'Amazing Race 10' 'Bama Mom's Home Burglarized

On The Amazing Race 10, we found out that Lyn Turk is a strong-willed woman who really didn't let much get in her way. Not as outspoken as her team member Karlyn, Lyn was easier for fans to enjoy.

After all, both women had a lot of gumption to make it as the first all-female team ever to be in the Final Three on the show. And, I didn't see too much going really easy for them. Despite any qualms about their outspoken and blunt ways, they ran a good race and went much farther than I ever thought they would go.

One of the aspects which drove the team is that both women are single mothers, making it on their own.

Now the fame of being on the show may have made things a bit tougher for Lyn and her family. According to their local CBS affiliate in Alabama, Lyn's house was burglarized and it looks like the thieves took everything they could get.

An excerpt from the WIAT TV article I read:

Last week, just days before traveling to New York for the finale weekend, she came home to find her house in shambles.

"The house was wide open. Someone had forced their way through the front door, everything was in the floor, nothing was untouched, even food out of the cabinets, and taken the plumbing from under the house," said Turk.

The burglars had busted through two sets of doors to enter the home, and pillaged nearly everything inside.

"They literally pulled out everything. I mean its stuff out the closet, stuff out the drawers, it was stuff in this cabinet and you can see where they dusted for prints over there," said Turk.

Numerous items were stolen, including her son's play-station, and valuable copper pipes under the home.

Sigh, how horrible is that just before the holidays? She didn't win a heck of a lot of money on the show coming in third. Yet, the bit of fame cost her so much.

'The Amazing Race 10' Season Finale

And, so it's over. The next season will be the All Stars season and should air in the spring. It's currently filming.

Tonight's finale took a look back at all of the teams. While it seems not much time has gone by, some of the teams seemed to be such distant past. Duke and Lauren? Tom and Terry? Yikes! I forgot I had hoped they'd make it near the end! Now they're such history that they seem like they're from a previous season.

Three teams remain. In tonight's season finale, one team will win a million dollars and The Amazing Race.

After the brief memory jog through the teams and some of the countries, the show opened where we last left the remaining three teams - Barcelona, Spain. Rob and Kimberly, who had been the first to arrive, were the first to leave at 11:09 p.m. Lyn/Karlyn ('Bama Moms) had to wait until 11:44 while the BoyToys (Tyler and James) left last at 11:53.

The teams had to find a church in Barcelona that's been under construction for 124 years, the Sagrada Familia. It was actually a fairly easy place to find as it's quite famous. However, the kicker was they had to search a park behind the church for their next clue. The 'Bama Moms were still searching as the other teams hit the airport looking for flights to Paris.

In what looks like a purely typical touristy move, teams had to go to the third floor of the Eiffel Tower for their next clue. Why? I can only think it was so that the Eiffel Tower would be included in the show. When all three teams gathered at the airport, Rob and Kimberly snagged the only available seats on the quickest flight to Paris landing at the Charles de Gaulle International Airport. Tyler and James, much to the disgust of Rob/Kimberly, managed to get on the fight last minute. But the 'Bama's couldn't get aboard. However, they ended up with a flight which landed at Orly, which happens to be much closer to the Eiffel Tower than de Gaulle is.

All teams ended up on the same train to Caen where they hit a Roadblock - a task only one member of the team can complete. In this one, "Who's ready to storm the beach," both team members played a bit of a role. The main task was a tandem skydive with a guide which had to be completed by the one. But the other team member also went up in the plane which nosedived along with the skydiver for a while.

The Roadblock gave Rob something new to fuss at Kimberly about - he wanted to skydive and it was her task. Wah, wah, fuss, bicker. I can't help but wonder how the ChoBros would have done with this Roadblock as they had such a fear of heights.

Despite what seemed to be a jump on Rob and Kimberly by the BoyToys and 'Bama Moms, all three teams were once again on the same train back to Paris and a Detour. The Detour, a choice between two tasks to be completed by both team members, was Art or Fashion. In Art, teams had to pick up then walk a painting to get their next clue. In Fashion, teams had to create a jacket using a mannequin, then get approval from a designer.

All three teams chose Fashion for some reason. I personally would have thought that to be the harder task. The BoyToys did great. 'Bama Moms thought the fashion designer was the Fashion Gestapo and could only say "no." Rob was all frustrated as Kimberly took over the task and didn't let him do anything. So, he fussed more about not getting to skydive.

Whne the clue received instructed them to fly to New York City, 'Bama Moms made an error which cost them the race. They went back to the Orly Airport while the other teams went to the Charles de Gaulle. Orly has no flights to NYC, so they had to double back and ended up not making the same flight as Rob/Kimberly and the BoyToys. We never saw the 'Bama Moms again until the Finish Line.

The teams were instructed to get their next clue at the "News building with the big globe." Here's the part of the Race I loved because it's my territory. That's the The News Building on East 42nd Street - the model for the Daily Planet building of Superman fame and the original home of the New York Daily News. From there they had to walk (yikes) about two miles down to the East Village armed with a photo of a sculpture. Hey, I know that spinning sculpture! I never knew its name before tonight, but it's the Alamo. It's on Astor Place and Lafayette not far from where the Blue Man Group plays.

