# TAR 3/15, plus Shirtless Gus sighting **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 15, 2005, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tar-3-15-plus-shirtless-gus-sighting/294681 "2005-03-15T19:03:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tar-3-15-plus-shirtless-gus-sighting/294681/1 "2005-03-15T19:03:31Z")
Tonight should be another great night for the new season of TAR. Plus we’ll get to see how far Rob and Amber are ahead of everyone else. Any good guess on who’s out tonight? I’d like to say Meredith & Gretchen, but there might be some other team who’s just not smart enough to stay in it for now. On some other news though, this past weekend at a St. Patrick’s day parade Gus was the Grand Marshal. So my girfriend, **Iris** and I got a chance to catch up to him and catch a picture with him. He’s wearing a shirt, and there was no snow around for him to take a shower in, but here’s [Shirtless Gus](http://www.angelfire.com/md/bmain/tar/) in all his glory. We didn’t get a chance to talk to him but for a second, however, he said he’s planning on retrying the flight to both poles. We wish our man good luck! Here’s hoping Ron and Kelly are out. Or one of my girlfriend’s other teams. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tar-3-15-plus-shirtless-gus-sighting/294681/2 "2005-03-15T19:21:30Z")
The previews show some sort of huge eating challenge, with Rob saying, “I’m done” and the VO saying, rather dramatically, “Is this the end of Rob and Amber?” so I’m guessing they’re in for at least another week. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tar-3-15-plus-shirtless-gus-sighting/294681/3 "2005-03-15T19:26:53Z")
Jaysus, another eating challenge? I hate the eating challenges because they’re so useless. Anyway, I hope Brian and Greg move up from the bottom, and that they’re replaced by Gretchen and Meredith in an elimination leg. Or I’d settle for Ron and Kelly. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tar-3-15-plus-shirtless-gus-sighting/294681/4 "2005-03-15T20:00:16Z")
I just started watching this season. What a great show! Here’s where I stand on all the remaining teams (In their current order) We’ll see what happens tonight: Rob/Amber: I had not seen the Survivors that these two were on. I find myself liking them quite a bit. Rob is fun to watch, and has original ideas about how to do things. Amber seems like a good sport. Ron/Kelly: Something about these two really weirds me out. I know that they’re supposed to be the “sentimental favorites” and all, but they’re so damned insipid. They seem like true followers, like they’ve lived their lives according to standards set by others, and have never rocked the proverbial boat. Maybe they’ve never really had to think for themselves. They seem very happy to be aligning with Rob, not because it’s good for their game, but because it gives them a leader to follow. But the most disturbing thing about them is that they seem to have no genuine affection for each other. They’re weird, I tell you! Weird! I’ll be glad when they’re gone, but there are a few teams I’d like to see gone first. Ray/Deana: He seems like a jerk. She seems like a whiny dependent bitch. I don’t hate them too much yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see some very bad behavior out of them. And would somebody buy that man some sleeves!? Uchenna/Joyce: No real opinion yet. They seem like nice folks, but we haven’t seen quite enought of them to tell. Lynn/Alex: Yeah yeah yeah. You’re a couple of queens. We know. Snore. We’ve seen the routine before a million times. You know, I don’t think the portrayal of the gay couple in _Best In Show_ was supposed to be an example for you to emulate. Get off of my screen. Debbie/Bianca: They try so hard to be so cutesy all the time. They’re kind of annoying, but I don’t dislike them particularly. Meredith/Gretchen: Oh my Og. Would somebody please stick a ball gag on that woman? She does not SHUT UP. And they’re weak racers. Bleah. Susan/Patrick: Annoying. But an interesting team. They have potential to improve a lot. I hope they stay in it for a while, because they’re fun to watch. Brian/Greg: Who? But from what little we’ve seen, they’re fun guys. Fun guys good. ---
