Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Fluffynurse on December 02, 2009, 12:23:21 AM
Just joined RFF today after reading here for a couple of weeks. You guys have the best spoilers EVER for TAR. I saw a couple of articles on Reality Blurred about Caitlin & J/J being on TAR 16. The author must have had a bad link but he DID give RFF credit for the info.
I corrected him & gave him the correct link at RFF.
Just joined RFF today after reading here for a couple of weeks. You guys have the best spoilers EVER for TAR. I saw a couple of articles on Reality Blurred about Caitlin & J/J being on TAR 16. The author must have had a bad link but he DID give RFF credit for the info.
I corrected him & gave him the correct link at RFF.
Just joined RFF today after reading here for a couple of weeks. You guys have the best spoilers EVER for TAR. I saw a couple of articles on Reality Blurred about Caitlin & J/J being on TAR 16. The author must have had a bad link but he DID give RFF credit for the info.
I corrected him & gave him the correct link at RFF.
Welcome to the forum and thank you very very much Fluffynurse, I am a longtime fan of yours :hithere:
I am a fan too.I Love your posts at Sucks! You are a rock star! :hearts:
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Fluffynurse on December 02, 2009, 02:06:51 AM
:waves: Thanks for the nice welcome! I'm not defined 100% by my posts at Sucks. I can be pretty tame when the situation calls for it. And I appreciate your kindness. Seriously, the spoiling that goes on here is the best on the net for TAR. And I've been a TAR fan since the beginning.
If I can add to this community it would be an honor.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: puddin on December 02, 2009, 02:25:39 AM
I follow your love for Lost Fluffynurse, the members here don't go in depth so I lurk and I guess I'm a stalker :lol:
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: georgiapeach on December 02, 2009, 09:38:09 AM
:bigwelcome Fluffynurse!!
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: TARAsia Fan on December 02, 2009, 12:32:01 PM
OMG! Fluffynurse!!!! :jumpy: :jumpy: :jumpy:
And fellow Lost fan here! :yess: :yess: :yess:
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: heyhay28 on December 20, 2009, 01:09:23 PM
20. The Amazing Race Never the ratings sensation of Survivor or Idol, Race enjoys championship status at the Emmys, where it has yet to be beat. There’s a reason for that. This sumptuous global adventure competition is in the finest tradition of upbeat “I can’t believe my eyes” programming, taking us each season on a whirlwind voyage to exotic locales alongside teams of two who alternately inspire or horrify us with their behavior abroad. It’s a travelogue. It’s a nail-biting race to the next elimination point. It’s great TV, pure and simple.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: puddin on January 01, 2010, 07:52:05 PM
Wow, I appreciate the great TAR shout out from Matt :bow:
20. The Amazing Race Never the ratings sensation of Survivor or Idol, Race enjoys championship status at the Emmys, where it has yet to be beat. There’s a reason for that. This sumptuous global adventure competition is in the finest tradition of upbeat “I can’t believe my eyes” programming, taking us each season on a whirlwind voyage to exotic locales alongside teams of two who alternately inspire or horrify us with their behavior abroad. It’s a travelogue. It’s a nail-biting race to the next elimination point. It’s great TV, pure and simple.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: RealityFreakWill on January 02, 2010, 04:32:16 PM
I don't know if this has already been posted somewhere on here....
Ah, but they take their content DIRECTLY from RFF :waves:
He did get the names from here, but his story has details about the contestants that I haven't seen here, so he has apparently done further digging. :tup:
Plaidmoon
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: mswood on January 08, 2010, 08:13:38 PM
Not related to season 16 (Still lazy), Director guild nominations came out for tv, and TAR was nominated for reality shows (direction of course) for season 14's opener. "Don't let the cheese hit me"
Quote
Reality Programs CRAIG BORDERS, Build It Bigger Season 3: "Hong Kong Bridge" (Discovery Science)
SUEANN FINCKE, The Dog Whisperer: "Puppy Mills Exposed" (National Geographic Channel) Ms. Fincke's Directorial Team: Segment Director: James V. Milio, Associate Director: Mark A. Hufnail
EYTAN KELLER, The Next Iron Chef: "201" (Food Network) Mr. Keller's Directorial Team: Stage Manager: Scott Hohnbaum
ZACH MERCK, Six Beers of Separation (Foxtel HD-on-Demand)
BERTRAM VAN MUNSTER, The Amazing Race: "Don't Let A Cheese Hit Me" (CBS) Mr. van Munster's Directorial Team: Segment Director: Evan F. Weinstein, Associate Director: Daniel G. Coffie
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: apskip on January 25, 2010, 08:41:35 AM
Here's an article by Derek Lang of the Associated Press published in the 1/23/10 Newark Star-Ledger that does not appear to break new ground, but focuses (no surprise) on the celebrities who competed in AR16 and on van Munster commentary:
Jet and Cord McCoy, a pair of bull-riding brothers form Tupelo OK are among the 11 teams competing on the upcoming 16th edition of CBS' "The Amazing Race". Other teams set for this edition include a grandmother and granddaughter, a father and daughter, married high-school sweethearts and a couple of attorney moms.
Jet, 30, and Cord, 29, who have competed in the International Professional Rodeo Association circuit, said they were not daunted by their competition for the $1 million grand prize on the reality show, premiering Feb. 14 at 8pm.
"We ride bucking bulls and horses," said Jet. "If we're gonna be intimidated, it's not by another team."
"I can ride a horse as fast as they can go," said Cord.
The biggest hurdle facing Louis Stravato, 47, and Michael Naylor, 45, at the beginning of the race was their backpack. After seeing the behemoth bags carried by the Harlem Globetrotters last season, the long-time buddies and narcotics detectives from Providence RI chose not to pack lightly. They ended up ditching clothes along the way.
"We are the 2 biggest idiots," said Stravato. "Before the race, we kept telling ourselves that the cameramen were going to have to check their stuff, so we would be able to check our giants 90-liter bags while we were racing around the world. When we got to the starting line and saw all these small bags on everybody else, we knew we were in big trouble."
A few of this season's contestants have previously been in the spotlight, including former "Big Brother" housguests Jordan Lloyd, 22, and Jeff Schroeder, 31 as well as former Miss Teen South Carolina Caitlin Upton, 20, who is racing with her boyfriend Brent Horne, 28. Upton said she wanted to redeem herself on the race after ther infmaous 2007 pageant flub involving a confused and misguided response to a geography question.
"People always picture me as the typical pageant girl and I'm not at all," said Upton. "I've only been in 5 pageants. I'm actually a very athletic person. I'm just tired of being represented from that standpoint. I want to show people who I really am as a person, that I am capable of accomplishing anything and doing anything I put my mind to."
Lloyd said Schroeder, who began dating after Lloyd won the 11th season of "Big Brother last summer, said fans of the claustrophobic reality show must be surprised to see how much the duo bickered on the 16th season of "the Amazing Race," which was filmed last December, and spanned nearly 40,000 miles across 5 continents and 8 countries.
"I wasn't prepared for how much we had to work together," admitted Schroeder.
"He wanted to ring my neck," added Lloyd, "and other times I wanted to kill him."
"Jordan, I was trying to say it in a nice way, said Schroeder.
For the first time, when the teams departed "the Amazing Race" starting line, they had to rely solely on public transportation - no rental cars, no taxis - to make their way from downtown Los Angeles to the airport, as world-class challenge in itself. Executive producer Bertram van Munster said the racers then head to Valparaiso, Chile. Other stops included France and the Seychelles.
"We have never been to that place before," van Munster said of the lush island destination off the east coast of Africa. "We were looking into going to Africa, but I couldn't find any countries that would fit into the entire scheme of the race, and i wanted to go to an original place . It's very beautiful. It's very remote. It takes forever to get there."
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: apskip on January 25, 2010, 02:30:00 PM
CONFIRMATION OF AMAZING RACE 17 from the Futon Critic -
CBS's EMMY AWARD-WINNING REALITY FRANCHISES TO RETURN IN 2010-2011
Network Orders Two More Editions of "Survivor"
"The Amazing Race" to Make its 17th Sprint Around the World
CBS has ordered more editions of its Emmy Award-winning reality franchises-SURVIVOR and THE AMAZING RACE-for broadcast in the 2010-2011 season.
SURVIVOR will return with two more editions, marking the 21st and 22nd installments of broadcast television's longest-running reality competition series.
Last fall, SURVIVOR: SAMOA (7.8/12, 13.45m million viewers), the franchise's 19th edition, continued its ratings dominance, winning its Thursday (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) time period in viewers, adults 18-49 (4.3/12) and adults 25-54 (5.4/13).
The series' 20th edition, SURVIVOR: HEROES VS. VILLAINS, premieres with a special two-hour episode on Thursday, Feb. 11 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT). SURVIVOR: HEROES VS. VILLAINS reunites 20 of the most memorable, heroic and controversial castaways from previous SURVIVOR seasons. The series' best strategists will face off in their attempt to overcome - or embrace - the label placed upon them when they return to seek revenge or redemption, all in an effort to win the title of Sole Survivor. Emmy Award winner Jeff Probst hosts.
The groundbreaking reality series, which premiered in May 2000, has anchored CBS's winning Thursday lineup since February 2001. It won an Emmy Award in 2001 in the category of "Outstanding Non-Fiction Program" (Special Class). Host Jeff Probst is a two-time Emmy Award winner in the category of "Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Series."
SURVIVOR is produced by SEG, Inc. Mark Burnett is executive producer and David Burris and Leisa Francis are co-executive producers.
CBS has also ordered the 17th edition of the seven-time Emmy Award-winning reality series THE AMAZING RACE, hosted by Phil Keoghan.
THE AMAZING RACE recently concluded its 15th edition with year-to-year gains in viewers (11.91m, +7%), adults 18-49 (3.7/09, +6%) and adults 25-54 (4.7/10, +7%).
THE AMAZING RACE has won the Emmy Award for "Outstanding Reality Competition Program" every year since the category was created seven years ago.
THE AMAZING RACE 16 returns Sunday, Feb. 14 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT). Jerry Bruckheimer, Bertram van Munster, Jonathan Littman, Elise Doganieri and Amy Chacon are the executive producers for Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Earthview Inc. in association with ABC Studios and Amazing Race Productions. Phil Keoghan is host. THE AMAZING RACE was created by Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: heyhay28 on February 05, 2010, 04:48:40 PM
Okay I am hoping this is an okay place to put this
This is a scan of the article in the EW magazine that came out today
It was only half a page so I just cropped out the extra above this and then here is a more cropped in one of the photo from the race, I don't know if it will help determine anything but figured I would post it JIC
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: theschnauzers on February 05, 2010, 05:38:42 PM
That inset photo makes me wonder if Jet/Cord might have found some kindred souls in Chile.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: georgiapeach on February 05, 2010, 07:04:45 PM
heyhay!!
:ty
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Slowhatch on February 05, 2010, 07:17:11 PM
The band members in the webcap resemble the band Blasmusik Puerto Varas. The uniforms are the same, and the guy on the left might be Boris Eduardo (go here (http://blasmusikpv.cl/home/), then click Músicos>mugshots). I can't find a tuba, though.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: georgiapeach on February 05, 2010, 07:32:55 PM
That is so cool!
Think I snagged one... :lol:
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Plaidmoon on February 05, 2010, 07:35:42 PM
The band members in the webcap resemble the band Blasmusik Puerto Varas. The uniforms are the same, and the guy on the left might be Boris Eduardo (go here (http://blasmusikpv.cl/home/), then click Músicos>mugshots). I can't find a tuba, though.
It sure looks like a match to me. Great job!
Plaidmoon
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: chill_sd on February 05, 2010, 07:41:42 PM
Good catch. There are pictures on that site of band members wearing the same red vests.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Plaidmoon on February 05, 2010, 07:42:06 PM
That inset photo makes me wonder if Jet/Cord might have found some kindred souls in Chile.
It also makes me think that Jordan and Jeff made it to at least the third episode. Possibly they could be that far into the Andes in the second episode, but I doubt it. The timeline refers to a sheep ranch in the third episode. Could that have been taken there?
Plaidmoon
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Hooky on February 06, 2010, 01:48:05 AM
It also makes me think that Jordan and Jeff made it to at least the third episode. Possibly they could be that far into the Andes in the second episode, but I doubt it. The timeline refers to a sheep ranch in the third episode. Could that have been taken there?
We already know that Jeff & Jordan aren't out first, and we know Jody & Shannon are out second, so we already know that Jeff & Jordan made it to Leg 3.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: georgiapeach on February 12, 2010, 12:42:23 PM
Futon Cric Interview with Phil:
INTERVIEW: "THE AMAZING RACE" HOST PHIL KEOGHAN By Jim Halterman
Undercover detectives, lawyers, cowboys, "Big Brother" participants, a YouTube sensation, parents, siblings and a model or two is what viewers will find amongst the contestants during the 16th cycle of the Emmy-winning "The Amazing Race," which kicks off this Sunday on CBS. With nearly 40,000 miles to cover in this season's race, teams (and viewers) will head to Chile for their first destination and it's just the start for the prize to win a million dollars. To get the scoop on how host Phil Keoghan remembers details of the past 15 seasons, why people do the race and his thoughts on losing the Best Realty Host Emmy to Jeff Probst, our Jim Halterman chatted one-on-one with Keoghan earlier this week.
Jim Halterman: You've been doing this for so long, do the past seasons blend together for you or are they actually pretty distinct?
Phil Keoghan: There are times when you really have to think about what you did what season and who was on what season but when you really think about it, they are all really distinctive. Once I start to think about the particular season it all comes back. One of the challenging things for me is that I've been doing a lot of international press last week and I was asked to speak about season 14 and so I had to actually go back and look at the team photographs and just refresh myself with exactly what happened and then, of course, I can't talk about the story points of what's happened because people haven't seen the show yet. I have to take myself back and that's always interesting. We have done a lot of shows.
JH: Caite Upton was a big national joke in 2007 for her not-so-sharp answers during the Miss Teen USA pageant but, using her as an example, do a lot of people join the race because they have something to prove?
PK: Yeah, there's no doubt that many people come on to the show because they have something to prove whether it's to themselves because they want to prove that they can do things like facing the fear of heights or just pushing themselves. Caite is definitely on this show to prove that her response to a question in that pageant is not a true reflection of who she is. You'll have to be a judge as a viewer as to whether you think she has redeemed herself.
JH: I actually felt a little sorry for her on the show when people were making fun of her right in front of her.
PK: She would have known that was going to happen. If she's there to prove that she isn't the way that people perceive her then you know it's not going to happen instantly. People aren't going to ignore it. That's why she's on the race because she wanted to address it. She had to come to expect that people are definitely going to hone in on that because that's the way they know her now.
JH: There seems to always be a gay contestant on the show. Has that become a requirement?
PK: No, it's not a requirement. We interview about 20-25 teams in person and then once all teams have gone through we lay out all their cards on the table and talk about a balance or a mix. It's not a prerequisite but inherently in the mix the chances of one of those 25 teams, which is 50 people, being gay is going to be pretty high. They're a part of society and obviously some of them are an interesting part of society so I think it just happens. It's not like we say we have to have a gay couple or a particular group. We still want a mix. We want people to be represented but it's not a prerequisite to have one or the other.
JH: The show is still so popular. Is it the contestants' personalities? The challenges? Seeing the world? Or is it just you, Phil?
PK: It's not me. It's definitely a combination of all those things that you just mentioned. What I hear from people a lot is 'we love visiting new places.' The places themselves are definitely a star factor on the show. People want to see new things in different places because they vicariously travel with the show. As a population, Americans are not that well traveled internationally. We travel a lot domestically but a very small percentage of them actually own passports compared to other Western countries. That's just a fact. I think it's something like 6% of Americans have active passports. We're not well traveled compared to the Germans, who I believe are the most well traveled population in the world. I think for the viewers, it's a way to look outside of America and maybe be surprised and see things that they don't normally see in the same light. When you see the rest of the world on television, generally it's in the news and there's something going wrong. We are a prime time show that is showing the rest of the world in a totally different light where it's people fishing, people preparing food or trying to make a living in some interesting way like collecting salt in Africa. We're able to shed a little positive light on the rest of the world in prime time to a bigger audience than other television is able to do because of the context and tone that our show is.
JH: Jeff Probst has won the Best Host Emmy the last two years so maybe it's your turn now. What do we have to do to make that happen?
PK: How much money do you have? [Laughs.] That's very nice of you. The same people that voted for him voted for our show to be the best show so I have no complaints and I've been lucky enough to have been a part of being on "The Amazing Race" as a producer and a host. I'm certainly not feeling like I'm missing out.
JH: How was the experience riding your bike across America last year?
PK: Life changing. I've been reliving it with the documentary I'm cutting right now. We're almost finished with it. We shot the whole thing in HD and probably a year after we set out [on the ride] we should have this thing finished and our goal is to get it out there and even raise more awareness and money for MS.
JH: Will it air on CBS or show in theaters?
PK: I don't know. We decided to self-fund it so we didn't have to make it for anybody else in terms of what we did with it creatively. If you make a show for someone specifically and they're putting up the money then obviously they want it cut a certain way and tell the story a certain way so we decided that we'd cut the story the best way that we could and the way that we thought would work best and then we'll try to find a home.
JH: Outside hosting the show, you've accomplished so much in your life. Do you still have a lot on your bucket list?
PK: Oh yeah. The idea is that you die with the list. When they finally say goodbye you should have a list that's incomplete because theoretically you're living every day with wanting to do more.
JH: Have you seen MTV's "The Buried Life where you see young guys doing a bucket list and helping people?
PK: I think it's great especially with young people being inspired to want to do things. They're the toughest people to get to with this philosophy. I've heard a number of people mention it to me and that it has the same set of philosophy as NOW (No Opportunity Wasted) and I see that as a good thing. I haven't seen the show but hopefully it's done in a good way but the underlying philosophy of it sounds really cool. I encourage that and I think it's a good thing.
The 16th season of "The Amazing Race" begins this Sunday at 8:00/7:00c on CBS.
