My Kitchen Rules

It’s been another shell-shocking week in reality television! Biggest Loser had an emotional elimination; Excess Baggage went gangbusters on its challenges and My Kitchen Rules just got rid of half the competition in a one week swoop! So let’s slowly digest all of this and get around what went down last week!

Excess Baggage spent the week in the Southern Highlands. The first challenge saw the contestants milking 5L of juice out of cows and delivering certain amounts (determined by answering a maths riddle) to four different stations.

Ajay won the challenge for team purple, and proceeded to help the other four competing teams how to work out the riddles. While Christine worked on her own, Renae, Lana and Lisa formed a trio in order to help each other claim the most points. The three helped each other out adequately enough, leaving Lana, Renae and Lisa in second, third and fourth place respectively. Christine came last, which will be a common occurrence in a horror week for the yellow team.

The breakthrough experience saw contestants, and Tim, take to the skies for a skydive! Ajay, Kevin, Lisa and Christine were given this opportunity, but Kevin gave his spot up for Renae (who seemed to want to go), and Ajay, having confronted her fear of flying earlier in the season, sat this one out. Tim took her place. From there, every contestant took part.

On Wednesday, it was a dramatic endurance challenge, where one person from each team had to run up a hill and collect, one by one, horseshoes. They then had to deliver them back down the hill to their other team member who would then try to throw the shoe into one of three sand pits, each pit corresponding to either one, two or three points.

At the end of a fifteen minute period, the game was halted, contestants had to freeze and the lowest-scoring team would be eliminated.

The game didn’t last fifteen minutes before Kevin and Lisa were ruled out on exhaustion. Darryn was unable to run for the red team, inactivating them from the competition, but apparently, it was legal for the red team to compete if people scored points for them. Why would someone do that?

Co-incidentally, a fight had erupted between Matt, and everyone, causing Lana and Renae to help the red team and send the purple team out of the race. What I ask is, assuming the red team were out, and if no one helped them and they scored bottom of the list at the end of the fifteen minute period, would they be the eliminated team for that round; or would they be recognized as inactive, sending the lowest scoring active team to the bench?

The red team were eliminated, but I still feel their involvement in the competition was bizarre and out of order.

Christine from the yellow team, who again flied solo, Darryn & Lisa, Ajay & Matt and Renee & Kevin were all eliminated, scoring Dipper and Lana another win!

To the check in, and this far into the competition, is it just me, or do some of these contestants look the same as when they entered? Nonetheless, there were some surprises, like Darryn & Lisa slipping into the bottom two. They faced the yellow team, who after a disastrous week, were sent home, with Nathan unable to find reason in saving himself over the red team.

It was a high intensity week, but for The Biggest Loser, producers tried to not deviate away from the basic rules too much. The biggest event had to be the elimination of Simon, after facing his lover Lisa in the bottom two.

Lisa wasn’t going to let this beat her though, and after winning a contest which saw contestants avoid noodles attached to a rotating machine, she took the walk and won the right to have exclusive access to Michelle for the week.

Meanwhile, the Commando helped find the inner-anger of Graham after his confrontation with the trainer in the weigh in. Speaking of training, I recommend watching the training session which saw some contestants (notably Margie) trapeze, and the others (notably Alex) rock climb.

Temptation was a rather French affair; but after eating an 850 calorie V8 cake, Michelle took immunity. She’s managed to burn off the calories, but she runs the risk of gaining weight at the next weigh in. Hayley, for the first time this season, mentioned the immunity-losing penalty, suggesting that Michelle may gain that dreaded weight.

This all culminated in the challenge, where contestants had to stack ten tyres onto a pole, take them off, stack them onto another pole, and repeat that process ten times (in total). Margie wins the challenge by a long shot, earning a 1kg advantage. Lisa, who has been struggling with weight for a while now, and is finally having a good week, lost the challenge, earning her a 1kg disadvantage. For a contestant who regularly loses less than 2kg, this is massive.

And My Kitchen Rules, who can forget? It’s been elimination week this week; and the competition sought out to cull the competition by half. The first casualty was Simon & Meg, the Kiwi competitors. On Monday, we said goodbye to the bubbly Angela & Justine. Tuesday was even less kind, making us lose David & Scott. The week pretty much ended on Wednesday with the loveable Steve & Helen departing. This left SA contestant’s Nic & Rocco and Leigh & Jennifer, TAS couple Megan & Andy and VIC sisters Carly & Emily left to battle it out next week.

Speaking of next week, and with a week to go until the Easter non-ratings period (that time already?!), it’s time for the main cream of the crop to finish up with the end of quarter one, 2012!

Excess Baggage has four contestants left- Darryn & Lisa, Dipper & Lana, Ajay & Matt and Kevin & Renae- and one of them will be crowned the winner by Thursday in a NINETY minute episode to air on GO!

The Biggest Loser has possibly its biggest week yet. To begin with, another weigh in and elimination. Shannan also catches up with Luke. It is also Makeover Week, one of the highlights of a Biggest Loser season (who will look the MOST stunning?!). To top it all off, who’s that coming back???!!!

