Biggest Loser 10 Begins! Or, Happy Hunger Games!

The Joker: [to Gambol's thugs, being held helpless by his own] Now, our operation is small, but there's a lot of potential for "aggressive" expansion. So, which one of you fine gentlemen would like to join our team? Oh, there's only one spot open right now, so we're gonna have...
[breaks pool cue over knee]
The Joker: ... tryouts!
[throws broken pool cue at the thugs]
The Joker: Make it fast.

The Biggest Loser definitely has an element of cruelty to it, and no where is this more apparent than in the first episode of each season. The contestants are systematically humiliated in public, their deepest, darkest fears and moments laid bare on national TV, but in this episode they were made to compete on the spot (a'la the scene from The Dark Knight quoted above) for their position on the show. This is a matter of life and death for these people! It kills me to see the producers treat them so lightly. Thank heaven Bob and Jillian at least appear compassionate and empathetic. Ally Sweeney is doing her best Effie Trinket impression.

It frustrates me that we are colluding with the producers in this exploitation of people who are emotionally, physically, and many, psychologically ill. The Producers act like if these people just didn't eat so much, they wouldn't be so fat. At least in this season opener there was a lot of talk about some of the psycological issues that have contributed to obesity in many of these contestants, but still, is there a psychologist on the ranch? I haven't seen one.

So why do I watch this show? Despite the cruelty of the producing team, this show inspires and gives hope to a large audience. It's a hard truth- diet and exercise is the only way out- and the cast and trainers deliver it well. Each season I get inspired and find I can dig a little deeper. I feel guilty just for writing that- is that what someone from the Capitol thought about the Hunger Games?

Burgandy is my early favorite. Read her story- she has been trying on her own- even completed a half-marathon in her recent efforts. She looks like a Mormon housewife, and her story certainly added to that guess. The Commercial Photography Business was the biggest giveaway. She wouldn't be the first Mormon (Felipe, Sione, Koli, I think there have been others) on the show, either. It looks like she comes into conflict with Jessica, which bums me, because I liked Jessica from her profile and race results. But not if she is going to be following in Melissa's footsteps!