**Author:** ![Cowgirl\_Jules](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Cowgirl\_Jules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowgirl_Jules)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tar-3-15-plus-shirtless-gus-sighting/294681/5 "2005-03-15T20:07:50Z")
You know what your picture of shirtless Gus reminded me of, **Mr. Head**? That this season, while having an array of fairly interesting contestants, doesn’t seem to have any major villians (that’s a GOOD thing, producers!) or any early heroes like Shirtless Gus. What a good guy he was, and there were also the Kris/Jon team and the nice Mormon girls to root for last season. Who’s sticking out this year? I think that I’m rooting for Rob and Amber strictly because they’re the most interesting pair - well, that, and they seem to be genuinely having fun. But was the applicant pool so small that they had to go to another show to cast someone interesting? None of the other couples are really standouts yet, although I do suspect that the Hillbillies would have been. Man, I would have liked to see more of them. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tar-3-15-plus-shirtless-gus-sighting/294681/6 "2005-03-15T20:16:00Z")
Glad to see Gus was wearing a hat – did you ask him to show you what he keeps inside it? ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tar-3-15-plus-shirtless-gus-sighting/294681/7 "2005-03-15T20:20:07Z")
> [@Cowgirl Jules](#): > > You know what your picture of shirtless Gus reminded me of, **Mr. Head**? That this season, while having an array of fairly interesting contestants, doesn’t seem to have any major villians (that’s a GOOD thing, producers!) or any early heroes like Shirtless Gus. What a good guy he was, and there were also the Kris/Jon team and the nice Mormon girls to root for last season. Sigh. I miss Shirtless Gus. I don’t want to say it yet, but I think this season of TAR might, you know, kind of _suck_. I believe I might have said this before, but I think that lately I have been finding myself kind of missing Colin. He was ass, but it was fun to root against him. ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tar-3-15-plus-shirtless-gus-sighting/294681/8 "2005-03-15T21:53:35Z")
> [@Green Bean](#): > > Lynn/Alex: Yeah yeah yeah. You’re a couple of queens. We know. Snore. We’ve seen the routine before a million times. You know, I don’t think the portrayal of the gay couple in _Best In Show_ was supposed to be an example for you to emulate. Get off of my screen. You’re lucky that this is your first season! The queeny gay couple has been done several times before. I’m sure for entertainment purposes, the producers choose the most flamboyant couple they can find. I like Reichen and Chip, who were not the over-dramatic, stereotypical gay couple. I find it interesting that you like Rob/Amber (Rombuh), since you didn’t see their seasons of Survivor. I have seen their seasons of Survivor and I know what a jerk he his, but I always said that his opponents deserve what they get if they allow a dolt like Rob to pull the wool over their eyes. I guess I’m on the fence about him. Amber is doing what she did on her previous two seaons–find the most obnoxious person and ride their coattails. The only reason I was even aware of her on her first season is that she was Jerry’s lapdog. Then on the All-Stars season, she chose Rob and did the same. She has the personality of a piece of drywall and would rather cling to someone that everyone hates in order to make herself look good. They may have worked on Survivor, but it will backfire on TAR. It’s a much different game. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2005, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tar-3-15-plus-shirtless-gus-sighting/294681/9 "2005-03-15T22:44:50Z")
I’m making no predictions about who gets eliminated this episode, because there are too many teams with mediocre skills, and they have yet to realize they are in a race. I hoping tonight is this season’s “Omigawd we’re in a RACE” episode. Don’t forget that Chip and Kim, who went on to win TAR5, started off 8th and 8th! ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tar-3-15-plus-shirtless-gus-sighting/294681/10 "2005-03-16T02:22:58Z")
Damn. I hate eating challenges. And that offal looks like something even I wouldn’t eat; and I am known for actually liking scrapple. This isn’t freakin’ Fear Factor… ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tar-3-15-plus-shirtless-gus-sighting/294681/11 "2005-03-16T02:45:07Z")
Blah. If I want to watch Fear Factor, I’ll tune into Fear Factor. (Actually, I like the first and last 1/3 of Fear Factor, but anyways.) I have to say, though, that Rob’s a pussy for giving up, and a genius for talking two other people into giving up. I laughed. ---
**Author:** ![NotWithoutRage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NotWithoutRage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotWithoutRage)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tar-3-15-plus-shirtless-gus-sighting/294681/12 "2005-03-16T03:02:23Z")
Wow, that was bold, and un-TAR like. Rob’s still playing Survivor, and he’s playing it well. Good episode. And I’m officially over Lynn and Alex. Get over yourselves. ---
