Author Topic: HaMerotz LaMillion (The Amazing Race Israel) Season 3: HaRecaps (The Recaps)  (Read 50854 times)

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Offline Jai Ho

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And I'm back, after a long weekend at a professional conference in Orlando (yes, Jai Ho is a real person sometimes and participates on panels and discusses scholarly stuff with professors and theorists and such...and also almost gets kicked out of the hotel for bringing vino to the pool and fangirls out in a hotel suite full of academics when Koby randomly showed up in this thread). In other news, I will be moving away from Texas next week, so this week will be full of tearful goodbyes and trying to figure out how to fit several hundred books and academic journals into a station wagon. Oh, and a few changes of clothes, a coffee maker, and a broken chair. It'll be rough but I'll try to keep up, if only to placate myself as I prepare to head to a mysterious new location where I will commence studying for my PhD so I can become Dr. Jai Ho (eeep...not ready for that yet)

Fought through the jetlag, if only to present you with this guy:

Episode 22: Fear and Clothing in Las Vegas

Glitter and Darth Vader bring us back to Las Vegas. Just to update, D/D, Purples, and Falafel are looking for couples to marry, and TaKo, Blue Collar, and Sisters are off to the double battle.

Cab. Talia and Koby reminisce over the great love of Jessica and Andrew. They also point out the international-ness of Las Vegas, and how it’s a microcosm of the world. They clearly have not visited World Showcase at Epcot (which I did last week, and it was AWESOME. I ran between countries pretending I was on the race and made a pit stop in Japan where I ate teriyaki salmon.) Sisters, in their cab, are seeking the Strip, and say “strip” about 120 times in a minute.

Inferno Limo. We see a giant honkin’ red limo, where the teams will face off in a game of strip poker. AMERICA. The losers? 15 minutes on the strip in cardboard boxes. Why don’t they just give them graduate degrees while they’re at it? AMERICA.

Double Battle. TaKo vs. Blue Collar. Teams take off clothes, and TaKo are off to a good start, then get a string of bad cards. Koby’s socks smell – more on this story as it develops.

Somewhere in Vegas. Old-timey music must lead us to the oldest lady still in the Race, Debby, and indeed it does. They are still searching for a couple, and Debby’s turning on the charm. Dana is unimpressed and her social awkwardness is really turning her into Dana Downer for the time being. Elsewhere, the Purples have an incredibly awkward English conversation with their Arab taxi driver. Now at the strip, they resort to begging and wheeling and dealing. They hold up the Hebrew clue and the American has no clue what it says. Ma’Ayan bear hugs a lady in an Ohio State sweatshirt and then a bride.

Double Battle. Elvis ft. JXL brings us back to the battle, and now all three men are shirtless. And it’s wonderful for Talia. And me. And most of Israel and the Israeli expat community. Blue Collar gets an ace so it’s ta-ta to Talia’s top. Victory music sounds as Blue Collar beats TaKo 8-2, and they get their next clue, to head to Star Costume, which opens in the morning. But first! Yield Queen board. It’s anybody’s guess as to who they’ll yield and…it’s Talia and Koby?!?! Just kidding, of course it’s Debby/Dana. He man woman haters. They head to a Howard Johnson for the night and wonder if this is the best place the producers could find.

Somewhere in Vegas. Itzik and Eliran are still dumbfounded that they got ditched instead of hitched. “MA’AYAAAAAN!” screams someone, probably Batel, and it is. They find a randomly-matched couple named Bill and Penny, and head off to city hall. Batel gets a little too trigger happy in the cab, and since they’re so packed in, the producers probably can’t reach her Xanax, so their mulleted cab driver tells her to shut it.

Double Battle. TaKo vs. Romi/Michele. Lady Gaga provides mood music. The gals are in heavier clothes, so they have more (or less?) to lose. The Black Eyed Peas lead us to a montage of stripping in which we get the sisters down to their bras and panties. All seems lost, but then…bam, the girls get lucky, and make a comeback. It comes down to a king for the ladies and a 2 for the couple, so the sisters are now in second place. Talia is not a happy camper. The free-thinking sisters will provide us with an interesting choice as always, and this time, they gravitate towards Blue Collar, who are shown exercising in their hotel room. Howard Johnson for them, and they’re out of the episode with over a half hour to go.

Somewhere in Vegas. D/D walk hand-in-hand past KISS and beeline to a bespectacled couple who look vaguely Asian/Native American, and Dana praises her mother’s chutzpah for once.

City Hall. Debby confuses “excited” with “exciting,” giving herself undue praise. The purples are also there.

Somewhere in Vegas. Falafel find a magician, and employ the “get everyone’s attention” strategy, and they ambush a random couple, about whom we learn nothing while they shove them into a cab.

Chapel. Silly music must mean that Batel and Ma’Ayan are coming anon, and that they are. Bill hugs Penny, so Ma’Ayan sees that as an excuse to hug…everyone. Not that she needs an excuse. D/D enter the wedding dress warehouse room, and Debby must, of course, look for a dress for herself. Batel claims bride, so Ma’Ayan must be the man. She then calls the bride Fiona, which is either a funny mistake or a horribly insulting Shrek reference. Over at Debby/Dana, their bride has a mini dress while the Debby is diva’d out in a floor length gown. She contemplates marriage as she applies her lipstick, and one gets the impression that this is an activity she does on a regular basis. Batel has an ugly 70s dress, while Ma’Ayan and Dana look foxy in their suits. In an interview, Debby/Dana sing an off-key wedding march. We learn that the Purples’ couple is Bill and Patty, not Penny…screw you, captioners! D/D’s vaguely Asian couple is Ira and Maddy. Wedding speech time, and if this was a double battle, nobody wins. Ma’Ayan and Batel barely speak English, lacking pronouns and making odd nonhuman noises. Debby’s got a better handle on English, but then mentions how, like this couple, she married a Canadian…and then they got divorced. Make your own Debby Downer joke here. Little Peggy March sings as the couples kiss, and of course, the purples must dance and call their bride Fiona once more, and hug everyone in Las Vegas, and Debby does another dress twirl and leads the hora.

City Hall. Badly-In-Need-of-Lipstick-License-Lady makes her last cameo, and the Falafels head to the chapel. The groom has a guitar. Eliran is bored. When he gets hitched, everyone go to his wedding and so the Makayla Maroney. This couple is seen reading their vows. He (Nicholas) seems sincere, but she (Julie) seems a little strung out. Itzik says a wedding speech that probably neither the bride nor groom understand. They get a Hebrew song. I guess the producers ran out of American wedding songs? Groom Nicholas then sings to his bride, who looks on floppily.

Limo. All we have left are three double battles, so this should end pretty quickly.

Double Battle: TaKo taking on D/D. We do not, however, get to see how Debby Does Vegas, because take off her clothes, she does not. Madonna sings “Material Girl” and that must mean the girls win. Indeed, D/D only lose their footwear, leaving Koby and Talia all “holy effing ****.” At the Yield Queen board, it’s a second vote for David/Eliran.

Double Battle: TaKo vs. Purples. Talia’s all “so lovely to see you.” She also looks carsick. You would be too if you had to ride around all night in that thing. We get Donna Summer to accompany us as Koby rapidly disrobes and Talia’s all, “the hell, Koby?” (that one’s for Talia ;-)) The tide seems to turn, and the floor of the limo becomes littered with purple garb as Hot Chocolate sings to us. We are getting a crash course in one-hit wonders tonight. The girls decide that they can take off no more, and Talia actually starts crying. The hell, Talia? (That one’s for Koby ;-)) The cameramen must be getting lax because we get two long montages where we see equipment, one with Talia telling her Ethiopian taxi driver about Itzik, and another where Falafel  practices counting with their Jamaican cab man. Practice makes perfect, guys. Maybe before this race is over, you’ll learn how many fingers old you are! Hint: get extra hands. TaKo vote for D/D, tying this thing up.

Double Battle: Purples vs. Falafel, for all the marbles. Falafel have previously done a naked task, so this would ironic if they lost. This one’s actually an interesting one, as both teams have roughly the same levels of intelligence and maturity. And…we get to see Batel in her panties! Yay! This is the girl who swam in a dress. And the final cards are drawn, giving the purples a win. They pick D/D, giving them their third vote, complete with doom music. But what if Falafel vote for Blue Collar? What happens then. SUSPENSE.

Streets of Las Vegas. Petula Clark (a BRIT) leads us to our naked Falafel friends traversing the streets in embarrassingly written cardboard boxes. A granny in pink peeks under Itzik’s box, and it’s uncomfortable for everyone but him. They go in a diner which clearly has no dress code, and get their clue. At the Yield Queen Board, they go straight for Blue Collar, giving them their first “dun dun dun” of the race. End of ep.

