The Amazing Race 8: Episode 1
Oh man, it's like a crack addict getting his fix, it's been far too long since the last episode of The Amazing Race!
And it appears we get a couple of new twists this go-round, there's the well-publicized fact that it's the Family Edition, but it appears as if this race will not require a passport and will be a roadtrip through the US. I've been hoping The Amazing Race would do this for a while, so I'm glad they're finally coming through with it. Of course, I could be wrong on this, but considering that this week the teams made it from New York City to Lancaster, PA, and next week they're in Gettysburg... well, it doesn't look like we'll make it to sub-Saharan Africa anytime soon. Personally, I think it's because with teams of four it would make plane travel a BEAR with as many tickets as they'd need to buy.
The challenges were fairly blah tonight, but the families most definitely were not, so I think this week we should focus on the teams, and what we now know about them. So, without further adieu:
Kevin and Drew: These guys were my favorite team Season 1. They came in fourth place thanks to a bum taxi driver, but they had more personality than all the other teams combined. They aren't competing this go-round, but they were manning a hot dog cart at one of the route markers in this episode. Only one team acknowledged them, which was unfortunate. I hope we get more cameos from former racers this season, that would be fun. Now, onto the teams, in the order they checked into the pit stop:
Godlewski: THE. MOST. ANNOYING. TEAM. EVER!!!! Yes, more annoying than the spousal abuser. Yes, more annoying than the vain models. Yes more annoying than the matching gay guys. You name a team, these girls are more annoying than them. They are constantly excited. About EVERYTHING. WOO HOO! THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN! WOO HOO! YOU USED THE TURN SIGNAL!!! WOO HOO!! WE'RE LOST!!!! I was hoping the prize for coming in first place was that their vocal cords would be removed, but no such luck.
Gaghan: This is the family with the 9 year old daughter. I could care less about them as a team, but I dig that little girl. She's going to kick out some AWESOME one-liners this season. And those kids have legs. It came down to a foot race for second place, the other team had a bit of a lead, and the Gaghan's kicked their butt!
Weaver: First off, this family faced one of the scarier moments of Amazing Race history... while pushing an Amish horse buggy downhill it got out of control, Mom had to duck under it so as not to get run over, which left a runaway buggy with her two daughters inside. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but man was that a moment! That said, I'm surprised this happened to them. They've found the Lord, and I'm not quite sure why Jesus let them come so close to bodily harm. The Mom is constantly calling upon Jesus to guide them -- rather than, say, looking at a map. But the moment to end all moments was when a truck driver helped them with some directions, and she asked him if he'd found the Lord. Perhaps she'll get distracted on one of the legs, and be too busy converting someone to check into the pitstop. I'm going to hell now for just saying that.
Rogers: In their introductory interview at the beginning of the show they talked about how it's not bad to be Southern and how Dad is the boss. Other than that I have absolutely no impression of them. They did their tasks, they came in fourth. Other than that, you've got me.
Schroeder: I believe the teenage son has, thus far, spoken two words on camera. Something to the effect of, "We're here." Dad's a laugh riot, who may be a bit politically incorrect to make a joke, but his family knows it's all in good fun.
Paolo: I do not have ANY idea how this family came in sixth place today. If anyone has Jesus working on their side, it's the Paolos. Not only does Mom wear a neckerchief, but they're unathletic. And stupid. As in they live in New Jersey and Mom does not seem to know that Pennsylvania is a state. Oh, and she doesn't seem to understand that they're in a race, because on the way from New York to Pennsylvania she suggested they stop for a restroom break and to grab a bite to eat. I mean really, we've been at it at least an hour or two, let's just chill a bit. To top it all off this family wins the dysfunctional family of the year award. They are arguing and yelling at each other all the time (the antithesis to the Godlewskis). It appears that this is how they are, the loud, boisterous, Italian family. However, apparently after 20+ years of this Mom has had enough, and now that they are on television Mom wants them to shut-up and play nice. And if they don't, Dad's going to have words with them (or so says Mom).
Bransen: I don't know if these folks realize they're in a race. While in New York on the way to SoHo the daughters are talking about shopping opportunities. They've got serious navigational issues. Next week it looks like Dad's going to have some issues physically keeping up with it all. I almost suspect that one of the original teams cast had to pull out, and the Bransens were wandering by and got suckered into it. Should make for some interesting racing as long as they may last.
