The Amazing Race 31: Episodes 5 and 6 Blog Party

Yep, we have two hours of the race going on tonight! I hope you all have your snacks and adult beverages prepped! We aren't all that far into the season, but I find it rather surprising that only one team from Survivor is left while all three Big Brother teams remain in the race. I think the prior TAR teams have an edge, however even one of those teams is gone before the BB teams!

I'll be live blogging and updating this post with the major events throughout the show as it airs here on the East Coast. Refresh the page to get the latest news! As always, the real party is in the comments -- feel free to join in on the discussion!

Without further ado, here's where we stand with Lifeguard SueGee in the blog pool:

From Big Brother
Rachel & Elissa -- Delee, Nickelpeed
Nicole & Victor -- Jackie, Jennifer, Jenna G
Janelle & Britney -- Donna in FL, David, Monty924

From Survivor
Chris & Bret -- Paula B., Megan in NC, SueGee

From TAR
Colin & Christie -- Donna NY, Petals
Becca & Floyd -- Merrilee, Judi Sweeney, Glenn Allen
Leo & Jamal -- Kelsey NY, Indiana Jane, Cheryl in NC
Tyler & Korey -- Sharon N, Ed in Ohio

Philiminated
Art & JJ
Rupert & Laura
Corinne & Eliza

Are you ready? Let's GO!

Eight teams remain. Who will be eliminated next? The teams are heading to Dubai. All are on the same flight.

They are now among luxury cars and drink tea with the locals. They're directed to look into the cars, then travel by taxi headed to the next clue. They're going to the Dubai Frame, a huge building that looks like a frame. Um, okay.

It's like a picture frame with old Dubai on one side, new on the other.

Detour -- sky diving jump master, parachute down to pick up a clue. Or, largest dinosaur park searching for five different colored eggs to return to their nest(s?). Only two teams can jump at one time, so some are going to the eggs just to avoid the wait. Rachel and Elissa are having issues with their taxi driver. Once they get to the eggs, they decide to switch because too many teams are there. Those looking for the eggs have to wear those neato T-Rex costumes.

Whoa! The jump is actually a virtual reality game in which they have a task to complete, not a simple jump. There's even a test at the end of it. If they fail, they have to take it over. So, there's a wait there, too.

Bret and Chris finish the eggs first, then Colin and Christie the jump. Britney and Janelle put all their eggs in the wrong nest. It does seem like the nest folks are finishing easier.

It's a Roadblock next. One with all wearing headphones. The racer has to listen to the music and decide who is dancing to the dj's music. It's a silent rave party.

Becca and Floyd got through the silent disco first thanks to Floyd's beats background. They're headed to the Pit Stop. They have to fly in there Superman style? Hmm.

Leo/Jamal and Rachel/Elissa are both lagging behind the others. Oh, geez, after finishing the dance Roadblock, we get Rachel's tears of drama again.

It seems many are heading to the Pit Stop right in a row. They have to take a marked elevator, then take a zipline over Dubai.

Pit Stop order:
1. Becca and Floyd! Also each won $5,000 
2. Chris and Bret
3. Colin and Christie
4. Tyler and Korey
5. Nicole and Victor
6. Janelle and Britney
7. Leo and Jamal
8. Rachel (still crying) and Elissa … it's NON-PHILMINATION! They're still in it.

In the teaser for the next hour, they're heading to Uganda and the Head to Head Challenge returns. Oy.

Eight teams remain. Who will be eliminated next? Deja vu.

Sure enough, heading to Uganda and then to the capitol. All teams are right together once again pretty much starting on a level playing field. Tyler and Korey are a bit concerned about a possible bias against gay couples. 

Rachel/Elissa and Janelle/Britney have dubbed themselves as the Mom Squad.