From there, it was a race between the BoyToys and Rob/Kimberly to taxicab on up to Garrison, a town in Putnam county about 40 miles north of NYC. I'm familiar with where the town is as I lived about 10 miles north of there a few decades ago. But I didn't know the Pit Stop location - St. Basil's Academy.

The BoyToys, James and Tyler, hit the Pit Stop first. Not long after came Rob and Kimberly. It's unknown how much later the 'Bama Moms arrived, but they made it.

Okay. I wasn't too thrilled with any of the final three teams. I guess the BoyToys were the most deserving of the three as they consistently raced the best race of the three. They didn't fight as much as Rob and Kimberly, and weren't as nasty as Karlyn from 'Bama Moms was at times.

The season brought about a first - the first all-female team to make the final three. I bet Lyn and Karlyn's children are beaming. It also brought about a second - the second year in a row that a guy named Tyler won. I liked the other Tyler better.

Overall? I was entertained. I'll be watching and writing about the next season, for sure.

Oh. And Phil Keoghan (the host) is still adorable with great eyes.

I'm allowed to be shallow, aren't I? After all, I write about television shows. I'm not trying for a Pulitzer.

'The Amazing Race 10' East Coast Finale Update - Winners

Tyler and James just won.

Rob and Kim, second.

Bama way not there. They arrived, no idea on time span.

Tonight's 'The Amazing Race 10' Finale Blogging Schedule

Football coverage caused 60 Minutes to start approximately 10 minutes late here in the NYC area. As a result, East Coast updates including the winner, will be posted about ten minutes later than expected. So, look for the winner at approximately 9:10 PM ET right here. It may help to hit the December 2006 Archive link on the right sidebar if you think you're not seeing the most recent post.

A full review/recap will be posted late tonight.

'The Amazing Race 10' - Ep. 12 -or- "Giant Hot Chicks Run Amok in Barcelona'

I can't believe that next week is the season finale. And, mind you, not one of those fake fall finales like Lost, Jericho, or Heroes - this season's TAR is almost history!

Speaking of history, in all of the previous seasons, not one all-female team has made it to the Final Three, the huge determining factor for this show. This season started off with two very strong female teams. Remember Jamie and Kelly? They were gone too soon for all the promise they held. The other strong female team is Dustin and Kandice. I refer to these teams as strong as they both have the physical strength and are in good shape. Since men tend to win, it takes strength, right? Hey, maybe not.

Four teams remain. Who will be eliminated next?

We last left the teams at a Berber camp in the desert near the Atlas Mountains in North Africa. Tyler and James (Model Rehab BoyToys) had arrived first, so they were the first to receive the clue and leave from the camp. Dustin and Kandice (Evil Blonde Beauty Queens) were saved from Philimination last week as they had arrived last. Because they weren't eliminated, they're marked for elimination in this week's leg. That means they have to come in first at the Pit Stop or face a 30-minute penalty. With it down to four teams, that could very well mean elimination for them. I noticed that Tyler and James had about a 45-minute lead on them taking off from the camp.

The clue led teams to Casablanca, Morocco. The route through the mountains was full of switchback roads similar to what I've seen in places in the Rocky Mountains, but much more treacherous without guardrails. Yikes! The teams had to drive it and, somehow, the Blondes scooted through and made up a lot of time. Best quote of the drive goes to Kim, "I can't believe all the dogs out here." Um, they're goats, not dogs. Rob didn't let her live that down for a while.

One thing I found interesting is that Casablanca has Shell gas stations. That struck me as a bit odd.

Once in Casablanca, the teams faced a Roadblock - a task only one member of a team can do. This one, though a traditional native food one, wasn't as bad as most as long as the person wasn't a vegetarian. It was buying, grinding, spicing, handing off to a chef to cook, then eating camel meat.

The BoyToys and Blondes were the first teams there and both actually seemed to enjoy the meat. Later on Lyn had a problem with it being too hot (fresh off the grill hot, not spicy) and Rob had deferred the task to Kimberly. She was the only one to really gag and fuss. "Awesome, possum!"

From there, teams all ended up on the same flight to Barcelona, Spain, despite a gap between the BoyToys/Blondes and 'Bama Moms/Rob and Kimberly (Bickering Couple once again). At the airport, Dustin and Kandice tried to get back in with Tyler and James, but the boys are burnt on the beauties. As a matter of fact, all three teams are deadset against the Blonde Bombshells at this point. Too bad, so sad.

I wanted to like them when I first saw their profiles and, I have to admit, they're a good team. But the incident when they passed off the car they crashed to another team by taking one belonging to another team ticked me off to no end. That move could have cost the team stuck in the damaged car the race had it broken down. That one move was one of the most mean-spirited things I've ever seen on the show. Scheming and plotting, I understand. But that move went beyond that.

