Our Biggest Loser correspondent, The N&O's Michelle Aldrich, gives us her recap of last night's show.
Episode three kicked off with Alison announcing, "This is 'would you rather week'" and posing the challenge, "Would rather have your trainer OR a two-pound advantage at this week's weigh-in?"
Most of our contestants wisely know that there's nothing that would make them give up their trainer. As Liz says, "I didn't get fat pushing myself."
But Triangle native Tracey took the 2 pounds, shocking everyone, including her teammate Coach Mo! Her thinking? She didn't want to see the ante upped and have a rival get a four, six or eight pound advantage.
Jillian and Bob are incredulous and they speak with the purple team privately. They talk about panic, about fear .... But is Tracey really listening?
Meanwhile, Abby has shin splints which led to an MRI with Dr. H. Healing the injury will mean no weight-bearing exercise. But she's got perspective -- I mean, when you survive the loss of your spouse and kids... If the producers are guiding Abby to remind us of this each week, they shouldn't bother. America loves her already. So then she and Bob pow-wow about nutrition which serves as the week's product placement for Yoplait Light. Not just calcium, but Vitamin D. Got it.
Next up, the season's first food temptation. Whoever eats the most cupcakes will have control over the weigh-in. They can't see one another during the 10-minute temptation and have no way of knowing who's REALLY playing the game.
Now, is it any wonder we have so many North Carolinians on the show, season after season? Antoine from Dudley, NC eats two and Tracey eats FOUR!
Again, her fellow losers and trainers are amazed and describe her as "crazy, bananas, a wild card, a loose cannon, etc. etc."
Next challenge: the teams must carry 500 pounds to the top of a ramp. They can do this in increments of 10 pounds OR 25 pounds. Tracey and Abby are sidelined with their injuries. Allen, who's a firefighter, wins immunity for the green team - YEAH for Allen and Abby! Movingly, everyone completes the challenge even though the winner has been declared. They hold hands together at the top.
Back at the gym, Bob focuses his attention on Amanda who has struggled to show any loss on the scale. Jillian is screaming at Dina as she runs on the treadmill. She aptly states that "Bob is the good parent. I'm the bad parent." And she yells at Dina, "... it's all about choices. Choose to do it OR chose to quit." Finally Dina says, "Do me a favor - don't talk to me." And then she finishes the drill exactly as Jillian wants. GO DINA! (I think Jillian was secretly thrilled that Dina ordered her to shut up. Teehee.)
Ok, so Tracey's cupcake-gameplay means that she will decide whose weight loss will count at the weigh-in. We see Daniel from Willow Spring ask her to protect Shay. We see the pink team ask her to watch Amanda's back. She appears cooperative, but seasoned viewers smell gameplay. Ugh ...
Before anyone gets on the scale, Jillian TORE-UP the purple team -- Tracey for caring more about the game, and Coach Mo for "supporting" her and not looking out for his own best interests. (i.e. That's the mentality that got you here!) How does Jillian sum it up? "I think you're both F#%^*&*ED."
Wow. No wonder the blogosphere is going crazy over all the yelling and cussing.
So here's the lowdown:
Green had immunity and lost a total of 9 lbs, Julio by himself lost 7
Then Tracey choose the following players weight loss to count:
Brown = Liz lost 4
Blue = Rudy lost 12
Pink = Amanda lost 5 (lots of confrontation and yelling here because Pink feels Tracey betrayed them) but they're safely above the yellow line
Red = Sean only lost 6 (Antoine from Dudley lost 11)
Orange = Shay only lost 6 (Tracey went against Daniel's wishes)
The Pink Team again flipped out about what Tracey's gameplay was doing.
Purple Team went last and Tracey decided that her weight loss would count, and she lost 11 pounds. To NO applause.
And Jillian saying, "F#$%."
This means that our Losers must choose between two equally-beloved teams and send Red OR Orange home.
Back in the house, Sean says "Tracey you've done some crazy things this week ..." And the broadcast is interrupted by a child abduction alert! Reality trumps surreality.
When the show comes back, they're assembled in the elimination room. And the Red Team gives a great speech about already being winners and having the support at home to finish their weight-loss journey. Unlike Shay. They t-o-t-a-l-l-y fell on their swords! On what reality show does that happen, I ask you?! And so everyone complied with their wishes: voting to send them home, keeping Shay and Daniel on campus for another week. Wow.
The episode concludes by checking in on the Red Team. Family man and youth pastor Sean has lost 120 pounds and has the energy to play with his kids. Antoine from Dudley has not only lost major weight, but fallen in love with Alexandra who went home the first week. I love a happy ending!
But how brutal to see such gameplay this early in the season. Keep watching to see if the Orange Team lives up to the Red Team's sacrifice -- and how long Tracey survives with a growing target on her back!