The hidden immunity idol turned into a game changer in Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains Episode 4. Trying to force a tie and throwing three votes toward Tom and two toward Colby, the majority of the tribe was outnumbered when JT flipped to help vote out Cirie.

When he gets back to camp, JT tries to convince his tribe that he did it for them and not for himself. He swears to Amanda that he just got rid of Cirie when he had the chance.

The villains try to keep a straight face while Coach teaches them some “dragon slayer chi.” Everybody except Russell, that is, as he’s looking for the hidden immunity idol instead. He’s not even pretending to hide this fact. Having searched for two days, Russell finally manages to find the idol.

For the challenge, three members of each tribe will battle for balls and toss them up to the others who will try to score baskets. The winning tribe will enjoy a feast of chocolate. Jeff offers up some free samples. While the women have difficulty controlling their hormones at this offer, the heroes say they don’t want any. Sandra, Courtney, and Parvati sit out for the villains. Colby sits out for the heroes. In the pit, Danielle, Tyson, and Russell go against Candice, James, and Tom. On the platform, Jerri, Coach, and Rob square off against JT, Amanda, and Rupert. It’s obvious that this will be a very physical battle. With that said, James goes down, and he’s out at least for this challenge. Amanda scores the first point to give the heroes the lead. They reverse positions with the people in the pit shooting and vice versa. Tyson scores on this exchange to tie at at 1-1, but not in time to prevent Rupert from man handling Jerri. They switch positions again. Jerri scores the final point to give the villains the win. James will be sticking around to have medical look at his leg.

Boston Rob says they’ve gotta vote for Russell, since that’s the only way to flush out that idol. Russell reveals to Parvati that he’s got the idol, which is a relief to her since everybody believes she’s an evil mastermind. His plan is to blindside Rob. He next approaches Coach to try to pull him into their alliance. In Coach’s typical overreaction, he bows down to King Russell.

Amanda’s crying about James, an indication that whatever she may say about past relationships should be taken with a grain of salt because she’s going to stick with them. JT and Rupert assume the worst. Tom is not entirely opposed to a James elimination. This may play in his favor. The end result is that James returns, braced up but walking on his own. However, they don’t know what’s wrong with him, and he’s moving very slowly. Candice is worried that he’s now just dead weight.

For the immunity challenge, one person will be the caller, while the others are blindfolded and paired up. The caller will direct the others to collect ten puzzle pieces scattered in the field. Then they’ll have to solve a puzzle. We know how this is going to go. Colby, Rupert, Jerri, and Boston Rob have done this challenge before. Tyson and Danielle sit out for the villains. Jerri and James are the callers. Not the ideal role for James to fill, but it’s the smartest thing to do at this point. Both tribes have returned with their first three pieces. Villains jump ahead with 5, which the heroes briefly tie. Villains go back up with 7. It’s eventually tied 8-8. Then 9. Both tribes have one piece left, right next to each other. Heroes are the first to get to it and start the puzzle first while the villains roam around for some time. Villains return to start off their puzzle late, hoping their past performance in puzzles will repeat again. Villains win immunity.

Heroes realize that they’re not gonna win at puzzles. Or shooting baskets. Or anything that’s not sumo wrestling.

Tom and Colby want to get rid of James. Rupert and James want to get rid of Tom. Candice tells Rupert this is a stupid idea. So maybe they should vote her out instead. JT agrees the logical move is to get rid of the injured guy. He tells both sides he’s with them. Not a way to gain any trust, but it is a way to live to see another day.

This leads to another heated exchange at tribal council about who is or is not causing the tribe to keep losing over and over again.

Votes
Tom
Tom
James
James
Tom
Tom

By a vote of 5-2, Tom has been voted off the island. As dumb a move as I’ve ever seen in this game.

As a reminder, March Madness is coming up. That means no Survivor each of the next two Thursdays, but the next episode will air on Wednesday March 24 instead.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains Episode 6, which airs Wednesday at 8/7c on CBS.

Lost Season 6 Episode 8 Recon airs Tuesday March 16 at 9/8c on ABC.

