The Amazing Race (Winter 2018)

[Timewalker]

I'm finding the head-to-head stuff ridiculous. It drags on and on, and really isn't fair to the team that comes in first. If you make it to the mat first, you should be Team #1 and win whatever that leg's prize is, and be done with it.

What's the point of half-killing yourself to be first, if you can still be beaten by somebody who got there fifth?

 

[JirinPanthosa]

It’s about a billion times more fair than the U turn. At least they lose because they got beat at something and not because someone didn’t like them.

 

[Timewalker]

I'm not comparing it to the U-Turn. I know the U-Turn was sometimes really vicious, but it was also strategic... and a fair number of teams opted not to use it.

The head-to-head is essentially rewarding slower teams with a second chance. And what if you're the team that had a speed bump for coming in last in a non-elimination leg? You've got TWO extra things to do now, instead of just one.

Besides, it's boring to watch.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I like the head to heads. I don’t think it takes away the benefit of speed. Earlier you show up, more chances you get, and both have been things that practice helps a lot. Your odds are way better if you get there early.

I disagree it’s boring. I think it’s a little boring when it’s obvious who is getting there first and they have to cut it to make it look closer. This has much more suspense.

U turn basically turns AR into Survivor. So it doesn’t matter how fast you are or how well you compete. It actually hurts the better teams, and when it doesn’t it allows homophobic targeting.

Remember that one team that could have U turned the biggest threat and instead Unturned the gay team because they didn’t like them?

 

[Timewalker]

I like the head to heads. I don’t think it takes away the benefit of speed. Earlier you show up, more chances you get, and both have been things that practice helps a lot. Your odds are way better if you get there early.

I disagree it’s boring. I think it’s a little boring when it’s obvious who is getting there first and they have to cut it to make it look closer. This has much more suspense.

U turn basically turns AR into Survivor. So it doesn’t matter how fast you are or how well you compete. It actually hurts the better teams, and when it doesn’t it allows homophobic targeting.

Remember that one team that could have U turned the biggest threat and instead Unturned the gay team because they didn’t like them?

It allows anyone to be targeted. I suspect that if it were part of this season some people might target Cody and Jessica because they've already been on a CBS show.

I haven't seen all the seasons, so I can't think of any specific time when a gay team has been targeted. Not saying it didn't happen, just that I don't remember seeing it. I imagine Phil was probably a bit pissed off about that; it's quite ugly when the racers show their prejudices.

 

[Timewalker]

Well, I fully expected that Cody and Jessica would do that. And did I hear correctly that she ran off with another team's gnome?

The tasks this week would have been pure torture for me. I wonder if everyone had to sign waivers that they wouldn't sue TAR for injuries that occur due to following the rules (ie. possible tintinnitus or hearing loss from the task involving the ringing phones).

 

[JirinPanthosa]

She didn't run off with the other team's gnome, she was asked to hold it, then the other person ran off, and she left it on the ground rather than try to seek her out to return it.

To be fair to Caite and Brent when they U-turned 'Team Lesbian' (Carol and Brandie), it seemed more personal than it was about their sexual preference.

To me, Survivor and Big Brother are supposed to be about social dynamics, and Amazing Race is supposed to be about outcompeting other teams (And taxi luck). I don't like the fire in Survivor because it makes it more like Amazing Race, and I don't like the U-Turn in Amazing Race because it makes the show more like Survivor. It's just not what the show is about. Whereas the head to heads, at the very least, are a competition.

In a race, people should not be eliminated for personal reasons, they should be eliminated for one reason only, they failed to complete well.

The U turns have two functions. They can either be the race's blue shell, the thing that punishes you for being too good, or they can be a personal vindictive attack. Neither make good TV.

 

[Timewalker]

I'm going to disagree about the fire-making on Survivor. The ability to make fire is crucial on Survivor, because without it you can't boil your water or cook your food. It fits with the whole concept of surviving.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

If Survivor were just a survival challenge every week to determine elimination, would you watch it?

I don't see the point of having every single round about the votes and the strategy and then suddenly make the last elimination entirely decided by challenges. I just think these games are more fun when they stay true for what they are.

 

[Timewalker]

If Survivor were just a survival challenge every week to determine elimination, would you watch it?

