'The Amazing Race' East Coast Update - Phinish and Philimination

The teams arrived at the Pit Stop in this order:

1. Jeremy/Eric - Won a trip for two to Africa with whitewater rafting, a safari and a trip to Victoria Falls.
2. BJ/Tyler - Arrived running backwards
3. Lake/Michelle - boo
4. Fran/Barry
5. Dave/Lori
6. MoJo
7. Ray/Yolanda
8. Double D's
9. Wanda and Desiree -- Philiminated

Tonight's 'Amazing Race' Blogging...

I'll be watching the show here on the East Coast. At the end (approximately 11 PM ET), I'll post the finish order of the teams and the Philimination. Either much later or tomorrow morning, I'll post a full review/recap.

So, if you're West Coast and just can't wait, stop back a bit later!

Dang, I wish it was still in the 9 PM slot here. Grr.

'The Amazing Race 9' Episode 3 ...er... 3A ... er ... To Be Continued ARGH

Forgive me for I must rant. If you're squeamish or just plain sensitive, you may want to skip down past the next paragraph. This isn't going to be pretty.

I hate continuing sagas. When I see the words "To be continued..." I freak out. I don't watch soap operas or even continuing dramas such as 24 partly because I hate the feeling that if I miss an episode, I'm lost. As a matter of fact, Lost is one of the only continuing stories I watch and that's because I'm masochistic, I guess! (With all the repeats on that one, I must be masochistic.) Yes, I know the whole existence of the reality show genre is a continuing story and yes, I've learned to live with that idea. But I want my Amazing Race to end each week at the end of a leg. I don't care if it's a non-Philimination leg or not. I want a finishing order. I want someone winning the leg; I want results! Concrete results! Is it too much for a show fan to want? Am I micro-managing my television watching? Am I alone in wanting some sort of conclusion to the show each week? ARGH!
/rant

Now that I've got that out of my system, I'll talk about last night's episode - or partial episode or whatever...

The show opened at the Brazilian coffee plantation which was the site of the last Pit Stop. As always, the departure times went according to arrival times. BJ and Tyler were the first team to leave at 4:48 AM while Dani/Danielle were the last to leave at 7:07 AM. Quite a time span, eh? Well, it didn't really mean too much in the long run as the clue directed teams 3 miles away to take a nifty zippy zipline trip which didn't open until 7 AM. So, most of the teams just gathered awaiting the opening and even the last teams weren't so far behind. That is, unless they got lost like Lake and Michelle. (Heh.) BJ and Tyler were a hoot during the wait. They pounced upon or jumped out in front of arriving teams and had a good time of it all. I think these two are adding a lot of outright fun to the show. While they're serious and good competitors, they're thriving on the fun and adventure aspects and creating an atmosphere we don't always see with the teams -- laughter and good times. Kudos to 'em!

I would like to ride a zipline; they look like a heck of a lot of fun. But all in all, I don't think they're much of a challenge. You're harnessed in and just glide down. The first few ones were neat to watch, now they're just sort of a required once each season TAR redundancy. So, let's move along. The clue at the bottom of the zipline directed teams to the airport where they would head to Moscow, Russia. Yep, Moscow, Russia as opposed to Moscow, Idaho. I'm glad the clue specified the country, aren't you? All teams ended up on the same flight, so the scramble would be on upon landing.

Lake whined and fussed that he didn't want to go to Russia because it would be so cold. I hoped they'd dunk him in frigid waters. And, so they did! Once teams arrived in Moscow, they were directed to go to Chaika Bassein where Olympic swimmers train. Oh, no! It's a Roadblock! That, of course, is a task only one member of a team can perform. In this Roadblock, one member from each team had to "take the plunge" from a 10 meter high diving platform into a pool, swim the length of the pool and then dive down to retrieve the next clue. Most of the teams did okay with it. Yolanda balked a bit as she can't swim, but did fine in the end.

Who was annoying and set the team way back? Wanda! I was waiting for Desiree to slap her to get her out of her hysterical hissy fit. Sheesh! What is with that woman? Now, I like Desiree, but she is not her mother's mother! Sigh... instead of slapping her, Desiree teared up saying how proud she is of her Mom. Gag me. They took so long on the Roadblock that Dani/Danielle managed to make it back to retrieve their left behind belongings and go again.