Aiello: Yes, my team came in 8th. But they're still in the race. They were first into one of the checkpoints. I think they're just working their way through the dynamic and will nail it down soon. They are the one team that seems to have that balance of "We're running a race and need to get our asses in gear" vs. "Wow, this is a kick-ass experience, I need to stop and cement this into my memory." And they hate the Yankees, which is never a bad thing.
Linz: Every season there's one team. If you just glance at their profile you'll see their athletic super-stars and place them in the top tier of competitors. But if you look closer you'll realize that the brain power just isn't there, and they're doomed for failure. Last season it was the brothers, this season it's the Linz siblings. I just didn't expect the breakdown quite this early in the season. They were running a challenge in which two team members were responsible for pushing or pulling an Amish horse buggy while two other team members rode inside. You could switch out team members, but it always had to be two and two. But what does this team of four athletes do? They leave the same two people as passengers until one of the guys is physically ill from the strain. And the sister who's a cheerleader and field hockey player (i.e. MAJOR athlete), well she can't push because she's a girl. Thankfully they ended up in a race for last with a team with MAJOR navigational issues, or we'd be saying goodbye to them right now.
Black: This team never really had it together. The kids are fine, but aren't particularly cute or amazingly athletic. No one was ever able to really give it the extra push. They had navigational issues, physical issues, decision-making issues (in my opinion, on the detour they picked the wrong thing considering the young kids involved). So now, they are gone. Unfortunately, other first eliminees got to at least say they made it to South America or Africa, the Blacks just get to say they've now met a Mennonite.
I am glad, although a bit amazed, that they don't seem to be adjusting the physical challenges at all to accomodate for the young ones. But the young ones left seem to be able to play with the big boys, so we shall see.
My final thought for the night turns to other reality TV. The Amazing Race has gotten it together for a US edition, it's time for other reality TV to do the same. Next season I really hope to see Survivor: Watts.
And it appears we get a couple of new twists this go-round, there's the well-publicized fact that it's the Family Edition, but it appears as if this race will not require a passport and will be a roadtrip through the US. I've been hoping The Amazing Race would do this for a while, so I'm glad they're finally coming through with it. Of course, I could be wrong on this, but considering that this week the teams made it from New York City to Lancaster, PA, and next week they're in Gettysburg... well, it doesn't look like we'll make it to sub-Saharan Africa anytime soon. Personally, I think it's because with teams of four it would make plane travel a BEAR with as many tickets as they'd need to buy.
The challenges were fairly blah tonight, but the families most definitely were not, so I think this week we should focus on the teams, and what we now know about them. So, without further adieu:
Kevin and Drew: These guys were my favorite team Season 1. They came in fourth place thanks to a bum taxi driver, but they had more personality than all the other teams combined. They aren't competing this go-round, but they were manning a hot dog cart at one of the route markers in this episode. Only one team acknowledged them, which was unfortunate. I hope we get more cameos from former racers this season, that would be fun. Now, onto the teams, in the order they checked into the pit stop:
Godlewski: THE. MOST. ANNOYING. TEAM. EVER!!!! Yes, more annoying than the spousal abuser. Yes, more annoying than the vain models. Yes more annoying than the matching gay guys. You name a team, these girls are more annoying than them. They are constantly excited. About EVERYTHING. WOO HOO! THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN! WOO HOO! YOU USED THE TURN SIGNAL!!! WOO HOO!! WE'RE LOST!!!! I was hoping the prize for coming in first place was that their vocal cords would be removed, but no such luck.
Gaghan: This is the family with the 9 year old daughter. I could care less about them as a team, but I dig that little girl. She's going to kick out some AWESOME one-liners this season. And those kids have legs. It came down to a foot race for second place, the other team had a bit of a lead, and the Gaghan's kicked their butt!
Weaver: First off, this family faced one of the scarier moments of Amazing Race history... while pushing an Amish horse buggy downhill it got out of control, Mom had to duck under it so as not to get run over, which left a runaway buggy with her two daughters inside. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but man was that a moment! That said, I'm surprised this happened to them. They've found the Lord, and I'm not quite sure why Jesus let them come so close to bodily harm. The Mom is constantly calling upon Jesus to guide them -- rather than, say, looking at a map. But the moment to end all moments was when a truck driver helped them with some directions, and she asked him if he'd found the Lord. Perhaps she'll get distracted on one of the legs, and be too busy converting someone to check into the pitstop. I'm going to hell now for just saying that.
