# The Amazing Race May 6th, The Finale! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 7, 2012, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-may-6th-the-finale/621115 "2012-05-07T00:56:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-may-6th-the-finale/621115/61 "2012-05-08T14:04:40Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > After they got there and didn’t find helicopters. THEN they read the clue again and had their usual passive-aggressive contrapuntal whine duet while they cabbed it back to where they started. The way the conversation unfolded was classic… Rachel: Make your way on foot to the… Brendon: Wait…did that say “on foot”?! Rachel: _WAAAAAAAAA!!_ Stop yelling at me!! > [@panamajack](#): > > Not that it’s a good solution, but they do put the shows up on their website. Don’t know why it’s not offered to any on-demand services. And they take a damn long time to do it, too. Our DVR has been in the habit of not starting to record TAR until a half-hour had already gone by. And even though I wiped out the “to be recorded” list and made certain to _only_ record TAR Sunday night, it _still_ decided to start at 8:31. So, Sunday night we went to the web site, but the video was unavailable – ok, they delay it, I get that. But last night it was _still_ unavailable. We eventually said “hell with it” and watched it with the first half-hour missing, tuning in just as Army Wife was completing her Chicken Run. > [@phreesh](#): > > Big Brother has got to be the worst top-three team ever. I cannot see how that relationship works at all. She cries, he capitulates. Easy peasy. ---
**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:** [May 8, 2012, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-may-6th-the-finale/621115/62 "2012-05-08T14:40:22Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > She cries, he capitulates. Easy peasy. It’s more complicated than that, though. Brendon got a good edit, as far as their relationship goes. It’s more along the lines of: She cries. He passive-aggressively reinforces her codependence on him by being simultaneously condescending and complimentary to her. Or the alternate Flustration Fugue: She snaps at him. He pouts. She feels bad about snapping at him. He cries. (It’s not admirable that I laughed at this, but the TWOP nickname for Brendon during his two BB runs was “Brenda” because he cried almost as much as she did…he just didn’t scream while doing it.) Team Big Bratty really got a sweetheart edit by the amazing editors. There’s a million different kinds of “wrong and unhealthy” in their relationship. ---
**Author:** ![Sally\_Mander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@Sally\_Mander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sally_Mander)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-may-6th-the-finale/621115/63 "2012-05-08T14:45:30Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > . So, Sunday night we went to the web site, but the video was unavailable – ok, they delay it, I get that. But last night it was _still_ unavailable. We eventually said “hell with it” and watched it with the first half-hour missing, tuning in just as Army Wife was completing her Chicken Run. I always work on Sunday nights, so I have to watch it on the CBS website. It’s always up by about 9:00 am Monday morning. (It might be up earlier, but I sleep till about 8:30 or 9:00) I’ve never had a problem. Sometimes the playback will stop, and I have to re-start it, but it almost always plays just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Sally\_Mander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@Sally\_Mander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sally_Mander)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-may-6th-the-finale/621115/64 "2012-05-08T14:47:24Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > She read the clue out loud and he missed it too. They both screwed up. Well, yes, but she had the clue in her hand and was the one who read it. It doesn’t help that I can’t freaking stand her. She’s a whiney brat with an inflated sense of entitlement. I’m so glad I don’t have to see her anymore. ---
**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:** [May 8, 2012, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-may-6th-the-finale/621115/65 "2012-05-08T14:56:49Z")
A) Apparently Ralph and Vanessa broke up (pretty loudly) about 5 minutes after their elimination. Hence how frosty they were to each other at the Finish Line. B) I haven’t seen it but apparently there’s footage of Vanessa being super-hyper-bitchy after the Finish Line–so bad that Ralph tells her to shut up. If so, I take back my “She’s not that bad” comments. C) I’ve been wondering since day one, what kind of tattoo Ralph had to have covered up with that handkerchief on his…um…left wrist. I figured it was obscene or something since they went out their way to makes sure it was _always_ covered. you look at him, it’s always on there. I just saw a pic. All it is is a [big, ugly cross](http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/the-fien-print/posts/interview-vanessa-ralph-talk-the-amazing-race). Weird. I have no idea why they made such an effort to cover it up. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-may-6th-the-finale/621115/66 "2012-05-08T17:41:10Z")
^ Where did you read about that? ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-may-6th-the-finale/621115/67 "2012-05-08T18:31:06Z")
So what you’re saying is Vanessa is single…😃 ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-may-6th-the-finale/621115/68 "2012-05-08T18:42:44Z")
I didn’t notice the hand tattoo being covered. I thought I saw it a few times, because as you said, it’s big and ugly. Maybe I’m just thinking about one of his other ones (I think on his neck or shoulder). Interesting quote from Vanessa in that interview, in response to what she learned from watching (specifically the big fights): > [@](#): > > Vanessa: I’ve realized that I have the capability to be mean. I have that in me. I can be mean. Everybody who knows me is saying, “Wow, you’re really nice to me” or “You’re nice to the people around you.” I get really mama-lion around people that are close to me. If you say something mean to me, then typically I let it go, but if you say something mean to somebody close to me, then I’m gonna tear your head off. And the means by which I tear people’s heads off? Probably it’s not OK. Some of the things that I said, I should have never said and I’m taking that and learning from it. Edit: They also mention that the problems with Team BB started when Rachel made some sort of insult to her “political beliefs”. ---
