Monday, November 30, 2009

The Amazing Race 15 Weekly Blog: "Sweet Georgia Brown's " Swan Song

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday. This weekend had many busy and crazy events from shopping to sports and now, the final four of The Amazing Race. Still at four thanks to a non -elimination at the last leg. The team that survived elimination was Brian & Ericka and they had an additional task to complete on this leg of the race.

Now that we are in the final four we are also at the most heated time of the race. Hotter than my grandmother used to be if you dared to enter her kitchen on Thanksgiving morning. There was already the tension of teams competing with the Harlem Globetrotters “Flight Time & Big Easy” and the dirty trick of the gay brothers Sam & Dan left stealing Brian & Ericka’s taxi definitely heated this competition.


This leg of the race was done at night and stayed in the city of Prague. Meghan & Cheyne, departed at 9:46, Sam & Dan at 10:13pm, “Flight Time & Big Easy” at 10:17pm and Brian & Ericka left the pit stop at 11:40pm


Teams had to travel to a local synagogue for their first clue which sent them to a museum for their ROADBLOCK TASK. But before Brian & Ericka could proceed to the “roadblock”, they had their exclusive “speed bump” task where they had to go to a local bar where they would have to create a mixed drink and drink it before continuing. It was an easy task but according to Brian & Ericka, it was an awful drink. But they were quickly on their way.

At the “roadblock” teams had to search through a room of telephones for a phone that would have someone on the other end of the line and that person would give them a letter and the person performing the roadblock task had to remember each letter told to them then do a word scramble in order to get their next clue. They had to do this while in a room screaming with the sound of old fashioned ringing telephones. Definitely not for the weak minded.

The difficult part of the task was when teams had to enter their word scramble on a form that also contained several questions meant to throw off their thought process. Taking advantage of this difficulty was one of the gay brothers Dan who met with one of the Harlem Globetrotters and they tried to help each other figure out the word clue. But when the gay brother got his clue approved, he ditched the Harlem Globetrotter and left. This was another dirty play, helping for a few minutes then leaving the other person hanging. But why the hell were they helping each other in the first place?

“Flight Time” had difficulty completing the “roadblock” as he could not get the correct word out of the letters provided and after Brian came and left, he decided to forfeit FOUR HOURS by giving up on the “roadblock”. The 4 hours was a time penalty issued for failure to complete the task. The Harlem Globetrotters had to wait out the time penalty before they could continue the race. Brian & Ericka were now in third place.


After the “roadblock” Meghan & Cheyne met with Sam & Dan arriving and they tried to take their taxi but failed. However Sam & Dan’s cowardly taxi driver called another taxi for Meghan & Cheyne. I see that as a failed attempt at karma since Sam & Dan were successful in taking Brian & Ericka’s taxi on the last broadcast.


Teams next destination was to a Kryocentrum facility where teams would have to strip down to a pair of Speedos, gloves and socks then endure 2 minutes in a kryotherapy room set to the freezing temperature of 180 degrees below zero. This is one of many times we have seen teams in some form of undress this season..

After spending 2 minutes in the deep freeze, teams traveled to a bridge for the “detour” task choices of “lager” where they would have to deliver and serve 30 mugs of beer to patrons at a local bar by carrying the filed mugs on a tray through the streets of Prague as they faced drunk people along the street distracting them along the way. Or “Legend” where teams would have to assemble a statue made of mud and clay and carry that to a destination to get their next clue. The statue would weigh nearly 300 pounds but Meghan & Cheyne held on but the gay brothers Sam & Dan dropped and broke their statue then argued throughout their task. They argued about their direction and complained about everything from getting dirty to the heavy weight of the statue. All the while Meghan & Cheyne completed the “detour” first and made their way to the pit-stop on an island near the Charles Bridge in Prague.

Brian & Ericka chose the “lager” detour task and Ericka dropped her tray and immediately wanted to give up and go do the other task. But they continued with the beer delivery task with Ericka yelling at people on the street.

Meghan & Cheyne made it into the FINAL THREE as the first team to arrive at the pit-stop. For this they each won a 52 inch television for winning this leg of the race.

The next team to arrive was SAM & DAN in second place and against my predictions and wishes because of their recent dirty tricks they are also in the FINAL THREE.

