Danny and Daris represent Oklahoma well on ‘The Biggest Loser’
“Oklahoma is in the house,” trainer Bob Harper said on Tuesday’s episode of “The Biggest Loser” (April 13). And TV cameras captured the moment, showing Season 9 contender Daris George from Ardmore working out beside Season 8 winner Danny Cahill from Broken Arrow.
Danny stopped by to give this season’s contestants some words of encouragement. And he also took the opportunity to get in another “Biggest Loser” workout.
“Working out with Bob and Daris was cool,” Danny said. “The guy is a machine. And I’ve forgotten how hard this place is.”
Daris, the machine, said: “It was pretty cool working out with Danny. I was giving him a run for his money.”
Dropping seven pounds during Week 13 keeps Daris in the running for the $250,000 grand prize to be awarded at the show’s season finale in May. He posted the week’s highest percentage of weight loss.
“My body is changing and I’ve got to keep up with it,” said Daris, who seven days earlier almost fell below the yellow line. “I did this week.”
–Penny TV
Week-by-Week for Daris George
••Week 1 — dropped 29 pounds (went from 346 to 317)
••Week 2 — dropped 7 pounds (went from 317 to 310)
••Week 3 — dropped 9 pounds (went from 310 to 301)
••Week 4 — dropped 6 pounds (went from 301 to 295)
••Week 5 — dropped 12 pounds (went from 295 to 283)
••Week 6 — dropped 9 pounds (went from 283 to 274)
••Week 7 — dropped 7 pounds (went from 274 to 267)
••Week 8 — dropped 9 pounds (went from 267 to 258)
••Week 9 — dropped 10 pounds (went from 258 to 248)
••Week 10 — dropped 4 pounds (went from 248 to 244)
••Week 11 — dropped 7 pounds (went from 244 to 237)
••Week 12 — dropped 4 pounds (went from 237 to 233)
••Week 13 — dropped 7 pounds (went from 233 to 226)
Week-by-Week for Cheryl George
••Week 1 — dropped 14 pounds (went from 227 to 213)
••Week 2 — dropped 3 pounds (went from 213 to 210)
••Week 3 — dropped 7 pounds (went from 210 to 203)
••Week 4 — dropped 6 pounds (went from 203 to 197)
••Week 5 — dropped 3 pounds (went from 197 to 194)
••Week 6 — dropped 3 pounds (went from 194 to 191)
••Week 7 — dropped 4 pounds (went from 191 to 187)
••Week 8 — dropped 5 pounds (went from 187 to 182)
••Week 11 — dropped 5 pounds (went from 182 to 176)
••Three months after being sent home — dropped 18 pounds (went from 182 to 164)
Pictured above: THE BIGGEST LOSER — Episode 905 — Pictured: (l-r) Jillian Michaels, Daris, Sam — Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC
Blake Shelton, Come on Down! You’re the next celebrity on “The Price Is Right”
Country music artist Blake Shelton won’t be a contestant on “The Price Is Right” (although he could be if he got tickets).
Instead, he will present a prize in a unique fashion on the game show’s country music-themed episode airing at 10 a.m. Friday (April 16) on CBS.
Shelton, who was born in Ada, will actually take the role of a “Price Is Right” model during the “Half Off” segment.
Also participating in this episode, which will award one of the showcase winners a trip to Las Vegas to attend the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, will be Bomshel members Kristy Osmonson and Kelley Shephard. Both Bomshel and Shelton are 2010 ACM Award nominees.
As for being a contestant on “The Price Is Right,” anyone can request free tickets, and everyone in the studio audience has a chance to “Come on Down.” Call 1-800-852-8909 for tickets to the show, which tapes at least six times a month through September.
–Penny TV
Pictured above: THE PRICE IS RIGHT — Show #5124K — Model Amber Lancaster, from left, Rachel Reynolds Academy of Country Music Award Nominee Blake Shelton, Host Drew Carey and Lanisha Cole during a special ACMA-themed episode of CBS’s Emmy Award-winning THE PRICE IS RIGHT, which airs Friday, April 16, on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Cliff Lipson.
NOTE: To see what else Blake Shelton is up to these days, check out Outdoor Editor Ed Godfrey’s blog by clicking here
Former ‘American Idol’ finalists volunteer at food banks
Remember Melinda Doolittle and Phil Stacey? Both made it to the Top 6 on Season 6 of “American Idol.”
Both have Oklahoma ties (Doolittle graduated from Tulsa Union High School and Stacey has family in Shawnee).
And both will be in Nashville, Tenn., on Wednesday (April 14) volunteering at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennesse. So will former “Idol” contestants Lacey Brown, Bucky Covington, Bo Bice and Mandisa.