That brings another thing to mind - the teams, not just BJ and Tyler, seem to have a lot more camaraderie a'goin' on this season. I know the Horned Toads (Jeremy and Eric) have a thing for the Double D's (Dani/Danielle), but to keep waiting for them? Not a real bright policy to get ahead in the race, guys. At least they let the girls go back for their stuff alone and didn't blow their lead time. All of the teams seem to be actually more friendly than past seasons. I'm trying to decide if that's a Good Thing or a Bad Thing. I don't like to watch teams fight all the time, but a bit of a spat amongst teams (not amongst team members themselves) is often the spirit of the race. If everyone likes one another it's nice, but will it dampen the competitive spirit? I guess we'll see.

From the dip in the pool, teams faced a Detour - Scrub or Scour. Yes, they sound a lot alike, but they're not. In Scrub, teams had to locate a trolley depot where they would clean a trolley car inside and out, inspected and approved before they could move on. In Scour, there was no cleaning at all. They had to scour Russian nesting dolls for a clue to the next stop. This was a classic TAR bit - the nesting dolls were in a theater with dancers and musicians creating madness as teams frantically, yet methodically, sought the elusive clues. As Ray said, "That music is playing with my head!" It's sort of like a maddening acid-induced Russian dream or something. I loved it!

For some reason, the first teams taking on the Detour had problems finding the trolley depot and ended up going for Scour. The later arriving teams seemed to find Scour okay, perhaps with some lost time. Don't ask me why. I don't know.

Jeremy and Eric were the first to get the clue to move onto the Red Square where they would meet Phil. Thinking back, it didn't say Pit Stop. And, it sure wasn't. At the Red Square, Phil handed them a clue and said, "This leg's not over." ARGH! (Go reread my first paragraph!)

I'm liking these teams. At this point, the only team that bothers me is Lake and Michelle. It frightens me that he's overbearing and a dentist. I'd like him to go away. I'm not all that thrilled with Fran's defeatist attitude. I expected more from her, didn't you? She's reminding me a bit too much of Gretchen. I think the other teams are fun to watch - even Mojo is growing on me. Perhaps they can put Lake, Wanda and Fran in seclusion and then the teams would be perfect.

And, now... this report is TO BE CONTINUED.
(Argh!)

'Amazing Race' East Coast Update...

To be continued...

Yep, they did it again. Jeremy and Eric were the first to reach Phil in Red Square only to be handed a clue and to be told it wasn't over.

I'll be doing the recap/review in the morning.

Tonight's 'Amazing Race'

The show airs at 10 pm ET/PT. Here in the eastern edge of the country, I'll post the finish order and Philiminated (or non-Philim leg) as the show ends here.

Sometime way late or tomorrow morning, I'll post a full review/recap!

I hate the later hour. Grr.

'Amazing Race' - Joni and Lisa "Frosties" on 'The Early Show'

The Sreaming Mimis... er, Glamazons, er... Frosties, appeared on this morning's 'The Early Show.' Poor Harry Smith. At the end of the segment, they sandwiched him in and called it a Harry Sandwich. He's probably going to have nightmares for months now.

An excerpt from the CBS interview:

The sisters screamed quite a bit during their time in "Race," and Smith showed a montage of various screams.

Smith, who's six-foot-three, asked Lisa and Joni to stand next to him, and they were both almost as tall as he was. One stood on each side, and Lisa cracked, "We made a Harry sandwich!"

'The Amazing Race 9' - Ep. 2 -or- "Hippie Power Rocks Brazil!"

I'm so happy to see The Amazing Race back at its roots -- foreign countries, challenges that are ... well, challenging.

The second leg of this season's race started in Brazil and actually ended in Brazil, too. Even with the lack of travel miles, it was jam-packed with action. After all, where else could you see a senior citizen couple rappel down a 33 story building or ascend a 90 foot waterfall? Only on The Amazing Race!

The teams started out from the Pit Stop departing in the order in which they had arrived only to face one of the infamous "bunching points" the Race tends to have. Now, I know why they do this, but it can get a bit annoying. I realize they can't have a team or two so far ahead that the competition just isn't there. So, the teams all caught up to each other when the building where they would receive the next clue wasn't to open until 8 AM. I feel compelled to mention one interesting sidenote to the teams leaving the Pit Stop -- Jeremy and Eric actually waited for BJ and Tyler before going on. I don't think I've ever seen that happen before. Perhaps by the end of the show, they'll decide hippies over cute girls? It could happen! After all, they saw prostitutes on the streets from their taxi windows and only realized said prostitutes were men in drag after shouting excited compliments.

