Ardmore mom still a ‘Biggest Loser’ contender
Cheryl George of Ardmore did not let her flame go out on “The Biggest Loser” episode that aired Tuesday (March 2).
She kept an Olympic-style torch on her head for nearly 10 minutes, outlasting Darrell Hough in the elimination challenge.
That’s the good news. The bad news is that, for the next several weeks, she will be competing against her son, Daris.
The teams were divided into black and blue, and the two Oklahoma contenders were split up (courtesy of Michael, whose mother was eliminated weeks ago).
Cheryl hasn’t lost her smile, though. And Daris hasn’t shaved in a while, either.
And both continue to make good on their weight-loss goal. Cheryl has dropped 40 pounds in seven weeks, while Daris has shed 79 pounds.
–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-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)
Pictured above: THE BIGGEST LOSER — Episode 901 that aired Jan. 5, 2010– Pictured: (l-r) Cheryl, Daris — NBC Photo: Trae Patton
Oklahoma ‘Locator’ begins fourth season on WEtv
When “The Locator” premiered on WEtv in September 2008, Troy Dunn had no idea how his show would do.
But the Enid High School graduate knew that he would continue to help reunite loved ones and recconnect lives regardless of whether TV cameras were on or not.
“Until my last breath, I will try to reunite someone,” he said before the show premiered. “If TV choses to tag along, that’s up to viewers.”
Two years later, Dunn is still going strong — and so is his show. Season 4 will begin at 9 p.m. Wednesday (March 3) with an hour-long premiere. Seven half-hour episodes will follow Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. on WEtv (channel 128 on Dish Network and 260 on DirecTV).
The show captures exactly what happens in the process of bringing families and friends together after years of being apart.
Dunn has been bringing people back together long before the cameras started rolling, though. In 20-plus years, he has located more than 40,000 men, women and children.
But thanks to the show, he has also been able to inspire countless others to find important people in their lives through WEtv’s online community at www.WEtv.com/thelocator/.
The online site also features tips from Dunn on how to track down a loved one, casting information, reunion updates and a search contest.
–Penny TV
Belt buckles don’t slow Oklahoma cowboys down on ‘Amazing Race’
When Jet and Cord
McCoy arrived at the Leg 3 finish line in first place on “The Amazing Race” (Feb. 28 on CBS), host Phil Keoghan had a question for the Oklahoma cowboys.
“Don’t those belt buckles slow you down?” Keoghan asked.
“We’d be slower if our pants were around our ankles,” Jet said.
Jet also delivered the line that was used for the episode’s title. He said “Thing is, we don’t have to run like scalded dogs,” before hopping on a bus to Argentina.”
The McCoy brothers from Tupelo did fall behind a bit during this leg of the race. One time was on purpose so the other teams wouldn’t follow them to el Boliche Viejo, an old saloon where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid hid out in Argentina. The other time was when they needed three hands to beat a Gnome at five-card stud.
But they regained the lead at the Road Block where one team member had to rope a steer-horned hay bale target 18-feet away.
“I can’t believe I missed it on the first try,” Jet said. “I’m going to hear about that.”
And they extended their lead by hitting a ball and hauling a wooden practice horse down a polo field.
As winners of the third leg of the race, the McCoy brothers won a trip for two to Patagonia.
Next up are stops in Germany (Leg 4) and France (Leg 5).
Upcoming episodes, which are taken from quotes made by the racers, are titled “We Are No Longer in the Bible Belt” and “I Think We’re Fighting the Germans, Right?”
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: “Run Like Scalded Dogs! (Argentina)” — Jett performs Detour B in which teams carry a wooden horse through a Polo Training Field and hit a ball inside the goal in order to receive the next clue on THE AMAZING RACE. Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS
Oklahomans added to reality contestants list (updated Feb. 2010)
“Oh, my gravy!”
That’s what cowboys Jet and Cord McCoy would probably say to the fact that they are the latest reality contestants with Oklahoma ties.
