S08.E17: David & Benji & Erica

[PrincessPurrsALot]

Quote

Erica is succeeding on her weight loss when romantic misfortune sends her spiraling backwards. Benji Bolton must reach his goal weight without the support of his brother, David, after a disagreement leaves the two brothers estranged.

It's a Where Are They Now episode bring back three people from season 6.

Brothers Benji & David were success stories.  Those were the days, my pounder friends! Their tale ended with formerly 700+ lb. David getting shiny new choppers.

Erica rekindled a relationship with Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy.  She would not shut up about Jimmy. 

This is the LIVE CHAT thread.  It will be open during the US East Coast and West Coast showings.

Original air date 2020.04.22

[ams1001]

[sainte-chapelle]

That was a snooze fest but I think I will have dreams of Jimmy

[CrazyInAlabama]

13 hours ago, sainte-chapelle said:

That was a snooze fest but I think I will have dreams of Jimmy

I believe they call them nightmares, or night terrors, not dreams. 

 

I bet she had the walker at Lola's, and the taxi, and shipped her car to California with the movers, because she couldn't fit behind the steering wheel any more.    She wouldn't fit in the CAT scan, so I think a car was out of the question too.    

I wonder how long she lasted at her sister's house?   With constant whining about Jimmy?    I bet not long.   

I bet Benji's wife was sick of being filmed, and if this was filmed when I suspect, it was right after the original episode aired,   I bet she already had people saying mean things to her online, and maybe in person.      Also, since the poundticipant, and family aren't actors, they probably require a lot of takes of the acting scenes, so they would come across as rehearsed.   At least Benji didn't trade her in on a better model, because he didn't have to 'settle' the way David did.   

By the way, starcasm . net says David and his long time love are engaged now, and he is one of the lawsuit participants, however the producers are trying to get his thrown out.    Apparently the waiver, and talent agreement is hideously long, and bullet proof.  

I bet all of this was filmed right after the initial episode of Benji & David was, and after Erica's WATN, and that means about a year or more ago.     I bet when Jimmy walked into her apartment in California, he realized that someone who takes a big apartment, puts in metal shelves, and fills them with 'collectibles', and her boxes of stuff, isn't a casual collector, and isn't going to clean up.   I bet she wasn't with Jimmy very long, but she's going to whine about him forever.     I would love to know how long they were together, and what he thought about last night's episode. 

Edited April 23, 2020 by CrazyInAlabama

[Burning Rubber]

I must have missed something, is Jimmy a Nobel Prize laureate who looks like The Rock and just as funny?

[cynicat]

Even Lola was annoyed with Erica and that's saying a lot.  David just disappeared halfway through. Poof!

[FormeryHeavyJ]

For everyone tired of hearing JimmyJimmyJimmyJimmyJimmy I give you my favorite TV Jimmy.

[sainte-chapelle]

Guys I for real dreamed about the Love after Lockup folks and I was 400 lbs. I need a life 😂 

[Bugfrey Von]

I knew David was going to be a shit to his girlfriend from the first scene. He walked ahead of her, didn’t open doors, made her carry leftovers, didn’t even make eye contact....what an asshole saying what he did about her...that at his size he took what he could get....I can’t imagine how hurtful and humiliating that must have been for her to hear. He’s flying high now, and I don’t wish anything bad for him obviously, but he’s gonna have to answer for how he treated that woman. It must’ve been pretty bad if it caused a rift between him and his brother.
 

I wonder what the real story is with Jimmy.

[Chicklet]

I bet Jimmy met someone of a normal size who wasn't a hoarder. From the quick look we got of him this episode he was a normal size himself, and kind of looked very attractive. Ok fine all I really saw was his butt- got a problem with that?

I mean that woman was a hot flaming mess and I'm not sure an attraction from decades ago was a strong enough connection for anyone to maintain. I only blame him for stringing her along. At first meeting he should have developed some "terminal" disease and had to go away to get treatment.

[AZChristian]

19 minutes ago, Chicklet said:

I bet Jimmy met someone of a normal size who wasn't a hoarder. From the quick look we got of him this episode he was a normal size himself, and kind of looked very attractive. Ok fine all I really saw was his butt- got a problem with that?

