But obviously, these were created as some sort of test of bravery/athletic prowess. I doubt they were made because so many battlefields happened to be at the bottom of hills.
TAR producers want drama, if they didn’t want the drama, they would edit it out. The drama is the needle movers that drives more viewers towards the show.
This season’s survivor threads at TWoP were much longer when Colton acted despicably. Most of the episodes thread went to about 200-250 posts. When Colton said racist things, voluntarily went Tribal council, and was medivac-ed out the threads were 400-500 posts, Twice the length, and twice the buzz.
Posters here can act all sanctimonious about not wanting the drama, but the drama is what drives the needle. I disliked Team Big Bother as much as anyone, but they gave the TAR producers exactly what they were looking for. Water Cooler Talk.
I feel the same way about Survivor, and I’ve come to the conclusion that both shows are purposely picking “bad” contestants for ratings. When I say “bad”, I mean people less concerned about the race/game who will be more involved in drama because of their somehow-flawed personality. I mean, hell, you could tell Phil was purposely stirring the pot this time around with his constant questions on the mat about the drama and dislike between the teams.
I love how JJ couldn’t resist the whole [paraphrase] - “If that was me on the sled, we would have been out of here HOURS ago.” snark.
I’d hate to be on his football team whenever they lost.
Big Brother has got to be the worst top-three team ever. I cannot see how that relationship works at all.
I quit watching that one cooking show where whatshisname–grouchy British cook—refused to “fire” a clearly incompetent person who’s only positive attributes were that she was hispanic (so good for the demographics), kinda cute, and a fucking screwball who’s only talent was to stir up trouble and to lie. (Hell’s Kitchen!)
It made the show actively unviewable for me.
I’ll agree that Major Dave was a jerk, but that was not an abusive relationship. It was several large step below abusive.
I’ve never wanted to reach through the TV screen and punch someone as much as when Rachel said, “We messed up!” in regards to taking the taxi.
No, bitch, **YOU **messed up.
It’s not sanctimony, it’s personal preference. I watch the show* to watch the race and the scenery and the cultures and so forth. The less inter and intra-team drama there is and the more pure racing there is, the more I enjoy the show. Your mileage apparently varies.
*And I’m willing to accept that I’m in a minority
Apparently you could drag your leg(s) to help you with steering and balance because that’s how the Big Brother chick made it down the hill. I reviewed it on the DVR and it was quite obvious, so why didn’t Art figure this out?
Well, I’m with you. Almost every other reality show seems to revel in the interpersonal drama (maybe not Top Chef) and there are shows that are nothing more than “point a camera at people who will argue and look stupid”. TAR is an exception, and it’s only worth watching for the reasons you gave. If they start to tip too far towards that end, I’d stop despite the enjoyable scenery.
Oh I’m sure, I think they even said something to that effect before the challenge. I just got the image in my head of a swarm of mighty warriors getting wadded up on their impossibly narrow war sleds.
They did say the stone pucks were rolled into the ankles of the enemy to break their ankles. Presumably in actual battle?
“Hey chief, the Dumbfuck’aaki’aaki are rolling these rocks at our ankles, what should we do?”
“Pick up the rocks and throw them at their heads.”
IIRC Army Dave was also just about ready to climb into the cab when Rachel said “Wait, didn’t it say on foot?” I wonder how things would have turned out if they had also screwed up.
So, last night when I was laughing hysterically while watching the border patrol guy fall off the conveyor belt while jumping to get the rubber chickens, I thought “Japanese game shows are never not funny.” And then 5 minutes later, when an injured Vanessa with an obviously swelling ankle was falling on the exact same task, I had to take the statement back because to me, that wasn’t funny; watching someone exacerbate an injury like that was just awful. I wanted the race people to step in and give them an alternative and/or penalty.
To get to the point of the post, I feel somewhat the same about interpersonal drama. Sometimes, it works. But watching two vile people go at each other (or one go after his or her partner) is not entertaining.
Was the host of the game show the same guy who hosted the fake Japanese show Majide on the ABC show I Survived a Japanese Game Show for a couple of years ago? I had forgotten all about that show until last night. 
At the pit stop in Japan, there were two young japanese kids there (I think somone called them ‘rockers’). I immediately though of the SNL ‘J-Pop America Fun Time’ skit - those two looked somewhat similar to the SNL actors.
I would like to know how Art and JJ figured out that One Waterfront Tower was the location of the challenge. The last scene I remember seeing before they arrived at the towers was of them in Waikiki at some statues. They are told by a lady that the only twin towers that she knows of is in Pearl City. Here are the twin towers in Pearl City [Google Maps]:
The Waterfront Towers are pretty far away from there. Google Maps says about 20 minutes away:
So how/when did they realize that information was wrong? Or did I miss the scene where they figured it out? Or maybe the cab driver thought the Waterfront Towers were the Pearl City towers and Art and JJ caught a break?
There’s no “outfield” on Sand Island either.
She read the clue out loud and he missed it too. They both screwed up.
- No Boston Rob.
You never really know what would have happened otherwise. Dave & Rachel were the first team to finish the water rescue, and then got the first cab, which took them to the dock where they paddled across the lake. If Art & J.J. hadn’t gotten lost looking for the towers, maybe they’d have gotten that cab, etc.
Grain of salt and all that but according to this, 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.