We stop in with The Hippies at their travel agency and I realize that the picture of the model may be a calendar, so I take back what I may or may not have said earlier about the guy who works there. He finds them a flight that leaves at 6:55 PM, and TK asks about 45 times if that is the earliest possible way for them to get to Japan. The repeated questioning is making me worried that we are being forewarned of something.
Nick, as the leader of his team, purchases tickets for a flight that leaves at 8:30 PM. The Babies arrive at the airport and get the same tickets. Over at the money exchange Christina asks their agent if he is putting them on a direct flight from Bombay to Hong Kong and the guy says yes. Then Moronald pipes up, accusing Christina of using the wrong word because "direct" could include three or four stops. What she should have said is "non-stop." Oh zip it, Moronald. Direct does mean non-stop. Everyone knows that. Christina snaps at him in Chinese to leave her alone. I'm really liking the new feisty Christina.
'Atta girl!
Moronald just goes, "Oh, okay." HA! When they get to the airport, Moronald starts off on another of his tirades because their taxi driver let them off a ways down from the entrance to Air India instead of right in front of it. Christina tells him not to waste energy complaining about it, to which he agrees, but then keeps right on complaining about all the good money he gave to the taxi driver just to be let off at the wrong place! Maybe if you throw a complete tantrum, Moronald, you will be magically teleported to the correct entrance and all of your problems will be solved. What's that you say? You've tried that?
At the airport it turns out that all of the teams except for The Hippies are on the 8:30 PM flight, so everyone starts wondering where The Hippies are. In fact, they are on their airplane and ready to take off. Phil steps in to tell us that The Hippies are flying to Osaka, Japan by way of first New Delhi, then Beijing.
See how this illustrates that two stops
take longer than one stop?
The other teams are flying to Osaka with only one stop in Hong Kong. Uh oh, this could be very dangerous for the Hippies with any delays or layovers. When the Hippies arrive in New Delhi, they are slightly worried that they haven't encountered any of the other teams yet. This makes it unclear as to whether they are way ahead or way behind everyone else. It's very unsettling.
The three other teams arrive in Osaka at 2:30 PM and The Hippies are nowhere to be seen. The editing makes it look like they are just now boarding the flight from Beijing, putting them significantly behind everyone else.
Are you sure this is the fastest way to Osaka?
As Nick and Grandpa Donald walk through the airport, Grandpa comments that Nick is like his bitch because he's very strong and carrying Grandpa's backpack around for him. LOL, Grandpa. How do you like that, Team Leader Nick? The Babies are first to get in a taxi to find the Kishiwada Castle and Jen tells us it's about time they start beating the other, older teams. True, both Nick and Grandpa AND Moronald and Christina have come in first before, but not The Babies. Moronald and Christina get the next taxi and Christina immediately tells the driver in Japanese that it is very important that they get to the castle quickly. I hear the word "Ichiban" and want sushi.
In the taxi Grandpa Donald observes that Japan seems like a very clean and wonderful country. That's what I hear about Japan, but these people just left India so a Manhattan subway station would probably look clean and wonderful by comparison. The Babies talk about being off to Kishiwada Castle and then do a little rendition of something saying, "King of the castle, king of the castle," and doing some stiff arm movements.
"See how in sync we are?"
Now, I am a television blogger so I should recognize this, right? I searched and I think it's Borat. I'm slipping! What are they doing? It's another of those rare moments where they are being cute with each other. Moronald and Christina wonder where The Hippies are, as do Nick and Grandpa. Nick says, "Maybe they went to Osaka, India." Oh, hardy har, har, Nick. Grandpa goes, "Anything is possible on The Race." And CBS has a new sound byte to use for their promos. Thanks, Grandpa!
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Comments (12)
Good job HG!!! My favorite line - "Can you riz-ead my ciz-ard?" Something about Nick reminds me of Jon Heder...they both look so sinusy all the time.
My favorite visualization - Phil being my backseat driver...mmm...
1 of 12 | Posted by wintersux | Posted on January 10, 2008 4:03 AM
OK, maybe not my backseat driver...just in my backseat...but only after he gets over that nasty case of beriberi.