And he probably realized that she wasn't giving up eating or buying dog figurines for him or anybody.  In Erica's life, everyone ELSE has to make sacrifices (like parking a boat and giving up their family's income for six months to wait on her in Houston).  

And after watching last night's episode, Jimmy probably realizes just how big of a bullet he dodged.

[Minivanessa]

16 minutes ago, AZChristian said:

And he probably realized that she wasn't giving up eating or buying dog figurines for him or anybody.  In Erica's life, everyone ELSE has to make sacrifices (like parking a boat and giving up their family's income for six months to wait on her in Houston).  

And after watching last night's episode, Jimmy probably realizes just how big of a bullet he dodged.

Yes. Erica was all about Erica. She was, also, depressed and I wonder if she ever sought treatment for depression. She was self-absorbed and not happy with her life. She was a right mess indeed. 

[sempervivum]

I do wonder how long Mrs. Benji will be around? Her hubby is now kind of attractive (am I the only one who thinks he looks like Peter Dinklage?) and she's still pounding down the Doritos while he and daughter are playing in the lake. She didn't look very happy as he became more and more successful. Hope he can hang onto his new business during the plague, though.

I don't remember Erica part 1, so I don't know what her sad backstory (if any) was, but she sure was sorry for herself, even while self-sabotaging. Nobody can say Dr. Now didn't give her every chance.

[cpcathy]

This seemed like the longest two hours of my life.

Wow, Jimmy had better be a bundle of hot, burning love. Even my husband sitting next to me, said, "She really needs to move on."

Mrs. Benji certainly seemed off. "What are you doing?" "I'm drinking a cup of coffee." I understand your face can't light up every time your spouse enters a room, but c'mon, put some effort into it, lady!

[auntjess]

13 hours ago, CrazyInAlabama said:

I wonder how long she lasted at her sister's house?   With constant whining about Jimmy?    I bet not long.   

OK, I've never paid extra, over my regular cable, to see movies or anything, BUT I would pay good money to see Erica living with her sister.
 

[Delete]

Can you imagine how pissed Ericka would have been if she got rid of all her collectables and Jimmy still dumped her? Especially the dog ones. Because they're so cute. 

[JunkFoodTV]

1 hour ago, cpcathy said:

Mrs. Benji certainly seemed off. "What are you doing?" "I'm drinking a cup of coffee." I understand your face can't light up every time your spouse enters a room, but c'mon, put some effort into it, lady!

My husband and I were talking this morning. We wondered how much being "on camera" effects the exchanges. We then had this conversation:

Me: "eggs?"

He: "sure!"

Me: "how many?"

He: "whatever."

Yep, we're ready for our closeup! 😄😃👴👵

[ilovebeaarthur]

Add this to the Jimmy playlist:

 

[Tabbygirl521]

When Dr. ow slit open Benji’s gall bladder I seriously almost passed out. The stones looked like they were packed in squid ink. 

[AZChristian]

16 minutes ago, Tabbygirl521 said:

When Dr. ow slit open Benji’s gall bladder I seriously almost passed out. The stones looked like they were packed in squid ink. 

When I saw that, my first (selfish) thought was, "No WONDER my abdomen was hurting so much the week before I had my gall bladder taken out!!!"

[ShortyMac]

I can't imagine how David's GF felt when he dumped her, having to hear, "I settled for you when I was 700lbs because I needed a maid and nurse, and now, I can do better than you." What an arrogant piece of shit. Pride before the fall...men ain't shit.

[FormeryHeavyJ]

3 hours ago, auntjess said:

OK, I've never paid extra, over my regular cable, to see movies or anything, BUT I would pay good money to see Erica living with her sister.
 

Love Erica's sister.  So brutally honest.  So tired of Erica's bullshit.  Somehow I picture a plugged-in hair dryer or toaster "accidentally" falling into the bathtub while Erica is jammed into it.