Brian & Ericka were the THIRD team to arrive and have made it to the final three and The Harlem Globetrotters didn’t even get to finish the rest of the tasks. They were sent to the pit-stop for their official elimination as the sun rose over the city of Prague.

“Flight Time & Big Easy” had the physical strength but not the mental strength to complete a word scramble task. But they were the biggest competitive threat for the other teams. And it took two gay bois to take them down. But karma will kick the gay brothers in their cute little asses (YEAH I SAID IT!) and if anyone cares, the person writing this blog happens to be gay. Doesn’t mean I will automatically support the gay team. This season’s token gays were capable of getting along on this race but have proven to be whiny little wussy brats that had to resort to playing dirty in order to survive. And it is that reason that I will NOT predict Sam & Dan to win The Amazing Race.

And so my record of predictions is the same. I was wrong most of the time. But then I watch, blog and make predictions just for the fun of enjoying the show. I am an Amazing Race fan that wishes I were good enough to compete on the show. I try to analyze the teams through their behavior and capability and offer my honest opinion although my opinion is more biased than it is honest and I admit that. Still I have fun blogging about it. I don’t even know if anyone is reading this. If you are then I thank you. If not, that’s ok, my blog stands as a permanent diary of what I was thinking at the time it was published.

But back to my predictions. Only prediction left is to guess who will be the winner of The Amazing Race. And for several legs of the race, Meghan & Cheyne were strong. They have their youth, physical and mental strength and all of that carried them though this race with great ease. They did argue some but never lost focus and I predict that Meghan & Cheyne will maintain their first place standing and become the winners of season 15 of The Amazing Race.

I would like to see Brian & Ericka win but I think the best will be their arriving in SECOND place with the brothers Sam & Dan embarrassing themselves into a third place finish. The only thing is that Brian & Ericka have to stop being nice guys and start kicking some ass! Actually BRIAN has to stop being a nice guy and start being the nasty bitch game that his wife Ericka talks but hasn’t exactly backed up her talk with. Ericka needs to sharpen her claws and transfer the words out of her mouth into action on her feet. And if the gay brother’s Sam & Dan were to have a chance at all, which I hope they don’t simply because of their punk-ass dirty trick moves in the past two episodes, they must stop the verbal cat-fighting with each other and focus on the game. I honestly don’t see that happening because now that they took down the one team that would have physically whipped their cute little asses they now have to face two people who are their same ages but who are in better physical and emotional shape.

So repeating my prediction for WINNER, it is hard to not predict that Meghan & Cheyne will win. I am sure this is one winners prediction I will get right. And we shall see next week, the final leg of The Amazing Race and my final Amazing Race blog of the year on December 6th!

Las Vegas here we come!

And in final tribute to "Flight Time & Big Easy" of the Harlem Globetrotters, here is that famous Globetrotter theme "Sweet Georgia Brown"

Monday, November 23, 2009

He kissed a boy and parents didn't like it

This is a story I so don't care about but so many do!

At the 2009 American Music Awards, one of the performers engaged in a same-sex kiss and appearantly there were some dance moves and attire that was also deemed controversal.

I am amazed at the issues that get people stirred up about. And I am amused at how people get obsessed over people with no talent and all flash.

Who gives a damn if Adam Lambert kissed a man on TV? Conservatives and "family values" people, are you jealous of Adam? I am because I can't find a man to kiss me but I digress.

Why are you family values types so outraged over some talentless brat on TV? Where is your outrage over the slutty females who were on the SAME PROGRAM?

Like many I subscribe to a tv service. Some have cable, I have satalite. I think I have 400 channels to choose from in my house and I KNOW that I am not forced to watch any single one of them. It is impossible for me to watch ALL of them unless I never leave the house. I do know that I never watch that alledged talent show that Adam Lambert was on. I don't watch award shows on TV either. I don't even watch Oprah that much. And won't watch at all I guess since she is retiring in 2011. And if I did watch these programs and there was something on any of these shows that I don't like then its MY problem and MY obligation to change the channel or SHUT UP.

Do we have to light lazer beams to show people where to find the buttons on their remote control that can easily prevent them from being "exposed" to things they may not like or want their children to see? And perhaps a greater point to make...any child you would not want to see whatever Adam Lambert did on TV last night should have been in bed at that time anyway. Didn't this happen late into the show?