Once in Barcelona, teams hit yet another bunching point awaiting the opening of Parc del Laberint d'Horta, which contains a labyrinth or maze in which they had to find a clue and find their way back out. I found it rather amazing that the 'Bama Moms made it out first, as did the other teams. They certainly don't have the edge when it comes to a footrace, but they can make some good moves. I like Lyn, but I'm not too keen on Karlyn's personality.

The Blondes thought to borrow a cellphone and make arrangements for a taxi, but then told them to only pick up blonde women. The other teams made similar arrangements, albeit sans the blonde requirement. Sure enough, there were problems when the teams emerged from the maze. Tyler/James and Lyn/Karlyn had to scramble for a cab.

The next stop was a Detour, a choice between two locally-influenced tasks that both members of the team have to complete. This one was a hoot! In Lug It, teams had to find 9½-foot-tall giant costumes, get in them, and walk a mile to receive the next clue. In Lob It, teams had to look for a clue in a mound of tomatoes while locals were lobbing tomatoes at them.

Tyler and James wanted to take the same Detour as Dustin and Kandice, figuring they would go for the physical task - the giant costumes. They figured right. In their minds, they want to beat Dustin and Kandice in a footrace to the Pit Stop. Of course, both of the other teams want to beat the Blondes, too. Who will beat them first?

Rob and Kimberly chose Lob It and we once again saw them break down, apart, and just shy of implosion. Under stress, these two do terrible. They had already bickered during the food when Rob berated her for retching while he didn't have the guts to even try for the food Roadblock. The tomatoes broke her down totally, it was almost the end for the team. She tried to quit, but he kept at her. And, they actually found the clue, as did the 'Bama Moms a bit later (they squabbled, too). To me, the task looked impossible, but both teams choosing it fared better than Lug It.

Memorable line from Lug It and the actual name for the episode, "Dude, I'm such a giant hot chick now!" It was said by one of the BoyToys. But, being a giant hot chick doesn't mean first place.

Rob and Kimberly hit the Pit Stop in Barcelona first, winning a trip to Barbados and crying a lot. Next up, in a very surprising move, were Lyn and Karlyn. The BoyToys didn't quite get their footrace with the Blondes, but secured third. And, last and eliminated - Dustin and Kandice.

Who woulda thunk it? The 'Bama Moms beat out the Blondes? Unbelievable! In their parting words, they didn't say it was a rewarding experience, a thrill of a lifetime. Nope. Nothing like that. They're upset they didn't win. Go figure.

Are you ready for next week's finale?

'The Amazing Race 10' - East Coast Update - 12/03 - Pit Stop and Philimination

In a bit of a shocker...

1. Rob and Kimberly - also won a trip to Barbados
2. Lyn and Karlyn - first all-female team ever in the Final Three
3. Tyler and James
4. Dustin and Kandice - Philiminated (and not due to being marked for elimination - they actually came in last)

A full recap/review will be posted later tonight. Stop on back!

'The Amazing Race 10' - Ep. 11 -or- "What comes around, goes around... and around... and around."

Time is running out for the Amazing Race. With four teams still in the race and two shows left to go, you know it's time for a non-Philimination leg, right? Unlike Survivor, it's a race between the Final Three to the finish, not the Final Four.

Ah, but which three teams will make it? Right now the race is too iffy to tell. The strongest two teams, in my opinion, are the BoyToys (Tyler and James) and the Evil Beauty Queen Blondes (Dustin and Kandice). But, even what I perceive as the weakest team, the Alabama Moms (Lyn and Karlyn), can sometimes surprise me. What never surprises me is the ongoing car problems faced by the Dating (not bickering so much as of late) Couple, Rob and Kimberly.

The BoyToys were the first team to leave the Pit Stop in Kiev (the Ukraine) at 7:33 AM while the 'Bama Moms left last at 9:08. So, this time we're talking about 90 minutes separating first and last. That's not really a heck of a lot of time. The clue the teams received instructed them to fly to Quarzazate, Morocco, where they were to go to a Kasbah (sort of like an oasis in the desert) and collect a "good luck" charm. Yes, now I have "Rock the Casbah" by the Clash stuck in my head. Thank you, TAR.

The Blondes took a risky connection flight while Rob/Kimberly and the BoyToys gathered on another flight. Rob showed his distaste for the Blondes by telling them he got an earlier flight which didn't exist. The only shame was he admitted he was joking. He should have stuck with the lie and let them panic a bit more. The 'Bama Moms had a three-hour layover and wisely spent the time gathering and studying maps. While they aren't the most physically fit team, they're definitely thinking ahead as the race goes on. In the end, all the teams ended up on the last connection flight to Morocco.

And, due to studying the maps, the 'Bama Moms actually made it to the next clue (Atlas Studios) first, snagged their good luck charm and the next clue, thus amazing all the following teams. No one knew for sure how they got ahead, but Tyler and James mentioned more than a few times during the leg that they're good with directions, as did Rob and Kimberly. Now, that has changed since their reputation of the Six Pack. There's something that us viewers must have missed.