My Kitchen Rules also heads into its semi-finals ahead of its Tuesday Night Final. Leigh & Jennifer head off against Megan & Andy with Nic & Rocco going up against Carly & Emily to determine the two teams who will have to cook a five course meal to win the competition.

So as you can see, as we head towards Easter, things are really starting to heat up. Make sure you stay tuned, because if you miss anything this week, you’ll be stuffed!

And to finish, a BIG thank you goes out to AliciaB who has helmed the blogs of this year’s season of My Kitchen Rules. She’s done an amazing job, and has freed up time for me to make sure I can put in the most effort to the other two shows.

THE LIBRARY

Sunday

My Kitchen Rules. Season Three – Episode Thirty: The Trans Tasman Battle

Monday

The Biggest Loser Australia: Singles Season Seven – Weigh In & Elimination #8

My Kitchen Rules. Season Three – Episode Thirty One: The Week of Eliminations Begin!

Excess Baggage Season One – Southern Highlands Week Begins (Spirit Challenge #8)

Tuesday

The Biggest Loser Australia: Singles Season Seven – Contest #6

My Kitchen Rules. Season Three – Episode Thirty Two: The Soldiers Take on the Princess!

Excess Baggage Season One – Breakthrough Experience #7

Wednesday

The Biggest Loser Australia: Singles Season Seven – The Walk #6 & Temptation #9

My Kitchen Rules. Season Three – Episode Thirty Three: It will be bitter!

Excess Baggage Season One – Endurance Challenge #8

Thursday

The Biggest Loser Australia: Singles Season Seven – Challenge #9

My Kitchen Rules. Season Three – Episode Thirty Four: Showdown to the Semi Finals

Excess Baggage Season One – Check In #8 & Elimination #4

Friday

The Biggest Loser Australia: Singles Season Seven – Friday Night #6

They started with 12 and now there are four!

Tonight they must compete in 2 challenges and fight for point and be ranked 1 to 4 to see who will go head to head in the semi finals – just like in AFL 1st will play 4th and 2 and 3 will play off for the MKR title.

The first test is a rapid cook off and will be their last and they only have 30 minutes The key ingredient has been chosen by the jury and it’s chilli. Tonight only one person can cook each dish for 15 minutes and then swap – while the other is cooking, the partner can not watch. They are making:

Leigh & Jennifer: Chilli Prawns
Nic & Rocco: Crispy Spicy Kingfish with Chilli lime dressing
Megan & Andy: Chilli Pork with noodle salad
Carly & Emily: Prawn and Chicken Laksa
(The contestants who cooked first are in bold)

The rest of the contestants are out the back stressing as the first cooks do all the prep and Megan is actually calm for once. Leigh is struggling with her chilli reduction as is Carly with her laksa paste.

SWAP OVER

Pete is worried that the Princesss is using whole prawns including the head and that the Laksa won’t have time to infuse the flavours. Megan has always plated up and Andy is stressed, Jennifers prawns are splattering all over and time is up! Now for tasting -

SA – Leigh & Jennifer: Manu thought may be simple – but they were great, the shells added flavour.
Manu: 8/10
Pete: 9/10
= 17/20

SA – Nic & Rocco: They definately used the chilli, fish was overcooked though.
Manu: 7/10
Pete: 7/10
= 14/20

TAS – Megan & Andy: Manu thought the pork was cooked beautifully, even though they were worried b
Manu: 7/10
Pete: 8/10
= 15/20

VIC – Carly & Emily: Can’t believe the flavour they got in 30 minutes and everything was cooked perectly.
Manu: 9/10
Pete: 9/10
= 18/20

1 – Carly and Emily
2 – Leigh and Jennifer
3 – Megan and Andy
4 – Nic and Rocco

Round Two

The only limit is their own imagination. The dish needs to show their skills, techniques and capabilities in 1 and a half hours. They are making:

Leigh & Jennifer: Massaman Curry with roti and pickled salad
Nic & Rocco: Macaroons 6 ways – Mango, lemon, chocolate, pistachio, raspberry and blueberry
Megan & Andy: Calamari schnitzel with scallops and crab mash
Carly & Emily: Chinese duck two ways – Peking duck with pancakes and duck san choy bow

Leigh and Jennifers dish is Jen’s grandma’s dish and usually takes her a week!?! The potatoes are raw and it’s not reducing – but I have faith. YES it’s reduced!

Nic and Rocco’s macaroons – if they pull this off, Adrian Zumbo would be proud. They are so technical and Rocco has forgotten the recipe for the one basic mixture. Rocco is adding icing sugar here and there and it may be their best dish or worst. They have made vibrant coloured batters and are looking great. The macaroon biscuits are just coloured but the butter cream in between will be flavoured.

Emily and Carly are doing the Peking duck that has a classic crispy skin – but they say they don’t have time for that – oh oh! But they are using a hair dryer to dry the skin – clever.

Megan and Andy are getting crab meat out for the mash that they will mix with potato – Megan loves it but Andy thinks it’s bland. Yum – I want a calamari schnitzel, they look great.

