The Amazing Race -- All-Purpose Thread

Why do they hate loyal viewers so much? Whyyyyyy?

 

This could be awful. I can imagine a bunch of morons playing to the camera and not caring about the game

 

Yup. And these people, while not fantastically wealthy, still probably have the cash to go to different countries and experience these things for themselves. It's refreshing to me to see non-famous people who otherwise wouldn't get to go to a foreign country get to go. Even with his over-the-topness, it's nice to see Justin get to do what he's dreamed of doing. I feel like these people are likely just trying to get more hits for their YouTube channel.

They're also doing some sort of sneak peek into the first location on Monday.

I'm already kind of dreading it. BRING BACK THE BLIND DATERS. I REGRET EVERY BAD THING I SAID ABOUT THAT SEASON.

 

Yeah, I don't know what shows like this have against normal, regular but interesting people. The show(s) originally become hits by using them, didn't they? But then, after a while, it's like the shows think they need someone who's either famous, formerly famous, or trying to become famous, instead, in order to make things better.

And it never does. Whatever happened to not messing with success?

Shows like Survivor, The Apprentice, The Bachelor/Bachelorette, etc. all went the same route.

I no longer watch any of them. I hope the same doesn't happen with The Amazing Race.

 

Well, when you've got so many different shows to watch...and you've got Netflix and Amazon entering and making their own entertainment...there's so much to watch. Each show feels like it needs a "hook" to get those necessary Nielson ratings. I don't feel there's another show out there like The Amazing Race (aside from the ones in other countries, obviously) but I think they're feeling pressure, between moving the timeslot to Friday and now doing all of these seasons that don't follow the same formula, it makes me wonder if the higher ups at CBS are starting to put more pressure on the producers to get higher ratings.

This was an awesome leg, I felt. Trip to the Schindler factory, the salt mines, etc. Really unique leg.

Also, I cannot be the only one who thought, when the guy came up to James Earl and was like, "How much do you need to be done?" who thought of this:

("I'll give you a dollar to SHUT UP!")

But yeah, been playing the piano since I was 9. I would have been reticent, though, to push a heavy-ass upright piano through cobbled streets. I remember my cousin bitching loudly about how heavy my piano was when we moved.

Pool update:
Huggy - Justin and Diana 106
bumpy mcgee - Tanner and Josh 71
Write Thinking - Denise and James Earl 51
Wenders - Kelsey and Joey 41
MTM - Logan and Chris 33
*WolvEagle - Cindy and Rick 28
Iron_Chet - Tiffany and Krista 27
*TigerVols - Jazmine and Danielle 22
*Ernest and Jin 8
*Alex and Adam 7
*Shavonne and Kelly 1

I feel like at this point, the game is Justin and Diana's to lose. The only way they get beat on this Race, unless someone successfully U-Turns them right out next leg, is if a shock team manages to squeak by them in the finale. I also don't think anyone can possibly catch up and beat Huggy in the pool here, unless they go out next leg and Tanner and Josh win out.

 

Thanks for pointing out that I and my team already have no chance, Wenders.

Otherwise, I pretty much agree with you regarding The Amazing Race and why it must suddenly be feeling the need to change up a winning formula.

I love The Amazing Race, for its general positivity and genuine potentially life-changing experiences and perspectives. That's what makes it different and better than most reality programming. Tonight's episode was a prime example of what makes it so good -- truly tough detour, truly worthwhile visit to the Schindler factory that was a reminder to everyone about...a lot of things, a show of team play and good sportsmanship on the parts of the girls and the guys, and a good ending without anyone leaving who you didn't want to leave.

I did think everybody was being a little careless with those pianos! God forbid the wheels came or got knocked off of them. The teams would've been up a creek. And it always amazes me how difficult the food service/memory challenges are. Not that they're not. I know they are, but I still get amazed that they really are so hard. Even though the use of technology smart phones in recent seasons has diluted a lot of them, just like what happened tonight. I hate that they're allowed to do that.

Despite Justin and Diana's recent dominance, this season has been notable, I think, because it has featured several significant reversals of fortune among the teams. It has helped to keep things interesting.

 

Even with my waitressing skills, that food challenge would have been hard. I know what latkes are and that's about it. Unless you were Jewish, I don't know how you could have done it (without obscenely long trial-and-error attempts) without asking someone for help.

Back in the day when I didn't have anyone to sit around and discuss this show with, I read Television Without Pity's recaps (which were hilarious) and they used to talk about "ferns", a native person that the teams would find at the beginning of the leg and somehow convince them (with money or pleading or a free ride) to go along with them and essentially be their tour guide. You really don't see that anymore...not sure if it's due to smartphones (you see a lot of people borrow their cabbie's phone to search for things) or if the producers told them they couldn't do that anymore.

 

Used to love the TWOP recaps. Tara Ariano rocks.

 

What a bunch of CRAP. That was about the most cruel and unusual Speed Bump ever. Making a team do an entire Road Block twice is ridiculous.

In the past, the speed bumps have involved: doing yoga, serving holy water/soup/tea, sitting in a sauna, sitting on an ice chair at the ice hotel for 5 minutes, untangling a rope and eating ice cream. Requiring a team to do such a time intensive Road Block essentially twice (in India, where you could tell it was pretty hot) seems like an awful thing to me, especially when the speed bumps have been so simple in the past AND that they were going into it completely equal due to plane/train scheduling. The producers gave the boys essentially zero chance to get ahead of even one team. And that one team only finished ahead because they got lost and ran across half of Agra.

I really liked my team up until they U-Turned the boys. Was that really necessary? I realize you're in it to win it but there was no way they were going to catch up.

In case Justin is watching the playback, making snide comments about how your day will be great when someone else is eliminated and stirring shit at the airport...THAT is why people don't like you. Knock it off and run your race. And Diana ... you can just tell that she was one of those mean girls back in high school who watched people be bullied and didn't do a thing to stop it. She's just enjoying the crap that her fiance is making happen. I really hope that these two go into the finale supremely confident and someone blows right past them and wins the whole thing.

Pool update:
Huggy - Justin and Diana 122
*bumpy mcgee - Tanner and Josh 72
Write Thinking - Denise and James Earl 53
Wenders - Kelsey and Joey 46
MTM - Logan and Chris 37
Iron_Chet - Tiffany and Krista 30
*WolvEagle - Cindy and Rick 28
*TigerVols - Jazmine and Danielle 22
*Ernest and Jin 8
*Alex and Adam 7
*Shavonne and Kelly 1

 

Wenders, I disagree. I'm happy to finally see a speed bump with some consequences. In the past, the penalty proved to be no harder than someone spelling their name backwards.

And the fact they were equalized by the flight makes it more fair that the speed bump was tough. Finally, a true penalty for being saved from elimination.

That said, I'm sorry to see the boys go. I'd have much rather seen Denise and James Earl go home. I can't recall ever seeing someone on the race who seems as miserable as Denise. There's almost always a sour look on her face.

 

I agree with Wenders that the speed bump was a bit much, and that Kelsey and Joey shouldn't have bothered U-turning the Texans. The only team anybody should be considering U-turning anymore is Justin and Diana, for obvious reasons. Otherwise, it's a good race that it would be nice to see just play out.

Overall, I think this was one of the weaker episodes of the season. Just my opinion, but that's how I felt.

And, I know he's gay, and it's kind of supposed to be their team color, but I really wish James Earl would, just once, wear some clothes that weren't all pink.

 

Wait, what? James Earl is gay? What the hell would his namesake think?