They will be working with other volunteers to pack disaster-relief boxes for Feeding America.
Many more finalists from “American Idol” are helping out at food banks around the country this week. They are supporting the “Idol Gives Back” initiative, which has raised more than $140 million to date for charities including Feeding America, Children’s Health Fund, Malaria No More, Save the Children’s U.S. Programs and the United Nations Foundation.
“Being a part of ‘Idol’ was such a blessing, and I just want to give back in any way that I can,” said Season 5 finalist Elliott Yamin, who traveled to Angola with “Idol” judge Kara DioGuardi for “Idol Gives Back.”
The two-hour special “American Idol: Idol Gives Back” airs live at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 21, on Fox.
–Penny TV
“Idol” finalists helping out at Feeding American food banks this week are:
••THE LOS ANGELES REGIONAL FOOD BANK, LOS ANGELES (Tuesday, April 13) – Kimberley Locke, Didi Benami, David Hernandez, Amy Adams, Chikezie, Mikalah Gordon, Elliott Yamin, Kevin Covais, Michael Johns, LaToya London and Brandon Rogers will pack food in boxes for senior citizens and young children in need at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
••UTAH FOOD BANK, SALT LAKE CITY (Tuesday, April 13) – Megan Joy will assist a group of 30 volunteers who will sort through food-drive donations, divide them into categories and prepare food boxes.
••GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY, CHICAGO (Wednesday, April 14) – Gina Glocksen and Amanda Overmyer will join a group of volunteers to pack disaster relief boxes for Feeding America.
••SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE, NASHVILLE (Wednesday, April 14) – Lacey Brown, Bucky Covington, Melinda Doolittle, Bo Bice, Phil Stacey and Mandisa will work with other volunteers to pack disaster-relief boxes for Feeding America.
••FOOD LIFELINE, SEATTLE (Wednesday, April 14) – Blake Lewis will assist a group of volunteers in sorting and repacking products to be distributed to families in need.
••JAN HUS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, NEW YORK (Thursday, April 15) – Ace Young, Diana DeGarmo, Jorge Núñez, Julia DeMato and RJ Helton will lend a helping hand to hungry New Yorkers by delivering food with City Harvest.
••HOUSTON FOOD BANK, HOUSTON (Thursday, April 15) – LaKisha Jones will be working with a group of volunteers who will inspect donated food and prepare it to be re-distributed to 400 agencies.
••FEEDING AMERICA TAMPA BAY, TAMPA (Thursday, April 15) – Melissa McGhee will spread hope to people in need by working with a group of volunteers to sort and package food.
••UNITED WAY COMMUNITY FOOD, BIRMINGHAM (Friday, April 16) – Ruben Studdard will label cans and pack boxes.
••THREE SQUARE, LAS VEGAS (Friday, April 16) – Danny Gokey will assist a group of volunteers to sort through donated food that will be used to feed local families in need.
Pictured above: The American Idols Live! 2007 tour includes, clockwise, Melinda Doolittle, Sanjaya Malakar, Phil Stacey, Jordin Sparks, Chris Sligh, Blake Lewis, Chris Richardson, Lakisha Jones, Haley Scarnato, and Gina Glocksen. ( Photo courtesy of The Great Allentown Fair)
Oklahoma cowboys make music (and promote it, too) on ‘The Amazing Race’
Oklahoma cowboys Jet and Cord McCoy got the beat — finally — and beat two teams to the Pit Stop on Sunday’s episode of “The Amazing Race” (April 11 on CBS).
The brothers from Tupelo started Leg 9 of the race in first place, but they fell back to fourth at the Detour. Slowing them down was the “Pounding the Drums” task that entailed learning a complex drum routine for a lion dance and then performing it on stage.
“The closest thing to a musical instrument we play is a radio,” Jet said.
Jet propelled them into third place at the Roadblock challenge by quickly counting 521 links on an anchor chain. And he and Cord proceeded to coast down a 1,200 feet Megazip ride and reach the Pit Stop in third place.
Four teams remain in the running for the $1 million prize. And three episodes remain, with the Season 16 finale scheduled for May 9.
There is no episode next Sunday, however, and the McCoys explained why in a promotional spot Sunday after “The Amazing Race.”
“While we’re traveling around the world on ‘The Amazing Race,’ next Sunday night Vegas goes country,” the brothers said. “All your favorite music stars will perform live at the Academy of Country Music Awards next Sunday night (April 18) only on CBS.”
Next up on “The Amazing Race” are stops in the People’s Republic of China (Leg 10) and Shanghai (Leg 11).
The title of an upcoming episode, which is taken from a quote made by one of the racers, is “I Feel Like I’m in, Like, Sicily.”
