TVSquad

(S03E08) My hatred of two-hour episodes is on record in previous reviews, and as NBC used some of that time extra time this week for an extended Jello-cooking segment, I'll just move on before I get even more agitated. Anyway, there's much more to hate here tonight than running time.

We meet some new players, most of whom will be gone by the end of the second segment. As that's the case, pardon me for not caring. Since the producers, of course, know who weighs what, and that only the top two newbies will be staying, bringing the other four to the show for a "cup of coffee," so to speak, seems petty, even by reality television standards.

The original players initially outdo themselves with their extraordinarily two-faced reaction to the newbies. Exploiting territorial instincts by injecting new players into the mix is an old trick of reality-show producers. It stirs up the drama, by aggravating the players. It's cheap, but effective. Maybe that's a good definition of reality television on the whole: cheap, but effective.

One of the newbies, Virginia, calls it when she says, "having seen the [original] players I definitely think I have a shot." The cast this season has been a mediocre bunch overall, and seeing how well these "at home" players have done is a much-needed wake-up call for some. Of course, these six newbies are the best of thirty-six secret at-home players. Some of those others, possibly most of them, undoubtedly did worse than the ranch players. Too bad they couldn't kick off all the regulars and reset the show with the superior six.

Instead, it's hello Adrienne and Jaron, and so long to the others, who've proven they don't need the show anyway. The irony is not lost on the bitterest loser, Kai, whose upset to realize she could have been home in her own bed, and done just as well, if not better, than at the ranch. I appreciate the producers leaving that in, even if this whole turn of events calls into question the worth of their whole show ranch regime.

After this, the episode turns really ugly. Bob's speech to the deflated ranch-players is priceless. After learning that both home players did better than anyone on either team, without a trainer, and without the sacrifices of giving up time with home and family, Bob tells the original players to focus on themselves. "You've got Kim, and you've got me," he says with a straight face.

Bob's ego seems to be on the line. He gleefully joins the players in isolating and criticizing the newbies. Evidently what's worked for the at home players is not acceptable because it is not the Bob Harper way. As Adrian said, she had been so excited to come to the ranch, and now "it's like you are hated for your accomplishments." It is true that Adrian has the advantage of youth, and Jaron's weight loss might be caused in part by his not building much muscle mass. Nevertheless, I am really disappointed in Bob and Kim's pettiness. They should be attempting to integrate the newbies, but instead they seem to take pleasure in their isolation, trying to make them feel small and stupid at every turn. Bob gleefully predicts Jaron's eventual failure, and Kim gives Adrian an ultimatum before skipping off happily with her team when Adrian dares to says she is having trouble adapting her home workout to this new way of doing things.

Disgusting. For most of the season, most of the players have been acting like petulant twelve-year olds, and that behavior has now rubbed off on the trainers, who decide it is more fun to play favorites and wag fingers than to inspire and mentor. Adrian goes to Kai. Who'd have thought Kai would be the one to demonstrate support and maturity? But after opening up to Kai, Adrian finds the strength to talk to Kim again, explaining that she fears changing from what has been working for her up to now. That's a reasonable fear to have, and Kim offers Adrian another chance to work out.

Adrian and Jaron lose enough weight to avoid elimination, proving that they have a right to stay. We will see next week whether this outcome is acceptable to Bob Harper. Will he continue to resent Jaron or will he accept him now? Bob sneered at Jaron and Adrian earlier when, while still new to the way of doing things at the ranch, they didn't complete the brick-moving challenge after the winner was decided. However, Bob shows empathy for player Bobby who, facing elimination, wants to be voted out. He tried to spark a new fire under Bobby, but Bobby's mentally done and ready to leave, and leave he does. In Bobby's at home segment, he credits Bob Harper's support and belief in him for his weight-loss success. Maybe Bob will show just a fraction of that support next week for Jaron who, after all, still wants to play the game.