Rogers: In their introductory interview at the beginning of the show they talked about how it's not bad to be Southern and how Dad is the boss. Other than that I have absolutely no impression of them. They did their tasks, they came in fourth. Other than that, you've got me.
Schroeder: I believe the teenage son has, thus far, spoken two words on camera. Something to the effect of, "We're here." Dad's a laugh riot, who may be a bit politically incorrect to make a joke, but his family knows it's all in good fun.
Paolo: I do not have ANY idea how this family came in sixth place today. If anyone has Jesus working on their side, it's the Paolos. Not only does Mom wear a neckerchief, but they're unathletic. And stupid. As in they live in New Jersey and Mom does not seem to know that Pennsylvania is a state. Oh, and she doesn't seem to understand that they're in a race, because on the way from New York to Pennsylvania she suggested they stop for a restroom break and to grab a bite to eat. I mean really, we've been at it at least an hour or two, let's just chill a bit. To top it all off this family wins the dysfunctional family of the year award. They are arguing and yelling at each other all the time (the antithesis to the Godlewskis). It appears that this is how they are, the loud, boisterous, Italian family. However, apparently after 20+ years of this Mom has had enough, and now that they are on television Mom wants them to shut-up and play nice. And if they don't, Dad's going to have words with them (or so says Mom).
Bransen: I don't know if these folks realize they're in a race. While in New York on the way to SoHo the daughters are talking about shopping opportunities. They've got serious navigational issues. Next week it looks like Dad's going to have some issues physically keeping up with it all. I almost suspect that one of the original teams cast had to pull out, and the Bransens were wandering by and got suckered into it. Should make for some interesting racing as long as they may last.
Aiello: Yes, my team came in 8th. But they're still in the race. They were first into one of the checkpoints. I think they're just working their way through the dynamic and will nail it down soon. They are the one team that seems to have that balance of "We're running a race and need to get our asses in gear" vs. "Wow, this is a kick-ass experience, I need to stop and cement this into my memory." And they hate the Yankees, which is never a bad thing.
Linz: Every season there's one team. If you just glance at their profile you'll see their athletic super-stars and place them in the top tier of competitors. But if you look closer you'll realize that the brain power just isn't there, and they're doomed for failure. Last season it was the brothers, this season it's the Linz siblings. I just didn't expect the breakdown quite this early in the season. They were running a challenge in which two team members were responsible for pushing or pulling an Amish horse buggy while two other team members rode inside. You could switch out team members, but it always had to be two and two. But what does this team of four athletes do? They leave the same two people as passengers until one of the guys is physically ill from the strain. And the sister who's a cheerleader and field hockey player (i.e. MAJOR athlete), well she can't push because she's a girl. Thankfully they ended up in a race for last with a team with MAJOR navigational issues, or we'd be saying goodbye to them right now.
Black: This team never really had it together. The kids are fine, but aren't particularly cute or amazingly athletic. No one was ever able to really give it the extra push. They had navigational issues, physical issues, decision-making issues (in my opinion, on the detour they picked the wrong thing considering the young kids involved). So now, they are gone. Unfortunately, other first eliminees got to at least say they made it to South America or Africa, the Blacks just get to say they've now met a Mennonite.
I am glad, although a bit amazed, that they don't seem to be adjusting the physical challenges at all to accomodate for the young ones. But the young ones left seem to be able to play with the big boys, so we shall see.
My final thought for the night turns to other reality TV. The Amazing Race has gotten it together for a US edition, it's time for other reality TV to do the same. Next season I really hope to see Survivor: Watts.
posted by Swankette at 11:04 PM
3 Comments:
"while pushing an Amish horse buggy downhill it got out of control"
Y'know, I am pretty sure Jason Bateman's parents died that way on Little House on the Prairie.
Survivor: Watts - that is too funny. One of the eating challenges could be downing chitlins, and they could try and get from Watts to Long Beach on public transportation at 11:00 PM.
I love it how one team always has a pair of girls with a 'large pair.' Oh, can't wait for Amazing Race: X-Rated
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