aradia22
-
Posts
9.1k -
Joined
Content Type
Blogs
Gallery
Downloads
Discussion
Posts posted by aradia22
-
-
Quote
One of these days I'd love for Phil to write a tell-all behind-the-scenes book. I've often wondered what people do as to the bathroom. Do they just hold it while the leg is active? I assume that if there is a task at a place of business that has a restroom, they would use it. Do they wear Depends?
I also wonder when, what, and how they eat. Do they get fed by production at the Pit Stop? They definitely used to with Eat Sleep Mingle. Then ESM was eliminated. Did it get brought back and we just don't see it? Presumably they are all at some Pit Stop hotel, are teams allowed to leave the hotel to explore? They used to be able to but I'm not sure anymore. While the leg is active, do they just not eat? I guess if the leg is only 3 hours, I would just wait to eat too.
I feel like one positive of individual tasks is the other teammate has a chance to relax (and maybe go to the restroom). I imagine all these questions could be answered by contestants but I don't feel like watching their social media content.
QuoteI filed that under "things that make you go 'hmmmm'" Hidden depths and all that.
I still say Miss Congeniality. There's a reason it was a joke; it's the most generic of responses. Even for the teams who didn't say "winning the Amazing Race" they had specific answers like Corey who said something about traveling to a different country every year or something like that. I don't find Todd genuine at all.
-
1
-
-
Quote
It was also clear she wanted her dad to do this Roadblock and he wouldn't.
I do like that we've gotten individual challenges this season where it isn't really clear who would have the advantage. Like the tiles and making flower bundles. So we're not just watching the "strong" member of the team do all the physical tasks but it's also not as neat as a simple memory task. I think Chelsea really oversold how much "practicing" with her daughter helped her find the tile. I still think their tile in particular seemed fairly close to where Phil was and as people have pointed out, a lot of teams bunched up so there wasn't that much of a gap between them all finding their tiles.
QuoteYeah, but what good did it do them?
As much good as it does when someone is good at dancing relative to how good the other teams are and how much the tasks shake up race placement. 🤷♀️
I find it strange that fish markets and letting fish suffocate are considered uniquely Vietnamese. How do you think fish are processed before they get neatly fileted for the grocery store?
-
1
-
-
Quote
They didn't even get the fish challenge as quickly as I thought they would. I think they were tired.
Yeah, with the way they were struggling last leg and finished second to last, they would have had to pull out magical fish displaying skills to pull ahead. For all the squeamishness, it seemed like the other teams were getting it done and I assume J&V were also trying to get it perfect. But it didn't seem like the kind of task where you make up a lot of time anyway and by the time they got to match the tiles, I think Victor was fried.
QuoteIf I had to guess, with so many teams bunching at the finish line like they did, the final Roadblock didn’t take hours and hours even though it looked brutal.
I would be really curious to see a map of the location with the spots marked where each team found their tiles. Were the teams who did well able to find the tiles because they were closer or were they better at searching. Chelsea's tile kind of seemed on the side near where they ran to find Phil at the mat and a lot of the other tiles seemed to be down the middle aisle but again, I got kind of bored watching it. I think four or five teams bunched up and then later two or three teams bunched up. It might have been difficult but people just coincidentally found their tiles around the same time.
QuoteI was dumbfounded by so many teams wearing their backpacks while doing the Detour. Are they worried about them getting stolen? You’d think at the fish market you could lighten your load.
Same, but I can't say that wouldn't be a concern. I feel like the hotel would be okay if you had a fanny pack for all the important things.
QuoteEditing had me worried my beautiful Disney Princes were going to be Philiminated, they got quite a bit of screen time. So relieved I'll get more of their handsome faces. But how does Liam see with that mop of hair in his eyes?
Interesting... I think of them as beautiful actors from some CW teen drama. Corey is the one who immediately struck me as a Disney prince. He full on looks like a cartoon character. I'm happy they gave them some real challenges for the Detour but it must have been a real shock to the system with the additional sleep deprivation. I was getting a little worried, especially for like Joel and Garrett. I hope they get to rest up properly before the next leg.
QuoteIt did seem like a lot of the challenges were "we run a grocery store, we do this every day" for them.