After the building finally opened, the next clue was a Roadblock. As Phil himself would say: "A Roadblock is a task that one member of the team must perform to receive the next clue." This Roadblock was called "Fire Drill." One member of each team had to climb up one of three fire escapes on a 33-story building, then descend by rappelling down the side. Cool! It's not quite like racing up the stairs of the Empire State Building, but it certainly took its toll on the teams, or at least the one half who chose to do it. Even those in the best shape slowed down by about the 8th floor. Danielle made it all the way to the top, then realized she's terrified of heights and was scared to rappel down. If not for Fran's encouragement, she'd still be up there ordering pizzas or something.

The clue they received directed them to the bus station. Lake impetuously charged ahead and found out that there are at least two bus stations in Brazil. (Duh!) Once again, teams faced the infamous Gathering of Three Departure Times with buses, similar to the Bunching Point, but dividing teams into a few time slots not all into one. The lead bus, as I predict we'll see for a lot of the season, contained BJ/Tyler and Jeremy/Eric. Teams who were all ready behind ended up more behind. Ah, well, it will make 'em race that much harder, right?

The teams each got a rather stripped down Volkswagen Beetle -- newer models, but definitely not a fancy-schmancy model as we see here on the streets! And, no ... they didn't get to keep them. I don't think they wanted them after driving them, anyway! They used the VWs to drive to their choice on the Detour. In the Detour, they had a choice between Press It ot Climb It. In Press It, teams had to run sugar cane through a hand press and eventually make a certain amount of ethanol following a specific process and recipe. In Climb It, teams had to hike to a 90 foot waterfall and then rope climb up it using automatic ascenders. Oh, they're not so automatic, by the way. The task still involves strength and the ability to catch onto how to use the ascender properly. Oh, great -- we get to see teams shout encouragement at each other! Lake was so encouraging, to whit: "Get your ass up there!"

BJ and Tyler, not surprisingly, chose Climb It and were the first to finish the task. Huh? The next clue led to the Pit Stop? It was only halfway through the show; there must be drama ahead to fill that last half hour. Sure enough, there are lost Screaming Glamazons who can't cope with their car. Then there was Fran and Barry who struggled through Climb It only to have their car battery die. The New Version Frat Boys decided the Hippies were steering them wrong and stopped for directions thus ensuring the Hippies would arrive first. Drama, drama, thrill, frustration...

The arrival order to the Pit Stop was:
1. BJ and Tyler (Hippies)
2. Jeremy and Eric (Frat Boys 2.0, not as fun as the first)
3. Monica and Joe (self-proclaimed Team Mojo)
4. Lori and Dave (The Nerds and Darned Proud Of It)
5. Ray and Yolanda (Angry Young Man and His Cool Woman)
6. Wanda and Desiree (Antsy Mom and her Cool Daughter)
7. Lake and Michelle (Jonathon and Victoria Take Two)
8. Danielle and Dani (Gonna have to work more than femininity)
9. Fran and Barry (Older and If Not For Bad Luck Team)
10. Philiminated: Screaming Joni and Lori (Glamazons, Frosties, Whatever...)

Okay, now to the nitty gritty...
I'm liking BJ and Tyler more and more. Perhaps the hippie bit is a bit of a gimmick. Obviously, they're too young to really know a hippie is more than long hair and a bit "out there." But I love their excitement and they're proving themselves strong in every area in the race so far.

I still like Dave and Lori. I had to smile when Dave praised the spirit of Mr. Wizard after completing the ethanol process. I like Nerds, what can I say?

Ray looked very frustrated at their arrival placement. I think that if not for Yolanda, I wouldn't be liking these two much at all. If he's so disgusted at being mid-pack, what's going to happen if they're eliminated? Will he just go pout or what?

Fran and Barry need to go into a Way Back Machine and become youthful again or rub a leprechaun for good luck or something...! It's like this team has a double whammy against them between age and bad luck. Alas, she reminds me a bit of Gretchen with the whining. I have to give them credit for making it through the physical tasks, though.