They're headed to the National Mosque. The Afghanimals are looking forward to seeing animals. They have to change into acceptable clothes for the mosque. They have to count 272 steps they need to climb. Gah, Tyler and Korey read research about the mosque and didn't count but the count they remembered was wrong. Apparently the Minuret (sp?) is different than the mosque itself, Ah it's between marked spots.

Teams then have to head to a market to find the next clue. 

Rachel is whining again climbing the stairs.

Traffic there is ridiculous! In the market there's a Speed Bump for Rachel and Elissa.

Roadblock -- teams have to shop for ingredients and make a special sandwich.

Nicole and Victor are leading. Then the teams head off to the Gava Strip or something to that effect. 

The Speed Bump has Rachel and Elissa doing laundry and finding a place to hang it.

Janelle is still looking for a Rolex watch when the Roadblock is actually Rolled Eggs. Rachel and Elissa killed the laundry task.

Ah, a Detour is next -- either salting fish or loading wood and delivering on a bike. Janelle is so lost still at the Roadblock.

The delivery Detour is tough with muddy dirt roads. Tyler and Korey think they're getting a lot of positive energy. But I'm wondering if people are even realizing they're gay. Colin is maintaining his cool unlike in his season.

Janelle finally found the rolled eggs counter. They're way behind.

Tyler and Korey head to Head to Head. Drums must be moved one at a time into four colored stacks, winners head to Pit Stop. Losers battle the next team and so on. Last loser is Philiminated.

Elissa/Rachel seem to be the only ones doing salty roll instead of stacking and delivering the wood. They're actually pretty well-versed at it having had to clean fish from childhood.

Tyler/Korey are against Colin/Christie for the first Head to Head.
Tyler vs. Colin. Tyler wins!

Nicole/Victor against Colin/Christie
Victor vs. Colin (drums restacked)
Colin wins.

Nicole/Victor vs, Bret/Chris
Victor wins

Bret against Floyd
Bret wins

Floyd against Leo
Floyd wins

Jamal against Rachel
Jamal wins

BB Battle now --
Rachel vs Britney
Rachel wins

Pit Stop
1. Tyler/Korey - won a trip to Singapore
2. Colin/Christie
3. Victor/Nicole
4. Bret/Chris
5. Floyd/Becca
6. Leo/Jamal
7. Rachel/Elissa

Britney and Janelle are Philiminated. There are tears but they don't go out bitter or nasty like Eliza/Corinne did.

Survivor 38: Edge of Extinction - Season Finale Blog Party

Well, here we are -- season finale time. All but two castaways from the start of the season remain in the game. That's so to speak, I guess. While it's been interesting, it's definitely not a "twist" I hope to see repeated. We have five castaways playing the game with thirteen (!) more over in Extinction. One will be coming back tonight. And, they will need to get rid of three to get to the final three. Um. Okay. Whatever.

I'll be live blogging the major events as tonight's show airs here on the East Coast. Please refresh this page to get the latest news! As always, the real party is in the comments area -- feel free to join in on the fun!

Lifeguard Laurie has been diligently watching y'all in the blog pool. Here are the latest standings:

Gavin Whitson -- Brenda, KelseyNY
Julie Rosenberg -- Delee, MikesGirl
Lauren O'Connell -- Brian, Krysta Gibbon, Sharon N.
Rick Devens -- Auntie Leigh, Merrilee
Victoria Baamonde -- Indiana Jane, Karen in VS, SueGee

Jury & Extinction
Reem Daly -- David, Terry is a Texan, Sharon C
Chris Underwood -- Glenn Allen, Laurie
Aubry Bracco * -- Cheryl in NC, Margo, Petals
Eric Hafemann -- Bizaro22, Pinky, Shannon
Joe Anglim * -- Carol C, Kismet
Julia Carter -- Donna in FL, Monty924, Jennifer
David Wright * -- Dr_Celine, PDX Granny, Renee Buck
Kelley Wentworth * -- Donna in NY, Jenna G.
Dan DaSilva "Wardog" -- Jackie, Nana in the NW
Ron Clark -- Cherry Pie, Judi Sweeney, Rochelle
Aurora McCreary -- Ed in Ohio, marthalight

Let's see how the largest show jury will decide ... 