[FormeryHeavyJ]

From the comments I read we will be subjected to another Pauline story next week.  I don't drink but that's enough to make me want to start.  Her son will need not just Lola & Dr Paradise but Freud, Dr Phil, Sidney Freidman from MASH, Fraiser Crane, Niles Crane, Lillith Sternin-Crane, & Dr Bellows from I Dream of Jennie, 

[FormeryHeavyJ]

[IvySpice]

Quote

I can't imagine how David's GF felt when he dumped her, having to hear, "I settled for you when I was 700lbs because I needed a maid and nurse, and now, I can do better than you." 

This is true, and it's also true that (based on what we saw this week), David was making radical changes to improve his life, they were WORKING, and she couldn't be bothered to slide the basket of chips to her side of the table. Did she order the entire Mexican buffet? I've never seen so many carbs in one place. If I busted my ass to lose ~500 pounds, I wouldn't have any use for my enabler any more, either.

Also true: they showed his new girlfriend, and I was like, THAT'S the one that got away?

Also true: I'm going to Hell.

[pdlinda]

46 minutes ago, ShortyMac said:

I can't imagine how David's GF felt when he dumped her, having to hear, "I settled for you when I was 700lbs because I needed a maid and nurse, and now, I can do better than you." What an arrogant piece of shit. Pride before the fall...men ain't shit.

I never got the gist of why David thought that the new girl was him doing BETTER????

Maybe it was the blazing tattoos????  

[ams1001]

So I wasn't paying attention at the beginning and missed what people were talking about with David and his girlfriend, so I just pulled it up on demand to watch the first few minutes. The short description is "Erica is succeeding in her weight loss." 😄

[Caoimhe]

1 minute ago, ams1001 said:

So I wasn't paying attention at the beginning and missed what people were talking about with David and his girlfriend, so I just pulled it up on demand to watch the first few minutes. The short description is "Erica is succeeding in her weight loss." 😄

Yeah... no.  Anyone who eats her way to undoing two weight loss surgeries has problems that a third surgery can’t possibly help with.  I don’t give her much more than a year before she has stretched her stomach back out from this one too.   After all, think of all the stress that will come from living with Molly who refuses (rightly) to play Erica’s self-pitying “poor me” game. 

[ams1001]

The longer description says "In year 3, Erica is succeeding on her weight loss journey, when romantic misfortune sends her spiraling backwards; Benji Bolton must reach his goal weight without the support of his brother David, after a disagreement leaves the brothers estranged."

[babyhouseman]

I've had a case of the Jimmys since this show aired. The show did have a good case with Benji's before and after.

[Tabbygirl521]

7 hours ago, Barbara Please said:

Can you imagine how pissed Ericka would have been if she got rid of all her collectables and Jimmy still dumped her? Especially the dog ones. Because they're so cute. 

She did eventually get rid of them in hopes that she could go beg Jimmy to give them another chance. I have never cringed so hard for another human. She is SO depressed. 

[CrazyInAlabama]

Erica fixating on Jimmy was ridiculous.    I bet they weren't even dating for a month before he dumped her, and ran for the hills.    I think when he walked into that big apartment she had, and saw big metal shelving units full of her junk, and those worthless collectibles, he saw a future with her that would be horrible.     

Also, I'm betting that going back to the walker, taking taxis around Houston, and then shipping her car home with the moving company, was because she gained so much weight, and couldn't fit behind the wheel.    It's not a good thing when you are too fat to fit in the CAT scan machine.  

I remember from the first WATN that Erica and Jimmy went back to clean out her California apartment.   She said she kept it for a year, because she might not make it through Dr. Now's program.   So this WATN #2 must have been shot right after the first one was.   She also paid rent on the California place for at least a year, while financing her place in Houston.   

I'm wondering how much she wasted buying all of her junk, and storing and moving it repeatedly?    And then probably storing it all.     Bet there's a few storage units holding her stuff now too, even if she did move into her own place.   You know her sister, and the rest of the family wouldn't let her move that stuff into their homes.     