I sort of kind of like Jeremy and Eric. I'm enjoying their flirting with Dani and Danielle, but thought they were so inappropriate to Phil as they arrived at the Pit Stop. "Smack me, woman!" What the hell is up with that? Phil's eyebrow arched more than usual. I wonder how their smarts would have gotten through this leg if not for BJ and Tyler following. Physically, they are probably the best team. Mentally? Heh.

I'm still a bit ambivalent about Mojo even though they did better this leg. Dani and Danielle are starting to realize the race is more than looking pretty and having men gather to help them. Lake seems to have stopped a bit of his nastiness, but I still don't like him much.

And, finally ... I'm glad the "Glams" are gone. I couldn't have taken the screaming an entire season. They were no more better prepared for being in the race than I am. Mind you, I'm still having problems from knee surgery and will be facing more surgery before long. At least I don't scream about everything and I know how to drive a VW with a standard transmission.

What do you think of this season's race and its teams? Do you miss the Family Edition? (Heehee!)

'The Amazing Race' - Phil Keoghan Interview

I found this article online - National Ledger - Keoghan Glad 'The Amazing Race' Counters Negative World View - and thought he brings up some interesting points. Please be aware that if you read the entire interview, it contains a few destination spoilers for the upcoming season.

He mentions that folks tend to be frightened by the world at large, often thinking the United States is "safest" and other countries... well, aren't as safe. I beg to differ with a bit of his perception -- he mentions that being at JFK (Airport) not long after 9/11 was somewhere he felt scared. I'm local to the NYC area and, though that was life-changing for me on a personal level, I really don't walk around feeling unsafe. He goes on to say that often other countries aren't often seen in a good light and that's something 'The Amazing Race' has been able to show. I know from following the show and news items that other countries love it when TAR goes through. They get good publicity, money from the show itself for set up, etc., and hopefully tourist dollars down the line.

As for me, I've always loved to see other places, cultures I don't know much about and learn a bit. I'm not the easily scared type, except perhaps by strange icky foods. But I think Phil is spot on. We're in this world together and the more we can understand other cultures, the better for us all.

An excerpt:
"This is where our show has become more than just an entertainment show," he says, adding that none of the team anticipated the program would become so huge -- it's a hit in some 80 countries -- and have such an impact. "If we show a Muslim person giving money and help and showing concern for the racers that is very genuine, we're letting viewers see a reality they're not usually seeing."

I think that, besides the whirlwind excitement, one of the big draws for the show is that folks honestly love to see different places and learn smidgens about the folks in other countries. That's one reason I'm hooked. Why do you watch 'The Amazing Race'?

New 'The Amazing Race 9' Cast: A Closer Look at Wanda Lopez-Rochford & Desiree Cifre

This is the last team in my "A Closer Look at..." series for the upcoming 'Amazing Race 9' which premieres on Tuesday, Feb. 28 in a two hour special -- 9 PM - 11 PM ET/PT in most viewing areas. You can find the entire series listed on my 'Amazing Race 9' Blog Entries page.

Wanda Lopez-Rochford is a 44 year old corporate trainer who calls Smyrna, Georgia her hometown these days. Her daughter, Desiree Cifre, is a 24 year old writer living in New York City. Obviously, we're talking the MOTHER/DAUGHTER team of the race.

Here's what I learned about them (and why they're in the Race) from their official CBS show bio:

They believe they have a great sense of humor and both enjoy traveling, shopping and cooking. (Whoa... women ChaChas!) Wanda is fluent in Spanish and has lived in both New York City and Puerto Rico. While raising Desiree she earned two college degrees. Desiree is an NYU grad who works as a writer (but does she make a living at it?). She's in a steady relationship and considers herself passionate and artistic. She thinks her mother tends to be overprotective of her. While they both want to win the race, they're also looking forward to experience other cultures while seeing the world.

On the web:
NYU > Athletics - Apparently Desiree is a great fencer. Swordplay may come in handy on 'The Amazing Race' -- you never know!

I think I'm going to like these two. How 'bout you?

New 'Amazing Race 9' Cast: A Closer Look at Monica Cayce & Joseph Meadows

Monica Cayce is a 23 year old student hailing from Fayetteville, Arkansas. Joseph Meadows is a 23 year old homebuilder from Forth Smith, Arkansas. Their TAR-dubbed relationship? They're a DATING couple.