That's what I thought it would be more about when it was first on, to be honest. It came as quite a disappointment to me and to some of the first season cast that their outdoor survival skills mattered far less than their ability to lie, backstab, and BS people.

As each season has come and gone, the show got softer on the cast, until the point where they have a lot of things just handed to them. Gone are the rewards that are a single slice of pizza, and people go on the show without bothering to learn to make fire or even swim (at this point how can they not know this is an essential skill for the show?).

I don't see the point of having every single round about the votes and the strategy and then suddenly make the last elimination entirely decided by challenges. I just think these games are more fun when they stay true for what they are.

The Amazing Race is supposed to test the racers' ability to navigate, to do tasks related to the local culture, and to accomplish this without imploding because it's so stressful. Adding elements of Survivor - teams challenging teams - has nothing to do with the basics of the race. For a team with excellent navigation skills, who got through the tasks, and followed directions to the pit stop, it must be galling that they have a last-minute thing that could totally overturn their previous efforts as if they never happened.

I get that the producers want to shake everything up and have new kinds of challenges to keep the viewers interested. But it's backfiring with me. I just tune out the team vs. team challenge.

I'm not denying that the U-turn can be vicious. I expect that there will be consequences for Cody and Jessica, since they don't seem to be liked that much anyway and this is just another reason to get them first.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I still say, head to head comps are much more entertaining and true to the premise than U turns.

I first tuned into Survivor ep 5. I thought it was going to be popularity contest, but was far more entertained when it became a strategy game.

Ad says Celebrity BB is Wed at 8. When’s AR moving to?

 

[Timewalker]

I still say, head to head comps are much more entertaining and true to the premise than U turns.

I first tuned into Survivor ep 5. I thought it was going to be popularity contest, but was far more entertained when it became a strategy game.

You missed Greg talking on his coconut shell phone and getting lost in the jungle during a maze/obstacle course challenge?

Dang, he was entertaining. And there were speculations about some kind of showmance between him and Colleen (it wasn't called that at the time, though; I think the term "showmance" was coined later).

Ad says Celebrity BB is Wed at 8. When’s AR moving to?

An hour later. According to zap2it.com, which is the online TV listing service I use, Celebrity Big Brother is on at 9 pm, and The Amazing Race is on from 10 pm to midnight (it normally starts at 9 pm here). Keep in mind those listings are for the Mountain Standard Time zone. Adjust accordingly for your own time zone.

As I understand it, they're pushing this season into more 2-hour episodes so it'll be done in time for the Olympics.

 

[Timewalker]

Okay, I succumbed to temptation and watched part of Celebrity Big Brother. I actually have someone in the cast to root for - that weird Ross guy who used to interview people for The Tonight Show. He seems inoffensive, so why not? The show is running 3 nights this week, so it's not like it'll be on for months.

And I just saw a commercial for Survivor. The new season premieres on February 28.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

In case I needed more reasons not to watch Celebrity Big Brother, I googled the cast, and GOD DAMN. They somehow managed to have lower standards for casting than Celebrity Apprentice. All people who are known for throwing tantrums and yelling at people. I expected mostly washed up sitcom actors, instead freaking Omorosa and an NBA player who started a brawl then turned his name to 'WorldPeace'.

Speaking of washed up sitcom actors, the one they pick was on The Cosby Show, which they clearly did just to hope the topic of Bill Cosby would come up on camera.

I'll be the first to admit I have a pretty low bar when it comes to these elimination reality shows, but it's not quite THAT low.

 

[Timewalker]

I forgot to mention the part where the contestants had to climb up on a large model of some sort of award trophy and not fall off. The part about that I enjoyed was when Julie told them they would have entertainment while they were up there... so they were treated to a Broadway musical-style song and dance performed by...

PAUL AND RACHEL!

Paul actually looks pretty good in a top hat and tuxedo, and Rachel can sing (not well, but she can sing). It drove the celeb contestants nuts, because they really didn't want to have to listen to that, but they also didn't want to be the first to drop off their award thingamajig.