I have read that parents groups are outraged over whatever happened. Those parents are candy assed wimps! They should not be allowed to raise children. My mother had no problem controling the TV sets in our house. If she wanted it OFF, it was off! There was no discussion necessary in Elerwene Burton Floyd's household. So what is the problem with today's parents actually having control over things in their household?


The defense against children watching inappropiate things on TV was simple when I was growing up. They were questions like who paid for the TV? Who paid for cable or satalite? Or as my elders used to say, who paid the rent or mortgage up in here? The one who pays the cost is the boss. If parents took control of their households and actually raised their children then same-sex kisses and nasty dance routines would not be an issue. You could force your kids to watch a polka on PBS or allow the to stay up past their bedtime and risk seeing an "end of the world" event like two boys kissing during a song which the star didn't sing very well.

Or more importantly, PARENTS can teach their children right from wrong and be honest enough to teach them that there are many things you might not agree with but are out there in the world. Parents can prepare their children for the REAL WORLD and I am no talking about some bullshit reality show on MTV.

Or people can get over themselves and appreciate the little bit of freedom we claim to have in the United States of America. Freedom to watch or NOT watch things we don't feel comfortable with.

Oh, but its easier to sit on our increasingly fat asses and complain and force our values onto others.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

The Amazing Race 15 Weekly Blog: Not Prada but PRAGE-da

The competition is definitely HOT and I don’t mean as in any attractiveness of the remaining teams. Although you can’t say we have any “ugly” people left. But we are down to the final four and in correct fashion it is the four strongest teams remaining with one team feeling the heat of competition with another team quite confident and capable of making their way.

So we started this leg of the race in Estonia with teams departing between 12 midnight and 12:22 am. Teams had to fly to Prague and the flight schedules had teams wait until 4am to book their flights and all teams traveled together. But while waiting overnight in the airport, Meghan & Cheyne discovered the meaning of their next clue and thought they would share false information with other teams to throw off the competition. But most teams were informed of their clue.

The clue had teams look for a “Pragda” which is a classic automobile and they would locate a vehicle to get their next clue from its driver. But leave it to the gay men on the race to confuse the “pragda” automobile by thinking they were looking for a clothing item as in “Prada”. All teams except Brian & Ericka left the airport in taxis. Brian & Ericka gambled by taking public transportation which turned out slower than expected. They then ditched the trolley bus and hailed a taxicab go make their way to the first destination. They had fallen to last place.

Once teams got their clue, they had to go to a kayaking facility for the “detour” task choices of “fast and furious” where teams would ride through a white water rafting course and grab their clue from a hanging wire without tipping over in their kayak. Or “Slow & Steady” where teams had to ride along a high rope course suspended in the air. Both would be very physical tasks.

Sam & Dan had to repeat their task choice after tipping over in their kayak several times and their emotions ran high into frustration. They argued about their direction and speed in the water then after watching two teams leave ahead of them and Brian & Ericka arrive, they switched to the other task. Brian & Ericka went for the easier rope task as well. But both teams struggled and offered a few jabs toward each other.

After the “detour” the competition between frequent first place team Meghan & Cheyne and the Harlem Globetrotters “Flight Time & Big Easy” began to intensify as Meghan thought she would throw bones to the other team which the Globetrotters would gladly use to their advantage. This created some relationship conflicts with her team partner and boyfriend Cheyne, the first time we would see some hostility between them.

Clearly the younger teams were feeling and fearing the competition of “flight time & Big Easy”. But among the two weakest teams, Sam & Dan pulled a nasty stunt. They made an offer to take Brian & Ericka’s waiting taxi and the driver accepted. The gay brothers stole another team’s taxi while Ericka was still finishing the rope course. The problem here is that she stopped to yell and watch as the other team ran away with their taxi.

The next clue had teams travel to a historic Opera House for the “roadblock” task where teams had to search for a mini Mandolin instrument within the theatre’s 600 seats. Then present the instrument to an opera singer waiting on stage. This was a great task because the seats were divided by many hundreds of rooms with a few seats each.

After finding the mini instrument, teams went to PRAGUE CASTLE and the next pit-stop. Some teams felt they had their positions set in stone. One team was even told they were in the final three. But in actuality the positions remained the same at the end of this leg as they were at the start.

Meghan & Cheyne were first at the pit-stop again and they won a vacation package from Amazing Race show sponsor Travelocity.

