The Amazing Race keeps getting better and better. I feel like I gush something like that every single week, but honestly, this season has been wonderful. Great heroes, great villains, great locations, great hosting! Nothing can be as satisfying like a reality show that fires on all cylinders, and in its tenth season, The Amazing Race has certainly recaptured its mojo. This week's episode journeyed to exotic Kuwait City where teams had to climb on towers, haul heavy bags, walk near blazing fires, and control a bizarre camel jockey thingy. Plus, there was the added stress of knowing that our favorite team, Mary and David, were marked for elimination. Would they face a thirty-minute penalty? Would they make it to the next round? And who was behind the "ultimate sacrifice" that the promos had been teasing all week long?
This week's episode began in scenic Chennai, India, the gateway to... Southern India. Huh. I thought they were going to say something a bit more majestic. You know, like the Gateway to The Land of Mysticism! Anyway, Peter and Sarah were first to depart, and unlike previous legs, their clue came via a video message from Phil on a handy-dandy Nokia phone. It was all very Treasure Hunters, except much more tolerable because a) the video looked like it was actually coming from the phone, not superimposed; and b) Phil was standing in front of a lovely ivy wall or topiary of some sort, as opposed to Laird Macintosh's anonymous dark room. It's all about the lush backdrops.
Anyway, VideoPhil™ told the teams to go to a travel agency and book a flight to Kuwait City where they'd have to hop in a marked car and find a mystery location. Their only clue was an image of two towers rising into the sky (which we later learned were the Kuwait Towers). I'm sure they'll be very difficult to find. Kind of like going to Manhattan and looking for the Empire State Building. Nevertheless, as Peter and Sarah made their way to a cab, Peter told us, "I got to be very cautious of pushing Sarah a little too hard on a blown knee." A blown knee? How about no knee. As for Sarah, she was busy talking to a cabbie, employing the Universal Language. You know what I'm talking about: it's basically English, but without any articles such as "a" or "the."
"We... need... to go to... travel agency," Sarah said, as if the lack of the word "a" would somehow clarify everything for the driver. While she bridged the communication gap (how very Babel), Dustin and Kandice emerged and headed off to a travel agency where they tried to peddle their feminine wares for better service. "Just tell them it's Miss California and Miss New York that need seats on the plane," Dustin said. It was a good strategy. As we all know, Miss New Yorks and Miss Californias are always revered in India, especially Chennai. They're like one shade below Vishnu.
Even shadier were Peter and Sarah, who pulled the ol' "medical emergency" card again. I kind of wished they'd follow Charla's lead and request El Doctoro, maybe even blow a whistle in the process, but sadly they did no such thing. They did, however, wind up on a flight arriving in Kuwait City (or KuCi, as I like to call it) at 7:50 AM. Also getting tickets for that flight were Kandice and Dustin, the latter of whom tried in vain to get some lovin' from the travel agent. "High five! I need a high five right here!" she said, but alas, he was in no mood to be doling out such boorish displays of happiness. That's right, the travel agent left her hanging -- Miss California, no less! Had he no respect for proper beauty queen genuflection??
Out of the Pit Stop next were Kimberob, and right away, they were bickering. "There's a taxi right there," Rob said, pointing to an idling yellow vehicle, but Kimberly was not convinced. "It doesn't look like a taxi," she insisted. Let me reiterate this: it was a yellow vehicle that was doing nothing but waiting around. It's not like it was a hearse...
Nevertheless, this led to Rob telling us, "I am a dramatic person." Some might say "dramatic," others might say "bitchy, spastic, crazed." Whatever's clever. Still, he was proud of his "dramatics," saying that sometimes it came in handy, but then again, on the flip side, "it's sometimes not good, you know." And by "sometimes," he meant "NEVER."
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Comments (31)
What happened to the "View All on One Page" button? I like to print out the recaps and read them on the subway. Sometimes I get to scare my fellow subway riders by laughing like a crazy person.
SO glad Peter is gone! What a douche! LOVED the Pit Stop-breakup.
1 of 31 | Posted by kepster
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Posted on October 24, 2006 2:14 PM
Loved the recap. Loved that Peter & Sarah were eliminated, even more. Those two were so lost, I was waiting for them to be captured by an "Other".
2 of 31 | Posted by may1
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Posted on October 24, 2006 2:29 PM
Kepster -- use the print function just by the headline...
3 of 31 | Posted by B-Side
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Posted on October 24, 2006 2:34 PM
I'm disappointed.