Honestly, I was into it. TAR has done a fair number of food shopping/delivering tasks over the years. It was about time someone came on with the advantage of running a grocery store and not just like... being super buff. It's like with the dancing. After a bunch of choreography tasks, you'd think you'd get more dancers applying to be on the show (and we did).
QuoteI don't know all that but she is the lady that was first bullied in high school by her now partner, lost her husband tragically then shortly thereafter almost died herself and went through brain surgery so she has been through a LOT in life so may be seen as tough because of same. Going through hell and back can do that to you.
I thought Robbin was the one who bullied Chelsea. But Robbin is also the one who had the personal health tragedies.
QuoteSpeaking of Phil, I loved how quiet and respectful he was explaining the Wish Pagoda. Jeff Probst would have been yelling his head off.
Something in Anna Leigh's favor was reminding her dad not to run when they were at the temple. I was curious why only one member of each team seemed to be wearing that modesty shawl.
QuoteI agree with this. I don't think she expected Chelsea to help, it was more small talk, an Amazing Race version of "crazy weather, right?" So the "shows your character" comment was more about the rudeness rather than the unwillingness to help.
Also, for all this talk of Robbin being working class, I remember that her "not here to make a new bestie" was partially snarking on the other racers at the airport. I remember it being something kind of snobby like she thought they were dumb or she was somehow better than them. I wouldn't be surprised if Anna Leigh picked up on that energy.
QuoteThis is a great bunch of racers. The pink team bothers me a bit, but it's mostly just the one who keeps squealing - at the fish/eels, yelling "out of towners" while crossing roads. Sorry, she grates on me. I like her partner, though (Andrea, I think?). But the lack of mactors and stunt casting is fabulous.
Oh, good. I like Andrea too but I was starting to worry I was the only one who found Malaina a bit annoying.
-
3
-
-
The editing felt like it was back to normal this leg (without the forced drama and tight shots) but it was still tough to watch at the end with some of my favorite teams at risk of being eliminated. It was sad to say goodbye to Victor and Jocelyn. I didn't think they were going to win, but I wish they'd stuck around longer.
No team is emerging as loathsome, but I would certainly trade Anna Leigh and Steve, Andrea and Malaina, Chelsea and Robbin, etc. for another leg with Victor and Jocelyn. Again, editing was good this episode and if there was KF, we didn't get to see too much of it (at least in terms of the teams being unpleasant to their teammates or others) but I just get the vibe that there's some footage that would make me like Anna Leigh, Malaina, and Robbin even less if they'd included it.
Credit to Anna Leigh though, she mostly handled the fish task well except for the wiggling ones. I did wonder as the task went along if gloves were provided or something only certain teams thought to bring along. I couldn't really tell if the fish task was very strenuous. The marked buckets didn't seem that far from the display and the judge didn't seem that fussed as long as each container was filled with the right kind of fish. There wasn't like... an obsession with perfect placement. The judge for that task was very adorable. She looked so excited to be handing over the clue each time.
We learned that Joel is a UPS driver. Otherwise, it seemed like there was a lack of personal info this leg. It felt very race-focused.
I'm just accepting that I don't really get Todd and Ashlie's relationship. Like, is "it'll be fine, I've broken my fingers all the time" a helpful thing for her to hear or not? It seemed like he kept putting the weight of the mattress on her head but maybe she was just struggling (especially with the height disparity).
John and Greg continue to be one of my favorite teams. John singing to the fish to calm himself was cute and not annoying and he has a good voice. I feel like they're just genuinely charismatic rather than trying so hard to play to the camera. Like Todd saying "pivot pivot" during the mattress task or writing "world peace" on their wish. OK, Miss Congeniality.
I'm also liking Joel and Garrett the more we see of them. They try hard on tasks. They seem genuinely appreciative of the traveling and the places they get to see. And those were wholesome letters from home.
Credit to Liam and Yeremi for brute forcing it with two mattresses at a time. Other teams tried, but they committed. They're one of the more likable athletic all-male teams to have been on the race. I'm sure part of that is that they aren't doing amazing so it's easier to root for underdogs, but that story about boot camp made me think they're trying to unpack toxic masculinity and be good brothers to each other. And good for them.
