The Amazing Race, Ep. 5: The Fast Forward is Taken?

I know!  I know!  I have missed a few episodes.  Life has been crazy!  But, without furthur ado, here's my recap of this week's episode!

Norway was the scene.  It was filled with snow, gondolas, boats, bikes and rapelling.  I must say that watching them do that rapelling on the bridge really made my arms hurt!  I mean, the whole coordination between your legs and arms is HARD work.  And they had a long way to climb back up!

In the end, Nat and Kat (Drs.) finished first...again.  I am noticing a trend.  They took the fast forward and had to eat a sheep's head.  (Eyes included!)  Since one of them hadn't eaten meat in years, it was an interesting challenge to watch, but not as gross as some other eating challenges.  My father said, "Why are their eating challenges always like Fear Factor?"  This challenge, though, didn't seem that bad.  No one puked.  That's something!

At the detour, they had the choice of biking or boating.  Biking was quicker, but the boating didn't seem to take too much extra time, which worked out well for Kevin and his Dad.  (My favorite team right at the moment!)  They are so funny!  I was glad that they came in 4th place.

And then there was the comedic team of the evening: Tattoo couple, who continually astound and dumbfound us with their 'blondness'.  Last night was no exception.  They arrive at the Road Block and decide to try for the Fast Forward, even though they were second last.  As stated above, Nat and Kat had already gorged themselves on sheep's head and were safely across the finish line by the time the tattooers arrived there.  There was a sign that read "Fast Forward Taken".  If you have ever watched The Amazing Race, you would know that that means the Fast Forward has been taken by another team.  Not our tattoers.  No.  They stood there looking at the sign, wondering aloud, "What does that mean?"  ......Huh?  Wow!  You don't know what that means? 

Anyway, they looked around.  The stayed for a few minutes.  Then they decided to move on, but not without giving us more to look back on and laugh at!

In the end, the Volleyball girls were constantly trying to play catch-up on this leg of the race.  Unfortunately, they never could quite make up the difference and were eliminated in this round!

Next week it looks like they are headed to Russia.  Should be an interesting episode, perhaps with some language barriers!  Should be good.

The Amazing Race 17, Ep. 2: I Want My Mommy!

 Well, last night was the 2nd episode of The Amazing Race.  I was hyped.  I was pumped.  I was ready for action and fun!!  Unfortunately, it was not the best episode.  I mean, it was fine, but a little low on the excitement.

They started off the night flying from England to Ghana...on the same plane.  Any advantage that they had the leg before was completely gone.  That really ticked off some of the teams that were ahead (and would royal rub me the wrong way, too)!

To say that the differences between cultures was huge would be an understatement.  I can only imagine what it would be like to visit some of these other places.  I have not been anywhere too different from my own culture and country.  The closest I have come is San Diego, right on the border of Tijuana, which is a bit of an eye opener, but nothing compared to this!  I think the kids begging at the windows of the taxis will stick in my head for awhile!

Other highlights included selling sunglasses (did you see the part where the woman did this huge dance wearing the sunglasses that the tatoo team had and then was going to refuse to pay for them?), setting up cable tvs, and carting around HUGE, weird shaped wooden caskets.  Now, when I say weird, I mean shaped like a lobster, a camera, a keyboard (which hubby asked if I wanted), a fish...Strange.  Works of art, really.  Not something you would like to be buried in, but to each their own, I suppose.

My favorite part was the taxi driving.  Now I have seen this in other episodes of this show: taxis narrowly avoiding collisions, driving too fast, swerving at the last minute.  There was nothing new here, but the reactions of some of the teams were priceless, especially the barber shop singers.

"The taxi ahead of us has just created a 3rd lane!"

"I want my mommy!"

The doctors, whose cab it was that created the 3rd lane, at one point hid their faces and said, "I just can't watch anymore!"

The taxi cab drivers really ruled the show last night.  With cabs getting lost and breaking down, it was a reminder of how much the show is driven (no pun intended) by luck-of-the-draw taxis!  Always has been and always will be.

In the end the recently reunited Mother and Daughter team was eliminated.  They shared some nice words and tears together.  I wish them well and hope that they continue to develop their relationship!!

Meanwhile, the father-son team really pulled it out (especially dad selling those sun glasses)!  Again the home shopping divas did excellent coming in 1st (winning a trip to Hawaii), as well as the other 2 blondes coming in second.  We'll have to see how it all plays out.  Still no favorites, but time will tell!!

The Amazing Race 17, Ep. 1: They Don't Call it The Amazing Race for Nothing

So, the amazing race started last night.  One of my ULTIMATE favorite shows.  Remember last season?  The cowboys??  I mean, they will always be up there with the Harlem Globetrotters from the year before! I always expect to have a favorite team.  So far, I am not really IN LOVE with any team, but they are fun to watch!!

I have a few that stick out for me.  First of all are the smart doctor ladies.  Love them.  I love smart women, who will give some of the other teams a run for their money by using their heads.  Remember the Hippies from a few seasons ago, that were all about learning different languages, had PhDs and such?  Yeah.  I think brains take you a long way on the Amazing Race.

That being said, you also have the tatooers.  You know, the couple who have a million tatoos and are trying to show the world that they are not just about drinking and partying?  Well, they said some of the funniest things last night, that I am sure they regret now.   Some examples:

"Are you a battlement?"  (Asked of a peasant at the top of the castle!)

"We're in the county of London, right?" (Said to Phil on the mat!)

All that being said, they did give us a chuckle.  Like the son a couple of seasons ago who went looking for the candlelabra and began asking people if they were in fact a candlelabra.  We need those teams that do funny things.  Makes the show less edgy and dramatic.

I must say that the chick who got her head beamed with the watermelon was quite a trooper.  And for that reason alone I have pegged this team of home shopping network hosts to be contenders for awhile.  They are TOUGH cookies.  She got right back up and finished the task.  "They don't call it the Amazing Race for nothing."

I am always a sucker for the family teams, as well.  I liked how the father-daughter and father-son team ended on the mat at the same time.  Way to keep it in the family!!

I am not sure about the added 'Express Pass' and how that will affect the game.  Should add something or nothing to it.  Probably depends on when and how you use it.  Should be interesting to watch.

I will be keeping track of this on a different page, but I will try and do a weekly review.  I LOVE this show.  Can't wait till next week!!