Next Time: Fun with obesity! Intersection! Disgustingly large hamburgers! Itzik still hasn’t learned English. AMERICA.
TAR. USA/Israel.

aishwarya rai :: nicole scherzinger :: ke$ha :: leila lopes :: rosanne cash :: des'ree :: carly simon :: leymah gbowee :: mary j blige :: kathy najimy :: annie lennox :: angelique kidjo :: dolly parton :: temple grandin :: sheila e :: lena :: ellen degeneres :: shirley manson

Offline Jai Ho

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Took a quick break from packing to finish up this episode - this will probably be the last recap written in the Lone Star State. This episode actually made me hungry...going to grab a quick bite at my favorite Houston diner, probably for the last time :(
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Episode 23: Heart Disease Hotel

Everything’s bigger in America? Texas begs to differ. Jus’ sayin.

Credits.

Vegas. It looks lackluster in the morning. David/Eliran look forward to new challenges. Romi/Michele are seething about David/Eliran. Romi says “Vegas Baby!” You know what that means. I’m drinking club soda tonight so I’ll probably have to stop and pee a few times.

Costume Shop. Blue Collar and Sisters get their clue, which tells them to dress up in one 7XL outfit, hail a cab, and go to Roxy’s Diner to eat a burger. D/D arrive and suit up. The sisters are in a wine-colored ensemble, and David/Eliran can’t help but laugh at their own purple outfit. D/D seem to get a move on in their red ensemble. Blue Collar bounces across the street. D/D get some laughs from the crowd. They high-five a jogger, and then Dana trips and falls, bringing her team to a stop.

Cab. Talia comments that Las Vegas in the daytime looks like Gymboree. The hell, Talia? In the Purples cab, they’re all “Vegas woo!” Eliran, in the Falafel cab, is homesick and disenchanted with the city. That’s what you get for waking up in Vegas.

Costume Shop. TaKo compare themselves to Humpty Dumpty as they head out in green. Talia compares it to wearing a jean skirt in religious school, which I can totally see. Elsewhere, Coral takes a tumble and TaKo gamely help them up. Fat people need love too. Here come Falafel, hopping along in yellow. In another part of town, D/D are still on the ground. They get up though, and have a funny fat person race with Blue Collar and the Sisters, claiming the first cab. Falafel get lucky and find a cab. Blue Collar wonder where everyone went off to. Sisters get a cab in third.

Diner. D/D attempt to exit their cab with grace, but fail. A friendly passerby ties their shoes, hopefully not together. Clue box. It’s an Intersection. The ladies hope a boy team comes, but it’s Romi/Michele, and the girls…don’t want to work together. Hopping in in third are Itzik/Eliran, whom D/D are quite happy to intersect with. Their task: eat a giant burger and cola together. Ah, supersizing. They walk past a bunch of diners and get settled at a table. The camera shows us a particularly corpulent American. I wonder if the producers found him specifically for this task. Mom/Daughter/Falafel get their burger and dig in. Debby’s all about the ketchup, but neither she nor Itzik can open it after some serious trying. Israelis do love their ketchup.

Streets of Vegas. TaKo ask a local pet shop owner for a taxi, and they have to resort to a phonebook. Elsewhere, Blue Collar snag a cab, as well as the Purples.

Diner. In toddle the Blue Collars, and Romi/Michele flag them over, but the boys are set on helping out Ma’Ayan and Batel, rather than start now with the sisters, because who knows how long it’ll be before the cousins show up. In come said cousins, and since the sisters want to get it over with and the boys are not cooperating, they snag the cousins. Romi Smarty-Huge-Ass-Pants calls Batel and Ma’Ayan Yemenites instead of Persians. Unlike the every-man-for-himself approach of the other group, the ladies opt to slice pieces for each team member, with Romi doing the slicing. Meanwhile, TaKo arrive and are paired with the boys by default. Debby joke that Talia won’t be able to handle the meat, but she shows her who’s boss when Koby, David, and Eliran task her with eating the buns. Montage of teams eating. Despite starting last, David/Eliran/Koby/Talia finish their burger first and get their next clue, which is to go to Dino’s Lounge, where they will dress up as Elvis and do an Elvis act. Also featured: Yield board! In the cab, David/Eliran feel bad for their friends, but a race is a race.

Dino’s. Yield board, and the newlyweds are safe. They get suited up as Elvis. On their iPad, they must learn “Hound Dog,” and dance to it.

Diner. Team Mom/Daughter/Falafel finish, with the girls soon after. Romi/Michele call over Falafel and D/D and tell them about Blue Collar’s bitch move. They engage in a dish session about the boys, about which the cousins are uncomfortable.

Yield board. Blue Collar? Yielded. They suit up in blue Elvis costumes.

Elvis task. TaKo are ready to perform for him. They clearly do not know the words, and they have little to no rhythm. Talia attempts a pose a la Saturday Night Fever – wrong decade. He tells them they need to practice. Elsewhere in Vegas, D/D are hopelessly looking for a cab when a lady in pink offers to help. Debby promptly yells at her. And Americans are the ugly ones? Back at the Elvis, the blue suede Blue Collar boys sing “Blue Suede Shoes.” They have some pretty good rhythm and skills at performing, and even get the judge to dance with them. Victory for them, and they head off in first. Their next clue tells them to head to Golden Gate Casino. They duck into several stores, hoping someone will help them get a taxi. Eliran is particularly titillated by a sex shop.

Yield board. Neither Romi/Michele nor Ma’Ayan/Batel are yielded. They suit up as Elvis. Their song is “All Shook Up.” They don’t know this song, but they pay attention to the video. The cousins get “Hound Dog,” and they don’t even know Elvis.

Streets of Vegas. D/D and Falafel are still plodding along the road in search of a taxi. In their cab, Debby offers Dana some Orbit to rid themselves of burger breath. Eliran sings and scratches Itzik’s nose.

Elvis task. TaKo are on their second try, and they shake it up a bit more this time, and even get the lyrics down. Their judge shows mercy and gives them the clue, and they head off. In their cab, Blue Collar note that the sisters are a threat, under the radar. At the task, Elvis practices with each of the girl teams that have arrived. Up first are Romi/Michele, and they get into it and don’t sound too bad, getting the words pretty well. Ma’Ayan/Batel break it down pretty well, but not so much with the English. Back at the Yield board, Falafel are safe, and D/D are not. Usual suspects. Dana even comments that this is getting old. They get “Blue Suede Shoes.” Eliran remarks how odd Itzik looks as Elvis, because Elvis was white. Oh dear, I’m already face-palming for their attempt at “Hound Dog.” Back at the task, it sounds like Ma’Ayan is singing about a hot dog. Romi/Michele get the clue and Romi Know-it-All comments on the “Elvis lives” myth. Ma’Ayan, upon getting the clue, must hug Elvis, and they get a cab, where she babbles to the driver about being from Mea Shearim with her ringlets.

Elvis task. Debby, the only racer old enough to have had Elvis have any impact on her upbringing (ok, she’s not THAT old, but she’s a little closer in age to Elvis), comments that she loves Elvis. They completely butcher their song, and get instructed to do it again. This judge means business. Here come Eliran and Itzik, and this is already a disaster. First, they don’t know the difference between “sound” and “song,” and then they think they’re singing about “Ando.” They don’t even try to get the lyrics, and just go “wady wady wa,” to which Elvis cuts them off and is all, back to square one for you. Their second try is just as bad, and now they probably wish they paid more attention in English class. Debby and Dana head up for their second try, and they do sound better. They get their clue. And…third try for Falafel. They still mumble the lyrics, but at least they dance better. Elvis is displeased with their butchering of his song, but gives them a pity clue, literally, because I think if he didn’t give it to them until they learned the song lyrics correctly, he would have to come back from the dead several more times.

Next Time: Revolving doors! Partner-carrying! Base jumping! Everyone looks pissed off because apparently this leg isn’t over – I feel you on that one.
TAR. USA/Israel.

aishwarya rai :: nicole scherzinger :: ke$ha :: leila lopes :: rosanne cash :: des'ree :: carly simon :: leymah gbowee :: mary j blige :: kathy najimy :: annie lennox :: angelique kidjo :: dolly parton :: temple grandin :: sheila e :: lena :: ellen degeneres :: shirley manson


Offline stekay

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It's amazing how Ma'ayan & Bat-el have now won two legs on the trot after being yielded twice. Would love to be able to watch this.