They said that phrase at least three times during last week’s (Feb. 21) episode of “The Amazing Race.”
Following is a list of reality contestants with Oklahoma ties. It is believed to be complete, but if someone is missing from the list, please email psoldan@opubco.com.
Reality contestants with Oklahoma ties:
••Sean Algaier, Glenpool, NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” (Season 8, Top 15, 2009)
••Shirin Askari, Tulsa, Lifetime’s “Project Runway” (Season 6, Top 8, 2009)
••Dave Ball, Edmond, CBS’s “Survivor” (Season 19, Top 8, 2009)
••Matt Breitzke, Bixby, Fox’s “American Idol” (Season 8 semifinalist, Top 36, 2009)
••Travis Brorsen and Presley, Perry, CBS’s “Greatest American Dog” (Season 1 winner, 2008)
••Mikey Burnett, Tulsa, SPIKE’s “The Ultimate Fighter” (Season 4, quarterfinalist, 2006)
••Champ Devere (brothers Niles and Beau Johnson), Konawa, CMT’s “Can You Duet” (Season 1, Top 25, 2008)
••Danny Cahill, Broken Arrow, NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” (Season 8 winner, 2009)
••David Cook, Tulsa, Fox’s “American Idol” (Season 7 winner, 2008)
••Leah Darrow, Oklahoma City, UPN’s “America’s Next Top Model” (Season 3, Top 13, 2004)
••Melinda Doolittle, Tulsa, Fox’s “American Idol” (Season 6, Top 3,, 2007)
••Michael “Cowboy” Ellis, Durant, CBS’s “Big Brother” (Season 5 runner-up, 2004)
••Cheryl and Daris George, Ardmore, NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” (Season 9 contenders, 2010)
••Kayne Gillaspie, Norman, Bravo’s “Project Runway” (Season 3, Top 5, 2006)
••Sarah Greyson, Edmond, MTV’s “Road Rules” (Campus Crawl, voted off, 2002)
••Cassie Grisham, Norman, CW’s “America’s Next Top Model” (Season 3, Top 8, 2004)
••Amanda and Neill Harmer, Bethany, NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” (Season 5, Top 15, 2008)
••Gerald Harris, Tulsa, SPIKE’s “The Ultimate Fighter” (Season 7, first round, 2008)
••The Herndon Twins (sisters Addi Panter and Jala Verner), Edmond, CMT’s “Can You Duet” (Season 1, Top 12, 2008)
••Tara Huckeby, Shawnee, ABC’s “The Bachelor” (Season 5 runner-up, 2004)
••George Huff, Norman, Fox’s American Idol” (Season 3, Top 5, 2004)
••Amy “Amis” Jenkins, Bartlesville, CW’s “America’s Next Top Model” (Season 10, Top 14, 2008)
••Teresa Keegan, Tulsa, Bravo’s “Top Design” (Season 2, Top 8, 2008)
••Miranda Lambert, Tishomingo, USA Network’s “Nashville Star” (Season 1, Top 3, 2003)
••Grandma Lee, Oklahoma City, NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” (Season 4, Top 10, 2009)
••Scout Cloud Lee, Stillwater, CBS’s “Survivor” (Season 9, Top 3, 2004)
••Nathan Marlow, Edmond, CBS’s “Big Brother” (Season 4, Top 8, 2003)
••Jet and Cord McCoy, Tupelo, CBS’s “The Amazing Race” (Season 16 contenders, 2010)
••Jason Meadows, Calera, USA Network’s “Nashville Star” (Season 3 runner-up, 2005)
••John Paul Merritt, Oklahoma City, ABC’s “The Bachelorette” (Season 3 runner-up, 2005)
••Valerie Naifeh, OKC, ABC’s “The Great Domestic Showdown” (Season 1, Top 3, 2004)
••Carri Perrier, Oklahoma City, ABC’s The Bachelor” (Season 12, Top 14, 2008)
••Brandon Quinton, Ada, CBS’s “Survivor” (Season 3, Top 8, 2001)