I just don't understand how that could be "inadvertently" done. :groan:
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: theschnauzers on February 13, 2010, 04:26:56 PM
I can understand how it could happen and why. Writing such stories based on advance screening is commonly down by entertainment reviewers. This is a holiday weekend, and the writer having gotten the preview to screen, wrote the story and passed it on to their supervising editor. I'll bet the supervising editor, or someone after that didn't notice that the story shouldn't go out until Sunday evening after the show completed airing.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Slowhatch on February 13, 2010, 06:58:00 PM
Victor Jih will be blogging (http://tvwatch.people.com/2010/02/13/victor-jih-blogs-about-the-amazing-race/) this season's episodes, offering his general impressions and critiquing the decisions of the teams. Head over and leave some comments if you want to help him win his contest. :js:
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: georgiapeach on February 13, 2010, 07:09:42 PM
Heee...I was just coming over to post that! But to be fair, we love Stephen too, right? :lol:
I'll add the links in each weeks episode threads!!
Both of their blogs were fabulous last season! Eloquent and fun and a great read!! :hearts:
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: georgiapeach on February 13, 2010, 11:55:57 PM
Someone doesn't like all the contestant boo-boo's this leg! :lol:
Quote
Once host Phil Keoghan sends the contestants on their way and before they reach the first Pit Stop at the end of the episode, no fewer than three other teams do things that are completely and totally perplexing to an outside viewer. Without delving too greatly here into what takes place in the episode, it is more than fair to say that plenty of people watching at home will find themselves shaking their heads at the teams we have before us this cycle.
That is an incredibly disappointing statement, as The Amazing Race is one of the best – if not the best – conceived and put together reality show on television. The amount of effort that clearly goes into working out the locations and challenges is immense, and even here, where the contestants are found wanting, the show is able to pull through due to the travelogue it puts together.
more here: http://blogcritics.org/video/article/tv-review-the-amazing-race-16/
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: theschnauzers on February 14, 2010, 04:20:38 AM
Linda Holmes, better known in her TWoP days as "Miss Alli," posted some thoughts about Sunday's episode and casting that does not involve spoilers. She's now a blogger for NPR.org and here's the link: Monkey See: CBS's 'The Amazing Race' Returns: No Geniuses, But No Jerks (Yet) (http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2010/02/cbss_the_amazing_race_returns.html#more).
She had this gem:
Quote
CBS's multiple-Emmy-winning The Amazing Race returns this Sunday for its sixteenth season. (As someone who watched and loved it from the first go-round and watched it barely get renewals in the early going, it's a real surprise to hear myself saying "sixteenth season," but there you are.)
I know exactly how she feels. And I do share, in a way, her view about the differences in casting since the early days.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Sailing on February 15, 2010, 04:25:28 PM
http://blogs.seattleweekly.com Why Microsoft's Joe Wang Is "The Amazing Race's" Newest Villain "The Amazing Race" is unlike most reality TV shows in that it actually forces its contestants to think about the world at large, and not just themselves. It's like every other reality TV show, however, in the way it keeps viewers tuned in: by presenting people you either love or love to hate. Joe Wang, a 42-year-old Microsoft salesman paired with his wife Heidi, would be in the latter category. TechFlash interviewed Wang yesterday. And while he expressed surprise when told that the Birmingham News handicapped him as the 16th season's villain, it's easy to see how he might fit the bad guy role. Let's break down why, using Wang's own words. Comment Number One In his CBS bio, Wang says if he could pick anyone to switch places with it would be his son Jameson, because he has "unlimited potential." Why This Makes Him a Reality TV Bad Guy While it's nice Wang thinks his kid is talented, its tainted by the fact that he actually wants to be him. It's an answer that smacks of Little League Dad Syndrome. Want to spot Wang at his son's baseball game? Look for the scarily intense dude with a radar gun needling his kid's coach for more playing time and yelling at the ump to check the opposing pitcher's brim for any "funny stuff." Comment Number Two In his interview with TechFlash, Wang took time out to talk about how awesome of a guy he was and what that meant for his bosses: "One thing I do want to say is that I think this represents well for Microsoft, to have an individual like myself in the public eye." Why This Makes Him a Reality TV Bad Guy TV Bad Guys are always arrogant. But that arrogance comes in two forms. In Form One, the Arrogant Bad Guy recognizes and highlights his arrogance so as to further piss off the audience. (See, Mr. Perfect, The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase, or any other WWF villain from 1988-present.) In Form Two, the Arrogant Bad Guy is ignorant to his own arrogance. A lack of self-awareness that makes him equally loathsome. (See, Joe Wang.) Comment Number Three Because his wife says so. Poor Heidi, on her pet peeve about her teammate: "Joe is a very intense and short tempered individual who thinks he's right all the time!" Why This Makes Him a Reality TV Bad Guy Even your wife thinks you're a know-it-all with a short fuse? Congratulations Joe, you're now the villain.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: AmazingDT on February 15, 2010, 04:48:04 PM
wow that was surprising
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Chateau d If on February 15, 2010, 05:04:45 PM
I met him last night. He seemed fine to me. :duno:
But, just in case, put your seat belts on, Joe. It's going to be a bumpy ride! :lol:
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: AmazingDT on February 15, 2010, 06:18:07 PM
u got invited to te party? nice
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: georgiapeach on February 15, 2010, 06:49:26 PM
Victor Jih blogs the first TAR episode:
So, with so many contenders, who made the most questionable decision this week?
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Sailing on February 16, 2010, 07:43:46 PM
http://interact.stltoday.com/blogzone/tube-talk/tube-talk/2010/02/amazing-race-the-stupid-season/ ‘Amazing Race’: the stupid season By Gail Pennington St. Louis Post-Dispatch *spoilers below* Oh, how hilariously dumb many of the contestants on the new “Amazing Race” are. We expected as much from Jordan, the “Big Brother” winner who’s racing with Jeff, her hookup from the house. After all, Jordan once admitted she has trouble telling time from a clock. And we knew Caite, the former Miss Teen South Carolina who gave that infamous garbled speech about geography, might not be particularly bright — especially when playing a game that’s all about geography. But in Sunday night’s opener, we also got the cowboys, who headed for Chile with Brazilian money because, well, it’s all in the same direction, right? And the baseball coach and his daughter who, in one of the episode’s highlights, invaded a house and painted a wall, to the bafflement of the real painter, when they were supposed to be painting a patch on the outside of a house in Santiago. As for Jordan, except for being sure they were heading to China instead of Chile, she came through pretty well with the help of Jeff. He’s not necessarily the brightest bulb, either; he had no clue what a “funicular” was, but at least he asked, and took it, as opposed to Caite and her model-boyfriend, who just ran down the hill and incurred a penalty. Husband-wife Dana and Adrian were eliminated first because of his bad decision to do a wire-walking Roadblock. (“I’m the big dog,” he said — and yeah, he was apparently too big to walk across that wire.) We’ll start to get a better idea about the teams next week, but so far I’m thinking the grandmother-granddaughter triathletes might go soon, along with the bumbling undercover detectives. You?
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: AmazingDT on February 16, 2010, 09:08:10 PM
Yeah this season premier was hilarious
'The Amazing Race 16' Recap: Counting Fails in Chile (Not China, Jordan) Sunday, February 14, 2010
It used to be that watching The Amazing Race was about the race itself: the places they go to, the oddities they experience, the fact that armchair travelers like me can go "woot!" at it all. Now, sixteen seasons in, it's about the racer. When the eleven teams approach the starting line, I start thinking about how they'll deal with the race: the ones that annoy the hell out of you, the ones that become an easy favorite, and the ones that run a race so solid, you can predict their win from the very beginning.
This season's teams quite an interesting bunch. There are the familiar faces: Jordan and Jeff from Big Brother, and Brent and Caite... well, it's Caite who's famous for going "South Africa, and the Iraq, everywhere like such as" on us three years ago. In between, there's your usual married couple, parent-child team, sibling team (although one of them, the other Jordan of the season, is gay)... and cowboys, and a triathlete grandma-grandkid pair and undercover detectives, and a lesbian couple. Interesting bunch, more or less.
Phil's little twist on the starting line: We start in Los Angeles again, where Phil tells the teams that they have to race to the airport using public transportation. The first three teams to hit LAX will get tickets to the first flight, while the rest have to settle for the next flight an hour later. Their destination: Chile.
But the idea of public transportation has some of the teams flustered. The lesbian couple, Carol and Brandy, started dreaming of valet parking. (Then again, I do understand LA is a struggle when it comes to buses.) Joe's confident because he knows the downtown area, so he decides to take a train to the buses. Bringing three other teams with him, he's confident that they'll get slots to the first flight. Well, not really: the easiest (and fastest) way is a bus going straight to LAX a few blocks from the starting line.
Imagine Joe's face when he learns that the first flight is full. I had the urge to go "ha-ha!" like Nelson from The Simpsons. While waiting, the other Jordan launched his impression of Caite (yes, that "everywhere like such as" line again), causing an awkward moment. Carol and Brandy barely missed out on the first flight, and started praying for a "major mechanical failure". It did happen: the three teams on the first flight--"mompreneurs" Monique and Shawne, high school sweethearts Dana and Adrian, and Jordan and Jeff--were forced to move to the second flight after their plane was delayed. Hello again, bottleneck.
Hanging on to dear life in Chile: Or, as female Jordan was absolutely convinced of, China. ("We need tickets to China." Poink.) Upon touching down, they have to take a bus to the city of Valparaiso, some 60 miles away from the capital, Santiago. The cowboys, Jet and Cord, got delayed since the bus driver refused to accept their Brazilian money. (So much for the logic that they'll be accepted in Chile because they're close to each other.) Brent and Caite were the firs to get their clue--at the Ascensor Villaseca, one of the city's famed funiculars, which is pretty much like a cable car running on steep slopes--and were faced with a Roadblock.
Simply said, it's cablewalking. Specifically, it's walking on a cable as long as a football field and raised 120 feet off the ground. Caite breezes through it, never mind the very windy conditions, finishing first. Female Jordan was close behind. Dan struggled with the wind and lost his balance, but he was lucky to have caught the cable, so he had to drag himself to the end. Brandy was pumped before the deed, but had a panic attack halfway through.
They're not making this paint job as easy as it should be: Brent and Caite were the first to finish (and male Jordan admits he underestimated the beauty queen) so they had to take a funicular down to the next clue box. They did get the clue, but they walked to get there. (Male Jordan, you can take what you said back now.) Next stop: a row of painted houses along Templeman Street, where they have to grab painting supplies and paint a portion of the house they're assigned to. Isn't it cool, Phil's story, of the government constantly having these houses painted?
The hard part is looking for the houses: the frontrunners were literally walking around in circles. So hard, in fact, that Dan and Jordan lost their paintbrushes on the way. Once you get past that, it's a pretty easy task: the unpainted portion of the wall's just a three-foot square. Jordan and Jeff finished first, and breezed to the pit stop at the Palacio Baburizza, earning them a trip to Vancouver. Brent and Caite were close behind, but they were slapped with a 30-minute penalty at the pit stop for not taking the funicular earlier.
Still, the painting didn't go smoothly for everyone. Louie and Michael were painting over graffiti on a blue wall, perhaps a throwback to their civil service background. Steve and Allie, on the other hand, must've missed the instructions completely and painted the inside walls of someone else's house! (Then again, it's a red wall, and they have red paint.) The person in charge's annoyed at the entry, but ended up laughing because the team "don't know how to paint". It took them a while to realize they're doing it wrong--Allie was already looking for the next clue.
Who's the unluckiest person? Definitely Adrian, who got stuck with the cables. See, he's a big dude, and he's afraid of heights, but he's doing the Roadblock for the love of Dana. (Aww shucks.) Add the windy conditions and you know he'll definitely lose balance. Unlike earlier, though, he totally fell off the cable and was hanging by his harness. The safety experts brought him back to the starting line, where he tried, and promptly fell again. All the other teams have finished at this point, so it's pretty obvious where this leads.
Monique and Shawne finished in second, while Jet and Cord caught up from their Brazilian mistake and finished third. Dan and Jordan arrived fourth, but they were slapped a 15-minute penalty for losing the paintbrushes; they ended in eighth. Brent and Caite eventually finished seventh. Steve and Allie were fourth; Joe and Heidi were fifth; Carol and Brandy were sixth; Louie and Michael were ninth; and Jody and Shannon were tenth.
And the last team at the pit stop: Dana and Adrian. Well, they didn't really make the pit stop. Phil just visited them and told them they were eliminated. It sucks leaving first. It sucks leaving without finishing the leg. By the laws of mathematics, those two together? That sucks a lot more.
So, after day one, I'm growing fond of Jody, curious about who between Caite and female Jordan will reign supreme, and interested in all these budding bromances. Louie and Michael? Jet and Cord? Dan and Jordan? Oh, wait, I'm not sure about the last one.
Next week: We continue in Chile, where teams form alliances and people get shut out. It depends on who's shut out, really. I might like it. I might not.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: georgiapeach on February 16, 2010, 09:16:14 PM
Thanks! O and Feb. 14 was not only Valentines Day, but also Chinese New Year
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: georgiapeach on February 16, 2010, 09:34:56 PM
Yes!
新年快乐
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Sailing on February 17, 2010, 05:40:48 PM
http://www.zap2it.com/news/zap-amazing-race-16-story,0,7621767.story The "Race" is on, again.
Among television's many unscripted shows, "The Amazing Race" has distinguished itself by winning all seven Emmy Awards bestowed to date for outstanding reality competition program. Under the guidance of host and producer Phil Keoghan, another set of couples has begun an international path to the $1 million grand prize in the just-started 16th season Sundays on CBS.
"I remember that in the beginning, I was exhausted after the press I did for season one," Keoghan reflects, "because we were literally having to explain everything to people. It must have sounded like some crazy idea … well, it was, but I think people couldn't quite comprehend what we were setting out to do. Thankfully, we came through that first season, and people went, 'Oh, OK. I get it. These people really are racing around the world.'
"Now there's a following that's increasing," Keoghan adds, "which is really ridiculous when you think about it. How many shows are out there that actually have more people connected to it than in the earlier seasons? That doesn't really happen."
Currently, "Amazing Race" viewers are watching teams including Jordan Lloyd and Jeff Schroeder, who were houseguests together on CBS' "Big Brother" last summer. Also competing along with her boyfriend is Caitlin Upton, a former Miss Teen South Carolina who made headlines in 2007 by botching her answer to a pageant question on geography.
If Keoghan isn't supposed to play favorites, he can't help himself this time.
"We have a couple of narcotics agents (from Providence, R.I.) who are just characters," he says. "They're just fun to be around, wide-eyed about the idea of going around the world.
"I love that every season, we have such enthusiasm and energy at the starting line. It's one of my favorite moments in the whole production, looking at these teams that are almost like wild animals about to get out of a cage. There's that incredible sense of anticipation, of going into the unknown."
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: apskip on February 17, 2010, 09:44:49 PM
I think Victor Jih is a fine racer and worthy winner. However, where does he get off telling us the obvious in his article for a "higher publication" above? The fact that Adrian and Dana both screwed up and caused their own demise is quite obvious. Who else would you choose? Clearly, nobody on any other team. Victor, try harder to come up with something interesting. Your ability to do that for AR15 provided major value to me. We need the same for AR16.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: theschnauzers on February 19, 2010, 12:17:32 AM
For those of you who don't get to see the official CBS press releases that come from the official CBS corporate site, I thought I would mention something new they're doing this season in the press releases for each episode.
CBS is now including a team photo besides each team member's name and description. color, no less, with a clear background. It actually looks pretty cool visually.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Sailing on February 19, 2010, 12:22:05 AM
For those of you who don't get to see the official CBS press releases that come from the official CBS corporate site, I thought I would mention something new they're doing this season in the press releases for each episode.
CBS is now including a team photo besides each team member's name and description. color, no less, with a clear background. It actually looks pretty cool visually.
Are there any new photos for episode 2 that have been released?
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Hooky on February 19, 2010, 12:42:55 AM
For those of you who don't get to see the official CBS press releases that come from the official CBS corporate site, I thought I would mention something new they're doing this season in the press releases for each episode.
CBS is now including a team photo besides each team member's name and description. color, no less, with a clear background. It actually looks pretty cool visually.
Is there a way we can gain access to this site? If so, what is the URL?
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: theschnauzers on February 19, 2010, 11:46:11 AM
Quote
Is there a way we can gain access to this site? If so, what is the URL?
Quote
Are there any new photos for episode 2 that have been released?
Click on the underlined link in the middle column for "Press Bundles". While it'll have the most recent date of released press bundles. It will take you to a page listing all of the press releases in reverse chronological order, 20 items per page.
The releases for TAR will be self-evident. In order to open those document(s), you have to have Microsoft Word on your computer. Clicking on the link will download the Word document and then open it in Microsoft Word.
As to photos, There may be some on that home page, but to look at the sets, it appears you have to have a user name and password. I don't have one, so I can't tell you about those.
BTW, this is the site where CBS posts their press releases about overnight and weekly Nielsen ratings. And from what I've been able to tell the bundle Word document links remain available for about a month.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Evan_Weinstein on February 19, 2010, 11:55:45 AM
thanks, but i tried accessing the site, it says forbidden
Click on the underlined link in the middle column for "Press Bundles". While it'll have the most recent date of released press bundles. It will take you to a page listing all of the press releases in reverse chronological order, 20 items per page.
The releases for TAR will be self-evident. In order to open those document(s), you have to have Microsoft Word on your computer. Clicking on the link will download the Word document and then open it in Microsoft Word.
As to photos, There may be some on that home page, but to look at the sets, it appears you have to have a user name and password. I don't have one, so I can't tell you about those.
BTW, this is the site where CBS posts their press releases about overnight and weekly Nielsen ratings. And from what I've been able to tell the bundle Word document links remain available for about a month.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: puddin on February 19, 2010, 12:53:25 PM
Click on the underlined link in the middle column for "Press Bundles". While it'll have the most recent date of released press bundles. It will take you to a page listing all of the press releases in reverse chronological order, 20 items per page.
The releases for TAR will be self-evident. In order to open those document(s), you have to have Microsoft Word on your computer. Clicking on the link will download the Word document and then open it in Microsoft Word.
As to photos, There may be some on that home page, but to look at the sets, it appears you have to have a user name and password. I don't have one, so I can't tell you about those.
BTW, this is the site where CBS posts their press releases about overnight and weekly Nielsen ratings. And from what I've been able to tell the bundle Word document links remain available for about a month.