Offline Andre

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It's amazing how Ma'ayan & Bat-el have now won two legs on the trot after being yielded twice. Would love to be able to watch this.
Yep they're a slow starter <3
No one I think is in my tree... I mean it must be high alone

Offline Maxine Rama

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Omg Ma'ayan/Bat-El to be the next Bar/Inna <3


Offline Brannockdevice

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Hey guys. So apparently leg 11 of this season is going to be in Arizona (wikipedia never lies)- but I'm so pissed because I live here and I never heard anything  :'( I'm really sorry I couldn't find anything on this, I feel terrible. Although if I'd had to guess, they'd probably be going to Grand Canyon/Monument Valley area up north. Again, I'm really sorry I couldn't be there myself to find any spoilers  :(
"Exploration is really the essence of the human spirit." -Frank Borman

Offline Jai Ho

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Hey kids, greetings from Jai Ho..meless, coming to you live from Omaha, Nebraska. No, really. As I mentioned, I've been on the road for a few days with the family, who are kindly helping me move. This is actually one of the first times I've gotten to be at the computer in two weeks, and no, I haven't forgotten about you guys, but I'm further behind than ever and I still have a few days left until I get to my new place, and settle in, so bear with me. For your reading pleasure...
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Episode 24: In Which General Tasks Involving Superheroes Happen. (yeah, nothing came to me this week :( )

We open on teams heading to Golden Gate Casino in Elvis attire.

Cabs. TaKo make alien sounds, sing, and talk about their views on money and gambling. Eliran and David are worried about the upcoming yield. In the Sisters’ cab, they reminisce about a cab driver from their hometown named Elvis.

Golden Gate Casino. Roadblock. In this roadblock, one team member must change in a revolving door from Elvis gear into superhero gear within 30 seconds, and then carry their teammate and a plastic car to find a damsel in distress, who looks more like a misplaced Woodstock flower child. Heroic music plays as the guys head into the revolving door. Out comes Eliran, in a purple costume. They get a strong start, notable considering their weight. They ask a local bikini barista if she needs saving. Probably from her embarrassing job but that’s for a team from another show. Back at the roadblock site, TaKo hit the revolving door…like a lead balloon. The door could not go any slower. Their time runs out and they must try again, but for now, we go to Debby, reminiscing about Vegas…we get it, you like the city, so what else is new.

Streets of Vegas. Itzik gets a cab, and Eliran bitches at him for constantly being in last. Well, being in a country where you’re the only team who doesn’t have at least a basic grasp of the local tongue is not an Itzik thing, it’s a “both of you” thing.

Golden Gate Casino. Purples arrive in third and argue over who’s going to do it as security personnel chit chat in the background. Batel is taking this one and unwieldily carries her much taller partner. Romi/Michele arrive next, with Romi opting to perform this task. Coral enjoys this task, which mostly involves sitting for the majority of it. Romi interviews that her left arm is still sore. Back at the door, Talia demonstrates either how to become a superhero or run from a burning building. She comments that Koby dawdles while brushing his teeth and other sundry tasks. He changes and jumps out, and she…takes a tumble. Oops. They take off, but it’s only a few steps before Koby’s shoulder starts to hurt. Elsewhere, Batel is struggling. Eliran, carrying his big sack of partner, finds the lady in white. He makes a little show of carrying her. Purples, having passed up TaKo, arrive at the lady as well. David and Ma’Ayan do the rip and read, and it’s a double-barrelled roadblock, with the other member jumping from the top of the Stratosphere, so David and Ma’Ayan will be performing this task.

Stratosphere. Blue Collar and Purples arrive and learn their fate. Eliran and Batel show their disappointment at missing out on the fun jump after having to carry their partner through the streets. At the top, David tells Eliran that he will scream his name from the top, and Eliran comments that that’s gay, just do the damn jump. Ma’Ayan asks her handler if there’s an ambulance waiting, getting the ever-popular response “you’ll be fine.”

Golden Gate Casino. It’s Dana’s turn for a roadblock, so she must carry her mother. Eliran will take it for the Falafels. Eliran compares his lime green outfit to that of Peter Pan. On a street in Vegas, Talia/Koby are kind of lost, with Talia wondering if a random orange-haired dude is their damsel in distress. This allows the sisters to find her in third, with TaKo in third.

Stratosphere. Romi is thrilled that her sister must jump. Coral? Not so thrilled. Ma’Ayan has Batel sing a psalm. First up to jump is David, though, who gently falls off and lands on the ground as four random old ladies clap. Ma’Ayan is asked if she wants to look down, and she’s all “…no.” She does the jump with much screaming and flailing, being Ma’Ayan. Next clue, read by Eliran, is to find the pit stop at the corner of Ali Baba and Giles, in a suspiciously empty part of town, where a limo will pick them up. Ok…so we’re going for an Ocean’s Eleven angle? Also, Yield right before the pit stop? Not cool, show. Both teams get in cabs to the pit stop.

Streets of Vegas. Dana is struggling, not aided by the fact that Debby is probably wearing about nine pounds of makeup. Falafel passes them up on the street, with Eliran commenting that Itzik is rather light. D/D watch Falafel disappear further and further into the distance while Dana ends up literally on the ground, with Debby commenting that she should have done this one.

Stratosphere. Talia is stoked to jump off yet another high thing. And predictably, she pirouettes while thinking about it. Maybe one of these legs she’ll surprise us and do the Bump. Coral suits up. Three, two, one…and no jump, yet. At the top, Talia gives us another history lesson on women of the Israeli war team who have also participated in jumping activities. The hell, Talia? Only you. Unlike Coral, she jumps right away. Talia asks Koby how she looked, and he responds, “like a dot that got bigger.” Well, at least he’s accurate, if nothing else. Back up top, Coral just needs another minute but she’s over the edge as well, looking rather graceful and not nearly as flail-y.

Cabs. Blue Collar arrive first and turn over their sand glass. Ma’Ayan realizes that since they’re behind only David/Eliran, who are yielded, they’ve got a very good chance of being first. Their cab crosses under the Mandalay Bay, and here they are, at the flags. They run down a nondescript patch of sidewalk, and nothing happens. But wait, here’s a limo. Out pops Marilyn Monroe to welcome the ladies into the limo, where Ron waits. Ma’Ayan and Ron banter, and Marilyn actually says, “I don’t understand what you’re saying.” Oh, Marilyn. A linguist, you are not. Stick to welding. They get the news that they’re first, but that the leg is not yet over. Marilyn hands over their next clue and Ron says, see ya at the next pit stop, and they’re back out on the street where they must get their next clue at Vegas Western.

Streets of Vegas. D/D are plodding along, slowly but surely. They acknowledge that they’ve got a yield coming up. They find the white lady, and head to Stratosphere. In their cab, Romi/Michele realize that they’ve got little money left, and they’re nowhere near the pit stop. TaKo are also shown going to the pit stop. Eliran yells at the sand glass to go faster. Sisters arrive at the pit stop, and their driver is incensed that they don’t have the money. Like any cab driver, he holds Coral’s bag as collateral while the girls run off in search of money. Suddenly, Talia/Koby appear and run past Blue Collar to the mat. Talia immediately recognizes Marilyn, and references the birthday song, because she hasn’t been living under a rock, but we all know that. Since they speak English, they get to include Marilyn in the conversation, who comments on how handsome Koby is, while Talia comments that he’s still chubby but less so. They are second, but they get their next clue. I hope Ron knows that Talia has once again had alcohol.

Pit Stop. The sand glass runs out, and David/Eliran, now in third, meet Marilyn. David comments that seeing Ron means rest. But, not this time! Marilyn sings them a song and then they complain about Romi/Coral. Then they get booted out of the limo with their clue.

Stratosphere. Itzik comments that he dislikes heights, even going to his sister’s thirteenth story apartment. Eliran gets clotheslined by a turnstile. Ball hard, Eliran. D/D arrive and Dana whines that Mom gets to do all the fun stuff while she gets to carry stuff and fight animals. Itzik heads out on the edge. Three, two, one…and no. Eliran does not see his friend falling from the air, so he gets worried. Deb fiddles with her suit. The handler tells Debby to say hi to her kids, which she does weakly. Despite her fear, she does the jump. They head off to the pit stop, now no longer in last, but with a yield ahead. Itzik jumps now, and in a rare moment of Itzik introspection, he comments on how meaningful it is. They head for the pit stop. Eliran comments how fierce of a competitor Debby is. In the Debby cab, she begs the driver to go faster. She name-checks the fact that they’re on The Amazing Race, and their driver actually says, “Why didn’t you say so?” and speeds off. He also almost leaves them without their bags. Back at the Sisters cab, they have gathered the money, and run up to the mat. Marilyn welcomes them with champagne and they are in fourth. Romi looks forward to sleeping and showering, and of course that will not be happening, so they get their clue and go.

