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TV Show Recaps – Biggest Loser: Families Episode Recap: “Week 8″

Written by on Tuesday, November 11th, 2008 in Latest News.

What a week on the Largest Loser: Families campus. We’ve never seen such drama and I’ve never despised a team more than I do the Blue team. After Philip’s elimination, his fellow Black teammates were pretty bummed out. Talking about how much they loved him and what a fantastic teammate he was didn’t garner such a fantastic reaction from Blue. Instead they pretty much laughed in their face. Vicky said it took them 7 weeks to get the “sleaze-bucket” out and that he was a horrible role model for America. Are they talking about the same Phil that I am? Bob nailed it when he called Vicky the largest game player that has ever walked in that house.

Alison gathered the contestants around which is never a excellent sign. A twist was on the way! As of this week, there are no longer teams — it’s everyone for themselves. Alison brought them to the scale where she warned them that now that they’re in singles, it’s more vital than ever and that their toughest competition was about to walk through the door. Next thing you know, in walks Phil. But he’s not the only eliminated contestant to come back. One by one they streamed in. Vicky was dreading the possible return of Phil. “If he comes back into this game they better have the psych doctor ready, because I’m going to need to see somebody.” Was he really that terrible? Unfortunately one person was missing, Colleen’s dad. Luckily he wasn’t there due to his work schedule, and not because of a health issue. He was able to record a video of his weigh-in and has lost 41 pounds so far, way to go. Everyone weighed in but it had no bearing on who was going to return. The person re-joining would have to earn that right in the next challenge. But just for fun, here’s how everyone has progressed so far:

Shellay went from 216 to 177 and lost 39 pounds.
Tom went from 314 to 266, lost 48.
LT went from 357 to 300, lost 57.
Adam went from 340 to 305, lost 35.
Stacey went from 221 to 190, lost 31.
Ed- went from 335 to 277, 58.
Amy went from 229 to 182, lost 47.
Phil went from 331 to 263, lost 68.

So if it was based on numbers, Phil would be back. When Alison reminded everyone that whoever won the challenge would return, Brady said “Phil’s gone,” implying that he had no fighting chance. Vicky said she’d be pleased with anyone returning except for the number 1 on that board (Phil). Really un-called for. Phil, like a class act, said that he was pre-diabetic and is no longer, has lost 68 pounds and just can’t focus on the other stuff. Amy, Phil’s husband, was extremely offended by what Vicky said and after she started crying, Phil chose he needed to say something. He confronted Vicky, told her that she made Amy weep and that “she pissed on their parade.” Brady then came at him and Heba yelled that he needed to stop playing the victim. At this point I felt dreadful for the guy. As he said in the diary room, they took something so real and pure and made it so evil. Even Stacey got emotional because she was looking forward to coming back and now wondered if she wanted to return to this mess.

The challenge was pretty straight forward. In this game you must be 1 step ahead of the competition so how many steps would it take to win? In this case, 1000. LT’s strategy was to be slow and steady while Ed just wanted to jam it out. At first his tactic was paying off, Ed was ahead of the pack with Phil trailing, but then out of no-where first week eliminated Stacey begun sprinting and gaining on him. From there on it was neck and neck. Heba was screaming at Ed to keep going but everyone else seemed to be rooting for Stacey. It was so close and when Ed was having distress breathing I really thought she’d pull it out. But in the end she couldn’t catch him. Ed was not only back in the game but would have immunity at this week’s weigh-in.

Last season’s winner Ali Vincent paid the ranch a visit and brought along Cynthia Sass of Prevention Magazine. She gave them some tips for making the transition back at home and we also learned that Heba and Ed were recruited by Bob at a bar! Cynthia clarified the benefits of light beer over regular beer and also proved to Brady that healthy food can taste excellent. Michelle, who suffers from a sweet tooth, learned that a simple thing to do is pre-part cookies, brownies, etc and throw them in the freezer. Each person also received $5000 worth of groceries.

After an intense last chance workout where Jillian told Renee, “There’s a reason I win, I’m mean,” it was time for the weigh-in. Couldn’t you just feel the tension?

Heba lost 9 pounds for a total loss of 3.64%
Colleen- 7 for a total loss of 3.95%
Amy- 6 for a total loss of 3.21%
Michelle- 6 for a total loss of 3%
Renee- 7 for a total loss of 3.15%
Vicky- 8 for a total loss of 3.98%
Brady- 6 for a total loss of 2.22%

Michelle and Brady are below the yellow line. Instead of the usual hour long deliberation, Alison announced that the teams would have to talk about it together in the elimination room. Amy started to have second thoughts about siding with her former team and Renee got emotional over it being a year since her reconciliation with Michelle. Vicky, of course, was not silent about their strategy of sticking with Blue. She voted for Michelle. Renee then voted for Brady followed by Colleen for Brady, Ed for Michelle and Heba for Michelle. 3-2 in Brady’s favor. Amy said it was time to reckon about Amy. She started tearing up as she revealed her vote for Brady. It’s a tie which means that the person with the lowest percentage is going home. And thank goodness this means Brady. Maybe Jillian’s underdogs have a shot at the final four after all. I do have to say that Brady gave a positive exit interview, thanking Largest Loser for changing him and his family’s life. Today he looks fantastic and has lost 100 pounds.

Were you pleased to see Brady go? And I have to give a special shout-out to my former co-workers who are doing their own Largest Loser competition in their office. (Keep up the excellent work Krysten, Michelle and Lisa!) Has the show inspired any of you to do the same?

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