Uh-oh, the clue not only directed them to a Kasbah, but warned them that a Yield was ahead. And, but of course, it turned out to be one of the infamous (and often annoying) bunching points for the teams. While the 'Bama Moms actually made it there first, the opening time was 8 AM. So, even the seemingly hopelessly lost Blondes were on even keel once again.

As the gates opened, it was a foot-race to the Yield box. Neither the BoyToys or Rob/Kimberly Yielded anyone. Then it was the Blondes as the 'Bama Moms just can't run fast at all. The Blondes Yielded 'Bama. Eep, talk about steam coming from the ears! Those Moms are now officially ticked off (more than they were before) at the Blondes and kept on sizzling as the hourglass did its thing.

As the Moms waited at the Yield, the other teams took off for a Roadblock - a task only one member of a team can complete. This one looked fun, a chariot race reminiscent of Ben Hur. While being "driven" by a local, the team member had to pluck two flags from the course. Although they went last, the 'Bama Moms made up time. I think it was sheer determination leading the way.

The Blondes got lost... again. Rob and Kimberly had car problems, this time a flat and a jack which just wouldn't come out of its place, again. Because of those woes, the BoyToys and 'Bama Moms hit this leg's Detour first. A Detour is a choice between two tasks and both members compete. The tasks this time had to do with job staples in Morocco. Teams could Throw It or Grind It. In Throw It, teams had to make two clay pots to specification on a potter's wheel. In Grind It, teams would have to grind and pack olives. It was first come, first serve and only three teams could perform a task at a time.

So, all the teams chose Grind It. I don't know why pottery scared them so. The BoyToys took a while to figure out that they would have to make the pots, not throw them. (And they're not blond!) Because they were so lost, the Blondes had to wait out the other teams. The grinding had the teams physically pushing a pole which in turn operated a large churning wheel to grind the olives. It wasn't easy.

From the Detour, teams had to take the Road to Marrakech, which reminds me of either a Bing Crosby/Bob Hope movie or a song by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. Take your pick. They were heading to the Pit Stop, in the middle of the desert with the route marked.

The BoyToys (James/Tyler) made it there first and, not only that, but the good luck charm they picked up earlier in the leg matched the one of the local who was with Phil at the Pit Stop. They each won a Sprint Treo 700P. The 'Bama Moms had been in a foot-race against the Boys, but obviously can't beat those two. They came in second. Then it was Rob and Kimberly.

And, coming in last, it was Dustin and Kandice. But remember what I said about the numbers of teams and the remaining shows we have left? It was a non-Philimination leg. So they're marked for elimination, but still in the race.

Okay, we have two shows left. I still have no team to cheer on. I don't really want the BoyToys to win because I feel there have been a few too many young male team winners in the past. It's a toss-up with the other three teams. I was more impressed by the 'Bama Moms this week because they really put themselves in gear. Huh. At this point, I'm ambivalent towards the remaining teams on the whole. I'll watch, but I refuse to cheer.

'The Amazing Race 10' - East Coast Update - 11/26 - Pit Stop

Arriving at the Pit Stop:

1. Tyler and James - Due to a good luck charm picked up earlier in the leg, each won a Sprint Treo
2. Lyn and Karlyn - Despite being Yielded by the Blondes
3. Rob and Kimberly
4. Dustin and Kandice

It was a non-Philimination leg, so all teams are still in the race with the Blondes marked for elimination. A full recap/review will be posted late this evening.

'The Amazing Race 10' - Nov. 26th Blogging

Yikes! The Amazing Race began on time here in the NYC area. A Pit Stop arrival listing and Philimination will be posted approximately 9 PM ET. A full recap/review will be posted late this evening.

Erwin and Godwin Cho Spread the Karma

Fan favorite nice guys team, Erwin and Godwin Cho, from The Amazing Race 10 want to spread the good karma.

Early into the season, or perhaps even before the season but after the casting was announced, I found Godwin's blog, In Search of Godwin. At the time, I mentioned how intriguing he was just from reading the entries. The blog had been last updated in May, just prior to the brothers jetting off on the show. In the entries, there was no mention of Godwin and Erwin even applying to be on the show, but Erwin had been mentioned in a few entries. So, I put two and two together - there can't be too many brothers named Erwin and Godwin Cho living in northern California, right?

Well, the blog was updated Tuesday, dashing my hopes that they'd be on the next season All Stars show. After all, teams seem to have left Miami last week, so a blog update this week nixes that. (Grr.)

In the latest entry, Godwin wrote: "We ran the race without regrets. I believe we ran the race with integrity and dignity (aside from all my crying)." He then went on to link to a new business started by his brother and himself, A Little Karma. Erwin describes it as "Ebay with a conscience."

Inspired by the rewarding feeling they had from helping David and Mary Conley, they want to help others - good karma. From the entry: "alittlekarma.com is an online company dedicated to inspiring people to do kind things for others by performing “acts of kindness” funded by profits from the sale of unique art and clothing by other budding artists/entrepreneurs."

