My Toronto Sun Column: Week 5

Cher finds her Voice: With the blind auditions over, The Voice's fifth season battle has begun. Cher, Ed Sheeran, Ryan Tedder and Miguel joined the four coaches as vocal mentors as Team Blake, Team Cee Lo, Team Christina and Team Adam were placed in pairs in order to perform dueling duets; only one of the two singers would be saved. If eliminated, however, they still had the opportunity to be stolen by another coach. This week, it looked like not only were some of the singers fighting against their competition, but also their mentors. Cher especially seemed to take her advisor role to the next level. The pop superstar gave quite the scolding to some of the contestants she was mentoring, including single dad Ray Boudreaux and stubborn singer, Monika Leigh. The diva stole the show without even taking the stage.
Wedded bliss? The honeymoon was over for Survivor's married couple Candice and John, who were separated after their arch-enemy Brad wound up on Redemption Island. In an intense puzzle challenge, Brad beat out Candice in order to stay alive in the game. Tadhana became a whole new tribe without their fallen leader. Along with injuries, bug bites and missing toenails, a shift in power began to take place with Caleb at the top, which had a major impact at the immunity and reward challenge, when the tribe won for this first time all season. Galang faced tribal council for the first time and rather than taking an easy vote with Rupert's wife, Laura B, they voted out a great competitor, Laura M in order to make Redemption Island a little more interesting. This season has been nothing but surprises.
Weight and see: It was not apparent in this week's ratings, but The Biggest Loser is back with it biggest season yet as 15 new contestants, including American Idol winner Ruben Studdard, take advantage of their "second chance at life." Trainers Bob, Jillian and Dolvett all helped in hand-picking the contestants, who started off the season weighing in on their past and jumped right into the game with a lot of sweat and tears. When it came time to check to contestants' progress, Dolvett's team weighed in with the Biggest Loser male and female as Rachel had lost 21 lbs. and David losing 38 lbs. That is a lot of extra baggage. Craig, who had lost the least amount of weight was told that he would be the first contestant eliminated, but not before Jillian jumped in and saved him as she didn't yet believe that it was his time to go.
Blades runners: Scratch Oksana Kazakova and Vladimir Malakhov, who were iced from the competition this week. The two, who were the second pair eliminated this season, blamed the judges, including Kurt Browning, PJ Stock and Jamie Sale. Way to be good sports about it. Unfortunately, the ones missing out are iOrphan Canada, the duo's charity, who lost out on a $25,000 prize.
The finished line: From first place to eliminated, former NFL teammates Chester and Ephraim ran into trouble after trouble on this week's Amazing Race. The football friends, the third team eliminated this season, seemed cursed by the airlines, as each flight they attempted to take in order to reach the remaining teams in Portugal from Chile was delayed. There was nothing they could do but accept their fate in the game. Married ER doctors, Travis and Nicole were the first team to reach the pit stop, winning them a trip to Costa Rica. Eight teams remain.
REALITY WRAP:
Biggest Winner:
Dom Streater was named the Season 12 winner of Project Runway.
Biggest Shocker:
Mike Fortunato from this season's Catfish died from a pulmonary embolism.
What the heck moment:
Tadhana's tribe is falling apart with Ciera's bugbites and Katie's missing toenails. We could have done without the close-up.
Quote of the week:
"People think this is a TV show, but it's not. It's a life-or-death intervention. You're checking into rehab." - The Biggest Loser coach Jillian Michaels

The Toronto Sun Column: Week 3

Gotta dance: It was Hollywood Night on DWTS, which came as nothing new to the contestants. The routines themselves, however, were another matter. Bill Nye, who suffered from a torn ligament last week, was eliminated in what was the worst jazz routine that the competition may have ever seen. And after a horrible week for Pretty Little Liars star Brant Daugherty, who suffered from an injury, lost cellphone and being robbed at gunpoint, he and partner Peta Murgatroyd, wowed the judges with their quickstep to Crazy In Love, earning them this week's highest score. Talk about a turnaround.
Finding a Voice: No one deserves to win more than the person that fails and doesn't give up and James Irwin got his karma this week. The 31-year old from St. Louis, who tried out last year and didn't make the cut, prompted all four judges on The Voice to push their button to choose the talented young man this time around. After praise from the others coaches and constructive criticism from Adam Levine, Irwin chose to join Levine's team. Smart move if we do say so. After the second last blind audition episode of the season, Cee Lo Green has three spots left on his team of 12, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton have two each, and Christina Aguilera has just one heading into next week, which wrap up the blind auditions.
Tribal counseling: No one likes a quitter, not even Survivor Blood vs. Water host Jeff Probst, who lost his cool on Galang's Colton Cumbie, after he quit the show last Friday night when he decided he didn't want to be there. And Probst, who is usually calm and collected, wasn't afraid to let the drama queen know how selfish he was being. Two reality TV no-nos - being a crybaby and a quitter, and Colton took the title of both.
Keeping up: After returning from their three-week TV hiatus, the Kardashians returned in time to showcase the lavish KimYe baby shower on Keeping Up With The Kardashians. While Kourtney and Khloe planned the details, which included all white decorations and a copy of Yeezus as a party favor, Kim was not set on the idea of having a shower due to all the negative attention she had been getting over her pregnancy. In an attempt to change her mind, Kris showed her a video of her own shower, which of course brought the tears with footage from the late Robert Kardashian. In the end, it worked and the reality queen caved on the idea. In the garden-themed shower, celebrities such as Kelly Osbourne and Kanye's family arrived, before Yeezus himself made his appearance.
Not so nice: The theory nice guys finish last proved true once again on Catfish as the MTV matchmakers Nev and Max travelled to Detroit to help a veteran named Derek. He'd been cheated on by both mothers of his children while he was serving in the military. Ouch! Derek was sure he had found love with Kristen who had added him on Facebook, but his happy ever after fell short when the three travelled to her home to find out that Kristen was really a mother of two named Chastity who had only created the Facebook account to spy on the father of her children. Talk about drama. Unfortunately for Derek, third time wasn't a charm and his search for love continues.
Extra from this week in reality:
Quote of the Week: "To say that all of this scrutiny doesn't get to you, I would be lying," admitted Kim. "But listening to my family, really does make me realize that I want to have this special moment for my daughter." - Kim Kardashian on her baby shower
Fearless Prediction: With drama queen Colton gone from Survivor Blood vs. Water, we have no doubt that the Galang tribe will run a lot smoother without him.
Biggest Surprise: After 31-year-old singer James Irwin was criticized by Adam Levine for his rendition of Losing My Religion, the singer chose Levine over the other coaches to join his team.
What the heck moment: Bill Nye would have been better off to drop out the competition than subject us to the sight of that horrible jazz number.

