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So that sled race was a dud. Figures Nicole and Deena would choose the wine bottle with the rounded bottom that kept tipping over while the rest of them opted out. The UFO prank didn’t work. Only Deena, Snooki and Sammi believed it was real. Or pretended it was. Jenni kept drinking wine with bemused look and Mike kept stuffing chips in his mouth. The noise from the drones would be a dead giveaway. Murder mystery was still the best prank.

PV husband isn't wrong to prefer to buy instead of "wasting" money on rent. But do Americans buying in Mexico get to write off mortgage interest like they do with US property? Or he's counting on the property appreciating in price so that they can make money even if he doesn't get tax advantages? If his job situation is uncertain -- may not have a work visa -- it may be right not to want to burn their savings on rent. The wife really sold the luxury condo rental. But when it came time to choose, she didn't really push it.

Yeah that's what I was thinking, the sail boat experience may be hard to replace. It's also probably not completely up to Glenn. But Bravo probably loves Gary's antics anyways. Now the heat from these revelations may change their calculus but he has given them a lot of footage to use and they've aired a lot of his behavior.

Liked that the Daily gave smaller Green team an advantage or at least didn't penalize them for having fewer challengers. But basically it favored teams that didn't have big challenger and those that just skipped the puzzles after the first check point. So it had a rather big loophole. Yeah I don't understand why the newbies would abandon getting out the vets. Maybe some producer intervention there. Alyssa gets unlucky, really unlucky given the odds, and it's another physical challenge against a bigger competitor -- she was eliminated last season against a bigger competitor as well. She struggled to move that cube thing and reach outside of it, being smaller.

A lot of TV shows do. On Friends, that apartment where Rachel and Monica lived could be worth over $10 million.

I would think the low cost of living is one of the main reasons they moved. They said something about Johanesburg, how it was challenging. So during the house hunt they said they didn't have jobs but probably had lined up teaching jobs before they moved to another country, though maybe the cost of living, particularly housing, is low enough that they could live for awhile on savings.

Thing is, she was looking at a small apartment which costs $4800 a month plus other fees, which she can't afford, since we never see her work. But she has an expensive wardrobe?

I don't know why the Siem Reap realtor showed them a place which is twice their budget, though the budget is very low. But while brand new, the place was cramped too. Easy elimination. Her thing about space may be an honest demand, not something concocted by HHI. But maybe being near parks would be a good idea if they can't get a place with a backyard. You can tell they've put up some modern buildings in recent decades but you wonder if they're trying to cram as much buildings as possible in these old SE Asian cities or they're planning things like parks and other communal spaces.

That's what we're suppose to believe, that within hours of meeting him, she went into the shower in his room with him, while Joao was just outside. Then said things about how Tzarina might be mad with her. Just a strange thing to say when they're supposedly hot and heavy. They either dubbed that in afterwards or the hookup was faked. In the last few seasons of all BD shows, there seems to be more sex occurring on board. And they are all audio, so we don't know for a fact that the moans and the things they say are happening in real time. Other reality shows will have infrared cameras of couples going under the covers.

Was it Tzarina and Culver who both appeared on WWHL a couple of weeks ago? So whatever happened on the boat, they seem over it now.

They brought these grills and Tzarina had to squat over the sand to grill the steaks and lobster. The place was just less than ideal for a beach picnic. Usually for other picnics, they say the place they picked isn't nice enough, so they have to deal with rocks in the sand or not being able to plant the umbrellas or canopy for the sun cover. This time, they didn't show the crew commenting on what a hassle it was to set up that picnic lunch. Instead it was about the race to get everything done and get everyone out before the tide rolled in. That was the intention in picking this spot, to show the crew making a dramatic getaway. Joao told Jason they really needed Margot to help push the tender off the island before it could have capsized.

That coral farm, for all we know, they did a quick dive, filmed it for the cameras and then wanted to get to the beach club right after. I'd be impressed if they did it for at least an hour. A few seasons ago, the crew went to pick garbage around a beach and was rewarded afterwards with some time at a beach club or resort. They seem to have a formula, occasionally try to make the cast look good between all the drinking and hijinks.