The idea is exactly the type of thing I'd expect from a ChoBro (or two). No, they probably didn't run the race well as they didn't have the cut-throat edge and were way too nice, but these two young men will always be winners. A gander at the company, or a look through the entries on the blog, say it all. Those Cho Brothers are really nice guys.

'The Amazing Race 10' - Ep. 10 -or- "Nice guys finish last."

I never quite know how to number episodes such as this one - unfinished legs from the previous week. As you recall, the last clue we saw read, "Keep racing, this leg isn't over." But I'll call it episode ten anyway. I like to live dangerously.

At the risk of sounding repetitive -

Five teams remain. Who will be eliminated next?

We last left the teams in Helsinki where they were rappelling face-first down the 236 foot high tower at the Olympic Stadium. Yipes! Most have a fear of heights, and we know from previous episodes that the Cho Brothers, Erwin and Godwin, both are afflicted with that fear. I was on the edge of my seat cheering them on as they struggled down the tower, but they made it!

BoyToys James and Tyler had finished the rappel first, followed by Beauty Queens Dustin and Kandice. They only read the beginning of the clue last week. The end was that they had to fly to the capital city of the country where Chernobyl is located. Reading it prompted one of the Beauty Queens to comment, "That's where the atom bomb went off." A nice dunce-like sound effect was edited in. The BoyToys were a bit more on the money with one saying he didn't want to grow a third eye. For me, the problem was trying to remember whether it's in the Ukraine or Russia. It's the former. Make a dunce sound effect at me, please. Ah, but once I realized it was the Ukraine, I knew Kiev! Take away that dunce sound!

The teams ended up on two different flights and it was the Beauty Queens and BoyToys arriving first due to a delay for the other teams. As the shots focused on the BoyToys, it finally dawned on me exactly who Tyler reminds me of... Bob Geldof in his younger days, the Boomtown Rats or even as he played Pink in The Wall. That's been bugging me all season.

In Kiev, teams faced a Roadblock, a task only one member of a team can complete. This one was one of the best I've ever seen on the series - "Who's ready to take command?" They got to drive an armored tank through a muddy training course at the Oster Tank School, a military training school. Because they had such a lead, it was Dustin and James competing against each other on the course. Dustin won, girls rule and all that stuff.

The pace was already set at this point with the BoyToys and Beauty Queens apparently well in the lead as the clue received at the Roadblock merely told them to go to an apartment in Kiev to pick up their next clue. The ChoBros, 'Bama Moms, and Rob/Kimberly were woefully behind and it was obvious that one of them would finish last this leg, just not which of the three teams.

After finishing the tank drive, Rob (who's nice again now) said that Kimberly is "a superhuman creature from outer space." Okay, that's nice. Creature, eh? Well, it's better than when he yells at her.

And, while I love them dearly as much as one could love a team on TAR, the ChoBros are royally screwing themselves by waiting for the 'Bama Moms (Lyn and Karlyn) all the time. It's a RACE! Sheesh, Chos, you're real sweeties, but you're in a damn race. No other team would do for you with the exception of David and Mary who were eliminated already.


Rob and Kimberly had car troubles on their way to the apartment building in Kiev, but managed to make it there before the Chos and Moms. The Moms were following the Chos and fussing that they stopped too often for directions and were too indecisive. Yes, they're right. Argh, Chos! I like you so much, but you have to race in a race!

The clue at the apartment led them to a Detour, a choice of two tasks, this time dealing with the musical heritage of the country. Gee, I didn't know rap was part of said musical heritage. The choices were Make Music or Find Music. In Make Music, teams had to write and perform a rap song incorporating all the countries through which they've traveled. In Find Music, teams had to go to the National Music Academy, find sheet music for Tchaikovsky's "Concert Fantasy," then find a pianist to play it, and watch the performance.

Tyler and James surprised me by going for Find Music while Kandice and Dustin gave a memorable rap. When the other three teams made their lap through, they all wanted to do the rap. Alas, the 'Bama Moms blew off the ChoBros as the guys got lost once again. The alliance is over and, if you ask me, alliances do not work on The Amazing Race. So, the Moms did the rap while the ChoBros ended up going for Find Music as it was easier to find than the dive rap club. At least we got to see them wear tuxedos!

From the Detour, it was a not-so-much of a race to the Pit Stop, the War Memorial at the Patriotic War Museum in Kiev.

The Pit Stop arrival order:

1. Tyler and James - also won a trip for two to Mexico.
2. Dustin and Kandice
3. Rob and Kimberly
4. Lyn and Karlyn
5. Sigh... the ChoBros, last and Philiminated in the dark of night. They had been stopped by the police holding them up more.

Yes, the ChoBros were my favorite team, but I think it's more because they seem like such nice guys. And, we know the saying - "nice guys finish last." Well, they didn't finish last. They beat out many other teams, most more determined to win the race than they themselves were. They're probably very good people, but being good people doesn't fare well when you're in a race for a million dollars. They made a lot of mistakes while being nice. As much as the 'Bama Moms can irk me at times, they were right. The ChoBros were too indecisive and too cautious.