There was another race to the pit-stop between Sam & Dan and The Harlem Globetrotters. They caught taxis a the same time and then raced each other through the castle where Sam & Dan beat The Globetrotters by a minute for second and third place respectively. Brian & Ericka were the last team to arrive and sure that they were going to be eliminated.

But what I hope is the beginning of cosmic karma kicking the butts of two gay brothers is the fact that this was another NON-ELIMINATION leg on The Amazing Race. Brian & Ericka were spared elimination and will have an extra “speed bump” task but they may be determined enough to smack the gay brothers out of the race.

And thus I present my completely biased expectations for next elimination AND the final three combined.

The competition will be intense as it should be and everyone will fear The Harlem Globetrotters who will surely make the final three. Meghan & Cheyne will make the final three. But Sam & Dan have three major forces to deal with. All other teams! And because of their dirty trick of stealing another team’s taxi, the “nice guys” may find themselves determined enough to kick their cute little gay asses in return. I don’t want Sam & Dan to make the final three but I have to be honest. Something tells me that Ericka won’t be as fast and strong as her mouth will be loud. So unless her walk is as tough as her talk, we will not see Brian & Ericka in the final three. I regret to predict their elimination next.

As for predicting the winner, its going to either be Meghan & Cheyne or The Harlem Globetrotters. And it will be a very close finish.

So its on next week! I hope emotions don’t get the best of everyone but it is definitely ON.

I can’t wait to watch!

Monday, November 16, 2009

The Amazing Race 15 Weekly Blog: Only the strong (and smart) survive.

Greetings everyone. As The Amazing Race season 15 is proving that only the strongest and smartest teams survive. And this weeks broadcast was right on cue and the result was the weakest team both physically and mentally was eliminated. The last place team was Gary & Matt as they were spared elimination after falling to last place during the last broadcast. They got lost while driving in Stockholm Sweden. Matt was driving with his father Gary reading the map and navigating them around circles causing them to fall nearly four hours behind the leading team.

But so much for large leads. The departure times leaving the pit-stop on this leg of the race were 2:23am for the first place Harlem Globetrotters, then Meghan & Cheyne at 2:42am, Brian & Ericka at 4:37, Sam & Dan after 5am and the last place team Gary & Matt left the pit stop at 6:29am. NONE OF THAT MATTERED as once again that evil “Amazing Race Equalizer” smacked everyone across the face thanks to travel schedules. The culprit this time was a ferry boat they had to take didn’t depart until after 5pm that afternoon. So teams had all day to wait and some slept in their cars. Then teams had plenty of rest with a long ferry boat ride from Sweden to Estonia.

The first clue was the "roadblock" task that had teams travel to Estonia and to use keys given to them at the pit-stop to enter a building where they had to search for candelabra containing a room number. They then had to locate that room, find a scroll that when held against light would reveal their next clue. But before completing this task, Gary & Matt had to complete their exclusive extra task known as the “speed bump” which wasn’t as hard as it should be at this stage in the race.

The speed bump task for Gary & Matt had them to go take a 5 minute sauna on a specially equipped bus. But the heat had to be too much for Matt’s brain as when he attempted the “roadblock” he had no idea what a candelabra was. Then Matt misunderstood that he would have to use light to find his clue on the scroll. But somehow he figured it out.

After decoding their next clue teams proceeded to the “detour” task choices of “Serve” where teams had to strip down to their underwear and play volley ball in knee deep mud or “sling” where teams used vegetables in a sling shot to shoot a target that would drop a table of cabbage to the ground and reveal their next clue .

Along the way to the “detour” teams fought over taxis, Matt & Gary got lost again, and the gay brothers Sam & Dan got more frustrated with the Harlem Globetrotters as they fought for the same taxi and the driver eventually drove both teams together to the “detour” location. Also an attempt at some dirty play backfired as one team’s taxi driver called another asking the driver to slow down so the other team could catch up. That driver refused. Then three teams caught up with each other and struggled to locate the route markers leading to the volley ball task. Once they found their way they discovered that only two teams could play at a time so Ericka & Brian switched to the sling shot task.

Gay brothers Sam & Dan perked up quite a bit when they learned they would be playing volleyball against good looking Estonian men in their underwear. But they were frustrated once again as the Globetrotters finished first.