SA – Leigh & Jennifer: OMG says Manu – Unbelievable!! The flavours are phenomenal and so much skill – is Pete’s favourite of the competition
Manu: 10/10
Pete: 10/10
=  20/20

SA – Nic & Rocco: Pete is amazed and the fillings are amazing – they are silky and smooth. Perfect! They have the skills of pastry chefs!
Manu: 10/10
Pete: 10/10
=  20/20

TAS – Megan & Andy: The calamari melts in your mouth, but there is no crab in the mash.
Manu: 8/10
Pete: 8/10
=  16/20

VIC – Carly & Emily: An hour and a half for Peking duck – it doesn’t look like it but YUM – They are impressed with a dish that usually takes 24 hours.
Manu: 9/10
Pete: 9/10
=  18/20
 
That means

SA – Leigh & Jennifer: /40

SA – Nic & Rocco: 34/40

TAS – Megan & Andy: 31/40

VIC – Carly & Emily: 36/40

So the leaderboard reads like this -

1 – Leigh and Jennifer
2 – Carly and Emily
3 – Nic and Rocco
4 – Megan and Andy

In semi final one it will be Leigh and Jennifer against Megan and Andy on Sunday night.

In semi final two it will be friends Nic and Rocco vying against sisters Carly and Emily on Monday night. The winner of each will fight it out for Tuesday nights finale!

It’s the last stop before the finals to decide the top 4 teams tonight on MY KITCHEN RULES.

The five remaining teams will battle it out in an all-in cook-off. It’s their last chance to secure a place in the finals. The judges and jury will determine the two weakest teams who will move straight into a sudden death cook-off.

Who will buckle under the heat and go home? And which teams will make up the final fantastic four?

Tonights top three will be heading to the finals and tonight they will all use the same key ingredient – citrus fruit, lemon’s, limes, you name it!

Steve & Helen: Pork fricassee with egg and lemon sauce
Leigh & Jennifer: Choc and orange suprise with filo cigar
Nic & Rocco: Limoncello chicken with orange salad
Megan & Andy: Citrus cakes with marscapone and
Carly & Emily: Lemon tart with orange glazed strawberries and orange syrup

Pete is worried about the time for Carly and Emily and they are having major problems with the pastry, but Carly saves it – but then th cakes aren’t cooking and they have burnt their toffeed citrus peels. Theeir cream is grainy, so they just use plain double cream and their peels aren’t caramelising – they look like they are in big trouble.

Everyone is worried that Nic and Rocco don’t have their chicken on with 45 mins to go – but are doing marylands and have pan seared so should be fine. The jury think this is a simple dish though and may score them down.

Steve is relaxed and singing while Helen is working her self to the bone. Peter thinks it won’t be long enough for the pork to be tender.

Princess and Leigh think they did a good job and the jury was harsh last night, but Peter and Gary claim they just made a bad dish. Pete is worried they are doing too much and may run out of time.

Megan and Andy are making toffee and having a bit of a fight over timing. Andy wants to slow down and Megan wants to hurry. Now Andy is picking on her for her grapefruit segments. They fight about presentation and it looks pretty ordinary. Andy is majorly upset that the cream has not been quenelled

Now for the jury and judges reactions.

Steve & Helen: Manu loves the sauce and Pete loves the lettuce but thinks the pork is overcooked as does the jury.
Leigh & Jennifer: Was the challenge chocolate or citrus? It’s delicious!
Nic & Rocco: Pete thinks it’s amazing, but Manu doesn’t get the salad – it’s a good dish but not amazing.
Megan & Andy: Manu enjoys the flavour and the cake is soft and fluffy but the presentation is the let down – especially the cream.
Carly & Emily: Manu says this dish needs to get you through to finals and be perfect and it is. The jury love it.

The jury have nominated with 42/70 is Megan and Andy. While Manu and Pete have nominated Steve and Helen. So the showdown cook off will be TAS vs NSW

The three teams safe in the finals are
SA – Leigh & Jennifer
SA – Nic & Rocco
VIC – Carly & Emily

Now Steve and Helen will cook a signature dish, along with Megan and Andy battle it out for the last place in the finals.

Jambalaya with mussels, prawns. Pete loves the dish and hopes they get all the elements right. Megan and Andy are pickering already! Megan has tipped the crabs and the water into the sink and they needed the boiling water for the remaining crabs and she is in a mad panic and they are fighting if they should change pots – they do change and then realise it’s smaller than the previous one and because it was a cold pot – it’s not cooking – everyone is really worried for them. It’s plating time and Megan is chucking everything in the bowl and Andy is having a coniption.

Steve and Helen are making rolled chicken with greek cheese sauce and spinach rice. It’s an invented disha and Manu is excited by the prospect. Princess and Leigh say that Helen is the rice queen. The cheese they are using for their sauce is Kera a salty Greek cheese. Steve has been cooking zucchini but it’s stewing not frying and Helen chucks it. They take the chicken out of the oven but it needs more. Carly thinks these two are the favourites as they are so cool, calm and collected and have a great dynamic. Their plates look pretty average.

