'The Biggest Loser': Bob comes clean about game play

Laura manned up. Tara showed some weakness in her iron-willed demeanor. Filipe was scolded for wearing a bench like it was a baseball cap. Kristin and Mike lost 12 pounds and 10 pounds, respectively, and seem to be on the verge of gaining some momentum. Shanon, who fell below the yellow line and was up for elimination, truly seemed to have no idea what she wanted, whether she wanted to stay or go. We know what Shanon's mom, Helen wanted: She wanted to keep herself at The Ranch, and urged the others to send her daughter home. (Was that selfish? Or just real?)

What else did we learn this week? That the demented minds behind "The Biggest Loser's" gut-busting challenges haven't even begun to run out of ideas. That you don't need a gym to get a good workout. And that the childhood game of musical chairs just might be a good way to burn calories. 

OK, now that we got all that stuff out of the way, let's talk about the REAL news out of last night's show: Bob pulled the curtain back on how much the trainers get involved in game play.

Quick recap: At last week's weigh-in, two of Jillian's competitors, Dane and Blaine, fell below the yellow line. As Bob left the room to let the elimination take place, he turned to his teammates, and whispered repeatedly: "Dane and no one else." That was code for: Send Dane home because he's the bigger threat.

Blaine, however, made an impassioned plea to the house that he be sent home so he could see his wife and their newborn child. The players complied.

When Jillian found out, she predicted Bob would be peeved. "NO ONE defies him," she said.

Kristin admitted being scared to break the news to Bob, like a little kid who  just got caught breaking something.

Steam poured out of Bob's ears. Arms crossed, jaw tight, he absorbed the news: "OK, well, you kept a really big threat in the house." Then he went off: "Don't ask for my input if you're not going to take it."

But he was only getting started: "I want everyone here to succeed, but this is set up as a game and the only way to keep my team here is to advise them to play the game.... They left a very big threat in the house. I think it's a mistake."

But what do you think? Should Bob and Jillian get involved at this level? Or are these decisions that should be left up to the players themselves?

Me? I like it. We only get a fraction of what goes on at The Ranch, so I want the additional insight into the decision-making process. I think Bob just told it like it is. The trainers have a level of objectivity and expertise that the players' don't -- and the contestants would be foolish not to take advantage of that if they are serious about trying to win $250,000 and potential endorsement deals.

--Rene Lynch

Photo credit: NBC Universal

Comments

[Sharon Smith]

I can not believe that Helen persuaded everyone to send HER OWN DAUGHTER home!! As Ron (brown team) pointed out Helen was the only parent at the ranch that would send her child home. Ron would never influence anyone to send his son Mike home and Cathy (purple team) would never want Kristin to be sent home instead of Cathy. As Ron also pointed out Helen has been thin but her daughter Shanon never has been thin. Kristin pointed out that Shanon has not been successful in 30 years of controlling her weight by herself at home and now suddenly Helen says Shanon can do it at home. Helen already sent Shanon home for 30 days when everyone had to send home one half of their two man team. WASN'T IT SHANON'S TURN TO STAY AT THE RANCH THIS TIME?!?! Clearly Helen is and always has been a "game-player" even to the detriment of her own daughter. The pink team was the only team to vote against the wishes of Blain (black team) and tried to send Dane home instead of Blain who wanted to be with his wife and new-born. Helen has made comments about game-play from the beginning. She apparently doesn't have a heart and hopefully she will be the one below the yellow line next week.

[Kathy P.]

I thought the mother wanting the daughter to go home was beyond selfish and self-centered. The daughter said she wanted to give her mom what she wanted. Hopefully someday that girl gets her own life and starts living it.

[Sabrina Rodriguez]

Did anyone catch how last week Kristin gained 2 pounds which put her at 303 and then this week when she stepped on the scale she was suddenly back at 301? Then she lost 12 pounds putting her at 289 and they made a big deal about how she bypassed the 290's. Thats very strange to me. They even talked the whole episode about how she gained the 2 pounds and how she hasn't been under 300 for 8 years....weird....makes u think whats going on in production and how much is real and fake.

[Hans]

Bob is just CRAZY! I would never wish for him to be my trainer.

[lely]

i lOoOove U BoB