# The Amazing Race Finale 9/21 (Spoilers, if you haven't seen it yet) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 21, 2004, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-finale-9-21-spoilers-if-you-havent-seen-it-yet/265320 "2004-09-21T13:37:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Atrael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Atrael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atrael)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-finale-9-21-spoilers-if-you-havent-seen-it-yet/265320/81 "2004-09-22T18:12:42Z")
> [@Barbarian](#): > > I _loved_ Brandon’s line about “picture Jesus with his arms wide open and you’re running into them”. He just left off the _because you’re DYING OF HYPOTHERMIA_ bit, which I’m wagering she was. Being thin, hungry, and cold is a lousy thing, which explains the whole breakdown going up the mountain, and then trying to bike down it-- but it was still nasty when she LIED about whose decision it was to tackle the bicycle challenge. I wish I hadn’t deleted the Tivo recording, but I’m almost positive that she really did want to do the luge, and Brandon insisted on the bikes. Which goes with my overall theory that he was pretty wimpy about anything that might involve danger. Remember he’s the one that wanted to look in the mud instead of doing the rafting thing. So she was perfectly justified in blaming him for the bike fiasco. And I can’t imagine that the bikes in any way shape or form would be even close to as fast as you could do the luge. The bikes would be tricky as hell. They finished the first time in…what, 4 and a half minutes? or something…that’s a lot of time to try and cut off a long course. The luge everyone pretty much made the time right away. Chip and Kim just had problems because of the weight distribution. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2004, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-finale-9-21-spoilers-if-you-havent-seen-it-yet/265320/82 "2004-09-22T18:14:54Z")
One thing I was wondering about (two things actually). C&C must’ve begged a lot of money if they could afford to get a Town Car to pick them up, drive them to the maze and the drive them to the finish line. But what I really wonder about is this: If you wanted to reserve a car to wait for you, wouldn’t they generally ask for a credit card number, even if you were planning on paying in cash. I don’t think the teams had credit cards, but maybe they did, but they couldn’t use them. I think the idea was one of the smartest ever done on any of the show’s seasons, I would’ve been interested to see how they actually pulled it off. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-finale-9-21-spoilers-if-you-havent-seen-it-yet/265320/83 "2004-09-22T18:37:04Z")
The Bowling Moms got to Giza rather late at night, when no one was around, so had to beg before leaving the next morning. The Twins’ Pit Stop was in the middle of nowhere, so they also had to wait until the start of the next leg, when they got back to civilization, to start turning tricks, er, begging for money. C&C got to their Pit Stop in the afternoon. Their next leg began early the next morning, when few people are awake, so begging immediately after getting to the Pit Stop was the right thing to do. The Coconut Palace is right in the heart of the tourist district, so C&C did well for themselves. That one guy I saw actually did give them enough money in Philippine pesos to get to the airport. Incidentally, the Jose Rizal Monument, where the first clue of the final leg was located, is just down the street from the Pit Stop, so the teams could simply have walked there. It’s akin to the Washington Monument, so if they had been more observant, they should have noticed all the Philippine flags flying in the breeze. Of course, it was still nighttime, so I’m inclined to forgive that lapse. ---
**Author:** ![NotWithoutRage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NotWithoutRage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotWithoutRage)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-finale-9-21-spoilers-if-you-havent-seen-it-yet/265320/84 "2004-09-22T18:45:05Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Yeah, I got thinking about it, and to give them credit, C&C were always polite and gracious to the other teams (well, nearly always). When they flipped out and lost it, they only yelled at each other. Well, there was unpleasantness between Colin and Mirna, if you’ll remember. Mirna said last night that she and Colin were perfectly civil at the Emmy Awards on Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-finale-9-21-spoilers-if-you-havent-seen-it-yet/265320/85 "2004-09-22T18:49:37Z")
> [@KGS](#): > > And I agree with those who say they need to rethink the whole begging-for-cash scenario – make them wait, or perhaps give them an extra task instead. I like the idea of making them do an extra task. I don’t like the begging at all, but if they are going to keep up with it, they shouldn’t be allowed to start until their “start time” the next day. > [@Gangster Octopus](#): > > If you wanted to reserve a car to wait for you, wouldn’t they generally ask for a credit card number, even if you were planning on paying in cash. I wonder if this is allowed…they can make reservations with their credit cards, but they can’t actually pay. In any case it was brilliant on Colin’s part to come up with it. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-finale-9-21-spoilers-if-you-havent-seen-it-yet/265320/86 "2004-09-22T19:00:46Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > Just ditch the stuff in an airport locker upon arrival. Doesn’t seem all that difficult, really. In addition to what has been said, most airports in the US no longer have working lockers. They’ve been shut as part of the new security measures. Certainly, at San Francisco Airport there are signs on all the locker banks saying they are no longer in service. Ed ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-finale-9-21-spoilers-if-you-havent-seen-it-yet/265320/87 "2004-09-22T19:08:14Z")
> [@Gangster Octopus](#): > > One thing I was wondering about (two things actually). C&C must’ve begged a lot of money if they could afford to get a Town Car to pick them up, drive them to the maze and the drive them to the finish line. Different leg. C&C were cashless the first hour (beginning and ending in the Phillipines); they got their cash for the second hour (Phillipines to Dallas). $600, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![light\_strand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@light\_strand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/light_strand)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-finale-9-21-spoilers-if-you-havent-seen-it-yet/265320/88 "2004-09-22T19:23:05Z")
According to the Insider Videos, Colin said he just gave them a fake name and and 16 random digits and a random date for an expiration. Also there is a pretty interesting argument in the videos, once again proving that the people who claim to be competitive, just can’t handle being out-competed (yielded). But it’s cool when Brandon tells Christie to get over it. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2004, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-finale-9-21-spoilers-if-you-havent-seen-it-yet/265320/89 "2004-09-22T22:32:19Z")
> [@annieclaus](#): > > I totally agree with this. Either eliminated the take-the-money-away twist for teams that come in last in non-elimination legs. . . or, don’t allow begging. It’s demeaning and kind of negates the whole point of the penalty. Fully agree, especially in poverty-striken countries-IMO, you can’t disallow begging if you take their money away or it’s an instant death-sentence, (“To get to the first route-marker, take a cab to such-and-such place.”) so instead do this; Phil takes _half_ of their saved money (rounding in his favor) and they start the race with _half_ the amount that the other teams get. This encourages savings (Chip and Kim had managed so sock $300.00 away, so they started the last leg with $600+) and it gives a pretty severe penalty, but not one that can be overcome. Also, I still don’t like the yields–had one been available on the last two legs, it would have been instant doom for whoever got it. I’d say that if they _must_ use the Yield concept, there should be a _very_ limited number of yields (three?), they’d be placed randomly throughout the game (but not in the last three episodes and just as a team can only use a yield once, one team can only BE Yielded once–I don’t want the game to turn into Survivor where it becomes a popularity contest and I can easily see the Yields becoming a vehicle for that. One other rule I’d add-No lying to ticketing agents, dammit. Note that Brandon’s weasel worded (oddly, I mean that in a good way) discussion with the Calgary ticket agent would pass my bar (“It could change our lives to get on that flight”). I believe that you’re not allowed to tell people that you’re on TAR as such (you can say “I’m in a race” or “I’m racing that team around the world” but you’re not actually allowed to mention the _name_ of The Amazing Race. I wonder if there’s liability reasons?) Dammit, I want the next race to start NOW!!! 🙂 Fenris ---
**Author:** ![PastAllReason](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@PastAllReason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastAllReason)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-finale-9-21-spoilers-if-you-havent-seen-it-yet/265320/90 "2004-09-23T01:17:02Z")
> [@NotWithoutRage](#): > > Ooh, I forgot to add **Phil.** I asked him how he was enjoying te party, and he said that he was having a great time, but he’d been at the CBS store earlier int he day, and seen the “I’ve been Philiminated” shirt, and was only given a 20% discount… So did he use his real accent there or his Amazing Race accent? ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-finale-9-21-spoilers-if-you-havent-seen-it-yet/265320/91 "2004-09-23T03:30:01Z")