I know the first episode with her, people were really down on the sister, and the rest of the family.   However, after Erica ate through two weight loss surgeries, and I'm sure is on her way to ruining her third one,  I can see why they knew that Erica would never succeed.  My opinion was formed about the family the second Erica tried to get them to give up their incomes, and life in California to move to Houston to be her personal servants.     Erica has had three WLS, including the bypass Dr. Now did.     I think her family did a lot more for her than other people would have.     I think the sister made a big mistake letting Erica move into her home. 

I wonder if Jimmy got a restraining order yet?  

I was so proud of Benji, and how he turned his life around.   

Edited April 24, 2020 by CrazyInAlabama

[auntjess]

8 hours ago, Tabbygirl521 said:

When Dr. ow slit open Benji’s gall bladder I seriously almost passed out. The stones looked like they were packed in squid ink. 

After becoming addicted to Dr. Pimple Popper, I don't have to go to "guide" to cover the screen so much.
I used to only watch when they weighed the removed skin sections.
 

[Minivanessa]

9 hours ago, CrazyInAlabama said:

Erica fixating on Jimmy was ridiculous.    I bet they weren't even dating for a month before he dumped her, and ran for the hills.    I think when he walked into that big apartment she had, and saw big metal shelving units full of her junk, and those worthless collectibles, he saw a future with her that would be horrible.       

. . . .      I know the first episode with her, people were really down on the sister, and the rest of the family.   However, after Erica ate through two weight loss surgeries, and I'm sure is on her way to ruining her third one,  I can see why they knew that Erica would never succeed.  

I remember that about her first episode. IIRC there were some pretty strong feelings against the sister, but I didn't share them. Yes, the sister was snarky and impatient (at times) with Erica but she also traveled to Houston to provide help to her. Even if she didn't do a Little Miss Sunshine act, she DID THINGS to help Erica. And, as you said, I'd bet a steak dinner that this was just the umpteenth time that Entitled Erica had been helped and supported by her family. I swear, I can still remember how Eeeyore Erica seemed to think it was a great plan for her brother to abandon his business for a year and move with her to Houston. WTF?? The guy had a family to support!

I do wonder if there was some family money in the background. Erica, who AFAIK has no job, was shown using a moving company to move her stuff to Houston in this episode, and could afford to have her car delivered back to CA from TX when she moved back. She had money to buy food and rent a decent apartment and buy a zillion dog figurines or whatever that stuff was. 

Whatever the clinical diagnosis would be, that girl just ain't right. She's now eating her way through a third WLS, as you said. She's had chance after chance to get her body back to a more healthy state but her head is driving the bus, and it looks like the bus is headed off a cliff.

At least Benji is a success. Sorry his brother is a dick, and I hope his wife gets with the new program. I assume she was still stuck in the sedentary life that Benji must have been living when he was so heavy, and she doesn't seem to have moved on from there. So now he's swimming and she's sitting on the dock watching.

[FormeryHeavyJ]

18 hours ago, ams1001 said:

So I wasn't paying attention at the beginning and missed what people were talking about with David and his girlfriend, so I just pulled it up on demand to watch the first few minutes. The short description is "Erica is succeeding in her weight loss." 😄

Sure she is.  Just like I am succeeding at making the roster of the NY Islanders now that I'm 54.

[PrincessPurrsALot]

I woke up with The Clash's Jimmy Jazz in my head, so I've updated it:
Erica walked in for Jimmy Jazz
I said, "he ain't here, but he sure went past
Oh, you're looking for Jimmy Jazz"

Satta Massagana for Jimmy Dread
Cut off his ears and chop off his head
Police come looking for Jimmy Jazz

So if you're gonna take a message 'cross this town
Maybe put it down somewhere over the other side
See it gets to Jimmy Jazz, Jazz, say

Now tell the tale
Erica come in she said
"Now, where's Jimmy Jazz?"
I said, "hmm, he was here but, uh, he said, he went out
Who is it she's lookin' for?"
Jimmy Jazz, Jazz, Jazz, Jazz eh

And now that ear worm is all yours!