From their official Amazing Race bio:
Ah, they met at a bar (always classic) and have been dating for three years. The say they're fun-loving. I'm sure we'll find out just how fun-loving they are! "Joseph describes himself as confident and funny, while Monica is independent and tenacious." They both like country music, wakeboarding and traveling. Monice has an excellent incentive to win the million dollars -- she wants to pay off her student loans. They both hope the race will bring them even closer together and bond them for life.

Well. I'm not getting a ton of insight into them from the bio. I think I like them, but I don't know for sure. I don't think they'll be a bickering couple (phew!), so that's a good thing. They seem to be wholesome, feet on the ground kind of folks. I guess we'll see!

On the web:
Today's THV KTHV Little Rock

Remember! All of my 'Amazing Race' blog entries are linked on 'Amazing Race 9' Blog Entries for ease in reading. :-)

New 'Amazing Race 9' Cast: A Closer Look at Joni Glaze & Lisa Hinds

Joni Glaze is a children's minister, age 44, living in Katy, Texas. Lisa Hinds is a realtor/artist, age 48, from Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. They're the SISTERS for 'The Amazing Race 9.'

From their official CBS bio:
They're seeking to reconnect with each other and make up for lost time as they've lived apart for 20 years -- oh, they probably wouldn't mind winning a million dollars while reconnecting, I'm sure.

Lisa is a mother of two who has been married for seven years. She has her own art gallery and describes herself as smart, determined and competitive. Joni also has two children and she's been married for ten years. She's never traveled outside of the United States. From the bio - "Funny and headstrong, Join claims to be a people person who is much more patient than her teammate."

The sisters describe themselves as loud, rambunctious and TALL. Both are over 6 feet tall. What would they do with the winnings if they win? Some plastic surgery.

Hmm... I'm not sure how long these two will last. Sisters on the show haven't had a great track record and at least one of these two has traveled very little, plus I see nothing in their bios to tell me they're physically fit or ever have been involved in any kind of athletics. I have a feeling they may be enjoyable to watch and I think they're going to have a great time. Win? I don't think so.

* All of my 'Amazing Race' blog entries can be found linked here.

New 'Amazing Race 9' Cast: A Closer Look at Fran & Barry Lazarus

Well, these two are a bit older than the ones I've written about in my previous entries in this series. Barry, age 63, is a retired physician. His wife, Fran, is a retired accountant and 61 years old. They hail from Silverthorne, Colorado and CBS has dubbed them the MARRIED 40 YEARS couple.

It's onto their official TAR bio for more skinny on 'em!

They've known each other for 45 years and have two children. I'm thinking adult children, but you never know. They're both very well-traveled and both seem to share a sense of adventure. They've traveled to over 45 countries and feel that will give them an advantage in the race. Both are physically active and seem quite determined to show that an older couple can be great competition and may even be winners on The Amazing Race. Will they make their mark? I'm thinking it's a possibility if both are very competitive and physically fit. I know the odds are a bit against them, but I'd love to see them kick butt on the show!

I think I'll not think about the fact that Barry's specialty was urology. I'm trying to think how that might help him in the show. It's not pretty, folks. ;-)

Miss an 'Amazing Race' entry on this blog? All entries are linked here at 'Amazing Race 9' Blog Entries just for you!

New 'Amazing Race 9' Cast: A Closer Look at Jeremy Ryan & Eric Sanchez

Jeremy Ryan and Eric Sanchez are designated by CBS as the FRIENDS. Jeremy is 26 years old and a valet. Eric is 27 and he's a waiter. Both are from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Interesting bits from their CBS official bio for the show:

Uh-oh. They met in college while running track. That's not why the "uh-oh." The uh-oh is because they say they're "cocky, very competitive and strong athletes." Y'know, I don't always find cocky an admiral trait. That's the uh-oh for me.

Jeremy thinks he's sarcastic and patient. I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to give an eyeroll at those qualities -- one usually cancels the other out. @@! Perhaps he's sarcastically patient? He's hoping the race will make something out of his life. (Didn't his college degree get him the valet job?) He's well-traveled.

Then there's Eric, the bartender/waiter. Eric hasn't traveled much out of the country, but he is a two time All American pole vaulter. Okay. He thinks he's athletic and outgoing. Eric says his pet peeve with Jeremy is that he doesn't accept criticism.