Now for judgement

Steve and Helen – Karen feels it is straight from the heart, Guy loves the chicken while Pete loves the rice and the other contestants like it too.

Megan and Andy – Andy has prooven what a great seafood cook he is and the flavours are wonderfully balanced, but Manu wanted more rice as do Nic and Rocco.

Now the verdict

Steven and Helen

Manu Fieldel –
6/10

Pete Evans –
6/10 

Guy Grossi –
6/10 

Karen Martini –
6/10 

Tobie Puttock –
6/10 

Liz Egan –
6/10

= 36/60

Megan and Andy

Manu Fieldel –
8/10

Pete Evans –
9/10 

Guy Grossi –
8/10 

Karen Martini –
8/10 

Tobie Puttock –
8/10 

Liz Egan –
9/10

= 50/60

Poor NSW are out and everyone will miss the adorable Steve who thanks his sister and what a great bond they share.

Queensland soldiers David and Scott lost a hard-fought battle against their South Australian comrades Leigh and Jennifer to become the seventh team eliminated from MY KITCHEN RULES.

The teams had to battle it out in an all-in cook-off. Their challenge was to transform tonight’s surprise ingredient – cheese – into a standout dish.

The jury – made up of eliminated contestants – shocked the judges and teams by selecting Leigh and Jennifer as the weakest team for their meal, Four Cheese Borek with Parsnip Scordalia. While Pete Evans called it a “beautiful dish,” the jurors did not agree with Angela from Western Australia likening it to “a plate of glue”.

The Adelaide friends accused the jury of foul play with Leigh saying: “I wish people would just judge the food. Not because people have been doing well and they want to bring them down.” But the jury stood firm on their decision with jury spokesperson Peter, aka Dr Evil, stating: “We the jury find you guilty of not meeting the brief and laziness.”

Pete and fellow judge Manu Feildel deemed David and Scott as the weakest team for their Seafood Mornay dish, sending them straight to a sudden death clash against their good friends. “We were expecting it,” David said. “But we weren’t expecting we’d be going up against Leigh and Jennifer, that’s for sure.”

Both teams had to prepare their best signature dish for Pete and Manu and guest judges Guy Grossi, Karen Martini, Tobie Puttock and Liz Egan. With only three points separating them, Leigh and Jennifer scraped through with a score of 52/60 for their dish, Mulloway with Celeriac Puree and Buerre Rough.
The Townsville mates were narrowly behind on 49 points for their Lobster with Gnocci and Prawn Sauce.

The judges commended the men on their fighting spirit. “You both fought for your lives tonight,” Pete said. “It was evident in what we received on the plate. You will be sorely missed.”

Leigh and Jennifer fought back tears as they said goodbye to the popular duo. “If the world was full of people like them, the world would be a better place,” Leigh said. “They are great Aussie blokes. We are so sad to see them go.”

David and Scott, who met as teenagers when they first joined the army, exited with the same dignity they displayed throughout the show. “Even though we’ve left the competition, we’ll remain a team forever,” David said. “I’m privileged to be his mate.”

Scott added: “Our experience on My Kitchen Rules has been an absolute journey. We have proved soliders can cook.”

Another team will be go home tomorrow night. The jury will have their knives out again and together with the judges will determine the two weakest teams to be sent to the sudden death cook off.

The seven remaining teams will battle it out in an all-in cook-off tonight on MY KITCHEN RULES.

In a shock revelation, the judges announce that one team will be eliminated from the competition every night until only four teams remain, Princess looks like she will have a heart attack.

In another surprise twist, the teams will face their harshest critics yet with the shock arrival of a jury. The teams are left dumbfounded when they see who’s coming to dinner.

The jury will determine one of the weakest teams while Pete and Manu will decide the other. No one is safe as the jury delivers its verdict. The two weakest teams will head straight to a sudden death cook-off.

Teams must strive for perfection to plate up their best dish and avoid elimination. Who will go home tonight? Teams buckle down as the competition soars to a new level.

As the past contestants enter as the jury, Justine goes into shock and others look plain mad. Peter and Gary have a grudge and are here for revenge they say. Tonight’s key ingredient is found in almost every home in Australia and it is …..mince. Some are happy, others not – as it’s such a simple staple. But they do get the choice of the type of meat mince wether it be chicken, lamb, veal, pork or the classic beef.

Tonight the contestants are making –

Steve & Helen: Lamb mince with polenta bake
Angela & Justine: Beef meatballs with pasta
Leigh & Jennifer: Beef and lamb dumplings with butter sauce and yoghurt – huh?
Megan & Andy: Greek lamb souvlaki with homemade tortilla’s and minted yoghurt.
David & Scott: Open beef lasagne with chilli and tomato concasse
Nic & Rocco: Pork and fennel meatballs with fresh pasta
Carly & Emily: Thai pork stuffed omlette with chilli cucumber salad

Nic and Rocco are using bottled passata and that may proove to be a problem with the judges as Ang and Justine are making their sauce from scratch. Steve and Helen are desperate not to have to cook again after last night and the jury is worried that Meg and Andy’s kebabs will be too simple and with half an hour to go Meg already has them cooking!

