Reviews @ PXDCO

Coleen was shocked that Amy C. picked Brady over Michelle at elimination - going against her blue teammates. Amy C. said she made the decision she did because she was thinking only about herself. Brady was the second biggest loser behind her and she wanted to win. Michelle reassured Amy that she made the right decision (of course she did.) Ed said Amy made an instant enemy in awful Vicky. He said "Vicky's crazy - she'll claw your frikkin' eyes out." Vicky thinks her team is now "screwed." She tells us her team should be "frolicking in the garden of Eden, but that stupid backstabbing bitch bit the apple….that's just how I feel personally." (no, really, Vicky - let us know how you really feel.) I'm surprised that the producers made such a horrible villain out of someone we should be rooting for (I've never rooted against anyone on this show - until now.) Heba just wants to stay above the line, she doesn't want to get involved in all of the politics. Vicky put a homemade "motivational poster" on her wall that said "Revenge" (and had the inspirational message, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, I'll rip your f-in' head off." Welll, it wasn't that explicit, but the sentiment sure was there.) She wants to watch her calories and work her butt off. She was even hitting the gym hours before her teammates.  

Bob was shocked that Brady was sent home. Vicky told Bob that Amy's mere presence made the game very hard for her. She confessed that she can't stand to be around Amy and can't even talk to her. Vicky called her "the Benedict Arnold in the group." Bob believed that Vicky's personal vendetta against Amy was only going to "bite her in the ass" (which I'm sure he secretly hopes will happen. Me too, Bob, me too.) Bob says he'll do anything he can to pull his team back together. He went to talk to Amy. He didn't want to be upset with her and remembered his prime directive was to help her lose weight, not "chide" her for making (what was obviously a smart) decision. Amy doesn't think she lied to her team, she said she just "changed her mind." Bob knew she wasn't being malicious in eliminationg Brady and admires that Amy's taking care of herself. Bob said Amy C. could win the whole game and nothing was going to get in her way. We got to see hot Marty in a flashback. Back in season three, Erik voted him - his biggest competition - off and won the whole shebang. (Hey, Marty! Oh, and that was the season Wylie was on - big hellos to you, sweetie!) Amy feels like she's "on an island" and Bob said he's on that island with her.

We hear the annoying anthem "Walking on Sunshine" and a DeLorean pulls up to the campus. Allison emerges decked out in 80s gear (crimpy hair, shredded jeans, shoulder pads, purple pleather slouchy boots.) It's "80s week" on "The Biggest Loser." Allison said the theme week should "shake things up." I don't know about you, but besides '86-'90 when I was in college (yeah, shut up!), the 80s sucked. And weren't most of these people (Allison included) infants in the 80s? Regardless, the gang have to put on 80s-themed workout wear (including leotards, leg warmers, headbands and hi-top Reeboks). Aww…haven't these poor people been through enough? Ed said he was a "pimp" in his primary school days and seemed to enjoy wearing his "scrumptious, crotch-hugging shorts" a little too much. Amy loves the 80s (because she obviously didn't live through them.) The black team met Jillian at a local gym. She was joined by Anthony Carr, the  "best choerographer-slash-dancer" in the business. Jillian told her team that she was going to mix up their workout this week, "experimenting" with break dancing. Anthony said the dancing was all about "attitude and confidence." These ladies were rocking, popping and locking with some 80s attitude (all to the tune of "Maniac.") At least they looked like they were having fun - for once. (We also learn Jillian has no rhythm - whatsoever.)

The blue team also meets up with Bob at the gym. Amy couldn't wait to see how short Bob's shorts were. Sorry ladies, Bob kept his pants firmly planted in this century - although he did wear a tank top and a headband. Bob asked Ed why he was "jacking his style" (if I were Bob, I would have probably put that in a different way…I'm just saying….) Bob - and the music of the Pointer Sisters ("I'm So Excited") - are working towards bringing the blue team back together through the wonders of group fitness classes. Heba was proud of and embarased by Ed at the same time, she was afraid "something was going to fall out of his shorts." Bob "checked in" with the team and wanted to talk about moving forward and not losing sight of the main goal of weight loss. He said that "the best has come out of the worst times" and wanted his team to move forward as much they possibly colud. Bob asked if anyone else had something to contribute and was met with icy silence. Bob thought his plan may not have been as successful as he had hoped. You think?