Pit stop. Debby/Dana sit on the corner and wait for their hourglass to run its course. Itzik/Eliran’s driver gets a little confused, but only for a block or two. Even though the ladies’ hourglass is just about out by the time the gents arrive, the latter team gets fifth place. Shockingly, Itzik knows who Marilyn Monroe is, and is surprised to see her alive. Eliran is less than enchanted about continuing immediately. Last placers Debby and Dana arrive at the mat and get in the limo, where Debby is pleasantly surprised to se Marilyn. They do the “we’re last and we know it” speech, but then get saved and live to race another day, because at least the producers know better than to have a team be eliminated by a stupidly placed yield, which I still don’t understand. They head off into the Vegas night.

Next time: Halloween! Frogs! Teams get buried alive. Yikes.
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Overall, a poorly planned leg, but interactions with Americans made it worth watching. Can't wait to see what other shenanigans these teams get into here in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Whopper.
TAR. USA/Israel.

aishwarya rai :: nicole scherzinger :: ke$ha :: leila lopes :: rosanne cash :: des'ree :: carly simon :: leymah gbowee :: mary j blige :: kathy najimy :: annie lennox :: angelique kidjo :: dolly parton :: temple grandin :: sheila e :: lena :: ellen degeneres :: shirley manson

Offline Brannockdevice

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Hey everyone, Brannockdevice here again. So apparently the teams are going to Flagstaff, AZ!! I'm so mad, as I only live a little less than 2 hours away from there  :pity

I'm so sorry I couldn't be there to get pictures or anything  :'( however, I could tell you all about Flagstaff!

Flagstaff is a small college town in northern Arizona; it's home to NAU (Northern Arizona University). It's a mile in elevation, so in the winter it's a haven for winter sports buffs (yes, it does snow in parts of AZ). I believe they went here in the summer, so there won't be snow, but it's still stunning there! I don't think they'll be visiting the Grand Canyon (they would've passed it on their way to Flagstaff), but if they do its about a 1.5 hour drive north. As for predictions for the rest of the leg, I think they'll continue their journey south, and visit Slide Rock State Park/Sedona, which is about 45 minutes south (Sedona is a quaint little town right in the heart of Red Rock Country, where the mountains are literally rust red! Slide Rock is a popular tourist destination- it's a river that nature has kinda eroded into a sort of water slide. Upriver there are cliffs that you can go cliff jumping. It's really fun). It's also possible that they have a challenge in Flagstaff, then take a bus to Los Angeles or San Diego (both are about a 6-7 hour drive). I also think its possible they'll end up in Phoenix, (which infuriate me even more, as I live here and never saw them!) where they can play golf in 115 degree heat  :funny:

Again, I'm really sorry I couldn't get pictures of them. Although I hoped you all enjoyed a little bit of commentary about where they went  :)
"Exploration is really the essence of the human spirit." -Frank Borman

Offline Jai Ho

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So, greetings from my new digs, where I'm currently sitting in a nest of sheets on the floor because my furniture won't be here until next week. Next week is also finale week, and I know I'm crazy behind, but this past one has taken me three states to do, and I have 4 days of nothing coming up until orientation so I should be good to go.

Anyway, from the beautiful Midwest, here's Episode 25.

Episode 25: Tales from the Crypt

We open on Purples opening their clue, directing them to Dig This. Ma’Ayan and Batel are happy to be first, for the first time. TaKo have a cab driver that is a bit more enthusiastic than they’d want, and they argue with him over his speed, and he tells them about his drinking problem. Maybe they should’ve switched cabs with the Purples, who seem to have a driver that’s happy enough to clap. Talia looks tired and frustrated. In the Blue Collar cab, their driver is ten kinds of crazy, triple-checking the address and talking about his fascination with Hebrew. David looks like his current fascination is exiting this cab as soon as possible.

Dig This. TaKo’s argumentative driver must have been good because they pull up just in front of the girls. A guy dressed as a ninja has their next clue, a route info. They have a Blair Witch style video featuring Ron giving them clues to a location. The X-Files theme plays as David/Eliran arrive and try to figure out the clue. TaKo thinks they’ve got it – the theme of the words is horror movies – and they are correct. The ninja gives them their next clue, and it’s a roadblock. The teammate that performs the task must be buried alive for ten minutes without panicking. I…would not be able to do this. Well, actually, maybe I could do it by lying there making lists of all the places I would rather not be, or maybe by playing a bunch of TV theme songs in my head. But back to the race. Koby will do it. The purples get the clue as well, and Batel will perform this roadblock. Koby is very scared, while Batel’s all…whatever. All the team members get their pulses, heart rates, etc. checked. Koby wonders if he can be buried with his inhaler.

Graveyard. Koby, now blindfolded, gets escorted in with one arm around the wife, and one around the executioner. I’ll let you guess which is which. Koby comments that it’s lie Friday the 13th.

Pit start. Sisters and Falafels open the clue. Eliran/Itzik are notably beaten-down and remark how tough it is to stay in the race. Sisters’ cab driver is lost. He pulls out an old-style phone book. They trash him in Hebrew, and a completely uncomfortable conversation ensues.
Roadblock. The task starts to hit Batel as she approaches the coffin. Koby lies down in his coffin and starts to get buried. Talia is scared and hoping that she doesn’t have to do this again. Batel starts to get buried and screams out. In an interview, she comments on the sound of the dirt hitting the coffin. Ma’Ayan and Talia watch their partners on little video screens. A completely creepy girl sings “Itsy Bitsy Spider” in the background.

Dig This. Sisters and Falafel arrive and get the ninja clue while Blue Collar is still working on it. Eliran actually says the answer in his interview, inadvertently. Romi Know-it-All actually does know the right answer this time, and gets the clue for her team before Blue Collar, with Falafel right behind them. They open the roadblock clue. Eliran, Eliran, and Romi (who reveals that she’s claustrophobic) will do it.

Roadblock. Blue Collar Eliran gets led out first, then Romi. They climb in their respective coffins, and all Coral has to say about gangsters burying their victims is, “that’s sad.” Coral comments that she isn’t afraid of stuff like this and she should’ve done it. Flash over to Romi, singing Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life” in her coffin. And they say dead men can’t sing. Eliran of Itzik/Eliran gets buried, and Itzik comments on how real it is.

Coffin-cams. Blue Collar Eliran is quite a chatty corpse, talking the night away. Coral comments that it’s kind of like a tanning bed, kicking herself for not doing this. Elsewhere, D/D start the leg, trying to keep positive about their non-elim, and still love Vegas, for everything that it’s put them through. Back at the coffins, Koby and Batel finish. Koby sits up with dramatic flair, Batel…is kind of disoriented, all “what’s this thing called light?” They get the next clue.

Dig This. Debby and Dana get the clue quickly, and it’s Debby’s turn for a roadblock. She turns a little white at the task.

Haunted House. As TaKo have a chat with their driver, the cousins have already made it to the Haunted House. They approach the door and a creepy man answers, asking THEM “trick or treat?” Ma’Ayan says treat, hoping for the best, as do TaKo. The man comes out with a pie for the cousins, and as Ma’Ayan reaches for  it, he pies Batel in the face. Batel has a moment of shock, then is all “Ron Shacher!!!” Valid person to complain to.  Koby also gets a baked goods facial, and Talia sees this as an opportunity to have a late-night snack. The hell, Talia? For their next trick, the teams must kiss frogs. TaKo do this with pleasure, and Batel points out that this is Ma’Ayan’s first kiss. Ma’Ayan hopes her next kiss will be outside the amphibian family.

Roadblock. Debby gets led to the grave, with much fear and freaking out and praying. Eliran, Eliran, and Romi are all done and leave. Itzik yells that they’ve returned from the dead. Well, your teammate  but who’s counting. Romi/Michele ask a hospital to order them a cab. It comes and they fight with Eliran/Itzik about the cab. The sisters get their same crypt-keeper guy from before, who finally, after a convo with Romi, picks up that they’re on the Amazing Race. Meanwhile, Debby is (appropriately) upset in the coffin because it sucks in there.

Haunted House. David/Eliran ask for a treat, and David dodges the pie which ends up mostly on the ground. Good on you. Batel/Ma’Ayan and TaKo get their final treat, a gummy bear on steroids. Batel still has a face full of pie. Talia finds all this hilarious, but the guy looks like he wants them off their property. Both teams get the clue, and one team hugs the creepy guy. Bet you can guess which. Next clue is out back, where one racer has to dunk their partner. Carnival games for everyone! Sisters and Blue Collar get the frogs, Romi is happy to get the affection, whereas Coral, Eliran, and David are less than thrilled but do it without too much commentary.

Roadblock. Debby is actually glad she did this one, in retrospect, because she’d probably be in more emotional trouble seeing her daughter getting buried, and now Dana has a renewed appreciation for her mother. They walk off without letting go of one another.

Cab. Falafel get a lesson in Halloween, which they refer to as “Elvin.” Um, he was on The Cosby Show, and he wasn’t even the scary one. That would be Denise, or Bill towards the end. Eliran says “trip or tit,” and I can’t even imagine that one.