Sounds like something Jet or Cord McCoy might’ve said, doesn’t it? To find out, tune in to CBS at 7 p.m. Sundays.
–Penny TV
Pictured above: “You’re Like Jason Bourne, Right? (Malaysia)”– Cowboy brothers Jet (left) and Cord (right) make their Detour decision at a temple which is home to hundreds of snakes, on THE AMAZING RACE 16 Sunday, April 4, on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS
Bad week on scale, but Daris is still ‘Biggest Loser’ contender
Week 12 on “The Biggest Loser” ranch wasn’t kind to Daris George from Ardmore.
On Tuesday’s episode (April 6 on NBC), he endured a grueling workout in the gym and an even more grueling wait during the weekly weigh-in.
“I decided to beat the crap out of Daris so he knows we still love him very much,” trainer Jillian Michaels said during the week’s last-chance workout. “He doesn’t get the attention he deserves because he’s so quiet.”
The scale, however, did not reflect his effort. He gave it his all and lost just four pounds.
And since he was the second to weigh in for the week, he stood quietly by as five of his “Biggest Loser” friends posted good losses and pushed his name closer to the yellow elimination line.
The final two to weigh in — Andrea and Melissa — ended up below the yellow line, however.
Still, Daris didn’t feel good about the situation.
“I don’t understand that at all,” he said of his 4-pound weight loss for the week. “I see myself going to the end. I think I have that in me to do that. But weeks like this don’t help that.”
–Penny TV
Week-by-Week for Daris George
••Week 1 — dropped 29 pounds (went from 346 to 317)
••Week 2 — dropped 7 pounds (went from 317 to 310)
••Week 3 — dropped 9 pounds (went from 310 to 301)
••Week 4 — dropped 6 pounds (went from 301 to 295)
••Week 5 — dropped 12 pounds (went from 295 to 283)
••Week 6 — dropped 9 pounds (went from 283 to 274)
••Week 7 — dropped 7 pounds (went from 274 to 267)
••Week 8 — dropped 9 pounds (went from 267 to 258)
••Week 9 — dropped 10 pounds (went from 258 to 248)
••Week 10 — dropped 4 pounds (went from 248 to 244)
••Week 11 — dropped 7 pounds (went from 244 to 237)
••Week 12 — dropped 4 pounds (went from 237 to 233)
Week-by-Week for Cheryl George
••Week 1 — dropped 14 pounds (went from 227 to 213)
••Week 2 — dropped 3 pounds (went from 213 to 210)
••Week 3 — dropped 7 pounds (went from 210 to 203)
••Week 4 — dropped 6 pounds (went from 203 to 197)
••Week 5 — dropped 3 pounds (went from 197 to 194)
••Week 6 — dropped 3 pounds (went from 194 to 191)
••Week 7 — dropped 4 pounds (went from 191 to 187)
••Week 8 — dropped 5 pounds (went from 187 to 182)
••Week 11 — dropped 5 pounds (went from 182 to 176)
••Three months after being sent home — dropped 18 pounds (went from 182 to 164)
Pictured above: THE BIGGEST LOSER — Episode 909 — Pictured: (l-r) Daris, Lance, Sherry, Ashley, Chef Curtis Stone, Alison Sweeney — Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC
Happy Birthday, James Garner
April 7, 2010 — James Scott
Bumgarner, who played Jim Rockford on “The Rockford Files” (1974-1980), turns 82 today (he was born in Norman, Okla.).
He played Jim Egan on “8 Simple Rules” (2003-05), Chief Justice Thomas Brankin on “First Monday” (2002) and Bret Maverick on “Maverick” (1957-60).
His first acting role was as Lt. Col. Joe Craven in the 1956 movie “Toward the Unknown.” He was 28.
Best wishes to James and everybody who shares this special day with him.
–Penny TV
Pictured at right: Actor and Norman native James Garner waves to crowds during the 89er Day Parade in Norman, Okla., Saturday April, 22, 2006. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman
OETA remembers Wilma Mankiller with special encore presentation
Network News Release …
OETA, The Oklahoma Network, remembers and celebrates the life and legacy of Oklahoma icon and former Cherokee Chief Wilma Mankiller with a special encore presentation of “A Conversation With … Wilma Mankiller” at 9 p.m. Friday (April 9).
Mankiller died of pancreatic cancer Tuesday (April 6) at age 64.
Hosted by Dick Pryor, “A Conversation With …” features an up-close and personal discussion with Mankiller, who rose from dirt poor beginnings in rural Adair County to become one of the most respected leaders in the United States as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.
