'The Amazing Race': an amazing letdown
Sorry I'm so late in posting about last night's Amazing Race. Can I claim I was still recovering from the half-marathon?
Once I realized it was Zev and Justin who were in trouble with the passport-loss issue, I got worried.
Pretty quickly, it became clear that they were going to be disqualified, and then I realized that they had been emerging as my favorite team this season. So. Bummed.
It's never good to see a team out for such a frustrating reason, but when it's an overall nice team -- and in the leg in which they'd pulled themselves from last into first -- it hurts. Of course, it was their own carelessness that cost them, so it's not like the time the team was searching through haystacks for hours and hours and never found a clue. But still ... I was not a happy viewer.
The other big stunner for me was how few people could identify Jackie Kennedy! Maybe I've spent more hours than average in the Smithsonian American History Museum, but I still couldn't believe how many people were like, "Oh, it's some queen or something ... ?"
The poker players said it best when they mentioned that if they had luck like this in poker games, they'd be rich. I can't believe they and karate-kicking Lance are still in. Bleh.
What did you think about the episode?
Comments
One of the teams thought it was Queen Elizabeth. Classic...
I think the Globetrotter guys are pretty smart for wearing their jersey's. Should help them get more assistance easier since everyone knows who the Globetrotters are.
Posted by: Chris in KS | October 12, 2009 3:57 PM
The other big stunner for me was how few people could identify Jackie Kennedy! Maybe I've spent more hours than average in the Smithsonian American History Museum ...
Wow, you just made me feel old! I knew Jackie Kennedy's face from seeing her on TV, in Life magazine, etc.
SKK: Whoops, sorry! Here I was, trying to be self-deprecating about the number of times I've been to the First Ladies exhibit ...
Posted by: Hal Laurent | October 12, 2009 5:51 PM
I, too, was crushed when my fav team was eliminated, or was it? Justin is the nurturing kind, and I bet losing Zez's passport must have hurt him deeply. Wishing them well, regardless. Oh, yeah, the Karate guy is getting on my last nerve! Now I'm rooting for Megan & cheyenne, I think that's their names, you know, the tall blonde ones. As for Maria & her talk too much teammate, they are a bit too, too, much for me, too. What is Maria's ethnic background, you know? She seems out of place in Japan, Vietnam, and Cambodia, even though she looks like them.
Posted by: Annia | October 12, 2009 7:18 PM
It's beyond crushing when a good team goes down for a seemingly-boneheaded reason. But, that being said, Zev and Justin were too up-and-down and probably wouldn't have been there until the end.
The Globetrotters (how appropriate) are leading the way in my opinion. By the way, can we get rid of Lance and Kerry. They make Jonathan and Victoria look angelic.
Posted by: Rob | October 12, 2009 9:09 PM
I, too, was stunned that no one knew who Jackie Kennedy was. I mean, she was before my time too, but, you know... I've read things. I've seen newspapers and magazine articles. Are we Americans really that ignorant about our own recent history?
Wait, don't answer that.
Heck, the CAMBODIANS knew who she was...
Posted by: bluzdude | October 13, 2009 9:50 AM
Not knowing Jackie O. What a shame.
It reminded me of Jay Leno and his Jay Walkin, where he askes people on the street, simple questions that they should know.
Shame to see those two go, losing passports seams to be a bad way to go. At first, I didn't get it. But, the more I think about it, you get caught up in the race and the moment and all your concentration is on making that challenge.
Posted by: Capt Jack | October 13, 2009 12:00 PM
Too bad about Zev and Justin...they were my sentimental favorites as well.
Lance seems to be good at getting locals to help him, which is a key strategy, I think. But if the day comes that he can't get that local knowledge, he'll be waaaaay behind and out, I think. He doesn't seem to be able to function on his own when the pressure builds.
Posted by: Bucky | October 13, 2009 1:08 PM
Team Poker is one very lucky team. Twice they should have been eliminated but were saved. I wonder how long thier luck will last. My 2 favorites now are THG and Megan/Chenye. I agree with everyone in that Lance has to go.
Posted by: jason | October 13, 2009 3:25 PM
I too was amazed at the number of racers who didnt know who jackie kennedy was. I thought it was age but remembered that michelle obama was compared to jackie during thye campaign. also,I loved zev and justin. how did they(phil0 know they lost their passport? do they check all participants at the stop?
Posted by: nanci haber | October 16, 2009 1:01 PM