[JunkFoodTV]

Jimmy Mack. 😂😂😂

 

[CrazyInAlabama]

I had to laugh at Erica calling an estate liquidator to sell her collectibles.    I am in the age group that is downsizing, or selling the grandparents stuff.    The items that people spent thousands on as collectibles, are worthless.     All of that stuff that you could buy entire series of by mail order, or at little collectible shops, are worthless.    You can't even sell fine china, or real silver ware for anything, and Erica thinks she's going to finance half of a house by selling her stuff?     Considering what the sales agent charge, and postage, throwing stuff like that in the dumpster is the best way.  

Erica did accomplish something though, gaining over 150 lbs in 3 months is a notable event on this show.     I think that's some kind of record for a woman on this show.  

[AZChristian]

15 minutes ago, CrazyInAlabama said:

Erica did accomplish something though, gaining over 150 lbs in 3 months is a notable event on this show.     I think that's some kind of record for a woman on this show.  

Especially since she gained the weight AFTER her weight loss surgery!!!

[CrazyInAlabama]

I think it was amazing that Erica ate through two weight loss surgeries, and then got a gastric bypass from Dr. Now.    I'm sure he thought that it was her only chance, but it was wasted surgery.    This had to have been shot right after the first Erica WATN, since it was apparently ready to show last summer, and was bumped to now.     I'm sure by now Erica has eaten through surgery number three. 

I wonder if Jimmy saw this episode, and went for a restraining order?    He should have submitted the tape of her obsession to the judge. 

 Erica reminds me of someone I used to work with.      She was dumped by her husband, and never stopped thinking he would come back.   Even through his three or more marriages, multiple affairs, and other life events, she never gave up on him coming back. 

Edited April 26, 2020 by CrazyInAlabama

[essexjan]

Run, Jimmy, run. Well, a normal slow-ish walk will do because Erica won't be able to catch up with you after about 15 ft.

She had some issues, that woman. Not only was she a compulsive eater and seriously depressed, she was also a hoarder.

I had a friend who used to collect shit like that- there was a series of pig ornaments doing all sorts of stuff, as if they had jobs, hobbies, homes, called Piggin'. She had hundreds of them. Then she started collecting wizard/dragon/mystic things. Then American Native stuff (this is in England, remember). She spent thousands of pounds on mass-produced resin ornaments made in China. You see 'em all the time in the charity stores because no-one wants them.

I don't think Erica will ever get well. She's had three chances and still doesn't get it.

David is a PoS for saying that about his wife. Even if their relationship was over, what he said was unkind and unnecessary. All he needed to say on national TV was "we drifted apart".

I was glad for Benji's success and was pleased to see him really making positive changes in his life. I don't think we've ever seen a Pounder scuba diving before. Most of them would be at risk of harpooning if they ventured into the ocean ...

I was thinking the other day about how some of the men on this show just 'get it' straight away, stick to the program (for the most part), do what Dr Now says, and lose the weight. I wondered why they found it so easy and my thoughts are these:

I think the majority of women, from childhood, are in a 'dieting' culture, and I bet by the time the women on this show see Dr Now they've probably tried many, many diets over the years (until the point where they passed the point of no return, whether that was 250lb, 400lbs, whatever). I know that I went on my first diet when I was 12 years old. Every magazine we pick up has a diet in it. All the celebrity magazines are obsessed with whether a celebrity is too fat (and should go on a diet) or is too thin (and has gone too far).

We all know that dieting doesn't work, and I think most of the women on the show know it too, as they've probably tried and failed since they were children.

But a lot of men, particularly working-class men, have never in their lives read a diet book, take no interest in celebrities (other than sportsmen) and from boyhood aren't immersed in the kind of culture that gives girls such an obsession with dieting.

So the first time these men have ever 'been on a diet' is when Dr Now puts them on the 1200 calorie diet. It works, quickly, and it's a real 'whoa, this might just work!' experience for them. Their mindset isn't set up to believe that this is going to fail because every other diet they've tried has failed.

Anyway, that's just my ramblings about it, and as a reward for reading this far, you get another Jimmy.

 

Edited April 26, 2020 by essexjan

[CrazyInAlabama]

I think another factor is men have more muscle mass, and do usually lose faster than women.   A big test of a relationship is when the partners both go on a diet, or program, and the man usually loses a lot more than the woman will.   