Obviously they're setting it up as he should go to the more prestigious program. But Paul and Ally can't tell him because it might backfire. Also, he's never had to earn and pay for things himself. So he doesn't appreciate that he needs to choose the path that will enhance his income potential. So Paul is more chill at his job, compared to the previous season. And Ally is starting a new job. Meanwhile Jackie fakes a fall so that they get into some assisted living facility, which is probably a great relief for Paul. Ava's issues are typical teen drama. It's at a fairly low level. Luke is at a crucial crossroad, so more of a challenge to his parents. It's still surprising how more zen Paul is than he used to be when the kids were young.

Deck guys aren’t performing the few duties, like docking or dropping anchor. Rest of the time they’re trying to hook up with the stews or talking about hooking up. Or in Culver’s case, scavenging for food. They’re too casual about some of the more crucial tasks. Culver prioritizes being a clown or eating or now Jaime. Harry prioritizes getting with Margot. Now Joao is circling Tzarina. Even serious Adam is distracted and slacking off. He went to man the anchor barefoot, which has to be a safety hazard. But this is what they want, the crew hooking up leading to potentially dire situations. So far there’s been some damage to the ship but nobody has been injured or worse. At least not yet. Maybe the real professionals that we don’t normally see are ready to jump in for truly serious situations.

Don’t get the appeal of the sand bar. Just a mound of sand, no tree cover, no variety of terrain. They chose it so the crew had to race the clock before getting grounded. Family flew from Wisconsin to Australia, probably connected through Sydney or Brisbane and then separate flight to Cairns. All for a 1-night charter, may have been 30 hour trip, 3 or 4 flights. It sounded like one of the kids was saying they learned they were coming out and didn’t have a lot of time to before they left to come do the show. So maybe they have potential charter guests lined up and they don’t know where they’re going because they could be shooting on one of 4 or 5 different BD shows. Culver and Jaimee don’t owe Tzarina anything. But it didn’t seem organic that they kept talking about her being mad at them. While they were in the shower and she was moaning — and Joao is just outside the bathroom — then she’s talking about cheffy being mad. Either they looped in those lines later or she said it while they were in the process of making out or having sex? Just seems like a strange thing to say when they’re supposedly hot and heavy. Seems like it could be performative.

Surprised the the elimination was only one round. Was essentially a variation of Pole Wrestle, which is usually best of 3 rounds. That "eye" had handles so the weaker player can hang on to it longer. This was the first time this season where both challengers who got the most ping pong balls were drawn? I liked the Daily but it was too easy to sabotage a team. Seems like after a few rounds of eliminations, the biggest alliance can't really dictate the votes like they did in earlier rounds. But some of the ones in the red team cited so and so for voting for them previously so they are voting for them now. Um, with secrete votes, how do they know so and so voted for them?

Yeah that's what I was thinking, but they want Chuck to have power so they put him back as US Attorney for the high-profile SDNY. How convenient. But him asking for Jock's help make no sense. US Attorneys are let go all the time when the administration changes. I believe the new president just asks the previous guy to submit his resignation and that's usually what happens. So when the administration changed back, it was likely that there would be a new US Attorney in the SDNY. However, Chuck has a couple of dubious incidents in his past, so I doubt a new president would touch him with a 10-foot pole. Or he might have given him a post at some relatively obscure agency, rather than right back in the cauldron of the SDNY, now that Prince is running for the presidency and especially if Axe, who is still a fugitive from American law enforcement, returns. The thing with Prince and the campaign manager was ridiculous. Most campaign managers will jump and cash Prince's check. After all, they don't have a regular job, get a job only every 4 years. Sure they can run smaller campaigns but nothing is as lucrative as a presidential campaign, which will these days raise and spend $1 billion. Fact that Prince and his ex were not together shouldn't be a thing, compared to Prince, a billionaire, running as an independent. We saw how Michael Bloomberg did, jumping into the race relatively late. If that campaign manager had any qualms about taking Prince's money, it would be more about how well Prince could carry himself on the stump or on the debate stage, not whether he was getting back together with his estranged wife. Not sure why she wants to play along. I thought she was all about that life in Denver, all about climbing walls, which was going to be an Olympic sport or something. They really haven't drawn out that character well. Axe is a little closer to America, living in the UK? That didn't look like a real castle for some reason. You could see cars moving nearby, like it was just off a main road or freeway. It was on low ground and there weren't tall defensive towers. I guess the old gang isn't getting back together, for now. But Axe is making plenty of money so before long, you know he will have his company and be back in the game. Taylor last season said they wanted to hit a billion dollar in net worth. They prioritized that more than anything, so that they would be independent, not have to answer to Prince or Axe. So Axe tells them he could get them that money in less than two years and they walk away? Again because stopping Prince is so urgent? They still haven't shown why Prince is such a danger, other than Wendy saying essentially that he's too egotistic, narcissistic, solipsistic -- she doesn't use the words but what she describes fits. I have a feeling that by the end of the season, the case for Prince as this villain and mortal threat to the country and world isn't going to be made by the writers.

