# The Amazing Race 11/16 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 16, 2004, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-11-16/275058 "2004-11-16T14:37:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-11-16/275058/21 "2004-11-16T22:41:57Z")
I can’t wait. 5 hours till the start and I’m bouncing off the walls! ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-11-16/275058/22 "2004-11-16T23:10:52Z")
I’m still bouncing like I was this morning. Yay for central time, it’s on at eight here! ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-11-16/275058/23 "2004-11-17T03:09:00Z")
Well, at least we’ve got our pick of seriously hate-able teams! ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-11-16/275058/24 "2004-11-17T03:16:03Z")
Adam’s hair = Bad. “I’m a mental magician” = really bad. Dude, all you did was borrow a freakin’ cell phone, just like eleventy-seven other teams. Those two are going to make me nuts in no time. Seems like Meredith and Maria didn’t figure out that they only went 3 hours out of the way because one of the guys deliberately misled them. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-11-16/275058/25 "2004-11-17T03:55:53Z")
This is your marriage. This is your marriage on 'roid rage. Any questions? I was sorry to see Team Beastie (come on…if Avi wasn’t the fourth Beastie Boy I’ll eat my hat) go tonight. They actually seemed entertaining… ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-11-16/275058/26 "2004-11-17T03:58:50Z")
Oh, and I have dubbed Adam and Whatserface “Team Illiterate”, as the producers made sure we saw the multiply redundant stickers that said “DIESEL” on just about every conceivable part of the fill pipe… ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-11-16/275058/27 "2004-11-17T04:03:14Z")
Yeah, I was thinking WTF, didn’t they see Season… Three (?) or whenever that was. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-11-16/275058/28 "2004-11-17T04:39:05Z")
My thoughts. Don’t think they’re worthy of a spoiler. OK What was with the Klingon sex on the glacier?? Look guys! The new Team Anger Management… Tag Team 'Roid Rage!!! Team Grampa doesn’t stand a chance. Nor does Team CIA&Kid. And I officially hate everyone that’s a model-hyphenate. (But I’m torn! The naughty/nice Mormons might not be a total waste of oxygen; they actually looked like they had fun, but they’re models. Hence the hate.) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-11-16/275058/29 "2004-11-17T04:45:41Z")
> [@KGS](#): > > **Avi/Joe** (M/M, friends, 30s; statistical chance = 5.46) > Ehh…probably not. 😉 Still, they should make the top five pretty easily. 0 for 1. > [@](#): > > **Kris/Jon** (M/F, dating, 30s; statistical chance = 6.23) > “Long Distance Dating” couples rarely do well. I predict they will put gasoline in a diesel car by mistake in Spain somewhere… You get a half-point for predicting the diesel/gas boner for the wrong couple. 🙂 > [@](#): > > **Jonathan/Victoria** (M/F, married, 40s; statistical chance = 6.33) > Hmm, married entrepreneurs from Southern California. Isn’t that who won last year? No matter, it won’t be them this time. Final Three potential, though. And all I can say is if this Ben Stiller parody of a California enterpreneur actually lasts that long, I’ll have to hunt him down and force him to drink Boone’s Farm… ---
**Author:** ![annieclaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5a626/32.png) [@annieclaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annieclaus)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-11-16/275058/30 "2004-11-17T05:12:26Z")
Jonathan gets my vote for A-hole of the Series! What a putz! I’m happy that we’re done with the Brooklyn Boys. Avi was the Runner-Up putz. Too many models. Ick! Not enough Chips. I’ve got Gus and Hera in the office pool (and I’ve won two in a row! With Chips!) But I don’t think I have a chance with this team. I’m making no predictions about who will win this thing. But so far, I really don’t like anybody. Except maybe the rasslers. But they’re no prizes either! ---
**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:** [November 17, 2004, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-11-16/275058/31 "2004-11-17T05:29:23Z")
> [@KGS](#): > > A > **Avi/Joe** (M/M, friends, 30s; statistical chance = 5.46) > Ehh…probably not. 😉 Still, they should make the top five pretty easily. Um… Another forced lame attempt to duplicate Ken and Gerard or the Frat Brothers in a Jewish version, but frankly a whole lot closer (they’re Jewish, by the way) to the annoying ugly American guy and his bald buddy (who wasn’t Jewish) from season two. Oh. Did I mention that they were Jewish? 