# Amazing Race 12/10 - 4 Continents, 12 Countries, 40,000 Miles **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 10, 2006, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-12-10-4-continents-12-countries-40-000-miles/383613 "2006-12-10T22:57:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2006, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-12-10-4-continents-12-countries-40-000-miles/383613/21 "2006-12-11T11:42:46Z")
[QUOTE=Slacker] I was surprised they had to wait until the morning for a flight from Paris to NYC. Seems like that’d be a high volume route. 😕 [/QUOTE] It also didn’t even seem like any of them even considered flying to a different city (Newark was mentioned, but also Boston, Philly, DC are possibilities) and hopping a shuttle. Eh, I was glad the models won, too. Just not jumping-out-of-my-seat glad. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2006, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-12-10-4-continents-12-countries-40-000-miles/383613/22 "2006-12-11T12:32:44Z")
I’m glad the Models won - I still can’t stand Rob & Kimberly. I was also surprised that everyone chose the fashion Detour. Schleping the painting seemed much easier, unless I missed something, and that one involved a long distance. I couldn’t believe Rob flipped out on Kimberly that he missed out on the skydiving. He’s an ass. He should have known skydiving is almost always a Roadblock, and it hadn’t happened yet, so speak up and grab it. ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2006, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-12-10-4-continents-12-countries-40-000-miles/383613/23 "2006-12-11T12:43:23Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] Solid first half hour. Odd fake-out with the trains. I was envisioning more drama with the two lead teams ending up on some out of the way spur while the team that thought they missed the train pulled ahead. Instead there was…just another train. Weird. [/quote] Exactly! I was _sure_ they’d taken a train that went to some random place. Why else wouldn’t the agent have given them tickets on the earlier train? That was just weird. [QUOTE=Otto] I realize they had to get them out of the city for the actual finish line but it was still disappointing. No last-minute task before the finish line a la last season’s flags or the Family Edition geography quiz, was kinda stank. I thought those were solid elements of those two races. [/QUOTE] The only problem with a last-minute task is that, for there to be any suspense at all, you have to have at least two teams show up at exactly the same time. Arranging that kind of bunching sort of deflates the importance of earlier tasks. > [@SaintCad](#): > > I’m tired of all of the bunching points. They should keep the park, museums, shops, etc. open for the racers 24 hours. Rather than forcing teams to take planes, why not just give them the next city. It would be interesting to see a team take a plane, another team take Eurorail, and the third rent a car to get from Barcelona to Paris. I think I’d like it better if all the episodes were structured so that the very _first_ clue was, “go to this country” (thus putting any potential buch way up front) and everything subsequent played out in the same country. I think some kind of bunching points are necessary (otherwise, by episode three, the Racers would end up so strung out in time that there wouldn’t be any more suspense about who’s eliminated), but I’m in favor of some sort of priority system: if there’s an hours-of-operation bunch, have the Racers grab tags when they get there; when the place opens, the Racers enter in order at (say) five-minute intervals. Question: Anyone know what kind of prize money the non-first-place teams get? I saw a list somewhere from Season five or something, but I’ll be darned if I can find it. ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2006, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-12-10-4-continents-12-countries-40-000-miles/383613/24 "2006-12-11T13:41:08Z")
I seem to recall that Rob _gave the Roadblock to Kimberly_, even after _she said it was probably skydiving!_ If I’m correct on this, then he’s a total ass who should go sulk in a corner with Peter. They shoulda moved the Detour from Paris to NYC; that would have made the home stretch more interesting. But only up to a point – it was extremely disappointing that the last leg came down to (1) wait-lists for a flight, and (2) which taxi had EZ-Pass. Bummer. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2006, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-12-10-4-continents-12-countries-40-000-miles/383613/25 "2006-12-11T13:47:22Z")
[QUOTE=Frostillicus] Boy, this season went on so long that I barely remember the first 3-4 teams that were eliminated. Anyone know what day the first episode aired? I’m guessing mid-September. [/QUOTE] If I’m remembering correctly, it was on while I was on vacation, so that would make it September 17th. ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2006, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-12-10-4-continents-12-countries-40-000-miles/383613/26 "2006-12-11T14:27:26Z")