Chelsea seemed to find her matching tile very quickly so they snagged first place. Shockingly given Robbin's sob story... I don't like them very much. They're getting the closest thing to a villain edit with Todd and Ashlie. Again, the editors aren't making any team hateful so far but yeah... they could definitely leave stuff out if they wanted Robbin to seem more likable. Steve and Anna Leigh were an okay second place. They earned it. I was getting bored so I didn't really pay attention to where the correct tiles were located. It seemed like they were in a similar area but it would have been a bit unfair to get a tile placed farther away from the others necessitating a broader search.
-
2
-
-
Quote
Was it just editing or were Jocelyn and Victor spectacularly bad at making rice paper?
I think the editing focused on them because after getting frustrated at the fruit task and then running around trying to find the rice paper task, they were agitated and primed to bicker and this editor loves drama. But putting aside the teams who aced it (Joel/Garrett, Corey/Rob, Andrea/Malaina), they didn't seem that much worse at making the rice paper. They just had issues because they were rushing and frustrated. Steve and Anna Leigh probably struggled as much or worse. It's a task where you need to be focused and deliberate. Both detours really forced the contestants to slow down and be patient to do the task correctly.
QuoteI'm shallow, because I like both of the cute boy teams: Greg and John, Liam and Yeremi.
I also find them likable, but I'm not going to pretend that's not part of it. Greg and John (at least on camera) are doing their best to stay calm and be agreeable and friendly wherever they go. They're competitive but they seem to be having a good time... even when one of them fell in the water at the pomelo task (though maybe they left out Greg getting upset). And Liam and Yeremi are CW pretty. And the fact that they haven't mentioned any acting or modeling aspirations makes me like them more.
QuoteYeah, I think we were duped! Phil made it seem that there won't be any non-elimination rounds but really this one is. They just made it the same round. Not good for the viewers in my opinion.
I did feel duped! It did create more tension for me as I didn't realize until Liam and Yeremi made it to the mat that they would also be allowed to continue racing. I guess there's a slight difference since they might have been able to sleep in between if it had just been a NEL. But, come on.
QuoteI did laugh at the 7:55 flight crew getting mad at Joe/Ian for....getting a better flight time? Sorry you all didn't get the right travel agent to get you on the earlier flight? Like, Ashleigh was PISSED. Which, I don't necessarily blame them for being annoyed because, at the time, a 6 hour gap between flights is huge, but don't hate the players, hate the game!
I think Steve and Anna Leigh actually did have the same travel agent... or someone did. I assume there was a cancellation while they were booking flights so Joe/Ian could suddenly get on the better flight when the earlier teams couldn't.
QuoteAnd dragonfruit is a cool looking fruit which is, in my opinion, entirely underwhelming to eat. The white flesh with black speckles tastes like a blander cantaloupe maybe?
I've had sweet ones but usually, at least here in the US, they're so bland. I briefly flirted with the idea of growing one to have a cheap cactus but I'm in the wrong climate for it.
QuoteI was worried for Jocelyn and Vincent. I think Vincent was key to getting them through this part of the leg as Jocelyn seemed to get really down and convinced they were out of it. Thanks, Vincent. I really like you two and want to see you continue in the Race.
Victor. For all Todd has said that Ashlie needs encouragement, Jocelyn seems like the one who immediately gets down on herself. She pushes through but if you watch for it, she makes a lot of self-deprecating comments even when they're doing relatively well.
QuoteI hate when that happens. If they're going to put the contestants through all that anxiety, it should be for something they really should be worrying about, not a fake out.
I think the contestants stressed themselves out. It was not knowing. Though even at the airport, someone guessed that there probably weren't a lot of tasks they'd make them do in the dark (it was when they mentioned frog catching) and obviously the boat task wasn't happening at night.
QuoteI get that you never know how hard a task will be before you try it, but if I were Morgan or Lena, I'd be annoyed with myself for not using the Express Pass before even getting on the boat at the floating market. It seemed like one of them suggested doing just that, although it could have just been editing. You lose too much time getting on the boat, going round to the merchants, and then coming back. In all honesty, they might have been better off completing the market task and then skipping the detour altogether.
Same... I wonder if production made them at least get on the boat. Was it even an option to drive to the Detours?
