Anyway, here in TVgasm's Colorado Springs offices, we also resolved to lose weight. Of course, our other resolution was to drink more microbrews, so it looks like I'll be jogging to the liquor store from now on. Fortunately, I made an inspirational Biggest Loser tshirt to remind myself of my goals.
I don't know why the producers decided to mess with a successful formula, but this season of the show is totally different than what we're used to. Instead of following the same contestants for 14 weeks, The Biggest Loser: Special Edition (TBL:SE) follows two teams for two weeks. One hour at the Ranch, one hour at home. (Tonight's episode was a two-hour special, however.) This is going to make my job a tad harder, unfortunately, as we don't get to know the contestants nearly as well. For example, it took me six weeks last season to discover Dr. Jeff's vaginankle. Oh well, at least we still have Caroline, Jillian, Bob and the Scale-O-Tronic 4025 around to lend an air of familiarity. And by familiarity, I mean built-in jokes.
Caroline starts off telling us tonight's two families both gained weight because of depression stemming from a family crisis. Don, Melony and Ravee Samuels, from Atlanta, because their mom developed kidney cancer; Otto, Shaun and Erica Muha, from Tampa Bay, because their son volunteered to join the Air Force and go to Iraq. Now, I'm not one to quibble, but it's not like the Muha's son was drafted; he volunteered to go fight, so I hardly think what they faced is a crisis. Whatever.
To fill time, we get some montages of the two families before they go to the Ranch. Erica, the Muha daughter, says she has a 4.8 GPA. When did the Tampa school district start grading on the metric system?
Here's an uninteresting twist: we get to see the "Day of Surprise", when the families learn they're going to the Ranch. The Muha family is spending a typical Sunday at home, as the dad says, eating. What's not so typical (I hope) is there's a crew in the house filming their dinner. A delivery person brings a package that contains Jillian! Oh wait, it's just a DVD of Jillian. Considering her robotic delivery, it's easy to see why I was confused. The DVD tells them they've been selected to come to the Ranch. The family acts surprised, but I think the fact that NBC was there filming their Sunday dinner may have tipped them off to what was happening.
Next up is the Samuels family, or as they call themselves, "Team Showtime (Snap!)". Don wants to look more Denzelish. The Mom is the former Miss Black Atlanta (1983). The daughter says that God blessed her with a voice, but she doesn't have the look. Has she never watched American Idol? I mean, she's no "Velvet Teddy Bear," but she's definitely got it going over Guarini.
The Samuels are spending their "Day of Surprise" at their favorite soul food restaurant, when they receive a DVD player with a message from Bob. I'm surprised the package didn't also contain a stick of incense and an advance copy of the The Tao of Bob.
Wow, so far the S in Special Edition seems to stand for Sucky. But I'm sure things are about to pick up, because it's time for Caroline and the twins.
An unapologetically plump Caroline meets the two teams in the gym, where she gives them the opportunity to say goodbye to their favorite food. Unlike Season Two, however, she doesn't give them the opportunity to eat any of it. Which means we're spared the sight of Don going down on the Red Velvet Cake.
« Newsgasm: IT'S.MY.BIRTH-DAY.HU-MAN Edition | Main | It's a Giada Disaster!! »
Comments (11)
this Special Edition will be inspiring me...to change the channel.
what other good shows are on in this timeslot? anyone?
1 of 11 | Posted by sweetblondie
|
Posted on January 6, 2006 1:28 PM
My resolution was to quit smoking, so if we can learn anything from Vince Vaughn, apparently my real resolution was to gain weight. But now when I get winded it will be because I'm fat, not because I'm a smoker. SO much healthier!
2 of 11 | Posted by scorpiella
|
Posted on January 6, 2006 2:38 PM
Oh, and I forgot.
"fatmano e fatmano" Hysterical!
3 of 11 | Posted by scorpiella
|
Posted on January 6, 2006 2:50 PM
The comment about keeping clothes for that long...my oldest sister is 37 & she still has clothes from high school. She needs an intervention.
What I want to know is what the hell was that gold thing around Caroline's neck at the end? Were the producers sick of her cleavage so they took an ornament off the Christmas tree & threw it around her neck?? Does she actually look in the mirror before she goes on stage?
4 of 11 | Posted by tvaholic
|
Posted on January 6, 2006 2:51 PM
I agree with Scorpiella . . . "fatmano e fatmano" - Gold !
5 of 11 | Posted by Pierce
|
Posted on January 6, 2006 3:04 PM
"Time for one last montage before the final weigh in. Otto tells us he's wearing clothes that he hasn't worn in "six or seven years." My question is, who keeps clothes that long? Especially clothes that don't fit? Besides EdHill and the Weaver girls, of course."
OH MY GOSH, freakin hilarious! I didn't even consider watching this, but the recaps will be more than enough to entertain me. FYI, the new That 70's Show is on at the same time on Wednesday, and its so funny!
6 of 11 | Posted by Ash
|
Posted on January 6, 2006 4:00 PM
I'm a little upset there was no screencap of the Muha mom's face when they showed her final weight.
I enjoyed the ice cream trucks following them with Caroline saying "just so you don't feel alone" instead of "we're required by law to have paramedics on stand-by". Though I was waiting for them to start playing that annoying music over and over and over.
And because I know you people will enjoy this, Broadway.com recently asked actors what their resolutions for 2006 were, and this was the answer from a woman currently in Odd Couple with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick:
Resolution: "I resolve not to take The Amazing Race so personally. So many sleepless nights... agonizing over that hideous Weaver family."
7 of 11 | Posted by KateMcV
|
Posted on January 6, 2006 9:03 PM
thanks all.
as for the bling on caroline's neck, your guess is as good as mine. brass-plated garlic, perhaps? unfortunately, i couldn't get a good closeup of it.
i thought i put that screengrab of mommamuha on there earlier. oh well, it's there for you now, katemcv.
finally, i didn't even think about the ice cream truck drivers actually being paramedics. what am i, on dope?
8 of 11 | Posted by copygodd
|
Posted on January 6, 2006 9:58 PM
Yay! Thank you!!
9 of 11 | Posted by KateMcV
|
Posted on January 7, 2006 6:51 AM
Copygodd I am SOOO Impressed that you put up a pic for Kate. So often people suggest images from shows that were really funny (or disturbing) the idea that they can be added to the recap after the original posting is ... PURE GENIOUS and pretty darned thoughtful!
Thanks for the great recap!
10 of 11 | Posted by TinkerbellAPixie
|
Posted on January 7, 2006 9:02 AM
The funny part, to me, about her facial expression is that she "chose" to make that face. I mean, come one, she couldn't have been surprised about her weight loss.
Thanks for posting the pic!
11 of 11 | Posted by livemusicjunkie
|
Posted on January 9, 2006 10:58 AM