I’m sure all contestants are told in advance that the tasks will not take their personal issues into account. This is already the second time they’ve had an event one of the players was physically unable to do (Big Easy, though it just forced the other team to do it).
While Luke definitely has a short frustration fuse, I also tend to give him a lot leeway.
I’m sure most of the noises he makes he’s barely aware of. So he’s making a lot of noises we interpret at augmenting his frustration but he’s probably barely aware of.
It must feel extremely isolating. Regardless of physical ability to do a task, most of them still essentially render him mute. Either his hands are occupied or his mother’s eyes have to be diverted or both. I imagined there’d be a lot more stomping and grunting and moaning by the other teams if going into a task they all had their mouths taped shut. So yes, he melts down easily but he is under stresses I wouldn’t be so I can’t easily say I’d do a lot better.
As for why mom tackled about him being gay, I would guess it is because a PA said “hey mom, tell us about when Luke came out to you.” Confessionals aren’t things you go into whenever you have something to say, they’re required periods where producers lead you through topics they want you to talk about. (And often are filmed well after the events being commented on with a producer reminding you to speak in the present tense. On his podcast, Penn Jillette talked about this a fair amount when he was on The Apprentice and demonstrated how hard it is to tell a story of something that really happened in the present tense.)
It was funny, and bothered me until I realized that they were holding a stack of 9(?) glasses in a very specific curve, in a very specific position above a pyramid of fragile martini glasses. I imagine it took significant arm strength, and whichever team member was taller would have the advantage.
That’s one of the things I love about the Cowboys. In 2004, Cord had his head kicked in after coming off a saddle bronc. He was in a coma for two weeks and in rehab for 8 months, relearning how to talk and walk. But you hardly ever hear them talk about it, or all the other injuries the pair has sustained while being bull riders.
And after 47 tries on that bamboo tramp, there was no whining or complaining, just get back in line for another try. That’s admirable, too.
To be fair to father and son, most of what was said/shown about the achilles injury was file footage and the same current clip was repeated several times. Which is an editorial decision and not necessarily representative of them talking about it constantly.
But yes, the Cowboys are especially good at hardly ever whining and just pushing ahead.
That said, considering how good they usually are at physical stuff I was really surprised the trampoline proved such a difficulty when everybody else seemed to get it pretty quickly.
I must say that current events aside (and I was a little surprised they didn’t mention the missing plane with a little added tag), this episode made Kuala Lumpur look like a fun place to visit!
Looks like it is Episode 74. Present tense appears to be in that but it is possible I’ve combined various episodes where he talked about the behind-the-scenes stuff.
A few seasons ago I was watching Big Brother After Dark and a couple was chit-chatting, telling stories about their lives. The girl, who was not very bright at all, starting telling a story from her High School days, when the guy stopped her and said “No, tell it to me in present tense.” She paused, then continued telling the story but now in present tense. After a few seconds he started laughing and said “Nah, I was only kidding.”
It struck me at the time for two reasons. First is the observation both you and Penn make, which is that it’s awkward and off-putting for the person actually telling the story. And second, because I didn’t think either of those people were smart enough to even know what “present tense” means much less be able to change into it effectively. But damned if she didn’t do it perfectly.
No doubt from hours and hours of practice while doing confessionals with production.
It’s really obvious on Big Brother because that show ALWAYS has Diary Room comments on a competition WHILE the competition is happening. Survivor and TAR don’t do that as much as BB does.
Yes, Luke is easily frustrated and prone to meltdowns. But the last time Rachel was on TAR, I’m pretty sure she cried at least once an episode. Sometimes twice. That’s what Margie was referring to. (“I didn’t know Rachel before this. I’d seen her on TV, and I thought she was the biggest crybaby in the world.”)