'Biggest Loser': Always listen to your mother

Did anyone else see that one coming?

Heba, Vicky and Brady have been downright smug up until this point, convinced that they were completely untouchable in the final weeks of the game. As long as they continued to do their part -- lose weight and stay below the yellow line -- they felt sure they'd continue to create a voting bloc along with their fourth teammate, Amy, and control the game from here on out.

Turns out they were wrong.

Amy woke up and smelled the coffee after a conversation with her mother, who urged Amy to make sure she was protecting her own self-interest -- and not Heba's.

Amy realized that she didn't have to do the bidding of her teammates -- and she probably also realized that they'd turn on her just as soon as it suited them. So Amy shocked everyone by voting against Brady in the elimination room. (Her vote actually created a tie; the tiebreaker was based upon which of the contestants on the chopping block lost the least amount of weight. That would be Brady. Bye-bye, Brady!)

It was a surprise ending to a night full of twists and turns, starting with the news that contestants would no longer compete as teams but as singles. That was followed by the news that all of this season's eliminated players (save Jerry, who couldn't get away from work) were coming back to the ranch to compete for the chance to rejoin the game. That, of course, led to much jeering and tears when Heba and her lackies -- or is it Vicky and her lackies? -- began cruelly making fun of Phil. Phil confronted Vicky and it went downhill from there. So much so that Stacy, one of the teammates who was eliminated early on, also began crying and wondering whether she wanted to return to the Biggest Loser ranch after all, given all the ill will.

Stacy got over it to give the performance of a lifetime during the challenge that would determine who would return to the ranch: The first contestant to reach 1,000 steps on an aerobic bench would be staying. Stacy put up a heck of a fight, but in the end lost to Ed.

Ugh. Ed's return will only bolster Heba. And Brady's departure does even more for her. After all, if push came to shove, Brady and Vicky would vote against her. Now Heba has a definite ally, and one who can continue to drop serious weight.

But, once again, you gotta give Heba her due: For all her game playing, she still continues to work her behind off in the gym and it shows in the weight room. Gotta hand it to Brady, too. He seems like he's just walks around doing his wife's bidding, but his transformation has been nothing short of amazing and hard-earned -- 100 pounds lost so far, and he looks terrific.

And now for a completely random and perhaps borderline inappropriate comment: Did anyone else reach for the TiVo during Brady's return visit home to see the rest of his family? Is it me, or does Brady's sister look EXACTLY like a dark-haired version of Vicky? That's all I have to say.

-- Rene Lynch

(Photo courtesy NBC)

Comments

[Joyce]

I saw that as well, I told my husband that it was Vickys' sister.

I give Amy a big pat on the back for voting the way she did. The blue team always talked about the four of them, she was the one who was expendable.

What I don't appreciate is how they allowed Vicky to behave the way she did, and, the confrontation between Phil, she and Brady at the house was wrong. Phil has been given a bad rap. He was talking with her, she took it up a few notches and turned it ugly.

The preview shows how she sets out on a revenge on Amy? Please, please tell me that they don't allow her to continue. We do not need a player like her to be a role model for anyone who is usually inspired by the Biggest Loser contestants. Yeah that Ali came back, she is a breath of fresh air and a very positive role model. Love her.

I applaud Shellay for giving her daughter such wonderful advice. I think Amy looks beautiful and I hope she makes it to the finale!!!

[Tom Hanks]

I hate Vicky and Heba and Brady. Amy thank God for you voting that scumbag off. Heba and Vicky I hope you are next. Did anyone see that ridiculous note that Vicky wrote? I was embarrassed to read it, like I was watching an 11 year old who was mad. This season has sucked so far. What used to be an inspirational show has turned into Jerry Springer. Instead of uplifting it is offputting. Please get rid of Vicky and Heba, they make me sick.

[Mariana]

This show is rigged!
Why hasn't the show addressed the fact that people are now being threatened, that they are now using intimidation to get what they want.

The fact is when the show wants to get rid of somebody all of a sudden the rules change. The rules were changed for the yellow team and now for the guy in blue, there had never been a weigh in where the teams don't have time to decide.
Not only that it seemed like Amy was coached into voting him off.

It was just weird and it didn't make sense, the preview for next week made me want to puke, they will let Vicky actually intimidate another contestant like that?
How messed up is that!

[Joyce]

I don't know about rigged but I am quite sick of Vicky and her gang of highschool bullies. Shame on them. Role models?

Yeah for Amy. I would like to think that her mother coached her. Truth is, the blue team had basically told her she was out if it ever came down to it. They were not quiet about their plan. And, true, teams used to vote but now there are no teams.