The Toronto Sun Column: Week 2

PITCH-PERFECT:
Original Voice coaches Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton and Adam Lavine kicked off the fifth season of the newly-minted Emmy winner. Besides Christina's immense weight loss and Cee Lo's new head tattoo, there was actual talent to talk about. But first the four coaches started things off with their rendition of the classic I Love Rock and Roll to remind everyone, in case they forgot, who the show's real stars are. The first round of blind auditions did not disappoint, as a former rockstar, background singer, sandwich-maker and pageant coach -- just to name a few -- rocked the stage. In the end, Adam welcomed three contestants to his team, Christina and Cee Lo each chose two, and three-time winner of the singing competition, Blake, chose one.
OH NYE:
Dancing With The Stars fans must have been grateful to Bill Nye for making middle school a lot more entertaining, as the Science Guy found himself safe this week, even with the worst score of season. Former football player, Keyshawn Johnson was the first to shuffle off the competition instead. But votes couldn't save Bill from injury, as the 57-year-old competitor was rushed to the hospital after hurting his knee during his paso doble dance. After posting a photo of himself and partner Tyne Stecklein with a wrapped knee and a tweet that confirmed the torn ligament, Bill Nye's fate in the competition is unknown, but he hasn't stepped down as of yet. This week's winners included High School Musical's Corbin Bleu and his partner Karina, who won over the judges with their Jive.
THICKER THAN ...:
The second episode of Blood vs. Water (which seems to be Survivor's most intricate season yet) began with a look at Redemption Island, as Candice, Rupert and Marissa -- the three castaways who left the island last week -- battled it out for a chance to stay in the game. In an intricate challenge involving balancing spools through a maze, the three gave it their all as the remaining castaways, including their loved ones, cheered on. After completing the challenge in third place, fan-favourite Rupert Boneham was sent home for good. But his wife still has a shot. In the Immunity Challenge, Jarvis took the win for Galang, and earned them fishing gear. Tadhana, on the other hand, headed to Tribal Council, where Rachel was voted out to join the inhabitants of Redemption Island.
SOMETHING FISHY:
MTV cupids Nev and Max were back at it this week, to help two love-struck teens meet for the first time on Catfish. Nick and Melissa, who live in completely different states met when they were 12-years-old on a Tila Tequila fan page, of all places. That just spells romance. For six years, they talked, got to know each other, and eventually fell in love. Nick decided it was time for the two to meet and contacted Nev and Max to help make it all possible. But many things stood in the way, including Melissa's live-in boyfriend, Olin. After the two hosts scooped up Nick and flew him to meet Melissa, he was not expecting to find out that, not only was she still in love with her boyfriend, but she had also manipulated her photo angles and lighting to make her look a lot less heavy. She blamed it on her low self-esteem, but for someone with low self-esteem, she does have two men who both love her. In the end, she had to choose between them and she decided to continue to live with her boyfriend, but remains close friends with Nick.
Quote Of The Week:
"This is a great game. I love Survivor, but I love my wife more." - Rupert Boheman, the first castaway off the show after taking his wife's spot on Redemption Island.
Fearless Prediction:
An injury added to his lack of skill is just putting salt on the wound for Bill Nye the Science Guy. Even if he doesn't step down from the competition, we can't see how far he'll make it. Crutches don't make the best dance partner.
Biggest Surprise:
It was quite the shock on The Voice when none of the four coaches turned around to choose 15-year-old Matthew Brea, who nailed the Jackson 5's I Want You Back, which he dedicated to his late brother.
What the heck moment:
Season 5's first episode wasn't the only premiere on The Voice this week as Cee Lo Green took the opportunity to debut his new head tattoo. We hope that it's just henna.