QuoteI’m not always clear what the racers see on their clue cards compared to what Phil describes, but from description alone, making rice paper wrappers (essentially crepe technique) would have been the obvious choice over dressing a motorcycle. Then again, I’d take my chances in a kitchen over a mechanic’s shop any day.
I like that racers this season evaluate their skills differently. Like everyone who chose Plastic (the vinyl task) obviously thought they'd be good at it. Everyone was scared of the choreography task with the swords in episode 1 but Joe/Ian aced it. I find it boring when there's one obviously "easy" detour and people only choose the other option if there are limited spaces and they're forced to switch. Similarly with pomelos and market shopping, it'd be boring if everyone only wanted to do the physical task.
-
1
-
-
I'm very late to this one. I did watch the episode and take notes but I wasn't in the mood to comment. Anyway, I really didn't like the editing this episode. I don't know if it was a different lead editor or they were going for a different vibe, but I wasn't into it. It was subtle but noticeable, especially in a longer episode. I don't think it was really KF. The contestants weren't behaving that differently... it was the framing.
For example, Corey came across more influencer-y. They kept the shot of him jumping over the bumper pole at the airport for no reason (dumb, could have injured himself and been out of the race) and there were not only more shots where I noticed the awkwardness of Corey and Rob talking to camera instead of to each other but also the editing didn't seem as interested in highlighting Rob. Like, if he's signing for a talking head, why make that a split screen? Weird choices.
There were weird choices throughout with the editing though like using all these tight shots and close ups. But also shots that didn't make any sense... like when Liam and Yeremi were doing the vinyl wrap at first they were saying something uninteresting and the shot was of them putting on their gloves. If them putting on their gloves is the only footage you took (like only a tight shot of their hands) and the words are not that important, why use that? Ugh.
Overall, a lot of the racers felt ruder to the locals this episode but I blame the editor. That said, while I already liked them, Greg/John and Joel/Garrett rose in my estimation for their enthusiasm and politeness.
Robbin's "not really looking to make a new bestie" was so close to "I'm not here to make friends."
Credit to Anna Leigh for finding the extra envelope for the early group but I didn't need to hear about it so many times.
Todd playing pro basketball for France and Germany... Them being a couple since fifteen also explains a lot.
I wonder when Morgan and Lena were told they could use the Express Pass. I assume they had to get on the boat first. It seemed like they waited a long time. While they did slip in placement and it looks like the next half of the leg will be challenging, I don't think there were really great options for them. There was no way of knowing they'd have to keep racing and they would have lost time either waiting for the boats or doing the vinyl.
For all the talk of Victor having a language advantage, it was fun to see some special skills like Joel and Garrett being good at the rice paper task because one of them lived in France and made a lot of crepes. And Lena having worked with vinyl before. I do like that at least some of the group seems well traveled and they have different experiences and skills to bring to the table.
Morgan telling Lena "slow and steady, we're here, nobody else is here" is probably the nicest, most encouraging thing I've heard her say so far.
There were at least 4 chubby little dogs running around at the rice paper task and I enjoyed that very much.
The monastery for the pit stop was gorgeous. The architecture in SE Asia is severely underrated. The greeter at the mat was lovely. I wonder if they'll have to remember traditional dress for the final task this year.
I don't know how well they deal with sleep deprivation so I'm worried about KF for next week's episode. I don't want to watch 90 minutes of bickering and breakdowns.
-
Quote
I'll have it again, i'd like to try eating it when cut across, more like a grapefruit. I can definitely understand someone eating this and thinking "not bad, but needs work" leading to the cross breeding that has been done over the years.
Pomelos can be very sweet or a bit bland. Like other fruits, it's about seasonality, sourcing/transportation, and being able to pick a good one.
-
3
-
1
-
-
Quote
When Lena is in the boat on the way to the Roadblock she says she is afraid of alligators. Then they cut to something in the water, but I couldn't tell what it was. Maybe a giant snake?
It was some kind of lizard/big iguana-looking reptile. That kind of head shape with a long tail.
-
1
-
1
-
-
Quote
I know everyone has different opinions, but put me down with those who think 90 minutes was just too long. I almost felt like I was watching teams perform the tasks in real time. I eventually started FF through them and still it took forever. When the first team came in there was still about a half hour left on my recording. I just skipped to the end. Coming after a 90 minute survivor it’s just a lot for me. I love this show but not today. Phil remains the best host though!