Meghan & Cheyne had already completed the volleyball “detour” and made their way to the pit-stop in place again and for their first place win they won a personal sauna.

Second and third place was a foot race and a collision between the gay brothers and the Harlem Globetrotters. The Globetrotters finished the "detour" first but made a mistake by going the wrong way. Sam & Dan was excited about the Globetrotter's error but "Flght Time & Big Easy" quickly realized their mistake and immediately corrected their course and caught up with the gay brothers.

But as they were running to the pit-stop it appeared that one may have elbowed another causing a member of each team to fall and increasing the tension between the two teams. They arrived at the pit-stop at the same time but the official result was Sam & Dan in SECOND PLACE and “Flight Time & Big Easy” in THIRD PLACE. However there was no huge arguement in discussing the tension. Both teams expressed their opinion without much conflict. It was about competition for both teams but it also seemed to grow more personal with Sam & Dan.

Closing out this leg of the race, Brian & Ericka arrived in FOURTH PLACE officially now placing them in the last place as Gary & Matt never regained any lost time and were eliminated as I predicted in the last two legs of the race.

So Gary & Matt’s elimination was an easy prediction to make based simply on the ability and strength of the teams. I can now offer my predictions for the WINNER of the Amazing Race and there are changes in my predictions for the final three.

First my predictions for the final three. I am very sure that Meghan & Cheyne and “Flight Time & Big Easy” WILL be in the final three and I also predict that the winner will be one of those two teams. The only other member of the final three I predict will be Brian & Ericka. So yes, even though I happen to be gay I am not predicting the gay brothers Sam & Dan to make the final three. If they happen to make it, I seriously doubt that they will win The Amazing Race. It is my prediction that SAM & DAN will be eliminated next.

My reasons for predicting Sam & Dan’s elimination is because of their attitude. Clearly there are stronger teams than they are and now they are desperate. They are already frustrated with competing with The Harlem Globetrotters who could kick their cute gay asses but their frustration will ruin their focus and they will have to play dirty. The previews for the next broadcast show Sam & Dan stealing another team’s taxi while that other team was still working on their task. If that dirty play works for Sam & Dan then I believe karma will kick them in the butt and end their chances for winning the race.

So again my predictions are for the final three, Meghan & Cheyne, Flight Time & Big Easy and Brian & Ericka with the first two having the best chance at winning the race. I predict Sam & Dan to be eliminated as they are now the weakest team on the race.

It’s the best time of the year and I am not talking about Thanksgiving or Christmas. it’s the final legs of The Amazing Race! My favorite time of the year.

Seasons Greetings to all! As in Amazing Race Season 15!

Sunday, November 08, 2009

The Amazing Race 15 weekly Blog: What the hay

Greetings everyone and a HAPPY VETERANS DAY to our former and current members of the United States Armed Forces. Thank you for your service.

Our members of the armed services go through intense training and physical and mental abuse. And while it may not fully compare, the contestants of The Amazing Race face heavy challenges. After all, it does lead to a possible million dollar prize. You don’t get there without challenges.

Last week one team quit their quest to win the million dollar prize. The pressure and hard work of being a contestant on The Amazing Race was too much for Maria & Tiffany. This leaves us with 5 strong teams and the possibility of intense competition over the next few episodes.

So this episode starts with openly gay brothers Sam & Dan in first place and leaving the 7th pit-stop at 9:33pm, Meghan & Cheyne at 9:48pm, Flight Time & Big Easy at 10:32pm, Gary & Matt at 11:08pm and the last team was Brian & Ericka who left the pit-stop at 1:38am. Teams had to fly from Holland to Sweden but as usual the thing I call the “Great Amazing Race Team Equalizer” was in effect as all teams found themselves waiting together at the airport for flights leaving at 6:25am. However only the first three teams were able to get on the first flight. Gary, Matt, Brian & Ericka had to settle for a flight leaving 3 hours later.

Once teams arrived in Sweden they had to travel via train and ferry boat to an amusement park. Of the first three teams on that first flight, the Harlem Globetrotters “Flight Time & Big Easy” missed the train leaving the airport, giving some relief to the leading two teams Sam & Dan and Meghan & Cheyne who admit that they feel a competition threat from the very athletic Globetrotters but the Globetrotters didn’t take very long to catch up. Later when the last two teams arrived in Sweden, Gary & Matt got left behind after taking an elevator instead of the escalator. Brian & Ericka boarded the train in time. The train left while Gary & Matt were still buying their train tickets now having them in last place.

