Wow, are we already on season eight?  Has this show really been around that long?  I can’t believe it’s been that many years since I made my way to the Ranch!  I have to admit, I’m a little more into this season than I have been the last few, mostly because of Sean Algier!  He’s a youth pastor!  My wife and I were laughing while we watched the premiere because my wife kept saying whenever he was speaking, ‘wow, sound familiar?’ ‘I think I’ve heard that before!’

I did have one negative reaction to the episode; and it’s not Jillian’s ever increasing drama and wrath – she and Bob are both losing some of the compassion they had for incoming contestants that they used to have.  To me that’s one of the problems of filming two seasons a year, back to back – the trainers aren’t getting down time and it’s taking its toll.

But I digress!  This is the second season premiere in a row where contestants have been hospitalized in the first episode.  Remember last year?  Jerry?  Basically, here’s the problem in my mind – they’re turning these morbidly obese contestants loose without any kind of guidance for their protection.  Last year, they were turned loose in the gym without supervision and they over worked themselves, Jerry to the point of being hospitalized.  This year it was two contestants, fighting so hard for this prize that they over pushed themselves.  The trainers play a HUGE role in keeping the contestants safe, keeping them in a healthy range of activity.  Makes for great TV, but it’s not good for the contestants.

Otherwise I really loved the show!  It was a great start to the season and I can’t wait to see all their transformations!  What did you think of it?