Saturday, September 19, 2009

Biggest Loser Season 8 Has Begun

Kim Reis

YAHOO!  Biggest Loser Season 8 has begun on NBC 10 and it began with a BANG!!  What a first episode.  The season’s theme is “Second Chance” - which I LOVE!  Where do I begin?

I guess I’ll begin with Tracey. Click here to meet Tracey.  She came out of the gate strong and appeared to be a strong competitor.  The first challenge was a 1 mile race and the winners would get to pick their partner.  Tracey was pushing hard and going back and forth between first and second place. Just before the finish line, she collapsed.  Everyone passed her and beat her to the end.  Some of the contestants went back to try and pick her up.  They pulled her across the finish line and then her eyes rolled back in her head.  They had to get a helicopter to rush her to the hospital and that’s the last we heard.  It was so scary!!  Even though this is TV, it’s still real people.  She pushed too hard and her body just couldn’t take it.

Next big contestant that made me cry like a baby was Abby. Click here to meet Abby.  In October 2006, she lost her husband and two children (ages 5 and 2 weeks) in a horrific car crash.  Can you even imagine???  They would have to put me away in a mental institution if that ever happened.  Seriously.  I was crying uncontrollably when I was listening to her story.  I’m sure I’m not alone in hoping she does awesome in this game.

Another shocker was Daniel.  Can’t remember Daniel from Season 7?  Click here to meet Daniel.  Daniel was the largest contestant ever on Biggest Loser (until this season).  They brought him back to finish what he started.  He lost 142 lbs last season and is still at 320 lbs.  I’m so happy he’s back because I know he can do it with his determination!

Amanda was on last year’s season finale and was one of two contestants that America decided to bring to Season 8.  Click here to meet Amanda.  She’s kind of whiney and has a “poor me” attitude.  She was VERY close to falling below the yellow line in the first week.  I’m not optimistic that she’s going to go very far.

The rest of the contestants were very typical.  No one else stood out too much.  The heaviest contestant in Biggest Loser history is a woman, so that was a bit shocking.  This season is sure to be a biggie!  And I don’t mean size.  For the past month, I have been running 1 mile everyday.  My kids have gotten me hooked.  I tried doing this last year, and after 5 days, my knees were killing me.  I later found out that it was because I didn’t stretch good enough before AND after.  So, I make it a ritual that I stretch for 15 mins before I run and 15 mins after I run EVERY SINGLE TIME.  If I don’t have time to stretch, then I don’t have time to run.  So far, so good.  4 weeks and I’m still going strong. I am currently running a 13 minute mile.  Which, for me, is great.  My son runs something like a 6 minute mile.  JERK!  HA!  The kids are running in the CVS Downtown 5K on Sunday 9/20/09.  They wanted me to do it with them.  Um - not ready.  Maybe next year.

Here are some links to help you out.  The store is really cool!  I already bought a T-Shirt!  I love the bodybugg and I’m saving my pennies for that little gadget for sure.  Great holiday gift ideas on this site (hint hint - hubby).  Until next time bloggers!

Biggest Loser Store:  Buy Biggest Loser shirts, protein mix, bodybugg, water bottles and more!

Biggest Loser Site:  Track Contestants of Season 8

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

America’s Got Talent, My Take

Kim Reis

OK - so America’s Got Talent had the finale tonight.  I thought I did a good job calling it and BOY was I wrong!  If you haven’t seen the show yet or if it’s sitting in your DVR, I warn you of a “spoiler alert”!    Results below.

First, let me say that AGT totally stretched the show into 2 hours.  And I mean stretched worse than Gumby! This show could have easily been an hour.  The show felt stretched and way too long.  But who am I to judge?  I’m just a loyal viewer.  I think America voted with their hearts instead of voting on who was truly talented enough to win.  Here’s the list of entries. 

Barbara Padilla vs. Hairo Torres - Padilla went to the top 5, America got it right!
Voices of Glory vs. Lawrence Beaman - Voices of Glory went to top 5 OUCH!!  Beaman (AKA Barry White) should have gone to top 5
The Texas Tenors vs. Fab Five - Texas Tenors went to top 5.  That’s SO WRONG!!!
Drew Stevyns vs. Kevin Skinner - Kevin Skinner went through to the top 5.  America voted with their hearts instead of their heads.  Did you see Kevin singing in the opening act?? Can you say fish out of water???
Grandma Lee vs. Recycled Percussion - Recycled Percussion went through.  America got it right, even though I totally LOVED Grandma Lee!!!

OK, so we have the top 5 and I had picked Barbara Padilla as the winner.  Voices of Glory went home first.  Then Texas Tenors went home second.  OK - so I have faith in America’s vote to get it right.  Then Recycled Percussion went home.  Ummmm - getting nervous.  I thought the final two would be Padilla and Recycled Percussion.  Now that my trash can drummers have gone home, I’m getting worried about America’s decision.  It’s down to Skinner (the chicken farmer) and Padilla (the opera singer).  Go to commercial (DARN IT!)

Then Susan Boyle comes back to sing.  WOW!!  That woman can sing!!  Wild Horses - unique sound.  Beautiful!  She’s awkward, but gorgeous at the same time.

Now, back from a long, long, long, long commercial break. I’m dying!!  And Nick says that the winner is…...............

