The Amazing Pool

If you've watched The Amazing Race this season, then you've had to hear about how Tyler and James kicked a drug addiction at least every other week for 13 solid weeks. Still, they've been one of the more likeable teams this season. And tonight, I found them particularly likeable, because they won me some money.

I took part in a pool for The Amazing Race this season. Everyone participating bought in before the first episode aired, drawing a random number from a hat. Each of us was then assigned a team by that number, based on the order the Race teams were introduced in the first episode. (Incidentally, this was the same order they were all shown in the opening credits all season long.)

Well, I drew lucky #10, which meant my fortunes were tied to those of the ex-druggie models all season. I didn't win as much money as they did, of course. But hey, a win's a win.

Other people in our pool were not so fortunate, in more ways than one. I'm not just talking about the people who didn't win the pool -- there were people along the way really torn about the teams they'd drawn. I mean sure, you want to win the pool... but if the cost is cheering for Lyn and Karlyn or Rob and Kimberly to win? Yikes. It added an interesting aspect to watching this installment of the Race, that's for sure.

Most everyone involved in our pool seemed to enjoy it, win or lose, so I expect we'll be running it again when the "All Stars" version of The Amazing Race starts up in February.

We'll see how it works out for me next time.

The Race Begins

The tenth installment of The Amazing Race began tonight, and to... well, I don't know, I guess "spice things up a little," some of my friends decided to have a pool on the outcome this time around.

It came about when I was looking in TV Guide's Fall Preview issue last week, and there was a picture of all 12 teams in the back. All you could see was their tiny little faces, their names, and the quick one or two word description of their relationship: "Best Friends," "Father and Daughter," "Dating," etc. I was commenting with another Amazing Race fan that I thought you could just take one look at that picture and instantly tell which teams were going to place in the top four.

The trouble was, she basically agreed with me. Not much of a pool if everyone wanted to take the same teams. So we did a random draw. Everybody pulled a number from a hat, and then we assigned teams to everyone based on the order the teams were introduced in the first episode.

It worked out that I drew number 10, which translated to Tyler and James, one of the three teams I'd identified in the cast photo as most likely to succeed. I found out in the first few minutes that they were recovered drug addicts (I don't know whether you'd count that a plus or a minus), that they were both models (ugh), and both a bit conceited (like Eric and Jeremy from last season). But then, they did take first place in tonight's episode, so I guess so far, I've gotta like my chances of winning in this pool.

As for the Race itself? Well, based on just the one episode, I can only draw a few quick conclusions. I don't think there are any instantly likeable teams like the last installment of the Race had (except for Peter and Sarah, I suppose). There are so many teams that look destined to fail (compared to usual) that trying to guess who is going to go out next is a bit of a challenge. I feel like I could divide the pack into thirds (who will be out early, middle, or there until the end), but beyond that... it's anybody's guess. And I'm very curious to see more of these "surprises" Phil promised at the start of the Race. We're off to a juicy start there with an elimination that took out a team before they could even complete a full episode. Yikes.

And, of course, I'm cheering on my druggies.

All's Well That Ends Well

It seems like it's rare, but sometimes these reality shows do turn out the way you hope. In tonight's final installment of The Amazing Race, the Weavers finished last of the three teams. That was really all I was looking for, but the Linzes were my pick to win, in a perfect world, and I got that wish too.

The Weavers were horrible to the very end. For the second time on the race (the last being the non-elimination leg that kept them in the game), they totally threw it in and wanted to quit, dismissing the stadium search as "stupid." I was almost feeling bad for Rolly for a minute. As before, when they should have been eliminated, I found myself screaming at the TV: "if they want to quit so badly, then let them!"

Hurling names at the other teams inside the stadium, they bumped into one of them (literally) outside, and then the mother has the nerve, hypocrisy, short-term memory, take your pick, to say say it's wrong of the other teams to call them names. I can't tell you how freaking ecstatic I was to see them come up with the last plane departure time after that.

It's funny how nerve-rattling that last challenge, simply putting together a geographical jigsaw puzzle, turned out to be. For one, it appeared to be a really close finish. How much pressure would be on you, to be the one working the puzzle? How horrible would it be to be one of three stuck on the sidelines, unable to do anything to help in the one challenge that was going to ultimately decide it all? Ugh.

