Biggest Loser 5: Couples, Episode 10 – Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah!

The announcement is… there are no more teams.

I’d have used an exclamation mark there, but that commercial break really was a momentum-buster!

Dan says, “What?” and Bob is stunned. What, after last week when Bob seemed to assume that the individual game was afoot? I don’t get it. Maybe because it has come so late in the episode, he had accepted that the ‘teams’ concept prevailed for another week.

Kelly tells us, “It’s my chance to stay in this game.” The Blue Team likes the idea, however.

Alison announces that the dreaded yellow line is back, and it will be their worst enemy. Further, there will be no more Biggest Loser Of The Week. The last one, Bernie, is now called on to announce how he would like to bestow immunity. He opts to save his season-long teammate Brittany, who is grateful he chose her.

Here’s how the weigh-in went. I have included the extra one-pound losses for the five who secured them in the “Loss” and “Percent” columns.

Roger is the first this season to pass the century mark, having lost a hundred pounds… well done! Dan’s at 99 pounds, so there’s probably another celebration coming next week. Bernie celebrates his crossing the 200-barrier, but being below the yellow line, he has none of his regular enthusiasm.

As the weigh-in is complete, Alison’s shortened announcement consists of saying that Bernie and Kelly are the ones up for elimination. Alison points out to Brittany that if Bernie hadn’t given her immunity, it would be her up for elimination and not him. He responds simply, “I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

The trainers are sent home and as usual, the teams have an hour to talk before voting. Brittany (hoodie up) and Maggie are very nervous and a bit weepy. It’s tough for Brittany that her partner saved her, and now he’s at risk.

Dan realizes that the decision is really in their hands, because the most-recently-former-Blue Team have three votes to cast, and the most-recently-former-Black Team have just two. Oy! I’m never using color designations again… from now on, they’re just people with the names their mammas gave them!

Bernie asks the big boys if he needs to pack. They are vague… So, pack. Similarly, when Kelly comes in to lobby for herself, Roger tells her she’s the bigger threat and although he could try and blackmail her, he won’t.

The last chance strategy hour is over and Alison re-assembles our slim gang in the elimination room.

Brittany votes first, for Kelly (no surprise there). Maggie is next, and she agrees with Brittany. However, the power lies with the Blue Team.

Jay votes for Bernie, as do Dan, then Roger. Roger makes a reference to a promise he made to Kelly and Paul a hundred years ago, but it rings very, very false right now.

As he is sent off, Alison reminds Bernie he lost 88 pounds.

In post-elimination video, Bernie says he learned that people need to take time for themselves. He credits Brittany for pushing him to go far in the game, but says he’s not done yet. He adds that the next time we see him, he will be modeling on the cover of our favorite magazine.

Wow, Bernie’s going to be on the cover of “Batman!”

Arriving home the next day, Bernie is greeted by many friends and family members, and one dog. The folks think he looks great; however the dog is discernibly nonchalant. Bernie tells them that that he’s looking to this group for support in his drive to win the $100,000.

In more current video, we find Bernie now weighs 175 pounds, a loss of 108 pounds from his first day at the ranch. He has gained energy without losing his sense of humor.

My Opinion: Well, now it truly is the girls against the guys. Are the next two weeks foregone conclusions? Will they ever change the rules (or casting) to allow females a fair shake?

Had Kelly lost two more pounds this week, she’d have been safe. Like I implied above, that’s about a one-pound pass and the value of that basketful of candy. Most everyone beat the odds at that machine, but Kelly was not so fortunate. However, after surviving her “outcast” situation, she’s now got a chance to make the final four.

Last week when I commented that the Black Team needed to retain their advantage, it was the other two I though were at risk. I’m sorry to see Bernie go, as he and Dan are the best wits this show has ever had. My one regret is that I didn’t pass on more of Bernie’s sharp one-liners in my recaps. Alas, time limits what I can write, and facts and my own wisdoms need take priority.

One last bugaboo – I’ve been watching Aussie season one (great stuff, highly recommended), and they weigh to within 0.2 of a kilo, with is an eleventh of a pound, or raggedly, about 1.5 ounces. Since we have three people within 0.06 percent this week, isn’t it time that the accuracy of the weight amounts be commensurate with the accuracy of the loss percentages? A two-ounce accuracy level seems indicated.

What do you think? And would you like me to set up a poll to gather (and share) reader input about this season? It takes time, so I won’t do it if I don’t hear from you!

Join me here next week for a recap of all the latest action, sprinkled with my own reactions and opinions. And let me know what you think about it all at the eAddress below. It’s not like I’m not raising some interesting issues here!

More at home with popcorn than push-ups, Brian can be reached at uncle_bto@rogers.com. He’d like to hear your opinions and promises to respond to all serious email!

More at home with popcorn than push-ups, Brian (B.Math, 19?4) can be reached at uncle_bto@rogers.com. He’d like to hear your opinions and promises to respond to all serious email!

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