The Amazing Race

Monday, September 28, 2009

I thought of a few other shows that I’m “watching.” By watching I mean recording and viewing at some much later date.

I Survived - A guy survived a bear attack by playing dead while his wife beat on the bear with a branch. A couple survived a raging wildfire while their house burned around them - they took refuge in their pool. A family survived a home invasion. I defy anyone to watch this show without their jaw hanging open in horror at the tales these people recount.

Surviving Disaster - A former Navy SEAL teaches us how to survive various and sundry disasters. I’ve seen two episodes - surviving a fire in a high-rise office building and surviving a home invasion. Beau pointed out that we have a distinct advantage in our poverty and current home location - we are very unlikely to be invaded because we don’t have anything worth invading for. But I still want the tips for survival. I’m a worst case scenario nut - I constantly think about worst case scenarios and how to get out of them. I’m slightly obsessed with this, actually. So this show is perfect for me.

The Good Wife - I started to watch this yesterday and got distracted away after about 15-20 minutes. I liked what I saw, though, so I will get back to it.

In the meantime, I cancelled the season pass on DwtS - It’s too hard to keep up with it all and the only one I cared about was Donny Osmond. Except for Tom Delay - I had this deadly curiosity and weird hope that he’d be a better dancer than Tucker Carlson was. Someone needs to represent well on the dance floor for conservatives!

For the record, I don’t watch So You Think You Can Dance for two reasons: Mary Murphy and I’m not that into dance.

Watched Flash Forward on Saturday - me likey a lot. I find it hilarious that so many Brits are in it and working hard on their American accents. We can’t find good Americans for our TV shows anymore?

Finally, TAR - I believe you are back in fighting form (although to be fair I heard great things about last season, but I just couldn’t watch because of Molly Ann’s arrival). I only managed to see the first 20 minutes of the show, but I liked what I saw. I loved the first challenge and the twist. I’m going to try to finish it tonight.

One last thing, is it me or is the cast of Survivor: Samoa the least likeable ever?

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

1. This post was convicting. I shall cease and desist immediately. The truth is I really do love my job and I am grateful to have it, especially in this economy and given our family circumstances. God has blessed us and while there are certain aspects of my job that do drive me nuts, in the grand scheme they are relatively minor.

2. Related to item #1, I was struck by how the economy is impacting folks in ways that I wasn’t aware. Several in my small group expressed concerns - they are small business owners who aren’t being paid by clients despite having already received goods/services. What was surprising was whom the clients were - very large companies who should easily be able to pay.

3. I plan to skip the President’s speech tonight. I am not interested in hearing what he has to say. He’s said plenty already. If you ask me, the Dow should cover its ears, as well.

4. I’m on worship team for the final time this weekend. I won’t participate with that ministry again until well into the summer. I’m going to miss it.

5. In TV news, I have not seen an episode of the new season of The Amazing Race. Somehow I missed that it was starting a couple of weeks ago. I guess I’ll have to wait for the DVD. *lightbulb* Or maybe I should check for eps online that I missed and set the DVR to record the rest of the season. I can watch it while I’m on maternity leave.

Does anyone else think it’s odd that there’s way more traffic shown on 24 this season than when they were in LA? Not that DC doesn’t have horrendous traffic, but still…. Also, I have to quibble over the FBI mole dude swearing out warrants for Jack and Agent Walker - that would never happen. All law enforcement, be they local, state, or federal, must get a warrant from a judge. One last thing from last night’s ep: anyone else think that Agent Walker and Jack were going to kiss? I’m half relieved/half disappointed that they didn’t.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

I haven’t watched it. I haven’t watched the last four episodes. Maybe it’s having a baby and a business and football screwing with the time the show started, but I lost interest in The Race. Kinda makes me sad.

I know who won, so I doubt I’ll watch those four episodes that languish on my DVR.

Was is that boring to anyone else?

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

No real recap - go to the old faithfuls that I’m too busy to link for that.

What I will share is this:

1. Ronald as Competitor Dad is horrible - the way he talks to his daughter, it’s amazing she has any self-esteem. I fear her whole childhood was filled with the crap that he’s been feeding her on the Race.

2. I like Kynt and Vyxin or however she spells her name. I wonder how long the makeup will last as the Race progresses.

3. The Best Task Ever - ditch vaulting. I was laughing hysterically at each one. Donald should have kept his pant on though. Ew.

Monday, November 05, 2007

I was working on business stuff last night while listening to TAR 12. I have no clue what actually happened except who got Philiminated. I plan to watch the recording later. I will update this post with a weecap (term stolen shamelessly from TWoP). Thank you.

In the meantime, check out the recaps:

Reality Blurred - no real recap because of football/DVR issues.

My Ox is Broken

And, of course, the king (or should I say queen in honor of Miss Alli?) of recappers - Television Without Pity

Now, I’m going to go rescue a squealing Jesse from his crib. We’re headed out for a field trip to Wally World.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Set your DVRs The Amazing Race fans! The 12th season is starting early - November 4.

Can’t wait!

Thursday, April 26, 2007

I’m taking a break and catching up with my Reality Blurred reading.

First, in the TAR-AS recap, the line that made me nearly snarf:

Mirna told us, “People think that because Charla’s short, they think I’m supposed to treat her in a special way.” Actually, no one thinks that, but we do think people should treat you however one treats a harpy.

When I heard her say that during Sunday’s show, I didn’t think that exactly but what I did think was a similar sentiment.

On last night’s AI6 charity drive/elimination show I must say that I almost completely agree with this assessment. I found it cruel that they led Jordin to believe that she was to be eliminated when they had no intention of eliminating anyone. I realize that they wanted people to continue to vote, but there was no reason to let the 17 year old contestant think that she was going home. That it capped off a ho-hum celeb-fest, imho, made it worse for me. Bad form there, AI, bad form.

That said, I bought one of these to support the cause in my own small way.

Monday, April 23, 2007

If you haven’t seen last night’s episode yet move along because this post is highly spoilerish…You have been warned.

Let it be known that I am hoping the Cha-Chas win the money, however they miscalculated their bargain with the BQs a bit. The BQs miscalculated a tad bit as well.

What I would have done:

1. If I were the Chas I would have made the same offer to the BQs that they made - to not Yield the BQs for a bit of helpful cash. But I would have left it at that. They made the mistake of offering to Yield the team of the BQs’ choosing, which took their offer into the questionable dirty play arena.

2. If I were the BQs, I would have been happy enough to not be Yielded. With the Chas offer to Yield another team for cash, I would have merely asked them not to Yield my team for the money. Again, no complaints about dirty play.

The way it went down is going to lead to some negativity that needn’t happen in the next episode. Eric/Danielle are understandably angry. I’m interested to see how things shake out next week.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

First the TV stuff…

TAR-AS: I’ll be glad when this season is over. I think we need a longer break between seasons this time. Or just better contestants and challenges. The best part for me from Sunday’s episode:

In the Kuala Lampur airport, Mirna pushed Charla, who was standing on a luggage cart. In the Hong Kong airport, Charla popped out the wheels on her tennis shoes, and Mirna pulled her along. Next week, Mirna pops open a playpen and lifts Charla into it, telling her play quietly while Mirna stands in line for tickets.

[...]

Explaining one of the Detour options, Phil said, “Once here, they must climb up an 11-story bamboo scaffold, while avoiding an ongoing battle between stunt kung fu experts.” Best. Challenge. Ever.

The self-righteous anger of the teams irked at the BQs for using the Yield is laughable. They talk about the dirty play of the BQs since they used the Yield. Listen, whiners, the Yield is a legitimate part of the Race. You all play dirty by lying to travel agents or cab drivers or similar things that are not part of the organized Race. Using the Yield is not cheating.

Bah.

DwtS: Love Apolo Ohno. That is all.

24: Double Bah!

Now, from the DVD player…

Over the Hedge: Absolutely loved it. Sweet and hilarious. I can’t wait to watch it with Jesse when he’s old enough. A new children’s classic that I plan to buy for our DVD library. 5 stars out of 5.

For Your Consideration: I’ll be honest. I didn’t finish watching this one. I couldn’t get past the first 30 minutes, which was very disappointing because I love the Christopher Guest oeuvre. I believe he may have tapped out the mockumentary well at last - I didn’t laugh one time in the 30 minutes that I did watch. Makes me sad. 0 stars out of 5.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

First, about the All Stars TAR - I love. And I love almost all of the teams racing this time. I could do without the BQs from last season. And while I like Team Coalmine, also from last season, they don’t really measure up against the other all stars. The team I wish they had gotten again? Ken and Girard from season 3 - by far, my all time favorite Racers.

Second, about last night’s 24. SPOILER FOLLOWS… The episode was boring until the big reveal of President Weasel at the end, looking like he’s channeled Ted Kaczynski. Awesome!

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Dang that NFL - usually it’s no big deal when a game runs late. I have the DVR set to record Cold Case at 9pm in order to get whatever spill over of TAR there is into the 9pm hour. However, CBS ran some Hallmark movie thing on Sunday night and it didn’t even occur to me to record that in order to get the last half of TAR. So I have no clue how it ended until I read a recap somewhere.

Like (Spoiler Warning):

My Ox is Broken
Reality Blurred
TWoP

In other news, this season of Survivor is way more interesting than TAR, which pains me greatly to say.

Also, TAR11 is to be an All Stars edition and already there’s griping from the teams not chosen to participate. Of course, those teams are winning teams, so I have a hard time feeling sorry for them since I’d rather see some second placers and other non-winners get another crack at the $1M.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Another lackluster episode, except that I loved the tank task and I was laughing hysterically when Edwin was doing the angel fall and ended up facing the tower, scraping his helmet several feet as he descended.

Monday, November 13, 2006

Seriously, I’m about done with TAR and it grieves me to say it. I think the show has run its course.

*sob*

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Due to technical difficulties with our network yesterday, which about killed me, this post was delayed to today. Also, I didn’t watch the episode until last night anyway.

Is it me or is this season slightly boring?

[LATER]: Rosie gives generously to the Philiminated.

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Because of our trip home from South Carolina yesterday, we didn’t arrive at the house until after 8pm. We unloaded the car and then went straight to bed, exhausted.

Ah, how I love mangled English. Thanks, Coalminer David for the revised post title.