I don't mind the 90 minutes. But it does feel like the editors run out of steam after they're done with the teams in the lead and it's an obligation to show enough of the teams at the end so there's drama to see who gets eliminated. But we still lose out on the teams in the middle. There seems to be little interest in the middle of the pack doing the tasks. Now personally, I find the brother teams Greg/John and Liam/Yeremi attractive so I didn't mind watching them. But while Greg/John get to be charismatic we really barely hear Liam/Yeremi speak. Surely they're saying something. And with Robbin and Chelsea, we only got to see them being stressed and nothing else. While being at the back of the pack must be more stressful, I find it hard to believe Jocelyn and Victor are the only ones dropping cute soundbites.
QuoteI would give serious pause to eating unrefrigerated duck eggs. How long were they sitting there anyway?
A lot of countries don't refrigerate eggs. Explanation quoted from this website: https://www.organicvalley.coop/blog/why-does-us-refrigerate-eggs/
QuoteIt turns out that, here in America, eggs are refrigerated because the U.S. Department of Agriculture requires eggs sold for consumption to be washed, processed, and then refrigerated before they come anywhere near a store’s shelves. On the other hand, most European and Asian countries have reached the opposite conclusion, requiring that table eggs not be wet-washed, and also not refrigerated.
[...] By 1970, the U.S. had perfected an egg washing system that was easy, effective, and produced squeaky-clean eggs. The only catch was that, after washing, these eggs had to be refrigerated. The trade-off for beautifully spotless and bacteria-free eggs is that washing also removes a thin, filmy, protective outer layer called the cuticle. This cuticle is the magical natural shield that keeps bacteria out of an egg while letting oxygen circulate.
It’s also the reason for this discrepancy in the way eggs are handled around the world. Without a cuticle, eggs need to be kept cold—not for the product itself, but to discourage bacterial growth in and on it. Conversely, eggs with their protective layers intact are much less likely to be infected by salmonella—at least on the inside—and because of this they don’t need to be refrigerated.
-
1
-
7
-
-
Quote
That floral arrangement task was kind of diabolical in that the later you got there, the further you had to trudge through the muck to get flowers. The pomelos seemed to always be obligingly floating just around the corner. Speaking of pomelos, how on earth did Robbin and Chelsea's boat not sink with all those pomelos in it? Seems like they had way more than Steve and Anna Leigh did when theirs sank. Must have been the distribution.
I think it was also their weight. Racers who weighed less might be able to fit more in their boats. In spite of their size, pomelos aren't always that heavy. There can be a lot of pith... which probably helps them float. I wasn't paying that much attention to how many trips each team took. But it seemed like Anna Leigh made the mistake of thinking they could only do one trip.
QuoteDid the later teams at the Lotus challenge receive a little extra help? When the first teams were getting graded, I didn't think the locals were telling them what was wrong with their arrangements, they just said they didn't pass. Eventually the locals started telling the contestants what was wrong with them.
The comments were mostly cut out, but it felt like they were also being told what was wrong with the arrangements throughout the task. I do think Jocelyn was graded more harshly because her arrangements did not look bad to me. It's possibly that they also just explained the issue with the leaves and bamboo ties badly for the audience because I did not understand why the women all had to do so many attempts to pass.
QuoteIs "Let's go!" the new catchphrase for 2023? I think I heard it around 2 dozen times this episode and it started driving me crazy (kind of like the use of "vibe" on this season BIP). They were using it even when it didn't make sense.
I think it's something young people say.
QuoteJocelyn and Victor had a real advantage at the Detour between language and familiarity with the items. They own a grocery store back home. I thought this would have been the harder of the two Detours if you didn't know the language because even if the items are spelled phonetically you are still relying on locals to tell you what they heck they are. But Todd and Ashlie managed to get through it and make up the time she lost at the Roadblock.
I think Todd and Ashlie proved you could do okay with enthusiasm and trying to sound out the words in different ways. Unlike Andrea/Malaina and Elizabeth/Iliana who said the phonetic pronunciations the way they wanted to, showed the locals the paper so they could sound it out, and basically let the vendors in the market do the task for them. Though I don't know that they took that much longer than Todd and Ashlie. They just seemed stressed about it.