 I think what essexjan said is right,  "But a lot of men, particularly working-class men, have never in their lives read a diet book, take no interest in celebrities (other than sportsmen) and from boyhood aren't immersed in the kind of culture that gives girls such an obsession with dieting".    Most of these women have been on every diet, diet pills, and tried and failed many times.    I think your metabolism is a lot more active on the first diet, than after yo-yo dieting for years.   There have been several women that had previous weight loss surgery too, but not the men.    However, I don't remember a man on this show talking about being sent to fat camp, or dieting.   

I hope to never hear the name Jimmy again.    I hope Jimmy found a better life, and applaud him being honest that he couldn't be in a relationship with an emotional vampire, and hoarder like Erica.  

Edited April 27, 2020 by CrazyInAlabama

[MrsClaus]

Man, I'd really like to know what Jimmy is doing now.  Is he hiding behind locked doors?  Had major plastic surgery?  Witness protection program?

[auntjess]

How old is Erica?
I figured here to be late 40s at least, but she was talking on how she'd planned on starting a family with Jimmy.

[JunkFoodTV]

@auntjess if I'm not mistaken I think mid (ish) 40s. Yeah I was wondering about the starting a family comment from her. 🤔

[AZChristian]

16 hours ago, MrsClaus said:

Man, I'd really like to know what Jimmy is doing now.  Is he hiding behind locked doors?  Had major plastic surgery?  Witness protection program?

Probably signed up for TLC's show  90-Day Fiance:  The Other Way.  Then he'd have the double blessing of getting out of the country AND finding love somewhere else.

[CrazyInAlabama]

I'm watching the rerun of this, and Erica and Jimmy were only together in Houston for a couple of months, before going back to California.   That's when Erica said they were going to California for her to sell her 'estate', and so she could get the money for her part of their future house.    I bet that's when the original WATN for Erica was ended, and Jimmy saw her apartment.       I think the entire buying a house together, and him taking her to California was just so he could leave her there.   He didn't want to leave her stranded in Houston.    

I think Benji's wife is just not big on talking heads with the film crew.  Who knows how many takes each of those 'spontaneous' takes required. 

I have to shake my head, at Erica thinking she's going to keep losing weight, and get Dr. Now to take her back.    Her last words saying she would get Jimmy back was ridiculous.    I hope he took a copy of this tape, and showed it to the judge for permanent restraining order.     

 

 

Edited April 30, 2020 by CrazyInAlabama

[Snarkastikate]

Watching rerun and my good gawd, Erica is the biggest mental disaster that's every been on this series.  3 weight loss surgeries, 3!!!   Moved to TX, moving back so she can stalk Jimmy.  For those on social media, do you know what's currently going on with her?  

[Tabbygirl521]

Erica is on Facebook. Her most recent posts are vague, sentimental references to not knowing what you have till it’s gone, and being glad she didn’t know how the journey would end because she never would have undertaken it and would have missed so much. Whatever. She also has a post telling people to quit giving her advice. So now I have to go back and read all the comments that triggered that one.

Her profile pic appears to be “me and Jimmy.” 

[Ralphster]

Good old Eeyorica. It was abominably creepy, how she writhed and batted her eyelashes and shifted constantly in her chair while she chatted online with Jimmy. What the fuck. Was she about to run for the vibrator or something? It was utterly, hilariously, pathetically ridiculous in its unadulterated immaturity. She has no understanding of mature emotions, mature interactions, mature anything. She's stuck at age 12 and is a dour, judgmental cow with nothing to offer anyone except a tangle of mental illness. I bet she's chowing down on chocolate fudge cake right now.

Which brings me to my next point. She must have had awesome insurance for Dr. Now to do a 3rd surgery on her. What the hell. That made zero sense otherwise and was contraindicated by her obvious destruction of not one, but TWO previous weight loss surgeries! Dr. Now makes some really stupid decisions with patients a fair amount of the time and this is in his top 10 for sure. I am confident she is eating her way through this surgery, too. Somewhere a supermarket display of chocolate fudge cakes is holding a prayer vigil.

Edited July 26, 2020 by Ralphster