TV Newsy Bits for October 2, 2006

It's Monday!

Well, I can pretend to be excited about it, can't I?

I watched the second episode of Heroes tonight. I'm not sure where that show is going, but I'm going to stick with it. I guess I'm a bit of a comic-geek wandering mind type. Of course, my favorite character on the show is Hiro. His YATA exclamation in NYC reminds me so much of BJ and Tyler last season on The Amazing Race with their TATOW!

I want to thank everyone in the comments from the day. You folks are fantastic and, did you notice? Not one commenter stood up and said, "I think you're wrong about Peter. He's a saint." Heh.

In other real TV news:

• Cecilia, the recent Survivor castoff, will be on Letterman tonight. Well, at least at the Hello Deli around the corner.
• Heroes Continue to Test Their Newfound Abilities Next Week on Heroes
• Bones Preview Clips for October 4th
• In Depth Episode (Possible Spoiler) Info for Survivor 10/05

What did you watch tonight?

'The Amazing Race 10' - Ep. 3 -or- "Fuel, Fowl and the Hanoi Hilton"

Nine teams remain. Who will be eliminated tonight?

Okay, I noticed last week that Phil did the introduction with the word "next" instead of "tonight." Is it a clue of some sort? Well, the results were the same. A team was indeed eliminated from The Amazing Race tonight. And, I might add, it wasn't a team I wanted to see leave.

Let's jump right on in with the pack at the race...

We left the teams at the last Pit Stop in Mongolia. As is standard, the teams left in the same order as they had arrived, albeit twelve hours later. Peter and Sarah were the first to get the clue and to head off on a mission to get to the Hoa Lo Prison or, as it's nicknamed, the "Hanoi Hilton" in Hanoi, Vietnam. I noticed that there was about a two hour gap between first and last. Peter/Sarah left at 6:54 AM and, in last place, Lyn/Karlyn left at 9:02 AM.

The teams started the leg with zero (as in zilch, nothing, dead-po' broke) dollars and were warned that they couldn't beg or sell anything. So, some teams were a bit better off than others with saved money from the previous two legs of the race. Sarah/Peter had $40, Dustin/Kandice had $24, but others were as low as Duke/Lauren with a paltry $11.

The money was more of an issue than departure times as the teams hit a bunching point at the airport and all teams ended up on the same flight to Hanoi.

Drama? Was there drama? Sure, there was! Tom and Terry threw a fit when they thought Dustin and Kandice cut in front of them in line. And, of course, it was all for naught.

What about physical woes? Well, of course! Mary hurt her ankle in the last leg and, in a confessional spot said, "I didn't leave my kids for nuthin" as she vowed to race on. Sarah's prosthetic leg is still leaking hydraulic fluid and, while it doesn't seem to be causing her any additional pain, the knee isn't responding as it should and not bending as well. As a result, her running is almost like a jolting hop-a-long. She might still be able to outrun Mary or Lyn/Karlyn, but she's not in her personal marathon condition.

Once in Hanoi, Duke picked up a local woman who promised to lead them to the prison, but really just wanted to use them for a ride to go see her brother a half-hour from their destination. Lauren was against it all along and I think she restrained from saying, "I told you so!" Thankfully, their cab driver accepted their $11 and didn't call the cops for fare-beating.

Lyn and Karlyn tried to get David and Mary aboard in their taxi to help them, but both teams wouldn't fit. David was completely awestruck at being in Vietnam. His Dad was a Vietnam War veteran and his thoughts sometimes clouded his judgment in this leg of the race. Of course, that makes me feel old because I'm old enough to be David's mother. Oh, say it ain't so!

The teams once again bunched up as they awaited a 9 AM opening. Their quest was to find the display containing John McCain's flightsuit within the prison museum, Maiso Centrale. Tom and Terry were the first to discover the suit and scampered off with nary a word to the other teams.

From the Hanoi Hilton, teams had to go to Hanoi's Old Quarter where they had to face this leg's Roadblock (a task which can only be completed by one member of each team). This one that seemed fun but I personally think it was a bit lame when compared to others. They had to "charm people and turn a buck" on the streets of Hanoi... selling flowers. (What's that sound? Is that the sound of rolling eyes?) The good thing is that they get to keep the money made - all of what amounts to about $5 (USD). Why Peter sold flowers while Sarah ends up with physical tasks, I don't know. (Dump him, Sarah!) Lauren was thrilled with the native womens' response to her father selling flowers.

