Biggest Loser 5: Couples, Episode 2 – One Big Happy Family

Alison notes that Brittany of the Blue Team (the strangers) is especially anxious to win this prize. Unlike the members of the other teams, she doesn’t have a support person here. The Brown Team gets weepy just thinking about the possibility of talking to their kids.

Due to the disparity in their weights, Brown Team husband Curtis isn’t sure his wife will be able to raise him high enough into the air. It does seem to me that teams of similar size have a huge advantage, and long, strong legs would be a plus as well.

Alison starts the challenge and teams quickly get the hang of it. I mean, we’re not exactly splitting the atom here. It might be a few decades ago since these folks were last on a see-saw, but this is a pre-schooler activity!

Big Trent has to stop because of trouble with his knee, so the Gray footballers are done after only seven reps. The Black Team of brothers takes the lead once again, trailed most closely by the usual suspects, the Blue and Brown teams. By just a few counts, the Black Team wins, about four ahead of the Blues and maybe seven over the Browns.

The Blue and Brown teams push on to complete the task but surprisingly, none of the others finish out. In previous seasons, “finishing what you start” was a big item. I specifically remember in Season 3, Grey Team members Adrian and Jaron were greatly chastised for quitting on a challenge.

Alison tells the brothers that the calls have to be made before the next weigh-in, and that she has a bit more news – there are three more teams who will get to call home! The decision of who gets the additional phone cards falls to the brothers. The immediate response of both shows they do not relish making this choice. Ah, this could cause some drama! Someone who feels deserving is going to get shut out.

Aware of the pitfalls, the brothers make a list to try and decide how to allocate the extra phone cards. I say the two teams that were right behind you get a call, and then whoever your best friends are in the house gets the other one.

The other teams start to talk about who has small kids, but the point is raised that the others miss their families just as much. As a group they seem to come to the realization that some teams are just going to have to deal with being disappointed.

The brothers come out to announce their difficult decision. They apologize in advance to those who are not about to be rewarded. The first calling card goes to the Brown Team, the second is for the footballers, and the final card goes to the White Team. Brother Mark admits that the last one was a hard decision, but they decided that Amanda deserved a reward, even if perhaps Neill didn’t.

Yes, the two teams who did worst on the challenge got rewarded. It seems the choice was made based on who has kids. As they got to commercial, Neill says, “I’m going to show them I’m working harder.”

In the next scene, it’s the next day and we’re back in the gym. Neill informs Jillian that his call will have to be made in the middle of the workout. Her suggestion is that he go do just that and then lay by the pool as the finish to his workout. So much for the sentiment in the quote at the end of the last paragraph – what the heck is this guy thinking? Jillian hops up on Neill’s treadmill and accuses him of being too ready to quit.

It’s time for a timeout for Neill and Jillian, and the two of them go out on the lawn for a chat. Jillian tells the rest to stay put for five minutes… and you can bet they do.

Jillian tells Neill she is conflicted over how she should approach him – whether she should send him off to think about why he’s here, or to continue to try and encourage him to accomplish what he’s capable of doing. She suggests he uses his size as an excuse to avoid facing difficult situations. Neill seems to agree with that assessment. Jillian fears he will be seen as a slacker who wants to go home, and thus get him sent home before his time. He admits the process has been overwhelming to him, and as they reenter the gym he thanks her for helping him see that point.

Black Team brother Mark is the first to call home. His daughter tells him she kisses her toy bear and can’t stop, so Mark says she should think about him when she does it. Awww! “You’re going to be a mess (for) the rest of the day!” jokingly comments brother Jay. Jay makes his own call and breaks down as soon as he hears his wife’s voice, but she tells him not to. Ha! After the call, he says that knowing they are okay will help him focus on the matter at hand.

Next to call is the White Team couple, Neill and Amanda. They call their young son and get weepy right away. He’s very young and there aren’t a lot of words coming back to them, but the parents both feel they’ve had a boost.

The next day, Neill leads the group in calisthenics and Yellow Team member Paul thinks Neill might have turned a corner. Black Team’s Jay seems less impressed, but he thinks it was Jillian’s words that have him trying a little harder.

The third ones to call home are the footballers. Both have youngsters at home and both are happy and relieved to hear that everything there is good.

Finally, the Brown Team make their calls and they are weepy ones once again. Mallory tells her daughter that it’s hard, but she is their inspiration. She replies to Mallory, “You keep on working out. You’ll always be my biggest loser and mom!” Curtis says the call was rejuvenating.