The Amazing Race season 18 - Unfinished Business

I'm glad to see that it will (finally) be in HD. Welcome to the 21st century, Race.

Looking forward to this, already programmed in my DVR. This is about the only 'reality' show I enjoy any more.

Never watched this show.

...however I have been a fan of Survivor for the

past few years.

I have friends telling me that I *need* to watch

this show, so, I am going to do so starting today.

Hope to become a fan.

This season will feel different since it features the almost-stars of TAR (runner-ups and high-finishers), so most everyone will know everyone else's game.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronald Epstein 

Never watched this show.

 

...however I have been a fan of Survivor for the

past few years.

 

I have friends telling me that I *need* to watch

this show, so, I am going to do so starting today.

 

Hope to become a fan.

I never did either, up until last October. Up until now never watched these type reality shows. Shows like Deadliest Catch and Whale Wars don't count. When I learned that the new season would be shown in HD I told a friend I'd dip my toe into the water. He said the SD picture quality was not terrible so I watched the remaining 8-9 episodes last Fall. I'm now hooked.

Typical globetrotters picking up where they left off, never do anything on their own, just copy and follow everyone else.  Gawd they fuking bug me.

edit - The Cheerleaders still have that attitude, "Off my foot off my foot off my foot!"  LOL.

The Goth ass slap was pretty funny too.

Initial impressions....

Very fast...very furious.  When I saw Bruckheimer's name 

on the end credits it all made sense.

Thought too much emphasis was put on the dangers of being

in a shark tank -- but really, would they have people diving in

there if there really was a danger?   Something tells me the

show takes a lot of precautions in placing people in real danger.

Perhaps I am wrong about that.

So far, okay.  My least favorite team is the Goth duo, so 

naturally I am hoping they get disqualified first -- though it

seems the cowboys are still working on that flag clue.

It's especially hectic early on, when there are a lot of teams to follow.

The sharks are probably some plankton eating species, did you see how many fish were in that tank, wouldn't the sharks just eat them up?

It can't be too dangerous, since they let the general public do it.

http://oceanworld.myfun.com.au/Shark-Dive-Xtreme/Information-and-Prices.htm

I don't watch this show but I've seen the Globetrotters and they are quite impressive.  These guys are sweathearts and care for their fans!  This is what makes me want to watch the show.  So I don't understand why the Globetrotters annoy you. They are doing what everyone else did and that was get help from others.  I'm rooting for them they probably have the most experience internationally and have the endurance mentally and physically to make it far this season.

Anything that deals with a mental challenge they always ask for the answer, they never do it on their own.  I don't know if they have ever given someone an answer.  That's what annoys me.

Yeah.  I was disappointed that several teams did not complete the nautical flag challenge but were given the answer by others.  Unfortunately, the Cowboys (our household's favorite team!) did not get another team to help them with the information.

Re:  the Globetrotters.  Remembering the problems they had with the challenge that cost them to leave during their earlier season, I predicted to my wife that the nautical flag challenge would be quite difficult for either members of their team and could really set them back early on. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by globiefan 

I don't watch this show but I've seen the Globetrotters and they are quite impressive.  These guys are sweathearts and care for their fans!  This is what makes me want to watch the show.  So I don't understand why the Globetrotters annoy you. They are doing what everyone else did and that was get help from others.  I'm rooting for them they probably have the most experience internationally and have the endurance mentally and physically to make it far this season.

While I don't personally have an issue with them (they are FAR from the worst team in the show's history, IMO), a lot of people took issue with what they did on their first appearance.  It was a challenge involving going down the almost-straight-down waterslide at (I think it was) the Atlantis hotel.  One of the teams had a member who was *very* afraid of heights, and the Globetrotters ragged on her for like 10 minutes about how high it was, and that she better not do it.  The girl ultimately chickened out, and the team lost because of it.  If I recall, there was a point where her teammate and boyfriend almost had her psyched up to go down the slide, and the globetrotters set her back.

Again, I didn't have a problem with it, since it's for a million dollars, but some did.

Regarding their mental endurance, they are one of the only teams in the show's history that gave up on a challenge (it wasn't even that hard), and took a 4 hour penalty.  They are decently-strong in the physical categories, though not as strong as you would think.

Oh sure, Ron.  TAR is must-see TV for my wife and I. 

Couldn't be happier that they finally made the move to HD.  I think the views of Australia have been absolutely stunning.

We are big fans of the cowboys team in our house.  Glad to see they overcame the flag/compass challenge to finish third.  They are a team with which to be reckoned.