Haunted House. David/Eliran have to bob for apples now, as do the sisters. Romi Know-It-All thinks they can pick it up between their faces. Um, no?

Dunk Tank. Ma’Ayan comments that the lady looks like Alice in Wonderland. Ma’Ayan climbs in, and Batel throws like a girl. Talia reluctantly climbs in, looking like she needs some alcohol to either numb her from the cold or from the experience. Koby hits it lightly, but not enough to tip Talia.

Haunted House. D/D and Falafel get frogs to kiss. Itzik looks like he’s smoking the frog. Debby freaks out at the frog, and I would too,
because I found one on my patio a few weeks ago and I can admit I did the same. At the apple bobbing, Eliran of Blue Collar has seemed to get the hang of it, but David mostly gets water, getting it eventually. They get the clue in third. David/Eliran draw rocks to see who will be the lucky guy to sit in the tank, and it’s Eliran getting the short end of the stick again.

Dunk Tank. Long montage of failures, broken up by Batel getting Ma’Ayan in, then Koby getting Talia in. The clue is a small yellow piece of paper which they redeem for their clue. Next clue: lingerie football. The purples pass up Talia and Koby and their chatty cabby to get the first slot at the football stadium. Blue Collar’s driver suddenly wakes up from his haze and starts to book it. It looks like they got pulled over, but they stop and are there, beating TaKo, who arrive in third and not too happy about it.

Haunted House. Debby gingerly kisses the frog before it hops away. Sisters and Falafel are still struggling at the apples. Romi/Michele bump out the apples with their heads and then pick them up off the ground with their mouths…um, you’re doing it wrong, but okay. They get their final treat, the pie, and the man does the old “smell this” trick, and picks Coral. Romi Know-It-All saw it coming, or so she says, and Coral Sour Puss is all, “don’t look at me, I’m hideous…but tasty.” They head to the dunk tank, where Romi gets up on the stand.

Haunted House. D/D get the gummy bear, and Itzik gets the hang of the apples, teaching Eliran in the process. Debby claims that because of her age, she can’t finish the bear, and Dana’s all “wtf mom, that makes no sense.” The two teams get their pies, but the guy must be getting tired because he only gets Eliran on the side, and I think he tries to get Dana but Debby’s surprisingly quick reflexes deflect the pie from hitting her.

Dunk Tank. Romi gets dunked, and Buzz Killington gets them to the next task in fourth. Eliran and Dana sit in the tank while their partners throw balls. Debby, unsurprisingly, throws like a girl, but Itzik gets Eliran down pretty quick. Just as Dana jokes that she’ll be there until August, Debby beans the button and down she goes.They get the clues in that order, and end episode.

Next time: Hoover Dam! Ladies in lingerie! Truck pulling! Someone’s on the ground – looks like Ma’Ayan.
TAR. USA/Israel.

aishwarya rai :: nicole scherzinger :: ke$ha :: leila lopes :: rosanne cash :: des'ree :: carly simon :: leymah gbowee :: mary j blige :: kathy najimy :: annie lennox :: angelique kidjo :: dolly parton :: temple grandin :: sheila e :: lena :: ellen degeneres :: shirley manson

Offline Jai Ho

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FINALLY got wireless in the new apartment today and finished this one which I've been working on for awhile. I will be skipping 27 and 30, since I skimmed those episodes and they're pretty much clip shows, so only two left after this.

Oh, and happy birthday to racer David:conf:

Orientation is tomorrow, all day, but maybe I'll skip out early on an activity to get started on Ep. 28. Until then, enjoy this piece.

---

Episode 26:Washing Away the Competition

For the bazillionth time, we open in Nevada.

Cabs. In first are the cousins, who are hoping against hope to stay in first. Batel looks notably fresher, with straighter hair and a face full of makeup. Blue Collar and TaKo are in cabs as well.

Longevity Sports Center. Time for the first task of the day, scoring a touchdown against the Lingerie Football League. Of course the race would do this. Only on the Merotz. Side note: lingerie football? why is this even a thing? Batel thinks that the girls are pretty, and Ma’Ayan does not think so. Koby comments that one of the girls looks like his ex. TaKo are up first and do pretty badly. Ma’Ayan and Batel have no clue (as if we expected them to) how to play American football. Ma’Ayan instructs her cousin that the whole point is that the ball doesn’t touch the ground. That’s pretty much a basic tenet of the game, so I’ll get on board with that. Also, the cousins look cute in their skirts, like they’re grade-school field hockey players who got lost on the way home from practice at Our Lady of Many Sorrows. Blue Collar are similarly unimpressive.

Cabs. Romi’s singing “We Are Family.” Elsewhere, reality has set in for Itzik/Eliran, who realize that their race could be their last. In another cab, last-place Debby shares her personal philosophy of positivity. Debby and philosophy are not two things that normally go together.

Longevity Sports Center. All six teams are now there, and Romi and Michele are on the field. Romi becomes the first racer of the day to complete a pass, only to get man-handled (woman-handled?) by the other team and turned on her head. Owch. To no one’s surprise, Itzik and Eliran have no clue what is going on. The cousins cheer on the lingerie girls, and Itzik dives for a pass but misses. D/D are very intimidated and inquisitive about the ladies and their bodies. Debby ask for some fitness tips and is challenged to a push-up contest against a girl and it’s hilarious. Time for second chances, and Batel scores the first touchdown of the day, followed by David, who looks like he’s being invited to a Sadie Hawkins dance. Next clue: hitch a ride on a truck to Boulder City (finally, no more Vegas!) where they’ll compete in a strongman task involving a truck pull.

Trucks. Ma’Ayan and Batel are overjoyed at learning that their truck’s driver is Louis, and they clap. Ma’Ayan tells the driver that her father is also a trucker. Blue Collar climbs in a truck, and for the second time in the race, we hear Eliran call himself Luke, which is in fact his last name and not something he picked out of the sky. “Country Roads” comes on, which is a prerequisite to any open-road-driving sequence, anytime, anywhere. Also look out for “Life is a Highway,” “Highway to Hell,” and “On the Road Again” (which we heard a bit of). Bonus points for “Shut Up and Drive.” Ma’Ayan stretches out, and Batel cries for some reason. They also ask Louis to take them home “but lo hayom (not today),” this season’s “I speak but not maspik.” Just as Ma’Ayan drifts off, the prerecorded radio message starts to play and the girls are genuinely and pleasantly surprised to hear Batel’s uncle and Ma’Ayan’s aunt (who also happen to be Ma’Ayan’s father and Batel’s mother) talk to them.

Football. Romi misses again on her second try. Eliran also gets an incomplete. Koby scores for him and Talia, as does Dana for her and mom, keeping the top three in the same order they left and bumping up D/D from sixth to fourth. Outside, Talia dances in the street until the truck arrives. D/D also climb in a truck. Both teams know “Country Roads,” although Debby’s a bit wrong on the lyrics. We get a crotch shot of David and Eliran. Their announcement comes on, and Eliran shouts “Sylvie!” about a half-second after David’s mom starts talking. Eliran’s mom gives a shout-out as well.

Boulder City. Cousins de-truck and we learn that they must pull a several-ton truck across a line painted on the ground. The strongman gives them their clue, and is probably surprised to see Stretch and Skinny power walk across the lot. David/Eliran arrive and get briefed by a lady in pink. Unlike Ma’Ayan/Batel, the boys don’t seem too fazed, probably since they do a lot of physical labor involving pulling on a day-to-day basis working at the port. In fact, their opening sequence in the credits shows them doing just that, so they’ve probably got a good chance of passing the cousins here. Both teams start, and the combination of wind and difficulty of task almost blows them away into the air. Blue Collar’s truck starts to move, and Eliran tells us about how momentum works.

Football. We get a brief shot of Romi twerking followed by a montage of the four remaining racers doing pretty badly. Itzik barely scrapes by the end zone and scores. Romi’s touchdown shot shows her actually going into the end zone. Both teams get into yellow trucks.

Trucks. In the D/D truck, Debby gives us her surprised face as Dana’s husband’s voice comes over the radio. Dana promptly cries her big blue eyes out. We do not hear from Debby’s Canadian ex-husband, rather from her son Adam (who has a twin named Eve), whose voice is remarkably similar to Dana’s husband. A British lady comes on the air in the TaKo truck (hehe, taco truck) and it’s Koby’s mother, followed by Talia’s mother. We do not hear from Talia’s father, who must not have gotten the message in a bottle Talia tossed into the Caribbean Sea a few weeks earlier.