David and Scott are making everything from scratch and David has taken the lead. Carly and Emily believe all the teams will vote fairly – hahaha. Princess is so cute – people will start dropping like flies – but thats ok because Leigh and her are butterflies – haha.

Peter has his claws out already for Carly and Emily as they are his nemesis and they haven’t impressed him so far and he will happily give them a one – Ouch! I missed him – can’t believe I just wrote that! The people I originally disliked I see why were cast, so much more fun. Gary is on chilli watch with the girls as they are using alot. Peter expects people to go out of their comfort zone but you have Nic and Rocco doing Italian, Ang and Justine again doing Italian and both groups of other girls Asian again.

Manu is distressed that the boys Nic and Rocco can’t make tomato sauce in an hour and they then realise they better make their own, the jury think that anyone would be crazy to cook italian against them.With that Justines pasta is a flop and Manu thinks they are in big trouble and they have to start again – if this doesn’t work they will have to use packet pasta and that’s what they use and it’s just cooked with one minute to go! But it’s one ugly dish.

Now for judgement –

NSW – Steve & Helen: The lamb is well seasoned and beautiful but the polenta is undercooked

WA – Angela & Justine: Manu likes the flavours, but the meatballs have no flavour and the girls are sure they are headed to sudden death and no one in the jury likes them at all

SA – Leigh & Jennifer: Manu says they have to realise that their presentation has let them down, but the flavour is fantastic. Manu loved the taste.

QLD – David & Scott: Manu says they are really pushing themselves, but the mince is underseasoned.

SA – Nic & Rocco: Manu loves their fresh tomato sauce, but they have left the skin on. Pete likes it too. The jury are happy as well.

TAS – Megan & Andy: The spices weren’t toasted so haven’t cooked out, the lamb is dry and cooked out. Peter and Gary like it but no-one else on the jury does

VIC – Carly & Emily: Manu thinks it is so hot, Pete thinks the omlette is too sweet and wet. Peter and Gary obviously don’t like it.

We don’t find out all the individual scores from the jury – but their verdict is Angela and Justine with a score of 12/50. Peter says that packet pasta and tasteless meatballs won’t cut it – and with that the jury leaves. Pete and Manu reveal that the team to go to the elimination cook off is Megan and Andy.

The two weakest dishes therefore are Angela and Justine and Megan and Andy. They will go head to head and serving the guest judges a signature dish in one and a half hours.

Tonight their signature dishes are

Ang & Justine: Vietnamese duck with coconut rice and Asian salad
Megan & Andy: Coral Trout with crab and prawn bisque with asparagus

Justine is glad it’s not her dish this time as the last one was and flopped. Princess is excited about the dish! Ang is having a coniption over how Just washes the starch off the rice – but thank goodness it’s not pasta! The duck is simmering and they are a little worried they will over cook it and the duck will end up falling off the bone – ala Steve and Helen’s rabbit. The girls are happy with how the duck is cooked and the rice has been saved from being overcooked. Ang makes a dressing that Justine thinks is too fishy so they compromise with sesame oil added and they serve.

Megan and Andy are making a fabulous looking fish stock with the prawn heads and veges – mmm. They are using blue swimmer crabs and are cooking them to perfection by after cooking they put into an ice bath. Wow there stock looks so rich and they are reducing it – oooh saliva! Meg wants to put the prawns on with 20 minutes to go – she is officially crazy – pollo loco – you name it, but Andy WON”T let her. It’s a battle of wills as Meg just shoves them in the pot and Andy thinks they are gone. Meg thinks they won’t be cooked in time and won’t be able to serve – with a minute to go they serve up.

Here are the judges reviews.

Megan and Andy - Manu is nodding , Pete loves the Trout and all love the simplicity with the depth of flavour of the bisque.
Angela and Justine – All love the sauce, coconut rice and the duck – but the duck could have been cooked a little longer. The sauce is fantastic!

Now for the scores –

Angela and Justine

Manu Fieldel –
8/10

Pete Evans –
8/10 

Guy Grossi –
8/10 

Karen Martini –
8/10 

Tobie Puttock –
7/10 

Liz Egan –
8/10

= 47/60

Megan and Andy

Manu Fieldel –
10/10

Pete Evans –
10/10 

Guy Grossi –
9/10 

Karen Martini –
9/10 

Tobie Puttock –
9/10 

Liz Egan –
10/10

= 57/60

Eliminated are teacher and trucker, Ang and Justine, who will be missed and were a great laugh! This is only going to get harder and harder!

It’s hard to believe but we are almost at our first big TV finale of the year with My Kitchen Rules having its Grand Finale next Tuesday March 27. The finale will play over two hours, from 7.30pm as the final two teams battle it out for 2012 Kitchen Rules supremacy.

MKR also continues 7.30pm Sunday and Monday March 25 and 26 respectively.