••Jason Ramsey, Oklahoma City, NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” (Season 3, Top 50, 2006)
••Carolyn Ridenour, Tulsa, ABC’s “The Bachelor” (Season 6, Top 25, 2004)
••Kahlen Rondot, Broken Arrow, UPN’s “America’s Next Top Model” (Season 4 runner-up, 2005)
••Jacob John Smalley, Oklahoma City, Fox’s “American Idol” (Season 2 semifinalist, 2003)
••Mark Smith, Tahlequah, SCI FI’s “WCG Ultimate Gamer” (Season 1 winner, 2009)
••Shelly Spottedhorse, Oklahoma City, MTV’s “Road Rules” (Season 1, one of five in cast, 1994)
••Phil Stacey, Shawnee, Fox’s “American Idol” (Season 6, Top 6, 2007)
••Tommy Stanley, Cushing, NBC’s “Nashville Star” (Season 6, Top 8 2008)
••Krysta Starkey, Oklahoma City, ABC’s “The Bachelor” (Season 6, Top 25, 2004)
••Kimberly Sullivan, Norman, ABC’s “The Bachelor” (Season 14, Top 25, 2009)
••Blaine Twilley, Tulsa, ABC’s “The Bachelorette” (Season 4, Top 6, 2008)
••Carrie Underwood, Checotah, Fox’s “American Idol” (Season 4 winner, 2005)
••Brian Vardeman, Lawton, ABC’s “The Bachelorette” (Season 5, Top 30, 2009)
••Christie Volkmer, Choctaw, CBS’s “The Amazing Race” (Season 14, Top 7, 2009)
••Alaina Whitaker, Tulsa, FOX’s “American Idol” (Season 7, Top 24, 2008)
••Matt Wiman, Tulsa, SPIKE’s “The Ultimate Fighter” (Season 5, quarterfinalist, 2008)
Pictured above: THE AMAZING RACE 16–Rodeo brothers from Oklahoma, Jet McCoy, a 30 year-old cowboy and Cord McCoy, a 29 year-old professional bull rider, are one of the teams of the CBS series THE AMAZING RACE 16 (Monty Brinton/CBS)
NOTE: A big THANKS goes out to Ryan LaCroix, who helped add six Oklahoma contestants to this list.
Animal Planet wants more ‘Pit Boss’
“Pit Boss” will air its final episode of the season at 9 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 27) on Animal Planet.
But that won’t be the last viewers see of Shorty Rossi and his pit bull rescuing team that includes Oklahoma native Ronald Lee Clark.
Animal Planet has ordered 14 episodes for Season 2 of the show, which is scheduled to air in summer. Season 1 consisted of six episodes.
“Pit Boss” follows the goings on at Shortywood Productions in Venice Beach, Calif. Clark works at the talent management company that caters to little people along with Sebastian Saraceno and Ashley Brooks.
And since Shorty also works to rescue and raise awareness of pit bulls, everybody in the office helps out, too.
“It is really exciting seeing dogs get adopted, doing all types events amd meeting great exciting new people,” Ronald said in an interview with The Oklahoman before the show premiered. “We have a really good time.
“And I’m absolutely hoping they run this show into ground until people get sick of us and change the channel.”
–Penny TV
Pictured above: “Pit Boss” star Shorty Rossi, second from right, poses with his staff, from left, Ashley Brooks, Sebastian Saraceno and Ronald Lee Clark with his pit bulls on the patio behind his Venice, California, office (Animal Planet Photo)
Countdown to ‘Saving Grace’ (Season 4 starts March 29 on TNT)
The fourth and final season of “Saving Grace” starts next month.