I guess they'll never film the finale in NYC again. They used to rotate between CA and NY.

We open up with a challenge for the extinct. Tied to a rope, through rope maze, obstacle course, untie knots, across a rope bridge, table maze, first to drop two balls gets back in the game.

Wardog, as usual, is lagging behind. He talked such a good game! Ron is slow, too. 

Joe, Eric and Aurora are leading. Aurora has one ball in. Joe has one in. Chris has one in. 

CHRIS WINS AND RETURNS TO THE GAME!

Jeff sits them all down and tells them that this was a social experiment. He starts off asking Reem her darkest moment. He then asks Joe and the theme seems to be never quitting for him. Onto David and what it's meant for him. He seems to think there's no place like home. Julia is grateful and now realizes how strong she is. Eric is all about his kids and not quitting. Aubry reminder of your true character. Kelley says she thought it was about game, not people and now realizes it's about who you are, not that you win. 

They get to not go back to Extinction but only Chris will play the game. Lots of tears. 

Live, Jeff calls Joe out. His hair is not in a man-bun. It's wild. Jeff asks him if a player like him can ever win? He asks if he might come back. He does have a feeling he'll come back. 

Chris hasn't even met some of the others. He tells them he does have information if people want to come talk to him. Thinking about it, he does have how the jury is leaning. He doesn't want to be immediately voted out. Victoria doesn't know him, but is worried about the two that do know him. He immediately teams up with Rick. But, since Rick backstabbed him before, can it last?

Chris also knows Lauren has an idol (because Kelley told him on Extinction). She's a bit leery. I think she's been a fairly strategic player. She's seriously thinking of trusting him.

Time for the first Immunity Challenge. Race through obstacles, across balance beam, collecting bags along the way, solve combination lock, puzzle. There is a reward of steak and chocolate cake for dessert.

Chris is doing poorly, but coaching Julie.

JULIE WINS IMMUNITY! 

She chooses Chris to go with her because he has never had Reward, nor even the merge feast. She then chooses Lauren as the second. That choice now has the others "very wary."

Julie tells us that she invited Chris to try to get Rick out of the game. Chris advises a split between Rick and Victoria because the jury thinks they're best for the end game. 

Victoria is telling the others that Chris needs to go because she thinks he'll work with Lauren and Julie. Rick isn't really keen to vote out Chris, but doesn't really trust him. He says he will be playing his idol tonight no matter what. He needs to know if Rick is working with him or against him. 

Rick and Chris talk. Chris tells him that he's loyal to him. Rick brings up the bag from Extinction … which contains the half of an idol like we had before. He gives Rick the half-idol. Chris tells Rick that Victoria is on the line. He tells us that he wants Lauren to play her idol for him. She says if Rick plays his, she will.

It's off to Tribal and Jeff's Probsting questions. He first asks Chris how he's adapting. Jeff brings up that Rick was ticked when Julie chose Lauren instead of him. Then he cries. Victoria thinks there's someone other than the easy vote Chris to go. Rick says it's him. Time to vote.

The tally … Rick plays his idol. Lauren plays her idol for Chris.

Rick, Rick, Rick, Chris, Victoria, Victoria

Victoria is gone. She tells Gavin she will vote for him.

In the middle of the night, Rick is up idol hunting. He put two fake idols out there with the notes from the real ones he had previously found. He found the real one! He gives Chris back the half, so now it's Chris and Rick with idols going into the final four. Julie thinks since two idols were played, there has to be another one. Julie finds an idol. Is it the fake? Lauren finds a scroll directing to an idol. (Rick's?) and gets the idol from there. Yep, Rick tells Chris that's a fake one.

Immunity Challenge time. Way up over the water, race over obstacles over the ocean gathering bags, solve puzzle.

