The Amazing Race > The Amazing Race Discussion

Your Favorite and Worst TAR Teams

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TARAsia Fan:
There are too many teams to do a poll, but this is so subjective that it would be impossible in my opinion to get a real overall majority as far as favorites are concerned. I figure this would be a good topic in the dog days of summer.

Who are among your favs? Which teams do you feel are the worst of all time? You can list as many as you want. I'll start us off. The discussion will be quite interesting and we have enough seasons to discuss the teams. You can include TAR Asia if you wish.

Here are my least favorite teams in reverse order and why.

10. Lynn and Alex, TAR 7 - Any team that makes fun of Carissa Gaghan makes this list. Also any team that battles with Rob & Amber is a Public Enemy in my book. To me, Lynn & Alex focused too much on Romber, plus their snide comments about Amber made me dislike them. A lot.
9. Ari and Staella, TAR 12 - Ari stole a cab in Ireland, yelled at a donkey, then at Elimination Station, made stupid comments about not caring about "the struggle". Staella was no prize either and this team was eliminated after one leg, but still made an impact to make my Worst 10.
8.Marshall and Lance - TAR 5 - Ugly Americans and quitters, they made Charla and Mirna into sympathetic characters which as we saw in TAR All-Stars, was actually tough to do. They made horrible statements about "foreigners" when they were the foreigners in each country. And they quit.
7. Freddie and racist Kendra, TAR 6 - She made statements about ghetto Africa and breeding. Need I say more?
6. The Weavers, TAR 8 - I know the patriarch of the family was killed in an accident during a NASCAR race, but this fact was shoved in our faces constantly. Plus, it seemed they found a way to sneak in under the wire every time. I'm glad they did not finish in the Top 2 in TAR: Bootleg Edition.
5. Colin & Christie, TAR 5 - Colin was too intense. Never smiled. Almost caused an international incident in Africa by getting himself detained by the police. Christie is a lovely woman and how she has managed put up with Colin is unbeknown to me.
4. Reichen & Chip, TAR 4 - I respect them both for trying to spread a message about gays, however, I felt Chip was way too intense, never had a sense of humor and went sometimes went overboard in trying to outmaneuver Jon & Kelly. He almost got Reichen killed by spinning out their car. Not good.
3. Mutt & Revolting, TARA2 - I can't call them by their real names. This team constantly mugged for the cameras. I was turned off by their pretending to be lost at the pitstop only to "realize" that they found the mat. Also, the wearing of fake mustaches in Japan was the last straw. I was continually rooting against them. This team was using the show as a stepping stone for another show, it was obvious. One of the worst choices ever for a team.
2. Flo & Zach, TAR 3 - To me, the most undeserving winners in history. Flo hardly carried her weight. She constantly complained. She practically refused to do any of the tasks. Her meltdown in Vietnam was one of the worst in the show's history. In addition, she fell in love with a member of another team. What is that? Zach was a saint for putting up with her. However, I do give Flo credit for realizing her behavior was just plain horrible.
And No. 1 with a bullet, Jonathan & Victoria, TAR 6 - Jonathan was an ogre and his pushing of Victoria at the Brandenburg Gate. Awful behavior and even at the end, he didn't seem to realize what he was doing. While Jonathan has since contended the negative reaction to him was due mostly to editing, his subsequent behavior on other shows was awful as well so what was caught on TAR was probably not far from the truth.

Dishonorable Mentions:
Susan & Patrick, TAR 7; Lenny & Karyn, TAR 1

I'll do favorites later.

mswood:
Ken cool idea.  On Colin and Christie.  I think she is very close to as driven as colin witness the near religious zeal she has in getting the cab driver to run over people and explain how they cheated them by yielding them.   Serious, serious freak out in many ways as bad as the Ox alter in the same episode.

mswood:
Okay, lets do this.

A brief preamble, This list will not feature teams who didn't last long (with just a handful of exceptions) since most teams behave worse the further along they get as the stress, lack of sleep, jet lag, and lack of food build over the seasons.  So a team that might appear to be cool that is booted early might have turned into colossal assholes.

The Worst of the Worst. 
10.  Ronald & Christina TAR 12:  One of only two teams that are biologically related to each other that makes this list.  Ronald is a cantankerous old bastard who thankfully during the length of the race made great strides to actually treat his daughter (his daughter) as a human being.  But the fact that for the first 3/4 of the race treated her like crap is unforgivable.  Add to this is inability to get along with other teams (the other racers said with out a doubt he was the worst behaving racer), locals trying to assist them, service industry that they are in contact with and even judges of the race help catapult this team to the least bad on this list.