I was hoping for a revolutionary PhilTwist, where he'd say something along the lines of "Peter and Sarah, you're the last to arrive. I'm sorry to tell you, Peter, that you're gay, you're an ass, and that you and Kimberly have been eliminated from the race for being really, really annoying. Sarah, you'll be Rob's teammate from here on out. Go get 'em, Sister!"
4 of 31 | Posted by Maynerd
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Posted on October 24, 2006 3:07 PM
Great recap, as always, B-Side. Personally I loved the shot of Peter when Sarah was talking at the end. He had this confused look on his face as if he was thinking "I'm not nurturing? I'm not kind? What is she talking about?"
And talking about kind, I loved what Win/Win did for KFC especially since the brothers weren't eliminated.
I also think its funny that the BQs didn't like Lyn/Lyn hogging the local but it was okay when they covered the taxi driver's mouth so Peter & Sarah couldn't get directions. Ain't karma a bitch?
5 of 31 | Posted by zevonia
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Posted on October 24, 2006 3:15 PM
I've only seen the last couple seasons of TAR. Is this the first pit-stop break up? It totally rocked.
6 of 31 | Posted by brilliantmistake
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Posted on October 24, 2006 3:32 PM
This is what I love about "The Amazing Race": a leg in which the last-place team ends up first, and the first-place team ends up last and eliminated. So glad Sarah ditched Peter -- that action alone was worth more than all the Travelocity gnomes in Kuwait.
And Peter and Sarah thinking they were at the Detour? Best fakeout of the season.
I hope Lyn follows through on her promise about the blondies to "kick their ass."
7 of 31 | Posted by Wade
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Posted on October 24, 2006 3:58 PM
Sarah is finaly free of her albatross (Peter. Too bad she had to lose TAR to do it.
I like the Cho Brothers (but that might be because they remind me of Hiro and Yul and I am all about the Asian guys this season) and was glad they helped KFC stay in the race. It might not have been the best strategic move but I loved it anyway!
I am hoping for a slap down between the Beauty Bitches and the Mommy Bitches before this is over.
Worst part of the show...No PhilPack AGAIN!
Grrrrrrrrrr
hb
8 of 31 | Posted by HoneyBunny
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Posted on October 24, 2006 4:06 PM
brilliantmistake: while this was a memorable pit stop break up, I would consider the first one to be Lenny and Karyn on the first season. In TAR 2 there was Will and Tara (even though they were divorced, Will was sure at the beginning of the race that they would get back together but not at the end). In season three Flo and Zach realized they could never be involved. In TAR4 Russel and Cindy realized they were not good together. I think Alison and Donny broke up after season 5 but not at the pit stop. IN TAR6 Adam and Rebecca were already broken up but realized long before the end of the race that they weren't getting back together. And in season 7 Ron (the POW) and Kelly (the beauty queen) imploded beautifully. The race seems to be a great place to figure out how your relationship is doing.
HoneyBunny: I think Phil is teasing us. Saving it up for a big show at the end. At least I hope that's what he's doing.
9 of 31 | Posted by zevonia
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Posted on October 24, 2006 4:14 PM
best. elimination. ever.
(And another damn fine recap as well)
10 of 31 | Posted by dsc805
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Posted on October 24, 2006 4:17 PM
"Of course, if this resulted in the elimination of the Cho Brothers, I'd be very, very sad (although, it would be their own damn fault. IDIOTS)."
There's the old snark, B-Side. I've missed it. You've been a bit too involved in the Peter-hatin' right along with us. How cool was it that they were FIRST and then got Philiminated? Oh, yes!
I'm still rooting for the BQs. They're spunky and self-absorbed but tough. Go, blondies!
11 of 31 | Posted by Tony A.
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Posted on October 24, 2006 4:37 PM
YES-what the hell DID happen to that VIEW ALL pages link? BRING IT BACK, man!
12 of 31 | Posted by james_woods_rules
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Posted on October 24, 2006 4:39 PM
Great recap B-Side but I was dissappointed that you didn't mention my favorite Rob and Kimberly moment of the episode, when they opened the road block envelope and the clue to the task was "Who is strong in both mind and body" she chimed in with 'me' before Rob could even ponder the question.
13 of 31 | Posted by wniffene
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Posted on October 24, 2006 6:39 PM
I wonder if they will always have fast forwards available after every non-elim leg. In this case it worked out well b/c I wanted the team marked for elim. to stay and they got it. The Cho bros were exquisitely selfless in their determination to allow their backpack alliance to endure. As long as they keep finding their way around town, they could do very well to keep the teams they have a better chance of beating in the final three. What's wrong with that strategy?