[QUOTE=Scuba\_Ben] I seem to recall that Rob _gave the Roadblock to Kimberly_, even after _she said it was probably skydiving!_ If I’m correct on this, then he’s a total ass who should go sulk in a corner with Peter. [/QUOTE] In his defense – although only _slightly_ – while they haven’t made _explicit_ reference to the Chip Memorial Roadblock rule, I believe it _is_ still in effect, so maybe he _couldn’t_ do the Roadblock because he was over the limit? Then again, maybe he’s just a butt. Both are equally probable. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2006, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-12-10-4-continents-12-countries-40-000-miles/383613/27 "2006-12-11T14:38:56Z")
[QUOTE=zut] The only problem with a last-minute task is that, for there to be any suspense at all, you have to have at least two teams show up at exactly the same time. Arranging that kind of bunching sort of deflates the importance of earlier tasks. [/quote] I’d never suggest artificial bunching and have no idea whether the last two seasons were artificially bunched for the final tasks or not. If the race shakes out so that there are two teams doing the final task at the same time then great. If not then that’s fine too. But this last leg was _extremely_ anti-climactic. I mean it was “eat a pizza for your final task” anti-climactic. > [@zut](#): > > I think I’d like it better if all the episodes were structured so that the very _first_ clue was, “go to this country” (thus putting any potential buch way up front) and everything subsequent played out in the same country. I think some kind of bunching points are necessary (otherwise, by episode three, the Racers would end up so strung out in time that there wouldn’t be any more suspense about who’s eliminated), but I’m in favor of some sort of priority system: if there’s an hours-of-operation bunch, have the Racers grab tags when they get there; when the place opens, the Racers enter in order at (say) five-minute intervals. I’m not sure about the idea of never crossing borders within legs but maybe the border crossings could be limited to those accessible by transportation other than planes. I definitely agree that racers should be admitted to closed venues on a staggered start basis and that suggestion has come up before a number of times. > [@zut](#): > > Question: Anyone know what kind of prize money the non-first-place teams get? I saw a list somewhere from Season five or something, but I’ll be darned if I can find it. [/quote] There used to be a list in one of the Wikipedia articles but it’s apparently been removed, IIRC the 2nd place team gets $25,000 and it goes down from there to the first team out getting like $1,500 or so. Plus an all-expenses paid vacation in Sequesterville. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2006, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-12-10-4-continents-12-countries-40-000-miles/383613/28 "2006-12-11T14:48:42Z")
I’ve been reading the thread, and it just occurred to me that I should post. _Meh_. That’s what I say. Of the teams that were left, I’m glad Brokeback won, but I didn’t really have a favorite this time around, so that took some of the fun out of it. It didn’t seem like a fun leg, and I didn’t feel any of the traditional _ohmygodwho’sgonnawin_ angst I usually get. I definitely agree with number tags for bunching points, and I would like to see that diversity of travel method **SaintCad** mentioned, as well as some of the other rule changes that have been proposed in this thread. Of course, I’ll still watch if they don’t change the rules, but it’d be nice. So, yeah. _Meh_. Yay Models. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2006, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-12-10-4-continents-12-countries-40-000-miles/383613/29 "2006-12-11T14:49:45Z")
[QUOTE=rockle] In his defense – although only _slightly_ – while they haven’t made _explicit_ reference to the Chip Memorial Roadblock rule, I believe it _is_ still in effect, so maybe he _couldn’t_ do the Roadblock because he was over the limit? Then again, maybe he’s just a butt. Both are equally probable. [/QUOTE] Rob had done six but according to an interview with Sarah of Asshat and Sarah, because there was a Roadblock in the first ep the rule was modified to allow a team member to do seven. So he could have done the Roadblock if he’d wanted. ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2006, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-12-10-4-continents-12-countries-40-000-miles/383613/30 "2006-12-11T15:06:54Z")
IIRC, the decision as to who performs the roadblock has to be made on the basis of the cryptic clue, like, “Who wants to storm the beach?”. The decision cannot be changed once the information on the actual task becomes available. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2006, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-12-10-4-continents-12-countries-40-000-miles/383613/31 "2006-12-11T15:11:24Z")
[QUOTE=Rube E. Tewesday] IIRC, the decision as to who performs the roadblock has to be made on the basis of the cryptic clue, like, “Who wants to storm the beach?”. The decision cannot be changed once the information on the actual task becomes available. [/QUOTE] You are correct, but Rob: a) was standing in a small airport b) was on The Amazing Race c) had not yet had either a bunjee jump or a skydive task. What else does he think the Roadblock is going to be? ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2006, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-12-10-4-continents-12-countries-40-000-miles/383613/32 "2006-12-11T16:37:53Z")