LOCKE TASKS SAWYER WITH A MISSION, ON ABC’S “LOST”

Rebecca Mader Guest Stars as Charlotte

“Recon” Locke tasks Sawyer with a mission, on “Lost,” TUESDAY, MARCH 16 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

“Lost” stars Naveen Andrews as Sayid, Nestor Carbonell as Richard Alpert, Emilie de Ravin as Claire, Michael Emerson as Ben, Jeff Fahey as Frank Lapidus, Matthew Fox as Jack, Jorge Garcia as Hurley, Josh Holloway as Sawyer, Daniel Dae Kim as Jin, Yunjin Kim as Sun, Ken Leung as Miles, Evangeline Lilly as Kate, Terry O’Quinn as Locke and Zuleikha Robinson as Ilana.

Guest starring are Alan Dale as Charles Widmore, Rebecca Mader as Charlotte Lewis, Kimberley Joseph as Cindy, Neil Hopkins as Liam Pace, Sheila Kelley as Zoe, Jodi Lyn O’Keefe as Ava, Fred Koehler as Seamus, Allen Cole as duty sergeant, Mickey Graue as Zack, Kiersten Havelock as Emma, Christopher Johnson as police officer and Michael Green as lawyer.

“Recon” was written by Elizabeth Sarnoff & Jim Galasso and directed by Jack Bender.

Sneak Peek

The top 8 girls performed in American Idol Season 9 Episode 19, and tonight the guys go next.

Lee DeWyze
Song: Fireflies by Owl City
Randy: Worked it out.
Ellen: Liked that you made it a little rock.
Kara: Look confident tonight. Made it a better song.
Simon: Nothing to rave about but really glad you’re here.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-01

Alex Lambert
Song: Trouble by Ray Lamontagne
Randy: Liked it but wasn’t jumping up and down.
Ellen: Better and better every week.
Kara: The only thing standing in the way of you winning is you. Be you.
Simon: Never seen you relaxed or having a good time. Let yourself go. Really good distinct voice.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-02

Tim Urban
Song: Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley
Randy: Walked in some pretty big shoes and did a pretty good job.
Ellen: Fantastic (and hugworthy).
Kara: Thought you were going home, but may just about be in the top of the boys now.
Simon: Very very smart. Strongest performance you’ve given by far.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-03

Andrew Garcia
Song: Genie in a Bottle by Christina Aguilera
Randy: Good idea that didn’t quite work. Made it feel like the whole song was three notes.
Ellen: That’s what you needed to do, but the genie came out of the bottle a little too late at the end.
Kara: Couldn’t hear you until the end.
Simon: A little bit desperate.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-04

Casey James
Song: You’ll Think of Me by Keith Urban
Randy: Safe choice.
Ellen: So much more comfortable.
Kara: Better than last week.
Simon: Not memorable but better than last week. Sounded great.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-05

Aaron Kelly
Song: I’m Already There by Lonestar
Randy: Really good. This dude can sing. Still some work to do.
Ellen: Love you. Confidence of someone so much older. A little too much song for you.
Kara: Not a relevant song to you.
Simon: What Kara just said is rubbish. Right song. Not a great vocal but had emotion.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-06

Todrick Hall
Song: Somebody to Love by Queen
Randy: Todrick is back. One of the best vocals by a man the last couple weeks.
Ellen: Worked like a gospel song.
Kara: Really good singing, but there were moments where it was possibly laughable.
Simon: Broadway singer. At least made an attempt to perform.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-07

Michael Lynche
Song: This Woman’s Work by Kate Bush
Randy: Dope. Unbelievable.
Ellen: The show just began. You are the one to beat.
Kara: Never cried after hearing something like that before.
Simon: 100% nailed it. Best performance of all the live shows so far.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of American Idol 9 Episode 21, which airs Thursday at 8/7c on Fox.

Undercover Boss has been renewed for season 2. Perhaps this comes as no surprise considering how high the ratings have been, but I’m left to wonder what they will do now that everybody knows about the show. Surely if I see somebody walking around with a camera crew at my work, my first assumption is that’s the big boss. Of course, it’s really hard to buy even without knowing the show’s premise, and I get the sense that some of these people are on to it.

