The Biggest Loser 4, November 13: Flying Solo

Last week, new duos were formed and several “Green Week” tips were issued. Bill and Julie won SUVs, and Ryan was sent home.

This week, the show is not preceded by any warning messages, so I guess there won’t be any rude tee shirts this time out. Action begins right after the last elimination with series host Alison Sweeney reminding the players that after nine weeks, half of them are gone. She also reminds them of the $250,000 prize. I think Neil remembered the cash prize. Alison delivers the formal message that the teams are now dissolved, and every player is on their own. This is not much of a surprise, as a duo with only one person in it (Isabeau) doesn’t make a whole ton of sense.

The next day, Bob catches up with his remaining trio and learns Ryan is gone. Bob becomes upset at Neil. He assumes Neil is playing games again and says he could never write down a teammate’s name. Neil defends himself by saying he talked to Ryan beforehand. Bob counters with, “You can do whatever you want, but I’m not stupid.”

When Jillian meets her team, she is pleased to see Isabeau is still in the game. Jillian asks Amy to move in closer with the rest. Jillian calls Amy her “red-headed step child,” which Bill modifies to “red-shirted step child.” This makes the others laugh, and Amy slides up… about three inches closer than before. In a cameo, Amy confides she is worried about the game play ahead and thinks she is an easily discarded outsider.

Jillian advises her team that now is the time one takes out the threats in the game. I’m thinking that would be her own Bill, plus Kae and then Neil from the Blue Team, who are all well ahead in the statistical race. Somehow Isabeau sees “Kae, Neil, and B” as the threats, and Jillian agrees. Privately, Bill tells us he knows he’s also a target and needs to keep himself above the yellow line.

A little later, Amy waits in the Red Team’s dorm. Eventually Kim comes in. Amy returns her red shirt to Kim, but thanks her for what she did and wishes her the best. Kim responds by returning the shirt and hoping that it reminds her of the Amy who worked for the team, before she quit on them. Amy drops the shirt on the bed beside her and says she doesn’t think the Red Team members are mad at her. Kim says, “They’re not mad, they’re disappointed in you, absolutely disappointed. As they should be. As I am,” and then launches into a rant about teamwork.

Real professional there, Kim. The chances of Amy wearing ANY red shirt over the next ten years or so are mighty slim, I think!

Surprisingly, this does not motivate Amy to clutch the red shirt to her bosom and weep noisily for Kim’s forgiveness. In a cameo, Kim says she was insulted by the return of the shirt and thinks Amy will regret the decision for the rest of her life. I’m guessing that’s just not going to happen. The scene ends with Kim asking Amy not to give back the shirt, “because it’s a slap in the face to me,” and turns away. Amy leaves without the shirt.

Amy comes up to Jillian in the gym wearing a black shirt for the first time. She gets a big hug, and Bill and Isabeau, who are also present, cheer their approval. Jillian promises Amy “extra-special beatings today.”

It’s time for a Temptation Challenge. In the backyard are several tables piled high with donuts. Literally, there are thousands and thousands of donuts, which is actually more obscene than a “Disco Sucks” tee-shirt. Everyone is enjoying the aroma. Bryan says privately, “When I eat donuts, I can run through a dozen without a problem… a half dozen… no, a dozen… without a problem.”

Alison tells the contestants that in one donut, there is a hidden token that is worth $5,000. They have to search the donuts by breaking them up until the token is found. However, there is a price to be paid: to play each 60-second round, one entire donut must be consumed. Bryan estimates the donuts are going to cost them at least 300 calories.

Alison also explains that they will keep playing additional rounds until the token is found, with each round requiring consumption of another donut by those wishing to continue the hunt.

Only Kae declines to participate. Good for you, Kae, you’re the smart one! Meanwhile, Neil insists this is the best donut he’s ever had.

No one finds the token in round one, although they have great fun destroying as many of the donuts as they can. For round two, Nicole joins Kae on the sidelines, but all the rest decide it’s worth another try.

In round two, again no one finds the token. Some consider dropping out at this point, but Alison entices them by saying that there will be no time limit in the third round. In fact, only Julie drops out at this point, leaving six in the hunt. Eventually, right where Isabeau had been hunting earlier, Bill finds the lucky donut and claims the prize. Now he has enough money to put gas in that SUV he won last week!

A friendly food fight ensues with Bill as the main target. In a cameo, Bill tells us the money is going directly into college funds for his kids. Smart man, Bill!

As the scene ends with a scan of the donut carnage, it’s apparent there’s a serious waste of food here. I wonder what they did with thousands of mostly smashed-up donuts? Maybe they gave them to some homeless people with great cholesterol numbers?

Already it’s time to compete again! As they file into the gym they discover a line of spin bikes has been set up front and center. Alison explains that they will compete in what she calls “a 24K indoor triathlon.” Alison helpfully informs them that 24K is just shy of 15 miles. The first six who bike 20K will advance to the next stage, where they will run a 3K on a treadmill. The three who are ahead at that point continue to the pool, where they will swim the final kilometer. Sounds tough!