Well. This looks like the Male Eye Candy Team. There's supposed to be a video on the bio link at the CBS site, but I can't get it going. I'm not sure who is whom with these two. I think they're probably going to be strong racers, but I'm not sure how much I'll actually like them I guess we'll see!

*All of my blog entries regarding 'The Amazing Race' can be found at this link.

New 'Amazing Race 9' Cast: A Closer Look at David Spiker & Lori Willems

It's time to take a closer look at new TAR racers David Spiker and Lori Willems. CBS has dubbed them the DATING couple. David is a 30 year old musician while Lori is a 25 year old Pizza Hut manager. Both hail from Manhattan, KS. (Not quite like Manhattan, NY.)

From their CBS bio:
They've been dating for about three years. She's ready to settle down, but he wants to be more established in his career before marriage. David thinks he's intelligent and compassionate, but hasn't traveled much. He's looking forward to the traveling aspect of the race. He's scared of heights (there's always at least one of those each season).

Lori thinks she's energetic, understanding and willing. (Always fine qualities for Pizza Hut managers!) She thinks she's more spontaneous than David as he always likes to have a plan. She said they're both looking forward to traveling throughout the world and experiencing other cultures.

Well, good. I think these two may be very refreshing to watch this season. I personally doubt they'll be the best racers ever on the show, but something seems to tell me they're nice folks.

Here's a few links I found about David (not just TAR stuff):
The Pembertons lawrence.com (Good ol' whiskey rock 'n roll!)
Ruskabank lawrence.com (alt/indie rock) I was never too thrilled with old school ska music, so new school probably wouldn't mix well with me. The good ol' whiskey rock 'n roll, good! Free downloads of the Ruskabank music are available at the link.
RockKansas.com - Live Loud Local
RockKansas.com - Live Loud Local <-- second story
Kansas State Collegian: Breeding new sounds 10/01/02

All of my blog entries regarding 'The Amazing Race' can be found at this link.

New 'Amazing Race 9' Cast: A Closer Look at Scott Braginton-Smith & John Lowe

It's time to take a closer look at new TAR racers John Lowe and Scott Braginton-Smith, dubbed by the producers as LIFELONG FRIENDS. They met in high school, so it's not quite lifelong. Scott's 41 years old and calls West Harwich, Mass., his hometown. Meanwhile, John is 38 and is from Dorchester, Mass.

According to their official CBS bio, John admits to be too controlling at times while Scott isn't controlling at all. Hmmm. John is single, currently living in Boston and they list his job as a wealth manager and artist. Okay. I want to be a wealth manager, too! Will wealthy folks send me money to see how well I manage it? Or mismanage it, most likely. Um... never mind. John has two Great Danes -- cool dogs! He's scared to fly, so he hasn't traveled extensively. He completed the 250 mile AIDS Bike Ride from Boston to NYC, so he may have some determination.

Then there's Scott. He's single and living in Cape Cod, Mass. He's in sales (which could be anything, I guess). From the bio: "He describes himself as a fun and gregarious person whose personal motto is "live, live, live." He claims that the most exciting moment in life has yet to happen." Well, it sounds like he has the spirit.

I want these two to be Chachas-like, but I don't think they will be. Long time TAR watchers know to whom I refer. Scott seems like he'd have a ChaChas personality, but I don't know about John.

Other than all the 'Amazing Race' stuff out on the web, I couldn't find out much about them. One Boston paper had a correction listed. When they made the cast announcements, they initially gave John's age as 8 years old.

Remember! All of my 'The Amazing Race' blog entries are neatly compiled for easy access here. All 'Survivor' related entries are linked here. Everything else is the wild, wild west.

New 'Amazing Race 9' Cast: A Closer Look at Yolanda Brown-Moore & Ray Whitty

Yolanda Brown-Moore is a 27 year old science teacher while Ray Whitty is a 31 year old lawyer. They both live in Chicago and the show dubs them as the DATING couple. They've dated for five years.

From their CBS bio page, it's found that both are originally natives of Florida. Yolanda is from Gainesville; Ray is from Jacksonville. Yolanda taught math and science in Miami before recently moving in with Ray in Chicago where he went in relationship to his work (lawyer, remember).