All I have to say is this: WOOOOO HOOOOOO!!! ---
**Author:** ![annieclaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5a626/32.png) [@annieclaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annieclaus)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-finale-9-21-spoilers-if-you-havent-seen-it-yet/265320/92 "2004-09-23T04:10:46Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > One other rule I’d add-No lying to ticketing agents, dammit. Note that Brandon’s weasel worded (oddly, I mean that in a good way) discussion with the Calgary ticket agent would pass my bar (“It could change our lives to get on that flight”). I believe that you’re not allowed to tell people that you’re on TAR as such (you can say “I’m in a race” or “I’m racing that team around the world” but you’re not actually allowed to mention the _name_ of The Amazing Race. I wonder if there’s liability reasons?) > > Fenris Doncha think the ticket agents might get a clue that something unusual was afoot because of the video cameras/microphones, etc??? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-finale-9-21-spoilers-if-you-havent-seen-it-yet/265320/93 "2004-09-23T05:32:17Z")
> [@annieclaus](#): > > Doncha think the ticket agents might get a clue that something unusual was afoot because of the video cameras/microphones, etc??? What?! I didn’t see any video cameras or microphones! 😃 > [@NotWithoutRage](#): > > Well, there was unpleasantness between Colin and Mirna, if you’ll remember. Mirna said last night that she and Colin were perfectly civil at the Emmy Awards on Sunday. Yeah, that’s what I was referring to when I said “nearly always.” ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-finale-9-21-spoilers-if-you-havent-seen-it-yet/265320/94 "2004-09-23T11:35:17Z")
> [@Atrael](#): > > I wish I hadn’t deleted the Tivo recording, but I’m almost positive that she really did want to do the luge, and Brandon insisted on the bikes. Nope. Brandon was ahead of Nicole running towards the luge run, when Nicole started yelling that they were right beside the bikes, so they should do that instead. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-finale-9-21-spoilers-if-you-havent-seen-it-yet/265320/95 "2004-09-23T13:59:22Z")
[http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing\_race6/](http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race6/) indicates the next season starts on the mythical date of Thursday October 2nd… ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-finale-9-21-spoilers-if-you-havent-seen-it-yet/265320/96 "2004-09-23T14:03:45Z")
Thursdays at 8 PM on CBS? But what about that other, lesser, reality show? ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-finale-9-21-spoilers-if-you-havent-seen-it-yet/265320/97 "2004-09-23T14:06:55Z")
:smack: Looking at a calendar, I can see that the putative start date is indeed mythical… ---
**Author:** ![NotWithoutRage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NotWithoutRage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotWithoutRage)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-finale-9-21-spoilers-if-you-havent-seen-it-yet/265320/98 "2004-09-23T14:08:30Z")
> [@PastAllReason](#): > > So did he use his real accent there or his Amazing Race accent? Real accent. ---
**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:** [September 23, 2004, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-finale-9-21-spoilers-if-you-havent-seen-it-yet/265320/99 "2004-09-23T14:08:34Z")
> [@Barbarian](#): > > [http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing\_race6/](http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race6/) indicates the next season starts on the mythical date of Thursday October 2nd… But I can’t wait until 2008! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![NotWithoutRage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NotWithoutRage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotWithoutRage)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-finale-9-21-spoilers-if-you-havent-seen-it-yet/265320/100 "2004-09-23T14:09:45Z")
> [@Terminus Est](#): > > :smack: Looking at a calendar, I can see that the putative start date is indeed mythical… I’m pretty sure someone said on Tuesday that TAR6 is still in post-production, and is going to be used to fill in when a CBS show gets pulled. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-finale-9-21-spoilers-if-you-havent-seen-it-yet/265320.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-finale-9-21-spoilers-if-you-havent-seen-it-yet/265320.md?page=6)