Boulder City. Blue Collar gets their truck rolling quickly, with the girls still struggling. However, we don’t see the girls at all in the shots of Eliran/David, nor hear their loud voices, so maybe they took a break or something? Ma’Ayan/Batel’s truck starts to move, with Ma’Ayan doing the majority of the pulling, followed by a plotz in the parking lot. The next task for the teams is to earn money through a bikini car wash. I wish I was kidding. Whatever happened to Nevada’s natural beauty? Cousins get into their religious-chick bikinis to the sound of Miley Cyrus. Ma’Ayan talking-heads “who’s gonna stop for the boys? Gay drivers?” You’d be surprised. Meanwhile, D/D and TaKo have arrived at the task. In an interview, Talia makes dinosaur sounds. The hell, Talia? Debby calls the strongman a “refrigerator.” Koby then makes dinosaur sounds as he actually pulls the truck and does it rather quickly, as Debby/Dana stay in the same spot.
Trucks. At first, Romi seems like she knows something, but then they both react in surprise when their mother comes through the stereo. She starts off by saying, “Hi girls, it’s your mother,” as if they may have forgotten their voice. Then again, my mom leaves me voicemails tell me that she’s my mother, so maybe it’s a way for moms to validate their life choices. Since they have the same mom, they only get one voice, unless they didn’t air the second message for them. Eliran and Itzik hear their own names, but can’t understand why (really?) until Itzik’s mother’s voice starts speaking over the radio, followed by Eliran’s father.

Car Wash. Purples get their first car as Ke$ha sings to them. Batel impresses me with her knowledge of car parts. All I know about cars is that I have one, and it gets me where I need to go, except for last week in Iowa when my front right tire disintegrated about halfway between Omaha and Des Moines, leading to a fun-filled two hours at a rest stop waiting for a tow. And then a few days later, when my brand-new tire decided on a repeat performance. Back at the car wash, the purples’ customer reveals himself to be a Hebrew speaker. Talia/Koby show up, and they and Blue Collar score their first cars of the day and the second for the girls, which is apparently enough to pay their driver for gas and their next clue, which leads them to their pit stop, the Hoover Dam, which meets my criteria for “appropriate and interesting pit stop.”

Boulder City. Falafel arrives. We see Debby/Dana clearly struggling in the background as the boys make quick work of the task, which makes me further doubt that the Purples/Blue Collar were pulling at the same time. The sisters arrive, and Dana takes the lead and finally gets the game in gear.

Car Wash. Itzik/Eliran show up and flag down a pickup to clean. Nearby, Dana and Debby arrive, with Dana prancing around in a bikini while Debby holds up the sign in her little black dress. Of course, Debby must flirt with the driver of the car, as if she isn’t already offering to perform a service for money on the side of the highway. Dana is not impressed. She also probably doesn’t want a new father. Debby is also probably soaking wet when she hugs the driver. Talia and Koby finish a vehicle.

Boulder City. Romi leads the way in moving the truck, doing a little hoppy dance as she pulls the truck. They are happy learning about the bikini task, as Coral either bought or brought with her an American flag bikini. AMERICA. They manage to steal a huge, decorated pickup and pretend they’re in American Pie. They ham it up, and it works out in their favor as their second car pulls up right behind them. They even have time to pose for pictures with their clients.

Hoover Dam. Purples arrive and admire the dam, but are even happier to arrive in first for the second leg in a row.

Car Wash. Talia and Debby flag down the same car, and a chase scene ensues. The driver is a guy, and is probably tickled at the women fighting over him, and chooses the mom and daughter over the couple. Eliran/David are shown washing a pickup with Texas plates, so I’m going to take that as a shout out to me. A small crowd of guys has gathered behind Dana, which her mom takes notice of. The sisters finish, followed by Debby/Dana who get a 12 dollar tip. Blue Collar finishes as well, and it’s a three-way race to the dam.

Hoover Dam. They show up in a caravan, with Blue Collar somehow in the lead, followed by sisters and D/D. All three teams jet to the dam, and David/Eliran arrive, officially in second place. Romi/Coral check in, moving them back up towards the front of the pack. D/D arrive in fourth, with Debby asking if she can bungee, and getting a no from the greeter.

Car Wash. The two remaining teams finish pretty close, with TaKo slightly ahead. They campaign with their driver in English to stay ahead of the guys, who are kind of just sitting their truck doing nothing. To add insult to injury, the boys get stopped by a red light, but then their driver points out that the other truck is going the wrong way. General confusing shots of teams on the run, but it’s Talia’s shoes and leggings that are seen first on the pit stop mat. It’s notably darker when Itzik/Eliran show up, and are eliminated. Eliran looks surprised, but Itzik smiles it off. Their loser lotto ticket contains 7000 shekels, and of course Falafel sings us out with a montage of their greatest hits, a great many of which involve them naked and Eliran falling over things. Roll on, you crazy beach bums.

Next time: Snow tasks! Huskies! Romi complains about the weather, while Debby looks like she actually has something to complain about.
TAR. USA/Israel.

aishwarya rai :: nicole scherzinger :: ke$ha :: leila lopes :: rosanne cash :: des'ree :: carly simon :: leymah gbowee :: mary j blige :: kathy najimy :: annie lennox :: angelique kidjo :: dolly parton :: temple grandin :: sheila e :: lena :: ellen degeneres :: shirley manson


Offline G.B.

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Episode 30 of the last season was the end ;_;

I love HaMerotz LaMillion, but this is just tooo muuuch....
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Offline Jai Ho

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Episode 28: Lovely Weather For A Sleigh Ride Together

We learn that the teams have taken a train from Hoover Dam in Nevada to Flagstaff, Arizona.

Pit start. Ma’Ayan welcomes us to Arizona, where the clue leads them to the Snow Bowl. They are driving cars this leg, and with Batel in the driver’s seat, it’s uh-oh, Grand Canyon State. They remark that this is the first time that they have no one to follow. As David drives, Eliran notices some moose. The sisters wonder if they’ll see bear.

Snow Bowl. Ma’Ayan and Batel are the first to arrive on the Snow Bowl, which is actually quite snowy. Their task? Search and rescue a doll from the snowy mountain, and sled down the hill with them. The cousins take off with their sled just as Blue Collar arrives. Ma’Ayan declares it too cold to smile. But probably not too cold to sing! Sisters arrive, and immediately Romi shuts down in the cold. It appears as if Coral ties her sister to the sled, but only because there’s no tree to tie her to. We see a montage of teams racing up the hill. David/Eliran arrive first and get instructions which are said quickly and in English. Kudos to them for understanding…I think. They argue about which way to go but it’s probably not a big deal. Next to the top are the cousins. We check in with Romi/Michele, and…whoops, their little red sled goes back down the hill. Romi sulks off behind it.

Pit start. D/D and TaKo leaving. Talia is confident that she and Koby can propel themselves above D/D and the cousins. They start off by beating at least D/D to the mountain. The newlyweds head off up the hill, with asthmatic Koby needing to stop for some air. Elsewhere, Romi has decided to play nice with Coral for the time being and head off to look for the missing sled. Red-faced TaKo make it to the top and get their receivers. We see a montage of the three top teams searching, with Ma’Ayan  beginning to shovel, followed by Koby. David/Eliran get into it as well. The boys perform some mock CPR on their doll as the girls and newlyweds struggle to dig up their friends nearby. I know who I’d want rescuing me. The boys begin their slide, with David on a shovel and Eliran on the sled. A second sled pops up next to them. Maybe it’s Romi/Michele’s missing sled? Talia/Koby start their descent as the boys complete theirs with a swivel. They get a snow globe, which contains within it their next clue, Flagstaff Nordic Center. But first! U-turn board. That picture of Romi/Michele in the bikini tops looks awfully silly against that background.

Snow Bowl. David/Eliran correctly identify the clue, as do the cousins. Talia/Koby appear to not get it right away, but they along with Blue Collar show up at the U-turn board. To no one’s surprise, Blue Collar pick D/D, and Koby/Talia agree, hoping to increase their lead. Ma’Ayan and Batel do the same, and their fate is sealed. David/Eliran leave. Koby/Talia have no clue where they’re going, and apparently all three teams end up at the right spot, ready for a…

Double Battle. It’s time to dog sled! I can attest to the fun of this activity – I did it in Alaska once back in high school and it was amazing and made me want to become a professional dog musher, and I managed to convince many gullible classmates at my school that I had withdrawn my college applications and was moving to Alaska to pursue this dream of mine. It didn’t go much further than that, but those kids were pretty stupid. First up: David vs. Talia. Talia is in the lead, but falls, allowing David to pass her. Eliran looks like a pro at this, whereas Koby spins around in little circles. Blue Collar wins, and gets the detour clue. I’m calling it Pick Up or Pile Up. In the first option, the teams must carry some ladies, piggy back, while wearing snowshoes, and in the other, build a huge stack of wood.