Hmmm... maybe a slight uh-oh! They say Ray is the more disciplined between the two, but both can be opinionated and a bit stubborn. Well, I hope not between themselves! I, for one, have seen enough bickering couples. I don't mind it if they're opinionated and stubborn towards other teams -- I actually like that and feel it could provide incentive for a better race. Uh-oh...! Yolanda says she sometimes has trouble finishing what she started and Ray said she often runs late. Well, now. I just don't know how they'll do. They work out together and are certainly young enough (but not way young) to win, place or show. I just don't know. What do you think?

Here are the websites/article(s) I found out on the web about them -- keep in mind some may archive or need registration to view:
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione - Professional Biographies *Ray
Gator Women's Track & Field Roster/Bios @ Gatorzone.com *Yolanda college track w/photo
Alligator Story Tons of sport stuff on Yolanda is out there -- she was an All American woman track star in college. The CBS bio doesn't mention that at all.

All of my blog entries about 'The Amazing Race' are hyperlinked here for easier reference.

New 'Amazing Race 9' Cast: A Closer Look at BJ Averell & Tyler MacNiven

These two are being labeled as BEST FRIENDS. It's BJ Averell and Tyler MacNiven, ages 26 and 25 respectively. BJ is an online tutor whose hometown is Los Angeles. Tyler is a filmaker out of San Francisco.

Their official CBS 'Amazing Race' bio says "BJ & Tyler are bohemian best buds who first met four years ago during the Semester at Sea program, where they shared the experience of sailing around the world."

Yep, they're bohemian buds... or something. Right now I'm not sure exactly what. I'd say clowns, but that was done already with Jon and Al. They were the best at it, for sure! Okay, let me poke around their bio a bit more...

BJ is a Harvard grad. I'm suitably impressed. Tyler is a graduate of UC Santa Cruz. I don't know about the school there, but I'm partial to the rollercoaster at the Santa Cruz boardwalk, so he passes muster with me. They're both well-traveled and fluent in several languages. That's a big plus for a team on 'The Amazing Race.' They both love adventure, travel and good times (and hamming for the camera?). In a way, I want to dismiss these two due to just the promo photo, but they sound like they have a real chance in the race. BJ moved to CA for surfing, karate and frisbee -- he should be in decent physical shape. Tyler fell in love with a girl from Japan and decided to walk the 2000 mile length of the country to impress her. Lucky girl and quite an undertaking.

These article(s)/websites were found about BJ Averell and Tyler MacNiven out and about the web (beware, some may archive in due time or need registration to view):
People: Woodside native treks across Japan (August 24, 2005)
Kintaro Walks Japan
Stanford says no to Tyler MacNiven, but he's upbeat, may reapply later (December 23, 1998)
Stanford Magazine: March/April 1999: They'll Try Anything
The Stanford Daily Online Edition
Kintaro Walks Japan - Google Video
Buck's of Woodside Kintaro Walks Japan ... and dozens more on his trek, but this is his own writing of the journey
HTDb v2.0 - BJ Averell -- BJ's Harvard theater work
Fictumentary.com - Camera Noise Production Notes
The Harvard Crimson :: News :: Election Profile: B.J. Averell & Amias Gerety
Harvard University: Gallery ... and many, many more.

All of my 'The Amazing Race' blog entries can be found linked in chronological order here.

New 'Amazing Race 9' Cast: A Closer Look at Dani Torchio & Danielle Turner

On their official CBS 'Amazing Race' bio page, Dani Torchio and Danielle Turner are listed as the CHILDHOOD FRIENDS team. Woohoo, I'm overjoyed, aren't you? ;-)

They're both 22 years old and recent college graduates hailing from Staten Island, NY. Now, this is a purely personal thought and may not come true, but... I know Staten Island (a borough of NYC). Staten Island isn't really known for its action and adventure. It's a nice enough place to live, but will these girls have the grit and determination to complete the race? I tend to think not. Girls, prove me wrong. Go ahead and do it.

From that bio page:
They're described as "beauties." Perhaps that's the key for some folks watching the show, but not for me. I declare an eyeroll needed! @@
Danielle claims to be outgoing and talkative. May I eyeroll that, too?
Dani says she's fun-loving, wild and eager to get out of Staten Island. (She wins points for the last bit!)
Neither has traveled much. The bio mentions thick accents, a trait from Staten Island I know all too well. Be prepared for pretty women with thug-like accents. I warned ya. I live about ten miles from Staten Island. I should be rooting for them on a purely geographic basis. But I can't. Though, as I stated above, they can feel free to prove me wrong.

