That cheese challenge was one of the funniest moments of television I have ever watch.

Agree. My wife and I couldn't stop laughing during that.

So happy for the team that won that leg.

Closest elimination ever. Seconds.

Closest elimination ever. Seconds.

I wouldn't say ever because the craziest was when the hippies got eliminated one season and multiple teams were all running to the finish.

That was pretty cool because it was the first race where they had been going to a city I'd been to. I went on my first overseas trip this summer and went to Interlaken. Unfortunately, we didn't get to climb a hill and carry cheese. But it was one of the most beautiful places I'd ever been.

Seriously, why give everyone these balsa-wood contraptions to carry the cheese if all of them - ALL of them - are jut going to break? Roll the goddamned cheese down the hill and pick it up at the bottom. The hicks from the sticks had the best strategy of them all.

who knew carrying cheese down a hill would be such a tough challenge? Glad that team that lost is gone, sparing us all the venom of that relationship. They disagree on everything, but love each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together? yeah good luck with that.

Some interesting storylines to start:
-will the flight attendants be able to use their "local knowledge" in airports to get an advantage or two?
-what will happen if the deaf man gets seperated or has to do a challenge on his own that involves communication? Can't quite believe he's never learned to read lips.
-how soon before the hillbillies self-destruct? (next episode perhaps?)
-will the older couple who work out all the time and look to be in good shape be able to go farther than any of the other older couples?

Favorites to win for me right now:
-the couple who's been dating for a short while-he's very athletic and she looks in good shape, but can they work together having known each other so short a time?
-the stuntmen-speaking of short. :) They aren't going to be scared of a lot of the physical challenges I'm thinking as evidenced by the bunjee jump. That can be a pretty big advantage. How will they do in the more mental challenges though?
-the black sisters-both very athletic so should do well on the physical challenges and seem to have a close bond that will serve them well
-the lawyers-on the fence about them, but you know they have to be smart so that will help on some of the challenges I'm sure.

I'm also glad that the team that got eliminated is gone. Now I have a nickname for them, "Losers". I always say the nicknames for the teams as they come up on the intro.

Great first episode last night.

Arguing already amongst teams? check.
Funny challenge? check.
A team makes a wrong decision? check.
Run for the pitstop elimination? check.

I can't believe they put my uncle on this show. Wait, that redneck's not my uncle, but he's so hick I'd have to think he's from my neck of the woods.

I liked the pie throwing challenge - nothing like having the racers humiliate themselves in front of laughing Germans.

Well, a fairly anticlimactic episode with the IDIOTIC decision to save 20 minutes to arrive at midnight on a flight with connections rather than a direct flight. I know that sitting at the airport for another hour or two may seem like a waste of time, but a) you know the plane might be later in arriving at the connector and b) it's 20 minutes! Oh, and it's midnight so you know there's going to be a part where something doesn't open, trains don't run, etc. And because of that, an equally dumb decision by the older lawyer is forgiven (that was so stupid...is he the younger version of the Asian grandpa from two seasons ago???)

We said the same thing about the Asian dad and daughter from a couple seasons ago and the brother and sister.

Whew, there could've been some really ugly moments for the gymnastics Roadblock.

I would never have guessed that Mike guy was a writer...much less of movies I've heard of (though I have never seen any that he's 'credited' for). Wow, I never would have expected that.

You've never seen "School of Rock?" He wrote that and had a bit part.

You've never seen "School of Rock?" He wrote that and had a bit part.

Orange County also, great movie.

Too bad about the couple that got eliminated, I thought they might get pretty far. Pretty stupid move on their part though for just a supposed 20 minute advantage if everything went well-which you can never expect when flying.

Haven't seen either of them to my knowledge.

According to Mike White (I) (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0925234/) Mike has written quite a few movies, including Good Girl featuring Jennifer Aniston, Nacho Libre and Year of the Dog. I wonder why on Amazing Race they only claim he wrote School of Rock

Yeah, definitely haven't seen those...though I seem to recall wanting to see Orange County.

Hah. My neighbor had a Ride Across America thing with Phil Keoghan and got his autograph for me. Very sweet. He wrote in it, "Mike & Stacy, Team #1!"