**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:** [May 8, 2012, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-may-6th-the-finale/621115/69 "2012-05-08T19:43:09Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > ^ Where did you read about that? [Where I read about it](http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/index.php?showtopic=3211599&st=0) [The actual confirmation of the break-up](http://blog.mysanantonio.com/jakle06/2012/01/s-a-tv-beauty-ex-beau-on-upcoming-amazing-race/) [Where some guy talks about the post-finish-line Vanessa melt-down and says he’s posted a link (somewhere) to it.](http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/index.php?showtopic=3211599&view=findpost&p=14929735) ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-may-6th-the-finale/621115/70 "2012-05-08T20:57:32Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > Grain of salt and all that but according to [this](http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/the-fien-print/posts/interview-vanessa-ralph-talk-the-amazing-race), Vanessa and the guy who is with Vanessa had an untelevised incident with team Big Brother prior to the first argument we saw. If true, it gives that first airport argument some context. Given that Ralph has a cross on his hand, Vanessa mentions in her bio that she enjoys talking “politics and religion”, they’re from Texas, and Big Brother is from LA, I’d wager that Big Brother made some swipe at their conservative or religious beliefs and Ralph/Vanessa never let that go. Also, not surprised Ralph and Vanessa broke up. Now, what about Big Brother and Dave/Rachel? Hmm… ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-may-6th-the-finale/621115/71 "2012-05-09T01:46:48Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > [Where I read about it](http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/index.php?showtopic=3211599&st=0) > > [The actual confirmation of the break-up](http://blog.mysanantonio.com/jakle06/2012/01/s-a-tv-beauty-ex-beau-on-upcoming-amazing-race/) > > [Where some guy talks about the post-finish-line Vanessa melt-down and says he’s posted a link (somewhere) to it.](http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/index.php?showtopic=3211599&view=findpost&p=14929735) Thanks for those. The last link doesn’t seem to work though (and no, I don’t know why I care so much 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-may-6th-the-finale/621115/72 "2012-05-09T01:51:26Z")
That actually made me sad. I thought they were one of the better unmarried couples I’d ever seen on the Race. Their meltdowns were short and few, and they seemed to have genuine chemistry and respect for one another. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-may-6th-the-finale/621115/73 "2012-05-09T02:12:45Z")
**Red Barchetta** - The article in your 2nd post (and linked to in your first post) is dated 1/25, before the race started. It talks about the “upcoming race”. I don’t think that’s proof. I read the exit interviews with them, and they seemed cordial. StG ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-may-6th-the-finale/621115/74 "2012-05-09T03:50:45Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > **Red Barchetta** - The article in your 2nd post (and linked to in your first post) is dated 1/25, before the race started. It talks about the “upcoming race”. I don’t think that’s proof. I read the exit interviews with them, and they seemed cordial. The race was over by 1/25. My understanding is that the Spring season of TAR films during the previous October, or thereabouts. It starts around month after Big Brother ends, which I learned when the first BB team did TAR a few seasons ago. BB ends in mid-September. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-may-6th-the-finale/621115/75 "2012-05-09T03:54:32Z")
Accrording to wiki, it was filmed Nov 26 to Dec 19th. It was snowing pretty hard in Bavaria when they went there so I think the dates match up. And I think I saw xmas decorations in Bavaria in the background. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-may-6th-the-finale/621115/76 "2012-05-09T05:45:45Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > Very disappointed with the task design for these last two legs. Bunches of bunches of bunches I think it is pretty screwed to race hard and get an 8 hour advantage over another team and have it immediately taken away. Why even bother racing for the ferry and in fact the team that’s 8 hours behind got an advantage by sleeping in a hotel. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-may-6th-the-finale/621115/77 "2012-05-09T13:24:06Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Accrording to wiki, it was filmed Nov 26 to Dec 19th. > > It was snowing pretty hard in Bavaria when they went there so I think the dates match up. And I think I saw xmas decorations in Bavaria in the background. Santa Claus was walking around in Japan too. Though that may be an all year thing for Japan. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-may-6th-the-finale/621115/78 "2012-05-09T15:15:24Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I think it is pretty screwed to race hard and get an 8 hour advantage over another team and have it immediately taken away. Why even bother racing for the ferry and in fact the team that’s 8 hours behind got an advantage by sleeping in a hotel. On the other hand, having an 8 hour gap between ferry rides and then no bunch point would have basically eliminated them. Not sure that would have been so great. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-race-may-6th-the-finale/621115.md?page=3)