(S09E11) Well, all hell broke loose at the Biggest Loser ranch this week. There was so much chaos going on, we didn't even get time for a normal challenge, which isn't to say there wasn't a challenge, and there weren't two people with immunity this week. But I'm getting way ahead of myself.

As promised, we got to see a lot of familiar faces, and a couple of not-so-familiar faces, as the eliminated contestants returned yet again for a chance to return to campus. It was a little odd seeing some of them at a size that is clearly before what we saw in their "after elimination" packages.

The return was especially difficult for the original blue team, Cherita and Victoria Andrews, as neither of them have had the opportunity to spend even one full night as part of 'The Biggest Loser' on-campus experience.

The first week, they were cut along with Sunshine and O'Neal for coming in last on the cycling challenge. In week four, they were beat out by Sunshine and O'Neal in at-home weight loss for the chance to return. Despite having to do it all at home, they'd continued their weight-loss efforts, so it was gratifying to see some of the game-play removed when the remaining contestants voted to allow Victoria at least a chance to experience the Ranch.

When Alison Sweeney revealed that a challenge would determine the second contestant who would be returning, I was a little pissed off that ABC had already spoiled the results in their promos for the episode. I realize that Melissa is a polarizing personality, and it's probably not a bad idea to promote that she's going to be in the episode if you want to draw more eyeballs. But couldn't you have at least tried to make it a little less obvious that she won this challenge? Maybe speculate that she might return.

Knowing that the scene of her bursting through the gym doors with an, "I'm back!" took all the tension and excitement out of the step challenge. Gee, I wonder who's going to win this? Could Miggy catch up? Does Sherry have a chance? Yawn.

It certainly means the next week or so, at least, is going to be interesting. With things switching to singles from here, there's even a chance that she could go pretty far. And right away, she started talking about how stupid everyone at the Ranch is for ignoring the gameplay aspects of it. It was weight-loss, or a lack of it, that did her in the last time, but she seems to have gotten that back on track.

Victoria, on the other hand, did not have a good first week on campus. Perhaps we'll call it the jitters. Most contestants shed a ton of weight on their week one, but she has been losing weight at home, so it's more an adjustment her body needs to make to stick around. I'd hate to see her below the yellow line next week, because unless Melissa is right there next to her, she'd likely be the one to go; she just hasn't had time to build any ties around campus yet.

The gameplay ploy Koli played this week felt more like gameplay on his part than on hers. I think Sam and Koli may be playing everyone in the house by playing a strong strategic game, but doing it completely in secret. Stephanie has been a horrible weight-loss contestant most weeks in this game, and was again this week. To think that she could strategically throw a weigh-in to get Sherry eliminated is something Melissa might do, but I don't think it's something Stephanie could do even if she wanted to.

I think Sam skated by this time on relationships he's built, because he's a tremendous physical threat in challenges. Strategically it would have made sound sense to get rid of him, which is why I think he and Koli are playing this game like the "Ron-father" did a few seasons back: sweet, kind and manipulative to the end.

It's still a bit early to see if they can run the game to the end, but I see them with a very strong chance. The longer they keep their team intact, the better they'll be. Only the yellow team is two strong, as well, and they probably figure it's only a matter of time before O'Neal can be sent packing when he slips below that line.

They've still got Daris and Sunshine to deal with for serious contention for the title of Biggest Loser, even if it comes down to the four of them in the finals; and those are two very tough competitors. I'm not ready to count out Michael or Ashley yet, but they just have so much further to go, and have to put up such big numbers each week to stay competitive that their struggle is going to be so much harder along the way.

WEIRD LIVE WEIGH-IN

I'm as thrilled as anyone that this guy was so inspired by the show that he lost more than 400 pounds, but couldn't they have gathered his friends and family there for a show of support. The eerily quiet live weigh-in with him and Alison was incredibly awkward. They also could have taken some of that two hours they had to work up some banter, or prepare their interview.

I love these stories of regular people who are changing their lives, but the presentation of this couldn't have been more awkward if he'd been asked to stand there in a speedo. No, I take that back. That would have been more awkward.

[Catch up with clips and full episodes of 'The Biggest Loser' on SlashControl.]