QuoteWhy were they all in the water? Do they fall off the trees into the canal when they're ripe or are they transported to the collection spot to take them to market by throwing them into the water and letting them float downstream or were they just thrown in there for this challenge?
Pomelos grow on trees like other citrus fruit. It seems like in this case, they were planted over manmade waterways to make it easier to collect them. I don't know if they drop when they're ripe. We saw in the clip with Phil that they were being cut down. I do think they probably put more in the water so all of the teams would be able to fill 5 buckets.
QuoteI've always been curious about what durian tastes like. And jackfruit.
Durian is creamy. There's a custard-y richness to it. Maybe think Philippine mango in texture? But it's not really like much else. It's quite soft and really feels like you're eating a custard like the inside of a cream puff that's just slightly set. More floral and custardy than just sweet. If you get high quality durian that's probably ripened, there's less funk. It's not something you want to eat a lot of though. It's nice to have a piece or two or have it mixed in to flavor desserts. Unripened jackfruit can be a bit dry. Ripe, it is sweet and has a nice bite to it. I don't know... it just tastes tropical? It doesn't taste exactly like one thing but maybe if you were to blend a bunch of fruits together, like POG juice, you could approximate the taste. I think it's closest to having the syrupy sweetness of canned guava juice or canned mango juice but naturally.
QuoteThose jackfruit were gigantic! The ones I saw growing on the trees in Brazil which much smaller. I don't know if it was a different breed or if the ones I saw weren't ripe yet, so they weren't done growing.
In my experience, they're always that size.
-
3
-
1
-
-
The Lotus Flower task was surprisingly difficult. I thought wading through the water would be difficult, especially as more teams showed up and you had to wade out further to get to the unopened flowers. But I didn't expect them to be judged so harshly on what seemed like a pretty simple floral arranging task.
I felt for Jocelyn going through 12 attempts when her bouquets looked pretty decent. She deserved her little cry. Ashlie too with 15 attempts watching everyone pass her. Some of them did okay so it wasn't impossible to get through it. Rob took 5 attempts. They didn't tell us how long Greg and Ian took but they seemed to get out of their quickly to when they arrived. I felt a little bad for Greg having his fist bump rejected. He didn't seem to be posturing, just making a genuine faux pas. It was cute how the other half of the teams amused themselves feeding the catfish. Steve's bundles were the ones that looked most obviously wrong to me so I wasn't surprised he took 12 attempts though it did get confusing because it seemed like there was a translator there telling them what they did wrong and it still kept happening. Yeremi only took 4 attempts and he was very adorable when he succeeded. Elizabeth took 10 attempts, Malaina 11, and Robbin 16. Maybe it was tough to get the bundles tied tightly? It's weird that the women (and Steve) seemed to struggle so much more.
The detour split between Stock Up and Scoop Up was interesting. John on the brothers team was super relatable when he said "I mean that sounds fun" reading the Scoop Up task. It did seem like the more enjoyable task (until the end when the teams were brute forcing it as a physical task). Still, Jocelyn and Victor aced the shopping task. Yeah, they have an advantage right now but I hope they stay in the race and don't get KF because they're pretty wholesome to watch. Same for Rob and Corey. I do think there's a slight issue with the episodes right now where I have fun watching the wholesome teams at the front of the pack and seeing who wins... and then there's kind of a drag with all the other teams and it feels like the editors even lose interest. Like there was mild drama with Joel and Garrett when a fanny pack got left behind. But then we also kind of lost track of them (even in a 90 minute episode) because there were so many teams to keep track of.
Credit to Rob and Corey for making the pomelo task look easy. Credit to Greg and John for being adorable and having fun, even if John abandoned his brother for a second and let him fall into the water. Respect to Todd and Ashlie for choosing the shopping task and doing it with enthusiasm (unlike the last two teams who seemed to not be having as much fun and also to be making the vendors do the task for them). I wonder if the TAR crew spoke to the vendors. Because when the 3rd team comes rolling through, you must know what the grocery list is already if you've already seen two other teams pass through. Yeremi and Liam are young and strong but still, credit to them for making up time at the pomelo task and racing to the mat like giddy children.