**Author:** ![BigDummy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@BigDummy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigDummy)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tar-3-15-plus-shirtless-gus-sighting/294681/13 "2005-03-16T03:06:47Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > I have to say, though, that Rob’s a pussy for giving up, and a genius for talking two other people into giving up. It was a good idea on his part, but I didn’t see it taking that much genius. All he had to do was make the suggestion, those other two were ready to quit the second they sat down. He just gave them an excuse. I really wish the rednecks had made it his far. I think they’d have been really entertaining at the bar-b-que. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tar-3-15-plus-shirtless-gus-sighting/294681/14 "2005-03-16T03:27:24Z")
I think the break between this leg and the last was 36 hours or so-- it’s the first time I’ve ever heard Phil say “and they leave at 12:xx a.m.” instead of “and they leave 12 hours later at xx:xx”. I was intrigued by the roadblock-- last season I was hoping that one team would be smart enough to give up the key and lock challenge. Rob and Amber took a great big risk in abandoning the meat challenge, since they had _no_ idea how far back the other teams were, but convincing lemmings Ray and Deana to give up was a great move. Meredith made the second best move-- why put yourself through that much pain if you know you aren’t going to be the only team taking a penalty? Overall, I think this was the turnaround ep I was hoping for. Every team got very competitive, although Lynn and Alex are still too focused on Rob and Amber, and got cheated out of a mid-level prize! Poor Debbie and Bianca. They were a team big into planning, but lousy on execution. To go _two hours_ out of your way is pathetic and elimination-worthy. To have to hustle at the end because Stupid & Son spent _two hours_ kicking around Santiago is just rude. Next week: Stupid & Son will be going home, because they are the weakest link, followed by the old folks, who will be too tired to perform. ---
**Author:** ![annieclaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5a626/32.png) [@annieclaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annieclaus)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tar-3-15-plus-shirtless-gus-sighting/294681/15 "2005-03-16T04:27:01Z")
I loved this episode! And I’m even more in awe of Rob! He may be the most clever racer ever to appear on TAR. Of course from the promos we KNEW that Rob and Amber were not going to be eliminated. But he figured out the angles of the 4 pounds of awful offal Roadblock and came in 5th after that interminable 4-hour penalty! Too bad Mom & Son and the remaining All-Girl Duo can’t navigate their way out of a paper bag! Buh-bye Spanish-speaking Girls. Enjoy your $20,000. Not a bad runner-up prize for the third-to-be-eliminateds. Go Rob & Amber! ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tar-3-15-plus-shirtless-gus-sighting/294681/16 "2005-03-16T05:40:13Z")
I hate the way the penalty is doled out. It should have been something like four hours once the last team arrives. Yeah Rob is clever for getting others to quite, but quitting sucks and I am annoyed the shows rules made it a good strategic decision. BTW, did Ray and Deanna call them the “Adidas” and then the "Andre"s? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tar-3-15-plus-shirtless-gus-sighting/294681/17 "2005-03-16T06:58:06Z")
Here’s a hint: when you’re going from Peru to the Argentinian Andes, you shouldn’t see the OCEAN! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tar-3-15-plus-shirtless-gus-sighting/294681/18 "2005-03-16T10:37:01Z")
The Happy Boys (don’t know their name) obsession with beating Romber is getting annoying, actually way past that already. Yea, you don’t like them, we get it. But hat’s off to that guy, he finished it even when he saw people dropping out. I would have loved to see what the hillbillies would have done with this challenge, probably ate that stuff without flinching. As soon as i saw the ocean, i thought they should be able to figure it out instead of admiring it. And the sun should be in the west and you going east if the map fails you, and you might want to trust the tollbooth worker. Too bad, i liked them. Not a good year for same sex couples. I think most, maybe all of those couples would have quit eating even if Rob hadn’t talked them into it. But he did take a great amount of credit for it, not surprisingly. I’m rooting for the Cali boys, I like their attitude, and they’re having fun, they seem nice. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2005, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tar-3-15-plus-shirtless-gus-sighting/294681/19 "2005-03-16T11:59:09Z")