'Cause they did, what? 20 times in the course of the episode? :rolleyes: Dudes, _I’m_ Jewish and I couldn’t give a damn. > [@](#): > > **Adam/Rebecca** (M/F, separated, 20s; statistical chance = 5.86) > Hmm, same stats as TAR5’s last place finishers…maybe it was a mistake to separate the “separated” couples from the rest? Probably. I predict they go out early, but they might get as far as 4th or 5th. Hellboy? Meltdown within three episodes. Tops. > [@](#): > > **Lori/Bolo** (M/F, married, 30s; statistical chance = 6.12) > Looks to be this year’s comic relief team. They should do about as well as the Clowns (4th place). No. Whatever the hell she is, it ain’t comic, it’s creepy in a deviant way. Ew. He’s not bad, she’s a fucking hysterical psycho bitch. And boy is he whipped. > [@](#): > > **Freddy/Kendra** (M/F, dating, 30s; statistical chance = 6.23) > Blehh, too pretty. That said, they’ll probably make the Final Three. No personality. Don’t know yet. > [@](#): > > **Kris/Jon** (M/F, dating, 30s; statistical chance = 6.23) > “Long Distance Dating” couples rarely do well. I predict they will put gasoline in a diesel car by mistake in Spain somewhere… Someone else did in Iceland. 😛 Otherwise, another generic hardbody team with no personality yet. > [@](#): > > **Hayden/Aaron** (M/F, dating, 20s; statistical chance = 6.33) > They’ll probably do well but I predict they’ll have a dramatic blowup late in the race which ruins their chaces. Either that, or they’ll win. Even chance. 😃 So far, I’m rooting for them. (Mainly because of the “stinky feet” comment. And the other two psychotic teams (The wreslters and Jonathon/Victoria) might keep 'em honest…there’s nothing like a bad example…) > [@](#): > > **Jonathan/Victoria** (M/F, married, 40s; statistical chance = 6.33) > Hmm, married entrepreneurs from Southern California. Isn’t that who won last year? No matter, it won’t be them this time. Final Three potential, though. He may, just _may_ be the single most annoying contestant _ever_. If you combine Flo’s screechiness, Colin’s psychotic behavior, Ian’s complete assurance that he was smarter than everyone else, and whatshername (the Big Brother bimbo who got Philiminated early last season) and increased those traits by 30%, you’'d approach Jonathan. Maybe we could kill Jonathan and Lori and have Bolo and Victoria team up. > [@](#): > > **Meredith/Maria** (F/F, friends, 20s; statistical chance - 6.52) > Cute blond female teams always seem to do better than the other all-female teams. Will place 5th or 6th, and I hope they’re not as annoying as they look. I’m not overwhelmed by their chances. > [@](#): > > **Lena/Kristy** (F/F, siblings, 20s; statistical chance = 6.54) > Brunette team. They’re hosed. 8th place or worse. If these are the Mormon sisters, I give 'em a pretty good shot. > [@](#): > > **Don/Mary Jean** (M/F, married, 60s; statistical chance = 7.02) > This year’s lovable older couple, they’ll win lots of hearts and go out on leg 2 or 3. I agree. > [@](#): > > **Gus/Hera** (M/F, parent/child, 50s; statistical chance = 7.52) > One of these days a parent/child team is going to surprise everyone and place higher than 9th place. But it won’t be this team. (Or will it??) Nope, because every parent/child team seems to have a weird psychological “I MUST PROVE SOMETHING TO MY PARENT” component going. Doods? Get therapy _first_ and _then_ do the Race. Repeat after me “The Race Is NOT Therapy.” Also Gus–I’ve seen _far_ more of your body (including your ass crack) than I want to. I gotta say that this season smells of suckage. Too many obnoxious couples, too many look-alike hardbody model types. It may completely turn around and surprise me, but so far (despite a totally _awsome_ starting location) this is the first season opener where I wassn’t excited afterwards. One question: Where are the time penalties? Speeding has been a BIG no-no ever since season one. The kind of driving they were doing is waaaaay against the rules. If they’re not smacked with time penalties for driving like maniacs, expect to see a lot more of it. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-11-16/275058/32 "2004-11-17T05:32:38Z")
What the hell is Diesoline? If I saw that, I would be just go weep in the car. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-11-16/275058/33 "2004-11-17T05:48:34Z")
I, too, was hoping the “California entrepreneur” would finish last. They were instantly annoying. Jonathan is already ten times worse than Mirna (from TAR5). I was glad that Hera and Gus made the cut this time. She seems pretty cool (and kinda cute!) but Gus is a major–admitted and unashamed–control-freak. He doesn’t look like he’s in good physical shape, either, which could hurt them. I don’t think they’ll make it very far. The team that finished first also seemed likable enough, even if they are “model/actors.” 🙂 And what’s up with “Hellboy?” Dude, you look ridiculous. He and his teammate are described as “formerly dating.” My first impression of him was that he is gay. (not that there’s anything wrong with that! It’s just his speech and mannerisms are a bit effeminate) Was this ever mentioned on the show? My attention was divided between watching and doing paperwork this evening. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-11-16/275058/34 "2004-11-17T05:55:32Z")
I guess we know the downside of having a parent as a teammate. No driving above the speed limit!?!?! These people are dull. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-11-16/275058/35 "2004-11-17T06:18:16Z")