Gavin and Chris are in the lead. Chris drops behind. Gavin and Rick in the lead. 

RICK WINS IMMUNITY!

Rick is beside himself with joy. He knows that they were all after him. He tells us both the Julie and Lauren idols are his fakes. He wants to play his idol on Chris if Gavin takes him final three and doesn't do a fire challenge. So, he's getting them to vote Chris who has a real idol. Julie is thinking since there were three idols, her own might be fake. Rick and Chris must decide which person will go home. The power is in their hand. They are tossing between Julie and Lauren.

Off to Tribal once again. Jeff talks about Rick's 4th immunity win and asks if it's due to the target on his back. Chris says he hopes his new bonds will get him through. They're talking about all the IFS going on. Trust issues are going on. 

Time to vote …

The tally --
It's the last night to play idols.

Julie tries to play the fake idol. Nope, no go. Lauren plays the fake idol, nope for her, too. Rick plays his real idol for Gavin. Chris plays his real idol for himself.

Chris, Chris, Chris, Lauren, Lauren.

Lauren is still giggling about all the fake idols and says it was so well played. She goes off wishing the others good luck.

The final four are Chris, Rick, Julie and Gavin. Both Chris and Rick were voted off before and won their way back in from Extinction.

Immunity Challenge time once again. Negotiate rocky walkway balancing blocks on a rope suspended pole, first to spell Final Three wins. Rick is doing horribly. Chis is leading. But, if the blocks drop, they have to start all over. He has all his blocks up and is retreating to the start. 

CHRIS WINS IMMUNITY! 

He gets to choose who will sit next to him and which two will fight for the third slot in a fire-making challenge.

Rick is a bit worried about Chris having control. He doesn't want to do fire. They do have practice time with the fire. He tries to convince Chris. Not so convincing, Chris thinks that Rick would be the million dollar winner over anyone. Chris is working with both Gavin and Julie to improve their fire skills. He wants them both to stand a chance to beat Rick. 

Going into the final Tribal now.

Both Gavin and Julie say they'll go fire. Gavin wants to go against Rick. 

Chris wants to have no regrets. He gives his necklace to Julie and HE will do fire against Rick. Wow. Julie and Gavin will be a part of the final three.

CHRIS DOES IT! HE'S IN THE FINAL THREE! Well played.

Rick Devens is now on the jury. Jeff talks to him live and Rick gets a standing ovation from the crowd.

Gavin, Julie and Chris are enjoying the fancy feast of a breakfast. Julie tells us she thinks she got to the final three because of the relationships she formed. Chris pleads his case to us. He doesn't have to convince me. At this time, he deserves the win in my opinion. Then Gavin wants us to think he's such a strong social player and adaptable.

Tribal jury time …
Outwit -- David asks strongest ally. Gavin says Victoria Chris says Rick. Julie says Ron and Eric and a secret relationship with Lauren. Chris is asked about social relationships on Extinction, he says providing food. Gavin says his social game was his strategic game. He denies being anyone's goat. Julie says she was going to use her emotional weakness as a strategy. Julie seems to be knocking some of the jury in pleading her case. Hmm. She needs to shut up. Gavin and Aubry click. 

Outplay -- Rick wants to know why so few found idols. Gavin said he looked a little. Rick wants to know if Chris had any advantages coming back. Chris brings up the final move. He also says you can't screw people around. His relationship with Rick was real. Gavin disagrees. Gavin is acting like Extinction is nothing. Wardog says it's about people playing better. 

Outlast -- Gavin says pretty much what he told us. He was playing for his family. Chris wanted to play a perfect game but got blindsided. When he came back he had to do the best move every time. Julie goes on about the life-changing personal journey. 

Time for the vote, but a commercial first.

Finally to the live show. We'll be in for a short reunion bit tonight. Just over a half-hour left.

The tally …

Gavin, Chris, Gavin, Chris, Gavin, Chris, Gavin, Chris, Chris, Chris, Chris …

Yep, I called it. 