Who am I cheering on now? Well, none of the teams left rock my world. I could go with the Evil Beauty Queens in hopes that a female team will win for the first time. I could go for the 'Bama Moms just for the fact that they're bound to be such unlikely winners as they're out of shape and not well-traveled. I don't know. I'll still watch, of course.

East Coast Update - 'The Amazing Race 10' - Finish and Philimination

Sigh.

The Pit Stop arrival order:

1. Tyler/James - won a trip to Mexico
2. Dustin/Kandice
3. Rob/Kimberly
4. Lyn/Karlyn
5. Erwin/Godwin - Philiminated

Sniffle.

A full recap/review will be posted late tonight.

Tonight's 'The Amazing Race' Blogging - 11/19

As usual with the Sunday night programming, The Amazing Race was delayed due to football coverage in this area. I'll be posting the Pit Stop arrival and Philimination in about an hour as the show just started. Late tonight, a full review/recap will be posted.

'The Amazing Race 10' - Ep. 9 -or- "Don't they wear wooden shoes in Finland?"

Five teams remain. Who will be eliminated next?

Yes, that is the question.

Teams had their mandatory rest period at the Madagascar Pit Stop where we last left them. As they arrived first, Dustin and Kandice (Evil Beauty Queens) were the first to leave at 2:56 AM. The Alabama Moms, Lyn and Karlyn, were the last team to leave at 3:55 AM, so we're talking an hour between first and last place. It's still a tight race at this point.

The clue they received directed them to fly to Helsinki, Finland. They had a total of $265 for this leg of the run. But flying to Helsinki isn't as easy as it sounds like it should be. Due to the lack of flights out of Madagascar, the show would arrange for flights to Paris and then the teams would be responsible for making the connecting flights to their destination.

Upon reading the destination, one of the Beauty Queens said, "Don't they wear wooden shoes?" I just looked at my cat and sadly shook my head.

At the airport, it didn't take the teams long to figure out there may be a quicker way to Helsinki. They found out that a flight to Johannesburg could connect them more quickly to Helsinki than the Paris connection, so all teams made a go at it. The 'Bama Moms barely squeaked aboard to the delight of the ChoBros (Erwin and Godwin), but to the chagrin of the Beauty Queens and the Rehabbed Model Boy Toys (Tyler and James).

Once in Helsinki, teams had to locate the Kapeli Restaurant where they'd face the inevitable AOL "You've Got Mail!" clue of the season. This year it wasn't so much of a clue as it was a taste of home -- video messages from family and friends. I know it's all touching and emotional, but didn't I just go through the same ordeal (or similar) on Survivor this week? Sheesh. After they saw the videos, the next clue was given to them by the restaurant manager.

They had to take a train to a school which I couldn't spell if my life depended on it. Shoot me now. Despite varying degrees of manners and lack thereof, all the teams ended up on the same train. Oh, the ChoBros were the polite ones, just in case you couldn't guess. Alabama just cut in front of the queue at the taxi stand and made me cringe once again. I know they're in a race. But they're also Americans in a foreign land. I must say it again. Sheesh.

Once at the school, they followed markers which led them to a Detour, a choice between two tasks the teams must perform to receive the next clue. Detours always have some connection with the local area, its people, or its customs. The choices this time were Swamp This or Swamp That. I guess it must be swampy there, eh? In Swamp This teams had to use cross-country skis to ski through a mile-long mud course. In Swamp That teams had to go through a muddy (sometimes up to their waists) obstacle course. It wasn't too cultural of a challenge, but it did get down and dirty!


Although Rob and Kimberly got lost on the way to the mudbath, they made good time of it and passed by both the ChoBros and 'Bama.

From there, teams had to take a train to Turku, then drive to a limestone mine in Lohra. It was there that the teams faced a Roadblock - a task only one member of the team must complete. This Roadblock, dubbed "A Miner Inconvenience," looked like fun going down, but work returning as they had to ride a motorbike down into the mines, find a limestone hunk, then bring it back uphill (which the bikes couldn't handle and had to be walked), then break open the limestone to reveal their next clue. Tyler/James and Dustin/Kandice were the only teams on the first train heading in, so they got in and out of the mine first. Rob and Kimberly got lost trying to find the mine and the ChoBros actually got a bit nasty in deliberately losing them. Good. Now lose 'Bama, ChoBros.

The Boy Toys and Beauty Queens were off to the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki where the boys found their clue after a bit of searching. Uh-oh. Bad news for those who have a fear of heights. That would include my favorite team, the Chos. Eep. Teams would have to rappel face-first down the tower at the stadium. The Beauty Queens arrived and started making their way up the tower as the Boys went down one at a time.

Back at the mine, Rob was a driven man... driven to get by 'Bama and the Chos, too. He made it by 'Bama and was tailgating the ChoBros. "Get off my ass, Rob. I will slam on my brakes." Go for it ChoBros, then leave 'em in your dust! They get to the stadium and then it happens. No, not a round of fisticuffs between the Chos and Rob, not at all.