Snow Bowl. The sisters retrieve their sled, but they’re barely up the hill when D/D are done with the task. They pick Blue Collar, and wonder if Koby/Talia stuck up for them this time.

Double Battle. We start off with Talia vs. Batel. Talia takes off like a bullet, and Batel, who is scared of the dogs, goes quite a bit slower. Talia takes another tumble around a tree. (The hell, Talia? Drunk again, I see.) Batel briefly catches up, but it’s the couple’s to lose, especially when Ma’Ayan has a complete wipeout, watching her dogs run elsewhere.

Detour. David/Eliran have chosen Pick Up, and put on snowshoes. The task is more difficult than the boys anticipated, with them stopping several times. Koby and Talia pick this side as well, but get like five steps before realizing that this is not a walk in the park and switch. Blue Collar appears to have somewhat better luck. They talk about the ladies’ weight, and it’s a good thing that they do so in Hebrew.

Snow Bowl. The sisters finally finish, and choose Blue Collar as their u-turn victim. Coral believes they have a chance as they head to the double battle.

Double Battle. D/D arrive. Cousins tell D/D that it hurts to fall off, scaring Debby. Dana starts off strong, but hits a snag at a sharp turn, allowing Batel to pass. They pass off to their partners. Both ladies seem to be going on strong, with Ma’Ayan leading, but then Debby goes flying, just like Ma’Ayan said, although it appears a log tripped her up and not a person. Purples for the win.

Pile Up. Circus music plays as Talia chucks wood and Koby stacks it. Their pile goes up rather quickly. Ma’Ayan/Batel appear, with Ma’Ayan humorously adding that the couple’s pile looks like a house already. They start piling when lo and behold, said couple runs out of wood. Koby tries a quick fix but their whole wall crumbles down.

Double Battle. Romi shows her first positive emotion of the day as she plays with the dogs while Debby reports of her fall. The dogs show signs of fatigue, with both Romi and Dana neck and neck at much slower speeds. Coral hits a tree this time, allowing Debby to cruise in for the win. Coral looks like a yeti as she rolls up, knowing she lost. At least they have dogs to play with.

Pick Up. Debby is, for some odd reason, excited about this task, and they choose their ladies. They take a few spills. I really hope these girls have workman’s comp. Over at Blue Collar, David is suffering. It starts to snow, and it turns out to be Eliran’s first snowfall, so he makes a snow angel. They get back up, and complete this ridiculous task. Their next clue? Wig Wam Valley, Arizona. Since there’s no W sound In normal Hebrew, Ron calls it “Vig Vam Valley” which is adorable. They will meet some Native Americans (NOT Indians, politically incorrect producers), but first, find out the results of the u-turn. It’s a double u-turn. David/Eliran are affected by neither, so they exit the episode.

Pile Up. After their time runs out and little purple girl gives them their clue, the sisters start to stack. TaKo seem to have less knowledge in the way of architecture, enduring several spills and calling their pile names. The purples lose a little bit. The sisters, however, lose it all.

Pick Up. Debby reevaluates her choice of task, but she and Dana power through it. A victory for them, but wait a minute…u-turn board. At least they did this one first, which seems like more of a pain to do. They know they’ve got a good chance of being u-turned, and they are. Usual suspects Blue Collar and Purples do not surprise them, but seeing Talia/Koby’s picture flips a switch, and they proceed to become cray cray. Debby gets bleeped out a lot, so it must be pretty bad.

Pile Up. D/D show up and all hell breaks loose. Not even a wall of wood can hide Talia/Koby from Debby’s wrath.  Indeed, their wall falls as Debby cackles with glee. Ma’Ayan tells her cousin to ignore the crazy lady in red, but Debby’s evil eye collapses the others’ towers. These two.  TaKo and Romi/Michele rebuild quickly and leave. The sisters hit the road, but Koby/Talia have been revenge-turned and must go back and carry. Either gravity, Batel’s paranoia, or Debby’s witchcraft collapses the cousins’ wall, but they mobilize, rebuild, and leave in third. In a quick montage, we see D/D completing their wall and TaKo completing their carry, with Koby taking a nasty fall along the way. Both teams drive off in anger.

Next time: Native Americans, Indians, American Indians…whoever they are, it’ll be interesting to see the culture shock. Stay tuned.
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Tomorrow: Moment of truth. Will I finish in time for the finale? Stay tuned.
TAR. USA/Israel.

aishwarya rai :: nicole scherzinger :: ke$ha :: leila lopes :: rosanne cash :: des'ree :: carly simon :: leymah gbowee :: mary j blige :: kathy najimy :: annie lennox :: angelique kidjo :: dolly parton :: temple grandin :: sheila e :: lena :: ellen degeneres :: shirley manson

Offline Jai Ho

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Episode 28: Bury My Hatchet at Wigwam Valley

Ron opens by telling us that the teams are going back to their Indian roots in Wigwam Valley. Chosen People, meet the Jews.

Cars. Blue Collar is in the lead. Romi/Michele are not, and Romi celebrates the upcoming task by doing the Tiger Lily “wa-wa-wa.” Good going, Racist Romi. Purples are on the trail as well.

Wigwam Valley. Arizona is home to 21 Indian tribes, yet this show will condense them into a general idea of “Indians.” This task requires teams to do an eagle dance and get new names. This is all so Brady Bunch three-parter. (Middle Buffalo? Sleeping Lizard?) David/Eliran arrive first, and props to Eliran for calling them Native Americans. Take that, Ron Shachar and your script writers. They encounter a dance circle and join in, marveling at the hoop dancers and their fancy footwork and colorful garb. They are given hoops and instructed in the fine art of hoop dancing. We don’t see that much of this before they are escorted to a chief, who is probably an actor. He speaks with a vague Jay Silverheels impression and gives the boys blankets, red face paint, and feathers. Eliran’s name is Ground Nut, oddly appropriate, and David will be Wind River. To make it official, they get a plank of wood with their faces and their new names painted in Hebrew, the official language of Vague Native America. At least they’re doing something cultural and not commercial.

Wigwam Valley. Ma’Ayan and Batel debate the authenticity of the Indians, with Batel dubious. Their patterned jacket fits right in, and the girls comment on how the ridiculous dancing makes them feel at home. I can imagine that. The sisters show up and enjoy dancing as eagles as well.

Cars. Talia and Koby share some gum. Why are they the only ones who are ever shown eating? Talia hopes the pit stop will come soon. D/D are also on the road and are surprisingly calmer and hopeful. Let’s see how long this rational equanimity lasts.

Wigwam Valley. David/Eliran open their clue, and their task will involve archery, spear throwing, and dancing. Eliran tries with bow and arrow. Apparently, “bow” and “rainbow” are the same words in Hebrew, which is cool. I learned something new today. He learns that this task is harder than it looks. Elsewhere, Ma’Ayan and Batel learn that their escort for the day is Janet. Coral asks what tribe their lady is from, and she says Navajo. Good on you, Coral, for actually showing cultural awareness. Racers are being all kinds of impressive today. Ma’Ayan teaches Janet her catchphrase. Enya plays as Ma’Ayan accepts her blanket with surprise. Coral gets painted and feels like Pocahontas. Ma’Ayan is now Raging Curls and Batel is Soul of the Cat. The cousins are less than impressed. Coral is Swan Feather and Romi, Moon Storm. The girls try to reason with the chief to slow up the remaining teams, and both teams head off to the games. I will not be using these names because they are even more confusing. Batel and Coral try their hand at archery, and we get a montage of general failure, followed by the dance of failure. Finally, Eliran connects and they go on to spear throwing.

Cars. Talia admires the scenery as they pull in to Wigwam Valley and start the eagle dance task. Talia reveals her love for Indian culture. They dance and get dressed for the tasks. Koby becomes Eye of the Owl, and Talia, Tiger Lily. She fails to connect it to Peter Pan. I’m surprised and disappointed in her. Also in the fact that she hasn’t changed her hair to braids. But there’s still time. Talia will be doing the bow and arrow, and for some reason, I’m scared that they gave her weapons. Koby instructs her, and it seems to work, as she scores on one of her first tries. Coral is the next to connect. Koby and Romi give their best shots at spear-throwing, but neither connects. Back at Blue Collar, David focuses and hits the target. Their next task? Sit in a sweat lodge for a powwow with a chief in their skivvies and some mud.

Sweat Lodge Task. Eliran/David enter the tent and begin their ceremony. The chief gives them a blessing in his language, and the boys exit and begin to roll in the cold mud. It starts to snow a little as they gingerly step into the cold water. If I were them, I’d just dive in and get it overwith. Eliran gets in, but David is scared.