I tried to tell my neighbor friend to tell him who wins TAR. No such luck.

I'm still rooting for the lesbians.

The deaf guy and his mom are getting on my nerves. The whole show we hear about how this proves that deaf people are just like anyone else and all that crap. Then when that jackass starts throwing elbows and pushing people suddenly we get "how can you can a deaf person a bitch?" What is it lady? Are you expecting him to be treated just like everyone else or is that only when it's convenient for that to happen?

The deaf guy and his mom are getting on my nerves. The whole show we hear about how this proves that deaf people are just like anyone else and all that crap. Then when that jackass starts throwing elbows and pushing people suddenly we get "how can you can a deaf person a bitch?" What is it lady? Are you expecting him to be treated just like everyone else or is that only when it's convenient for that to happen?:+1:

Overall, I've been a bit disappointed with this season. The deaf guy and his mom have been driving me crazy, and I think it has been pretty unfair to have 4 episodes of the show in China when one of the teams speaks fluent Mandarin. I know that hasn't allowed them to really pull ahead too much, but I have to wonder where they would be without it.

On a side note, if you like the Amazing Race and would like to compete in something like it, check out the Great Urban Race. They recently had it in Atlanta, and my wife and I qualified for the national championship based on our results. It was a ton of fun.

The Great Urban Race | An Urban Adventure and Scavenger Hunt Race (http://greaturbanrace.com/)

I'm with you on being disappointed with the number of challenges in China given the language advanatage for the one team, especially in the restaurant challenge. I'm pulling for them or the mom and son to win. Can't stand the cheerleaders, especially the extremely negative one of the pair. They are damned lucky they are in the Final 3 given the fact the sisters took a bathroom break as they were coming to the end of the leg and apparantly were in the lead till then. I might live with the humilation of peeing on myself if it meant staying alive for the first prize money. That was certainly a first for the Amazing Race.

Good luck in your Urban Race. :)

Meh. All three of the final teams are unlikeable for some reason or another.

I am OK with the cheerleaders. I hated the sisters and am glad they are out.

Victor (one of the Chinese lawyers) is a big name in the world of Speech and Debate. He started the Victory Briefs debate camp and evidence files, and he serves as the District Chair for the Los Angeles area. I'm surprised that they don't mention his forensics background.

I understand the idea about the language advantage, but the producers didn't know that team would still be in it - when they're trying to arrange exotic places to go, it would be tough to rule out all of China just because one of the teams spoke the language. That said, they could have cut down the number of episodes in it - I was especially unhappy with this week's "let's milk this thing for one more extra episode" dual episode. They already have way to much of that, IMO, with the non-elimination rounds.

I'm sorry, but if the difference between me having and not-having a 33% shot at a million bucks is some of my own pee, I'm lettin' it fly.

I hate the cheerleaders. Really just the one that incessantly complains.

I hate the deaf kid and his mom. We get it. Dude can't hear. It sucks but you're annoying.

That leaves Victor and Tammy. I hated them at first, but they've grown on me. They race hard and stay focused. Sure, it didn't hurt that they've been in China for like 2 weeks, but that isn't Victor and Tammy's fault.

Also, is it me or has this season largely been based on taxi's? It seems like in past seasons teams would drive themselves around a lot more.

Victor and Tammy have really learned how to work as a team. One of the best I've seen at overcoming pretty terrible differences. I still don't know why they U-turned the team they didn't think was the best. I probably just wouldn't have U-turned unless I really thought I'd rather face them than mom and son because you knew that one of them would U-turn the other.

The cheerleaders are kind of annoying, but I think it's mainly that they get more frustrated about the language difference than the rest of the teams. They don't handle it well.

Mom and son are by far the worst. They can dish it out but they can't take it. I sided with the sisters too, I don't think she was laughing at Luke trying to talk, but instead doing one of the "are you kidding me" smiles when getting accused of something you don't think you did. They were both at fault but the way the mom handled the situation really pissed me off.

And you just have to pee yourself...maybe don't say "I have to pee" a thousand times and it might not even be mentioned in the show. I would probably have peed myself, but I also probably wouldn't have need FOUR BOTTLES OF WATER to eat the bad food. That's where they lost anyway...being so damn slow at eating the food. I'm not sure what was slower, her eating the food, or her swimming.

