The Amazing Race 8: Episode 5

OK, I was wrong last week when I predicted this week would see the teams in the Dominican Republic (they ended up in Panama), but I was right when I suggested that the international aspect is what makes the race compelling television, as I spent this episode actually interested in the race and not hating all of the teams.

Here is what we learned from the race tonight, and why the international race is better:

• Pretty blond girls get preferential treatment in Latin American countries. The more pretty blond girls you have, the more preferential the treatment, which is why the Godlewskis (4 girls), Bransons (3 girls) and Weavers (2 girls) passed the Linzs (1 brunette girl) in the water taxis.
• Taxi drivers in other countries don't necessarily follow the same rules as drivers here, which is why the water taxi the Gaghans had decided mid-stream (literally) that he was going to go pick someone else up along the way. They put a stop to that.
• What has worked in past episodes of the race won't necessarily work now. Teams have often had success finding a local to guide them to a particular locale in a foreign land. Tonight the Bransons tried that trick, the woman directed them to her place of employment. Way to get a free ride! I'm amazed that it's taken eight editions of the race for this to happen.
• It doesn't matter how scared you are of heights, you'll bungee jump for the Fast Forward. They'll edit the show to make us wonder. They'll cut to a commercial break immediately before the jump, but you'll jump.
• Little League players in Panama can't field a ball for shit. The road block tonight required one team member to get a base hit or home run off a little league team. Several teams had issues making contact with the ball, but once the ball was put in play not a single team had issue making it on base (or at least that's what the editors will have us believe).

And that, my friends, is that. It was a non-elimination leg tonight, so no farewells. The Paolo family snuck their way into first place (by virtue of the fast forward), so I'm praying they make some major mistake next week, which is all but guaranteed to be an elimination leg. I am SO ready to see them gone!