Although Peter and Sarah were in good standing at that time, they took a wrong bus to the next destination, the town of Vac. David was still thinking of his father's days in Vietnam and Tom/Terry apparently weren't thinking at all. Earlier the show had a blurb about the teams being prohibited from riding or driving motorcycles or motorbikes in Vietnam due to safety issues. So, what does Team TT do? They ride with locals on motorbikes to the next stop, a Detour.

The teams have a choice between locally-inspired tasks in a Detour. In this one, they had to choose between Fuel or Fowl. In Fuel, the teams had to make 30 coal bricks (used as fuel) to specification. In Fowl, the teams had to make a birdcage to specification. Most of the teams chose Fuel, but that wasn't coal as we know it. As David, the coalminer says, "This ain't real coal!" And, I believe it was Mary who said, "Oh! This is just like Play-Doh!" Lauren and Duke tackled the birdcage only because they got lost searching for the Fuel site.

As the teams completed the task, it was a foot race to the Pit Stop on a rice paddy still in Vietnam. The ChoBros arrived first and, like Tyler and BJ last year, got rooked on their prize. Instead of a cool trip, they got a home entertainment system. Not one for each of them, just one. Bummer!

But, not as much of a bummer as what happened to Terry and Tom. They slid into second place only to get nicked for their riding the forbidden to ride motorbikes. They received a half-hour penalty and it was an anxious wait as the other teams arrived to the Pit Stop. At least in editing, it looks like they barely squeaked into the last spot before Philimination.

The rest of the teams arrived at the Pit Stop in this order:
2. Tyler/James
3. Rob/Kimberly
4. Dustin/Kandice
5. Peter/Sarah
6. Lyn/Karlyn
6. David/Mary
8. Tom/Terry squeak back in.
9. Last and eliminated from the race - Duke/Lauren.


Rats. I liked them. If only it could have been Rob and Kimberly, although we didn't really see a lot of them in this leg.

I think this week's challenges were a bit on the ho-hum side, but it may just be the adventurer within me. I'm liking the possibility that some teams may work together if they can. Lyn/Karlyn think David and Mary are great and are also bonding with the ChoBros and Team TT. I'm still liking the ChoBros a lot and I'm admiring David and Mary's spunk and the relationship between them more each week. We didn't see a heck of a lot of the Rehab Model Boys, and that was fine with me. I don't think they'll stay in the background too long, but it was nice to go a week without hearing how "saved" they are.

I still think that Peter's using Sarah and I can't help but think that she's realizing they're not a match made in heaven.

Dump him, Sarah!

'The Amazing Race 10' - East Coast 10/01 Show Update - Pit Stop Arrival Order

1. The ChoBros. - Also won a state of the art home entertainment center.
(2.) Tom and Terry... but, they didn't follow a safety restriction regarding prohibiting riding or driving a motorcycle or motorbike in Vietnam, a 30 minute penalty. They must wait it out.
2. Tyler/James
3. Rob/Kimberly
4. Dustin/Kandice
5. Peter/Sarah
6. Lyn/Karlyn
7. David/Mary
8. Tom and Terry back in.
9. Last and Philiminated - Duke and Lauren.

'Amazing Race 10' - Tonight's Blogging Schedule

The start of tonight's The Amazing Race 10 episode has been delayed by football.

I don't like football.

I don't like delays of shows I enjoy due to football.

You don't even want me to go there!

60 Minutes started at a bit after 7:30 PM here in the NYC area, so TAR should start a bit after 8:30 PM. As usual, I'll post important show-changing stuff here on the blog as it airs in East Coast time. Later tonight, I'll post a review/recap of the episode.

To get to the latest blog entry, it may be necessary to refresh the main blog page or hit the link for October in the Archives links on the right sidebar of the main blog page.

'Lost' - Spoilers, Rumors, and Speculations

I've done it. I've searched the web looking for all of the spoilers, rumors, and pure speculation regarding the upcoming season of Lost. The season premieres this Wednesday, October 4, at 9 PM ET/PT in most viewing areas. Check your local listings so you don't miss it!

And, if you don't want to know spoilers for Season Three, then quietly close the article and move along. There's nothing to see here, nothing at all. Ah, but if you do want to know, read on...