I liked the fact that even the Mom got sick of her son constantly saying..."Mom, Mom, Mom...".

Overall, I've been a bit disappointed with this season. The deaf guy and his mom have been driving me crazy, and I think it has been pretty unfair to have 4 episodes of the show in China when one of the teams speaks fluent Mandarin. I know that hasn't allowed them to really pull ahead too much, but I have to wonder where they would be without it.

On a side note, if you like the Amazing Race and would like to compete in something like it, check out the Great Urban Race. They recently had it in Atlanta, and my wife and I qualified for the national championship based on our results. It was a ton of fun.

The Great Urban Race | An Urban Adventure and Scavenger Hunt Race (http://greaturbanrace.com/)

My buddy and I qualified for the nationals as well in the LA race. We would have won it, but had a true Amazing Race moment. We were the first team back and they were checking us in and asked us where our picture for a specific clue was. We said we used our skip (you had to do 9 of 10 clues) on that one. They pointed out it was the one mandatory clue on the list, so we had to run back and do that challenge. We ended up coming in seventh.

Well, I think the right team ended up winning. It looked like they pretty much dominated the end and the other teams were left (probably encouraged) to help each other out so they could finish.

I've started watching all the old seasons of Amazing Race, I like it so much - I found a site which has (often fairly crummy) versions of tons of old shows, and am going through it season by season. They really go to an amazing variety of places.

This is the only reality show on tv that I can see myself and goldeneagle going on. I would do anything to get a chance to be on Amazing Race!

Just a heads up for fans of the Amazing Race. The Great American Road Trip starts tonight on NBC at 8 PM. Sounds like a rip-off of what was probably the worst season of Amazing Race (the Family Edition), but might be worth checking out.

Here's the description from the show's website:

""Great American Road Trip," from BBC Worldwide, is a hilarious and relatable new series where seven families from divergent backgrounds are selected to take the journey of a lifetime. Over eight episodes, the families will travel through cities large and small, all while competing in a medley of humorous challenges that will ultimately lead one family to victory.

These comical, clever challenges are set against iconic American backdrops like the majestic Grand Canyon and the regal Washington Monument. Along the way, our families and our viewers will also discover quirky American landmarks, ranging from the World's Largest Chair to a sneaker the size of a car. Although family fun is the centerpiece of the show, the competition is real and one family will be eliminated each week based on their performance in the challenges. Ultimately, only one family will return home with a dream prize that perfectly complements their extraordinary and memorable summer vacation. "

I met Victor Jih when I was in Alabama a few weeks ago. We were at the National Speech and Debate tournament. Tammy wasn't there, but Victor took part in some picture sessions and came out on stage during the awards ceremony.

Just a heads up for fans of the Amazing Race. The Great American Road Trip starts tonight on NBC at 8 PM. Sounds like a rip-off of what was probably the worst season of Amazing Race (the Family Edition), but might be worth checking out.

Here's the description from the show's website:

""Great American Road Trip," from BBC Worldwide, is a hilarious and relatable new series where seven families from divergent backgrounds are selected to take the journey of a lifetime. Over eight episodes, the families will travel through cities large and small, all while competing in a medley of humorous challenges that will ultimately lead one family to victory.

These comical, clever challenges are set against iconic American backdrops like the majestic Grand Canyon and the regal Washington Monument. Along the way, our families and our viewers will also discover quirky American landmarks, ranging from the World's Largest Chair to a sneaker the size of a car. Although family fun is the centerpiece of the show, the competition is real and one family will be eliminated each week based on their performance in the challenges. Ultimately, only one family will return home with a dream prize that perfectly complements their extraordinary and memorable summer vacation. "

this show is goofy, but i will still watch i think.

Bumpity, bumpity, bump.

Just a reminder that the new season starts tonight. Also, those of you DVR'ing the show, make sure you add an extra hour to the record time because of the NFL. If you don't, you'll usually miss the last half hour at a minimum.

Thanks MBBF. I have a special interest in this season since there's a contestant with Aspergers Syndrome. Really looking forward to seeing how the team does and hope they do well.