And as a fun little coda on the whole thing, I had a small thrill with the scenes of the next installment of The Amazing Race. It looks like the next Race begins (began, technically, I suppose) right here in Denver, in Red Rocks Amphitheater. Neat!

"Hey... listen... I'm starting in The Amazing Race tomorrow. Do you mind dropping me off on your way to work in the morning? It's only 10 minutes away."

The Amazing Rant

After tonight's double installment, The Amazing Race is taking the week off next Tuesday. And I'm almost glad in a way, because I need a break from the Weaver family.

Don't get me wrong -- I'm thrilled the Paolo family got eliminated tonight. Every time they opened the first clue to start a new leg of the race, they couldn't even make it off the mat before they were yelling at each other. They were simply horrible to watch (and went out doing exactly what they do "best," berating each other even as they reached the pit stop).

But the Weavers. As much as I hated Rob and Amber last time around, this family is putting them to shame. What have the Weavers got they they didn't have? Hypocrisy.

"What did we ever do to them?" Hmm... check last week's installment when you called one of the Paolo sons a retard and mocked their family for having their team picture taken in front of a garbage truck.

"They play dirty," they said of the Linz family. Conveniently, they'd already forgotten how just moments earlier, they'd tried to get the park ranger at the entrance to the Grand Canyon to delay the Linz van.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. They behave horribly, deny having done it, criticize far less objectionable behavior in others, and then wrap themselves in a cloak of Christianity.

No, I'm afraid we were only rid of the lesser of two evils tonight.

(On a separate note, I loved that in the montage depicting the first hour's pit stop, they showed us the place where Hawke and Santini park Airwolf.)

Familiar Territory

Tonight's installment of The Amazing Race was a little surreal for me, because I've done basically the exact same trip in reverse.

The last work trip I ever took while at The Company was a six day road trip that had me driving out of Norfolk to visit retailers in Richmond, Washington DC, York, Lancaster, and New York City. I drove all the roads they drove in tonight's episode, albeit going in the other direction. (Yes, including that particular traffic jam on US 50, which as I understand it began about 45 minutes after they opened that road to travelers, and has continued unabated ever since.)

When the teams were reading the clue to find the reflecting pool in front of the U.S. Capitol building, I instantly recognized the trouble that was coming. The famous reflecting pool is of course the one you see on all the postcards between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. But I knew from having been there myself that it wasn't the landmark in question.

Sure enough, we got to watch several teams aimlessly search the wrong area, not having carefully read their clue. Now, I have to say: it's about a two-and-a-half hour drive from York, Pennsylvania to DC. And what do you have to do during all that time? Read the damn clue again! And again! And again! You have enough time to memorize the thing. Any team that went to the wrong place got what they deserved.

The deja vu continued when one of the teams was consulting their Virginia state road map book. I have the exact same map in the seat pocket of my car, this very minute. This was a gift both thoughtful and humorous from some good friends of mine here in Denver.

Every time I'd been back to Colorado on a visit, I'd complained about how crazy (read: "not straight") the roads in Virginia Beach are, and ranted about how hard it was to get around. When they visited me there last September, they got to experience firsthand how bad my ability to give them directions was. So, as a Christmas present, they bought me this Virginia road map.

Of course, less than one month later was Black Monday. Barely one month after that, I ceased to have need of a Virginia road map. Nevertheless, this is a case where what they say is true: it is the thought that counts. I keep the map in my car to this day. It's not only a reminder of how thoughtful and fun my friends here in Denver are, but a reminder of the good times I did have during my years in Virginia.

Oh, and meanwhile, some people won the leg of the Race, and some other people got eliminated. Not so much the point of this post.

How Sweet the Sound...

The Amazing Race is back, and I thought it just as entertaining in its "family of four" incarnation. A few miscellaneous thoughts about the first episode:

I really wish the "hot dog cart guys" could be on a team. They were more entertaining to me than a lot of the teams actually racing.

That shot of the gas station sign selling Regular for $2.19... in New York City, no less! Boy, that takes me back...

I was totally fooled by the "Build It" vs. "Buggy It" detour. Ordinarily, the physical option is way easier than anything that involves "finding something" or "following specific instructions." But ohdearGod was that not the case here.

