Who Watches The Biggest Loser??

[dene]

well said, Kyan. My DH said, "did you notice that neither Conda nor Jeremy congratulated Kim on losing FIFTEEN pounds?" They've been poor sports from the beginning, and I agree that the money is their main motivation. To say that Jeremy deserved it more than Kim was outrageous!

I also agree that Mark should have been tickled that Chism had a chance to come back. I just don't get their statement that it was not fair, when it's been done over and over in previous seasons and it was in their contract. Who joins a game and then decides to change the rules themselves? Nope, if you go play ball with the show, you play their way.

Kim has worked her rear end off and I hope she wins. I didn't like her attitude in some of the previous shows, but you sure can't argue with her results.

[Magna]

Magna - did you see after the weigh-in when Conda said that her brother deserved to be there more than Kim - who had lost FIFTEEN pounds and now weighs 147... compared to her brother who lost 10 pounds and still has at least a hundred left to lose!?
What a rude and ungracious statement to make - and there was no need for the camera to make her look bad. She has always chosen her own words and made herself look bad!!

I saw her say that, but she also said also that he deserved to be there more than she (Conda) did.

[Magna]

When the producer met "privately" with Jeremy (not so private since the camera was there) he read the contract out loud to him. It clearly stated that at the end of the season the other contestants were going to compete and the winner would be among the final four. He read it straight from the contract - and Jeremy just kind of went..."oh".....! The producer went on to say that it would be horribly unfair now to tell the other contestants that they were CHANGING the contract (which isn't legal anyway) and they were NOT going to allow the winner to return for the finale because the other remaining contestants were having a hissy fit.

This is an example of where they can so easily manipulate the appearance of reality. The lawyer wasn't reading the whole contract - just talking about the part the producers wanted us to see. It's not even clear to me he was reading (instead of interpreting, explaining, etc.) The lawyer is not representing Jeremy and there is no reason he would point out anything that would support the contestants or make the producers look bad. For example, if the contract somewhere else said the producers had the option not to bring eliminated contestants back, the lawyer wouldn't necessarily point that out to him. Fwiw, there's an interview with Jeremy pointing out there was a lot more to that interview that they didn't show:
http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/s70/the-bi ... -dumb.html

Generally on a game show/reality show if there is some kind of rule that requires the producers to do something unpopular, they will directly explain the rule or requirement to the audience. Here, there's just a implication that that's what the contract required the producers to allow eliminated contestants to come back, with no promises that what we're seeing is the full story. The fact that the producers are keeping mum makes me suspect there is a reason for it.

As I said, though, JMO - YMMV.

[Kyan]

I actually enjoyed last night's show very much. It was fun seeing all of the old contestants again - even though I don't even remember some of them! I was SOOOOOOOO hoping that Mike would outlast Jeremy. I was keeping my fingers crossed and holding my breath - but no. I WILL say (most generous of me, too!) that I don't begrudge the win to Jeremy since he so desperately wanted it.

I DO find it extremely ironic that it was nothing but "No Fair!!! No Fair!! It isn't fair to allow eliminated contestants to come back and compete to win a spot as a finalist" whine whine gripe pout whine... BUT... when it's JEREMY who has a chance to come back and win a spot as a finalist... it's a completely different story! THEN both Jeremy and Conda are all for it! OMG talk about hypocrisy!!
Unbelievable!

I also must admit that I was wrong about Jeremy not losing much weight. He was right at the top of weight loss percentages, so clearly he HAS lost a considerable amount of weight. I would love to know where Conda would have stood in that group. My guess is that she would have been down at the bottom. She does NOT look very good compared to most of the other contestants. I read on the NBC news boards that the majority of viewers have the opinion that she will gain back all of the weight and more in the next two years. Then she can whine about how unfair it is that Twinkies and Doritos have calories.

I was disappointed in both Daphne and Adrian. They had big chips on their shoulders... and while I certainly can't blame them.... I had been hoping that they would have been fueled to really lose the weight and come back as a finalist to rub those snotty noses in their win! But Adrian was dead last in weight loss percentages and Daphne wasn't much better. Daphne looked terrible - she said it was a complete life change as in habits, etc. - but it wasn't reflected in her weight loss. (Rather lack of!) In appearance, she looked to me to be the largest of all of the returning contestants.

I was really pleased with all of those who made the top 8 - it was a good group! It was a fun competition too - in my opinion - although as I said, I would have LOVED to have seen Mike make it. Eliminated in the FIRST WEEK - and to go home and lose 114 pounds... THAT is what this season is all about. "NO EXCUSES". He went home and did it on his own. No trainers, no nutritionists, no break from work/family/responsibilities/fast food places on every corner - he did it. I think out of all of the contestants, Mike should be the proudest of himself. Although I am not begrudging some of those ladies who lost less percentages of weight but still did fantastic at home. Lauren looked terrific! Or was that Emily? Too bad Chris couldn't compete - but I don't believe she would have won, anyway. She could never have balanced like that for more than 4 hours!

