Month: September 2008

Simon Will Break Ties

I was wondering how they were going to handle a tie on American Idol 8 now that they’ve pointlessly added a fourth judge. I figured that they were just going to let people go through with two votes. Yes, that is enough. As long as one of those two votes is Simon’s. Paula Abdul said on the Johnjay & Rich radio show that Simon Cowell will cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie.

America’s Got Talent 3 Top 5

Tonight, the contestants competing in the America’s Got Talent finale will be revealed, as we find out who are the top 5 contestants of this season.

Nuttin But Stringz is going through to the next round. The Wright Kids have been eliminated.

Between the king and the queen, Queen Emily is moving forward. Joseph Hall will be going home.

Neal E Boyd is the next one to advance, as Kaitlyn Maher’s time on America’s Got Talent comes to an end.

Donald Braswell is the fourth act to get through, but Frank Sinatra impersonator Paul Salos has been eliminated.

Lastly, Eli Mattson is the fifth finalist, while Jessica Price is eliminated despite her exceptional performance last night.

The Biggest Loser Families Episode 1

The Biggest Loser is back for season 6, and this time it’s all about families. Husbands, wives, mothers, daughters, fathers, and sons, all competing together to lose weight and get healthy (in between the product sponsorship). Check out the full The Biggest Loser Families cast.

Amy P says she used to be a normal weight, but since her son was diagnosed with autism, she’s done a lot of stress eating. She’s got a good chance since this hasn’t been a lifelong problem for her.

Tom and little Tom, however, have had a lifelong struggle with weight. Not only are they overweight, but so is the entire rest of their family.

Ed and Heba hope to have children, but they know they can’t do it like they are now.

Vicky and Brady are a fast food family, and they’re already spreading their bad habits to their 4-year-old daughter.

Mother/daughter Renee and Michelle have been estranged for six years. Oh no. I’ve seen this storyline before. Let’s hope it turns out better than the last time I saw it.

Coleen is afraid her father won’t be around to see her get married.

Oh, and all the wacky team colors are back. Not that they much mattered last time. Also back as usual are host Alison Sweeney and trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels.

Big Tom, at age 42, says he’s never been in a gym. He picked a good one to start at. The new gym is double the size because it’s divided down the middle. It’s parents and children on one side competing against husbands and wives.

Before they start working out, though, it’s time for the first weigh-in.

Michelle: 242 pounds
Renee: 267 pounds
Total: 509 pounds

Coleen: 218 pounds
Jerry: 380 pounds (heaviest man)
Total: 598 pounds

Amy: 239 pounds
Shellay: 216 pounds
Total: 455 pounds

Amy: 229 pounds
Phil: 331 pounds
Total: 560 pounds

Stacey: 221 pounds
Adam: 340 pounds
Total: 561 pounds

Vicky: 246 pounds
Brady: 341 pounds
Total: 587 pounds

Heba: 294 pounds (heaviest woman)
Ed: 335 pounds
Total: 629 pounds

LT: 357 pounds
Tom: 314 pounds
Total: 671 pounds (heaviest team)

Bob gets the husbands and wives, while Jillian gets the parents and children. Jillian warns them they doen’t want to freak her out, and she’s pissed off that she thinks she’s become the nice one. Jerry’s already in severe pain after 7-10 minutes on the treadmill, but he doesn’t quit until he falls off it. Amy C’s crying her eyes out within 5 minutes. Vicky fears she’ll be the weakest link on Bob’s side. Ed’s doing his share of whining, but Heba’s there to kick his butt.

After Jerry falls off the treadmill, Jillian has him get back up and start walking again because he hasn’t fainted, puked, or died. Jerry heads to meet with the doctor, who tells him he’s the sickest person in the history of The Biggest Loser. The doctor tells Jillian he’s only allowed to do 30 minutes of exercise a day.

The contestants arrive at the challenge in nice cool 110 degree weather. They’re probably going to have to climb that big hill. The rewards range from a visit home (uh, it’s been like… a day) to immunity. The bad news is that one of the rewards is a 2 pound penalty. They must grab the banner of their choice that’s been dropped by a crop duster. Jerry and Tom will not participate due to medical reasons, so LT and Coleen will represent their teams, which I’d argue is an unfair advantage.