If Paulie and Cara Maria are still together, I'd have rather see CM back than some of the vet women. Though she and Paulie were insufferable when they were last on The Challenge. But it's been a long time so ...

Been listening a little to the audio book. So far I haven't come across the manipulative Amy. One thing is Amy has disappeared and they've done the press conference with her parents but Amy's entries are still back when they're still in NY. It was their third anniversary and he took his co-workers out to drink while she was waiting at home for him, with plans she had made, while he spent her money to buy drinks and flirt with waitresses. When he got home he was resentful about the prenup and she never having to worry about money. Meanwhile she was thinking how she was the cool chick, always being available sexually and not being demanding of him, not making him give up his hobbies, like other women, etc. Obviously Amy is warped, since she's capable of murder.. But her accounts, at least so far, seems like believable accumulations of resentments, as she was aware how screwed-up his misogynist father was.

Fresh Air re-ran an interview with one of the creators. https://www.npr.org/2023/08/18/1194376133/reservation-dogs-co-creator-says-the-show-gives-audiences-permission-to-laugh He talks about the role of popular culture when he was growing up, how he came to be able to watch cable TV when he was young and poor, how it no doubt influenced him to go into TV and film production. Also about how hip hop appealed to him and other Native-Americans of his age. So this particular circle of indigenous kids was influenced a lot by popular culture.

The show was better in the first couple of seasons partly because the Axe and Chuck characters were based on real-life figures, Steve Cohen and Preet Bharara, who actually served as US Attorney for the Southern District of NY. Bharara did really prosecute Cohen, who couldn't trade for clients for a few years. He's still very rich and bought the New York Mets. Chuck was modeled on Elliot Spitzer, the New York state Attorney General who prosecuted some Wall Street bankers and was said to have political ambitions going all the way to the WH. The first few seasons, they were trying to outwit each other, Chuck's office going after Axe, while Axe's lawyers were smirking at all the money they made keeping Axe out of jail. Then they turned both characters into cartoons and made the rivalry into a personal feud, rather than questions about equality or whether laws applied to the rich and powerful -- a question we're seeing played out right now. So even if they turned it into some vendetta tale/soap opera, which it always was to an extent, it would be fine if the characters were interesting and entertaining, like the loathsome characters in Succession. Alas, the Billions writers don't have the chops to pull something like that off. Instead they seem to pour their energy into pop music references.

On this question of assimilation, I wondered how typical the everyday life depicted in the show was of everyday life experienced by Native Americans. So if there was a large population who didn't live on reservations, perhaps they were integrated into other cities, there would be a lot of assimilation. For instance, do these kids speak any of the NA languages or have they mainly been raised and educated in English and the school curriculum is similar to other kids their age in nearby towns -- putting aside the quality of the education but whether the curriculum is set by counties or state bodies. Or is it more typical that people who live in reservations most of their lives are segregated, have different educational experiences, are cut off from a lot of employment opportunities -- beyond discrimination, like if you have a reservations zip code, are you automatically eliminated from consideration for jobs -- or even something as basic as access to services that people outside the reservations have, like cable TV, Internet, etc.?

In general though, what percentage of people who are more than half Native-American are living on reservations? The characters featured on the show seem to have limited economic options. I would also gather that few people raised most of their youth on reservations are able to find job or school opportunities far away. We know a lot of small town people don't get away, go to college or find jobs in big cities where there are more opportunities. Add in discrimination and it's probably more difficult for Native American teens. But there must be some number of people who've been able to build lives within the larger American culture?

There may already be something going on. Son and father may have similar tastes. Or father asked son to hook him up.😊

Is Paulie left handed? Because he threw them with his left hand? The vets were probably told what the cast breakdown would be, since they made a late arrival and there were only 6 or 8 of them and they were not allies in the past. So they knew it was going to be an uphill battle, easily outvoted unless they could gaslight enough of the newbies. I think over time the producers want to feature the younger, newbies, who tend to be more photogenic, to see if a couple of them would break out and become regulars. I liked both games, though who knows who really won, the producers could make the outcome of that Daily whatever they want.