Allegedly, the show’s producers have come up with a way around that, although they don’t care to elaborate at this time. I’ve got an idea. Let’s drop all this feel good stuff and turn it into a real reality show. I’d tune in to see which fast food joint’s president survives the backstabbing from the others.

Analyst SNL Kagan has released the monthly wholesale cost of each channel, which the networks charge to cable companies. If you’re not a sports fan, you’re pretty well getting screwed. The channels on the low end of the totem pole cost a penny, while ESPN is up over $4, with an average cost of $0.20.

ESPN/ESPN HD: $4.08
Fox Sports Net: $2.37
TNT: $0.99
Disney Channel: $0.88
NFL Network: $0.75
Fox News: $0.58
HDNet: $0.55
USA: $0.55
ESPN2: $0.54
MGM HD: $0.53
CNN en Espanol: $0.51
CNN/HLN: $0.51
TBS: $0.49
HDNet Movies: $0.44
Nickelodeon/Nick At Nite: $0.44
FX Network: $0.42
Big Ten Network: $0.36
NHL Network: $0.35
Fox College Sports: $0.34
MTV: $0.33
Antena 3: $0.29
CNBC: $0.29
Lifetime Television: $0.28
HD Theater: $0.27
Universal HD: $0.27
TCM: $0.26
VERSUS: $0.26
Industry: $0.26
A&E: $0.25
Discovery Channel: $0.25
Golf Channel: $0.25
Sundance Channel: $0.25
TyC Sports International Channel: $0.25
MLB Network: $0.24
AMC: $0.23
WealthTV: $0.23
ABC Family Channel: $0.22
History: $0.22
NBA TV: $0.22
Syfy: $0.21
WAPA-America: $0.21
E! Entertainment Television: $0.20
Independent Film Channel: $0.20
MountainWest Sports Network: $0.20
National Geographic Channel: $0.20
SPEED: $0.20
Spike TV: $0.20
Bravo: $0.19
CBS College Sports Network: $0.19
Fox Sports en Espanol: $0.19
Smithsonian Channel HD: $0.19
Sur Mexico: $0.19
Ecuavisa: $0.18
ESPN Classic: $0.18
MEXICANAL: $0.18
Ritmoson Latino: $0.18
Telefe Internacional: $0.18
TV Chile: $0.18
Cartoon Network: $0.17
De Pelicula: $0.17
Discovery en Espanol: $0.17
ESPNews: $0.17
Nick Jr.: $0.17
Telehit: $0.17
TV Colombia: $0.17
TV Venezuela: $0.17
BET: $0.16
Discovery Familia: $0.16
ESPNU: $0.16
Fox Movie Channel: $0.16
Fox Soccer Channel: $0.16
History en Espanol: $0.16
Latinoamerica Television: $0.16
MSNBC: $0.16
Sur Peru: $0.16
TLC: $0.16
CentroAmerica TV: $0.15
ESPN Deportes: $0.15
SOPAnet: $0.15
Tennis Channel: $0.15
TVE Internacional: $0.15
VH1: $0.15
Caracol TV: $0.14
Comedy Central: $0.14
FUEL TV: $0.14
HGTV: $0.14
HTV: $0.14
The Style Network: $0.14
CNN International: $0.13
Disney XD: $0.13
Bandamax: $0.12
BBC America: $0.12
Discovery Health Channel: $0.12
GSN: $0.12
La Familia Cosmovision: $0.12
WGN America: $0.12
Bio: $0.11
Bridges TV: $0.11
Current: $0.11
Fox Business Network: $0.11
GolTV: $0.11
Palladia: $0.11
The Weather Channel: $0.11
TV Land: $0.11
WE tv: $0.10
Sorpresa: $0.10
Oxygen Network: $0.10
truTV: $0.10
CMT: $0.09
Fox Reality: $0.09
Lifetime MOvie Network: $0.09
TeenNick: $0.09
Boomerang: $0.08
De Pelicula Clasico: $0.08
Food Network: $0.08
G4: $0.08
PBS KIDS Sprout: $0.08
Travel Channel: $0.08
Animal Planet: $0.07
BET Hip Hop: $0.07
Canal Sur: $0.07
CENTRIC: $0.07
Chiller: $0.07
Military Channel: $0.07
Nicktoons Network: $0.07
Ovation: $0.07
Planet Green: $0.07
Sleuth: $0.07
VH1 Classic: $0.07
BET Gospel: $0.06
Bloomberg TV: $0.06
Crime & Investigation Network: $0.06
Discovery Kids Channel: $0.06
FitTV: $0.06
FUSE: $0.06
Hallmark Channel: $0.06
History International: $0.06
Investigation Discovery: $0.06
Military History Channel: $0.06
mun2: $0.06
Retirement Living TV: $0.06
Science Channel: $0.06
Si TV: $0.06
The Africa Channel: $0.06
TV One: $0.06
Wedding Central: $0.06
Blackbelt TV: $0.05
CMT Pure Country: $0.05
C-SPAN: $0.05
DIY Network: $0.05
LOGO: $0.05
MTV2: $0.05
Outdoor Channel: $0.05
VH1 Soul: $0.05
Fine Living: $0.04
Lifetime Real Women: $0.04
MavTV: $0.04
Tempo: $0.04
BBC World News: $0.03
Hallmark Movie Channel: $0.03
iaTV: $0.03
The Sportsman Channel: $0.03
American Life TV Network: $0.02
CNBC World: $0.02
GAC: $0.02
Galavision: $0.02
MTV Jams: $0.02
MTV Tr3s: $0.02
TV Guide Network: $0.02
BlueHighways TV: $0.01
MTV Hits: $0.01
Nick Too: $0.01