9.  Ray & Deanna TAR 7:  I have three strong criteria for behavior on the race.  In order respect the locals, be nice with your partner, and be nice with the competition.  Well they seemed okay with the locals, but this team (meaning Ray) inability to work well together (meaning not fighting) added to their utter contempt (read Ray's) for other teams (read bottom feeders) really turned me off of this team. 

8.  Wil & Tara TAR 2:  I knew we were in trouble with his attacking Blake in the very first episode, and he certainly didn't disappoint.  A racer who would openly accuse locals of cheating him, would accuse racers of cheating him (none of which happened), and would dump an alliance in a heart beat.  Not to mention his general attitude with Tara.  Tara was also no prize as she would back Wil half the time with his innane behavior.

7.  Lenny & Karyn TAR1:  While the Guidos are the official "bad guys" of their season.  I personally found watching Lenny and Karyn to be painful as we were literally watching a couple disintegrate on tv.  The first team were the female is the more abusive of the two. 

6.  Marshall & Lance TAR 5:  A team with a bitter hatred of Charla and Mirna (which that I can understand) but saddle this with this team actually quitting the race makes me hate them.  Yes I understand that they knew they were finished,yes I understand one was hurt and in pain.  But you are given a chance that millions would love (not to win a million, but to travel and experience some wonderful, wonderful places and people.  Money is just icing on the cake), and not to keep fighting just kills me.

5.  Lyn & Karlynn (BAMA) TAR 10:  Boy what a bitter self righteous team.  A team that would coast on the coat tails of others for most of the race, who then bitches about their team mates having the audacity in following them is enough to make me hate them.  But in almost all episodes they take offense at what other teams do. 

4.  Charla & Mirna TAR 5 and All Stars (they were awful in both):  A team that is beloved by many, but one that treats each other, locals and fellow racers like utter crap.  Sure I can appreciate the fact that Charla faces a harder journey then probably any other racer.  But that doesn't excuse their behavior.  A team that often initiates conflict with other teams, one that will openly push locals around (and openly insult them), and one that quite often screams at each other.  I loath this team. 

3.  Allison & Donny TAR 5:  The one exception to my rule about not judging teams that are out early.  In two episodes this team fights per minute as much as even the worst team (we all know who that is) and unlike that team it goes both ways as they tear into each other like no other team before or after.  I can only imagine how bad it could have gotten if they lasted.  And I hated this team long before I knew she was a casting stunt from Big Brother.

2.  The Weavers TAR 8 (the Family Edition):  What awful, awful behavior from a team with their own mother their.  From insulting whole states and religions, to openly throwing actual garbage at other teams, to being bat **** crazy, to their general hatred to all the other teams, to their smug religious beliefs (which nothing against religious beliefs, but they should follow a few of them), to having on of the worst cases of self entitlement in the shows history makes this a team that comes close to being the worst team ever in the shows history.  Saddle that with the worst planned ad task season and boy let the hatred flow for this team.  If this team would have won, I might have actually stopped watching the show.

1.  Jonathan & Victoria TAR 6:  What a season.  We have Lori & Bolo constantly fighting, Hayden flipping out towards the end, Kendra being a poster child for the KKK, Hellboy the quitter and Rebecca (who at times approached Kendra level of stupid racial comments) made this the poorest cast season in my opinion (I love the route and tasks, in that regard its one of my favorites) and all of them make it at least half way.  Yet this couple are worse then all of them together.  First you have Jonathan who is bat **** crazy, we have him being both viciously verbally abusive to his wife, but also tearing into other teams.  We have him actually physically hurting his wife (on this accidents to happen as a lot of pushing and shoving does happen, but to not show the slightest concern over those incidents is unforgivable), to his huge explosion on her verbally and physically in Germany make him the worst racer in the shows history.  Then we have Victoria who isn't an angel as she would also shriek and yell at him.  Just absolutely the wort casting the show has ever, ever done.  I can't think of a single scene where it wasn't painful to watch.  And for every team listed above, every one of them had moments of likability.  This team not a single one.

Dishonorable mention:  Kelly (of Ron and Kelly) verbal treatment of Ron, Kendra's incredible insensitive racial and poverty comments, Flo (well for being Flo, but at least her's were almost always directed within her team), Colin for the Ox and the cab, Christie for the cab ride meltdown, Lake for his treatment of Michelle, Lori & Bolo and Adam and Rebecca for overall behavior towards each other, Lynn & alex (who I often enjoyed) but whose comments often crossed the line, Rob & Amber.

mswood:
Okay I need to get that taste out of my mouth. 

