Archive for the ‘Discussion’ Category

For all the googlers arriving at this post, the new season has started! Go to the front page of The Biggest Loser Recap and start reading!

Many of you have probably already seen the ads on Channel 10 for this, but for those who have not it has been announced that The Biggest Loser 2009 will be a “Couples” version of the show.

So that they don’t have a procession of annoying husband and wife teams of fatties, they’ve opened it up to a fairly loose interpretation of the word. Brother and sister teams are okay (though I’d imagine they’d frown on brother-sister husband and wife teams) as well Mums and sons, even work mate teams are permitted… As are grandparent/grandchild teams.

I’m a little horrified at the thought of the last one, I don’t mind telling you.

Applications are now being accepted via the website, so if you know two fat people, suggest they roll over that way? I’m sure that will make them love you all the more!

I believe if you go to the official site you can also see the ad with Shannan and Michelle touting the new season applications, but you should really try to catch it on TV for yourself so that you too can experience the hilarity of Shannan mouthing Michelle’s lines.

He still has a ways to go when it comes to presenting for the televisions.

Ajay is apparently overseas at the moment, so she didn’t front up to court today. The judge was unimpressed with her non-appearance and said she had better be in court for when the case resumes on July 8.

The charges apparently relate to a time between 2001 and 2005 when Ajay was receiving a single parent payment when she wasn’t eligible to be receiving any such payment.

Some news sites are reporting that she knew she shouldn’t’ve been receiving the payments, others are simply leaving it at not being entitled to the payments.

Tune in again on July 8, I suppose? Unless Ajay does a runner!

Majesco Entertainment have partnered with The Biggest Loser’s Jillian Michaels and are set to release a cheap cash-in sure to be excellent “exer-gaming” title for the Nintendo Wii.

For those who have somehow missed the hype, the Nintendo Wii recently got its first “exer-gaming” title in Wii Fit, which despite the higher than usual pricetag has been selling out pretty much everywhere the game has been released.

Wii Fit came bundled with an interesting peripheral, the “Balance Board”. Essentially a high tech set of scales, the Balance Board is capable of measuring shifts in weight with an amazing degree of accuracy. This allows the board to become, in essence, a new kind of controller. Players are able to shift their balance left and right, forwards and backwards to complete various challenges within the game.

And, of course, it can also tell you how much you weigh. If you’re not afraid to find out.

There’s exercises, too, including all the usual squats and lunges and push ups you’d be familiar with. Jillian’s cohort Bob Harper would probably love it – the game also features a fairly decent variety of yoga poses, too.

What sorts of exercises will Jillian’s game have?

They’re not saying, yet. Only that the title is aimed at the casual market, women in particular. So I guess you should expect tips on applying makeup and buttercups will spring up all over the screen every 5 minutes?

What does Jillian think of the latest thing she’s putting her name to?

“I truly think this type of product will be instrumental in revolutionizing the fitness industry and will help combat the childhood obesity epidemic in this country,” Michaels said.

Wow, that’s quite some praise. Quite some very generalised praise that could apply to virtually any fitness product. Hmm.

The game is apparently scheduled for a “Holiday release” which I assume means the Christmas holidays? Americans are a little silly in that regard. What’s wrong with the standard Summer, Winter, Spring or Fall/Autumn? No, it has to be “holiday”…

There’s not much more to the Hollywood Reporter article, but you can still click here if you’d like to read the rest of it.

But the real question is – would you buy it? Forget for a moment whether or not you actually have a Nintendo Wii, plus the required Balance Board. If you had them, would you really buy a fitness game endorsed by Jilliam Michaels?

Various mainstream media sources are reporting today that Ajay Rochester, host of The Biggest Loser, will be facing fraud charges in Sydney next Tuesday.

These charges are not related to The Biggest Loser or her involvement with Channel 10 as they relate to matters which predate her hosting the show.

In all, Ajay is facing a whopping 23 charges, 9 of which relate to “receiving a financial advantage from a Commonwealth entity.”

That entity? Centrelink.

They probably had it coming.

Details are pretty scarce but it seems likely that Ajay probably received some dole money she shouldn’t’ve, or failed to report some earnings she should have, or any of a number of other petty excuses Centrelink can ruin your life over, even if you did not intentionally do anything wrong.

There may be more details available next week so we can decide who receives the pitchforks and torches treatment.

[Source: NineMSN]

Well, the final three has been decided. Sam, Kirsten and Alison will face off at the finale.

But who will win? Vote now!

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Want my take on it?

Sam: The youngest of the three, Sam is also the only male of the remaining contestants. While neither factor guarantees a win, the two combined ought to provide a significant advantage to Sam. Excellent support from his family and friends will also contribute to Sam’s chances.
Working against Sam will be the temptation of returning to his “uni lifestyle”, which is what he credits with getting him in such a state to begin with.
Sam also has a question mark over his nutrition. Some contestants have said that Sam is not eating enough, plus Alison and Kirsten have been helping him with his meal preparation, assistance he will no longer receive at home.

My Prediction: First by a narrow margin. Sam won’t want to be the guy that lets a woman win. Coupled with his youth and being the only male left, he will be going home with the title.

Kirsten: In between Sam and Alison in age, Kirsten has earned her reputation as “The Enforcer.” Both Australian and American trainers have been impressed with Kirsten’s work ethic during training. Coupled with weightloss in line with the men in the competition, Kirsten has been considered a major threat for many weeks. With little at home to distract her, Kirsten will have little in the way of getting in the training she needs.
But she’s still female, and females always find it tougher to lose the weight than males. Enforcer or not, Kirsten has a very hard road ahead of her.

My prediction: Second, just behind Sam but ahead of Alison by a comfortable margin. Kirsten’s guts and determination will ensure it is a very close race, but ultimately it is unlikely to be enough.

Alison: The eldest of the group, Alison is the real dark horse in this race. In recent weeks her determination has grown as she has come to realise she might actually be a chance at winning. That determination will stand her in good stead at home. Also, having been looking after Sam’s nutrition, she clearly has her head screwed on right in that regard.
Unfortunately as the eldest in the group she will find it a little tougher, particularly tougher than ex-sportswoman Kirsten. A mother of three, she will also find there’s a lot of distractions in the real world as she returns to her regular life. She could choose to neglect her family obligations in favour of winning, but she is extremely unlikely to do so.

My prediction: Third, a couple of percent behind Kirsten. But be prepared for a surprise as stranger things have happened!

Who do I want to win? Alison. I still like Sam and would love to see him win, but a victory by Alison would be a great come-from-behind story, on top of being the first female Australian Biggest Loser. As a mother of three, she could also use the money more than either Sam or Kirsten.

Who do you think will win, and why? And who do you want to win?