Sunday March 25 remains the same as last week, with new Castle at 8.30pm, but the following week, on April 1, repeats of Bones move back to 8.30 Sunday, followed by a Castle repeat. On the first day of Easter non-ratings, Sunday Night remains at 6.30pm.

Tuesday March 27, after the My Kitchen Rules Grand Finale, will be the premiere of Pictures of You at 9.30, while the regular Thursday night line up on Seven gets not one but two weeks off, thanks to AFL on Thursday March 29, and Easter the following Thursday.

Revenge remains on Monday nights at 8.30, and, interestingly, remains in the schedule for the first Easter non-ratings week. Amazing Race has a week (or two) off in the first Easter week.

Most of the rest of week 14 (April 1-7), however, is to be advised.

Deal Or No Deal, 5.30pm, Seven
Starting Monday 19th of March, My Kitchen Rules contestants are turning up the heat in the Deal a Drome.
Each night a different couple will serve up their best and try to take away the Banker’s cash in My Kitchen Deals. Whatever they win will go straight to one lucky home viewer every night.

My Kitchen Rules, 7.30pm, Seven
The judges have a shock announcement that shakes things up in the competition. In another surprise twist, the teams will face their harshest critics yet with the arrival of a jury. The teams are left dumbfounded when they see who’s coming to dinner. The jury will determine one of the weakest teams while Pete and Manu will decide the other. No one is safe as the jury delivers their verdict. The two weakest teams will head straight to a sudden death cook-off, where the competition soars to a new level as contestants strive for perfection to plate up their best dish and avoid elimination. Who will be going home tonight?

Top Chef Texas, 9.30pm, Arena
The chefs are split into three groups and must excel in their challenge in order to move on to the competition. Some will advance, some will be on the bubble and get a second chance to cook, and some will go home. Returning are host Padma Lakshmi, head judge Tom Colicchio, and Gail Simmons from Food & Wine Magazine. Joining them on the judging table are Hugh Acheson and Emeril Lagasse.

Man v. Food, 7.30pm, 7mate
Adam is in Little Rock and joins the police and firemen for a massive barbecue feast. He also goes to eat a massive patty followed by a challenge in which Adam has to eat pork in a blazing barbecue sauce.

Masterchef: The Professionals, 7.30pm, LifeStyle FOOD Channel
For this episode’s skills test, Monica gives them 12 minutes to extract the marrow from a bone and then prepare a dish with it. It’s a daunting challenge, and for those chefs who’ve never encountered bone marrow before, it’s frankly terrifying.

It’s the last chance of survival for two teams tonight on MY KITCHEN RULES.

National pride is on the line as Kiwi’s Meg and Simon go head to head againt NSW brother and sister team Steve and Helen in the sudden death cook-off.

Steve enters MKR HQ and seems hyped up (as usual) and is saying “Love youse all”, while Meg seems alot more subdued and is very nervous. Pete welcomes them and it’s the first time both of these teams have been in a sudden death challenge.

Tonight it will be a Trans Tasman challenge – Australia vs New Zealand. Steve thinks the All Blacks are going down, they are going to fight hard for Australia.

Steve & Helen:
Entree: Black ink cuttlefish with fennel salad
Main: Rabbit Stifado with garlic mash – oh no not mash again
Dessert: Orange trifle cake

Simon & Meg:
Entree: Salmon and parwn roulade
Main: Crusted lamb with pomegranate salad
Dessert: Individual cherry and chocolate cakes

Helen is using rabbit legs and has already got them on stewing, while Steve is preparing the cuttlefish and making a right mess. They say that the entree and main are both greek dishes – I hope they are not penalised as it’s meant to be Aussie. Stevens added the ink and it’s looking great. Steven’s throwing a bit of this and a bit of that in to the rabbit and Pete is worried that they have chosen one of the hardest ingredients with the rabbit – it needs to just simmer and it’s currently boiling! Entrees need to be served and the duo are getting black ink everywhere – they are now regretting their choice.

Simon is starting on his porawn mousse that will be in his salmon roulade while Meg concentrates on the cakes. Simon has to try his mousse and tries it raw – Megan is freaking out in the stands! Pete is worried that they have not put enough mousse on their salmon. They are also serving a salad with the roulade of apple and herbs and as they check the salmon it’s raw so they decide to sear it in the fry pan, while the foil is still on – which will just steam it and Pete and Manu are quite concerned at this point. They go to plate up and it’s cooked and looks great.

Now the judges recieve the entree

Simon & Meg: Liz thinks the salmon is overcooked, Karen wanted more dressing as it may have moistened the salmon, Guy says there is a lack of mousse and Pete doesn’t feel the love. The contestants are also unimpressed.
Steve & Helen: Guy likes it, Pete loves the flavour and texture, Karen thinks it’s pure and the contestants think that Australia has won this round.