The show set in Oklahoma City and centered around police detective Grace Hanadarko (played by Oscar winner Holly Hunter) will open the season with back-to-back episodes from 8 to 10 p.m. Monday, March 29, on TNT. The week after that, “Saving Grace” will air in the 9 p.m. Monday hour.
Six of Season 4′s nine episodes were actually filmed for the third season. But when word broke last summer that Fox Television Studios was cancelling the series, the episodes were saved for the final season’s run.
The studio did, at least, order three additional episodes so the show’s writers could tie up any loose ends. Oklahoma City native Nancy Miller, who created the show, will also have a say in how it concludes.
–Penny TV
Pictured above: Holly Hunter is a scene from the Season 2 episode “I Believe in Angels.”
Photo Credit: Erik Heinila
Pictured below: “Saving Grace” Season 3 cast photo featuring Bailey Chase, Laura San Giacomo, Lorraine Toussaint, Yaani King, Leon Rippy, Holly Hunter, Gregory Cruz, Kenny Johnson
Oklahoma cowboys take over first place on ‘The Amazing Race’
The cowboys from Oklahoma looked right at home on Leg 2 of “The Amazing Race.”
Jet and Cord McCoy were in Chile, but the challenges included dressing a Llama (they made it look easier than saddling a horse) and milking a cow (that wasn’t the first time Cord has done that chore).
As a result, the McCoy brothers from Tupelo took over first place in the race. And they were rewarded with sail boats for their top finish.
“Don’t let the cowboy hats fool you,” Cord said at the end of Sunday’s (Feb. 21) episode.
Next up are stops in Argentina (Leg 3) and Germany (Leg 4).
Upcoming episodes, which are taken from quotes made by the racers, are titled “Run Like Scalded Dogs” and “We Are No Longer in the Bible Belt.”
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: “Nana is kickin’ your butt (Chile)”–Cowboy brothers Cord (left) and Jet must perform “Active Route Marker” in Valparaiso, Chile in which they must find a ladder and 2 cans of paint, then search for a picturesque house matching their particular color to paint, in order to receive their next clue, on THE AMAZING RACE epsidoed that aired Feb. 14. Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS.
‘The Biggest Loser’ seeks contenders for Season 10
Want to be on “The Biggest Loser”?
There are two ways to go about it.
Amanda and Neill Harmer from Bethany sent in an audition tape. They finished in the top 15 on Season 5.
Sean Algaier from Glenpool and Daris and Cheryl George from Ardmore attended auditions. Algaier finished in the top 12 on Season 8. The Georges are still contenders on Season 9, which resumes March 2.
Danny Cahill attended two auditions and sent in eight audition tapes. He won Season 8 title and $250,000 cash prize.
Casting producers for “The Biggest Loser” will be in Oklahoma City on March 20 looking for potential contenders for Season 10. The open casting call is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 20 at the Coca Cola Events Center (425 E California).
Auditions are also scheduled in 14 other cities — March 6 in Chicago, Tampa and Washington D.C., March 7 in Boston, March 13 in Detroit, Nashville, New York City and Albuquerque, March 20 in Salt Lake City, Dallas and New Orleans, March 27 in Phoenix, March 28 in Portland and April 3 in Los Angeles.
And for those unable to attend a casting call, send in an audition tape. Information on how to apply is available on www.nbc.com/casting and www.thebiggestlosercasting.com.
Individuals and teams of two who have at least 100 pounds to lose are encouraged to apply for the new season, which will air in fall. Casting producers are looking for outgoing and charismatic contestants who have the personality, desire and competitive edge.
What do you have to lose?
–Penny TV
Meet ‘Biggest Loser’ Danny Cahill Feb. 24 at Rose State College
Rose State College press release
Danny Cahill, the recent winner of the “Biggest Loser” weight-loss show, said the dreams he had as a young student at Rose State College are the things that gave him courage to win on the show.
Cahill returns to his alma mater, Rose State College on Wednesday to give students, faculty and guests advice on a healthy lifestyle. The event, which is scheduled for 2 p.m. in the H.B. Atkinson Theatre on campus, is free and open to the public.