I have to admit at this point that I do like Paul, would love to see him come back, and win.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

At this point (Halfway through two hour ep), it's nice that all four teams left are strong teams. And,

Spoiler: First elimination

I honestly don't hate Cody and Jessica just based on what we've seen in Amazing Race. At worst, Jessica has made passive aggressive comments about other teams that reveal her inner thoughts, but they have maybe the healthiest relationship we've ever seen on AR. I'd rather see them on AR than any other BB couple that's been on AR.

Whoever wins at this point I can't feel too bad about it.

I thin this is the best Amazing Race season in a few years, because for once there's no silly relationship gimmick or anything.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I'm not sure who I'm rooting for tonight. Out of the 4 obviously Cody & Jessica are my last choice, but even if they win I won't be too sad. They weren't assholes in this game mostly and they are honestly the best competitors.

Based on the 'ghost' premise and the ads, here's my speculation. The twists and challenges in this game will be based on bad decisions made by other people in the game.

Like, maybe there will be an advantage called a 'Curse', like you can give somebody an Erik curse where they have to give up their immunity, a James curse where they have to go home with the immunity idol in their pocket, a Tina curse where they have to take the wrong person to the end.

 

[Timewalker]

I'm not sure who I'm rooting for tonight. Out of the 4 obviously Cody & Jessica are my last choice, but even if they win I won't be too sad. They weren't assholes in this game mostly and they are honestly the best competitors.

Okay, I'm going to do something I never thought I would. I'm going to say that if Cody and Jessica win, I will not boo them. Unless, of course, they do or say something obnoxious. You're right in saying that they they have been good competitors, but there must be a reason why some of the other teams didn't/don't like them. It can't be only that they were on Big Brother and they were obnoxious jackasses on that show.

Based on the 'ghost' premise and the ads, here's my speculation. The twists and challenges in this game will be based on bad decisions made by other people in the game.

Like, maybe there will be an advantage called a 'Curse', like you can give somebody an Erik curse where they have to give up their immunity, a James curse where they have to go home with the immunity idol in their pocket, a Tina curse where they have to take the wrong person to the end.

I can see it now: Someone finds an idol and the instructions tell them they have to announce they have it at the next tribal council before everyone votes... but they're only allowed to use it on behalf of someone else. Then watch the dealmaking and vote-changing going on.

 

[Timewalker]

So... the ending wasn't so bad. When this started, I wanted Cody and Jessica to be eliminated first, and in the most ignominious way possible (like the team that got eliminated because they couldn't find the check-in mat even though they were within shouting distance of it).

But surprisingly, they weren't as obnoxious and horrible as they were on Big Brother, they competed well (not always ethically, but at least Jessica didn't tell anyone to shut up or fuck off and Cody didn't brush his teeth at anyone), and I have to admit that it was a deserved win.


As for Celebrity Big Brother, I quit watching. There are too many other things on at 9 pm, and the Olympics are going on.

If there's another season of The Amazing Race (not a given, apparently), I hope they do away with that silly head-to-head thing. It didn't add anything and had the potential to be a real slap in the face to the team that did everything they were supposed to do to get to the mat first. I know we're not in agreement on this, but I'm just reiterating my own view.

On to next week and Survivor!

 

[Spot's Meow]

I actually think this has been one of the more interesting seasons of Big Brother in years. The faster format makes it much better; regular BB seasons have gotten ridiculously long, especially if you watch feeds. The competitions and drama for the week all happen between Thursday and Saturday, and they usually spend the rest of the week lying around doing nothing for hours on end. With this short format, the strategy and drama is CONSTANT. I love it. I would prefer maybe one more week (it's kind of weird that we'll be going into the finale episode with 5 people still in the house), or they should have done another double eviction last week.

The fact that they were celebrities (most of which I hadn't heard of) fell to the wayside pretty quickly for me. With the exception of quitters Keshia and Metta, the rest are really driven to win and playing very well. Even those who knew nothing about BB coming in.

The other thing I like about it is that I'm not rooting for anyone in particular this time around, I think there are several people who I would be happy with winning it. I guess I think Ari has the best chance of winning, because she's played very well. She's sweet and everyone loves her and wants to keep her around, yet she is very intelligent and can be cunning when needed. The others don't see her as a threat, and that's a mistake on their part!