2 of 12 | Posted by wintersux | Posted on January 10, 2008 4:19 AM
Uh, HG, a "direct" flight means that you do not change aircraft, but it can indeed make one or more stops on the way to your final destination. Hate to make Moronald right, but that's the case.
3 of 12 | Posted by talma63 | Posted on January 10, 2008 5:52 AM
Great recap HG - I don't remember the last time I laughed that hard reading a recap! I kept thinking the same thing when Christina was saying how her father hadn't flipped out once the whole leg...he most definitely flipped out when they go to the airport. Thought it was hilarious when Moronald and Grandpa were sharing cookies waiting during the cab driving mission. I wish they would've given us more info on TK and Rachel...like timing of their flights. And "the electric car" was a little weird...usually theres huge product placement in those prizes and this was so vague...I would've been pissed if I won that! It's funny bc I think last time those two came in first they won a catamaran and now an electric car?!
4 of 12 | Posted by yankeesfan | Posted on January 10, 2008 7:00 AM
Another fine recap!
The hippies MAY be eliminated (due to trusting the wrong guy) but they are definitely winners in a much larger sense.
A million dollars would be wasted on the babies, but for the first time in memory, I like three out of four remaining teams.
Maybe they should do a show using only "nice" teams from past races?
5 of 12 | Posted by fire@will | Posted on January 10, 2008 10:19 AM
fire@will, I'm with you about the nice teams race. That'd be great. It'll never happen because TV producers love "conflict," which you get in spades with annoying teams *cough, Babies, cough*
I really want TK and Rachel to avoid elimination next episode. I want them to be in my life a little longer, since they're totally pleasant people. Nick and Don, they're great, too. Christina makes up for Ronald... mostly. I guess what I'm saying is I would love to see the Babies eliminated next, but you have to admit they've improved as RACERS. But they suck as humans.
6 of 12 | Posted by MidwestNomad | Posted on January 10, 2008 10:30 AM
Maybe they should do a show using only "nice" teams from past races?
Well, who would want to watch that?
The babies aren't THAT bad. I'm sure they're fine human beings whenever they're not around each other.
I like Nick and Grandpa, Cristina and Moron and TK and Rachel. I've got my fingers crossed.
7 of 12 | Posted by weasel dearest | Posted on January 10, 2008 12:33 PM
Thanks for the recap HG! I agree, Moronald was testy more than once, but I did like her hushing, and him saying ok--like sticking a pacifier in a crying baby dolls face!
I liked Jen more this time, and I felt bad for her when she was regaling the cheater with her tale of taxi woes, and he shut her down . . . that bites, and I know exactly how she felt!!! Perhaps he is more of the cause of the discontent--Jen needs someone more attentive, and maybe she'd deserve it. She looked great in the taxi cam too!
I'm still rooting for the dehydrated team--despite their leader, who at least can be a bitch! He does make for a great slo-mo, WTF before the commercial break--I'm usually completely convinced they're toast--I was also surprised it was only 10 minutes later . . . . thanks editors.
Rachael is also looking more attractive suddenly . . . what's happening . . . great to see a sweett and nice team almost at top three--we can hope can't we!?
Robots were cool!!!
8 of 12 | Posted by juddfan | Posted on January 10, 2008 1:58 PM
I liked Jen more this time
Totally, she was positively giddy during this leg of the race. She was definitely different, surprised that HG didn't notice.
9 of 12 | Posted by trickydick | Posted on January 10, 2008 5:43 PM
trickydick,
I also noticed how giddy Jen seemed when they left the pit stop...my first thought was that she and Nate must have had gotten a little "one on one" time during their pit stop.
Great recap, HG!
10 of 12 | Posted by hardlyworking | Posted on January 11, 2008 7:14 AM
Of course Jennifer was giddy -- because things were going well for her and Nathan, for once! But had things gotten really bad, she would've gone right back to screaming again. And she actually did with the taxi debacle, so how about that?
11 of 12 | Posted by Dale | Posted on January 15, 2008 12:40 PM
Did anyone else notice that the music in the background of the taxi driving challenge was "Turning Japanese" by The Vapors? I'm a 80's chick and recognized the tune right away...
HG - your recaps are the best! Thanks for the great job!
12 of 12 | Posted by lijjy | Posted on January 15, 2008 12:46 PM