I was surprised when Ashlie mentioned she has 3 kids. I feel like there hasn't been a young couple in a while who already has kids. Either it's a couple without kids or it's a friend team like Robbin/Chelsea so someone is at home watching the kids, rather than both parents being on the race, especially with younger children. I wonder how young Victoria and Jocelyn's kids are.
It didn't seem like the first two teams were that close at all in spite of the editing. I think Jocelyn and Victor really breezed through that task. I think Elizabeth and Iliana were just not built for the race. I feel like Joe & Ian seem like a competent team in need of some navigation luck. I feel like most of the other teams at the bottom will probably stay there. Maybe Yeremi and Liam could be doing better with more physical tasks and Morgan and Lena could move up if one of the first three teams falters. If I had to pick a winning team right now, I'd vote for Rob and Corey or Greg and John. Of course the different countries and style of task can always shake things up.
I want an update on the shoe situation. I thought maybe they provided water shoes for the lotus task. But then Ian and Joe had no shoes when they were scooping pomelos. What happens if they actually lose their shoes? Did the shopping task eat into their budgets or did they have money to complete the shopping list?
-
5
-
-
Quote
But still, the level of haranguing was a bit much, and didn't really seem to help. And since they still finished before a 3rd team showed up at the task, there really was no need for it.
Agreed. It was strange she absolutely refused to give her sister ANY positive motivation or answer questions. It was ALL negative. Maybe she knows it works best with her sister but it seemed like she was playing it up for the camera or genuinely being mean and unable to comprehend why that was not helpful. It felt like a weird attitude to take right at the start of the race. She acted like her sister was on her last nerve when they seemed to be keeping pace with each other pretty well and her sister gave no indication of wanting to quit the task.
It was a very small moment but I'd compare it to Greg and John where one of them told the other something like 'hey, if the massage gets to be too much, let me know and maybe we can talk through it instead of quitting.' We've seen stubborn contestants on this show. Nothing the one sister was saying seemed to warrant all that negativity. (Eventually I will learn their names... I'm doing my best just to recall team names now. Next I'll try to remember which is which.)
-
2
-
-
https://playbill.com/article/some-like-it-hot-announces-broadway-closing-date
QuoteSome Like It Hot has set a closing date for its Broadway run. The final performance of the musical, based on the 1959 film written and directed by Billy Wilder, will be December 30. At closing, it will have played 483 performances.
The show officially opened December 11, 2022 at the Shubert Theatre after previews beginning November 1. Nominated for 13 Tony Awards for 2022, the musical took home four trophies: Casey Nicholaw for Best Choreography, Charlie Rosen and Bryan Carter for Best Orchestrations, Gregg Barnes for Best Costumes in a Musical, and J. Harrison Ghee for Best Lead Actor in a Musical. Ghee made history alongside Alex Newell (who won Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Shucked), becoming the first openly non-binary performers to win the top Broadway honor.
A national tour will launch in September 2024 and a West End production will follow in 2025.
-
2
-
-
Quote
We are usually overwhelmed with endless young dating couples 99% or which are dull and boring as anything never having had a life as yet and all the damn yelling they do as they face challenges for the first time in that life. Only the engaged gay couple are youngish and they seem fine. And the two married couples are more mature.
THAT was it. There are a fair number of young people but most of them aren't couples. Not that other teams can't fight but couples vibes are just... Joe and Ian were bringing tension now that people mention it. And I've already stated my thoughts on Todd. Their vague mention of a rough patch in their imperfect marriage that they chose to work through screams cheating though it could always be something else.
QuoteMorgan/Lena powered through the food task to get that express pass and I loved every second of them onscreen. They reacted how I would, especially Lena, who I believe was the one who was intensely telling her sister to hurry up.
I felt bad for the sister looking for sympathy when the other one was just yelling at her to do it. The bickering doesn't bode well for KF down the road. They have completely opposite needs/approaches and it wasn't like her sister didn't intend to go through with the task. She just needed positive reinforcement.