Thanks MBBF. I have a special interest in this season since there's a contestant with Aspergers Syndrome. Really looking forward to seeing how the team does and hope they do well.

I thought the guy with Aspergers did really well. They seemed to work very well as a team and his partner seemed to keep him grounded.

Hope the Globetrotter team goes a long way because they're extremely entertaining. They provided my favorite line of the evening......

"What does (the wasabi bomb) taste like????"

"Tastes like MONEY, baby!!!!!!!"

I think the country music duo appears to get the early 'Implosion waiting to happen' label.

And yes, the team from Kansas City that lives just a couple miles from my house is the token gay team for the year. Though it is a twist that they're gay brothers rather than partners like it usually is.

Some early thoughts on the first episode:


1. How bad would it suck to get eliminated before hitting the first airport?
2. The penalty for not finishing that task was not severe enough given that they immediately made it all up due to when the airport was open.

Wow is all I have to say about this episode. The ending caught me by surprise.


I do not have any idea how to do a spoiler tag, and I dont want to ruin it for anybody, so shy your eyes away if you haven't watched it yet.








I was rooting so hard for Zev! I can't believe they came in first and had to be eliminated for losing a passport. What a terrible way to go down. I really wanted the poker playing girls to go home, they don't appear to be good at anything except lying.

Wow is all I have to say about this episode. The ending caught me by surprise.


I do not have any idea how to do a spoiler tag, and I dont want to ruin it for anybody, so shy your eyes away if you haven't watched it yet.








I was rooting so hard for Zev! I can't believe they came in first and had to be eliminated for losing a passport. What a terrible way to go down. I really wanted the poker playing girls to go home, they don't appear to be good at anything except lying.

Yup, me too. I actually teared up a little bit, it really sucked. But they were really good sports, neither of them blamed the other which is totally awesome.

I don't like the poker players either. Especially the one that's not pulling her weight. She's the only one that has a suitcase with wheels and the only thing she did with the animal rides was hold the balloons.

I agree with you ladies.

Also, FWIW Tiffany Michelle is an uber bitch in the poker world, a total

cunt

Whenever I watch the five minutes of poker on television that I can stomach without vomiting, a great number of the players seem like douchebags. Maybe I should try 8 minutes and see if my perception changes.

Whenever I watch the five minutes of poker on television that I can stomach without vomiting, a great number of the players seem like douchebags. Maybe I should try 8 minutes and see if my perception changes.

Not really. Most are pretty laid back, TV does tend to show the ones who are though. Hellmuth, etc...

Glad those two got kicked off. How that guy reasoned through law school is beyond me. Also the biggest whiner ever. They were lost the whole time--how they got this far is beyond me other than the fact that they never gave up.

FWIW.....the Globetrotters team have been great ambassadors for their team. Really good guys and very funny as well.

Wow.. The girl wouldn't go down a freakin' waterslide for a million bucks.

Good move by the Trotters, despite being mean. I'd do what they did for a million bucks though.

yeah can't believe she didn't go down the slide, didn't help that her partner bordered on abuse to get her down it either.

unfathomable.

I'm glad she didn't go down just because I'm loving the Globetrotters. They've been very good guys, but I would have done the same thing they did in a heartbeat. It's still a game. What did her partner expect them to do? Coax her down the slide?

No - but you still be a gentleman even in a race. Competition doesn't give you a jackass card to be playable at any time. If anything, their craptastic comments may have cajoled her to go down the slide.

I was really liking the globetrotter guys up until that very moment. It seemed they were guys who had fun winning or losing - class acts. Their comments disappointed me. But hey, we're all human - I'm thinking they're still my favorites.

Even if she had gone down, that team was doomed once the globetrotters got there. No way they would have beat the globetrotters in a foot race to the finish line, and it didn't appear to be difficult to find it.

No - but you still be a gentleman even in a race. Competition doesn't give you a jackass card to be playable at any time. If anything, their craptastic comments may have cajoled her to go down the slide.

I was really liking the globetrotter guys up until that very moment. It seemed they were guys who had fun winning or losing - class acts. Their comments disappointed me. But hey, we're all human - I'm thinking they're still my favorites.