It may be your I.P. is blocked by CBS for some reason.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: theschnauzers on February 20, 2010, 10:22:49 AM
Then CBS probably has a I.P. block on for those outside the U.S. Sorry!
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: georgiapeach on February 20, 2010, 08:42:06 PM
heee....Amazing Race on The Soup!! :funny:
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: georgiapeach on February 23, 2010, 10:16:31 PM
Victor Jih Blogs episode 2!!
Quote
Before I crown the biggest mistake, I have to give the cowboys some love. Instead of waiting around for a direct bus, they were smart enough to look for other options. Jeff and Jordan did the same thing, but the cowboys did not rest on their laurels, patting themselves on the back with their great strategic move. They kept vigilant and pulled ahead of every other team. Once they got the lead, they never looked back. Let’s be honest: who thought Jeff and Jordan and Jet and Cord would be the two biggest threats?
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: slpdx on February 27, 2010, 01:28:46 AM
Didn't know where to put this....just something of interest...A 8.3 earthquake just struck near Concepcion, Chili. Concepcion is about about mid-way between Santiago and Puerta Varas and about 40ish miles east from the main highway connecting the two cities
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: topaz on February 27, 2010, 06:04:18 AM
damn! And I heard that news right now on cnn and bbc. Hopefully, Phil will make an announcement for the condolences of the Chile earthquake this Sunday on the 3rd episode of TAR 16 just like what he did on Sri Lanka after the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. We'll pray for the safety of the Chileans. :(
and here's the news from bbc online: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8540289.stm
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Boingo on February 27, 2010, 08:54:13 AM
:( the TAR curse strikes again?
Huge earthquake rocks Chile - story here (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100227/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_chile_earthquake)
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: georgiapeach on February 27, 2010, 09:01:07 AM
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: AmazingDT on February 27, 2010, 11:18:01 AM
THIS IS HORRIBLE! 3 MAJOR EARTHQUAKES IN THE FIRST 2 MONTHS OF THE NEW YEAR!
JAPAN HAITI CHILE :'(
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Sailing on February 27, 2010, 03:00:03 PM
3. “Amazing Race” (CBS). The Cowboys may be yokels, but they’re smart and fun yokels who almost single-handedly made this a great episode. (Their cowboy uniform just kills me, I love it. Can they really run the entire race in big hats, collared shirts, jeans and boots?) Their idea of finding connecting buses was brilliant, and one I wish more teams would think of more often. It was so, so sweet watching the Coalition of the Stupid (Brent & Caite and Jordan & Jeff) miss not one but two buses due to disastrous decision-making (too bad their lead was so wide, I can’t wait for both teams to be gone). The Detectives (who haven’t been too observant) caught a huge break in passing Grandma and Granddaughter. I want to like them, but they really need to pick it up or they won’t be long for this race. And the one thing we all learned from this episode: Don’t mess with Chilean cows. Man, they were ornery. (And poopy — how hilarious were the blurred-out, ah, excretions?) The insurance department at CBS corporate headquarters must’ve freaked when they saw all the racers getting kicked. Luckily Grandma had a thick skull. (BTW, why were Jody & Shannon so far behind? It seemed like they just got a late bus and didn’t bother looking for an earlier one. Their lack of urgency bugged me. It’s a raaaaace!) Gorgeous scenery too, that solidified southern Chile’s ranking on my list of places I have to visit someday.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: RealityFreakWill on March 01, 2010, 12:11:53 PM
Victor's blog on ep. #3
Victor’s Amazing Race Blog: It’s All About Preparation
Sometimes there is nothing you can do to fight fate. This week, the nine teams remaining in the 16th installment of The Amazing Race traveled to Bariloche, Argentina, for the third leg, where teams played five-card stud with a gnome, roped cattle made of hay, and either searched for buried treasure or played polo with wooden horses. In a leg designed for cowboys, it seemed fated that the cowboys Jet and Cord, who took the lead last week, would win — and they did, quite easily. It also seemed like no matter what mom-trepreneurs Monique and Shawne did, they were doomed. So, spoiler alert! In a leg far too physical for them, Monique and Shawne were eliminated. I was impressed, however, by the moms’ persistence and support for each other.
In hindsight, there really was no question Jet and Cord would win. That said, I don’t think the leg was unfair. As Jet and Cord put it, just as there’s no reason for them to complain about the advantage Carole and Brandy get as fluent Spanish speakers with the first three legs being in Latin America, others shouldn’t complain about the advantage the cowboys get in “cowboy” tasks. (Of course, I have to take this position since my sister and I got to compete in China as fluent Chinese speakers.)
So in a leg whose outcome was more an issue of fate than any mistakes, I’m going to focus my blog this week on mistakes in terms of race preparation.
Anyone who has studied The Amazing Race knows that you have to learn how to drive a manual transmission! It is laughable how bad Dan and Jordan are at driving stick. But I have to call out Brent. He should have learned how to drive stick, instead of relying on Caite! Teams know that on the Race, one person will need to be the driver and the other person will need to be the navigator. Since they know Brent is “horrible” at navigation, he should have learned how to drive stick. It is also clear Brent does not like the role of navigator since as soon as they get lost, his first instinct is to yell at Caite to figure out where they were supposed to go. (Of course, the irony here is that Caite is the one who was ridiculed nationally about geography.)
However, the biggest mistake I see in preparation this week lies with the Big Brother team — as much as I like them. As this leg highlights, Jordan defers to Jeff, who makes almost all of the decisions for the team. Most of the time, this works. Jeff makes really good decisions (like trying a different bus route last week). This week, though, he made really bad decisions. Even though he found the loot quickly, he kept taking it to the wrong person. He couldn’t figure it out even when the answer was thrown in his face — he didn’t know to take it to the train station even when Joe asked him, “Where’s the train station?” (Jeff realizes how stupid their decisions were and declares he and Jordan definitely should not reproduce.) But I don’t blame Jeff. Given fatigue and stress, there will be times where people will not be able to think properly. So I blame Jordan. As a teammate, she is supposed to be the person who steps up when her partner cannot figure things out. Going into the Race, though, it seems like Jordan and Jeff decided that Jeff would always take the lead. Though it’s good to have a leader, you cannot expect the leader to be perfect, and in those moments of imperfection, Jordan needs to be prepared to step up and contribute. Luckily, it did not prove disastrous here, but it may in the future.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: theschnauzers on March 01, 2010, 04:00:33 PM
One of the problems with Victor's analysis is this. Teams have to have known from the detailed instructions that came with the clue (which some teams were shown reading) who they were supposed to find, and there's every indication that Jeff nor Jordan read them completely or carefully.
Had they done so, they would have finished the leg sooner.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: DrRox on March 01, 2010, 04:44:48 PM
The only cowboy specific task was he roping task. None of the other tasks were specific to cowboys. Jet even missed on the first throw too.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: gator27 on March 02, 2010, 07:33:40 AM
One of the problems with Victor's analysis is this. Teams have to have known from the detailed instructions that came with the clue (which some teams were shown reading) who they were supposed to find, and there's every indication that Jeff nor Jordan read them completely or carefully.
Had they done so, they would have finished the leg sooner.
And what about Joe not reading the clue properly. He watch/compass could have been a directional asset and he could have focused on counting steps. For that matter, the detectives tried to reason their way to a short cut instead of following directions.
Reading is fundamental.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: theschnauzers on March 03, 2010, 12:35:55 PM
The finale is set for May 9th. For the first time that I can remember, CBS has just released the finale dates this far ahead of time for TAR, Cold Case, Survivor, and some specials that will be aired in May on Sundays.
This is an article from The Futon Critic from schedule information they get from CBS. (link) (http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=8553)
Quote
LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- No two Sundays will look the same during the closing weeks of the season for CBS.
In addition to its previously announced movies and specials ("The 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards" on April 18, "When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story" on April 25), the Eye has booked "Jesse Stone: No Remorse," the sixth "Stone" film, for May 9 and "Brooks & Dunn: The Last Rodeo," an ACM Awards follow-up special, for May 23.
Said quartet will join the season finales of the network's reality franchises "Undercover Boss" (April 11), "The Amazing Race" (May 9) and "Survivor" (May 16).
Sunday, April 18 7:00/6:00c - "60 Minutes" 8:00/7:00c - "The 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards" (Three-Hour Special)
Sunday, April 25 7:00/6:00c - "60 Minutes" 8:00/7:00c - "The Amazing Race 16" 9:00/8:00c - "When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story" (Original Movie)
Sunday, May 2 7:00/6:00c - "60 Minutes" 8:00/7:00c - "The Amazing Race 16" 9:00/8:00c - "Cold Case" (Two-Hour Season Finale)
Sunday, May 9 7:00/6:00c - "60 Minutes" 8:00/7:00c - "The Amazing Race 16" (Season Finale) 9:00/8:00c - "Jesse Stone: No Remorse" (Original Movie)
Sunday, May 16 7:00/6:00c - "60 Minutes" 8:00/7:00c - "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains" (Two-Hour Season Finale - Special Night) 10:00/9:00c - "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains: The Reunion"
Sunday, May 23 7:00/6:00c - "60 Minutes" 8:00/7:00c - "Brooks & Dunn: The Last Rodeo" (Two-Hour Special) 10:00/9:00c - "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (Repeat)
For those of you who are so inclined I gues you can start making those TARcon travel plans and get the discounts.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: georgiapeach on March 03, 2010, 01:10:38 PM
Wonderful!! Thank you!! But still...I remember at least one TARcon where released dates were changed about 3 weeks before...so take it still with a grain of salt :lol:
But May 9 fiits best with our speculated dates,so yay!!
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: theschnauzers on March 03, 2010, 06:08:14 PM
Peach, Brian Ford Sullivan, who founded The Futon Critic, and who is responsible for that article, has been known to post in other TAR-related forums on occasion. When something popped up early about a finale date for TAR 15 (because of information about the Survivor Samoa finale) I contacted him and he corrected an assumption made by one of his staffers.
This information appears to be too comprehensive to be random or guesswork. The only way I could see a change is if CBS makes a conscious change for currently unforeseen consequences. But May 9th is consistent with 12 episodes and the one week off for the already announced date for the CMAs, so I give it the best category of reliability that I think we're are going to see.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: georgiapeach on March 03, 2010, 07:59:27 PM
That's what I said...or thought I did. I agree with the date as posted, but also know that the finale date has been changed before, at least twice, fairly close to the finale, for unforeseen circumstances. So just saying be careful .
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: AmazingDT on March 06, 2010, 12:54:01 PM
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: RealityFreakWill on March 08, 2010, 09:33:51 AM
Victor’s Amazing Race Blog: From Worst to First
And on the fourth leg of the sixteenth edition of The Amazing Race, the team called Louie and Michael finally found focus and finished first. This week, the eight remaining teams started from Estancia Fortin Chacabuco in Bariloche, Argentina, only to reach a “bunching point” at the airport as they prepared to jump continents to Hamburg, Germany. The beauty of the bunch is that it resets placements, allowing all teams to start even, before they tackled the tandem bungee, the World Cup 2010 and Sauerkraut Polka detours, and “Drink the Boot” at Haifischbar. Louie and Michael took advantage and reached the pit stop at Indra Club in unfamiliar first place. Steve and Allie found their groove with a second, second-place finish. Bottom-dwellers Dan and Jordan and Brent and Caite stayed in the back-of-the-pack, while Jeff and Jordan tumbled to last place — only to be saved by a non-elimination leg.
So what happened? Many will say that this leg was determined by taxicab luck. Jeff and Jordan ended up in last place because their taxicab driver did not know how to use a GPS device and took them miles out of the way. Jet and Cord were in first place, until they could not find a taxicab. And Louie and Michael had an easy time of it with a sassy taxicab driver named Edga. But to me, this leg had nothing to do with taxicabs. Taxicab luck affects everybody — it is something you expect and have to manage.
This leg was about alliances. Even before the reappearance of the intersection, the teams were already in natural couplings: Jeff and Jordan had their favorites in Brent and Caite; Carol and Brandy love Dan and Jordan; Joe and Heidi bonded with Steve and Allie; while Jet and Cord and Louie and Michael found themselves with no one else. Every pair of pairs worked well together at the intersection, but all make the mistake of separating too quickly. Each team picked opposite detours. Jet and Cord would not have gotten lost if they had stayed with Louie and Michael. Brent and Caite and Jeff and Jordan would have fared better had they stayed together. As the old saying goes, you don’t need to outrun your friend until the bear starts chasing. Until then, working together reduces the chance of a mistake; and if you do make a mistake, the other team is good insurance. People remember my biggest mistake as getting lost in the hills of Romania. But that wasn’t actually my biggest mistake. My biggest mistake was not waiting for Christie and Jodi. Instead of tackling the vampire detour together, I raced ahead to try to gain an advantage, only to get lost for hours. There was no reason to race ahead by ourselves so early in a leg. Mel (of Mel and Mike) understood that. When we had to traverse the subways of Moscow (which did not air), we took Mel and Mike with us. I said it was so we could work together; Mel said it was so we could outrun them if we both get lost. We were both right. But the alliance worked.
Beyond alliances, the honor for biggest mistake of the week is shared by Carole and Brandi, Dan and Jordan, Joe and Heidi, Steve and Allie, Brent and Caite, and Jeff and Jordan. Every one of you left the start before Louie and Michael, and yet only Louie and Michael (the last place team) managed to get on the first flight to Germany with Jet and Cord. How did you let that happen? We may never know. But by letting Louie and Michael get on that first plane, the other teams gave away first place.
Scroll down to the bolded text for the important bits!
I'm going to respectfully disagree with Apskip's choice of flights on the Episode Thread (http://forum.realityfanforum.com/index.php/topic,21707.msg514253.html#msg514253). I think he's switched up the arrival times of the three flights, and he can't find the 11.10am Austral Airlines flight out of Bariloche. Looking at a different date perhaps?
The first matter of business is to figure out which day the teams left Bariloche. We know the teams checked in the previous leg on the evening of the 2nd, and we have half the pack travelling through Sao Paulo, arriving at 3.40pm in Frankfurt.
The usual scheduled flight from Sao Paulo to Frankfurt leaves at 11.15pm and arrives at 2.00pm, but it is only on the flight departing on the 4th that the flight was delayed, arriving instead at 3.22pm on the 5th. We can therefore confirm that the Hamburg leg took place on the evening of the 5th, and that teams were released from the Bariloche Pit Stop on the evening of the 3rd, after a ~30h Pit Stop.
We had the Sao Paulo and direct flights, but missed out on the Paris flight as it was scheduled to leave earlier and arrive later than the Sao Paulo connection. Here are the flights that the teams took:
All teams, unless first flight is booked out AR 2681 to Buenos Aires AEP: 1105-1305 (scheduled 1110-1313) Transfer to Buenos Aires EZE
Jet/Cord, Michael/Louie AF 417 to Paris: 1846-1127 (scheduled 1800-1100) AF 1918 to Frankfurt: 1314-1424 (scheduled 1315-1435) The show has them arriving at 1435.
Carol/Brandy, Daniel/Jordan LH 511 to Frankfurt: 2213-1500 (scheduled 2150-1500) The show has them arriving at 1500.
Jordan/Jeff, Brent/Caite, Steve/Allie, Joe/Heidi JJ 8005, AR 1244, JJ 8011 or G3 7453 to Sao Paulo (3h40 flight) JJ 8070 to Frankfurt 2315-1522 (scheduled arrival 1400) The show has them arriving at 1540.
Had the final flight not been delayed, the main pack would have arrived in Frankfurt the earliest, followed 35min later by the Jet/Cord/Michael/Louie flight and an hour later by the Carol/Brandy/Daniel/Jordan flight. Lots of airport drama we missed out on.
The German train website no longer shows timetables for December 2009, having changed their schedule on 13 Dec, but they share the same booking system as the Austrian rail service, which still hosts the old timetables on their website! Here are the trains the teams took:
Jet/Cord, Michael/Louie ICE 721 to Frankfurt (Main): 1537-1548 ICE 72 to Hamburg: 1558-1934
All other teams ICE 574 to Hamburg: 1642-2035
The lead pair had a good one hour over the trailing teams arriving at Hamburg. Note that had the Sao Paulo flight not been delayed, they would have made it onto a direct train running 1442-1834, arriving a full hour ahead of Jet/Cord/Michael/Louie and two hours ahead of Carol/Brandy/Daniel/Jordan.
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Neobie elucidates the flight shuffling. The airport drama would have been interesting to see.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: DianeC on March 09, 2010, 10:29:35 AM
Interesting read for Episode 4.......
http://hasbrouck.org/blog/archives/001840.html
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Pedaler on March 09, 2010, 02:51:07 PM
Thanks DianeC for the link. I can't believe that Edward Hasbrouck is still blogging about the race.
A quick story about him for you youngsters. Back during Race 5 he had spoiler photos of the final 3 teams. In July 2004 he teased about his photos http://www.hasbrouck.org/blog/archives/000265.html (http://www.hasbrouck.org/blog/archives/000265.html) . The week before the finale (September 2004) he posted the photos. http://www.hasbrouck.org/blog/archives/000375.html (http://www.hasbrouck.org/blog/archives/000375.html)
The funny thing about all of this is that the task shown in the photos was never shown. The teepee task was cut out of the episode. :snicker:
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: DianeC on March 09, 2010, 04:51:22 PM
Thx for that info Pedaler...Interesting..
EEK on this one about Louis... and i dk about this writer..He is really a trouble-maker...
http://dlvr.it/8Z38
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: heyhay28 on March 09, 2010, 05:20:01 PM
And please note the guidelines for any discussion there.
Thanks everyone.
Sorry peach...Thought this was where TAR Media went and I can't stand this Rag writer....I have written and told him what I think of him 2 times, sooooo for what it was worth i wanted you to know he is a pot-stirrer...I like the Detectives, so it wasn't meant to be bad, just to warn you about the writer is what I was trying to do BEFORE it got all out of context...
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: DianeC on March 11, 2010, 10:34:15 AM
Just FYI....3 more earthquakes hit Chile...7.2;6.9 & 6....
These poor ppl are getting hammered...PRAY! Tsunami warnings up...