Kevin Skinner - the chicken farmer.  WHAT?????!!!!!!  America is “HOFF” their rocker!!!!  What???  Padilla lost to Skinner!  Yup, that’s it.  Don’t worry Barbara - someone will scoop you up.  Skinner is a sweetheart, but I’m not certain that he’s a $1 million act.  Skinner - hold on for the ride.  This guy’s life will never be the same.  Good luck Kevin!  I hope you do well.

Big Brother - done, “Team Jordan”
AGT - done “Skinner Winner”
Now it’s time for Biggest Loser and Survivor.  New season, new reality shows.  Until next time bloggers! 

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

America’s Got Talent Comes to an End

Kim Reis

So America’s Got Talent 2009 is coming to an end.  That last 10 acts performed and boy was it difficult to choose.  It was easy to pick out the ones going home.  But the front runners are all so close.  Here is my take on the results of the finale (which airs Weds night at 8pm). 

Voices of Glory:  They sang “The Greatest Love of All”.  Big song - whew!  Cute kids, sweet story.  I cry every time I see the mom.  The performance started out a little shaky.  That 8 year old little girl sounds much better when they are belting the notes.  When she sings alone and tries to sing softly, she doesn’t quite stay on key.  But they were sweet, sounded absolutely AWESOME at the end!!!!  And their mom stood up for them to give them a standing ovation.  Talk about lump in the throat.  They won’t win the million, but they’re going to do just fine in this world.

Hairo Torres: His routine was weird.  He’s the dancer who contorts his body like a freak of nature.  Amazing moves but not worthy of $1 million.  Don’t get me wrong, he’s unbelievably flexible and truly should be a backup dancer for some big league artist.  But dancing as a solo act - I’m not seeing it.  No mill Hairo.  Sorry.

Lawrence Beaman:  WHOA!!!  Simply close your eyes and you’d SWEAR he was Barry White.  His voice is so unique and he is one talented dude.  Not to mention that his body is ripped.  What a good lookin’ guy.  WOW!  Simple, sweet, humble.  Love him.  Definitely worthy of the million.  But there is someone much better who will steal it from him.

Barbara Padilla:  Our opera singer who beat cancer.  Love, love, love, love this woman.  Her husband talked about her treatment and how she said that she took way more from the cancer than the cancer took from her.  God love her!  She took her situation and grew from it.  I’m not sure that I could do the same given the circumstances.  My husband doesn’t think someone would sit and listen to opera in Vegas.  I beg to differ.  This is our AGT million dollar winner for 2009!

Fab Five: Five tap dancing sisters.  Talented.  They danced to “Circus” by Brittany Spears.  It was a full production with acrobats.  And I love how these women stay exactly together when they dance.  Totally in sync.  They won’t win, but they are very talented.

The Texas Tenors: ICK!!  No million.  I haven’t liked these guys from day one.  They are so fake and go way over the top every time they sing.  They sang “My Way” and I’d like to say “Go Away”.  When they sing together as a trio, they’re not THAT bad.  But when they each sing separately, I want to stick hot pokers in my ears.  Seriously.  I have no idea how they made it this far.

Drew Stevyns:  Cute guy, sang “I’ll Stand By You”.  He’s not a very strong singer.  I would say he’s much like Kevin Skinner (see my notes on Kevin below).  But David has a better story and his simple, sweet Southern personality is better.  He will not win the million.

Grandma Lee: I just love this woman.  I wish she was my grandma!!!  She’s hysterical!  Unfortunately, she won’t win the million.  But I hope someone scoops her up for a movie or a comedy show.  Her material is really funny.  She said that her kids are in the audience and they are sweating more than Ryan Seacrest watching Brokeback Mountain.  I spit my water all over my computer screen when she said that. She also replaced Piers as her boyfriend.  With Simon Cowell!!  Gotta love it.

Kevin Skinner: He sang “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith.  This guy is so darn sweet and when he showed him and his family fishing outside his little country house with “SKINNER” on the mailbox, I was so hopeful that he’d win.  The singing just wasn’t strong enough, but he is the sweetest country guy anyone could meet.  With a little work, this diamond in the rough could go places.  I hope someone scoops him up too.  No mill Kevin.  Sorry dude.

Recycled Percussion: Better than Blue Man Group.  Better than Stomp. They bang on trash but they build these mechanisms around their trash.  Last week they played on the roof of an old van and then the top of the van ripped off and started flying over the stage with them on top.  This week their mechanism started raining on them.  They are so, so talented and I could completely see a Vegas act like this.  I think Padilla (the opera singer) will win.  But they deserve it too.

It’s so hard to decide between Barbara Padilla, Recycled Percussion and Lawrence Beaman.  But Barbara - you’ll do it baby!  We’ll see if I’m right on Weds night.

In the meantime, I’ve got some serious decisions to make.  The season premiere of Biggest Loser just started.  LOVE THAT SHOW!  And the season finale of Big Brother also started.  It’s a BIG night with losers and brothers.  Which one to watch first???  AAARRGGHHH!!!  Decisions, decisions.  Flip a coin.

Till next time my friends.

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Reality Check’s Reaction to AGT

Kim Reis

If you haven’t watched America’s Got Talent results show on 9/2/09, then I recommend that you do not watch this video because it reveals the results.  And a little bit of opinion from Kim. 

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Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Reality Check: New Webcam

Kim Reis

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