'Biggest Loser': Serve up some shock!

Is America ready for a woman to finally win "The Biggest Loser?"

'Cause that's who's calling the shots.

It was ladies night this week as Ali and Kelly -- Kelly!! -- dropped big enough numbers to land the No. 1 and No. 2 spots in the final leg of this race for $250,000 and the title of "The Biggest Loser." The last two male contestants -- Mark and Roger -- are competing for the third spot. The ladies assumed they'd control the vote to decide who that third spot would go to, but they had a rude awakening: The public will do the voting at nbc.com/thebiggestloser. (The live finale is Tuesday, April 15).

A vote for the already rail-thin Mark could boost the chance of a win by one of the women, as Roger still has more weight to lose. But absolutely anything is possible with these four fierce competitors.

Now in its 5th season, the NBC reality show has never seen a woman win it all. That has led critics to charge that the show unfairly favors beefy, athletic guys who can win the physically demanding challenges that grant immunity as well as drop massive amounts of weight. A win by a woman would help counter such talk that women just can't lose weight like men.

It certainly looked like it was going to be business as usual this season, as the men banded together and positioned themselves to pick off their female counterparts, one by one.

But the return of Ali -- who had been booted off the show earlier in the season as part of a strategic maneuver -- completely changed the metabolism of the game.

Turns out, she drops weight like a boy, and has also helped reinvigorate the only other surviving female, Kelly, to drop it too.

"I've waited five years to see a woman win this thing," Jillian said during Tuesday night's show. Perhaps the trainer only has a week to go.

What do you think? Is Jillian going to wait some more? (And what about Kelly? Could the seeming straggler continue to fly under the radar and walk away with it?) Or will Bob and the boys ultimately take it away?

-- Rene Lynch

Photo credit: Fiona-Lee Quimby

Comments

[Amy Knight]

ALI IS SUCH AN INSPIRATION!
GO ALI GO!

[Bessie]

I am all for Kelly. I thought it was unfair and unethical to bring back two of the contestants that were voted off. How did they lose so much weight , could have had surgical procedure or liposuction. as noone was monitoring them. Not fair I say

[Susan E. Stanford]

Season 5 of The Biggest Loser has been absolutely fascinating, right from the beginning. Our family has been on the edge of our seats all along, but last night's episode was truly spell-binding....the numbers these four contestants were dropping were nothing short of amazing, especially at this point in the game. I would love to see either Kelly or Ali win because it would be an inspiration to women everywhere.

[Kim]

It's not talk, it's biology - men have more muscle mass on their skeleton than women--muscle burns fat. Look it up. They should rename this show "Make a fat guy rich while women sweat".

>

[Biggest Gainer]

Go Roger and Kelly!!!

Ali and Mark should not be allowed to win. It was a crappy move to bring Ali and Mark back after they had already been BEATEN. This is the first time ever that Roger went below the line and this after losing 15 more pounds in a week. No way should Roger not make the finals.

[jaimie]

how unfair- kelly and ali earned the right to eliminate who they wanted too....shame on biggest loser- that was not fair to take that away from them.

[OL.C.SMITH]

Ali has done a great job. But I would love to see Kelly get it all.She has been the under dog, but has worked her tail off (physically), and it shows. Great job k. keep up the good work. You have given me the incentive to do something about my weight. Thanks, and wish me luck!
L.C. Smith

[Sharon]

I'm rooting for Kelly. Since she is the last woman not voted off and with the numbers she posted on the last show, I think she really deserves it.

[WENDY]

I am soooo proud of the girls! Kelly has really been underestimated even by herself. She has shown everyone that even if you are not the fastest or the strongestyoucan still come out on top as long as you don't give up. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!

[d.Simmes]

I am for Kelli, All The Way. She has done a great job. Kelli has been fair, kind, and sincere. Nothing really bad to say about anyone. So I hope she gets it, I think she really deserves it. Kelli has been there from day one, and played all the way, without being kicked off. Good Luck To Kelli

[gayle]

I really hope Kelly wins. It would be nice to have a woman win and I do not feel it is fair that two of the 4 were brought back. Obviously they continued to work out but who know what they did especially Ali. Mark was just gone for 2 weeks so that does not bother me as much. Ali already won in my eyes 135 pounds now WOW what a winner, Kelly has been trying and it is harder for a woman to lose weight at the rate a man does and she has worked her butt off from what the show shows us. I will be in Kellys corner...YOU GO GIRL (S)

[LInda]

Ali absolutely deserves to win. She and her mother were eliminated earlier in the season due to a flukey rule change, not because they didn't perform. Ali (and her mother while she was still on the show) has consistently lost weight at an amazing rate. Her earlier elimination was totally unfair.

[Carl]

Remember, not only is this for changing your life physically, but the money always adds twists to the game. Last season, the four finalists were 4 members of the black team; however, the twins won all the money.

Now it's simple math to know who is "the biggest threat" to win based on percentage of weight loss. Obviously, the three girls last year CHOKED and blew it by not voting off the heaviest males when they had a chance.

But in the end, you know they all make money off of this, and that many more people have changed their lives around for the better, and that is what truly matters.

[Emily]

I think that either Ali or Mark should win!!! they have been the best and they deserve it! i think tht roger should go home.

[Patty McDonnell]

I FEEL THAT ROGER SHOULD BE THE "BIG" WINNER. MARK AND ALI HAVE GOTTEN ENOUGH OUT OF ALL OF THIS, THEY HAVE WON DIFFERENT THINGS AND THEY ARE ALREADY WINNERS. I WANT IT TO BE EITHER ROGER OR KELLY TO WIN BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN THERE THE WHOLE TIME AND HAVE REALLY KICKED BUTT AND THE LAST NUMBERS JUST PROVE HOW MUCH THEY WANT AND DESERVE IT. I WAS REALLY MAD WHEN I SAW WHO WAS BELOW THE LINE. GO ROGER & KELLY.

[Dianna]

I would be delighted to see Ali win. As small as she already is: SHE STILL LOST BIG #S!, AND AT THIS STAGE IN THE GAME? HOlY cow man. And the fact she was already sent home and still lost big on her own WITHOUT the help of the ranch or trainers speaks to her dedication and determination. Give the gal some credit please. AND can we please stop making it sooo danged hard for women to win this?

[housepainter33]

I THINK ROGER SHOULD WIN IT BIG TIME< ALI WAS VOTED OFF ONCE & SO WAS MARK.THIS WOULD BE UNFAIR TO ROGER & KELLY . ROGER WAS VERY NICE TO EVERYONE & DIDNT TALK BEHIND THEIR BACKS.