"Keep racing. This leg isn't over."

Argh. I know they do this every season. I even figured that it would take place about halfway through tonight's episode as the timing wasn't going right for a Pit Stop. You know when no one has made the Pit Stop within fifteen minutes of the show ending time or was heading to one even before that, chances are there won't be one.

So, it's not until next week that we'll know who was eliminated next.

The Evil Beauty Queens weren't so evil this episode, but I still can't forgive them for not driving the car they smashed up last week and leaving it for another team. What if it had broken down due to the damage they caused and made another team lose the race? That move on their part was totally out of line and beyond just being competitive.

As the field narrows down, I'm still rooting for the Chos and am rather ambivalent about the rest of the teams. Both the Beauty Queens and the Boy Toys are strong teams, but I just don't care so much for them. I admire 'Bama and Rob/Kimberly for doing as well as they are, but neither team thrills me. But, the ChoBros? They rock my world. They just need to get a smidgen meaner. Just for the race, of course.

'The Amazing Race 10' East Coast Update - 11/12

"Keep on racing, this leg isn't over."

Yes, it's the "to be continued" leg. Model Boy Toys are currently leading the pack. A full recap/review of the show will be posted later tonight. Stop on back!

David and Mary Conley of 'The Amazing Race 10'

The link I gave to a local article about David and Mary is already off and doesn't seem to be archived. Yikes! That was quick. It was only online for a day.

So, for those interested, here are some more articles:

• Lexington Herald-Leader 11/08/2006 Out of race, in the money
• 'Race' couple Dave and Mary Conley given new car, home, and more - Reality TV World - News, information, episode summaries, m...
• PRESS RELEASE Champion Enterprises Donates Modular Home to "Amazing Race" Contestants Dave and Mary Conley
• Interviews & Features - From Amazing Race to The View: Team Kentucky Recalls Their Wild Ride TVGuide.com

What Do The 'Amazing Race' Contestants Win?

In a recent comment, someone (you know who you are, Anon!) asked if the contestants on The Amazing Race who aren't the final team win anything.

Well, it's obvious that David and Mary won a lot from their appearance on The View, but that's not the norm for contestants. They seemed to just strike a chord with the folks on that show and reaped the benefits.

Of course, the true reward for being on The Amazing Race may be just the whole amazing whirlwind adrenalin trip. Contestants receive prizes for placing first, but do the others receive money?

Yes, but it's certainly not a get rich quick scheme. Not at all. The winners do welll with the million, but it goes drastically downhill from that point. I can't vouch that these figures are truly accurate, but here's the breakdown I found at answers.com:

1. $1,000,000
2. $25,000
3. $10,000
4. $7,000
5. $6,000
6. $5,000
7. $4,000
8. $3,500
9. $3,000

The lowest figure is probably more than a few would make at their day jobs for thirty days time. But, of course, the experience of being a contestant on the show is indeed priceless.

'The Amazing Race 10' - Ep. 8 -or- "Cow's Lips, They're Not Just For Breakfast Anymore"

Six teams remain. Who will be eliminated next?

In last week's non-elimination leg, David and Mary were once again saved, but marked for elimination. They must finish in first place tonight or suffer a 30-minute penalty which could very well cost them the game.

So, how did it all pan out?

The teams left Mauritius, the site of the seventh Pit Stop in the game, twelve hours after they arrived. Dustin and Kandice (Evil Beauty Queens) left first at 3:00 AM and the last team, David and Mary (Kentucky), departed at 4:08 AM. So, we're talking about a bit over an hour between first and last. That's not a huge time gap at all.

Having crashed their own car, the Evil Beauty Queens appropriated one of the cars belonging to another team. Their car was indeed drivable, but they apparently just didn't want to drive it. In the end, the ChoBros (Edwin and Godwin) ended up taking the damaged car.

The Six-Pack alliance between the ChoBros, Kentucky, and Alabama (Lyn and Karlyn) took an early hit when Alabama separated from the group heading for the airport. The ChoBros remained loyal to Kentucky, waiting for them and then leading the way. Of course, Kentucky is always loyal to their friends, but they're better for moral support than they are for leading the way.

The clue instructed them to drive to the airport where they would board a flight to Antanarivo, the capital city of Madagascar. Once there, they would have to find a statue entitled the Black Angel. Oh, there's a hitch. It was recently painted white. But the teams don't know that. All of the teams ended up on the same flight, so even the hour betwixt first and last no longer mattered.

Once on the ground, the teams all rushed about looking for a statue in a lake of a black angel. Too bad it's not black. I got a few smiles when Mary was so excited about being in Madagascar - "I've only seen the cartoon. I never thought I'd be here!" And, Lyn (Alabama) didn't know why they even had to look for a black angel - "I'm right here. Look no more!" On the other hand, Rob and Kimberly went on about exhaust fumes ruining the minds of the locals. Okay, if they say so. Have they never been to NYC or Los Angeles?