During the program, which originally aired in November 2008, she discussed her struggles and triumphs in a remarkable personal journey that led her to worldwide recognition and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Mother, author, leader, activist and role model - Wilma Mankiller¹s incredible story of perseverance, courage and commitment is deeply personal and inspiring. Her words soar, and her unrelenting spirit is a tribute to her Nation and its people.
“A Conversation With … Wilma Mankiller” can also be viewed anytime online at www.oeta.tv/acw.
Oklahoma Cowboys accomplish amazing feat on ‘The Amazing Race’
Oklahoma cowboys Jet and Cord McCoy hit a Speed Bump on Sunday’s episode of “The Amazing Race” (April 4 on CBS). But it didn’t slow the brothers from Tupelo down one bit.
In fact, they sped right by the other racers during Leg 8 — even though they had to perform that extra “Speed Bump” task for finishing last during Week 7.
It helped a little that all six remaining teams were on the same flight to Malaysia. “Right now, we’re tied for sixth, and we’re also tied for first,” Jet said on the plane. “That’s better than being in sixth all by ourselves.”
And it really helped when the McCoys completed the detour challenge — balancing large flags on their foreheads while running a few 100 feet — before a couple of teams even arrived at the other detour.
“This gives us that little inkling of hope that we can finish this leg someplace besides last,” Cord said.
They were in first place after completing the Speed Bump round, where they smelled spices and served tea to a guru. And they were in first place after the Roadblock, where Jet smashed coconuts and made a float.
Phil Keoghan, who is in his 16th season as host of “The Amazing Race,” had some good news for them at the Pit Stop. “You are the first team to ever go from last place, complete the Speed Bump and then come in first on the next leg,” he said. “That’s pretty unbelievable.”
For their efforts, they each won a trip for two to Maui, Hawaii. And they are still in the running for the $1 million grand prize.
“Failure is not an option for us,” Jet said. “The only time we’ve ever failed is if we quit, and that’s not the mentality we have in rodeo.”
Cord added, “We’ve had plenty of opportunities to give up, but I don’t think that’s in our character.”
Next up are stops in Singapore (Leg Nine) and People’s Republic of China (Leg 10).
The title of an upcoming episode, which is taken from a quote made by one of the racers, is “Dumb Did Us In.”
Sounds like something Jet or Cord McCoy might’ve said, doesn’t it? To find out, tune in to CBS at 7 p.m. Sundays.
–Penny TV
Pictured above: “Anonymous (Seychelles)”–Cowboy brothers Jet (left) and Cord (right) receive their next clue on THE AMAZING RACE 16 Sunday, March 28, on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Best Possible Screen Grab/CBS
Oklahoma Alert: In-depth interview with opera star Leona Mitchell on ‘OKC Metro’ Saturday (April 3)
Opera star Leona Mitchell, an Enid native, will give an in-depth interview on “OKC Metro” airing at 5:30 p.m. Saturday on OETA-13.
In 1973, Mitchell debuted as Micaela in San Franciso Opera Company’s production of “Carmen.” She became a star at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and has performed in major opera houses worldwide.
Mitchell was inducted in the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame.
“OKC Metro” is hosted by Gerry Bonds. The weekly half-hour public affairs interview program has received two Emmy nominations from the Heartland Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. In 2007, the show won an Emmy for set design.
–Penny TV
Pictures at right: Opera diva Leona Mitchell entertains at an Awesome Friends luncheon at Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club. BY DAVID FAYTINGER, FOR THE OKLAHOMAN
Oklahoma Alert: Toby Keith on premiere of Sarah Palin’s new Fox News series Thursday (April 1)
Country singer Toby Keith,
who lives in Norman, is among the guests scheduled to appear on the premiere of Sarah Palin’s new series “Real American Stories” airing at 9 p.m. Thursday on Fox News Channel (channel 44 on Cox Cable, 205 on Dish Network, 210 on U-Verse, 360 on DirecTV).
The series hosted by the former Alaska governor focuses on “real-life tales of overcoming adversity.”
Keith, who was born in Clinton and raised in Moore, will discuss his song “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American).”
Also featured on the “Real American Stories” debut will be former General Electric Chief Executive Jack Welch, who will discuss his professional success, and stories about a Marine who died to save his fellow soldiers and a stock broker who helps underprivileged students pay for college.
The premiere episode will be rebroadcast Sunday, April 4, at 8 p.m. on Fox News. The network has not announced a date for the second installment.
–Penny TV
Pictured above: Toby Keith speaks during a press conference Friday Dec. 11, 2009 in Oslo, Norway ahead of the annual Nobel Peace Prize concert. Artists from all over the world will be gathering at the Oslo Spektrum to help spread the message of peace and celebrate this year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate, President Barack Obama. (AP Photo/John McConnico)