As mentioned, if you break the speed limit you get a time penalty so telling her not to break the speed limit was a good thing (though the way everyone was going I was wondering if Iceland just didn’t have any speed limits). But the Father/Daughter team is definitely doomed. They each have qualities that are necessary to be a good racer but they lack the whole and they’ve demonstrated a lack of ability to compromise which is absolutely necessary. I was impressed by the ammount of bickering we got in the first episode. I don’t see how half these teams can make it to the supermarket together, let alone around the world. There were some people who did seem to be enjoying themselves which is always a big prerequisite for me enjoying watching them but the teams need more time to develop personality. Two or three more weeks and we’ll start seeing where things fall. I am looking forward to that entrepenuer getting run over by some large animal. Preferably in the next episode. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-11-16/275058/36 "2004-11-17T06:22:56Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > And what’s up with “Hellboy?” Dude, you look ridiculous. He and his teammate are described as “formerly dating.” My first impression of him was that he is gay. (not that there’s anything wrong with that! It’s just his speech and mannerisms are a bit effeminate) Was this ever mentioned on the show? My attention was divided between watching and doing paperwork this evening. On the videos at the site they said they met at the gym, he got kinda stalkerish and she thought he was gay so she introduced him to one of her gay friends (who them told her, nope he likes you). I was kinda hoping they wouldn’t notice the mistake with the diesel and just drive away only to have the vehicle conk out not too far down the road. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-11-16/275058/37 "2004-11-17T07:03:07Z")
Oh yes, something occured to me as I watched the show. Does anyone know if they provide equipment lists? And a certain amount of equipment? I was thinking on it how what would people know to bring, and some people would try to bring way too much or end up with inappropriate clothing (like only having shorts and ending up in wintery climes). Even if they know the show, some people would inevitably do this. Not everyone knows how to pack. Heck I’ve gone camping many times and hiking a few times and _I_ would be somewhat lost trying to pack. I was curious because I realized while they were on the glacier _everyone_ seemed to be wearing the same brand of jacket, and each team had the same colour of jacket. There’s no way that’s a coincidence. Sure one team might go out and buy similar clothing in preparation, but 22 people from across America? All ending up with the same jacket on the same show? ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Macphisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@Ms\_Macphisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Macphisto)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-11-16/275058/38 "2004-11-17T07:12:11Z")
> [@Just Some Guy](#): > > I am looking forward to that entrepenuer getting run over by some large animal. Preferably in the next episode. Definitely. Or maybe his wife will have a sharp object handy next time he starts yelling at her, or something. My favourite part of the episode was when they were in the boat though, when he was yelling at Victoria for telling him to sit down so the driver could see, followed by a quiet but firm “Move aside sir”. I have to say, I was very apprehensive going into this season due to the large number of models/actors, but so far the teams that annoy me the least are the ones that finished first (Hayden and Aaron?) and the Mormon sisters. I also like the father/daughter team, but they’re doomed. The only thing that’ll keep them in past leg 3 or so is if all the meltdowns in the preview are as bad as they look. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-11-16/275058/39 "2004-11-17T07:33:09Z")
Eeek, looks like I transposed the two all-female teams in my analysis…plus I picked the wrong team to finish last and the wrong couple who put gasoline in their diesel car by mistake. 😃 If you ever go to Vegas, don’t ask me for tips. “My Implants Are Frozen!” should have been tonight’s episode title. (Hehe…I never noticed the word “title” had “tit” in in until now.) Avi & Joe were stupid. I’d like to know if taking the “more direct but off the beaten path” route is what put them out. (It looks like Dad/Brat team took the same route.) And why did they think Dad/Brat were lying about being in the wrong place?? If it really was the pit stop, they would GO TO THE PIT STOP!!! That, and “Needle in a Haystack” type Detours are always, ALWAYS a bad choice. Jonathan & Victoria got lucky but didn’t move up that much as a result. I wonder, do the teams know what city they’re going to leave from before the Race starts? I don’t know Chicago at all, but if I knew that’s where I was starting from, you’d bet I’d study up on the mass transit system and all the freeways that led to the airport. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-11-16/275058/40 "2004-11-17T08:16:40Z")
I haven’t decided which team to root for, but I have decided which team to root against : Team Yuppiescum, boy what an ass---- ! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-11-16/275058.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-11-16/275058.md?page=3)