Amazing Race 18: Jetting off to the Big Easy without Cutting the Cord

[Tiggsy]

Re: Amazing Race 18: Jetting off to the Big Easy without Cutting the Cord

That just makes them less annoying. You can only see the Trotters pull their same 3 faces a dozen times before you start hating them.

OTOH sometimes the contrast can be nice: the strippers, er, cheerleaders have learned to mimic non-sociopathic behavior this time around. Maybe as looks fade they have started to compensate, but they're much less unpleasant.

I'm glad the Cowboys didn't get knocked out -- that's why the show has the "sphincters" of flights, long waits until opening hours etc -- to close big gaps and keep everybody competitive.

True but it does take a while to figure out your favs and hated teams. I usually don't get too into it until episode 3 or 4 during a normal season because I can't keep them all straight. This is a little different since I already know who I hate and the few that I like.


I never liked the trotters just because of their celebrity status. It definitely give you an unfair advantage because people will help you if they kind of know who you are. Doesn't seem right. Just like when that survivor couple ran the race. They did really well but I was so glad when the didn't win.

EDIT: On a side note, one of the promos I saw talked about how these teams are the first to lose the race twice. They have done an all-star race in the past, so that kind of annoyed me.

 

[Probert]

Re: Amazing Race 18: Jetting off to the Big Easy without Cutting the Cord

Zev and Justin have vaulted up to my second pick behind the Cowboys. I am very surprised that so many teams took the connecting flight to save 15 minutes as happened you never know what might go wrong. An hour or more you give it a whirl. Very surprised the cheerleader didn't fall really far behind after the accident.

You knew something was going to happen when Ron said got the fanny pack. Interesting that Phil can give penalties on the spot. Kind of expected Mike and Mel to go early, probably only put off the cheerleaders elimination for a week or two.

 

[UncleRay]

Re: Amazing Race 18: Jetting off to the Big Easy without Cutting the Cord

I was hoping to see the cheerleaders go. Mel and Mike's departure was just a matter of time anyway.

 

[Zudnic]

Re: Amazing Race 18: Jetting off to the Big Easy without Cutting the Cord

Zev and Justin were a very strong team when they had their passport mishap a few years ago (was it Thailand?). Not surprised to see them doing well again.

One of the things I like about Jet and Cord is that they don't BS. In the mud pit, they just jumped right in and it paid off for them. But, they don't seem to be as thoughtful and worldly as last time. Why get lost? Stop at a hotel.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Amazing Race 18: Jetting off to the Big Easy without Cutting the Cord

I was hoping to see the cheerleaders go. Mel and Mike's departure was just a matter of time anyway.

Yeah, I'm happy they didn't exit on some sort of medical emergency.

Now that they've gone I have little patience with anybody except the Cowboys and the Goth (Furries. Whatever). The Afterschool Special teams are cloying.

 

[Probert]

Re: Amazing Race 18: Jetting off to the Big Easy without Cutting the Cord

I guess tonight's episode should have been entitled Kent and Vyxens leg from hell. Missed flight, lost luggage. How can you drive way out of town and still think your heading to the airport? The Tokyo airport is one of the biggest in the world. looks like this is a non elimination leg or 2 legs without a pitstop like the first two shows. Didn't seem like the tasks were too difficult as only Zev and Vxyen had problems with the charms and the candy and horn detours seemed pretty simple.

 

[UCBadger]

Re: Amazing Race 18: Jetting off to the Big Easy without Cutting the Cord

I know I always head out to town, up into the mountains when looking for the airport.

 

[gounhwildcats]

Re: Amazing Race 18: Jetting off to the Big Easy without Cutting the Cord

Once they missed the flight you'd think those two morons would attach their packs to their bodies with Krazy Glue. Then again making sure you have your money and passports would require a modicum of intelligence. I'm getting pretty tired of her melting down everytime the wind changes direction too. The only remaining teams I want to see gone yesterday are Ron and Christina (specifically Ron) and the two idiots that couldn't find the worlds largest airport in a hay stack. The rest of the teams I have no real issues with.

 

[Zudnic]

Re: Amazing Race 18: Jetting off to the Big Easy without Cutting the Cord

It looked like a pretty boring episode at the start, with everyone all bunched, but there was some drama towards the end.


Thoughts -
- China? Again? At least this time they're not in a big coastal city. Although the "old town" looked like a good old fashioned Chinese tourist trap.
- Was it me or did this leg seem to involve more, easier tasks than usual? I've gotten that impression a few times so ar this season.
- I don't think the Race should visit countries where one team speaks the language and the rest don't. It's an unfair advantage. This really bothered me a few seasons ago with the smug American-born-Chinese brother and sister.
- What's the point of, "surprise! You're still racing!" ? We have to wait another week to see it, the winner still gets a prize, and otherwise they'd leave 12 hours later with the same time spacing anyway. The only thing I can see why it would be any different is to make the teams more tired, but fatigue rarely plays into the storyline.. unless you are a tattoo'ed and bandana'ed DB giving up on your teammate in Hong Kong harbor last season.
- In my experience in China, they are very curious (and often to the Western eye, rude) about outsiders. I would like to see the Race address how Team Goth is experiencing that.

 

[Terrierbyassociation]

Re: Amazing Race 18: Jetting off to the Big Easy without Cutting the Cord

I agree, I don't understand the point. If you don't want to make it a non-elimination leg, just do so. This **** is stupid. Twice in the same season?

 

[Probert]

Re: Amazing Race 18: Jetting off to the Big Easy without Cutting the Cord

I agree, I don't understand the point. If you don't want to make it a non-elimination leg, just do so. This **** is stupid. Twice in the same season?

