The Amazing Race (season 8: Family Edition)

[watty]

First things first, here is the link to the official CBS site.

This is the thread to discuss, extol or complain about my favorite reality tv show. Because, really, it's all.about.me. What I thought might be fun is I will post short recaps of my reaction to each episode throughout the season. I'll do my best to keep this up *fingers crossed*. Feel free to snark on my snark!

Spoiler warning -- if the episode has aired in the US (Tuesdays 9pm ET/PT) I consider it fair game. If your location hasn't aired the episode, or if you haven't watched it yet, please bear that in mind. If you are posting spoilers please remember to use the spoiler tags.

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Episode 8.01: Go Mommy, Go! We Can Beat Them

The first thing that strikes me is, long intro, and when Phil popped his eyebrows and they ran off toward their backpacks, I was like "my screeen has been invaded by screeching aliens!" At this point so early in the race, I'm utterly konfused about the teams and have yet to form firm opinions about most of them, but I was sad that the nicest team got philminated, sigh. Looks like teams will do a lot of driving (plane tickets *and* gas paid for by production? ) and [spoiler]staying on the North American continent.[/spoiler] Plus "Pennsylvania, I think that's a state"? It always amazes me how ignorant someone can be about their own country.

As a token New Yorker (what? I lived there for a year) I'm all huffy at "the town of Soho". I mean dude. Plus it's not that hard to drive in Manhattan. Going from 20-something street in a city with a grid system toward 91st means go UP, it's not rocket science.

I like the Gaghans most, they're determined and gel together as a family unit. The kids might start getting whiny when KF sets in. As long as they don't learn anything from the annoying Jersey Italian kids -- talk about disrespect for your parents.

I don't like the Linz siblings, the boys seem kinda toolish. My ears are still bleeding from all the screaming by the Pink Ladies and the "let's spend eternity with the Lord" family. btw, the daughter was driving with her left leg propped up on the seat *and* not wearing seatbelts? wtf? The dad with 3 sons-in-law looks like he'll drop from a heart attack if he needs to run more than 10 yards. The "man = head of family" dude makes me want to vomit. The dad with 3 daughters are ok, but it looks like he'll be a hindrance.

The detour sucked. Pushing the buggy shouldn't be that much harder than building the toy houses. Am I going to hell if I said I laughed when Weaver Mom got run over? I mean, her husband was killed by a racing car but TPTB are really screwing with her aren't they? I wonder how the Roadblock will work, they can't make the kids do too many roadblocks can they? And man, talk about spoonfeeding clues.

By far (by a million light years I think) the BEST thing of the whole episode -- KEVIN AND DREW!!!!!!! SWOON! That's the frank guys at the hot dog stand, and it's Kevin and Drew, the Frats from season 1. Miss Alli is probably still recovering from hyperventilation.

All in all, there was too much driving, too much screaming, and the tasks were lame. Someone called it Amazing Race Lite and that's exactly how I feel. Will I tune in again next week? You betcha! I'm a TARwhore.

[br]

[JustSkipIt]

Watson, I'm not sure what is all about you but something for sure. My condensed and edited thoughts on TAR (which I think is season 9, not 8).

Watched TAR last night.

Favorite team = marathoners (Gahgans, sp?) with kids because they actually worked to empower the kids to do whatever they could do (ex: having the girl get the clue from the franks guy and letting the boy call the stroke when rowing). Then they all went around to help the lame teams build their tents including the little girl. Sure enough she did outrun that other team at the finish line.

Next favorite: siblings because they should do very well if they aren't stupid. Unfortunately, it looks as if they may be very stupid.

Least favorite: take a guess... that's right the family who knows that God wants the man to be the head of the family and everyone listen to them.

Next least favorite: Arguing Italians.

Worst surprise: There we were enjoying the widow and kids, liking that the daughter was driving rather than the mom. And they stop at a truck stop and get a map. Ok. Then what does she say to a random trucker stranger? "Do you know the lord?" Arggghhh! Now she and her kids are going to be spending eternity with this trucker which they're all very excited about in spite of the fact that he probably smokes and who knows if he bathes regularly.

The detour: Ok, usually they are actually relatively even. And this one said that it was--carts = fast but hard, waterwheel = slow but not strength. But it wasn't. It took the siblings longer to do the cart with 3 strong guys & 1 strong girl than it took about 6 teams to build their house and leave. It took the widows shorter to go part way in the cart, crash, come back, build the water wheel thing and then leave than it took the son-in-laws to do the cart. That was badly planned and badly tested.

I'm wondering if they will be doing a lot more driving and much less international travel because of the difficulty of getting 4 people & cameramen onto the flights.

[JustSkipIt]

Watson,
No recap yet? Ok, I was planning to get my comments written but by Thursday I realilzed that I could remember nearly nothing from the episode. Now that's really something if a show is that forgettable. Ok, I have to admit that part of that is the sheer number of people (whom I always call characters) running around the show. I mean 36 people to keep track of? Not that easy to do.