CHRIS WINS!!!

Congratulations blog pool winners Laurie and Glenn Allen!

Reunion tidbits --
David Wright and Cochran are writing the CBS All Access Star Trek show
Jeff finally mentioned that he always calls Kelley "Wentworth."
Gavin again says "whenever" in place of the correct "when."
Rick wins Sia's award of $100,000. (She's done that a few seasons now.)

Next season will be …

Survivor: Two winners return Sandra and Boston Rob. Won't be competing, live on own island and mentor new players. Boot Camp. Survivor: Island of the Idols.

The Amazing Race 31: Episode 4 Blog Party

Wherever will we race to tonight? Since last week was a nonPhilimination, we know one team will be heading home tonight. Well, they don't actually go home. They get to be on a very cool vacation for the amount of time other teams run. Supposedly, that's to quell spoilers when a team gets home early. However, since they really do race in public, the teams are seen as they race. No way to stop that!

I'll update this entry with the major events as the show airs here on the East Coast. Refresh this page to get the latest news! As always, the party is in the comments area -- feel free to join in on the fun!

Here are the latest standings in the blog pool from SueGee. Strangely … they're just like last week! An nonPhilimination will do that --

From Big Brother
Rachel & Eliza -- Delee, Nickelpeed
Nicole & Victor -- Jackie, Jennifer, Jenna G
Janelle & Britney -- Donna in FL, David, Monty924

From Survivor
Corinne & Eliza -- Dr_Celine, Caela, Willie J
Chis & Bret -- Paula B., Megan in NC, SueGee

From TAR
Colin & Christie -- Donna NY, Petals
Becca & Floyd -- Merrilee, Judi Sweeney, Glenn Allen
Leo & Jamal -- Kelsey NY, Indiana Jane, Cheryl in NC
Tyler & Korey -- Sharon N, Ed in Ohio

Philiminated
Art & JJ
Rupert & Laura

Ready? Let's GO!

Nine teams remain. Who will be eliminated next?

Teams have to go to Snowtown, Saigon. It's going to be a gathering point as it doesn't open until 6:30am. Once inside, they slide down through the snow going for a clue. 

Bret and Chris have their Speed Bump -- fill up container with snowballs and deliver in Ho Chi Minh City. Teams are heading to the city. Rachel is all irked because Eliza tried to steal their taxi.

Roadblock -- must learn motor bike skills to pass drivers test on one.

The Afghanimals get through the Roadblock first followed by Elissa and Rachel. 

Detour - Irritation or Irrigation. Deliver fish or build irrigation wheel.

Cprinne and Eliza are the only ones remaining at the Roadblock/ Even Chris and Bret did their Speed Bump and passed them on by.

Once again Colin/Christie and Nicole/Victor are leading heading towards the Pit Stop.

Pit Stop order:
1. Colin/Christie -- win a trip to the Dominican Republic
2. Nicole/Victor
3. Chris/Bret
4. Becca/Floyd
5. Tyler/Korey
6. Leo/Jamal
7. Janelle/Britney
8. Rachel/Elissa
9. Corinne/Eliza -- Philiminated, not full of grace and dignity, either.

Due to the Survivor finale next week, The Amazing Race won't return until the 22nd.

Survivor 38: Edge of Extinction - Ep. 13 Blog Party

They seriously need to do something with all of the castaways still hanging out over on Extinction Island. Next week is the season finale and we still have all but two castaways remaining technically in the show. It looks like a jury of thirteen?!?! Oh my! 

I will be live blogging the show's major events as it airs here on the East Coast. Refresh this page to get the latest news! As always, the real party is in the comments area -- please feel free to join in!