Simon and Meg have chosen lamb as it represents NZ and their salad is risky as they are unsure if the judges will like the salad as it has so many textures. Simon makes a gorgeous looking crust for the lamb that he puts in the frudge as he sears the lamb before grilling the crust to go on top. Megan is impressed. They are resting the lamb after the panfry and then putting it in the oven as they are raw and need to crisp up that crust. Pete can see they are struggling and Meg looks like she’s going to faint – but as they plate up it looks good.

Now for mains and Steven’s heckling Simon, but he should be concentrating on his main course as they have so much to do with only an hour to go. Helen is making the orange cake for dessert and is feeling the pressure as it was her chocolate cake that got them here in the cook off! Steve tastes the rabbit and it’s overcooked, he’s too scared to tell his sister! On to there mash and YES a team has actually done a mash! The dish is soo overcooked that the meat has fallen off the bones – wish is great for flavour – yet not presentation.

Now the judges try the mains

Simon & Meg: Guy says the lamb has come out perfectly, Pete loves the crust but Manu, Liz and Karen don’t get the salad.
Steve & Helen: Manu knows it’s hard to present stew – but this dish looks like a grenade was put in the pot. The judges say its dry and stringy and even watery, lacking seasoning and lacks depth. Manu says it’s not strong and the contestants are unimpressed.

1 all!

On to desserts and Helens cake is looking great. Steve thinks he’s the custard king and his custard looks great but Helen is freaking out and telling him he doesn’t have time to be the king. Steve hasn’t lost his humour and is heckling Simon again much to everyone’s delight but the Kiwis. Oh oh – their custard is too warm and the glasses are fogging up but it looks good

Meg’s individual cakes are stuck in the tin and they know if they don’t nail dessert they are going home. Frustrated Meg gives them a big whack and out they pop! They make a cherry coulis and have beautiful chocolate shards – their dessert looks amazing and so delicious.

It all comes down to what the judges think about dessert and I think the Kiwis are staying on our soil a little longer.

Steve & Helen: Tobie says it’s not light but he likes it, Guy loves it, Manu likes the cake but Liz would have preferred the custard colder. The contestants love it.
Simon & Meg: The judges say it looks professional and Manu loves the cake, Karen thinks it’s beautiful while th contestants think it’s fabulous.

This is probably the closest sudden death cook off of the season so far.

Simon and Meg

Manu Fieldel - 
6/10

Pete Evans –
7/10 

Guy Grossi –
6/10 

Karen Martini –
 6/10 

Tobie Puttock –
6/10 

Liz Egan –
6/10

= 37/60

Steve and Helen

Manu Fieldel –
6/10

Pete Evans –
7/10 

Guy Grossi –
6/10 

Karen Martini –
6/10 

Tobie Puttock –
7/10 

Liz Egan –
6/10

= 38/60

Steve and Helen (who are crying their eyes out) from Sydney have one by only one point much to the delight of Ang and Justine. Meg starts crying and is deeply upset and Helen walks over and hugs her, while Steve hugs Simon – and I am crying! It’s very emotional and sincere. Megan is gutted as she was rooting for NZ – well I guess she’s not from the mainland either – but still, national pride Megan.

Tomorrow night Dr Evil and other eliminated contestants will form a jury to eliminate the next contestants and Carly and Emily look petrified. It will be a big week ratings wise for MKR – can they get over the magic 2 million?

Sunday Best: The King of Kong, 8.33pm, ABC2 / ABC4
Billy Mitchell has held the world record for the Donkey Kong video game for over 20 years. When Steve Wiebe suddenly loses his job, he finds solace in Donkey Kong. Stumbling upon Billy’s record, Steve sets out to break it.

Napoleon, 9.30pm, SBS TWO
A masterful soldier, tactician and statesmen, Napoleon Bonaparte’s courage and love for his country saw him rise from an unpaid general consumed with ambition to the most powerful man in Europe. In this episode, Napoleon executes the Duke of d’Enghien for the attempt on his life and crowns himself emperor. He wages a successful war against Austria and Prussia but is stopped by the Russians in Poland.

My Kitchen Rules, 7.30pm, Seven
National pride is on the line as Megan and Simon from New Zealand go head to head in the sudden death cook-off with Steve and Helen from NSW. It’s neck and neck in the closest battle so far. After a nail bitingly close contest, one team will be eliminated. 

Suburgatory, 8.30pm, GO!
 When Tessa gets her driving permit, Dalia hires her to drive around and stalk Dalia’s crush, Scott, but could Tessa and Scott have feelings for each other?

What NOT to watch:

Waterworld, 6.30pm, 7mate
In a future where the polar ice caps have melted and most of Earth is underwater, a mutated mariner fights starvation and violent outlaws in order to guide a woman and her daughter to dry land. However, it is not the Mariner who holds the key to their freedom. Will these survivalists make it to land before it is too late?

As we hurtle towards Easter, contestant numbers in currently airing reality television shows are dwindling but action is at an all-time high! Let’s debrief on some of this now, and preview the week to come.

The Biggest Loser is first today, and in one of the biggest weeks of the year, the contestants were split up. Teams are no more; they are all now flying solo. That however didn’t happen until after Selena begged to be eliminated from the competition.

