Biggest Loser 5: Couples, Episode 9 – Vegas, Baby… Vegas!

Last time: The players went home for the week, but had to face a weigh-in upon their return. Led by Jay, the Blue Team responded with terrific results, while some members of the Black Team barely held their own. In a Youth-versus-Yellow vote and with Kelly holding immunity, Paul was sent home.

Following is a list of the players still remaining in the game. Teams now have four members each. This is trainer Bob’s Blue Team:

This is trainer Jillian’s Black Team:

ORIGINAL RELATIONSHIP	NAME	NAME
EX-HUSBAND & WIFE	--	Kelly
BEST FRIENDS	Maggie	--
STRANGERS	Bernie	Brittany

Action begins shortly after the last vote, with Kelly feeling very sorry for herself. She notes that the original Blue and Black Teams are the only duos left in the game. Brittany says she hopes Kelly understands the team is stronger without Paul, which is complete cow-patties. Kelly knows she has to win immunity any time her team goes to elimination. I sort of thought that was the objective of every player every week, but let’s move on.

Jay is the Biggest Loser of the Week and wins a prize. Dan and his brother Mark assume he’ll pick “Gameplay.” It turns out that this week, all the envelopes are labeled with question marks instead of the usual options of “Family,” “Luxury,” and “Gameplay.” Jay picks the third envelope and it says, “Vegas, Baby, Vegas.” I suspect the other two did as well.

When a confused Jay returns to Alison, she tells him that it means that the whole team will be taking a sojourn to Las Vegas! Needless to say, the team is excited. But when they tell trainer Bob, he becomes trainer Buzzkill and says, “I don’t like it.”

Bob assumes his team will go to Vegas and forget everything he’s taught them. Have a little confidence in your teaching skills, dude! He seems to assume this week is critical because he feels that whichever team wins takes control of the game. Is he privy to knowledge that the game is going “Individual” next week?

Bob lays down the rules for his team. No buffets, no booze, and plenty of gym time. Dan reminds us that last week they went home and did just fine. To assuage Bob’s wounded feelings, he takes them to the gym for an extra-tough workout.

Over with the Black Team, Jillian is getting upset with Brittany, who has only had two good weeks in the last eight. She knows Brittany gives up easily, and comments from Maggie confirm this view. Even Jillian’s usual threats don’t seem to help in several ensuing clips.

As an aside, Brittany is in last place overall with a weight loss percentage of 16.29 percent, and even Maggie has pulled a percentage point ahead of her. And they voted out Paul?!

The Blue Team decides to tell the Black Team of their prize. Jillian thinks it won’t have much effect on the Blue Team, and resumes beating up her squad.

They’re off to Vegas. Dan is recording the highlights of the trip on video cam (referred to as “Dan Cam” in the show), and he has even composed a song about the trip.

The team has decided to work out first and play later. After the workout, the boys are talking and Roger suggests they get “Pride” tattoos. Everyone likes the idea.

When they get to the rooms, there is a surprise waiting for them. Bob supplied the boys with some sharp new suits! Very nice move.

Back at the ranch, Maggie suggests sending them room service containing all fattening foods. Jillian, sitting right with then, thinks it’s funny, and they do it. When it’s received, the Blue Team is not tempted and they push it out into the hall. Congratulations to the Black Team for wasting food on a juvenile joke when so many go hungry.

Instead, the boys go out on the town for some fun. First is a scary ride, and then they hit the tables.

Meanwhile, Jillian is working her charges hard. Kelly figures that if they had won the trip, Jillian wouldn’t let them go.

In Vegas, Jay and Mark go to bed at 3 AM so they can work out the next day. It doesn’t slow Dan and Roger down, though, and they party on until 6 AM. At 7:20, the brothers are working out while the other pair snore mightily. Mark tells us he knows they are adults and hopes they will do the right thing.

By 10 AM, the brothers decide to wake up their teammates. Dan doesn’t appreciate being awakened, and Roger doesn’t appreciate being allowed to sleep late. Roger works out because he knows it’s the right thing, but Dan doesn’t rise until noon.

With all four finally vertical, the boys go for their tattoos. They seem to be looking at variations of “Pride” that include family members or other symbols, but at the last minute Dan goes a different way, choosing a guitar-playing guardian angel (without the word pride). It’s big, covering his whole arm, but the other three are not subtle either. Dan thinks his mom will freak out initially, and then love it. I suspect only the first part of his expectations will come true.

They return from Vegas later that day, sharing the stories of the unwanted food and the tattoos. Bernie wonders if “Pride” will still be important to them when they have to vote each other out.

Series host Alison Sweeney makes her first appearance of the episode. She assembles the teams on an obstacle course and tells them teamwork will be key. Heavy stuff has to be carried about, and it all ends in a footrace. The first team to get all four members across the finish line is the winner. The winners each get a nice vacation for two to Puerto Rico.

First is a huge tire they flip down a hill, which Team Blue handles easily. Second, many sandbags must be toted from one point to another, and the Black Team sets up a relay pass to make it easier for the weaker members.

Medicine balls pushed under ropes are next. Kelly lags badly. The final leg is a half-mile run, and the Blue Team jog four abreast across the line way ahead of the Black Team. Kelly appreciates that the rest of her team waited on her to cross the line together.

Back at the ranch, the teams discuss the challenge. The Blue Team is extremely cocky and oblivious how rubbing salt in the Black Team’s wounds is only firing them up.

Trainer Bob returns and asks his team how it went in Vegas. He suspects Mark is holding back, but Mark won’t spill the tale of Dan and Roger slept in. At the same time, Jillian speaks with her team. She also seems to know that this is a pivotal weigh-in. Brittany’s negativism about how that will play out frustrates Jillian “beyond sleeplessness.”