Here are the latest blog pool standings from the Luverly Lifeguard Laurie --

Aurora McCreary -- Ed in Ohio, marthalight
Gavin Whitson -- Brenda, KelseyNY
Julie Rosenberg -- Delee, MikesGirl
Lauren O'Connell -- Brian, Krysta Gibbon, Sharon N.
Rick Devens -- Auntie Leigh, Merrilee
Victoria Baamonde -- Indiana Jane, Karen in VS, SueGee

Jury & Extinction
Reem Daly -- David, Terry is a Texan, Sharon C
Chris Underwood -- Glenn Allen, Laurie
Aubry Bracco * -- Cheryl in NC, Margo, Petals
Eric Hafemann -- Bizaro22, Pinky, Shannon
Joe Anglim * -- Carol C, Kismet
Julia Carter -- Donna in FL, Monty924, Jennifer
David Wright * -- Dr_Celine, PDX Granny, Renee Buck
Kelley Wentworth * -- Donna in NY, Jenna G.
Dan DaSilva "Wardog" -- Jackie, Nana in the NW
Ron Clark -- Cherry Pie, Judi Sweeney, Rochelle

Survivor fans ready? 


Rick is trying to convince everyone his idol came from  Extinction. Gavin feels bad about betraying Ron and thinks it will now put everyone's focus on getting Rick out. Rick knows he's a lone wolf and looks for an idol. Meanwhile, although some are believing idols and advantages might just be found on Extinction, Lauren knows otherwise. She thinks she'd like to add a second one to her pocket. But Rick is really going after it. 

Welp, Rick found an idol and we're heading into the Reward challenge. Helicopter trip over the island, fancy meal. Toss a ball, catch on the other side of an obstacle. Dig under a beam, get two balls, then land the balls on a narrow perch.

Gavin wins Reward, chooses Victoria saying she hasn't been on Reward, then Lauren. The others mention that Aurora hasn't been on Reward just like Victoria.

The three on Reward think Rick needs to go next. They want Aurora in there with them sticking together. Victoria tells her she wants Julie out after Rick. Aurora isn't a happy camper.

Extinction -- they get the letters they wrote to themselves before the game. Overly dramatic similar the the drama and tears when the "loved ones visit." 

On camp, since he now has an idol, Rick decides he should torment the others. After all, he knows they all want him out anyway. He's having a ball letting them follow him around and hiding. 

Time for the Immunity Challenge. Race to slide tiles into a target, two handles to transport through obstacle course, solve puzzle -- a six word phrase. 

Not living on the edge tonight is the phrase. Rick Devens wins! He knows the second target after himself is Julie. He wants to try to keep her int the game.

Aurora is calling Rick a thorn in her side. The others are still talking about taking Julie out. Julie knows that the only one who really would work with her is Rick. She tries working on Lauren to possibly target Aurora. Lauren makes the suggestion of Aurora to Gavin. Rick himself wants to create some chaos at tribal and get the Gavin alliance turning on each other.

At Tribal, Jeff already has Julie talking about the four person alliance. Aurora once again says how much they need to get Rick out. As they all talk about getting him out, Rick is grinning like the Cheshire Cat. Rick talks about how Aurora is sitting on the bottom of her alliance. He also says he's going to play his idol to save Julie and pulls the idol out to show them. It's wrapped up, they don't know if it's real or fake. 

The tally -- Rick does NOT play his idol.

Aurora, Julie, Aurora, Aurora, Aurora … she's out! 

Naturally, she grabs the torch and heads to the fast growing city of Extinction. 

Jeff says one will come back from Extinction next week. I guess we'll just have a huge jury.

Survivor 38: Edge of Extinction - Wednesday Technical Problems

We had one anonymous commenter on last night's show post who kept experiencing technical problems while watching the show. He or she kept hearing just the show theme music instead of the dialogue. No one else partaking in the comments had the same issue.

Well, anon … it's not your television. It's not your cable company. And, you're not alone. CBS has made the episode available online, no CBS All Access needed due to the issue. I saw this article today. Since you're anon, I can't give you a personal heads up. I hope you see this!