Didn’t they say last week that this was going to be a two-hour finale? Did I just dream that up? Admittedly, even if they didn’t ignore the Bamas after Paris, that wouldn’t have been an hour’s worth of time. Did they leave out some task like in an earlier leg? Were the Bamas so far behind that they had to be met at the airport and told to proceed directly to Phil? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2006, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-12-10-4-continents-12-countries-40-000-miles/383613/33 "2006-12-11T16:55:18Z")
[QUOTE=DeVena] Were the Bamas so far behind that they had to be met at the airport and told to proceed directly to Phil? [/QUOTE] According to the Wikipedia article the Bamas flew in through Newark and did the tasks for NYC. Which I hope is true because they weren’t so far behind from what I could tell that short-cutting them a la Guido was necessary. Let 'em cross the line legitimately. ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2006, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-12-10-4-continents-12-countries-40-000-miles/383613/34 "2006-12-11T17:03:43Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] You are correct, but Rob: a) was standing in a small airport b) was on The Amazing Race c) had not yet had either a bunjee jump or a skydive task. What else does he think the Roadblock is going to be? [/QUOTE] Yeah, fair enough. Kind of like the contestant who couldn’t swim, but took the challenge when they were at a swimming pool. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2006, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-12-10-4-continents-12-countries-40-000-miles/383613/35 "2006-12-11T18:08:18Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] What else does he think the Roadblock is going to be? [/QUOTE] Or, as **rockle** said, Rob’s just a butt. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2006, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-12-10-4-continents-12-countries-40-000-miles/383613/36 "2006-12-11T18:38:06Z")
After an exhausting day, I decided to just record the finale with Media Center and be extra vigilant about avoiding anything that could spoil it. Unfortunately, apparently the finale started late and MC taped exactly one hour. So, I understand from reading this thread who won. I don’t suppose someone could write a brief synopsis of what happened from the fashion detour on? The recording stopped right after bama was handed the clue. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2006, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-12-10-4-continents-12-countries-40-000-miles/383613/37 "2006-12-11T18:58:03Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] According to the Wikipedia article the Bamas flew in through Newark and did the tasks for NYC. Which I hope is true because they weren’t so far behind from what I could tell that short-cutting them a la Guido was necessary. Let 'em cross the line legitimately. [/QUOTE] Yeah, I didn’t see the first three seasons and missed Team Guido, but it reminded me of the too guys (Jeff and… someone) a while back who were still in Hawaii when the other two teams crossed the finishline. They got a note in the clue box telling them who had won ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2006, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-12-10-4-continents-12-countries-40-000-miles/383613/38 "2006-12-11T19:04:06Z")
Models and Uglies went to De Gaulle airport, Bama went to Orly. No flights to NYC from Orly so Bama went to CDG. Uglies got tickets to NYC on the earliest flight, Models and Bama on wait list. Models got called for seats, bama didn’t. Models and Uglies flew to NYC and went to Daily News building. From the news building they found a sculpture and got their final clue from a lady in a yellow cap. They took a cab to some private academy some 50 miles out of town. Models get there first and wina a million dollars. The key to the race was that Models’ driver had an EZ-Pass for the tolls, Uglies’ driver didn’t. This delayed Uglies long enough to give Models a lead and Uglies couldn’t catch up. Bama vanished after the first flight took off and didn’t reappear until they crossed the finish line. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2006, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-12-10-4-continents-12-countries-40-000-miles/383613/39 "2006-12-11T20:31:38Z")
Thanks Otto. It does sound rather anti-climatic. I wasn’t really invested in any of the final three, so maybe that’s why I’m so blah. Hopefully next season will be a bit more interesting! ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2006, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-12-10-4-continents-12-countries-40-000-miles/383613/40 "2006-12-11T22:02:26Z")
Anti-climactic. Anti-climatic would mean something else entirely. D’oh! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-12-10-4-continents-12-countries-40-000-miles/383613.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazing-race-12-10-4-continents-12-countries-40-000-miles/383613.md?page=3)