Speaking of God, I was really annoyed by the way the Weaver family constantly invoked His help throughout the episode. Apparently He wasn't a fan either, since He's trying to kill off the family one by one via vehicular homicide.

And if that comment didn't earn me my special place in Hell, then let me try this instead: how unfortunately named was the Black family? The one black family in the game, and every ten minutes or so we get to see them identified as such through the on-screen text. The awful joke seemed to descend to a whole new level when we were shown them rallying together with their cheer: "Black family!" They actually seemed like a nice family that got along well together, and there are certainly other teams I'm hating already and would rather have seen eliminated. Still, I'm not sure how many more weeks I could have taken of simultaneously laughing and hating myself every time I hear/see their name.

The $1,000,000 Head Shaving

I'm very pleased that The Amazing Race finished up tonight the only "right" way, with Uchenna and Joyce winning. Rob (of Team Robbinambuh) and Kelly (of Team Ron and Spoiled Bitch) stayed smug, self-centered, and unlikeable to the very finish, leaving U&J as the only team I would have been truly happy to see win. Still, anyone but Rob and Amber would have done in a pinch.

This is the first time I've ever watched The Amazing Race, and I've enjoyed it a lot. Still, if Rob and Amber had walked away the winners, I honestly don't know if I could have come back for another round next fall. I know it wouldn't exactly have been fair of me to hold it against the game if the team I hated had pulled it out -- I'm just saying, it would have ruined my past enjoyment of it that much.

Anyway, all's well that ends well. And U&J pulled it off after having all their money taken away too! Begging for two days and even going the extra mile not to stiff their cab driver at the end. That's the kind of skill and style I'm quite sure neither of the other teams could have shown in the same situation. They earned it. Well done. I'm happy.

Obligatory Tuesday TV Talkback

This week was the first episode of Veronica Mars in a long while -- maybe ever -- that I haven't been totally enthusiastic about. I think it's that it felt a little too serious for me. I enjoy the wit and humor that the show usually mixes in with its continuing plot and sleuthing. This week was pretty heavy on the drama and almost devoid of the usual humor. Of course, the subject matter was honestly too serious to have been treated lightly. And we did get some pretty big resolution on a couple of season-long mysteries. Futhermore, I appreciate that the show was trying something a little different and not trying to follow the same "formula." I guess in the end, I'm not complaining. (A rare thing for this blog.) But I'm hoping to be more entertained by next week's season finale. (Ah... season finale. Not series finale. Again, how awesome is that?)

Meanwhile, a pretty lackluster installment of The Amazing Race. All the teams were back to their usual patterns. Rob and Amber were ridiculously and undeservingly lucky. Ron showed saint-like patience while Kelly grew still more irrational and unsympathetic. Uchenna and Joyce were wonderful to each other and played hard, but not enough to place first. Meredith and Gretchen showed their typical, strange brew of heart, bumbling idiocy, determination, and ineptitude -- and finally got eliminated for it. Basically, the same behavior as every episode but the last one. I'm really hoping next week's season finale is more a replay of last week than this week.

A Hint of Justice

I just want to say, how cool was it that Rob's generally ass-like behavior on The Amazing Race finally came back to haunt him this week? His pointless bluff to the other teams about "an earlier flight" set them about actually looking for one... and what do you know? They found one!

Here's hoping they stay at towards the back of the pack next week. Unfortunately, even if they get eliminated it won't be the last time CBS inflicts them on us. They've decided to air their wedding for May sweeps next month.

I promise you, TV slave though I am, I will be nowhere near that.

It's a Photo Finish!

Hey there Race fans! Amazing Race fans, that is. Tonight we had a photo finish... that is, at least, in the competition for who could say something that made them seem like more of a jerk.

In lane 1, we have "Boston Rob," who enlisted local children in India to help him and Amber push a giant wooden elephant through the streets of the city. When they didn't drop everything and come to his aid, he quipped: "It's tough organizin' Indian labor."

In lane 2, we have "Beauty Queen" Kelly, who (in the "scenes from next week") began bitching at her boyfriend Ron for about the 47th time. This time, she was complaining about how he lacks commitment and never follows through with anything. Wearily, Ron pointed out his time in the military. Kelly remarks, "And you got out of that one... by being a P.O.W."

The judges are still reviewing the tape. We still don't have a clear... uh, loser.