Once at the amusement park, teams had to look for a route marker arrow from the top of a parachute type ride. The arrow pointed toward the location of the next clue box which sent them to an amusement park game where teams had to toss rings to win their own (show sponsor) “Travelocity Gnome” which would contain their next clue and they would have to carry the little statue for the remainder of this leg of the race.

The clue on the Gnome had teams drive themselves to this episode’s “detour” choices of “Nobel dynamite” where teams had to use explosives to expose a box containing their next clue or “Viking alphabet” where teams had to decode a message using the ancient Viking Alphabet. Most teams chose the more physical “nobel dynamite” task.

After completing the “detour” teams had to drive themselves to a farm where one of the most difficult tasks ever on The Amazing Race occurred. It was the return of a “roadblock” task from a previous season where teams had to find one of only 7 route marker flags among 186 rolled bales of hay. This was after teams had to park their car nearly a kilometer away and run to the farm field.

This “needle in the haystack” task was both physically and mentally demanding for all involved. Team relationships tend to strain under the pressure and it could take hours for one team member to roll so many bales of hay to look for a small flag. When this task appeared on a previous season, it took one team over 10 hours to complete and they were stopped a few hours after the last team checked in having never found their clue.

The top three teams held their positions up to the “roadblock” and gay brothers Sam & Dan began to yell at each other during the roadblock and Meghan struggled with minimal complaints at first then after a several failed attempts we saw her in tears. But the Harlem Globetrotters easily completed the task and left for the pit-stop which was right there at the farm. That added to the stress of the other teams still looking for their flag in many rolls of hay.

For their first place arrival at the pit-stop, “Flight Time & Big Easy” turned in their “Travelocity Gnome” for a vacation package from the show sponsor Travelocity. It was also “Big Easy”s birthday, so a good present for him.

So while the Harlem Globetrotters already made the pit-stop, the three hour gap between flights came to a close as Brian & Ericka arrived at the farm closely followed by Gary & Matt. Gary & Matt had problems with directions along the way but managed to catch up and it was revealed by Meghan that she had worked on the “roadblock” task for more than two hours. Also Sam & Dan were still yelled at each other as Sam also hadn’t located the clue. After a while they calmed down and Sam focused and eventually they found the flag. Gary & Matt was the last team to find their flag in the hay but it didn’t take anywhere near as long as the contestants in season six.


The official arrivals were

FIRST: “Flight Time & Big Easy”
SECOND: Meghan & Cheyne
THIRD: Brian & Ericka
FOURTH: Sam & Dan with Dan crying in regret over how he treated his brother during the last task.
FIFTH: Gary & Matt

And this was a NON-ELIMINATION leg of the race which means Gary & Matt are not eliminated (blowing my prediction last week) but they will have to face an additional task (the “speed bump”) during the next leg of the race. I honestly don’t think they will be able to catch up especially if the tasks get any more demanding. The other remaining teams are stronger and more capable. So I will have to repeat my prediction for next elimination by saying that I think Gary & Matt was given a reprieve allowing them one more leg of the race.

While my prediction for next elimination remains the same, the predictions for the FINAL THREE have changed slightly. I believe “Flight Time & Big Easy” and Meghan & Cheyne” are DEFINITELY going to be in the final three. They are the two strongest teams on the race, relationships are good and their physical and mental ability is strong. However I must change my predictions between Brian & Ericka and the brothers Sam & Dan. I see Sam & Dan breaking down in terms of their conduct and focus. With Sam & Dan yelling at each other, Sam having the older sibling authority complex and the both of them feeling the threat of the Harlem Globetrotters in competition are having an effect on their focus on performing in the race. It appears they may have a conflict in the previews for the next broadcast. If the tension escalates then Sam & Dan are not going to make the final three. So I predict the Brian & Ericka will make the final three for their better attitude and focus along with ability.

Whatever happens, we will have good competition that’s not as focused on stardom or good looks. We have exactly what we should with this season. The weakest teams have dropped off in good order, we have the strongest teams remaining and its going to be a good finish.

And so we shall see what happens next week! See you then, same Amazing Race Time (depending on the NFL on the East Coast) and of course the same Amazing Race Channel.

Have a good week!