Cahill graduated from Rose State College in 1991 with an Associate in Arts and Music, an Associate in Applied Science in Contemporary Music, and a certificate in Country/Contemporary music. After graduating, Cahill pursued his dream of a career in performing, even playing for Donny Osmond’s band.
However, Cahill said, he started listening to the “negative messages” about how he couldn’t make his life performing music, and he walked away from his dream.
“When I went to Rose State, that’s what I majored in, music. I graduated with music degrees and I gave it all up,” Cahill said. “I was playing in front of thousands of people, had a great promising career, but I let it all go because of something in my life… I believed the lies that the world tells people, therefore I put limits on myself, my dreams.”
Giving up on his dreams, Cahill said, made him give up on himself. His weight ballooned up to more than 400 pounds, endangering his life and everything he loved.
That’s when life handed him another chance, Cahill said. He auditioned for Season 8 of “The Biggest Loser”, NBC’s hit TV show. With every pound that melted away, his old dreams came back to life.
“Going to the Biggest Loser Ranch, I went thinking, ‘Hey this is going to make me do it, and I need to do it to save my life,’” Cahill said. “But going through it, I figured out that ‘The Biggest Loser’ was not about losing weight. It was about healing what’s wrong. I went through the realization of ‘This is why I was fat, and this is what I do now to lose the weight.’”
Not only did Cahill win that season, but also by losing 239 pounds, he became the “Biggest Loser” ever in the history of the show, he said.
The key, Cahill said, is not giving up on himself and being true to those old dreams. He’s reawakened to his life with music and is writing and recording once again. Now that his journey has come back around, he wants to share his accomplishments with others, including students, faculty and guests at his alma mater.
“We all go through struggles… I believe that I have instilled some ways that I can overcome those struggles,” Cahill said. “For anyone, there are things they can do and really reach out and take their dreams in their hands. It all begins with changes you have to make in your life.”
Cahill says he recently ran across an old picture of him performing with Osmond’s band, and was struck with what music has done for his life and once again will.
“I just put it on Facebook last night—I found a picture of me playing with Donnie Osmond twenty years ago,” Cahill said. “He won ‘Dancing With the Stars’ this year and I won ‘The Biggest Loser.’ Is that a coincidence? That was the dream I had given up.”
Healthy refreshments will be served at Cahill’s appearance at Rose State, which is located in Midwest City near the exit at Hudiburg Drive on Interstate 40.
The event is sponsored by Don S. Reynolds Lectureship, the Student Leadership Offices, and Student Activities. A free Health and Wellness Expo will follow in the Rose State Health and Wellness Center immediately after Cahill’s presentation.
For more information, call 405-733-7379 or email tbarnard@rose.edu.
Oklahoma cowboys survive week one on ‘The Amazing Race’
Jet and Cord McCoy
didn’t get lost in Los Angeles, but they did get off to a slow start on Season 16 of “The Amazing Race.”
On Sunday’s (Feb. 14) premiere episode, the McCoy brothers from Oklahoma started the race with 10 other teams, and their first challenge was to get to the Los Angeles airport using public transportation.
They were among the final teams to arrive, and they reached the first road block in Chile in last place.
“We probably knew less about where we were going that anyone in the group,” said Jet, a 30-year-old professional cowboy.
Cord, a 29-year-old professional bull rider, said: “The county that I live in has one light, and it’s flashing yellow.”
Once they reached the road block, however, the McCoys made up ground. Cord walked a cable that was the length of a football field and 120 above ground, and both grabbed paint supplies and helped paint a house for their next clue.
They arrived at the first pit stop in third place. Next up are stops in Argentina, France and England.
Upcoming episodes, which are taken from quotes made by the racers, are titled “When the Cow Kicked Me in the Head” and “Run Like Scalded Dogs.”
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