> [@Gangster Octopus](#): > > I hate the way the penalty is doled out. It should have been something like four hours once the last team arrives. Yeah Rob is clever for getting others to quite, but quitting sucks and I am annoyed the shows rules made it a good strategic decision. Hear hear. Granted, this only worked because you had two teams who were hours behind, so it’s not like we’re gonna see this every episode, but it’s still a crappy rule. That said, damn, I was rooting for the girls and was really rooting _against_ the shrieky, whiney little bitch—and his harpy of a mommy. I’m disappointed. ---
**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:** [March 16, 2005, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tar-3-15-plus-shirtless-gus-sighting/294681/20 "2005-03-16T12:55:56Z")
Another episode! Flat tires! Getting lost! Barfing! Uh… not so good, then. So, to make up for it, how about the third **Taxi Assessment** **Stuck in the Desert and Officially Detained** - or, Philiminated with extreme prejudice. Ryan/Chuck and Megan/Heidi - I wonder if they have anything in common to talk about in Sequesterville? Debbie/Bianca (downgraded from Passing Lane) - Whoa. What a precipitous fall. From first to sixth to Philimination. They sorta made only one mistake, but it wasn’t really _one_ mistake – it was a whole series of goofs. Like taking a wrong turn, and continually ignoring any and all applied clue bats. A good start with getting directions from the concierge, and a good ending, nearly catching up with Susan and Patrick, but a disappointing middle. Hint: when everyone around you has no idea where Puente Viejo is… it might not be because _they’re_ stupid. **Flat Tire** - or, not likely to get anywhere soon. Meredith/Gretchen (holding steady) - This team has essentially been stuck in seventh place. That’s good enough for the beginning of the race, but not the end. And, seriously, they’re in it only because other teams have been clubbing themselves in the head. Meredith and Gretchen’s luck will run out next week or the following. **Stopping for Gas** - or, not broken-down, exactly, but not a good sign. Susan/Patrick (downgraded from “Hey, Homes!”) - I guess this week confirms it: Susan and Patrick’s second place in the first leg _was_ a fluke. Cripes, Patrick, did you lie about your age? Then quit acting like you’re fourteen. Mommy’s not being mean, Mommy’s trying to help. Oh, and try labelling the back of your hands “L” and “R” before navigating. Just check with Mommy to make sure you labeled them correctly. Ray/Deana (downgraded from “Hey, Homes!”) - Nice, Ray. You take the easy shoe-shining Roadblock last week, and let Deana take the eating task this week? Are you an idiot? OK, scratch that, rhetorical question. Not good decision making on the part of this team, and there still seems to be interpersonal issues roiling beneath the surface, which is never a good sign. And Ray seems too willing to ride on Rob’s coattails, which only assures that there will always be a team in front of him. **"Hey, Homes!"** - or, making meaningless ineffectual comments from the back seat, but in no immediate danger. Brian/Greg (upgraded from Stopping for Gas) - A better leg this episode than last, and that despite getting screwed on the Detour. The Roadblock hit their strengths, so that helped, and they didn’t get lost like the trailing teams, so they were comfortably in the race from beginning to end. A possible move up in the future, if they don’t do something stupid. Ron/Kelly (holding steady) - We didn’t see much from this team in this episode, which is probably good. A respectable fourth, after a very respectable second, but… something about this team just screams incompetence to me. I ain’t upgrading them until they show some initiative. **In the Passing Lane** - or, ahead of the pack, but not quite comfortably. Lynn/Alex (upgraded from “Hey, Homes!”) - There we go! First place finish! A well-raced leg all the way through. This team might just have the combination of smarts and strength to go all the way. Just… don’t worry about Rob and Amber so much, OK? Uchenna/Joyce (holding steady) - A solid, solid race, and it looks like this team has got the hang of it. From eighth to fourth to second – not bad at all. I _thought_ this team reminded me of Chip and Kim. **Cruisin’ with Earl** - or, drivin’ on the shoulder, takin’ shortcuts, and generally kickin’ butt. Rob/Amber (holding steady) - Ummm… OK. I’m not a fan of rule-gaming, but… basketball teams will strategically foul at the end of the game and take the penalty in hopes of gaining an advantage. Which is what Rob did. Which turned out to work: you’ll notice that it took Patrick _longer_ than four hours to eat his meat. In any case, Rob’s thinking about the game, and thinking about Racing, all the time. So this team stays Cruisin’. [sub]Props to **Mullinator** and his Raj Ratings.[/sub] [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tar-3-15-plus-shirtless-gus-sighting/294681.md?page=2)