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: theschnauzers on March 11, 2010, 05:23:40 PM
From what I heard these were still considered aftershocks from the 8.8 quake. The areas closest to the original epicenter moved ten feet (3 meters) to the west; so Chile is now wider than it used to be.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: RealityFreakWill on March 15, 2010, 01:31:33 PM
Victor’s Amazing Race Blog: Two Teams Targeted for Elimination
Eight teams started the fifth leg of the sixteenth edition of Amazing Race from a mobile point at a chateau in Epernay, France. With Jeff and Jordan targeted for elimination from their last-place showing on the prior leg, the teams break bread at Defontaine Boulanger in Sainte-Menehould, France; travel to a military base camp in Massiges, France, where they must either tackle Morse Code or an Army Crawl; and confront a blind U-Turn before cycling on a leg of the traditional Tour de France from the Church of Massiges to the pit stop at Wargemoulin-Hurlus.
This is one of those legs where team placements rarely change barring a horrible mistake. Louie and Michael replicate their first place from the previous leg, Steve and Allie continue strong with another second place showing, and the slower teams remain in the back of the pack. The real drama comes from Louie and Michael’s decision to put Joe and Heidi up for elimination with the U-Turn, thus setting up a battle between them and last-place Jeff and Jordan. While Jeff and Jordan handle the speed-bump task of shoring up a trench with ease (their real speed bump is their inability to navigate), in the end — spoiler alert! — Morse Code proves an impossible task and Joe and Heidi are eliminated.
A big error in judgment this leg is Joe’s decision to talk up their team at the back of the bus, which annoyed Louie and Michael to no end. There is nothing to gain from talking yourself up — especially on a crowded bus where everyone can hear you. During our season, my sister and I went into the race with a very specific plan to praise and flatter other people. The original plan was to talk up Jennifer and Preston, but they eliminated themselves quickly. So we talked up Luke for his observational skills, encyclopedic knowledge of the Race, and scary competitiveness. We also talked up Kris for his intimidating physicality.
Fortunately, Luke U-Turned Kris and Amanda, not us. But here, every team knew to avoid the Morse Code task given how hard it would be to learn how to decipher the fast-paced code under a high-stress situation (except perhaps Brandy, who proclaimed that “smart people would do Morse Code” while “dumb people” would crawl in the mud), so it was very likely anyone forced to complete that task would be eliminated. Joe and Heidi’s only mistake, then, was to become Louie and Michael’s target.
Even though Joe and Heidi’s braggadocio led to their elimination, this week’s biggest mistake, though, belongs to Louie and Michael. They correctly understood that if you U-Turn someone, you should plan on landing a lethal blow. But if you’re going to eliminate a team, you should base that decision on your biggest threat, not whom you happen to be most annoyed with. As much as Louie thought Joe needed to be taught a lesson, Joe was limping and his team, while strong, was consistently in the middle. The real threat at this point is either Steve and Allie (who recently found their groove with two consecutive second places) or Jet and Cord (who have two first place finishes). Watching this leg unfold, I couldn’t help but wonder whether Louie and Michael just gave the $1 million to another team.
I’ll close with a couple of random thoughts. Jeff and Jordan — way to survive a rough leg and the speed bump! And a special note to Jordan Pious — I understand from Marcus Lehman (of Survivor: Gabon) that you’re mad I made fun of your manual transmission skills. No worries — I’m not much better! I nearly skidded off the road in Novosibirsk, Russia. I share your pain.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: RealityFreakWill on March 22, 2010, 10:48:48 AM
Victor’s Amazing Race Blog: The Big Trust Question
On Sunday’s episode of The Amazing Race, the remaining seven teams started from a military base in Massiges, France, where they drove to Reims to search for a Joan of Arc statue, tackled a cave rappel roadblock at the Leclerk Briant Winery in Epernay, and chose between searching for grapes in a barren vineyard and stacking 680 champagne glasses fifteen levels high, before racing to the pit stop at the Office Regional Culturel de Champagne Ardenne in Epernay.
SPOILER ALERT: Louie and Michael came in first again. Carol and Brandy moved out of obscurity into second place, while Dan and Jordan almost made a move (and were the only team to successfully stack the glasses) before falling back to fourth. Jeff and Jordan needed to race a perfect leg, but could not make it happen and were eliminated. At least they showed gratitude and grace!
The word that kept coming to my mind as I watched was “trust.” First, don’t always trust your instincts — especially when you have no reason to think you’re right! Remember this rule: It is dangerous to assume, because it makes an “a–” out of “u” and “me.” Educators and Sunday school teachers around the world cringed as we realized 1 out of 7 Americans (i.e., Jordan and Caite) think Joan of Arc refers to Noah and his Ark. Fortunately, they are both teamed with people who knew better. Jet and Cord made a costly mistake when they assumed a champagne roadblock must be located in the city of Champagne and took off in the wrong direction.
What really separated the teams this leg was finding the detour location, Champagne Tattinger La Marquetterie. Teams who asked the local tourism office were all sent to the wrong city — Dan and Jordan, Steve and Allie, Jet and Cord, and Jeff and Jordan drive to the Tattinger store in Reims instead of the Tattinger La Marquetterie in Pierry. It would be easy to blame underpaid French tourism employees, but I blame the teams themselves. And so the second lesson — don’t always trust what people tell you. Put it this way: If you were walking down the street in the United States, stop two pretty girls, and ask Jordan and Caite where the nearest Joan of Arc statue was located, you’d end up on a wild-goose chase for Noah’s Ark. So why do teams suddenly trust whatever a random stranger in another country says? Having been there, I know how easy it is to get overexcited when you finally find one person who even pretends to know what you are talking about. I did it all the time. So teams jump as soon as they find someone who recognizes the word “Tattinger.” But a healthy dose of skepticism is needed — and teams should have made sure their sources also recognized the word “Marquetterie.” Teams would have either corrected the mistake or realized that the stranger really didn’t know what they were talking about.
I’m going to give this week’s award for biggest mistake to Jet and Cord, since they had to learn both of this week’s “trust” lessons. That said, I’m really worried about Brent and Caite. The detour highlighted the biggest issue facing their team — they no longer trust each other. As a result, they had a hard time listening to ideas or discussing rationally what decisions to make or how to accomplish the task at hand. If they do not work through those issues quickly, the next leg may be their last.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: RealityFreakWill on March 26, 2010, 01:12:38 AM
TAR15 Sam McMillen blogs about TAR16 Ep 6:
The Amazing Race 16: McMillen's Moments, Episode 6
by Sam McMillen
The Amazing Race 15
This week on The Amazing Race, the teams stick around for another dose of French winter. It's freezing at the pit-start, so a warm and cozy Mercedes Benz is quite the treat once the leg starts. Teams leave from Veroun and head to Reims where they find the only outdoor statue of Joan of Arc. A woman playing a singing saw (YouTube it... pretty fascinating) gives them a cork with their next clue on the bottom. Teams go underground for the Roadblock and build upward for the Detour, getting lost every possible chance along the way. At the pit-stop, the teams are greeted by Phil and a French mime, making for a quiet, peaceful ending to a very disoriented leg.
WAIT... YOU GUYS ARE DETECTIVES?
The Race is famous for casting teams with unique but relatable qualities. How often these "titles" come out is up to the racers. Mike and Louie make the most references to their personal life this season. They discuss how their ability to withstand inconsistent sleeping patterns and filthy clothes stems from their days on the force. It's charming, don't get me wrong, but I doubt finding grapes in a vineyard and crack-cocaine in someone's rear-end are really THAT relatable. Dan and I always got a kick out of how Phil tried to relate our being gay with some of the challenges. "So how did being gay brothers help you guys navigate the route this leg?" Well Phil, I'm glad you asked. Reading street signs in Dubai is covered on the first day of gay training.
THE BIG CONFUSION
The obscure clues this week (the cork and the champagne bottle test tube) were definitely pretty tough, especially with the lack of English spoken by the locals. After the Roadblock, the teams must find La Maquetterie Taittanger. Little do they know, there is another Taittanger (not La Maquetterie) in Reims where they started this leg of the Race. The one they are looking for is in Pierry. The majority of the teams go to the wrong location first, so no one's game is completely destroyed by the misdirection. The navigation was so bad this week, I was having trouble keeping track of who was on track and who was somewhere in Swaziland. Jet and Cord were unlucky enough to go to the wrong city... twice. We had a lot of Oh My Gravies this week.
WALMART PULLS THROUGH AGAIN
It's such a validating feeling when something you packed "just in case" actually saves your butt. For us, it was the $2 calculator we picked up at Wal-Mart. For Team Stallie this week, it was duct tape. During the leg, Steve rams their Mercedes into a curb, busting the bumper and causing the fender to be pressed against the tire (that's right, I know what a fender is). I totally recognized the look on Allie's face when the accident happens: "my dad's the worst driver in the world, and it will be the death of me". The team pulls over to check it out, only to find their fender in the shape of a snaggletooth. With no success from bending, pulling and twisting the broken piece, Steve remembers the duct tape his wife threw in his pack just before they left. The two maneuver the pieces into place, strap on some duct tape and are saved from elimination. From then on, they were really driving in style.
BAR AND BATMITZVAHS ALL AROUND
I think the funniest blip in this episode was Dan and Jordan talking about their crystal tower. I'll be the first to admit, it was quite the tower. Frankly, I'm impressed they were able to pull such a tough challenge off. Especially with the four single glasses stacked at the very top. Very "Empire State Building". This challenge gets my "cinematography award" with the shot of Jordan's face just behind the tower, watching as the champagne is poured. Give the camera guys an Emmy. Their tower building skills were enough to make me want to convert to Judaism, just so I could hire them for my Bar Mitzvah. Then again, I don't know if my runner-up winnings could afford their expensive services.
BRENT AND CAITE OOPS... AGAIN
In a secret scene for Episode 5, Brent and Caite discuss how they're great on the challenges but just can't seem to get the navigation part down. This week doesn't show much improvement. While searching for the Joan of Arc statue, Brent and Caite are shown just standing there, looking around aimlessly. Brent asks Caite if she wants to ask some locals passing by, and she says no. That one blew my mind (ALWAYS ASK THE LOCALS!). After the Roadblock, the team thinks they catch a break when they spot Carol and Brandy asking for directions. They follow the ladies to the pit-stop, only to realize they have once again skipped a clue. Not just a clue, the entire Detour. They're having a lot of trouble paying attention to detail, and they'll be the first to admit it. I'm very surprised they have avoided elimination with so many huge errors. Their race so far just proves how crucial the navigation aspect of the game is, and how much it helps to travel in packs. Maybe Caite can seek some spiritual guidance from Sir Joan of Arc.
CAROL'S SUPPORT
Brandy volunteers to do the Roadblock, only to find out it is yet again a heights challenge. She seems pretty pissed off at first (this is her third heights task - Carol's avoided them all), but puts her head down and gets the task done. As she is getting ready to enter the cave-o-bubbly, we hear Carol saying "you're gonna have so much fun!" Carol's motivation for such affirmation stuck out to me. While it looked like she was just trying to help her partner calm down, I think she was mostly just trying to keep her from transforming into Super Bitch. So far we've seen that Brandy and Carol can get a bit moody and have trouble recovering a good attitude once things go south. We all remember their G.I. Jane catastrophe of last episode. Don't get me wrong, I'm loving Team "The L Word"; but no one wants to be on a team with Cinderella when her horns come out. Dramafest Leg 6.... nicely avoided.
CONFIDENCE CAN KILL YOU
The most successful teams are the ones who can find a happy medium between playing it safe and taking a risk. Now that Joe's blatant arrogance is gone, a few teams have come out from behind his shadow as a little "cockier" than the other teams. First, Mike and Louie seem a little bit full of themselves. At the beginning of the leg, the detectives talk about how the other teams are "running around like chickens with their heads cut off" and the two are "just enjoying the amusement of these other teams". Be careful guys, that kind of confidence is the quickest way to overlook a HUGE, race-ending mistake. The second team exuding some extra ego is Brandy and Carol. When Caite and Brent follow them to the pit-stop, the ladies roll their eyes at the young couple's mistake, as if to say "ugh... stilly amateurs". The Detectives and Team L Word definitely have the most room to gloat based on their successful track records, but I really feel like their confidence will get the best of both of them.
JOE SCHMO
It seems everyone is quite pleased that Joe and Heidi are gone. In an extra clip, Mike and Louie talk about how the other teams were praising them for their bold U-Turn decision. Dan and Jordan even tell Phil they hoped the detectives got 1st again, probably for eliminating the one team they didn't like. Correction: the one GUY they didn't like - everyone was in love with Heidi. I think Joe's departure is going to mark a new attitude of friendship and alliance between some of the teams. In the end, I'm sure he's a great guy and is a wonderful father/husband when not on the race. For me, I'm just glad we don't have to hear about his knee anymore.
THIS AIN'T THE BIG BROTHER HOUSE
Despite the fact that I really enjoyed Jeff and Jordan's charming banter, it was definitely time for the newly dating couple to go. True, they made for good TV, but they've consistently struggled more than any other team. I now find myself surprised that Jordan never got lost going from the pool to the kitchen in the BB house. The team left the race with a good attitude, kind of giving off the "I'm so glad this is over" vibe as they chat with Phil for the last time. I think they were expecting the race to be a lot easier than it truly is, especially after their days of poolside drinking and relaxation in the BB house. The emotional drain may be equivalent between the two shows, but when you factor in the physical and mental exhaustion associated with TAR, it was too much for them. At least Jeff got to repel into a champagne cellar with Santa Claus.
I'm pretty excited about the remaining 6 teams. My final three picks are still in it (Steve/Allie, Dan/Jordan and Jet/Cord), and I'm still feeling pretty good about all of them. I think the confidence of the lesbians and the detectives will get the best of them, and let's be honest, Brent and Caite's lack of attention to detail isn't very promising. Next week is in gorgeous Seychelles, so I'm looking forward to a nice change in scenery. Ironically, this season's top six consists of three all male teams, two male/female teams and one all female team. Sound familiar?
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: apskip on March 26, 2010, 08:50:25 AM
The above recap of leg 6 by Sam of AR15 ( the previous season) is in my opinion the finest piece of writing/reporting by any Amazing racer in all the seasons of the Amazing Race. I don't agree with all his points (although for most of them I do), but they are succinct adn crisp so each reader can develop his own point of view on them. BRAVO, Sam!
Thanks, RealityFreakWill, for discovereing the mother lode and brining it to RFF.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: RealityFreakWill on March 29, 2010, 10:54:04 AM
Victor’s Amazing Race Blog: Mistakes Make For Merry Mayhem!
We are halfway through The Amazing Race and the six remaining teams can smell “final three.”
On the seventh leg, the teams leave France on the same flight to the Seychelles Islands in the Indian Ocean. When they land on Mahe Island, they race to the Victoria Airport Heli-Pad and take helicopters one-by-one to La Digue Island. There, teams choose between Turtle Toddle (where they must lead 500 lb. sea tortoises to a finish line with bananas) and Ox Trot (where they must load hundreds of coconuts into a cart and drive it to a market). After a roadblock bottle-dive off the Cote d’Or, they must assemble a map that leads them to the pit stop on Praslin Island beach. The allure of the endgame means placements are shuffled as teams hustle.
This episode, Steve and Allie break Louie and Michael’s stranglehold on first place and claim that elusive victory. Dan and Jordan finally make their move successfully and prove they are a force to be reckoned with. But — spoiler alert — Jet and Cord lose an epic battle of mistakes with Carol and Brandy and fall to last place, but they are spared by a pre-determined non-elimination leg.
Now I love a leg filled with mistakes and this seventh leg did not disappoint: Steve and Allie lose their backpacks but are smart enough to have their passports on them. Brent and Caite lose a coconut and almost quit when they are sent back to complete the ox cart detour correctly. Carol and Brandy and Jet and Cord laugh at Brent and Caite’s stupidity and carelessness, then proceed to make the exact same mistake. While Jet and Cord recover quickly and leave Carol and Brandy in their dust, they lose their bottle at the road block and somehow forget they need a clue before they can run to the pit stop. They valiantly swim over 300 yards in the Indian Ocean to retrieve their bottle but inevitably fall to last place. Even so, I have nothing but admiration for a team that refuses to give up, stays supportive of each other, and is willing to swim across an ocean in the face of likely futility.
People are not perfect and mistakes are virtually guaranteed in high-stress situations. Every team starts even on the flight to the Seychelles, elevating tensions from the very beginning. And once the three “strong” teams (as Carol puts it) find themselves in the back, tensions are even further aggravated.
Going into our Race, Tammy and I knew we would make mistakes. The real task was making sure we could survive those mistakes. I have to applaud Steve and Allie for charging ahead despite leaving their backpacks behind and Jet and Cord for persevering after losing both coconuts and bottles. Given the fatigue, stress, and anxiety of the Race, I don’t fault any team for those lapses.
Rather, the week’s “biggest” mistake is one shared by Louie and Michael and Jet and Cord — getting their minds off the game when it comes to travel. When those teams go for food instead of checking in and getting seats in the front of the plane, they (and Carol and Brandy) wind up disembarking last and end up having to fight for their lives with an hour disadvantage. In that situation, any mistake presents a greater risk of elimination. I can empathize with Louie and Michael and Jet and Cord, though. After non-stop racing, you look for chances to let your guard down and take a break from the competition and food is always a welcome respite. But competitive racers need to be vigilant for every opportunity — otherwise other teams (Dan and Jordan and Brent and Caite) will pass you. A brief of moment of overconfidence left the three “strongest” teams (according to Carol) scrambling for survival.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Caelestor on March 29, 2010, 09:09:25 PM
Victor is very acute with this episode. I agree. :tup:
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: RealityFreakWill on April 01, 2010, 10:37:23 AM
The Amazing Race 16: McMillen's Moments, Episode 7
by Sam McMillen
The Amazing Race 15
Okay... so this week's episode of The Amazing Race was absolutely PHENOMENAL!!!! I honestly don't even know where to begin. I'll try not to point out the obvious reasons why this leg was so stellar (it was neck and neck the whole time, the location looked like my screen saver, etc.), but some things just have to be mentioned. This episode has the teams trekking all over the islands of The Seychelles, so let's jump right into my favorite moments.