What I remember. Much driving (again). Someone, I think the Weavers, asked what state Washington D.C. is in and someone in their car suggested Washington. Rachel and I both shouted at the TV that they should head that way since it would be about 4000 miles the wrong direction. "Gee, mom. We've been driving a long way." "Well, thank the lord the show is paying for gas this season."

Then something about finding a clue box at the reflecting pool but there are two of them. Hint to Dad Gaghan: if you only see a few of the people from your race at your destination and you are there two hours and never find the clue box, you might be in the wrong place. Also, if your kid says, “why don’t we ask someone?” you might want to try that. Dad Schroeder on mom Schroeder’s advice: I have no problem with your subterfuge. I’m just shocked that the Gaghans fell for it so hard.

Briefcaseblock. Kind of stupid and I’m shocked that the Department of Homeland Security didn’t arrest anyone. The Bransens seem completely convinced that their dad is stupid and incompetent.

Civil war battle: Where was the shot of racers looking at the “battle” wondering what type of idiots and crazy people do this on their weekend? The SILs seemed moved by it again making me think they’re just warmongers. I mean if you think the civil war was a good thing, you’re a little nuts if you ask me. Yay for the Gaghans for carrying the stretcher and for redirecting Billy so well about it.

When the Weavers won, I said, “Sure. Cause the Lord wanted them to.” And Rachel said, “Stupid Lord.” Honestly, we didn’t really care much who won but we were trying to figure out a situation in which both the last two teams would lose so we’d never have to see either of them again. Seriously, the “father’s the head of the family” guy is a complete jerk (and not just because God told him to be). I’m waiting for the son to rebel (more) and get gay or on drugs or date a black girl or something. Well, not waiting because I hope to never see them again (except when they stand around clapping as the Gaghans win the $1,000,000 of course).

That’s it. I guess I did remember something from the show.

[JustSkipIt]

Since I last recaped the Family edition of The Amazing Race you’ve missed… very little. Ok, you missed probably the most boring and idiotic episode I’ve ever seen. True, I’ve only been watching for 2.5 seasons but it was more boring than the most boring episode of any reality show and I’ve seen a significant number of those. So let’s see. The Paulos continued fighting. The Weavers continued being nuts and alienating everyone else. The Linzes continued being either cute or stupid or some combination and the Gaghans continued being adorable. I couldn’t tell you who got eliminated but the Gaghans almost did every time. When this week started we had the following teams left: Paulos, Linzes, Weavers, Gaghans, Screaming Sisters (whose names I can’t remember), and Wally & the girls.

Ok, they left in some order from the French Quarter after Phil gave us a “help out the victims by going to CBS.com” type thing. It was the middle of the night and they were told to fly to Panama City, Panama so at least the show is leaving America. Or maybe America still owns the canal. We turned it over a few years ago right? This is what I know about geography. Anyway, the teams had to get taxis (ooo, what a challenge, will they do it? Will they fall over asleep?). And, no suspense, they did. One of the Linz boys commented “Panama City, Spring Break, we can pick up 16 year old girls” to which both his sister and the taxi driver scoffed and said it was the wrong Panama City. So I guess there’s a Panama City in Florida that’s like spring break place? I live in Texas so people here go to Galveston or Corpus or Cancun (or used to).

The gabble girls (or someone, who really cares) called ahead but I guess they couldn’t make their reservations or buy tickets? I say this because when everyone arrived at the airport in a massive bunch, they all had to lie around and wait including the team that called ahead. What’s the point of calling ahead if you just find out that one flight is earlier but that the ticket counters don’t open for hours? So there were two flights and they got in like 2.5 hours apart. Which would seem tragic for the teams on the 2nd flight if it weren’t for the fact that once they arrived in Panama they had to wait for a boat for another 6 hours or whatever. So this episode actually featured bunching to get on one of two flights to arrive at a (drumroll please) bunch. Geez.

So their boats raced and raced and who cares. The Gaghan’s bad luck continued as their driver intended to go pick up another passenger but they convinced him to go to the next task. Whew. Once at the island everyone had to “find a scientist” named something. The scientist was lying about in a hammock and I’d love to think that the island was covered with 20-25 scientists in hammocks but all we saw was each team approach a first guy who said no and then find Ricardo or whatever his name was. Wow, so they had to um find 2 guys and ask? What a challenge.

That envelope had a fast forward in it which the gabble girls actually said they didn’t want so early. I didn’t really get this cause a ff is a ff but they went another way. The Paulos and Gaghans both wanted the ff but the others didn’t. Now the ff clearly said that it was bungee jumping. Some of them don’t say what they are and the team gets there and refuses to have their heads shaved or whatever but this one said. So DJ Paulo is on his bus, following some suspense with half of the boats driving right past the dock for no discernable reason, complaining about how he’s so afraid of heights. Why are they going to do the ff then? I mean it’s not like they’re in last place so go do the other tasks.