Watched it in the wee hours after the Oscars -- and this was much more entertaining.

Great clue with Hg and Bi. Too bad mobile internet made it too easy. Impressed with those that knew what the elements were.

Ironic that a U-Turn knocked off Amanda&Kris the last time they raced, and it happened again, this time because they blew the first QANTAS task. It didn't help that they did the dance wrong at first -- they lost a little time with that and seemed only a few minutes behind, if they could see the others getting the final clue.

Jet&Cord were way behind, but saved by the "bunching" (that's race lingo, Ron) of the charter flight. But at least they solved the puzzle on their own.

And yes, (the other) Ron really needs to put a sock in it. Don't mind Christina.

Bunching sure saved the Cowboys last night because they were so far behind it wasn't even funny. Perhaps there should be some sort of "sit" plenty once the flight arrives to reward teams that actually completed the tasks in a timely manner.

There was a moment where I thought I really

shouldn't be wasting my time with this show.

It was the entire sequence with the participants

dancing around on the dirt.  I was like, "this is too

silly."

But then, as the final leg of the first round kicked

in and the participants were racing to the Mill, I 

found myself rooting for a loser.  Unfortunately it

wasn't Ron and Cristina.  

Yeah, the show is fun.  Just could do without some

of the silly stuff they make these contestants do.

It really feels like we're watching another race over doesn't it?  Rooted hard for the cowboys last time and they're our favorite again this time.  They really had me going at the end though, the editing made it look much closer than I guess it was.  They usually don't pull it off quite as well as they did this time.

I am really diggin' this show.

Really cool episode.  Starting to root for my

favorites which right now would be the brothers

that came in first place to the pitt stop.  And

trust me, I'm not rooting for them because they

came in first -- I am doing so because they seem

to have the most genuine "heart" in this game.

Really nice bunch of guys who deserve to win

it all.

So glad that RAF recommended this show to me.

It's something I look forward to each week.

Have you found out how many Emmy awards this show has won for Best Reality TV show?

You'll like the Cowboys, Ron.  A common element on this show which you won't see much of this season, is how nasty some team members can be not just to other teams, but their partners.  Some teams, like the Cowboys and the brothers (i think they're best friends) are the kind of teams that run the race with a big smile on their faces, genuinely like each other, and just have fun.  There are one or two unpleasant teams, but for the most part, it's a good group of people.  No real villains in the bunch.  Except maybe the 'red' head cheerleader.  I seem to recall not liking them much.

How about Phil throwing the 30 minute penalty flag at the mat?  I've never seen that before, have I?  I didn't think the trotters were being maliscious, just made a mistake in haste.  It's not like they kept the bag, they left it where they would find it, no?

It still caused Ron&Christina to waste time looking for it. About the only way they could have avoided a penalty would be to bring it back before R&C left -- then "no harm no foul". And better still: don't pick up another team's stuff.

"Daddy....Daddy....no, Daddy, wait.....Stop, Daddy"

Oh, what a nuisance those two are.

However, what an incredible show.  Tonight's episode

really solidified my admiration for this show.  I really

love it.

The editing is just incredible.  It really builds excitement.

I can see why people love this show so much.

So, I have a couple questions here....

What is a Roadblock and a Detour?

The Goths are definitely dead last.  However, since

the tower at the end was not a final pit stop and the

race continues, will The Goths be eliminated if they

are the last to arrive -or- does it only count when there

is a pit stop where the race temporarily stops?
 

Speaking of The Goths, they really deserve to be

eliminated.  They screwed up this entire stretch so

badly and now losing that fanny pack back at the

lift was the final straw.

You can only be eliminated at a pit stop.

How long where the Goths driving in the wrong direction?  It was night when they left and daylight when they realized they were headed the wrong way.  Also, when your surroundings are green and lush, it's not the best place to find an airport.  They left their passport at the counter, and then leave their fanny pack on the Gondola.....give me a break.

The asian father is a borderline moron.

I thought the Globetrotters were gonna tell their bus driver to keep going, if it was later in the race with only a few teams left I think they should of, but lots of race to be run still.

The Goths had a solid 12 hours to catch their flight.  I'm not sure what time the sun comes up in Japan at the time they were filming but I'd say it had to be after 5am when they realized they were going the wrong way.  I was thinking they'd misread their clue and they were driving to the next destination for a while there.  Amazing they were able to catch up.

But the two big questions in our house: What sort of penalty will the Goths incur for missing the 'required' flight, and will the Chinese Father and Daughter incur a penalty for not taking the bus from the beginning?