It took a while, but the teams finally figured out that the Black Angel was the white statue in a lake they kept passing by. Once there, we found out another new twist to the game. This is in addition to the surprise elimination of Bilal and Sa'eed and the changes for non-Philimination legs. It's an Intersection. What it means is that two teams must work together to perform the next clue's task. In the clue, there was also a Fast Forward.

Tyler/James (Rehabbed BoyToys) and Rob/Kimberly (Bickering Couple) were the first two teams at the clue and they jumped on the Fast Forward. If they successfully complete the FF quickly, they can go directly to the next Pit Stop, so I don't blame them. They also mentioned that they didn't really trust the Beauty Queens.

When the Evil Beauty Queens came along and realized that their "friends" had teamed up and left them behind they were miffed. They begged the ChoBros to team up with them as the Six-Pack Alliance arrived. And, so it was to be... Evil and the Shining Light of All that is Good and Kind, teamed together on a Detour.

Although Mary really wanted to give the Fast Forward a shot, no one knew how long ago the first team of four had been at the clue. It was a given that the first group would probably go for it as the numbers are dwindling and this would be the final Fast Forward in the race. So, the remaining teams headed to a Detour.

A Detour is choice between two tasks relating to local culture or practices. This Detour had the teams choosing between Long Sleep or Short Letter. In Long Sleep, teams had to cover, then deliver eight mattresses on foot through the city streets. In Short Letter, they would have to produce and decorate 28 ornate sheets of paper following a particular design. No one chose the latter.

As the teams struggled with unwieldy mattresses on busy streets and through narrow alleys, what were the FF bunch doing? Well, they had to eat a local delicacy. Cow lips. You heard me. I'm talking cow's lips with some hair and teeth for even extra fiber and texture! At least they looked fried and they had plenty of water to wash them down. The task turned stomachs and turned it into one of the slowest Fast Forwards ever seen on the show.

As they gagged their way through their unexpected gastronomical goody, the mattress-haulers had two different approaches to the task. The ChoBros/Evil Beauty Queens broke down the load to four each team of two and helped each other. Kentucky and Alabama tied all eight mattresses together with the straps from their fanny packs and tried to lug them all at once.

Once the mattresses were delivered, the Intersected Teams could once again split up. Dustin/Kandice made quick work of snagging a cab and getting ahead of the ChoBros. Kentucky and Alabama were desperately trying to keep their stacked mattresses moving towards the delivery point, but neither the mattresses nor the local street traffic was cooperating.

Oh. And the cow lip eaters were still eating and gagging. But they were so cocky about getting that Fast Forward, boasting how far ahead of the other teams they were and how they could take their time. Little did they know, a few teams were really making time.

Dustin/Kandice hit the next clue first. It was a Roadblock, a task only one member of a team can complete. This one wasn't all that physical unless running around like madmen looking for rubber stamps of a boat, plane, train, and car qualifies as physical. In a crowded marketplace, it was more exasperating than anything else.

The non-participating team members in the Roadblock waited for their partners right at the Pit Stop with Phil. The Evil Beauty Queens finished the task first and even beat the Fast Forward crowd to the Pit Stop. Then the FF group finally made their way to sneak on in before my favorites, the ChoBros.

The Pit Stop arrival in Madagascar was:

1. The Evil Beauty Queens, Dustin and Kandice - They also won a trip to Hawaii for placing first in the leg.
2. Tyler and James
3. Rob and Kimberly
4. Erwin and Godwin Cho
5. David and Mary - However, they had to wait out their 30-minute penalty as they were marked for elimination.
6. Lyn and Karlyn - Knocked David and Mary out of the race ten minutes into the penalty.

So, David and Mary, saved twice, couldn't be saved thrice. They took it well and Alabama cried over their departure. I knew this team couldn't make it to the end, but it was refreshing to see a team approach strange lands with the joy and thrill they showed throughout the race. They argued and yelled at each other, but I could tell they're a perfect match for each other. They had the time of their life and did their family proud.

Okay, I've switched my least-favorite team. Instead of the previous Rob/Kimberly, I now want Dustin and Kandice gone next. They're sneaky and they're strong - this is the second week in a row they've placed first in a leg. It's time for them to stumble and fall. Oh, perhaps not literally, but fall from the ranks of the racers.

Make it happen.

'The Amazing Race 10' East Coast Update 11/05 - Pit Stop Arrival/Philimination

This was the order to the Pit Stop:

1. Dustin/Kandice - Won a trip to Hawaii
2. Tyler/James
3. Rob/Kimberly
4. Erwin/Godwin
5. David/Mary - Had to wait 30 minutes as they were marked for elimination
6. Lyn/Karlyn - Arrived ten minutes into Kentucky's penalty and knocked them out of the race.

David and Mary, marked for elimination twice, were eliminated.

A full review/recap will be posted later tonight.

Tonight's 'Amazing Race' Blogging Schedule

Due to a football delay, The Amazing Race is just starting now in the NYC area. Expect an East Coast Update about 9:30 PM ET and a full review/recap will be posted late tonight.

Stop on back and visit!