So you would have stood there and said nothing rather than reinforce her fear?

It didn't downplay their level of class IMO. They've helped other teams on multiple occasions when most wouldn't have done so. When facing elimination, that goes out the window. They weren't rude by any means, so I don't have an issue with it.

An absolutely great move by the 'Trotters - one of the funniest scenes ever on the show.

fucking A, I can't believe that bitch wouldn't go down the slide. Unbelievable.

An absolutely great move by the 'Trotters - one of the funniest scenes ever on the show.

I did think the humor was further emphasized when Flight Time ran for the slide and basically did a running jump down it. The edit immediately flashed to the woman's face, which showed a sense of horror at how he literally threw himself down the slide without a second thought. It was fantastic.

Ya, I appreciated him throwing himself down the slide recklessly. Someone having fun and enjoying the incredible opportunity they've been given.

Lots of people would love to go on that show and do anything for a chance at a million bucks and see the world with all expenses paid (including me, applied to go on years ago but no luck, too ugly for camera probly).

After listening to the whiny girl for five minutes it was good to see someone actually interested in playing the game. I was more afraid the comments would actually get her to go down the slide, she obviously was not going down it anyway so they could only spur her to actually do it. Trotters are my favorites, dating teams are almost always garbage that has gotten boring a long time ago. I also like the pink haired father/son team, seem to work together well and are laid back.

My question about her was that she was terrified by heights and water, hasn't she EVER seen the show?

It was a shame to see her go out that way as I thought she was so damn cute, didn't want the last impression to be her whining like that.

I also got a kick out of that other lady thinking they were actually in the water with the sharks. (Here, hold this chum on the way down, good luck)

The waterwings were the best.

I thought the trashtalking was pretty smart, although I too was afraid it would have the opposite effect for a minute. But yeah, those two were NOT outrunning the Globetrotters to the finish line. However, the Globetrotters couldn't afford to be "nice" knowing that because they had no idea what was to come. It could have been more than just a race to the finish.

FRANZ!!! jeeeez

FRANZ!!! jeeeez

yeah, they deserved to go home because of that

While the Globetrotters have been my favorite team this season, I'm OK with them going out 4th since the three remaining teams are not celebrities. I've actually liked all of the remaining teams for the past couple of weeks (including the Dad & Son team), but the brothers are now getting on my nerves. I'm OK with Meghan & Cheyne (I do give them credit for being solid competitors the entire race), or with Brian (I'm not so fond of Erica).

Why take the 4 hour penalty? Did they really believe they could not figure it out in less than 4 hours? Hell even if it takes you another 2 hours you're still ahead of where you would be.

Add me to the "annoyed with the brothers" group - back-to-back weeks pulling crap moves on the other groups (stolen taxi and refusal to share "FRANZ" with the globetrotters).

Add me to the "annoyed with the brothers" group - back-to-back weeks pulling crap moves on the other groups (stolen taxi and refusal to share "FRANZ" with the globetrotters).

I agree, I am all for gamesnmenship and screwing other teams, stealing cabs, etc..., but if you flat out agree to work with each other during a particular task then break that agreement during the task you are completeing that is shitty.

Best team won.

Agreed. Thank god the brothers didn't win after the shit they pulled, and Brian and Ericka got especially annoying in that last episode

I was really disappointed with the finale. Normally there is some task that makes the contestants pull together everything they have done and everywhere they have been. There was nothing like that this time. Overall, it was a pretty boring leg of the race, but at least the best team won.

Agreed. Thank god the brothers didn't win after the shit they pulled, and Ericka got especially annoying in that last episode

Fixed it for ya... :)

I was really disappointed with the finale. Normally there is some task that makes the contestants pull together everything they have done and everywhere they have been. There was nothing like that this time. Overall, it was a pretty boring leg of the race, but at least the best team won.

+1

It seemed just like any other leg of the race. I would like to see them do the finale like Survivor does to be honest. Make it a 2 hour finale and even have a reunion show where the teams get to talk about what they did during the race. Though the show doesn't seem to have the cult following that Survivor does which is probably why that idea would never happen.

Just a bump to let any other fans know that the next season of the Amazing Race starts at 8 PM on Sunday, February 14th.