It's challenge time. Allison is clad in another 80s fashion atrocity - she like, totally needs to lose the Valley Girl rap. Like, now. When they saw the challenge set - individual "cubicles" with huge buckets suspended overhead, Heba initially thought she was going to be slimed. Allison like totally told them that the 80s were the beginning of a big transition in the way people thought about weight loss (diet Coke, Jane Fonda workouts, Richard Simmons - who I so thought would have shown up by now.) The 80s was the decade when obesity was first recognized as a disease. This challenge is designed to test what they knew about "the way things were." At the beginning of the competition, the contestants were to hold on to a handle, attached to a barrel filled with 50% of their body weight in water (sorry Heba, no slime.) They were then going to be asked a series of 80s trivia questions. If they got an answer right, they could add water to another person's barrel - but if they got it wrong, the water would be added to their own barrel. The Winner gets fancy-schmancy wireless headsets and two "wireless workouts" with Bob. They also get to choose  between $5,000 in cash or giving a one-pound penalty to one other person at the next weigh-in. Vicky wanted to win so she can give the one-pound penalty to "somebody" at the weigh-in. (Oh, who are you kidding?)

The challenge begins, The first question was "Since 1980, the obesity rates have nearly:." Ed guessed "quadrupled" and was incorrect (the correct answer was "doubled.") Ed gets an additional 25% of his body weight in water added to his bucket. QUestion two - "In the 80s, one of the most popular workout videos promised to give you buns of what?" I'll personally dump water on anyone who doesn't know this one! Heba correctly guesses "steel" and gives a 25% penalty to Coleen. Ed was having trouble with sweaty hands, Question three was a true or false - "The National Institute of Health classified obesity as a disease in 1985." Coleen guessed true and was correct. Coleen decided to add weight to Ed's barrel.

Ed lost his grip and was the first player eliminated. It's down to the girls. The next question is "The percentage of Americans with diabetes has increased by what percent since 1980?" Coleen guessed 100% and was incorrect. The correct answer was 300% (really?) Coleen got more water added to her barrel. Next up - another true or false, "Twenty years ago, U.S. teenage boys drank twice as much milk as soda. Today, they drink twice as much soda as milk." Amy guessed true and was correct. She elected to add water to Vicky's barrel (yay, Amy!) The next question was "Today, the most commonly purchased dress size in America is a size 14. In 1985, it was a size…?" Renee guessed a size 12, but was wrong. It was actually a size 8, so Renee got some water in her barrel. Amy lost her grip and was out. Coleen was out right after that. The next question was "Today, women between the ages of 20 & 39 are eating an average of 385 extra calories a day compared to the 1980s. That's enough to gain how many pounds in one year?" Heba guesses 20 pounds and is wrong. (The correct answer is 26.7 pounds.) Vicky had enough and decided to let go. Good. The next question was "Who won a Grammy for best music video of the year in 1982 for a music video that featured her working out in a leotard?" Oh, come on! Heba correctly answered Olivia Newton-John and elected to fill Renee's bucket. Heba then lost her grip and was eliminated. It's down to Michelle and Renee. Michelle promises her mom a designer purse if she lets go. Renee, ever the good mother (and a lady who appreciates a fine handbag) lets go. Michelle wins! She doesn't have to annouce her decision until the weigh-in.     

Bob, in a "Frankie Say Relax" shirt (why do I think he dug that out of his own closet?), took Vicky and Heba out for out for a walk. He knows if the blue team can't get their act together, that they're going to fall. Vicky can't have afford to have a "loose cannon" on her team. Bob insists that his team has to pull together and asks Vicky to "bury the hatchet" with Amy. Jillian puts her team through a strenuous last chance workout (as if there was any other kind.) She knows she's "outnumbered" and is well aware of the fact that if one of her girls falls below the line this week, she's most likely going home. Jillian put her girls through "the spin class from hell" - without their bike seats. Wow. And, of course, there's a big segment on Michelle and her myriad of issues. I love her, but I don't know why she's getting so much attention. Does NBC know something I don't?

Jillian brought her team "something" - corporately-sponsored plastic bags for them to put their produce in to keep it fresh. Not that there isn't enough blatant product placement on the show already. Coleen tried on a top from her "goal closet" that still had tags on it - and fit into it perfectly. She went from a size 2X to a medium since arriving on campus. You go, girlfried! Coleen went and showed off her new top to Michelle and Renee, who were genuinely happy for her. Coleen is so happy she can now shop right off the rack. Amy apologizes to awful Vicky and said she didn't trust her and felt that was she needed to do. Vicky said she didn't trust her as far as she could throw her and expects her to vote with the black team again this week. Heba says she felt Amy was being sincere, but wasn't 100% sure she would vote along the blue team line.   

Bob knows that one member of his team is going to get Michelle's one-pound penalty. He says his team has to "trust each other and pull together now." Bob busts their asses with lots of pull-ups (which vicky hates - when she goes to hell, that's what Satan's got in store for her.) Ed works out hard, as he's the only man left standing. As always, there's lots of grunting and panting as the team is worn ragged doing pull ups and sprints. Ouch. The teams head to the scales for ths week's weigh-in. Vicky says her team is "vulnerable" since Amy booted Brady. Allison is finally dressed in clothes from this decade. Thank God. Michelle says she's not taking the $5K, even though she promised her mother a designer purse. Michelle decides to give the one pound penalty to awful Vicky. Love ya, Michelle! Vicky said she wasn't surprised sjhe was picked but was confident she did everything she could to make up for that pound. Here's the tale of the scales:

Michelle: 8 pounds lost/4.12%
Renee: 8 pounds/3.72% (Jillian looked slightly confused when she saw the results.)
Ed: 11 pounds lost/4.03%
Heba: 7 pounds/2.94%
Coleen: 3 pounds/1.76% (Poor Coleen had a meltdown on the scale, as she knew she was outnumbered at elimination. Jillian was even shaken and at a loss for words. Yes, Jillian.)
Amy C.: 8 pounds/4.42%
Awful Vicky: 6 pounds (+ the one-pound penalty)/2.59%

Oh…could it be? Could awful Vicky be going home? I hope so, as I'd hate to see Coleen go. Just like last week, there's no time for deliberation, everyone heads directly into the elimination room. Renee hopes Amy "decides for herself" again and votes Vicky off. Michelle says Vicky "knows this game better than any of us." She goes on to say that Coleen is "amazing" and "one of the most genuine people" she's ever met. Coleen wants to make sure that she's 100% ready to go back to her family - which she's not sure of yet. Vicky says she's afraid she's not going to lose anymore weight with a full-time job and kids to go home to. Since she's hardly been sentimental about the kids, it's no wonder she wants to stick around.

It's time for the results. Michelle happliy votes Vicky off. Renee also votes for Vicky. Ed, not surprisingly, voted for Coleen. Heba says she knows that no one on the blue team would vote her off, so she "had to" vote for Coleen. It's up to Amy…again. She said she had to pick her biggest threat - and she felt it was Coleen. Damn! I was so hoping the wicked witch of weight loss would be heading home tonight! 24 hours after her elimination, Coleen headed home to Ohio and was greeted by her family and friends - including her dad Jerry (who's also looking trimmer.) Coleen's gone from a size 22 to a size 10 and she and Jerry continue to work out together. Coleen hopes to reach 147 pounds by the finale. I hope she does! Next week, some weight loss guilt right before Thanksgiving and Annie takes over these recaps (if I don't stop writing so much, I'm due to lose 200 pounds myself - my hubby!) Don't worry - you're in great hands!