I'm sure she's a nice person, but she can't sound any more pathetic than when she repeatedly says, "I'm a title holder in the Miss America Organization." That's code for, "I won a pageant in my hometown as a kid, and no one cares, but it's technically under the massive umbrella of the MAO, so I'm going to say it like this in hopes that you're dumb enough to get confused and think I actually have any relation in any way to the Miss America Pageant." That's like me going around telling everyone I'm an elected official in the United States government because I was student treasurer in a public high school.

And I didn't really go for the flower thing. On the surface, it sounds like a nice gesture. Buying flowers and giving them to strangers to brighten their day sounds great. But she was mostly throwing flowers into the cars of confused passersby in a spastic and panicked frenzy. There was no emotional connect. If you stop someone on the street and say, "I just wanted to brighten your day with some flowers," it's bound to make them feel good. But if you run up to their car at a traffic light and impersonally throw multiple bundles of flowers through their windows like a lunatic racing against an unseen clock, it loses the effect. I don't have anything against her, but I was a lot less impressed by that than the judges.

das

Was it an individual challenge or a group challenge? Did they explain why 3(?) people had to go?

I'm assuming that the 3 guys who team up together and Brandi are still on - did they kick out that black girl who had the conflict with wheelchair girl?

It was the annoying older white lady who thought she was so awesome and the most giving person evar! and the less interesting dude from the group that teamed up.

das

UGH. I couldn't agree MORE. I'm so amazed that Brandi is still on the show -- she keeps doing these things that require minimal effort, very little thinking, and really have no bigger effect (with the exception of the bus tickets & food -- that was alright).

- The "shoveling dirt" thing... what the heck... So there's no one there... she's wearing heels, and she convinces one guy to shovel one or two pans of dirt.

- The flower thing -- good beginning, but buying $2k of flowers from the hispanic family was the stupidest thing ever. It would have been way better if she did something for the family themselves; Giving away flowers makes a few dozen people feel good for 5 minutes -- but compared to the guy that bought a whole block of houses appliances? Flowers are NOTHIN'.

I just don't get why the judges keep buying into her crap. This past episode the judge is commending her for wearing heels because it would somehow convince the guy to donate more money.

ugh. She makes my brain hurt.

I cannot disagree with anything you've posted here, but I encourage you to remember one thing: she looked really freakin' hot this week.

I find myself most irritated by Rachael. She's the most "Me Me Me! It's all about ME!" of the contestants.

Excellent use of Danica Patrick.

das

I wonder how these grocery store chains, businesses,and people would really respond if they didnt have "The Big Give" cameras and crew in their faces? I've gone business to business for our Little League and believe me, we couldnt pull off a bar-b-q in 2 hours.

Wow, just when I thought they were making progress they air this dreadful episode.

Where is the imagination here? Why am I supposed to be impressed when that guy is instructed to meet the toll booth lady, and then hands her family some cash he was given by the show? He's just a pointless middleman.

Yeah, pretty much everything about this show annoys me. I especially like when they pat themselves on the backs for making such selfless sacrifice for others. Hey, douchebag, you're giving away someone else's money while trying to win a competition for yourself. Climb down from your horse. That's why I dislike "Ray" so much. She makes everything about herself when it's those people she's spending 15 minutes with in a self-involved quest for fame who are really sacrificing and making a difference in people's lives every day.

I think what annoys me the most is that Oprah is one of the most powerful women in the world, and she's behind a prime time program on a major network, and yet the show is so small and selfish and inconsequential.

das

I watched an episode of this a couple weeks ago (I have a connection with one of the charities shown) and it was ridiculous. First of all, as previously stated, it's easy to be "generous" when it's not your money. Plus, in the episode I watched they kicked a guy off because he gave a car to a restaurant manager for being generous (instead of giving the car the needy person the manager was helping). Aren't they punishing him for doing the exact same thing Oprah will do for winner of this show?

I can't believe that Bertram van Munster (The Amazing Race) is involved in this.

Stupid, Stupid, Stupid.
It was so obvious who should have went home.
Did Brandi even spend all her money?
She did nothing to raise more money to help the family.

They couldn't agree who to send home, so they decided not to send anyone home? Please. Stupid gimmick.

Nice of Oprah to finally show up for her own show. The transition from the goober host to her for the "elimination" segments was awkward, since she approached the whole thing like it was an episode of her talk show. Then she starts jumping up and down in surprise when Travolta reveals no one is being eliminated, as if the producers are running the show entirely without her (likely the case).

The only judge on this show who is worth a damn is Jamie Oliver. The comments Tony and Malaak make are Paula-esque.

Brandi's family was creepy. I've actually come to like her, but I'm glad she was finally forced to explain what "Title holder in the Miss American Organization" really means. And yes, she probably should have gone home, but I was disappointed that all Stephen did was raise money from his friends (who clearly had money) without really connecting with anyone. And I didn't understand Cameron getting the family a new sedan when they talked about the girl probably losing her legs and moving her bedroom downstairs, etc. Wouldn't they need something more practical?

Eh, at least it's almost over.

das