Sunday, November 01, 2009

The Amazing Race 15 Weekly Blog: Knowing when to fold them.

6 teams are left in The Amazing Race and the standings changed really quick in the broadcast.

Meghan & Cheyne had an over 2 hour lead departing from the pit-stop at 1:40, the second team leaving after 3:30 and the last team leaving at 4:30pm. But the legenday “Great Amazing Race Team Equalizer” eliminated Meghan & Cheyne’s wide lead they held for two full legs of the race. That “Equalizer” was a flight schedule that had teams waiting until MIDNIGHT for the next available flight to their next destination. All teams sat together at the airport waiting for the fight.

Teams left Dubai to fly to Amsderdam where they drove themselves to a monument to get their first clue which told them to drive to another location for the “roadblock” task where a team member had to climb up the steep stairs of a bell tower while counting each of the bells. While traveling to this task, Brian & Ericka slipped to last place when Brian could not figure out how to engage the electroinic driving of their assigned Mercedes-Benz.. Then Ericka struggled to complete the “roadblock” task.

After completing the “roadblock” teams had to drive themselves to another town where they would find a windmill which would be the “detour” tasks where teams had to dress in local customary Dutch farmers outfits including walking in CLOGS. Yes, wooden clogs.

Anyway their choices were “Farmers Game” where teams had to strip down to their farmer underwear and swim across a lake then play “farmers golf”. Or “Farmer’s Dance” where teams had to find a local festival where they would have to perform a local dance custom and eat fish.

A few teams switched tasks when they either had difficulty getting started or in the case of one team, eating fish was not appealing so they decided to switch tasks. Maria & Tiffany switched tasks back and forth several times. That allowed Brian & Ericka to catch up and head to the pit-stop. However, Brian & Erika made a mistake that almost cost them the race.

Gay brothers Sam & Dan finished their “detour” very quickly and travelled by bicycle to the next pit-stop where they arrived first. And for being the first team they won a sand buggy.

The rest of the team arrivals were.

SECOND: Meghan & Cheyne

THIRD: “Flight Time & Big Easy”

FOURTH: Gary & Dan

FIFTH: Brian & Ericka’s mistake during the race was their failure to use bicycles during the “detour” part of the race. They were recovering emotionally from Ericka’s struggle during the “roadblock” and forgot the part of the detour clue that required using bicycles. So they borrowed bicycles from someone after completing the “detour” but were charged with a 30 minute time penalty for forgetting part of their clue and had to wait out their penalty before checking in at the pit-stop. If another team were to arrive during that 30 minutes, they would have been the next team to check in and Brian & Ericka would have been last and possibly eliminated.

But the professional poker player “gamblers“, Maria & Tiffany knew when to hold them and when to fold them. They knew when to walk away because they gave up running on The Amazing Race. They had switched “detour” tasks several times and found themselves tired and knowing they were in last place, they decided to give up and accept their elimination.

Its not often when a team simply gives up but Maria & Tiffany handed me a successful prediction for elimination on The Amazing Race and for exactly the reasons I cited for my predictions. When the tasks became more physically demanding, they could not compete. The last place team sailed through the demanding final task, a sign of physical and team strength. Maria & Tiffany had the team strength but the physical strength.

And of the remaining teams, my predictions for the next elimination and the possible contenders for the final three are narrowing down but are tough to determine. The previews for the next episode show an extremely difficult task with some teams breaking down including the current top two teams. Of course you really can’t determine the next elimination based on the previews. So I am going with the a prediction based on the weakest team long term. And that is the father and son team Gary & Matt. Although I would like for them to prove me wrong I think the youth and physical strength of the other teams will surpass the oldest and fattest racers left on the race. Again I am being honest here and not disliking Gary & Matt in any way. My prediction for next elimination regretfully is Gary & Matt.

For the final three I am currently expecting it to include Meghan & Cheyne, Sam & Dan and Flight Time & Big Easy. At this point in the season with only 5 teams I no longer select four possibilities for making the final three. We still have a few weeks to go. My predictions are subject to change next week depending on the performance of Brian & Ericka. I don’t include them in the final three only because of their current standing. They will have to catch up in order to be considerred for the final three.

I enjoyed this fast paced simple epidsode of The Amazing Race from a hotel room South of Atlanta. And I will enjoy the next episode in a week. I hope you’ll enjoy it with me.