News article(s) I found out and about on the web about Dani Torchio and Danielle Turner (beware, some may archive or need registration):
New York Post Article - 'Racing Colors'

All of my blog entries regarding 'The Amazing Race' can be found here.

New 'Amazing Race 9' Cast: A Closer Look at Lake & Michelle Garner

'The Amazing Race' lists these two as "Married Parents." They've been married 13 years having first met as freshmen in college. They have three children. Lake's a dentist while Michelle is a stay at home mom who helps out in his dental office. She's 36 years old, he's 37. They hail from Hattiesburg, Miss.

Uh-oh! From their bio on the CBS website: "While he describes himself as energetic and motivated, Michelle notes that he's your typical Type A personality, very impatient and always looking for ways to do it better." Yeah, that's just what we love to hate, huh?

Michelle says she herself is laid back. (Phew!) She hopes that won't cause friction between them during the race. Um... can you say Jonathon and Victoria? I so hope they're not like them!

Current article(s) I found about them on the web (keep in mind, these may archive within a week or so):
Hattiesburg American - www.hattiesburgamerican.com - Hattiesburg, Miss.

CBS Reveals 'The Amazing Race 9' Teams

CBS announced the teams for 'The Amazing Race 9' today and updated their official website with photos and bios of the teams. The show premieres in a two hour special on February 28th at 9 PM ET/PT. Between now and then, I'll look closer at the teams and offer my own personal opinions (and hopefully hear your opinions). Thanks go out to blog reader Sue for the heads up. :-)

These are the 11 Teams:

Name: BJ AVERELL (Male) Occupation: Online Tutor/Age: 26 Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Name: TYLER MACNIVEN Occupation: Filmmaker/Age: 25 Hometown: San Francisco, CA Relationship: BEST FRIENDS

Name: SCOTT BRAGINTON-SMITH Occupation: Sales/Age: 41 Hometown: West Harwich, MA
Name: JOHN LOWE Occupation: Wealth Manager/Age: 38 Hometown: Dorchester, MA
Relationship: LIFE-LONG FRIENDS

Name: YOLANDA BROWN-MOORE Occupation: Science Teacher/Age: 27 Hometown: Chicago, IL
Name: RAY WHITTY Occupation: Attorney/Age: 31 Hometown: Chicago, IL
Relationship: DATING

Name: MONICA CAYCE Occupation: Student/Age: 23 Hometown: Fayetteville, AR
Name: JOSEPH MEADOWS Occupation: Homebuilder/Age: 23 Hometown: Fort Smith, AR
Relationship: DATING
News Article can be found here. *Thanks, Sue!

Name: DESIREE CIFRE Occupation: Writer/Age: 24 Hometown: New York, NY
Name: WANDA LOPEZ-ROCHFORD Occupation: Corporate Trainer/Age: 44 Hometown: Smyrna, GA
Relationship: MOTHER AND DAUGHTER

Name: MICHELLE GARNER Occupation: Homemaker/Age: 36 Hometown: Hattiesburg, MS
Name: LAKE GARNER Occupation: Dentist/Age: 37 Hometown: Hattiesburg, MS
Relationship: MARRIED PARENTS

Name: JONI GLAZE Occupation: Children's Minister/Age: 44 Hometown: Katy, TX
Name: LISA HINDS Occupation: Realtor/Artist/Age: 48 Hometown: Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Relationship: SISTERS

Name: BARRY LAZARUS Occupation: Retired Physician/Age: 63 Hometown: Silverthorne, CO
Name: FRAN LAZARUS Occupation: Retired Accountant/Age: 61 Hometown: Silverthorne, CO
Relationship: MARRIED 40 YEARS

Name: JEREMY RYAN Occupation: Valet/Age: 26 Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Name: ERIC SANCHEZ Occupation: Waiter/Age: 27 Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Relationship: FRIENDS

Name: DAVID SPIKER Occupation: Musician/Age: 30 Hometown: Manhattan, KS
Name: LORI WILLEMS Occupation: Pizza Hut Manager/Age: 25 Hometown: Manhattan, KS
Relationship: DATING

Name: DANI TORCHIO Occupation: Recent College Graduate/Age: 22 Hometown: Staten Island, NY
Name: DANIELLE TURNER Occupation: Recent College Graduate/Age: 22 Hometown: Staten Island, NY
Relationship: CHILDHOOD FRIENDS