Source: All Things Digital

Lost Season 6 Episode 6 ended with a masscare, as the black smoke took out much of the temple and those who were dumb enough to remain behind after being warned of their impending death.

As Ben’s running away, he meets up with Sun and her group. He’s pretty sure that Sayid just got done killing Dogan, seeing as he was standing over the body with a bloody dagger.

Back in the real world, Ben is a history teacher, despite his doctor title. He meets substitute teacher Locke, who suggests he should be the new principal to replace the man in charge that doesn’t care about the school.

Ilana hands Miles what’s left of Jacob’s body. With that, he knows who really killed him. Well, that oughtta piss some people off at Ben.

Like Sun, Ilana is also looking for Jin. She doesn’t know whether she’s supposed to protect him, her, or both of them, but either way they’re candidates.

Hurley and Jack meet Richard on their way to the temple. He’ll show them the way, but he won’t tell them what he’s been up to just yet.

Ilana’s got a gun. What else is new? She drags Ben away from the group and chains his legs. She tells him to dig his own grave. Ever hear of please?

Ben gets a visit at home from Alex (his island daughter) wondering why he cancelled history club due to budget cuts. He agrees to tutor her first thing in the morning when he’s not supervising detention. During their session, she calls the principal a pervert. He hasn’t hit on her, but he did have sex with the school nurse in her office. Ben promises not to say anything.

Would Miles still like $3.2 million? Ben can arrange that if he is freed. Miles has a message for Ben: Jacob was hoping he was wrong about Ben, but apparently he wasn’t.

Richard has decided not to take them to the temple, since everybody there is dead. This is not a surprise to Hurley, who didn’t want to go back to the temple either. As for Richard, he’s got something he needs to do. Die.

Ben has a hypothetical question for the science teacher. Could he hypothetically access the nurse’s e-mail without her knowing? He’s willing to help in exchange for a good parking spot and lab equipment from this decade.

There’s a problem with Richard’s plan to die. He can’t kill himself. Would Jack be willing to assist? His new goal is to die so he can join Jacob, since Jacob’s death has meant his whole life has been without purpose. Whatever Jacob may have been grooming him for is not going to happen. After lighting the dynamite, Jack decides that now would be a good time to talk. His theory is that neither of them are going to die because Jacob has been watching him since he was a kid and brought him to the island for a reason. What if he’s wrong and they both get blowed to bits? He’s not.

Continuing to dig his grave, Ben gets a visit from Locke, who doesn’t want him to die. Since the group is leaving the island for good, somebody will need to be in charge. Perhaps Ben. With his now freed legs, he can make a run for it. He may as well run. What’s Ilana gonna do? Kill him?