I agree the only reason I can think that it is being done as Zudnic speculated is to increase the fatigue, less 12 hour pitstops equals less time to really sleep as opposed to trying to catch a nap at an airport on a plane train etc.

 

[UncleRay]

Re: Amazing Race 18: Jetting off to the Big Easy without Cutting the Cord

But they should be well-rested. The flight and train took forever to get there, and they've only been in town for the day, so they should be ready to go. And who knows what we'll see coming up - maybe they are about to arrive some place in the evening that is closed and doesn't open until 7 in the morning, forcing a rest break anyway.

 

[Tiggsy]

Re: Amazing Race 18: Jetting off to the Big Easy without Cutting the Cord

I agree the only reason I can think that it is being done as Zudnic speculated is to increase the fatigue, less 12 hour pitstops equals less time to really sleep as opposed to trying to catch a nap at an airport on a plane train etc.

I'm starting to think that the producers are making some of this up as they go along. The only reason they did this was to give K&V a chance to get back in the race. They spent the whole show bringing up the rear without even being close and this show needs to manufacture drama. Why else would you still call it a pit stop and still give the winner a prize? It was a last minute thing which will have another equalizer at some point to level the playing field.

 

[icebadger]

Re: Amazing Race 18: Jetting off to the Big Easy without Cutting the Cord

I'm starting to think that the producers are making some of this up as they go along. The only reason they did this was to give K&V a chance to get back in the race. They spent the whole show bringing up the rear without even being close and this show needs to manufacture drama. Why else would you still call it a pit stop and still give the winner a prize? It was a last minute thing which will have another equalizer at some point to level the playing field.

This episode smelled fishy to me too. They've done this "you're still racing" thing previously including the first leg this year but I don't ever recall the first team still getting a prize in those scenarios like this week.

Also, beginning with last season I've noticed that they don't say that the teams are departing "12 hours later at x:xx a.m." anymore. They seem to be controlling and perhaps varying the amount of rest from leg to leg to mess with the teams and/or create more drama.

 

[Probert]

Re: Amazing Race 18: Jetting off to the Big Easy without Cutting the Cord

This episode smelled fishy to me too. They've done this "you're still racing" thing previously including the first leg this year but I don't ever recall the first team still getting a prize in those scenarios like this week.

Also, beginning with last season I've noticed that they don't say that the teams are departing "12 hours later at x:xx a.m." anymore. They seem to be controlling and perhaps varying the amount of rest from leg to leg to mess with the teams and/or create more drama.

The first episode they gave away the Express pass. I believe the only other time this was used the first leg last season that was the only prize the team for finishing first got.

 

[Terrierbyassociation]

Re: Amazing Race 18: Jetting off to the Big Easy without Cutting the Cord

Did anyone else think when they were doing the Chinese Zodiac challenge that of all the people Zev would be able to take his autism and possibly channel it into an advantage?

He crashed and burned though.

 

[Zudnic]

Re: Amazing Race 18: Jetting off to the Big Easy without Cutting the Cord

I have always suspected that they decide on an ad hoc basis if it'll be non-elimination.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Amazing Race 18: Jetting off to the Big Easy without Cutting the Cord

I have always suspected that they decide on an ad hoc basis if it'll be non-elimination.

Well, the first "you're still racing" situation, I believe back in season 6, was ad-hoc. The production staff found out that it is illegal in Hungary to beg for money, so instead of making it a non-elimination leg, they just had the teams keep racing.

However, in the earlier seasons, they did mention that the non-elimination legs were pre-determined. As for keeping the teams close, it makes it easier to shoot. They didn't want another situation where they had to pay a local camera crew for two days because Team Guido took their sweet time.

 

[Tiggsy]

Re: Amazing Race 18: Jetting off to the Big Easy without Cutting the Cord

Well, the first "you're still racing" situation, I believe back in season 6, was ad-hoc. The production staff found out that it is illegal in Hungary to beg for money, so instead of making it a non-elimination leg, they just had the teams keep racing.

However, in the earlier seasons, they did mention that the non-elimination legs were pre-determined. As for keeping the teams close, it makes it easier to shoot. They didn't want another situation where they had to pay a local camera crew for two days because Team Guido took their sweet time.

Yes, but even those non-elimination legs ended at on offical pitstop. There will still be a few of those as they are typically later in the race. This one just didn't seem right. I'm guessing the producers like K&V and wanted them around for a few more episodes, so they extended this leg for that reason. Just seemed a little to convienient with them being so far behind that the would be able to catch up during this leg.

Did anyone else think when they were doing the Chinese Zodiac challenge that of all the people Zev would be able to take his autism and possibly channel it into an advantage?

He crashed and burned though.

Unfortunately no I did not think he could turn it into an advantage. Hoped? Maybe. Savants able to do things like that are an incredibly rare thing, and they typically are focused in one particular area so I doubt zodiac charm puzzles are a common area of expertise. I'm totally pulling for the guy to do well but knew it would be a struggle for him, especially when things didn't go his way the first time. Any positive exposure of Autism is very good except for the fact that people will start to think all autistic people can function as well as Zev does.

...sorry. Don't want to go off on too much of a tangent. This is obviously a topic very close to me and I have strong feelings about it. Carry on.

 

[Probert]

Re: Amazing Race 18: Jetting off to the Big Easy without Cutting the Cord

I'm sorry but this week it seems even more set up to give Kynt and Vixxen a chance to stay in the race. An 8 hour wait for the next train? So the teams left Japan they all had the same flight they should have all made it to China the same time, barrring a stupid screw up, yet for some reason once they leave this same town the next train isn't for 7 hours. Now with them U-Turning the cheerleaders, who I really don't care about except they haven't screwed up royally the last 2 weeks so don't deserve to go before Kent and Vixxen and I really hope Flight Time and Big Easy don't go home.