Wigwam Valley. Debby and Dana arrive and begin the dance task, admitting to not knowing much about this subject. Debby manages to be surprised and confused and flirtatious at the same time before becoming the appropriately-monikered Red Beak. Her daughter is Dawn Blossom. I resist the urge to make a Red/Dawn joke, although that was a fun little movie. The purples are still scared with Evil Debby and her eyes. Batel makes a perfect connection and Ma’Ayan starts her spear throwing. Koby and Talia debate physics, no surprise there. They have to dance again, before failing several times and beginning to get frustrated at each other. Debby is shown with a bow and arrow – now that’s scary. Romi redeems herselfby hitting her target before Koby, but then does the wa-wa-wa thing. Boo you. Koby also scores a point.

Sweat Lodge. David hasn’t moved into the water yet, but Eliran goes for it and submerges, and even does it a second time, which convinces David to join him. They return to the tent and asked what they have learned. It’s actually a nice moment as the usually stoic boys show some emotion and head off to the next task, making fire and building a tipi to house them for the night. The boys are excited to make a fire – wait, they get matches? Laaaame. They start to build their home.

Sweat Lodge. The sisters enter and Coral finds it romantic. She also calls her sister a fighter, which is nice. Now, the true test for cold-hating Romi. She shivers and begins to waver as she nears the cold, and loses it and runs away in tears, as Coral begs her to come back.

Games. Ma’Ayan is struggling at the spear-throw, and Debby at the archery. Ma’Ayan connects and they leave, leaving mom and daughter dispirited.

Sweat Lodge. TaKo do the task, and Talia needs a sandwich, stat. Seriously, how does she stay upright with that tiny torso? Hand in hand, they walk among the torches to the ice water, both of them trying their best to stay sane in the water. In another part of the lake, Coral tries valiantly to console Romi. The couple squats in the water as the girls jump around. Back in the tent, the sisters make each other smile and get directed to the tipi task.

Tipis. David/Eliran’s tipi looks more like an alien dwelling, so they get help from some locals and before long they have a tipi worthy of How the West was Won. The sisters quickly make their fire, and get help from Eliran to build their tipi.

Sweat Lodge. Koby tells Talia that she has proven herself to be strong in many ways, and it’s really charming. They really love each other. Aww. They begin to build as the suddenly helpful David/Eliran come over to assist the couple before finishing their own tipi and climbing inside for the night.

Games. Debby is still at the archery, but the Horns of Victory sound, so of course she succeeds. Dana gets the spear on her second try, proving again that she’s awesome.

Sweat Lodge. The cousins roll around in the mud in their little dresses, Ma’ayan more enthusiastic than her partner. We don’t see Debby/Dana in the tent, but we see them in the mud and for some reason Debby didn’t get the whole “change your clothes” memo and she’s fully dressed as she rolls around. At the Lake of Icy Death, Ma’Ayan bravely submerges as Batel watches in awe. Both Debby and Dana are not pleased about the water, but surprisingly it’s Debby who shuffles into the water first, before Dana gets in and splashes around. Meanwhile, Ma’Ayan threatens to give Batel an ice hug. We don’t see Batel enter the water, but they’re both back in the lodge completing the task, so she must have done it. Nearby, D/D huddle by the fire. Dana admits that she’s hated her parents for a long time, and it’s touching seeing Debby tell Dana that she is a special girl, and Dana cries a little and tells Debby that she’s understanding her more. It’s nice to see them both embrace this task, and I think that they’ve probably changed the most out of all the teams.

Tipis. Batel admits her dislike of camping, and feminism suffers a blow when David/Eliran appear out of the darkness and basically do the whole task for them. At one point, Ma’Ayan is just watching in awe. Come on ladies. Exhausted, Dana sits by her fire while Debby starts to build, letting her daughter rest. Of course, Eliran comes over to add more fuel to the fire that is Debby and Dana Scorned. The ladies go all Mean Girls on the boys, but Eliran should know by now not to mess with Debby. Debby says that she and Dana are just fine without them, and indeed they build their tipi. The good hearted dock workers must have been feeling inspired, but, you know, yielding/u-turning D/D every chance they can basically killed their chances at starting a friendship with the mom and daughter. Make your bed and lie in it. Everyone heads off to bed. No preview.
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TAR. USA/Israel.

aishwarya rai :: nicole scherzinger :: ke$ha :: leila lopes :: rosanne cash :: des'ree :: carly simon :: leymah gbowee :: mary j blige :: kathy najimy :: annie lennox :: angelique kidjo :: dolly parton :: temple grandin :: sheila e :: lena :: ellen degeneres :: shirley manson

Offline Jai Ho

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Aaaand here we are, finale day!  :yess:

I've been working on the final few episodes, but am taking a break to watch the finale. It's Labor Day weekend here in America, so I will for sure finish it all and have it up by Monday at the latest. Thanks for reading thus far and good luck to the three teams in the final in Taiwan.

While waiting for the finale to be uploaded, here's the long awaited finale drinking game:

Take a small sip when:
1. There is a montage of racers failing at some task
2. Ron says something mechanical or Ron-like
3. A taxi driver is confused
4. Coral tells Romi she's being annoying
5. Romi tells Coral she's being annoying
6. Ma'Ayan hugs someone
7. We hear "chaim sheli"
8. Batel puts her face in the camera
9. Talia seems drunk
10. Koby does a muppet voice

Take a big drink when:
1. Ma'Ayan/Batel double-hug someone
2. There is a task involving dressing up in women's clothing
3. Koby mentions being the only guy in the finale
4. Talia is drunk
5. Talia gives a history lesson
6. Talia/Koby says "ocho cocho"
7. Romi acts like a know-it-all
8. Romi sings
9. Coral looks embarrassed/like she wants to fall into a black hole
10. Any team says "money time," "this is a race," or "please, please, go"

Finish your drink when:
1. Racers clap at the finish line
2. A team with a woman on it crosses the finish line first
3. A team with a woman on it crosses the finish line second or third
4. The winners are officially announced.

I know who I think the winners will be, but hopefully whoever wins will buy a new inhaler for Koby, a handle for Talia, throat lozenges for Ma'Ayan and Batel, something for Romi to read and a top for Coral that actually covers her stomach. Again, good luck to everyone and watch this space for a finale recap of the best season ever!!!  :<3
TAR. USA/Israel.

aishwarya rai :: nicole scherzinger :: ke$ha :: leila lopes :: rosanne cash :: des'ree :: carly simon :: leymah gbowee :: mary j blige :: kathy najimy :: annie lennox :: angelique kidjo :: dolly parton :: temple grandin :: sheila e :: lena :: ellen degeneres :: shirley manson

Offline stekay

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No :( Wish finale had a different result :(

Offline Maxine Rama

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Re: HaMerotz LaMillion (The Amazing Race Israel) Season 3: HaRecaps (The Recaps)
« Reply #90 on: September 01, 2013, 02:56:23 AM »
Lol
I sorta predicted that final result

Offline Koby and Talia

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Re: HaMerotz LaMillion (The Amazing Race Israel) Season 3: HaRecaps (The Recaps)
« Reply #91 on: September 04, 2013, 04:52:17 AM »
No :( Wish finale had a different result :(

:)

One thing I will say: I've seen ~25 seasons - and this has to be the closest thing to a photo finish in race history.

Offline stekay

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Re: HaMerotz LaMillion (The Amazing Race Israel) Season 3: HaRecaps (The Recaps)
« Reply #92 on: September 04, 2013, 05:38:28 AM »
No :( Wish finale had a different result :(

:)

One thing I will say: I've seen ~25 seasons - and this has to be the closest thing to a photo finish in race history.

Hi Talia/Koby  :waves: I didn't mean to be mean, I was just rooting for the cousins for no particular reason. I was tracking results on Wiki but I have never seen the show because of country restriction.
Wow! Congratulations and well done. Most wins of the season and coming from behind the pack to win.
Also there seemed to be thousands of nice comments about you on the Facebook page so you guys must have been a lovely pair.

Goodluck in the future  :cheer:

Offline G.B.

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Re: HaMerotz LaMillion (The Amazing Race Israel) Season 3: HaRecaps (The Recaps)
« Reply #93 on: September 04, 2013, 12:12:53 PM »
That was a perfect example of Never giving up, Talia & Koby! Congratulations on a well deserved victory!!
Come check out the Reality Fan Wiki! The LARGEST Amazing Race database on the internet!!! (probably)
--Got something you're curious about? You'll probably find the answer on the Wiki!

Offline Koby and Talia

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Re: HaMerotz LaMillion (The Amazing Race Israel) Season 3: HaRecaps (The Recaps)
« Reply #94 on: September 21, 2013, 06:04:09 PM »
No more recaps?? What about the end? We're hanging on a thread here!!!! (or at least our English speaking families are...)  :wohoo: