Amazing Race 21

[Lwize]

Another season, another Emmy win!

Ready for the race tonight.

BTW - for those with torrent skillz and free time, The Amazing Race Australia Season 2 is floating around out there and was a good one (it was broadcast a few months ago).

[kamzcab86]

Another season, another Emmy win!

Should be a good race (I hope) with $2,000,000 on the line this season!

[Lwize]

Should be a good race (I hope) with $2,000,000 on the line this season!

Forgot about that part. Worst idea in TV history. Since only one team can win the first leg, only one of the remaining 10 will be playing for the $2M after the first leg. Kinda sucks that 9 out of 10 teams will have zero shot at it so early in the race. It also gives those teams incentive to sabotage the $2M team asap to level the playing field.

And sure enough, idiots in 1st place gave up the clue, allowing the 2nd place team beat them to the pit stop. Idiots!

[kamzcab86]

And sure enough, idiots in 1st place gave up the clue, allowing the 2nd place team beat them to the pit stop. Idiots!

There are a bunch of idiots in this Race!

[Lwize]

There are a bunch of idiots in this Race!

Looking for a woman with an abacus? Try Bank of America.

Shanghai is awesome. I was there in 2006. Pudong (across from The Bund) looks like another planet:

[A4J]

Is the woman with the abacus a regular at the Bund? A few of the racers asked random people on the street and they pointed her out easily.

Shanghai is awesome. I was there in 2006. Pudong (across from The Bund) looks like another planet:

It's amazing to think that 20 years ago, that skyline didn't exist at all.

[Professor Gascan]

Off to a good start. It was painful to watch people looking for the lady with the abacus.

[titleist1976]

Those fallopian tubes looked kinda off putting.

[woofster]

Is the woman with the abacus a regular at the Bund? A few of the racers asked random people on the street and they pointed her out easily.
...

I was wondering the same thing. Locals seemed to know who she was.

"Look for the lady using the...a-bah-cuss..."

Did some of the contestants not know what an abacus is?

I still can't believe Abbie & Ryan zipped right past Amy & Daniel after they told them where the abacus lady was. Granted, it's all part of the game but, man, that was harsh. It really sets the tone for the rest of the race. I don't think many of this seasons teams will want to share much with any other team.

And talk about a close call for the Chippendales team, eh?

[vdubjb]

No black team this time, no fair! Also that bridge in Pasadena might be haunted. http://www.weirdca.com/location.php?location=57

[Lwize]

No black team this time, no fair!

I noticed that too. Not to be racist, but maybe the casting folks felt the Sri Lankan sisters added enough color. (OK, that probably was racist).

[woofster]

I, too, noticed no black team or Asian/quasi-Asian team...unless the producers figured the Sri Lankan girls would cover both categories!

Interestingly, they pretty much filled in all the other categories, like athletic couple, older couple, gay couple, blond female team, dorky/odd team, etc.

[Lwize]

The Sri Lankan twins would have Asian covered.
In fact, they'd be perfect contestants on Amazing Race Asia (if it ever comes back).

[woofster]

As mentioned by others in this thread, I'm still not sold on this $2M game changer. There's really no suspense in the whole thing other than the other teams trying to prevent whichever team comes in 1st on the initial leg from winning. It's not like there's a track-record that the team who finishes 1st on the 1st leg is favoured to win or anything.

What happens once the team is eliminated from the race? It's a definite possibility. They should make the "game changer" something dynamic and evolving so that any team has an opportunity throughout the race to be qualified for it. Perhaps if team #1 on leg #1 get eliminated, the opportunity for the $2M automatically goes to team #2 and so on.

[titleist1976]

If I were playing, I'd definitely be gunning for the team the team with the opportunity to win the $2MM straight for elimination. I might just be a jackass like that though.

[woofster]

Episode 2...and here we go, with the cab drivers who say "yes" when you ask them if they know where such-and-such place is, only to find out they have no friggin' idea! It was frustrating just to watch the clueless cabbies. I know I'd be very upset if I were in their shoes.

[Lwize]

So many teams have been hurt and eliminated through no fault of their own due to taxis.

[kamzcab86]

So many teams have been hurt and eliminated through no fault of their own due to taxis.

Yeah, what a bite that is. Although, instead of walking around aimlessly or allowing the driver to drive aimlessly, I'd dump the taxi and get another one; they wasted a lot of time, which cost them. I was so hoping it was a non-elimination leg, but no dice.

[woofster]

That's something I don't understand. The second you realize the cabbie doesn't know his way, why don't they say STOP, jump out and grab another taxi? I certainly am not going to pay a guy who took me in the opposite direction of my destination. Is there a rule that says you can't hop cabs?

[GT Eye]

Thank god the blondes are out - they were insufferable!

[titleist1976]

That's something I don't understand. The second you realize the cabbie doesn't know his way, why don't they say STOP, jump out and grab another taxi? I certainly am not going to pay a guy who took me in the opposite direction of my destination. Is there a rule that says you can't hop cabs?

I don't think there is a rule against it. I think in a lot of places, once you're out in some desolate area, there just may not be any random other taxi drivers to choose from.

I'm glad the blonds are out. Though, the best friends - the goofy tall dude and the midget, they are pretty bad. I'd be pissed if I lost to them, too.

[Lwize]

Finally, a race to the finish that had me on the edge.

The dish challenge didn't seem so challenging. I was hoping for another eating challenge -- those are more entertaining.

[A4J]

I thought there would be a more challenging roadblock because of the 3-hour difference in the trains.

I usually root for the underdogs but the tall and short dudes were just too annoying.

[woofster]

The craziest thing is that the tall & little guy are substitute teachers! Can you imagine getting the little guy as a sub back when you were in school? Considering how crusty they are, I definitely wouldn't have been too impressed if either of them showed up in front of my class. I thought they'd be gone this week but they're just on borrowed time. The blonds had to go too so it's all just a matter of time before these weaker teams get eliminated.

Although the Sri Lankan sisters are not the "best" team so far, they are very aggressive and that could work for them, especially with their Express Pass still in hand.

I can't believe someone this season actually said while they were in a foreign country,"I can't believe a guy from this country can't speak English!". Wow.

[Lwize]

Long, strong and hard!
Long, strong and hard!
Long, strong and hard!

[kamzcab86]

Long, strong and hard!
Long, strong and hard!
Long, strong and hard!

Shut... up!!!!



Those two are incredibly annoying, but I have to say they are probably one of the strongest all-female teams thus far.

[Lwize]

Shut... up!!!!



Those two are incredibly annoying, but I have to say they are probably one of the strongest all-female teams thus far.

Strangely, I would normally be irritated as sh!t over them, but for some reason they don't bother me. Could be the pink. In fact, the more they irritate the other contestants, the better. Is that wrong?

Good to see the subs go. Not proto-typical winners, and the little guy seemed fixated on his height too much. We get it -- he's short. Palling around with a giant doesn't help matters.

[GT Eye]

Bangladesh is a crazy freaking country

[woofster]

The whole Bangladesh leg was so physical. I'm not sure why the rockers were the only team who decided to do the Fast Forward but they picked a good leg to do it.

Unfortunately I think the gay farmers will be next on the chopping block...but probably not next week, as it's probably going to be a Non Elimination Leg!

[GT Eye]

in my opinion, I think the monster truckers are next. To me, I feel like they just lack that worldy savvy (but then again, those rough edges could help)

[bzcat]

Due to birth of my son, I was unable to watch the first few episodes. But you have caught me up on most of the important details... anything else I should know before I jump in the next episode cold turkey?

[I don't have time to watch from the beginning so I'm not going to try]

[GT Eye]

Congratulations!

It's been a pretty good season so far - legitimate close finishes, actual difficult challenges...next week seems to be the best one yet

So far everyone that's been eliminated has been forgettable so you've picked a good time to jump in

[woofster]

Of course, it just had to be a Non Elimination Leg. Figures it was about time.

[woofster]

in my opinion, I think the monster truckers are next. To me, I feel like they just lack that worldy savvy (but then again, those rough edges could help)

Well, it looks like their number was finally up. No big surprise considering every time they try something different, they always end up last. The gay farmers will go next, followed by the Chippendales, unfortunately, since I do like them.

[Lwize]

An entire episode without the battle cry "come on twinnie"

One-hour layover? Not important.

Why would the last two teams team up, when it's a battle for the final spot?