With e-mails in hand, Ben should be able to sufficiently blackmail the principal into resigning. Should they continue down this path, the threat in return is that Alex will not get her recommendation to Yale.

In their dash through the jungle, Ben gets the upperhand. Go ahead and kill the chick already. No, he wants to explain. He sacrificed everything for Jacob, who he believed didn’t even care. After hearing this story, Ilana agrees to help him get to Locke, the only one left who will have Ben.

Alex has received her letter of recommendation. What becomes of Ben is speculation, but the principal shall remain in his position.

Hurley, Jack, and Richard make their way to the beach to unite with the others. Then we see a periscope come out of the water, as Charles Widmore spots people but wants to proceed as planned, whatever that may mean.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another recap of Lost Season 6 Episode 8 Recon, which airs Tuesday at 9/8c on ABC.

Four more people were sent packing in American Idol Season 9 Episode 18: John Park, Jermaine Sellers, Michelle Delamor, and Haeley Vaughn. Tonight the top 8 girls perform, and they’re given an hour. Oh geez. Let’s hope the incompetent producers have sorted this out so it doesn’t run 8 minutes over or remove half the judges’ comments.

Katie Stevens
Song: Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson
Randy: Paled in comparison.
Ellen: Didn’t feel the connection or the personality, but it was the right song choice.
Kara: Great radio voice, but don’t know who you are yet.
Simon: Haven’t worked out what kind of artist you want to be. 10 out of 10 for trying.

Siobhan Magnus
Song: House of the Rising Sun by The Animals
Randy: Different. Love what you do.
Ellen: Why I love music.
Kara: Brilliant choice to do a cappella at the front. Doing great.
Simon: Weird. Underimpressed.

Lacey Brown
Song: The Story by Brandi Carlile
Randy: A little sleepy but your best performance in a long time.
Ellen: Distinctive voice. Really good.
Kara: Why you got here. Effortless singing.
Simon: Didn’t love the song, but it feels like you’ve been doing this a long time. In danger of being forgotten, but good.

Katelyn Epperly
Song: I Feel the Earth Move by Carol King
Randy: Didn’t feel the right connection.
Ellen: Not the song to choose to wow people. Just not enough.
Kara: Didn’t feel like you were competing.
Simon: Kind of like request night in a restaurant. Other people look as if they’re trying harder.

Didi Benami
Song: Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac
Randy: No wow moment but a lot better.
Ellen: Lovely performance. Liked what you did with the song.
Kara: One of my favorite moments so far this season.
Simon: Head and shoulders above anything else tonight.

Paige Miles
Song: Smile by Charlie Chaplin
Randy: Just didn’t work at all.
Ellen: Supposed to be an inspiring song. Instead, it was just sad.
Kara: Just all wrong.
Simon: Horrible choice of song. Awful arrangement.

Crystal Bowersox
Song: Give Me One More Reason by Tracy Chapman
Randy: Love that. Love you. Love the song.
Ellen: Need new adjectives for you. Best performance of the night.
Kara: Easy for you because you know who you are.
Simon: 1 million billion percent in the top 12 (Randy’s math is rubbing off). The one everyone has to beat.

Lilly Scott
Song: Fall to Pieces by Patsy Cline
Randy: Loved the mandolin. Loved that song.
Ellen: Love your voice, love it, love you.
Kara: Kinda made Patsy Cline feel current.
Simon: Cute, quirky, no wow factory.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of American Idol 9 Episode 20, which airs Wednesday at 9/8c on Fox.

After the split to blue and black in The Biggest Loser Season 9 Episode 7, Miggy was voted out.

O’Neal is now a member of the blue team, which lost last week in the most shocking elimination ever (that really wasn’t all that shocking). He’s being reunited with his daughter Sunshine.

Ali warns them that one day they will have to go home again and handle distractions. Darn. With that in mind, this is work week. They will have an 8 hour shift and will commute. They’ll have to squeeze in working out when they can because the gym won’t be open 24 hours either. Their job for the week will be to work alongside the volunteers at Feeding America.