14 of 31 | Posted by zoobabe
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Posted on October 24, 2006 7:10 PM
Once Peter and Sarah got their second "Zither of Doom" sound effect I knew they were done. I regretted their loss as characters but applauded their departure as competitors...
15 of 31 | Posted by flypay
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Posted on October 24, 2006 7:30 PM
Hey, I sure don't want to be one of those politically correct fags, and I certainly have no problem questioning someone's sexuality or masculinity, but your remarks about Peter in your recaps have turned "gay" into some sort of all-purpose douchebag insult. I agree that as a person he sucks massively, but that's not the same thing! Thankfully he's gone now so we can maybe move on...
16 of 31 | Posted by tigercub
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Posted on October 24, 2006 7:57 PM
Thanks zevonia. I assumed most couples would break-up immediately afterwards, but stay together during the race. Guess I missed out. I only started watching TAR because I started reading the recaps here.
Personally, I'd break up with anybody the second they called me "sister," even if they meant it as encouragement. If you're sleeping together, it's just .... creepy. Still they were way more entertaining the models.
17 of 31 | Posted by brilliantmistake
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Posted on October 24, 2006 8:32 PM
Goodbye Peter, I won't be missing you. Best villain since Jonathan. Not only did they come in last, they were sooooo far out, they had to suffer the ignominy of not even getting to do the detour. HAHA!
Did anyone notice that Phil didn't say "Peter and Sarah, who arrived at 12:53pm, will be departing 12 hours later, at 12:53 pm." He just said, "Sarah and Peter, who arrived first, will be departing at 12:53pm (or whatever time it was)." and that it must have been at least 24 hours later since they had arrived in broad daylight and left in it. Wonder why the pit stop was at least 24 hours?
Anyway, I think the Cho's are setting up the backpackers - playing a cruel,Survivor-like game, and trying to get rotten teams in the final 3 with them, to assure themselves of the win.
Brilliant recap as always and worth the wait (short as it was!).
I am actually hoping the Cho's or BQ's take it. We shall see.
18 of 31 | Posted by jay
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Posted on October 24, 2006 9:34 PM
OOps, I meant 12:53am. But, you get my point.
19 of 31 | Posted by jay
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Posted on October 24, 2006 9:36 PM
On "CBS This Morning" or whatever it's called had the recently divorced and eliminated pair.
I like how Peter said "Thhhhharah is just thho intense!" He never really apologized for being a fucking asshole and chalked it up to those ol' reality show editors. Peter: Helloooo, you signed up to be on a "reality" show. I am pretty sure that you signed a contract waiving all of your rights to an accurate depiction of your winning personality.
Sad thing thing was that Tharah sounded like she wasn't so sad / mad, kind of like my friend who insists on sticking with her loser boyfriend.
20 of 31 | Posted by GiadaFan
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Posted on October 24, 2006 9:50 PM
Jay, your theory at the Cho's may be correct. Although I don't think their intentions are malicious. I honestly think that they would rather have the likes of KFC and Lyn/Lyn with them at the end so if anyone wins/wins (I know, I'm clever), it won't be a horrible upset for them. I mean, it will obviously be beneficial to them to have the weaker teams still standing, but I don't think they're going to outright deceive the backpack! At least I don't think..
I'd rather see KFC, Lyn/Lyn, or Win/Win... take the victory over Kimberob anyday. No ill feelings towards the BQs, I just feel like we're supposed to hate them because they're "beautiful" and not as nice as they usually appear in the pageants. But they have held their own. The models are so bland. They bring nothing to this competition but their "muscles" and...that's it.
Giadafan - does that mean Peter and Sarah are still together? I was glad she quipped back when he tried to break up with her first. I'm all for him challenging Sarah, letting her do the more difficult tasks, but I think the issue here is the waaaay he appears while she's doin them. Whether it's fanning himself, sipping on a coke in a boat while she's struggling, or laying back on the ground, lazily cheering her on as she's climbing a ladder - he looks like a douchebag. Maybe if we saw him actively cheering her on, looking somewhat excited and genuinely proud that she was overcoming life's obstacles, we would think better of him. But no, he's a prick, and he deserved to be eliminated. I only feel bad for her, because I'm sure the post-elimination lecture was way worse than anything we saw on camera.
21 of 31 | Posted by IJustWatch
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Posted on October 25, 2006 12:53 AM
The other great unmentioned Kimberob moment was when she spotted the 'church' (with silly soundclip). Rob immediately corrected her that it was a Mosque.
This wasn't the first Philimination break-up, but I believe its the first fast forward fakeout!