So here it goes, my favorite teams.  Now this doesn't mean nicest.  But some are.

10.  Kelly & Jon AR 4:  Certainly not the nicest team (Millie the Mole), and they could fight with each other, but its one of the teams that I honestly thought really loved each other and that the fighting wouldn't hurt their relationship at all.  I generally loved how Kelly came into her own in this season, and how they did support each other.  And while their humor could hurt feelings it wasn't truly nasty. 

9.  Brian & Greg AR 7:  I loved these guys.  Not the best racers, but they had fun.  One of the casting bright spots in season 7.

8.  Linda & Karen (Bowling Moms) AR 5:  Another team that at times could annoy (mainly their voices when yelling at each other), but the team that more then any other to me, exeplifies the never give up and give 100%.  This team should have been canon fodder.  But their spirit and determination (with a bit of luck) kept them in to the near end.  Watching them in their final roadblock is extremely painful, but also extremely motivating and moving.  What a way to go out ladies.

7.  Tyler & James AR 10:  Another hated fit male team.  But I never judge teams based on who has already won (an asinine reason in my book).  A team of two nice guys who treated each other, other teams and locals with respect.  A team that even with its biggest rivals was always friendly.  And the team with the most functional alliance in race history (take that Back pack/six pack).  A team that was very supportive of each other and their fears (James), and one that knew how to have fun.  A highlight is watching Tyler pinch James while nervously waiting for Phil to tell them what position they check in at.

6.  Oswald & Danny AR 2 and All Stars:  A beloved team, that (especially in season 2) remained above the nasty behavior of several other teams.  One that (until season 11) never was rude to locals or service personal.  Their humor and style make them a favorite.  And chasing Phil around the Mat, priceless.

5.  Blake & Paige AR 2:  Not withstanding on occasion not respecting local customs, a team with a lot of heart for each other (in a non incestous way).  I loved the way they treated each other along the race.  Not the smartest team (Blake), but one that I never got tired of watching. 

4.  Nicolas & Donald AR 12:  I love this team.  There is something nice about seeing family treating each other well.  And like Blake and Paige even when stressed this team treated each other well.  From Don's practice in doing so many different things in life and his humor, to the way Nicolas looked out and tried to make the race easier for his grandfather.  It was a highlight of that season watching these two (that Ronald is how you treat family).

3.  Ken & Gerard AR 3:  Lord, I am on a family kick.  Billed as two opposites, these two were two of the closest, funniest and supportive racers.  They weren't fit or athletic, but they never gave up and always kept their sense of humor and family strong.  The team that america wanted to win.

2.  Kris & Jon AR 6:  With the half way point elimination of Gus & Hera, Kris and Jon were a gift.  As shown the nicest couple to race the amazing Race.  One that treated each task with Joy (minus one cab driver in China).  The thrill they had with each other and each new experience salvaged the entire season for myself.  One of the strongest racing teams, and one that even the other teams said always got along.  Watching them lose the final leg (thanks to bad travel advice) was a huge blow.  I absolutely adore this team.

1.  Eric & Jeremy AR 9:  A team that i love (horn dogs and all).  In my eyes the best racing team the show has ever had.  One that was never happy with 2nd place.  One that enjoyed the locations and people they went and saw.  One that (with one exception) treated the other racers well, and one that always treated each other well.  And while I hated them canceling the cabs, I gain more respect that they were honest and told everyone what they did (I can't think of another team that was upfront about screwing with the other teams).  Seeing BJ & Tyler beat them at that final task, really highlighted how much I hate the typical final leg (Season 2 and 12 are great exceptions) with the near end equalizer being the biggest factor in deciding who won.

Honorable mention:  Dave & Lori, Rob & Brennan (the original nice guys), Chris & amada (F word and all), Jon and Al (funny crossing over to annoy, unlike BJ & Tyler), Dave & Margarette (I loved this older team), Kynt & Vyxin, Gus & Hera (favorite parent/child team), Lena & Christy (don't know how they would have done, but they won me over with their never giving up with the hay bales), and several teams from the family Edition:  The Linz's, the Gaghans and the Bransens.  Three teams that helped get me through a terrible designed and implemented season.

mswood:
I certainly can understand your feelings towards Rovilson and Marc.  I have only made it through 3 episodes of Asia's 2nd season.  And I find them to be the reason I don't want to watch further.  The phrase camera whore was I believe invited solely for them.

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