To kick things off and not have to worry about it later, they will have to pull a semi, each of which weighs 33,000 pounds. Along the way, they will have to load puzzle pieces and then complete a puzzle at the end. Reward is groceries for a year. O’Neal is the puzzle picker upper for blue with everybody else pulling the truck, but despite the fact that he’s just going along for the run and they’re pulling a truck, he can’t keep up, no doubt raising concern among the rest of the team. Over on the slow to start black team, Sherry is the puzzle piece person. It goes without saying that black’s running behind on this challenge, but O’Neal’s giving them a fighting chance. At the third station of three, O’Neal’s pulled it together to allow the blue team to have the lead as they head into the puzzle. Spelling out the puzzle phrase first, blue team wins the challenge, leading to lots of screaming.

Bob’s shameless promotional tip of the week is The Biggest Loser Protein Powder. Hmm, I like this 2GO Pak idea of individually wrapped protein packets.

When they arrive at the LA Regional Food Bank, they have their choice of jobs. O’Neal and Andrea get desk jobs and call to thank people for their support. Sam, Koli, Ashley, Lance, and Sunshine opt for distribution, which will allow them to sweat while they work. Cheryl and Sherry do inventory together because they get along like sisters. Daris and Michael also join in on the inventory, finding out they’ve got a boring task.

While they’re at lunch, they get a visit from a guy whose dad died at 33 because he was overweight. Not having learned from that experience, he has now hit the size of these contestants, but he comes to talk to them and see if he can get some tips how to change, since he has just hit age 33 himself.

Having started the day off with a workout, they return home at 6:00, at which time they promptly head into the gym because it’s closing in less than an hour. I guess the lesson here is supposed to be that gyms at home are not open all day long. Not even 24 Hour Fitness? Granted, it forces the contestants into a schedule. The need for 8 hours of sleep a day is hard to fulfill if you’re working out at midnight and then waking up early in the morning.

On day 2, they head to a distribution site to distribute fresh vegetables in the rain. From there, the cycle continues. Fast forward to lunch day 3. Sam forgot his lunch. Perhaps he can buy from the vending machine. Perhaps not. Insisting there’s nothing healthy there, it appears his plan is to skip lunch. Surely that’s not more healthy than eating some junk food. Stephanie thinks she saw a Subway on the way there. How convenient.

Cheryl and Sherry get to talking. They’re both in fear that they’re at the top of the order to be cut if the black team loses.

For the first time since returning to campus, O’Neal does not have immunity. He’s there for his daughter, though, and he’d rather go home instead of her, should it come to that.

O’Neal: 311 pounds (-5, 1.58%)
Sunshine: 225 pounds (-7, 3.02%)
Michael: 408 pounds (-9, 2.16%)
Koli: 306 pounds (-10, 3.16%)
Daris: 258 pounds (-9, 3.37%)
Lance: 290 pounds (-10, 3.33%)
Blue Total: -50 pounds, 2.71%

Andrea: 243 pounds (-7, 2.80%)
Ashley: 293 pounds (-8, 2.66%)
Cheryl: 182 pounds (-5, 2.67%)
Sherry: 166 pounds (-5, 2.92%)
Stephanie: 210 pounds (-3, 1.41%)
Sam: 286 pounds (-4, 1.38%)
Black Total: -32 pounds, 2.27%

After a competitive start, the last two members of the black team fall flat, putting them below the yellow line. As the person with the most weight loss on her team, Sherry is safe. Andrea’s theory is that they should base it on how far everyone is away from their goal weight. Lame. But what it does is highlight Sam. He says he’s 50 pounds away from his goal weight. I don’t know. 235 pounds sounds like a lot still. At the end of the day, though, if he thinks that’s all he has left to lose, his usefulness to the team is at an end.

Votes
Sam: Cheryl
Stephanie: Cheryl
Cheryl: Stephanie
Sherry: Sam
Ashley: Cheryl

With three votes, Cheryl is not The Biggest Loser. From her starting weight of 227, she is now down to 164 pounds today. She now plans to live forever.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Biggest Loser Season 9 Episode 9, which airs Tuesday at 8/7c on NBC.