The contestants were then forced to run 400m laps carrying all the weight they’ve lost in the competition so far in weight vests. It was a race that Lisa eventually won, sending her on the walk. There, she picked the mystery twist, which gave her the opportunity to chain two contestants up for an entire week.

Faced with multiple choices, she chose Alex and Graham to do the deed. Alex was never fine with the idea, but when Graham came back from an emotional training session in his hometown of Carcoar, Alex gave up, and quit the dare, giving him a 2kg weight disadvantage at the next weigh in.

Temptation time drew and after a controversial spout with Simon and after consuming a few plates of sushi, Margie managed to take out immunity with other contestants earning prizes along the way.

To end the week, contestants were made to endure a massive 42km marathon without going anywhere. 21km on spin bikes, 10km on trainers, 6km on rowers and 5km on treadmills. It was a tough ask, and sent Simon, Graham and Michelle all crashing to the floor with Simon having to be dragged out on a stretcher!

Margie, who was initially fed up of the competition to begin with, has currently progressed to the final round with friend Lydia, and they are currently battling it out for results that will be revealed on Monday.

To a show with a more finite ending to the week, and Excess Baggage headed to Kangaroo Island! They were all forced to carry bags and bags of survival items up a gruelling hill hike in a massive spirit challenge. Here, despite all odds, Lisa won the challenge, proving to a sick Darryn, that she can prove her worth in the competition.

It was in this challenge that cracks formed in the yellow team, but more on that later. On Tuesday, it was the breakthrough challenge, where the yellow and blue teams faced their claustrophobic fears, and went caving! Even Christian was fearful of this, but they all seemed to enjoy it in the end.

The endurance challenge followed on Wednesday, and it was all kinds of rough! Contestants had to take it in turns to scour sand dunes for pieces of an equation that equalled 100. While most teams did OK at the challenge (the purple team won this), all hell broke loose when Nathan gave Kate DeAraugo some challenge-winning advice about the equation.

A simple mistake, it caught the furore of Darryn and the disgust of Christine. The backlash took its toll on Nathan, who absolutely lost it. The episode led to a depletion in apathy for the competition, which Christine slowly gave back to him through tough love.

In the check in, the yellow team were able to avoid elimination; but the blue and pink teams were not. After a somewhat unanimous vote, the pink team of Sarah and Kate DeAraugo were sent packing.

My Kitchen Rules was the other show on this week. To summarise briefly, the now-five day a week show spent most of its time in the tropics. After several challenges, Thomas & Carla found themselves up against Megan & Andy in a heated elimination which saw the villains (Thomas & Carla) sent home.

The contestants then headed back to kitchen HQ where they were made to cook a banquet for friends and family. It was decided that Steve & Helen had the least impressive spread, but after winning the people’s choice vote (as decided by the other contestants), the ‘prize’ of place-in-elimination went to Simon and Meg.

Unlucky for the NSW team however; they were placed up for elimination in the next challenge.

So what does all this mean in the next week?

Well, The Biggest Loser has had a massive week of pushing endurance, culminating in that excruciating challenge. This can only mean a huge weigh in with large number drops right? Well, from what promos show, it seems Graham’s loss for sure will be appreciated by himself, but not by the Commando. Hmm, mixed messages…

Also, Excess Baggage heads to the Southern Highlands with only five teams! Only two weeks of this show remains, which has to be a final flight to the finish in terms of pushing these contestants to their absolute limit to melt that fat right off of their bones. Something about the name ‘Southern Highlands’ screams pain.

My Kitchen Rules is also set to rumble with four eliminations guaranteed for the next week in preparation for the final weeks. Who will survive? Who will fall? We’ll just have to wait and see.

So that’s the week that’s been; to keep up to date, just keep it here!

THE LIBRARY

Sunday

My Kitchen Rules. Season Three – Episode Twenty Five: The Teams Go To Ingham’s Maraka Festival

Monday

The Biggest Loser Australia: Singles Season Seven – Weigh In & Elimination #6

Excess Baggage Season One – Kangaroo Island Week Begins (Spirit Challenge #7)

My Kitchen Rules. Season Three – Episode Twenty Six: Camping Cook Off

Tuesday

The Biggest Loser Australia: Singles Season Seven – The Contestants Split Up (Contest #5)

Excess Baggage Season One – Breakthrough Experience #6

My Kitchen Rules. Season Three – Episode Twenty Seven: The Moreton Bay Bug Challenge!

Wednesday

The Biggest Loser Australia: Singles Season Seven – The Walk #5 & Temptation #8

Excess Baggage Season One – Endurance Challenge #7

My Kitchen Rules. Season Three – Episode Twenty Eight: The VIP Challenge

Thursday

The Biggest Loser Australia: Singles Season Seven – Challenge #8

Excess Baggage Season One – Check In #7 & Elimination #3

My Kitchen Rules. Season Three – Episode Twenty Nine: The Death by Chocolate Showdown

Friday

The Biggest Loser Australia: Singles Season Seven – Friday Night #5