THE NEXT CLAY AIKEN
Alright, so this first little tid-bit is insignificant and a bit silly, but I have to comment on Jordan's melodic narratives. Whether it's "we're going to Saycheleez" or "we've got a rainbow following us", I can't help but notice that a lot of his quotes are delivered in the spirit of song. As a music lover, I instinctively enjoy this charming little eccentricity. Will it last the rest of the race? Is he just practicing to try out for Lady Gaga back-up vocals? Did anyone else even notice it? I guess we'll have to see.
TAKE A NUMBER
The first clue of the leg tells the teams they'll be taking a number from a kiosk after the plane lands in The Seychelles. Jordan catches the detail and draws the correct conclusion: you have to book it off the plane to get a good number because it will determine the order in which you leaves for the next task. Sure enough, the last three teams (the detectives, the lesbians and the cowboys) discover they will be leaving an hour after the first three teams since they have ticket numbers 4, 5 and 6 respectively . Carol and Brandy's confidence shines through as they assert that "the strongest three teams are the last three to leave". (I'm guessing at this point every team is thinking "the strongest three teams are the detectives, the cowboys and us"). Turns out, the order in which teams arrive to the kiosk is almost exactly the same as the order in which they arrive to the pit-stop. This was huge, and just goes to show how important the smallest little details are. For example...
SPOTS ON A PLANE
While the title of this section may sound a lot like the movie that is arguably Samuel L. Jackson's greatest performance to date, it is actually a theme from this week's episode. Getting seats closest to the front of the plane seemed to be an obsession in my season. I still remember sprinting back and forth for at least twenty minutes through the airport in Riga, Latvia on our way from Estonia to Prague, trying to be the first ones to the ticket counter just so we could sit one row in front of the other teams. It was desperate, exhausting, embarrassing and exhilarating all at the same time. I friggin hated that part. Since the kiosk is only a short distance from where the plane lands, the three teams closest to the front of the plane (allowing them to de-board first) get the first three numbers. This puts them on the first three helicopters and an hour ahead of the last three teams. I think if the detectives and the cowboys had made the same observation as Jordan in France, they would have harassed the ticket counter people for seats closest to the front of the plane as soon as they got the chance. Instead, they grabbed a leisurely bite at the airport café. I loved that this came into play because it's the perfect example of how the littlest things can make the hugest difference on The Race.
NOT QUITE AESOP'S FABLES
So this week's Detour involved animals on both sides, pitting a >100 yr old tortoise against a pissed of ox. Animal challenges are greatly feared by racers, because you never know exactly how God's little creatures are going to treat you that day. Nothing would ruin this priceless experience like getting out because of an animal (just ask Ari and Staella from Season 12, eliminated in the first leg because of a stubborn ass... literally). Just like most of the remaining teams, Carol and Brandy's tortoise didn't want anything to do with the ladies and ran away as quickly as his chubby little legs could take him. On the other side of the Detour, Brent and Ciate's ox was slow as molasses (even though Brent said HEEYAAHHH about 2.7 million times). I honestly wonder who would win in a foot race: that ox or Louie. In the end, the top prize in this week's version of "The Seychelles' Funniest Animal Videos" (unfortunately, not hosted by Mario Lopez) definitely goes to Dan and Jordan's ox (a.k.a. Box The Ox), who must have popped four or five Ex-Lax before heading to work that day.
LEAVING THE BAGS BEHIND
I knew I loved Steve and Allie for a reason. After the Detour, the team begins the 1.5 mile hike for their next clue... without their bags. Truthfully, they were probably well aware of the fact that they didn't have their bags; sometimes it's unclear if you'll be returning to that spot and the clue included no specifics on what to do with the bags. Who knows, maybe Steve's shimmying for the locals threw them off. Upon realizing the other teams have their bags at the shore, the father/daughter duo debates whether they should go all the way back to get them or just consider the bags history. This is the coolest thing about The Race and the epitome of world travel in my opinion. There's a sense of freedom in traveling bare. You have no distractions, you can free your mind of all the petty possessions from your regular daily life, and all you're left with is the moment... which is more valuable than any make-up or clothes in the world. This is why I love Steve and Allie. They are willing to run the rest of The Race wearing only board shorts and a banana covered tank-top. I must admit, I felt like a proud father when they chose to go full steam ahead. I'm curious to see if they are smart enough next week to stop by the spot after the leg begins and see if their bags are still there. You can't go looking for them between pit-stop and pit-start, but once the next leg begins, it's fair game. Who knows, maybe they'll need the duct tape again.
WE'RE DONE, WE'RE DONE
It seems these two words make up one of the most commonly uttered phrases on the race. When something goes wrong (sometimes horribly wrong), your first reaction is "there's no possible way we can recover from this". It's like the feeling you get ten minutes into any Tara Reid movie. This week, we hear it most forcefully from Carol/Brandy and Brent/Caite as soon as the poor innocent coconut collector tells them they don't have enough coconuts. Brent threatens to quit, obviously disheveled by yet another missed detail. Carol and Brandy also appear quite defeated, understandable considering the other Detour option (Turtle Toddle) failed them as well. Ironically (or perhaps not) these two teams seem to have the most drama going on around them. They're without a doubt the most volatile teams, which isn't necessarily a bad thing in my opinion. Just an observation. Each moment of the race is filled with such desperation, any false step feels like your last. You just have to realize that the best thing it to just buckle down and GET IT DONE!!! You're going to anyways, so you might as well not waste time overreacting. In the end, as we see with both of these teams this week, you're usually fine.
WHY DOES EVERYONE HATE THE LESBIANS?
It's pretty obvious that most the remaining teams want Carol and Brandy out. I think a little bit of that is because they're a strong team, but an even more significant reason is that they're making enemies. Caite keeps referring to them as "the mean lesbians", constantly referring to their comment about her tiara in the airport. That's weird, because I thought women DIDN'T hold grudges. I think it's clear that they need to be kissing butt a lot more considering the fact that the U-turn was used against Joe and Heidi for PERSONAL reasons, and there's a good chance the teams will run into another U-Turn before the finish line. Jet and Cord don't like them because of a lack in "genuine friendliness", while Mike and Louie say it's because the ladies exude a "negative energy". I'm not saying you should become blood brothers and sisters with the other teams, but making enemies is a very sneaky poison on the race course. I still love Team L Word, so hopefully the constant references to their "unpopularity" aren't foreshadowing a tragic coup.
NO BAGS, NO MERCY
So Steve and Allie's helicopter prayers paid off as they come in first this leg. And their consolation prize is pretty awesome to boot: dinner and a massage on the beach, a lifetime supply of 7Up, and $7K each. The clip leading up to their success really cracked me up. We see Steve and Allie running around trying to find Phil at the pit-stop. As in all TAR episodes, they make it look like Dan and Jordan are close on their tails and the 1st place prize could be anyone's. I have to say, this part of this particular episode looked more like a scene from a bad horror film. You know the type... when the teenager is running from the monster who is walking but still seems to make up ground. Allie is running around the side of a pool, saying "we gotta hurry!" and "I feel like I'm going to faint!" Quick - cut to a shot of Dan and Jordan wading up to the beach in slow motion, eyes glazed over. It was very "Creatures From The Seychelles Lagoon". Think I'm crazy? Watch that part again, you'll see.
A big congrats to Steve and Allie, what a great prize for a great duo. They've been consistently at the top and I think they're going to stay there. Hopefully the fact that their bags are now property of Tommy the Tortoise won't slow them down too much. Team Wranglers came in last but were saved as this was a predetermined non-elimination leg. They really struggled this week: seats on the back of the plane, last helicopter out, left a coconut in the Detour, left the map on the boat a mile from shore... I think you get my point. We'll see if they redeem themselves next week, despite the added stress of a Speed Bump. Next week takes place in Malaysia (so jealous, it was on my Top 3 list before our race started), so I'm really excited to see what happens!
Next week, I'll be featuring guest commentary from some fellow Season 15 Racers, so be sure to tune in and see their reactions to Episode 8 and Season 16 as a whole.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: apskip on April 01, 2010, 11:30:45 AM
Sam's review of episode 7 are incisive and I find them easily the best around. He caused me to ponder why Steve and Allie left their bags behind. It might be that they did not want to carry them in addition to a 20 pound banana bunch, but when they were on the boat it seemed to me that they had just realized they were headed somewhere that would make it unlikely they would be able to return to retrieve them. However, having their passports and money made it possible for them to make a choice of "Go Back" or "Not Go Back." In Amazing Race 14 in the Bangkok episode (#8), both Mark/Michael and Kisha/Jen made the mistake of leaving their bags behind AND leaving their passports behind. Neither team had a choice, although they did not realize that until inability to be checked in by Phil at the pit stop.
I do disagree with Sam on whether Steve and Allie can go back to LaDigue to retrieve their bags. I doubt it. here's why: 1. They will be released from the pit stop and need some form of transportation off of Praslin island. That transportation will be set up to take them to the Seychelles International Airport on Victoria island which is about 30 miles away from La Digue. They may have time to go back there, but probably would not and even if they wanted to they might have already written off the clothes and intend to replace them wherever they can. We know that they will need cold-weather gear for upcoming legs, but they do not know that at that point.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: RealityFreakWill on April 05, 2010, 09:08:08 AM
Victor’s Amazing Race Blog: Knowing When to Quit
On the eighth leg of The Amazing Race, the six remaining teams race from the Seychelles Islands to Penang, Malaysia. At the Snake Temple in Bayan Lepas, teams had to choose between a Buddhist Tradition of running towering incense burners up the steep steps of a temple or a Chinese custom of running while balancing flagpoles on your head. Once the task was complete, and one team member completed a coconut-smashing ritual at the Koil Sri Singamuga Kaliamman Temple, teams made their way to the pit stop at Pining Peranakan Mansion.
Jet and Cord, who previously finished last, started with a distinct disadvantage and had to complete an extra task, identifying tea by sense of smell. But with good decision-making, teamwork and humor, they went from last place to first, blowing away all the other teams by a wide margin. The former first and second place leaders went the other direction and battled each other to avoid elimination, and in this leg — spoiler alert! — Dan and Jordan survived but Steve and Allie’s run came to an end.
What happened? The bottom two teams put themselves there because of one bad decision. Steve and Allie, Dan and Jordan, and Louie and Michael all faced the same dilemma as they sat in traffic on the way to Thnee Kong Thua Temple. Steve and Allie and Dan and Jordan abandoned their taxis and proceeded on foot. Louie and Michael see them but decide to stay put, which ended up being the much better choice.
Go on foot or stay in the car? That conundrum not only defined the outcome of this leg but it highlights a dilemma every racer faces. When things are not going as planned, do you quit what you are doing or do you stay put?
Admittedly, it is easy to judge the decision to abandon the taxis with the benefit of hindsight and the calm of the living room, but I do think we can find fault for two reasons. First, Steve and Allie and Dan and Jordan didn’t know where they were running to in the first place. It is one thing to race ahead on foot when you see the destination; it is quite another when you can get hopelessly lost. Second, there was no reason to race ahead since there were two other teams in sight. Even if the three teams were falling behind the others, it is more important to prevent elimination than to race recklessly ahead. There is safety in numbers. The decision to leave the taxi put both Dan and Jordan and Steve and Allie in jeopardy. But Steve and Allie’s fate was sealed by another decision involving quitting.
Stay on task or try another? When Steve and Allie could not find the location of the Buddhist Tradition detour task, Steve opted to go to the Chinese Custom task. That I don’t have an issue with. But once they got there, Allie saw what they have to do, thought it was too difficult, and implored her father to go back and search for the other location. Steve relented, and that decision to quit the second task proved most fatal.
No matter how difficult the task seemed to be, the team should not have quit. I personally think Allie did not give herself enough credit. Jet struggled with the flag-balancing task but was able to learn it rather quickly. Even if Allie took much longer to learn, the flag task was faster by far. More importantly, it probably took Steve and Allie 15 to 20 minutes to get to the task. To backtrack puts them at least 30 minutes behind Dan and Jordan. It is unlikely Steve and Allie could ever catch up to Dan and Jordan with that type of time deficit. Their only chance at survival was to stay put, gut it out, and conquer the Chinese Custom task. Even so, Steve and Allie did their best and finished with grace.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: apskip on April 05, 2010, 05:26:06 PM
Victor is clearly right that the decision by Steve/Allie to switch to Chinese Custom DETOUR after having inadvertently gone to Buddhist Tradition first (having stated originally that they were going to Chinese Custom). I disagree that Allie was "tough enough" to have done that flag carry. She attempted it and clearly did not have adequate balance to pull it over. This was one of the most interesting contrasts of DETOURS is any Amazing Race. Chinese Custom was super-fast IF you were agile enough to have superb balance. I will add that it is not at all clear that Steve could have finished that. It was not for every team to complete, but if they could, teams got the huge advantage Jet/Cord enjoyed. This was the "Hare" DETOUR while Buddhist Tradition was the "Tortoise" DETOUR.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: wonderfalls1 on April 06, 2010, 07:55:44 AM
I reckon the cowboys did well in the flags task because of their superb sense of balance, being rodeo riders and all....
Victor is clearly right that the decision by Steve/Allie to switch to Chinese Custom DETOUR after having inadvertently gone to Buddhist Tradition first (having stated originally that they were going to Chinese Custom). I disagree that Allie was "tough enough" to have done that flag carry. She attempted it and clearly did not have adequate balance to pull it over. This was one of the most interesting contrasts of DETOURS is any Amazing Race. Chinese Custom was super-fast IF you were agile enough to have superb balance. I will add that it is not at all clear that Steve could have finished that. It was not for every team to complete, but if they could, teams got the huge advantage Jet/Cord enjoyed. This was the "Hare" DETOUR while Buddhist Tradition was the "Tortoise" DETOUR.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: georgiapeach on April 06, 2010, 10:00:32 AM
Fee free to discuss the leg in the Penang thread...
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: apskip on April 06, 2010, 12:53:26 PM
Let me get this clear, Peach - You are asking that a post that does not meet your apparent normal parameters for what is OK is indeed OK if and only if it is written by a racer (Victor in this case), but not if it is an RFF member commenting on Victor's post. If I don't have that quite right, could you please be clear on what you mean?
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: georgiapeach on April 06, 2010, 12:57:13 PM
I wasn't talking to you :neener:
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Jobby on April 10, 2010, 11:04:47 AM
A personal story: ice cream sandwiches! Singapore is a really humid country--it's pretty humid even in December, when the monsoon rains traditionally begin. Oddly, ice cream isn't much of a biggie there (at least according to one Singaporean over at RFF). I do remember having one of their ice cream wafer sandwiches, though. There are stalls in the city center than serve these things: it only costs S$1 and comes in flavors such as taro, durian and sweet potato. Some even use actual (and colorful) bread!
:lol:
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Jobby on April 10, 2010, 11:05:44 AM
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: RealityFreakWill on April 10, 2010, 11:37:46 AM
Gotta love Sam, he's an excellent blogger!
The Amazing Race 16: McMillen's Moments, Episode 8
The eighth leg of The Amazing Race Season 16 was in full blast this past Sunday night, so I'm bringing in back-up! This week, we'll hear from Brian (of Brian and Ericka) along with Meghan and Cheyne, providing an extra dose of Season 15 brainwaves. This episode took the Teams from The Seychelles to Penang, Malaysia via over 30 hours of travel through Dubai. The first clue awaits The Racers at The Snake Temple, sending them to the Detour. After the Detour, teams head to the Roadblock where a Speed Bump awaits Jet and Cord. The teams are relieved that the Pit-Stop comes right after that, marking the end of this grueling leg. Let's hear from Brian first, followed by Meghan and Cheyne, and wrapped up by yours truly.
WORDS FROM BRIAN Anything and everything can happen on the Race and, this past Sunday, anything and everything did happen. Last went to first and first went to last. If there's one thing that Ericka and I learned on the Race, it was to stay with the pack if you're lost. It is better to be lost with a group than to be lost on your own. Steve and Allie found themselves trying to pull away from the group and they wound up lost by themselves which cost them. There was a time in our season that everyone was lost in Cambodia and Ericka and I decided to break away from the group and find our own way. Big mistake. We just found ourselves more lost with no other teams in sight. A wise man once told me, "If a group of people is being chased by a bear in the woods, all you have to do is run faster than the slowest person and you'll be fine." Same is true with the race...stay with the pack, get lost together, find your way together, and last one to Phil gets eaten by the elimination bear.
MEGHAN AND CHEYNE'S TWO CENTS You can learn a little something from every episode of the Amazing Race. Last Sunday's wild goose chase showcased a few tips to remember when you're out there racing for your dreams. So for those of you who are hoping to race in the future or are crossing your fingers for a washed-up racer reunion season like we are, take note!
Here are the top three lessons learned from this episode:
If you catch yourself saying "We have the best cab driver in all of (insert location here)" then by all means do everything in your power to keep him for the rest of the leg! Team Jor-Dan realized this mistake real quick when their second cab driver leisurely stopped for gas on the way to the detour after they had let their Malaysian version of Jeff Gordon get away right after getting their initial clue. We always found this to be a little difficult because you never know how long the task will take, but we learned that you can always go back and ditch your driver if you need to. We think these guys are smart enough to not make the same mistake twice. Lesson learned: KEEP THE CRAZY CABBIES!
Sometimes people race better under pressure- just ask Brian and Ericka from our season. Though the cowboys are used to a lot of tight situations in their boot-cut Levi's, they handled the pressure of the speed bump like champions. It was refreshing to see the mixture of positivity and intensity these two portrayed while they had to complete one more challenge than all the other teams. You can let a speed bump dwarf your optimism or you can use it to your advantage and let it light a fire under your ass. Lesson learned: MAKE A SPEED BUMP A SPEED BOOST.
When you're playing a sport your coach may tell you to focus on your strategy rather than how big and scary the other team looks. This episode showed us that this mentality should be carried over onto the race course. Brent and Caite and the Cardio Kings shared their disgust for Carol and Brandy at the beginning of the leg and hoped to see a U-turn sign once they arrived in Penang. At each task, the models compared themselves to the girls- whether they couldn't believe Carol and Brandy beat them to the roadblock or how they were proud to smoke them at the detour. Regardless of what happened along the leg, Carol and Brandy got to stand in front of Phil first when it really mattered. During our season, we learned quickly not to waste time sizing up the competition (including all 13 ½ feet of the Globetrotters) and we focused on our game play. Lesson learned: TAKE ON THE RACE NOT THE RACERS.