Vicky’s trailing behind the pack, and this presents an opportunity for some drama. Eventually, she’s not alone, as some others end up struggling as well. Phil and Shellay particularly have difficulty.

Coleen: Immunity
Stacey & Adam: Luxury
Ed & Heba: $5,000
LT: Extra Vote
Michelle & Renee: Phone call home
Amy & Phil: Visit home
Shellay & Amy: Whatever it is, it’s not last
Brady & Vicky: 2 pound penalty

Next, everybody goes to the doctor for the bad news. Amy C is shown the fatty build up and smoking in her lungs. Her biological age is 47 based on her health issues, well above her actual age of 26. Michelle’s got the same build up around her heart, and her biological age is 41, not 26. Vicky has acid reflux, breathing issues, and thin bones. Her biological age is 48, compared to her chronological age of 37. Ed has a type of liver disease, pre-diabetes, and high blood pressure. LT is also a smoker, and his biological age is 49, more than double his age of 23. Jerry has nearly 200 pounds of hydrated fat in his body. His ability to exercise is roughly that of a 95 year old. His real age is 51; his internal age is 76. This biological age thing is a pretty good wake up call.

Adam and Stacey don’t seem like they have a care in the world during the last chance workout. Vicky’s unimpressed and says this pushes her to try harder. Amy C says she’s though of quitting.

The weigh-in to see how much they’ve lost in their first week is up next. The bottom two teams will be up for elimination.

Coleen: 208 (-10)
Jerry: 363 (-17)
Total: 571 pounds (-27, 4.51%)

Heba: 282 (-12)
Ed: 318 (-17)
Total: 600 pounds (-29, 4.61%)

Michelle: 225 (-17)
Renee: 253 (-14)
Total: 478 pounds (-31, 6.09%)

LT: 339 (-18)
Tom: 290 (-24)
Total: 629 pounds (-42, 6.26%)

Amy: 213 (-16)
Phil: 308 (-23)
Total: 521 pounds (-39, 6.96%)

Stacey: 212 (-9)
Adam: 321 (-19)
Total: 533 pounds (-28, 4.99%)

Amy: 222 (-17)
Shellay: 204 (-12)
Total: 426 pounds (-29, 6.37%)

Vicky: 227 (-19)
Brady: 313 (-28)
Total: 540 pounds (-47, +2, 7.67%)

I almost thought they would get through an entire weigh-in without a commercial break, but alas, it was not to be. Vicky & Brady make the most unlikely first place finishers. Ed & Heba and Stacey & Adam have fallen below the yellow line. Stacey blames herself and gets upset. Ed just gets angry, and he doesn’t want to talk to anyone even to plead his case. Coleen says she thinks both teams are hard working.

Votes
Brady & Vicky: Stacey & Adam
Amy & Phil: Stacey & Adam
LT & Tom: Stacey & Adam

I don’t get it. At 600 pounds, Heba and Ed are the second heaviest team, making them the bigger threat (Ed’s attitude looks like it has the potential to be problematic as well). Nonetheless, Stacey & Adam have been eliminated. Stacey is now down from her original weight of 221 pounds to 175 pounds. Adam is down from his original weight of 340 pounds to 286 pounds.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another recap of The Biggest Loser Families episode 2, which airs Tuesday at 8/7c on NBC.

TRL Cancelled

MTV has decided to cancel TRL, Variety reports. Total Request Live originally premiered September 14, 1998 with host Carson Daly.

Since Daly left the show in 2003, its popularity has declined. Last year, it was decreased from five shows per week to four, as its viewership average dropped below 400,000.

The final episode of TRL will air on a Saturday afternoon in November.

Never fear. Although TRL was one of the few shows on MTV that actually showed… music… Feedback New MTV (FNMTV), also a music video themed show, will be returning as TRL goes off the air.

Prison Break Season 4 Episode 4

After finding out that Scylla was actually six cards instead of just one, Scofield brought his newfound information and accompanying anger to confront Agent Self in Prison Break season 4 episode 3. Self agreed to give him one day to figure out how to keep the project going but later took that deal back and began to capture all of Scofield’s buddies. With some luck, though, the meeting they were trying to get to all day turned out to be a meeting between all six cardholders, allowing them to figure out exactly who they’re after.

Michael and Sara are discussing sailing off into the sunset. One day. Probably a couple seasons from now. Assuming neither of them dies (again).

The next destination is the Turkish Embassy. They figure out who the cardholder is but have to take off in a hurry so they’re not seen.

T-Bag is now taking on his new role as Cole Pfeiffer, preparing for his big meeting.

Don Self calls Sara to break the bad news. Bruce Bennett was found dead in his apartment.

While they’re scouting their target and realizing they won’t be getting near her any time soon due to her privately contracted security, Lincoln spots the new T-Bag, and they’re off running. They realize they need him, but he’s not particularly interested in cooperating since they left him for dead (three times). Because there are some cops in the vicinity, T-Bag manages to escape largely unharmed.

The company now finds out that someone’s looking into Scylla. They’re a few steps behind here.

Sara blames herself for Bruce’s death. Just more fuel for the fire.

The second cardholder appears to be going to a fundraiser. The bad news is that the fundraiser is one for fallen policemen, which means that she’ll be surrounded by about half the cops in LA.

T-Bag’s got himself a new job with a corner office, despite the fact that nobody there has ever met or seen him before.

Sara’s been sober for three years. Or at least she had been.

Now it’s time for a bit off breaking and entering. First they disable the security camera. Then they break in and get what they came for. Cop uniforms complete with badges. They should blend right in.

Since they’re in a roomful of cops and the most famous ex-cons in the country, it’s not long before Lincoln is recognized. He’s followed outside and stopped at gunpoint. Turns out it’s a company man, one who needs to die. Lincoln kills him with Bellick’s assistance, and Michael tells him to go ahead and let them find him. The second cardholder is trying to make a break for it, and they don’t have the card copied yet.

Gretchen’s not talking, and Wyatt’s not getting any happier, especially considering he wants to kill her.

While Sara was sharing her sob story at a bar, the drunk guy trying to hit on her used a card belonging to Bruce, giving away her whereabouts. Wyatt goes to the bar, but the woman there plays dumb.

Michael and his boys get the cardholder to stand still long enough to be able to make a copy of the card.

T-Bag’s gotten a couple calls from Mr. Xing. Granted, Xing is now dead.

Mahone wants to find the man who killed his son. He asks Roland to break into the FBI database and find him.

Michael wants to give Sara something to look forward to, so he’s prepared a boat ride for her. If only she hadn’t been followed there.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of Prison Break season 4 episode 5 Safe and Sound, which airs Monday at 9/8c on Fox.

Renee Wilson Biggest Loser Families

Renee Wilson
46
Pink Team
Partner: Michelle Aguilar (Daughter)
Trainer: Jillian
Event Manager
Fort Worth, TX

renee wilson biggest loser families

NBC Bio
Renee has always struggled with her weight. She remembers her dad calling her a “Fat Tomato” as a child and it is something that has always stuck with her. She feels that giving birth to five children has been hard on her body as she has gained and lost weight from each child. However, she can pinpoint her divorce as the main cause for weight gain. Renee has since remarried and feels the extra weight she carries is a burden to the relationship; she lacks energy and it hurts their social life together. She even finds ways to avoid her husband’s formal dinner parties. At times, she does not even feel she recognizes the person she sees in the mirror. While she is active with volunteer work for her church, Renee knows she can be doing so much more. She also has a passion for interior decorating and travel. She hopes she and her husband can take a long overdo trip to Hawaii once she returns from “The Biggest Loser.”

These two look more like sisters than mother and daughter. When Renee divorced Michelle’s father, she did not speak to her mother for over six years. Michelle and her mom have finally rekindled their relationship and look forward to this chance to make up for lost time. Renee hopes this will lead to a full reconciliation with all of her children and she also hopes to meet her two-year-old granddaughter for the first time.