I am so glad they brought Ali back. She is a breath of fresh air and a true contestant. I think even Bob is sick of the games. He mentioned it over the challenge where Vicky said she didn't care to win. And, his comments last night about her and her 'puppets'.

Stacey, damn, she was great! I loved LT for coaching her on!! Yeah!! But, yes, the harrassment and intimidation shown on the previews, if this weren't prerecorded, I would start a petition to get her off of the show. If she is one of the finalists, I will boycott the show. She is not a good role model nor a good contestant.

Glad to see her husband doing well at home, though. Oh, and Phil, Vicky is showing it was all her. How dare she call him names. And, from an old show, I think that she and her husband faked Phil coming to him talking about Heba. They don't care if they upset his wife as long as it fits into their game. So, I think they came up with that story, it seemed weird when they came to Hebas' room and told her about it. Phil doesn't seem like a bad guy at all. He just wasn't going to allow anyone to control his destiny on the show. That is what I saw.

[Mike]

I have to agree with Mariana, the show has turned away from the focus of what made the show so great over the past seasons. It has, for all intent and purposes, turned into " Survivor Loser" A mix between losing weight and watching over your shoulder the whole time. As the show has progressed through the various weeks of Vicky and Heba anitcs, it makes me wonder just how Bob and Jillian feel about the new format. It has to be discussed behind closed doors and approved before airing. Someone has come up with the brilliant idea of having more than a freindly competition, it is down right ugly and Vicky now plans " Revenge" how can the producers promote this.
I am seriously considering a change of shows in that time slot. I see enough of the back stabbing and confontations of the world from day to day. I do not have to be submitted to hype and tricks. Let's face it, the point of weight loss and body toning has taken a back seat to theatrics. Sorry Bob and Jillian, you have remained a constant asset to the show.
Bottom line, it's time for Vicky and Heba to move on and let the people who came there to compete in true " Biggest Loser " fashion, do so.

[Tracey]

I would like to tell the BLUE TEAM TO GROW UP!!!!! Everyone is trying to loss weight there is no need to be that childish.... I would like to tell Vicky that what goes around comes around...(BYE BYE HUBBY, BUT HE DID LOOK GREAT AT THE END.) I find that this season the contestants are very lazy compared to the last seasons.... Stop fighting and lose the weight!!!!!

[Sue]

I said to myself when Brady went home that that must be Ickey Vickey's sister. She does kind of look like Brady too! I am sooooo glad Amy voted him off. This blue team is disgusting. It makes watching the show almost intolerable. Vickey needs a serious slap in the face. Also, sadly for Vickey, no matter how much weight she loses, she'll still be butt ugly!

[CMA]

Thank you AMY!!!......Good for you Vicky,,, WHAT COMES AROUND GOES AROUND.......dang it!!! shes the meanest mom ever!!!>...good for you....hahahahahathe producer of this show should look into the way the contestant treat the other contestants, soooooo meaaannnn especially the comment she made about Phil.....shes UGLY!!

[Sandy]

I am so proud of Amy for voting off Brady! I so don't like the rest of the Blue team, she was the only mature one (and the youngest...go figure) of the remaining Blue team. She did the right thing, with her mom's advice which I'm sure helped her make the decision. Of course I believe in what comes around goes around. When the folks came back for their weigh ins, Vicky did not have to be so openly nasty towards Phil (I still don't understand the conflict between them), so here her hubby ended up getting the boot and rightfully so! Amy also realized I'm sure that this is still a game, if they get all the men voted off, the better her chances will be at winning the grand prize! Smart girl! My three favorites are all the remaining Black team and Amy C. Hope one of them wins!! I also hope that Vicky gets voted off....I don't like Heba but now I really don't like Vicky, they both need to go!

[Lisa]

I can't believe that the Biggest Loser has not addressed this behavior. And shame on you, Allison Sweeney who clearly hears the remarks and does nothing to discourage this. I cant believe that NBC is so hungry for ratings that it lets this go on. I know that this is just a game and I have been a devoted fan since season one, but enough is enough. Good job to Amy for breaking this bully camp up.

[J]

Not sure what's up with Vicky but losing weight and getting healthy is not going to fix her nasty, mean personality!! Right on Amy!!!!

[Misschelly]

I absolutely can not stand Vicky and her clan! I feel that the show has chosen zome mean contestants that are not there for the right reasons. Vicky absolutely grosses me out!!! I have never seen anyone be so mean in my life. GO AMY!!!!!

[Amanda]

SO HAPPY Amy voted for Brady. I would have been out had she not done that. The Vicky/Brady/Heba gang has taken the show to such an ugly place. Although I can't help but hope Ed would be a little more reasonable, making them two complete couples would have been too much to take. Yeah Amy!