All in all, these teams have learned a handful of lessons along their journey and we have to say that the remaining racers all deserve to be there. Stay tuned to Sammy's blog to find out what the Amazing Race will teach us next week!
Okay, me again...
CARDIOMAN
So this season's version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde showed up again this leg. I'm talking (of course) about Louie's alter ego, Cardioman. About halfway through the incense challenge, Louie goes into a fit of coughing, gagging, choking and probably a little farting at the same time. My original reaction of "oh gosh, not again" was overcome by a sudden feeling of bummerness when I realized what the poor guy must have been going through. Imagine scaling a hundred stairs multiple times in >100° dead heat while choking to even breathe. That's enough to make you pass out cold. What a total "Race buzz kill". Nonetheless, I still had to roll my eyes a little at the return of Cardioman.
THE "MEAN LESBIANS"
Before the teams even leave The Seychelles, we see Mike and Louie having a little powwow with Brent and Caite. Obviously getting along swimmingly, the teams unanimously agree that Carol is the "serpent" of the season. Mike even goes as far to say that he's trained his "wolf cubs" (Brent and Ciate) to U-Turn the only remaining female team if given the chance. Good move by Mike and Louie (that's one fewer team they need to worry about U-Turning them), but it presents a question in my mind. What on Earth could Carol and Brandy have done to deserve such degradation? Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it Carol who encouraged Mike on the stairs at the Detour, saying "Mike, you're a Rockstar"? That doesn't seem too "mean" to me. There's always going to be some behind the scenes that we the audience don't see, but coming from one of the "bickering brothers", I think I've heard enough of the label "mean lesbians". I'm really enjoying the ladies this season, and I'm sorry to see that everyone is ganging up on them so much. In fact, I find them quite lovely. To quote Chris Crocker, "Leave them alone!".
STAYING POSITIVE
A lot of teams had some very discouraging moments this week. The one that takes the cake for me is when Dan and Jordan get lost after ditching their cab on the way to the Detour. We see them running up and down a hill with no cabs in sight, frantically trying to find the temple, or at least someone who knew where it is. When their short lived attempt at jumping into Steve and Allie's cab fails, their expressions turn to pure devastation. This must have been a complete nightmare for the brothers. It's hot, you're lost and even worse, you're on foot. In what must have been their darkest moment of the race so far, they just kept their hopes up and persisted. I know I've said it before, but staying positive is super important because you never know when another team is even more screwed than you are. In this case, Steve and Allie.
GOOD COCONUT HANDLING SKILLS
The Roadblock this week reminded me a lot of what I personally consider my finest hour: the hay bale challenge in Sweden. The teams arrive at the Roadblock after an intense session of incense carrying, undoubtedly in the most exhausted physical state of their lives. For Jet and Carol, finding the colored coconut took quite some time and a lot of innocent coconuts were sacrificed. Louie, on the other hand, finds brightly colored milk in the second one he smashes. Total luck of the draw. The image of Brian finding a flag in a hay bale before me still haunts my dreams. He unrolled a handful, while I unrolled upwards of 80 bales. I'm just glad Carol finished before Louie had his lucky break because there's nothing worse than being passed on The Race while doing a challenge like this. Factor in the physical exhaustion? That's a recipe for some very choice words and a few flying birdies.
AN ODE TO TEAM STALLIE
So my beloved father/daughter team found Malaysia to be the last stop on their Race. I'm incredibly proud of these guys and I think they really ran a great Race. They consistently finished near the front, they had great attitudes and Steve is hilarious to boot. I think the saddest part for me is that I was really excited to watch them run a few legs without their backpacks. The fact that they didn't go back for them in The Seychelles was one of the coolest things ever, so I wish they could have enjoyed that decision a little longer. We can see that they already had a great bond, but I think it's obvious that the Race brought them even closer together. I always say the one thing that is guaranteed to make me cry is seeing a grown man crying. Thanks to Steve, I had to tell everyone in the room that my eyes were watering up merely because of my allergies. My hat is off to Team Stallie, they will be missed not only by me, but by most TAR fans.
This leg was full of interesting little tidbits. It was the first time a team has overcome a Speed Bump and arrived in first place. Seriously, the cowboys could do no wrong this leg. The flag challenge was perfect for them (low to the ground, quick feet, good balance), and they finish it long before most teams even got to the site of the other Detour. They kicked butt and the best part is... they did it in jeans! Cord gets the "Sweaty McSweaterson" award; at one point in the taxi there's sweat literally flying off of his face at Mach 3 speeds. Another weird little tid-bit is that this week's finish order was a complete mirror image to last week's. Last week's 1-2-3-4-5-6 turned into this week's 6-5-4-3-2-1. Who knew Malaysia was the twilight zone? Anyways, I was sad to see Stallie go, but I'm glad Dan and Jordan are still in it. There were definitely the last two teams I wanted to see fighting for 5th this leg. Next week is in Singapore, and the previews show Dan and Jordan attempting a gnarly heights challenge. And, of course, we're in for some drama between Brent/Caite and Carol/Brandy. Can't we all just get along!?
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Neobie on April 10, 2010, 06:50:54 PM
Singapore broadsheet Straits Times (http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_512944.html), 10 Apr 2010:
Quote
Amazing Singapore on show By Jamie Ee Wen Wei
THE Singapore Flyer and other landmarks will get an airing on international TV when the latest episode of the American reality TV show The Amazing Race airs.
For the second time, the award-winning CBS show included Singapore in the race. The segment will be shown on Sunday night in the United States and in Singapore on Monday.
Mr Bertram van Munster, executive producer and co-creator of the show, who was in town on Saturday for a media briefing, said the Singapore leg would be 'very exciting' with 'a lot of fireworks between teams and within teams'.
On why Singapore was chosen as a pitstop again, he said: 'We haven't been here in a long time. In the meantime, the city has transformed itself tremendously. So it was almost like looking at a new city.' It was also logical to stop by as the teams had to complete a leg in Penang, Malaysia, just before the Singapore leg.
The filming here took place in mid-December but the planning took several months. The production team worked closely with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to pull the show off.
The show, which is now into its 16th season, premiered on Feb 14. The race began in Los Angeles with 11 teams and five teams - including a pair of cowboys from Oklahoma and two detectives from Rhode Island - were left in the race during the Singapore leg. The winning couple gets US$1 million.
At least they got the STB this time instead of freaking Mediacorp.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: georgiapeach on April 10, 2010, 09:14:31 PM
Nice!! Since when does BVM do media by the leg?? ???
:lol:
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: apskip on April 10, 2010, 09:45:57 PM
I am responding to mswood's argument that 60 Minutes is less valuable to CBS than the Amazing Race is. Well, as the Geico man says (with a little poetic license by me) "do statistics lie of course they can be manipulated)? Do the statistics that are endlessly quoted on other threads of team rankings mean anything? why are the ratings systems so complicated that anyone can pretty much get a very wide range of different conclusions from them (ah, now that's the really important question)." So, here are some statistics that I would use if I were the head of CBS:
"60 Minutes" Enjoying Ratings Surge Off Newsmaker Interviews DAVID BAUDER | March 23, 2009 06:52 AM EST | AP NEW YORK — ...This [60 Minutes] season, the program is averaging 15 million viewers an episode on Sunday nights, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Top 20 Shows For Average Viewership, 2008-9 Broadcast Prime-Time Season
Rank Programs Network STD Viewers Live+SD (000) HH Rating 1 AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY FOX 25,527 8.8 2 AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY FOX 24,741 8.5 3 DANCING WITH THE STARS ABC 19,766 6.8 4 CSI CBS 17,431 6.0 5 NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL NBC 16,835 5.8 6 NCIS CBS 16,800 5.8 7 DANCING W/STARS RESULTS ABC 16,313 5.6 8 MENTALIST, THE CBS 16,288 5.6 9 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES ABC 14,439 5.0 10 60 MINUTES CBS 14,143 4.9 11 TWO AND A HALF MEN CBS 14,111 4.9 12 CRIMINAL MINDS CBS 13,714 4.7 13 CSI: MIAMI CBS 13,171 4.5 14 SURVIVOR: GABON CBS 12,914 4.5 15 GREY’S ANATOMY ABC 12,885 4.4 16 CSI: NY CBS 12,531 4.3 17 SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS CBS 12,104 4.2 18 WITHOUT A TRACE CBS 12,047 4.2 19 HOUSE FOX 12,001 4.1 20 COLD CASE CBS 11,606 4.0
Do I recall that the Amazing Race Finished somewhere in the low 30s in placement on this ranking?
What would I do? I would continue to treat 60 Minutes as if it were the most special program in the entire CBS lineup. I hope the Amazing Race in its 20th+ or so season can take that title away.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: apskip on April 10, 2010, 09:56:03 PM
MEGHAN AND CHEYNE'S TWO CENTS
They are fabulous racers but " Regardless of what happened along the [Penang] leg, Carol and Brandy got to stand in front of Phil first when it really mattered." isn't what I remember.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: gator27 on April 11, 2010, 06:57:16 AM
OK, so you are Les Moonves, head of CBS. Here is the ratings information for the season beginning Sept. 2009 you have to consider:
"60 Minutes" - ranked No. 9 in the Nielsen ratings, with an average audience each week of 15.7 million
"The Amazing Race" 15 and 16 - there was a break of about 3 months but for the Sunday nights that a season was active, my memory says the average weekly audience have been between 9 million and 10 million.
Now, would you bump or otherwise take away from a consistent top-rated and profitable show for only the past 42 years to favor a very good show with 8.5 years of moderate ratings? No business executive would (unless he knew that Andy rooney would be retiring and taking the franchise with him).
While 60 minutes is viewed by more people on average, TAR generates more revenue, since the advent of people meters, total audience hasn't been the measure that sets ad rates (what pays teh bills) that is age demographics (60 minutes has one of the worst of any show on CBS) and household income (60 minutes has one of the highest of CBS).
TAR for most of its run (has People meters took over in 05) has generated more ad revenue then 60 minutes. In fact, until this season no other show on Sunday for CBS has generated more revenue for CBS on Sunday then TAR.
And 60 minutes has been having significant year to year declines among not only its total audience, but severe declines in adults 18-49 (the key age demographic used to set ad rates).
The reason CBS wont (at least for a couple years) change 60 minutes is not due to its audience, but do it being considered an institution.
While 60 minutes is going to end this season in may with 20-30% declines across the board (at thats being generous) TAR will actually be showing year to year increases. And has been one of the most stable performers on CBS.
I am responding to mswood's argument that 60 Minutes is less valuable to CBS than the Amazing Race is. Well, as the Geico man says (with a little poetic license by me) "do statistics lie of course they can be manipulated)? Do the statistics that are endlessly quoted on other threads of team rankings mean anything? why are the ratings systems so complicated that anyone can pretty much get a very wide range of different conclusions from them (ah, now that's the really important question)." So, here are some statistics that I would use if I were the head of CBS:
"60 Minutes" Enjoying Ratings Surge Off Newsmaker Interviews DAVID BAUDER | March 23, 2009 06:52 AM EST | AP NEW YORK — ...This [60 Minutes] season, the program is averaging 15 million viewers an episode on Sunday nights, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Top 20 Shows For Average Viewership, 2008-9 Broadcast Prime-Time Season
Rank Programs Network STD Viewers Live+SD (000) HH Rating 1 AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY FOX 25,527 8.8 2 AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY FOX 24,741 8.5 3 DANCING WITH THE STARS ABC 19,766 6.8 4 CSI CBS 17,431 6.0 5 NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL NBC 16,835 5.8 6 NCIS CBS 16,800 5.8 7 DANCING W/STARS RESULTS ABC 16,313 5.6 8 MENTALIST, THE CBS 16,288 5.6 9 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES ABC 14,439 5.0 10 60 MINUTES CBS 14,143 4.9 11 TWO AND A HALF MEN CBS 14,111 4.9 12 CRIMINAL MINDS CBS 13,714 4.7 13 CSI: MIAMI CBS 13,171 4.5 14 SURVIVOR: GABON CBS 12,914 4.5 15 GREY’S ANATOMY ABC 12,885 4.4 16 CSI: NY CBS 12,531 4.3 17 SURVIVOR: TOCANTINS CBS 12,104 4.2 18 WITHOUT A TRACE CBS 12,047 4.2 19 HOUSE FOX 12,001 4.1 20 COLD CASE CBS 11,606 4.0
Do I recall that the Amazing Race Finished somewhere in the low 30s in placement on this ranking?
What would I do? I would continue to treat 60 Minutes as if it were the most special program in the entire CBS lineup. I hope the Amazing Race in its 20th+ or so season can take that title away.
I think there is a simpler answer to this whole thing. CBS has more 60 minutes episodes ready for broadcast and fewer TAR16 episodes. Putting a week spacer into the TAR16 run pushes the finale to a more desirable May sweeps slot. And finally, TAR junkies will be even more ravenous for an episode after a one-week hiatus than 60 minutes viewers.
That's just my $0.02.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: georgiapeach on April 13, 2010, 08:23:17 AM
Victor’s Amazing Race Blog: Redemption and Revenge
April 12, 2010
Quote
On the ninth leg of this edition of the Amazing Race, the five remaining teams travel to Singapore. At the Victoria Concert House, Alan Wu (the host of Amazing Race: Asia) offers a choice of “detour” tasks: teams must either “pound drums” by learning a traditional lion drum routine or “pound pavement” by selling 25 ice cream sandwiches. After the detour, teams are given the option to U-Turn one other team. If a team is U-Turned, they must return and complete the other detour task. The roadblock this leg is at the boat dock, where one team member must count the links in a giant anchor chain. After all the tasks are completed, teams race to the pit stop located at the Marina Barrage.
Yet there was another task, too — the Fast Forward, a task that allows the first team to complete it the ability to bypass all other tasks and proceed directly to the pit stop. Brothers Dan and Jordan were the lucky ones to do this challenge, probably my favorite Fast Forward task ever, which requires a team to ride the Singapore Flyer (the world’s largest observation wheel) to the top, get out of the safety of their car, and then crawl from one car to the next, 541 feet above the ground. Dan and Jordan show tremendous competitiveness and courage and finish despite Jordan’s clear fear of heights. Kudos!
For the rest, they opt to “pound drums” instead of sell ice cream. I’m not sure why “pound drums” was the preferred choice, especially since it didn’t seem that difficult to sell the ice cream. Nevertheless, teams struggled as they tried to learn the traditional drum routine from elementary school children. Even so, Caite really stood out. Not only did she have no difficulty learning the routine, she also helped Brent focus and talked him through the task. As a result, the two were able to get to the U-Turn quickly.
That proved critical as the elimination this week was decided by the U-Turn. So — spoiler alert! — Brent and Caite decided to U-Turn Carol and Brandy, which set the two women back and led to their last-place finish.
Caite went into this race looking to prove herself to the nation after her embarrassing moment at the Miss Teen USA competition where she fumbled an answer about geography. Throughout the Race, Carol and Brandy made sure Caite did not forget that moment by asking where her tiara was, impersonating her answer, and commenting on her intelligence. Well, Caite had her redemption moment. Not only did Brent and Caite succeed this leg because of her smarts and ability to learn a complicated routine under pressure, but Caite was able to exact revenge on Carol and Brandy by U-Turning them. This was not strategic — it was personal. Carol and Brandy’s biggest mistake, then, happened long ago during the very first leg. They made an enemy.
But back to the Race! We are close to the final leg and only one team away from the final three. In terms of momentum, Louie and Michael are going the wrong direction. They survive this leg because they stoke Brent and Caite’s dislike of Carol and Brandy. I’m worried they will not crack the top three. I really like how Dan and Jordan are working together. It was nice to see Brent and Caite stay calm — this is a new and more confident team. And what’s not to like about the cowboys Jet and Cord? What’s great this season is that there is no one favorite or dominant team. It will be very interesting to see what happens next. — Victor Jih
Tell us: Why do you think every team chose drums over ice cream? Which team would you have U-Turned? And now that only four teams are left, who do you think will be in the final three?
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Hooky on April 14, 2010, 01:04:10 AM
Quote
Caite went into this race looking to prove herself to the nation after her embarrassing moment at the Miss Teen USA competition where she fumbled an answer about geography. Throughout the Race, Carol and Brandy made sure Caite did not forget that moment by asking where her tiara was, impersonating her answer, and commenting on her intelligence. Well, Caite had her redemption moment. Not only did Brent and Caite succeed this leg because of her smarts and ability to learn a complicated routine under pressure, but Caite was able to exact revenge on Carol and Brandy by U-Turning them. This was not strategic — it was personal. Carol and Brandy’s biggest mistake, then, happened long ago during the very first leg. They made an enemy.
This paragraph is disappointing. It just follows the spoon-fed storyline without any kind of thought put into it. (:;)
At the time, the two teams weren't really enemies. To become enemies, they would have had to have more moments like this later in the race.
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Throughout the Race, Carol and Brandy made sure Caite did not forget that moment by asking where her tiara was, impersonating her answer, and commenting on her intelligence.
We have little to no evidence that this sort of thing occurred beyond the incident in Leg 1.
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Carol and Brandy’s biggest mistake, then, happened long ago during the very first leg. They made an enemy.
They didn't make an enemy so much as the enemy created itself. It happened after very little justifiable action on the part of Carol & Brandy.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Boingo on April 16, 2010, 02:58:04 PM
:groan: Our trusty "Singapore Spoiler" reporter Germaine Lim, from "The New Paper" in Singapore, seems to be unimpressed with the latest TAR leg in his home town.
Here's his article (http://tnp.sg/show/story/0,4136,236725,00.html?) in The Electric New Paper (online).
Thanks go out to our new reporter TAR fan and honorary detective for his journalistic efforts. :tup:
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Hooky on April 16, 2010, 06:38:26 PM
:groan: Our trusty "Singapore Spoiler" reporter Germaine Lim, from "The New Paper" in Singapore, seems to be unimpressed with the latest TAR leg in his home town.
Here's his article (http://tnp.sg/show/story/0,4136,236725,00.html?) in The Electric New Paper (online).
