pool she goes. Suzy falls rather clumsily, whacking herself in an unmentionable manner on the bottom of the column. Andrea is happy she won and felt she needed to show the others that she’s a competitor, too. “Finally, I have a little power,” she says.