The other choices were to spot birds or pick up musical instruments. The sisters and Linzes went to pick up instruments agreeing to work together and do anything to beat “Florida” or the Weavers. The Weavers and daughters/Wally went to do the birds and the Paulos and Gaghans went to bungee jump. Now I’m not a big fan of waiting around at the fast forward for the other team to either do it or chicken out so I wish the Gaghans had left when they didn’t get #1. But there was a ton of editing to make you believe that DJ might not do the jump. Let me say this. I pretty much knew he would. Why? Because I’m afraid of heights and I wouldn’t do the jump. But and this is a major but. When I saw him go up to the jump and walk across the catwalk thing, I knew he would do the jump. I get that he’s afraid of heights but I wouldn’t have gone up. I wouldn’t have gone across the bridge. So even though I get that he’s afraid of heights, he’s obviously not afraid enough to not do the jump. So he did and they won whatever they won and the Gaghans went to get instruments.

Meanwhile the Boys & Girl & Girls were picking up their instruments together to the point of the boys carrying both conga drums which struck me as a bit unfair but since I don’t have strong feelings about those teams I didn’t really care. Whatever… The entire thing seems more like a summer camp adventure than a racearoundthe…localarea. The Weavers failed their first try at the birds but then got it and the Wallys got it. The Gaghans got their instruments and everyone headed for a baseball field.

So their next task was to get a “base hit or a home run” against a championship little league pitcher. Now, I didn’t tape the show but I’m about 98% sure that it said “base hit or home run.” My first issue: by definition a home run is a base hit so that’s redundant. So one of the screamer sisters stood up and didn’t hit the ball. Then Rory or whatever the Weaver kid is named steps up and hits a slow grounder through the pitcher’s legs and runs to first base and they hand him a clue. That’s not a base hit! That’s an error on the pitcher which means that statistically it doesn’t count as an at-bat for the hitter. I’m not saying that it’s not a valid way to get on base but the clue said “base hit” and that’s not one. Ok, the Weavers left. Then the Linz boy got a hit (legitimately) and one of the Wally girls got one and then daddy Gaghan hit a home run (which luckily they were counting as a base hit). Then there was some crying and upset from the non-hitting screamer. It made me think that quite a bit was edited because she was really upset and we saw her swing maybe 8 times. So she got a “base hit” in that the fielding team made another error and the umpire pitied her enough to give her the clue.

Whatever… Everyone showed up at the pitstop and the screamers put on all their clothes and were… non-eliminated which is just as well. And Phil had definitely his best line of the season as he told the women that did they know that it’s illegal to wear underwear on top of your underwear on top of your pants in Panama City. Quite funny for Phil and especially for this season.

Arggghhh!

[Tiggrscorpio]

I have to say this has been a really disappointing season for TAR. I was really looking forward to the family edition, but were these really the most interesting collection of families they could get. The ones I would have truly liked to see win were, unfortunately, eliminated last week - the Gaghans. They could have easily brushed the kids aside to gain some more momentum but their inclusion and support of their children was really touching.

I understand the show's budget had to be reduced due to the increase in participants, but the locations have been pretty lame. What's next...seek out the world's biggest ball of string, find the guy with the longest moustache...lame, lame, lame.

So, we're left with the bickering and back biting team, the dutiful daughters and their dopey father, the brother/sister team whose contribution has been the brother's mooning the dutiful daughters, the crying sister team and the lord will lead us team.

Personally, I don't care who wins and have started making plans to go out on Tuesday nights. Here's hoping next season goes back to the old formula.

[JustSkipIt]

I was looking at the CBS website and you won't believe this. 16% of people answering the favorites poll: the Weavers are their favorite team. Who are these 16%? People who don't watch the show? People who are also hypocritical and cruel? People with absolutely no class who are happy to see people like them on TV? I'm shocked and somewhat appalled at it.

This week was of course more doing very little that actually influences the game. In fact, it seemed that Linda Weaver's poor navigation was really the entire episode. Of course they got Yielded too but since it was non-elim, that didn't really matter did it? Now in the scenes from next week we see Linda confronting one of the Linzes (maybe Alex?) so we know that there'll be some bunch to get everyone even again. No mystery there, folks!

I have to say that at this point, I feel very sorry for that entire famliy. I can't even imagine living in a world where I've been taught that I can only trust God and my Family. That leaves about 6,000,000,000 people left to not trust and that's a pretty overwhelming number.

Episode highlight: The Linzes arrive and one of them says "Miss Utah?" and I think Tommy says, "mmm. Miss Latin Utah. Even better." Totally 20-year old frat-boy tone. Go Tommy!

[JustSkipIt]

Ok, it's over and I'm so so so relieved. I mean that sucked. Sucked, sucked, sucked. If this had been the first season of TAR I had ever watched, I'd never watch another. I would have been like, "how qaint and stupid" and turned off the TV. I can't wait until they return to the good stuff next season.

[spoiler]And speaking of glad... That the Linzs won and not the Weavers. Yes, I would have been fine with the Bransens winning but not the Weavers. Those people were terrible and I mean terrible. They were mean and rude and hypocritical and self-righteous. I feel sorry for the kids but they all look like such terrible people. Not only that, but quitters. I mean if the show wasn't totally saving their butts, they would have quit so many times. I wonder what would have happened if they hadn't even searched and found the charter departure time thing. No telling? And why did Roly do all the roadblocks? Were the girls just that incompetant? Amazingly Lame Race is what we called it and I'm glad it's over.

Go Linz family. [/spoiler]