Thanks go out to our new reporter TAR fan and honorary detective for his journalistic efforts. :tup:
I like think it's interesting that they don't even discuss the U-turn. But I agree with Wu, they can only show so much in a 45 minute show with a Detour, Roadblock, and Fast Forward. :lol:
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: georgiapeach on April 24, 2010, 12:22:33 PM
Love Sam's race blogs, he is usually spot on!!
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The Amazing Race 16: McMillen's Moments, Episode 9 by Sam McMillen
Last week's episode of The Amazing Race took place in Singapore where the teams all held hands the whole time and had no drama at all. Riiiight. That's like saying the Earth is flat or Ryan Seacrest is funny. The teams take a bus from Penang, Malaysia, hop on a train to Singapore and take a taxi to the Victoria Concert Hall. There they must find Allen Wu (host of The Amazing Race: Asia) for their next clue. The Detour gives the teams a choice between playing the drums or selling ice cream sandwiches, followed by a U-Turn and then the Roadblock. The leg finishes up at a marina after a leisurely ride down a massive zip line. The drama is in full force (I'll try and avoid it as best I can) and the leg is full of excellent Amazing Race tid-bits, so let's dig in.
WHOM SHALL WE U-TURN? Mike and Louie did a great job at taking the U-Turn target off their back this episode. The detectives fed Brent and Caite's existing distain for the ladies by talking about how they're well traveled and full of secret skills in the intelligence arena. Even though Jordan points out on the bus that Carol and Brandy have yet to win a leg, Brandy and Carol are still the number one target. Meanwhile, Mike and Louie and The Cowboys have the majority of wins under the belts. Caite talks about how she wants to U-Turn them because they're mean to hear (enter "where's her tiara" clip for the 20th time this season), but we find out the target is also drawn from her mission to be the last female standing. While most racers' mission is to win a million bucks, I don't think there's anything wrong with having a personal goal in mind. She's there to redeem herself and change how people think about her based on her famed pageant answer. Understandable, since almost every team has a point to prove while on the race (interracial couples, breaking stereotypes, etc.), but Caite's personal goals have kept the two strongest teams in the race with them, which could backfire.
ARE YOU THERE, RACERS? IT'S ME, ALLEN WU Once they find the Victoria Concert Hall, the Racers must locate Allen Wu for their next clue. I loved this Route Marker because it shows how vague the clues are. Is he inside the concert hall? Is he hanging out on the balcony? Is he hiding in the janitor's closet? No one knows. Dan and Jordan make a smart move and decide to scope out the front lawn before heading inside. Fortunately for the brothers, Jordan's instincts pay off as they're the first to locate Wu, sitting near a fountain in front of the concert hall. I love that Allen Wu made an appearance this season. Dan and I became very accustomed to his face, since The Amazing Race: Asia was pretty much all we could watch on TV while on our Pit-Stops in Southeast Asia. In English, thank God.
GOING HEAD TO HEAD Dan and Jordan definitely made a bold move in going for the Fast Forward. Jet and Cord had a different reaction to seeing the clue. Instead of risking it and giving the flyer a shot, they decide to just go "head to head" with the remaining four teams that don't do the Fast Forward. This was a good move on their part in my opinion. So far, they've shown that they can do tasks with relative ease, and they've proven time after time that they can stay in the race without the help of a Fast Forward. We made a similar move in Dubai when our season's Fast Forward came up. Ours was earlier in the season, so there were more teams to go "head to head" with. We were much more comfortable just beating them at the regular race than risking getting lost trying to find the Fast Forward or, even worse, trying it and failing. Dan and I aren't exactly car experts, and he can't even drive a stick shift, so that could have been tragic. In the end, staying with the pack paid off for us, and it did for the Cowboys as well.
KIDS ON CRACK, NOT SWINE FLU Some of my biggest chuckles this episode (second to Jordan, of course) came from Carol. At the Drum Detour, teams were taught a drum routine by young boys. Let's be honest, some of these kids couldn't have been more than 5 years old, and they were off in their own little world at times. We see Carol focusing intently on her infant instructors' hand movements, then she laughs when she realizes how lost she is. Brandy wants to go to a different instructor, and Carol tells the boy he's fabulous when they switch so as not to hurt his feelings. The boy looks clueless when they leave, probably thinking about Sponge Bob or something. At the other Detour (after the U-Turn ordeal) Carol decides that her marketing approach to selling ice cream sandwiches is to convince the locals that they are swine flu free. I just thought it was funny how she said it; so nonchalantly, under her breath and directed at no one in particular.
THE U-TURN Alright, so I'm not going to get much into the drama for many reasons, but the U-Turn this episode was clearly important. For the second time this season, a team is U-Turned not for their skill in the race, but for personal reasons. Brent/Caite's distaste for Carol and Brandy overrides a perhaps more practical option of U-Turning a team that has proven more threatening, such as the Cowboys or the Detectives. Caite is overwhelmed with join when they leave the Detour before Carol and Brandy, and literally has a fit of euphoria when they reach the U-Turn box only to find that it hasn't been used yet. We find out that Caite's aversion to Carol and Brandy comes from the negative comments they've said about her, and Brent can't stand them because he thinks their "bitches". After the ladies see that they've been U-Turned, the gloves come off. Their commentary includes "She's an idiot, and she's on YouTube to prove it", "Let's be honest, she hasn't built a career on intelligence", and they even call them "Brent and Caite Gump". Wow. I was pretty shocked by the degree of bashing coming from Carol and Brandy (well... mostly Brandy), but you can understand why they were upset. A team that has proven significantly weaker than them had a few quick successes that put them at the U-Turn before Carol and Brandy. I would have been upset for that reason too, but I don't think I would have gone so far as to call someone Cruella DeVille. I mean come on, Cruella killed puppies to make fur coats. Nothing's that bad. Let's be honest, the editors had a hay-day with this one.
THE FAST FORWARD This week's episode features the season's only Fast Forward, and it was a doozie. I only wish I could have been a fly on the wall that day at the Singapore Flyer. What we saw of Dan and Jordan during the task was absolutely hilarious, adorable and nerve racking all the same time. The brothers must have had a pretty good idea that they found Allen Wu first, because they didn't seem too concerned about arriving at the Fast Forward second, which can really set you back. For the challenge, Dan and Jordan rode the Singapore Flyer to the tip top, where they had to climb from one pod to another. Did I mention it's over 500 feet in the air? Crazy. I love heights challenges and I wish our season got to enjoy as many as this season (mostly because Dan and I were one of the only teams without a member who was afraid of heights). Jordan was completely freaked out by the challenge, and I'm pretty sure I saw a little pee running down his leg at one point. Sucks for the people below him. They're able to complete the task and are awarded a fast-track to the Pit-Stop, obtaining their first win this season. The highlight of the event is when Dan looks over at his younger brother and says, "hey, if you fall and die, I love you". Brotherly love at its finest. Very nice job by the brothers, for having the guts to risk it and for triumphing over such an insane task.
FF IN PROGRESS Mike and Louie decide to try out the Fast Forward after their rhythmic skills failed miserably. Dan and Jordan were the only team unaccounted for at the Drum Detour, so I don't blame the detectives for giving it a shot. I probably wouldn't have suspected Dan and Jordan of going for the Fast Forward either, so I don't think this was necessarily a dumb move on the part of the cops. Also, they've got a little insurance since they convinced other teams to U-Turn Brandy and Carol. After already having their spirits crushed by finding out the FF was in progress, they return to the cab only to find their driver has taken a potty break. Bad timing, indeed, and the detectives really start to sweat as time is literally slipping away.
CRAZY AMERICANS There comes the point when you're doing a challenge among hundreds of locals, just doing your thing and not thinking twice about it, when all of a sudden you realize, "wow, they must think we've escaped from a mental hospital." I'm sure Louie had this epiphany while selling the ice cream sandwiches, as he says "Ice cream... from some crazy Americans." I think the little drummer boy must have shared his crack with Mike because he goes nuts in this challenge, jumping for joy every time they sell an ice cream sandwich and doing little dances while using cartoon voices. Pretty funny, but I'm guessing a little overwhelming for the locals. Either way, they got the task done fast and were able to move right on to the Roadblock.
HE MUST WATCH A LOT OF COMEDY CENTRAL So Jordan is definitely my go-to-guy for a laugh this season. He's very witty and has a sense of timing that always seems to give me a chuckle. This week was no exception, and I felt we got an extra dose of his charm after the Fast Forward. My favorite line was when the brothers read the clue while riding back down on the Flyer, noting that the Pit-Stop is at the Marina Barage. Upon gazing out the window of their pod, Jordan says, "Oh , there it is, Marina Barage. Phil, we'll be right there!" Ok, so maybe it's not that funny when you type it out, but I died laughing when I first saw it. He's full of those lighthearted comments and I hope we see a lot more in the few remaining episodes.
So Carol and Brandy must say their goodbyes this week, unable to recover from the U-Turn. They didn't go lightly, as they extensively discuss their opinion of Caite even in their post-leg interviews. Hopefully the ladies have had time to let it go by now, but I'm guessing they'll never be pen pals with Brent and Caite. This week's episode is in China and the previews seem pretty exciting, so it should be a good showing. If you didn't understand some of this blog, just email Carol and she'll translate it into first grader English for you.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Caelestor on April 24, 2010, 03:50:03 PM
It's a shame Sam misspelled Allan Wu :'(
But he is spot on in his reviews! :tup:
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: georgiapeach on April 26, 2010, 04:14:58 PM
The Amazing Race
Victor’s Amazing Race Blog: Beware The Cowboys! April 26, 2010
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We started with eleven teams and are now down to the final four. Teams are exhausted. Stress is high. Nerves are frayed. That’s probably because teammates have been shackled to each other for nearly a month! The finish line represents both the chance to share in a million dollars and to escape from each other. But before they can get there, the four teams have to first leave Singapore and travel to Zhu Jia Jiao and Shanghai, China. Fans know that this leg is almost always non-elimination, so the objective is not avoiding elimination but positioning for the push to final three.
And in terms of positioning, the team best poised for a good run seems to be Team Cowboy. The four pairs start even on the same flight to China and learn from a giddy Caite about Carol and Brandy’s elimination. Jordan is not happy, though, and mutters that Team Cowboy is the scariest team remaining and that everyone may “regret” not eliminating them. Though there are two chances to U-Turn the Cowboys, emotion trumps strategy. Once the flight lands, Jordan’s words prove prescient. Team Cowboy immediately takes over first place as Dan and Jordan and Louie and Michael slip further and further behind with confused taxi drivers and poor language skills.
Even though no team faces elimination, I loved the tasks on this leg! Personally, I think this is probably the best set of tasks on a leg in any season of the Amazing Race. For the first time ever, there are two roadblocks on the same leg, requiring each team member to step up and perform. One team member must learn how the Chinese make noodles by hand. The other must solve a 96-piece giant puzzle in order to find the clue in the middle of a soccer stadium. Team members must also work together to dress a model according to a detailed picture. The tasks test one’s ability to learn quickly, patience in the face of adversity, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills, with a bit of luck thrown in.
And the teams also get to meet Ping Ping, the world’s smallest man. Caite wants to take Ping Ping home with her, while Jet remarks that if Ping Ping jumped out of a trash can, he’d scare the [bleep] out of you. (Sadly, this leg is dedicated to the memory of Ping Ping, who died of heart complications on March 3, 2010.)
The challenges on this leg prove that the Cowboys are the favorites. Jet rocked the noodle-making task when he quickly figured out how to use flour to separate the noodles. Cord rocked the puzzle task by staying calm after gale-force winds undid much of his work. As Jet put it, what Cord lacks in talent he more than makes up for in “try.” That’s truly an apt description for the team.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Louie and Michael make the biggest mistakes of the leg. Not only do they struggle with their taxicab driver, Louie (despite his Italian grandmother) also struggles to make pasta, the cops (despite their police background) walk right past the fashion store, and Michael (despite his investigative background) wrestles with the puzzle. The mistake-laden leg puts them in last place. While not eliminated, they do enter the next leg saddled with an extra “speed bump” task.
If I had to bet money, I sadly suspect Louie and Michael are the next to go and most people I talk to think Jet and Cord are the favorites to win. But that said, this season is all about surprises. Who would have thought Caite would be the last woman standing (congratulations!) with Brent? And Dan and Jordan’s teamwork is only getting stronger. Nothing is a certainty, which is all the more reason to keep watching! — Victor Jih
Tell us: Can Louie and Michael overcome the speed bump? Will Jet and Cord run away with it all? And is Dan the best brother in the world?
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: SuzuKen on May 03, 2010, 09:23:32 PM
The Amazing Race Victor’s Amazing Race Blog: One Team Averts Disaster May 3, 2010
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After eleven grueling legs around the world, the final three teams in the sixteenth installment of The Amazing Race are now set. So which teams made it to the final sprint? Beware of spoilers below!
The results of this leg should have been 100 percent drama free since the first three teams leave the Shanghai Science & Technology Museum over two hours before Louie and Michael, who, after being spared elimination the last leg, also face an additional speed bump task. Of course, the Race is far from predictable and this leg becomes a white-knuckle affair as brothers Dan and Jordan find themselves in a battle with the detectives for the last spot in the final three.
How did Dan and Jordan get into this predicament? As viewers, we typically focus on the roadblock or the detour tasks, but in this leg, the most difficult challenge was finding the first clue. As teams leave the pit stop, they must locate the “Garden Bridge.” It sounds simple enough but as teams ask taxicab drivers, passing pedestrians, and local merchants, few speak English and those who do fail to recognize the “Garden Bridge.” Every team faces difficulty, but Brent and Caite and Jet and Cord manage to find their way relatively quickly. Dan and Jordan, however, really struggle and — after two hours and twelve minutes of wandering aimlessly — have no clue how where the “Garden Bridge” is.
What makes the challenge so deliciously difficult? (I loved this clue.) Part of it is certainly the language barrier. Getting frustrated with people who “ought” to speak English is generally not a productive way of dealing with it. (Indeed, more people in China speak English than Americans speak Chinese.) But in this episode, it’s not only the language barrier. It’s the fact that tourist names do not always match local names. Residents know the bridge as “Waibaidu” Bridge, which SO is not “Garden” in Chinese. Locals who try to translate “Garden Bridge” literally send teams to a park, which is not where they need to go. And it’s not that the “Garden Bridge” is an obscure location. A quick search on Wikipedia identifies it as a popular destination since it is the first all-steel bridge and instantly reveals its Chinese name.
With over two hours, I can’t understand why Dan and Jordan didn’t just find an Internet connection and type “Garden Bridge Shanghai.” The other teams do the same by finding Shanghai residents with Internet access on their mobile phones.
Despite wasting time flailing around Shanghai, the brothers do have a brilliant moment. They suddenly realize their best move is to team up with Louie and Michael. Instead of roaming lost by themselves, they can turn the race into a two-team match-up for the final spot. It’s risky but it’s the best move since they are unable to make progress on their own. To their credit, Dan and Jordan generally keep their cool and are able to out-compete Louie and Michael in counting statues at the roadblock and finding the “needle-in-a-haystack” Chinese stamps at the detour. Dan and Jordan join Brent and Caite and Jet and Cord in the final three. Louie and Michael are eliminated, one leg shy of all the way.
There is no obvious winner going into the final. Brent and Caite have surged with two second-place finishes and a first place this leg. But it’s not clear which Caite will appear for the final — the supportive teammate who brings the best out of Brent or the one that won’t let Brent go to the bathroom? Jet and Cord have the most consistent record, with four first-place finishes, but the cowboys are also capable of really bad decisions (remember the Seychelles?) Having averted disaster, perhaps Dan can really make his brother’s dream come true and help him win the whole thing. But will it be the strong, sensitive brother, or the one that nearly kills the lost taxicab driver in Shanghai? We’ll find out next week! – Victor Jih
Tell Us: Who do you think is going to win The Amazing Race? Who do you think should win?
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: RealityFreakWill on May 09, 2010, 10:05:04 AM
The Amazing Race 16: Finale Predictions
Tomorrow night, the final three teams will make their way to the finish line on the season finale of The Amazing Race. It all comes down to Jet and Cord, Dan and Jordan, and Brent and Caite. Here are my predictions for how those three teams will finish, along with predictions from fellow RealityWanted writer Vin Convertito and our reality writer, Sam McMillen of The Amazing Race 15.
VIN'S PREDICTIONS 3. Dan and Jordan As much as I like these two fellows, I fear they do not have the intensity needed to rival Jet and Cord and for some strange reason, Brent and Caite keep harassing and bickering their way through the race. Dan and Jordan have gotten lucky several times and have made it very far, but I just can't see them going the distance. And if they do, it was not because they were the best team. It would have to be a matter of dumb luck.
2. Brent and Caite Oh how I wish that Brent and Caite had quit each time that they claimed they were going to; or that they were eliminated for complaining about how "stupid" everything was upon being penalized for something. Whether it is Brent telling Caite to "shut up" or Caite letting Brent know he is acting like a baby, the two do not embody any sort of team spirit or characteristics belonging to winners. It is safe to say that I detest the two models for their behavior, their words and their ridiculous sense of entitlement! My only solace comes from knowing that soon enough Brent and Caite lose to the epitome of a class act and that Jet and Cord will defy the adage that nice guys finish last.
1. Jet and Cord The best team, from day one, has got to be Jet and Cord. They have worked so well together and have clearly outperformed every other team. They are fast, they are smart, they are strong and most importantly, they are positive! Jet and Cord are role models. They are respectful, thoughtful and diligent in every way. They are the classic underdogs as well; they are the small town country boys that were more likely to have been swallowed whole by all of the large cities and culturally intense locations that comprise the race. But through it all, Jet and Cord have smiled their way to the top, winning a handful of legs along the way.
GINA'S PREDICTIONS 3. Brent and Caite I will admit that the models stepped up their game as the race went on but the final leg is always the toughest and these two are known to crack under pressure. Now, the same goes for Dan and Jordan but I'll get to them in a minute. When the going gets tough, Brent and Caite get going on each other and teams needs to work together in order to win this race. I am happy that they proved something to the other teams by making it this far, but I think third place is where they'll end up.