So next week is going to be one huge disappointment. Three finalist who the majority of viewers dislike. The show has been reduced to an hour, too.

[dene]

I completely agree...it's not fair until Jeremy wants to win his way to the last finalist spot and then it's not fair if he doesn't make it! HA. Mike did look amazing, but you got to give Jeremy credit; he did outlast the others for that spot. I don't think he's going to be the BL, but there is some time between that filming and the finale, so maybe he'll work at it. I don't think he or Conda have what it takes to keep it off, but I could be totally off on that. Wonder if Mike's up there in percentage for the running for at home winner? I thought Cassandra and Lauren looked really good, so they may be a big threat. Emily looked good, but she still has a way to go, I think. Adrian and Daphne just didn't work at it, IMO. I hope Kim wins. She hasn't been my favorite all season, but I give her credit for working the hardest, I think, so she deserves it. Can you believe that the least liked player, Conda, is a finalist? How in the world did that happen??? Ha.

All in all, I'll be glad when this season is over. It's like road kill, you don't want to see it, but you can't stop looking at it.

[dene]

Ok, it's over. Finally! And no, I am not happy that Jeremy won. There is basically something wrong with the calculation that allows a winner to still be fat, but the 2nd place is a person is at a healthy weight and more loss would put her at an unhealthy weight. Just because Jeremy was so big to start with.

Kim looked amazing. She was thin and not flabby at all and Jeremy had rolls of fat left. Makes me sad. But I'm glad Kim won a car during one of those shows.

I believe Conda and Jeremy will gain it back.

I think alot of the contestants looked really good. Mike was great...but still a hot dog. Can't believe he won the at home prize after getting voted off the 2nd week! Proves you can do it at home! Cassandra was on cloud nine. I think the money would have been great for her, but you could tell she was just thrilled to be thin. Santa looked good, Chris looked good, Emily looked good. Kimmy looked really good. All in all, they did a good job, but this season has left a bad taste in my mouth.

[Kyan]

I agree with everything you said, Dene!

Thank heavens AnaConda took last place among the top three! Did you see her teetering in her high heels? It was almost comical! She and Jeremy still looked very big. I'll bet you they all went out and chomped down a few pizzas and chicken wings and platters of french fries to celebrate the win!

What a discouraging season. I read a quote by Bob I wanted to post here, but I've been searching for the last 20 minutes and I can't find it, dang it!

It's late and I'm really tired - I will come write more tomorrow!

[dene]

I seriously doubt if Conda and Jeremy will keep the weight off. Could be surprised. I saw an interview with Bob where he said he's got a book coming out in May that is the last diet book you'll ever need. Hmmmm. Maybe I need to get that. He said he had no idea what season 14 would be like. I just hope they can select contestants better and avoid potential disasters like this season. If next season starts out the same way, I may not waste my time on it. I've read that alot of people feel that way.

[Kyan]

I just read this today, and thought it was interesting.

"Although the finale was less eventful than the season, there were still a few things that the live studio audience got to see that the TV viewers at home didn’t.

1) Last season’s lovebirds Ramon Medeiros and Jessica Limpert cuddled and snuck kisses throughout the finale. The pair was seated in the section reserved for the show’s alumni and rarely left each other’s side. During one commercial break, Ramon made his girlfriend laugh by chanting trainer Dolvett Quince’s catchphrase “Hard Work! Dedication!” Several former contestants joined him and Dolvett for the impromptu motivational chant.

2) While finalists Jeremy and Kim Nielson received an overwhelmingly loud applause when they came on stage, Jeremy’s sister, Conda, didn’t receive quite as much fanfare. In fact, many audience members refused to even clap for Conda, who caused a lot of drama during the season.

3) Though walk-offs Buddy and Mark weren’t shown on the finale, both attended (and looked fabulous!) They received a warm welcome from the other contestants and other members of the production staff. It was nice to see there weren’t any hard feelings.

[dene]

Interesting stuff. Wonder if they'll show Jeremy and Conda next year to show if they gained it back or not.

Hey, did you notice that in the first segment Ali's dress completely covered her shoulder, then after the first commercial, it was pulled down where her shoulder was bare (which looked like it was supposed to be that way)? I noticed it and DH went back to the beginning of the recording to see what I was talking about. They probably were so frazzled at the last minute that they didn't adjust her dress.

Everyone has been commenting on how rushed it seemed. I thought so, too. I was glad it wasn't drug out forever, but I noticed it seemed like everything was in turbo drive that night.