22 of 31 | Posted by 3G_Phil
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Posted on October 25, 2006 5:23 AM
wniffene, i too nearly choked with laughter at that kimberob moment, which pretty much summarizes their relationship. rob, you're not dramatic--you're SPINELESS. big difference.
as for the cho brothers' generosity: i think it's totally genuine, and not the least bit calculated. even if it is, who cares? i love kentucky. i don't hate the models--they seem like fairly nice guys, even if the 'we used to be junkies' thing is getting a little old--but seriously: those two have probably put more money up their noses than david makes in five years. kimberob--ugh. the BQ's aren't completely hateworthy, but some of their comments about the sistas have been pretty tasteless.
as for peter-peter-peter-eater: i don't know what it says about me that i took such pleasure in seeing him eliminated in such a thoroughly humiliating fashion--hours and hours behind the 'back-pack' teams, all of whom he had ridiculed and condescended to on camera in previous episodes. suck it, you twerp!
i also had to roll my eyes when, yet again, peter stuck poor sarah with an awkward and difficult climbing task, but then it occurred to me: peter designed sarah's prosthesis. he probably treated the race as an opportunity to advertise the versatility of his product. if that was his strategy, however, it clearly backfired, since a) the prosthesis broke on the first leg of the race, and b) nobody wants to buy anything from an asshole who lays around snacking while his disabled teammate struggles up ropes and ladders.
23 of 31 | Posted by jack
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Posted on October 25, 2006 6:51 AM
It would be the first Steven Seagal movie I have ever paid to see in my life, but if Mary was in it, I would go. Love that the Cho's made sure KFC got the fast forward, I was so worried for them. Laugh out loud recap B-Side, as always.
24 of 31 | Posted by Pamsey
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Posted on October 25, 2006 7:11 AM
If Lyn/Lyn get into it with blonde and blonder, I've got my money on the sistahs. Hear that BQ? If those women start taking off their earrings RUN!!!
25 of 31 | Posted by mesha
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Posted on October 25, 2006 8:29 AM
Doesn't the "frustrated and sexy" picture of the models remind you of Danny the Jackhammah's pictures?
http://www.tvgasm.com/archives/real_world/001475.php
26 of 31 | Posted by deadeyes
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Posted on October 25, 2006 10:10 AM
So glad that Peter and Sarah were eliminated, for all the reasons already posted. And absolutely loved that Sarah called out Peter for not being a kind individual. So true, sister!
Love this season, if only for the hilarious shots each show of someone bumping his/her head on something. Classic!
Great recap, and even greater title, B-Side!
27 of 31 | Posted by bluebell
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Posted on October 25, 2006 10:16 AM
I miss the PhilPackage. Tuck in your shirttails, PhilTease!.
28 of 31 | Posted by bevo360
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Posted on October 25, 2006 11:26 AM
Seriously, Mary and Dave are making up for the Weavers and that other Southern family from AR: Worst Season EVER (errr......Family Edition).
I think everyone needs a little Mary in thier life with her comments. They're actually endearing, not stupid like Kellie Pickler on American Idol!
29 of 31 | Posted by KateMcV
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Posted on October 26, 2006 11:00 AM
IJustWatch - on the CBS Morning Show, they were definitely not together.
However, I still got the impression that Sarah didn't mind the verbal abuse so much. She was so "Oh, that's just Peter being Peter, silly goose!"
She did call him out on it but she wasn't as fired up as she was on the PhilMat of Elimination.
You'd think prosthetic boy would have brought some extra hydraulic fluid. Even with the stupid TSA limitations, all she would need is a doctor note stating she needs it. Or she could just point out her artificial leg to the TSA idiots. Fuck Hawley. Sorry, I digress.
Anyone see the PhilPhakeout when Win/Win stepped on the mat?
30 of 31 | Posted by GiadaFan
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Posted on October 27, 2006 1:57 PM
I doubt anybody reads old recaps, but I have to disagree with this statement after last night's episode:
"I think everyone needs a little Mary in thier life with her comments. They're actually endearing, not stupid . . . "
No, actually Mary has proven to be stupid with her lack of logic on tonight's episode. Sure, finding the salt shaker was difficult but bitching about it continuously didn't help the situation. Also, making matters worse and showing clear signs of stupidity -- Mary decided to quit on a challenge at which only they remained in order to attempt a challege that all of the other teams had a clear leg-up on. This clearly indicated a last-place finish but Mary never seemed to assume this. As long as they didn't remain at the salt challege, they stood a chance in her opinion. This made NO sense and helped prove that she isn't a smart one.
They may be endearing; but they are idiots.
31 of 31 | Posted by TWilliams
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Posted on October 30, 2006 12:54 PM