2. Dan and Jordan It's going to be a great moment for Jordan when he lives out his dream and crosses the finish line of The Amazing Race, though I'm sure it would be better for him and his brother if it was for the million. These two have cracked under pressure more than once, completely melting down. They would need to stay even keeled throughout this last leg in order to win and, much as I love them, I don't think that's going to happen.
1. Jet and Cord To me, Jet and Cord have been the strongest team by far for a few reason. They have great attention to detail, they work quickly to complete their tasks, and most important, they always remain CALM! Their laid back Southern attitude mixed with their competitive spirit and quick wit has made them fantastic to watch this season and nothing would make me happier than to see them be the first team to cross the finish line.
SAM'S PREDICTIONS 3. Brent and Caite The dating models have definitely been on a hot streak lately, and their practicality skills are shockingly on point, but I can see them running into a few problems in the finale. I'm glad Caite was able to prove herself by making it to the finish line, and I think that will still be accomplished even with a 3rd place finish. They've done really well as of lately, but the consistency of The Cowboys and the determination of The Brothers will be insurmountable for the dating couple.
2. Jet and Cord I definitely feel like this season is going boast an upset at the finish line. Jet and Cord are the obvious favorites, with their several first place finishes and consistent top three placement. I feel like that's how they'll run the finale and that's why they'll be runners-up. When they reached the mat and Phil told them they were in the final three, they barely even reacted. As someone who's heard that news, it's pretty much the climax of The Race and I almost collapsed in joy when it happened for me. I think they'll be a close second, but second nonetheless. If I'm right, there will be a lot of bummed out viewers this weekend. Despite their immense popularity and successful race so far, I'm predicting our sad little "first losers club" will be gaining some rodeo flair come Sunday.
1. Dan and Jordan UPSET BABY!! I think Dan and Jordan are the most determined, the most passionate and the most invested in winning The Race. They don't have the best track record so far in terms of finishes, but they haven't necessarily shown significant amounts of weakness either. Here's how you win an Amazing Race finale: you put everything you have out there, take the big risks and throw caution to the wind. That's what lost is for Dan and me. Jordan's loveable personality along with his older brother's concern for the fulfillment of his younger brother's dream are a recipe for a likeable winning duo. Who doesn't love an underdog? Let's bring the win back to the siblings!
There is a video that is about 1:20 that you can view at the link. It will not embed.
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Phil Keoghan Analyzes The Amazing Race‘s Final Three Teams
May 9, 2010
Phil Keoghan, host of The Amazing Race, spoke to PEOPLE and broke down the pros and cons of the final three teams before the show’s finale Sunday night. Watch a sneak peek of the episode. Tune in to CBS (8 p.m. EST) to find out which set of world travelers will master motion capture at Lucas Films, reach Keoghan’s mat first and take home the $1 million prize in San Francisco, this season’s final destination. –Carrie Bell
The Cowboys: Jet and Cord McCoy
Strengths: Family ties are an asset and these brothers “with tremendous eye-hand coordination work extremely well together,” according to Keoghan. He also says they’re “the coolest team under pressure that we’ve ever had. The closest they ever got to losing their cool was in Seychelles when they forgot the map and even then I saw only a hint of frustration.” Maybe because this isn’t the professional bullriders first time at the rodeo. “They’re used to the limelight, high-level competition and performing under pressure,” Keoghan says. Weaknesses: Keoghan is concerned that very same coolness might cost them first place. “They’re very even and nice and may not be able to amp it up to guarantee a win,” he says. “At this point, you have to get cutthroat and have a win-at-any-cost mentality. I don’t know if they have it in them to push past another team to take the only taxi. The slightest hesitation will cost you.” Their trademark wide-eyed awe may also cost them time. “It’s one of the things that viewers have really identified with, but if they stop to smell the coffee for too long, someone else will drink it.”
The Model Couple: Brent Horne and Caite Upton
Strengths: Keoghan, like most of the contestants and viewers, never pictured this dating duo in the finale because of their “opposite personalities, frequent bickering and [numerous] silly errors they made early on where they missed the little details,” he says. And of course there’s that infamous beauty pageant blunder that made her look like an airhead. “[The other teams] judged her on that and figured she wouldn’t be able to hack the Race,” he continues. “But Caite’s determination to prove herself is the reason they’re still in it. Ultimately she led that team with a do-or-die mentality. She would push past anybody to get to the finish line first. She’s made it very clear that she will do whatever it takes.” Weaknesses: They’re the only unrelated pair left and they’ve known each other the least amount of time. “There’s an entirely different dynamic in boyfriend-girlfriend teams and they’re different people,” Keoghan explains. “Brent’s quite laid back and doesn’t like to be pushed too much. When he is, he tends to back down, give up and quit. Their different headspaces could become an issue.” Speaking of bad habits, she’s still the girl who froze and “lost the plot on national TV when the pressure was on,” he continues. “The stress of the final leg could trigger that same deer-in-headlights reaction.”
The Brothers: Dan and Jordan Pious:
Strengths: They’ve also got the brotherly bond working for them. It’s been Jordan’s dream to tryout for the Race and while Dan was never a big fan, he “has a tremendous amount of desire to help Jordan with his quest to win,” Keoghan says. “That determination to support his little brother and their close-knit relationship has allowed them to work well together and forced them to push themselves.” Weaknesses: While this tough team deserves to be final three, Keoghan worries their emotions or tempers will get the best of them. “When the pressure’s on or things stop going their way, Jordan gets very emotional and then Dan has to spend time taking care of him,” he explains. “That’s where their game falls apart, although I admire how good of a job he’s done picking him up off the floor and moving him along. But an outburst could cost them precious minutes. Their tempers, as we saw in the taxi last episode, flare up under pressure and they get rattled.”
Tell us: Who are you rooting for? And who do you think will win The Amazing Race?
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: chill_sd on May 09, 2010, 02:30:34 PM
Here's the video - Line cutting spoiler ahead.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: slayton on May 09, 2010, 03:11:41 PM
Thanks for the video.
I'm having problems loading it.
Somebody please describe what happens with the line cutting.
Thanks.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: mswood on May 09, 2010, 04:28:33 PM
While waiting for the ticket counter to open up, we see Brent & Caite in front, and bit back we see I think Jet a sleep, and we see Jordan put his backpack in between the fairly significant space between Brent & Caite and were Jet is. The cowboys are upset (and yeah Jordan did cut), and talk about how he wants to physical assault Jordan (which is now the 2nd person we have heard that Jet really wants to assault one a racer one a local), so clearly Dan is the only one who talks about wanting to physically hurt someone.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: slayton on May 09, 2010, 05:10:42 PM
Thanks for the recap.
I can understand wanting to get better tickets, but giving added motivation to the best team left is very risky.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: mswood on May 09, 2010, 05:24:17 PM
Apskip
Sorry old argument, but.
I can't stress to you enough that total viewers are no longer used as the metric to determine ad rates for shows (they did use to be), but they haven't for several years. Last years data, (demos in age and income) set ad rates for episodes, and TAR makes more per episode then 60 minutes does. And that variance will increase this coming year as 60 minutes ratings have fallen dramatically and TAR's has increased.
Current season
60 minutes is averaging 12.709 with a 2.4 in adults 18-49. Both are down from the previous year (in fact twice this year 60 minutes has hit series lows in both viewers and demos.
It is true that 60 minutes did see some gains last year, but when you look week to week (and compare that to the same week from the year ago) it can all be traced to two sources.
1. The stronger performance of football during the Fall which greatly enhances 60 Minutes performance (specifically Football and its overruns, and the two or three for basketball).
2. Last year they also benefited from election year coverage, those episodes that featured stories based on that performed far stronger then "normal" episodes.
Here is an example from this year. 60 Minutes (average with an overrun)= 15.164 million viewers and a 3.29 in adults 18-49
60 Minutes (without overruns)= 11.912 million viewers and a 2.046 in adults 18-49.
Now Tar does get viewed by fewer people (always has, even during season 7), when 60 minutes often hit near 20 million viewers. But once they switched to age and income demo's 60 Minutes hasn't managed to hold on to being a large income generator for CBS.
I even state the reason that 60 minutes wont be moved any time in the next few years (even with declines) is that its a CBS institution. They get a lot of prestige from that show. And that is what keeps it where it is.
And its only getting worse for them. The numbers I report and you used are Live Same day numbers (meaning they count viewers who watch live or with in the 7pm to 2am window of that day.
But that also isn't the basis that forms ad rates, its the C3 numbers. Which are commercial viewing during the first 3 days. Now many sites report live plus 7, but for the purpose of revenue those final 4 days are meaningless. 60 minutes also performs exceptionally poorly (the worst of any show on CBS) in DVR use. People tend to watch that live or not at all. So Tar is going to also have increases here that 60 minutes doesn't really benefit from.
Then started this fall, online viewing is going to be factored into the C3 ratings (but only for those online sites that feature the same commercials as the nationwide broadcast, currently most don't and have only a few minutes of commercials. That will end, as most sites are preparing to have parity. What gets shown on broadcast will be what you few from the CBS site. 60 minutes also does very poorly off of online viewing (which shouldn't surprise as it has the oldest viewing audience of any show during primetime on network tv). And its age group spends the least amount of time of any age group in watching media online.
And here is a bit of trivia, when 60 minutes II was cancelled it was getting more viewers then TAr (which aired that same day). Why was it cancelled and TAR survived? Because its demo performance was awful. And unlike Sunday's edition, it wasn't considered as a vital part of CBS's identity.
At some point though (and it might be 5 or 10 years) CBS will change its schedule (well unless 60 minutes breaks its tradition and starts dramatically increasing its younger audience).
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: DrRox on May 09, 2010, 06:24:05 PM
The vid will not come up for me either.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: theschnauzers on May 09, 2010, 06:33:51 PM
That video makes me think that Dan/Jordan made a big mistake in adding motivation for Jet-Cord in the final leg.
I think we're going to see a demonstration of that old adage from Bobby Kennedy "Don't get mad, get even."
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Boingo on May 10, 2010, 12:38:45 AM
Team "Sour Grapes" (http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b180216_did_haters_ruin_amazing_race_16_finale.html) :lol3: :neener: :groan:
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: SuzuKen on May 10, 2010, 12:53:46 AM
Team "Sour Grapes" (http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b180216_did_haters_ruin_amazing_race_16_finale.html) :lol3: :neener: :groan:
:lol3: :lol3: :lol3:
And here I thought Joe would be taking home the title of "most bitter racer"... until I watched the extra scenes... these ladies really take the cake! (initially I was on their side for being U-turned so ungraciously but their bitterness etc actually gives more credit to Caite's side of the story....)
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Caelestor on May 10, 2010, 12:56:53 AM
Team "Sour Grapes" (http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b180216_did_haters_ruin_amazing_race_16_finale.html) :lol3: :neener: :groan:
Yes it did. TAR looks like it may have jumped the shark if it keeps advocating team drama over task-making.
Looks like some viewers will start boycotting the show because Dan & Jordan deserved a penalty for "cheating" :res:
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: weihen on May 10, 2010, 05:38:43 AM
I don't think they break rules.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: SuzuKen on May 10, 2010, 08:32:06 AM
Hmmm... Seems like the CBS folks don't seem to like our winners very much? Even chide them for pulling unsportsman-like moves....
Quote from: CBSnews
May 10, 2010 Brothers Dan and Jordan Win "Amazing Race" (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/09/entertainment/main6470488.shtml) Cowboy Favorites Fall Short During the Sixteenth Season Finale in San Francisco By Joyce Lee
(CBS) Brothers Dan and Jordan Pious swindled their way to the top and took home the million dollar grand prize on Sunday night's season finale of "The Amazing Race."
Despite starting off almost four hours behind, the sibling duo from Rhode Island were able to surpass the two other teams by pulling some rather unsportsman-like moves.
While on their way to San Francisco from Shanghai, Jordan and Dan arrived last to the airport but sneaked ahead by cutting in front of cowboys Jet and Cord in line at the ticket counter. Later, they found themselves in the number one spot after Dan asked the flight attendant to move them up to first class, which allowed them to be first off the plane.
Models Caite and Brent were the second team to get off the plane, but later fell behind after struggling with cab problems while en route to the Presidio, the second destination. Jet and Cord whizzed by them and quickly deciphered the riddle they found, which directed them to Coit Tower.
The clue at Coit Tower was a roadblock, and had one member of each team complete a vertical climb to the tower's archway to receive the third clue. Dan got the clue right when Jet and Cord arrived to the scene, while Caite and Brent were in a distant third and just got a hold of the riddle.
The next clue asked them to find the Yoda Fountain at Lucasfilm Ltd. The teams had to navigate a virtual world, with one partner suited up in a motion capture suit searching for the clue while the other was behind a computer giving directions.
When Jet and Cord arrived, they tried to distract the other set of brothers by being loud and obnoxious, which initially frustrated Dan. But, Dan and Jordan were able to pull through and eventually find the third clue first.
Still struggling to catch up, Caite and Brent finally arrived to the scene and attempted to close the gap between themselves and the cowboys. The four of them finish right at the same time and headed to the next destination, the Tonga Room, San Francisco's first and oldest tiki bar.
Just as they left, Caite and Brent realized they had left their wallets and personal belongs at Lucasfilm and were forced to go back, diminishing their chances of winning.
While at the Tonga Room, the clue asked the teams to pick up a big, heavy chest and lug it to their next destination: The Great American Music Hall. Once they arrived at the Hall, the teams were to open up the trunks and find 11 psychedelic posters that included faces of the eliminated teams. From there, they needed to use their memory and arrange them in the proper order before they received the next clue.
Jordan, an avid "Amazing Race" watcher, had a feeling this challenge would come up so he had all the names already noted down. They raced through the challenge before the cowboys even arrived and headed for Candlestick Park, the next and final destination.
Jet and Cord arrived to the Hall and quickly worked through the challenge. Once they left, it appeared that the race was neck-and-neck with the other set of brothers. But, in the end, Dan and Jordan were the first team to cross the finish line. An elated Jordan was grateful to his brother for helping him fulfill his dream of winning the race.
"I love my little brother and it's so great knowing I could help him make his No. 1 dream come true," Dan said.
Jett and Cord were happy with their second place arrival at the finish line. "We kept our character and integrity in tact -- we can hold our heads up high," they said.
When Caite and Brent finally arrived, everyone greeted them with smiles and applause except for Brandy and Carol, the team that Caite u-turned in a previous episode. Caite attempted to apologize but Brandy quickly snapped back.
"I don't want to hear sorry from you. You purposely whacked us," she said.
Caite, unfazed by Brandy's remark, stood on the stage and closed this season of "The Amazing Race" with the perfect retort:
"I'm the one standing here and not you."
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: chill_sd on May 10, 2010, 02:33:43 PM
The Early Show:
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Caelestor on May 10, 2010, 07:16:39 PM
Team "Sour Grapes" (http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b180216_did_haters_ruin_amazing_race_16_finale.html) :lol3: :neener: :groan:
Yes it did. TAR looks like it may have jumped the shark if it keeps advocating team drama over task-making.
Looks like some viewers will start boycotting the show because Dan & Jordan deserved a penalty for "cheating" :res:
D/J ran a relatively good leg this episode and deserved to win. Their move up to business class with ingenuous, perfectly legal.
My problems with the finale: It slowed down at LDAC A lame memory task (where's the challenge?) Editing in that confrontation at the mat (seriously?). This must be the first time we've seen eliminated teams give their thoughts at the finish line. It left viewers on a sour note.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Sailing on May 10, 2010, 07:55:04 PM
Quote
D/J ran a relatively good leg this episode and deserved to win. Their move up to business class with ingenuous, perfectly legal.
It is not legal for a flight attendant to move passangers up to business class if they bought coach tickets. That is called pilfering.
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: Plaidmoon on May 11, 2010, 04:20:58 AM
D/J ran a relatively good leg this episode and deserved to win. Their move up to business class with ingenuous, perfectly legal.
It is not legal for a flight attendant to move passangers up to business class if they bought coach tickets. That is called pilfering.
I've seen flight attendants do that a number of times and I don't fly that often. They moved me from coach to first class once because I had been seated in a row with a woman and infant and they deemed it unsafe if I had to try to evacuate around a car seat in an emergency. I think they are allowed to use their judgment to move people around as they see fit. Moving Dan and Jordan to first class probably pushes the limit, but charm can get you far at times. "Hey, I'm with the Amazing race and I need your help!" probably works too.
I have my doubts that any government has passed laws regarding moving passengers from one class of seat to another without paying the price difference. I'm not even sure whether China or US law would cover it or if any law covers international air space. More likely it's up to the individual airline, and if they can make a customer happy by moving them to an unsold business or first class seat, why not do it in a select number of cases?
Plaidmoon
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: georgiapeach on May 11, 2010, 06:59:11 AM
Flight attendents have a lot of discretion in this area, and it is done a lot. I fly often, and have had surprise upgrades not infrequently. In this case, I think it was a matter of them being moved up to those seats just before the descent solely for exit purposes, so no pilfering involved!
Title: Re: TAR16 Media Thread
Post by: georgiapeach on May 13, 2010, 07:10:01 AM
From an article on Reality TV Spoilers:
:hearts: :hearts: :hearts:
Fans share those findings online, attempting to deduce such elements as who the suitors are on the next season of "The Bachelorette" or what the route will be on the CBS globe-trotting contest "The Amazing Race." RealityFanForum.com members were able to figure out almost the entire course of the 16th season of "The Amazing Race" months before it premiered.
"I can't speak for the network or the production, but I really like that people see us when we're traveling around the world," said host Phil Keoghan. "If you're a fan of the show, you're not going to go, 'Oh! I can't watch the show now because I know where they're going.' If anything, you're going to be more excited because you want to see what happens."
Fans share those findings online, attempting to deduce such elements as who the suitors are on the next season of "The Bachelorette" or what the route will be on the CBS globe-trotting contest "The Amazing Race." RealityFanForum.com members were able to figure out almost the entire course of the 16th season of "The Amazing Race" months before it premiered.
"I can't speak for the network or the production, but I really like that people see us when we're traveling around the world," said host Phil Keoghan. "If you're a fan of the show, you're not going to go, 'Oh! I can't watch the show now because I know where they're going.' If anything, you're going to be more excited because you want to see what happens."