Amazing Race - 12/4/2002

I agree with everyone who says Flo should shut up. I had to laugh at her when she and Zach were racing Ken and Gerard. Just before they got out of the car, she says that they can beat K&G in a foot race. Maybe Zach can, but both Ken and Gerard kicked your ass! And your bitching at Zach for taking off his pant legs and then sulking about being in last place probably cost more time than Zach did getting rid of his pant legs in the 1st place.

I was also amused by Teri complaining that no one had offered to include them in an alliance because they’re the oldest team. I think it has more to do with the fact that Ian is loud and annoying than how old they are.

Oh, and Velma, I think Flo was part of the twin hunt group at the beginning. I seem to recall her and team A&A calling the twins “pretty boys” and “all smile, no brains” a few times.

Flo did have the best line of the night–that Ian is “probably off somewhere bothering the locals”.

And Ken & Gerard & Phil at the first pit stop was great, with Phil holding his poker face as long as possible, but Ken & Gerard not buying it.

Wow was Flo super-annoying or what? Considering how weak-willed an minded she is it is amazing they have made it this far. Zach is putting up with it for exactly one reason…the money. I don’t really think he cares if Flo hooks up with Drew after the race, but that during the race she needs to keep her mind in the right place.

Jill and JV were a great team to root for, but they also seemed to be somewhat lagging in every race. It was weird becuase it always seemded like they were doing well and then the end up near the bottom.

I hate Ian, but have to give that team some respect, they have run a very good race so far.

Yes, Flo is super-annoying, but I don’t think she’s weak minded. She seems to have fluency in several languages; she immediately translated Jet D’eau. And she knew where the Petronas Towers were. She’s just immature and spoiled rotten. Oh, yes. . . and a 'ho.

They were nice kids. And very nice looking. They seemed to be physically strong, but I don’t think they were really very bright.

I feel the same way. They are true Ugly Americans, but they’ve got grit. I was surprised that their children were so young. Anyone have any idea how old Teri is? (I’m guessing mid-40s, about 5-6 years younger than Eye-an.) She took quite a fall on that bike last night!

I thought it was Zach who pegged the location of the towers?

They were both screaming and jumping up and down upon reading the Petronas Towers. This clearly means Zach knew where they were since it actually caused a change in facial expression.

Since I imagine Flo screams and jumps up and down when she opens a bag of tortilla chips to find some of them broken in half, I can’t be sure she had a clue where the Petronas Towers were.

The second best line of the night definitely goes to the Swiss businessman helping out Teri and Ian.

Ian: We’re looking for the country with this flag.
BMan: You have the wrong continent.

Actually, it was “You’re on the wrong continent.” Which means that he was either trying to be witty to the camera, or he had never heard of The Amazing Race. Pretty funny either way.

Favorites, favorites…well, shoot, looks like the ol’ bandwagon took a magnificent flying cartwheel into a ditch. With John Vito & Jill out, that leaves NO team that I’m actually pulling to win this thing. I’m not surprised, though…Rob & Brennan were hardly my first pick to take the first one, and I think Danny & Oswald would’ve looked a lot better on that stand than Chris & Alex.

But that’s the nature of the race. Nice guys finish last, and mean guys…well, usually second or third. It’s not easy telling which one’s the real deal, even this close to the end.

Flo…ugh. I don’t know what the hell’s wrong with her. Emotional issues aside (and she obviously has plenty), the homestretch is where you can LEAST afford to break down. She’s been a complete mystery to me for the past three legs, and it’s definitely only a matter a time before someone snaps. And it could very well be Drew.

The thing I like about Teri & Ian…if anything about this odd couple can be liked…is that, while they’re clearly having an unpleasant time, at least it’s not getting worse. I believe some answer guy, maybe Joel Achenbach (hey, I got no loyalty to “unca Cecil”, lay off), said that many older couples stayed together for this reason. They’re not happy, but at least they know each other enough to not make each other any unhappier. They’ve achieved stability, a “sustainable level of displeasure”, if you will, and they don’t want to give it up. Anyway, I like how they’ve stayed focused thus far, but when a butt-chewer like Ian admits that the race is taking its toll, you know that they’re running out of gas. It’s unfortunate, because I think they really deserve to go out in a blaze of glory rather than petering out just before the homestretch.

Okay, I could put more, but I’m saving up for the big final four prediction for next week’s ep. Watch for it this weekend.

Dang, is this the best TV show ever, or what?

annieclaus, I think you’re right, Jill and John Vito were sweet, but not too bright – it seemed like it was the “reading the map” tasks that did them in every time.

I can’t believe anyone’s actually rooting for Ian and Teri – he’s so horrible (though, it turns out, not as horrible as Flo).

Speaking of Flo – I’m starting to think she’s bipolar. (I’ve seen bipolar up close and personal, I know what it looks like.) One minute she’s “the happiest girl [sic] in the world,” and the next she’s having a screaming tantrum. I’m serious – I think there’s something wrong with her. (although again, thanks, annieclause, for the reminder that she’s smart and savvy on languages, etc. – it’s nice to know Zach might have had a reason to team up with her besides masochism.

Did anyone else think that Drew was going to back out of the bungie jump? I was laughing out loud watching the teams chase the sheep!

I had the same thought! The girl’s just NOT NORMAL! (But thank God she doesn’t live near me!)