From Kristin at E! Online, I gathered these gems (the commentary, of course, is my own):

Executive Producer Bryan Burk said, "We're opening a whole new world for you in season three." Yikes! Have we even explored the worlds already opened onto us? He promises the show will spiral into new and unexpected directions. Hmm, now I'm a show fan, but I think I'd like to have some more answers before more spirals take place. Burk said the show will delve deeper into the Others; we'll learn more about them as the storylines focus on them.

There is also a new Brazilian "hot" male character to be introduced this season -- Rodrigo Santoro and his new friend (or is it?) Kiele Sanchez. Lots of on-screen chemistry is promised. Oh, hot and heavy stuff, eh?

Burk also said the hatch is gone, done and over with. This season will feature entirely new sets. Eep! But... but... I still have unsolved mysteries about the hatch!

Amongst the teasers Kristin shared for the show, we have the fact (rumor, speculation) that two people close to Sun die. She said they're close to her in very different ways. Hmmm... I hope it's not Jin. Or Hurley! Could it be Michael? At least we have a ray of hope with dead characters on this show. Sometimes the dead come back. No, not like in a Stephen King novel... in flashbacks.

The kiss we see in the promos isn't what it seems according to Kristin. But, there will be another kiss. Is this a Judas Kiss? I don't know. I'm just conveying the information here. Uh-oh. There will be sex in Jack's bed. Will Jack be a part of this? I'm not thinking so. Change those sheets, at least! Sawyer will be shown as a "bonafide wuss"? How could that be? Supposedly, he'll have good reason for his wussiness. I guess we'll be the judge of that!

Terry O'Quinn (John Locke character) said that he's been told that the show will reveal why he was in a wheelchair, but he can't tell when or how or anything else about it. Heck, these actors don't even really know the skinny on this show.

I found the Spoilerfix site interesting. They mention that while some spoilers are indeed spoilers, the producers and cast often put forth what they call "foilers" -- deliberate false spoilers to foil the attempts of the spoilers crowd. That could be a show on its own, it seems. But, it all goes into why I named this article with "rumors" and "speculation" in its title. I can't guarantee any of this will happen. We'll have to watch to see what's a spoiler and what's a foiler.

Here's what I gleaned from their site, foilers and spoilers, along with my reactions:

The first episode entitled "A Tale of Two Cities" will concentrate on Jack (Matthew Fox) with flashback sequences about his drinking father and possible infidelity on the part of his wife, Sarah. Desmond will turn up at the hatch naked. Wait! I thought the hatch was done and over with according to the other spoilers! Perhaps the hatch will cringe at the sight of a dirty naked Desmond and implode. Or something. And, no, that's not a spoiler. That's just my odd mind. The premiere also focuses on Jack, Sawyer, and Kate as prisoners of the Others.

The second episode is "The Glass Ballerina" and it will mainly focus on Sun and Jin. Sayid puts Sun and Jin in danger with his plan to locate the captured by the Others bunch. Henry will make a proposition to Jack that Jack may find hard to turn down. A new character named Colleen is set to appear in the third episode. She's tough and seems to have military training of some sort. She distrusts most people and is only emotional when with her "significant other." Not to be confused with her significant Other. Or maybe, I don't know. Is she herself an Other? Where did she come from? Was she on the plane? I don't know.

The third episode entitled "Further Instructions" focuses on John Locke. There is supposed to be a "trippy airport-set dream sequence" according to the TV Guide. Hurley is the flight attendant, Desmond is the pilot, and Claire and Charlie are married. But, it's all a dream. Or is it? (Cue organ music here.) In this episode, it's also predicted that a dead character will return. Boone (Ian Somerhalder) must be at his sister's side... or something. I'm sure death hasn't hurt his good looks any. Wait, this isn't a flashback or part of the dream. Supposedly, Boone hooks up with John Locke on a "kung fu"-like journey to expose an island mystery. John Locke is also supposed to revert to his previous mysterious and knowing ways, Grasshopper. Good. I like that character better. I've always predicted that Locke is the Key to the island and he could very well be if he goes back to that persona.

The episode also reveals the fate of Eko, Desmond, and Locke after the hatch's implosion. (See! I said the hatch would implode after experiencing a naked Desmond!) Oh, no... it's the new characters Nikki and Paulo who have sex in Jack's bed! Already? Some introduction to the characters, eh?

Okay, there are the spoilers for the first three episodes. Once those are digested, I'll write about more down the road. Remember, some are spoilers, some may be foilers. But, this Wednesday, we'll all be watching the season premiere!