-
1
-
-
At first I thought I'd have trouble telling the teams apart and then I realized it's just that a lot of the people who are related look super similar. Like, I'd believe you if you said there were a bunch of twins this season. I thought Elizabeth and Iliana were sisters. Almost every sibling set could pass for fraternal twins.
Corey is one of the super photogenic ones. He looks like a Disney prince. Or someone they'd hire at the parks. Or James Marsden. His dad Rob is a super expressive signer. I appreciate that while they have an interpreter on the show, they mostly let him speak for himself and utilize subtitles rather than having someone else speak for him.
They weren't getting a full villain edit but I think Todd and Ashlie (mostly Todd) came the closest to being unlikable. It was due to little things like the gameplay of getting the others to let him go ahead, how they spoke to a few of the locals, but I'll also admit he just looks like someone annoying. Spencer Pratt? Some sports guy? It'll come to me. Oddly, I softened a bit when he realized he messed up at the massage detour and needed to tone it down and shut up.
Jocelyn and Victor won me over early just because I was rooting for an older couple to last as long as possible. Obviously they were getting a positive edit because they won. But I also think they did a good job telling us interesting things about themselves. They gave the editors soundbites to choose from. The at-home birth, Victor speaking Laotian... they were saying things I could actually register and remember.
We saw very little of Robbin and Chelsea. I was worried they might leave early when we got so much backstory and they were otherwise barely in the episode. They really try with the physically fit all female teams sometimes. I want to see them make it at least halfway. I worry about Andrea and Malaina. I actually thought it was smart that Malaina skipped the express pass when she saw the sisters had such a head start and chose the sword task if they were sore. They did seem to really get messed up by the weight of the sticks vs. the swords.
I was annoyed early when everyone clustered around the guy walking his dog because he had a phone. We did get to see a cute gray dog though.
Derek and Claire looked good in plain clothes (as opposed to their race outfits). I was pleasantly surprised to see them again.
I wonder how long Anna Leigh and her dad will last. The fact that she's a pageant girl was barely mentioned. They did get a fair amount of screen time for not doing much and not being near the top of the rankings.
John and Garett (the army best friends) honestly made me a little sad for a bit. They were babies in those old photos. It's been so many years. Yeah, just a little sad moment in the middle of the show.
This year's military brothers Liam and Yeremi have beautiful eyes and beautiful hair and don't seem to be very remarkable racers at the moment. As far as brother teams go, I preferred Greg and John who didn't register too much but seemed like nice young men when they were on screen.
-
5
-
-
I saw the DVR getting ready to record the first episode and I was hyped... then I had to wait so long I lost interest a little. I wasn't quite sure about the new cast in the first few minutes but I soon got on board. It's too early to really tell which teams will be likable or annoying (or get those edits) but so far there's a lot to like.
The casting is solid this season. I think there's a good mix of older competitors and photogenic young people. Not that older people can't be photogenic but some of the young people they cast look like social media stars even when they aren't. No one seems that fame hungry so far. Airports/flights are back!
The episode was very front-loaded for me. There are a lot of contestants but it seems like they knew there would be diminishing returns with something like the massages so we saw less and less of the subsequent teams. All the drama was in getting to the mat first, not who was going home.
The tightrope task didn't make much difference but I guess it's good to challenge the teams with heights and they all performed admirably. I took notice of Greg when he gave himself a pep talk to get through the tightrope walk he clearly hated. Liam did the same thing later. Do I need to start talking to myself more?
Their struggle with the puzzle made me worry about the rest of the race. It took me a few minutes to solve the scramble but I'm surprised they struggled SO much. Of course, the editors made it easier by highlighting "of" for the audience early on. I got distracted because I found the word "isle" (and other random words) and I was looking for a specific place. Then I saw all the letters of "city" in the correct order and it became much simpler to unscramble "angels." I was momentarily perturbed because I thought they were solving for their destination (not their current location) until they told us Thailand is also called the city of angels.
They had to eat SO MANY insects for the express pass. Maybe it'll come in handy at some point but I would have skipped it. Even if it wasn't a plate of insects, that's just a lot of anything to choke down. Not as bad as the caviar but it had Fear Factor vibes and I don't remember Fear Factor even requiring that many bugs. It just kind of seemed like a punishment for the sisters that lost them their lead since no one else even tried.
Between the two detours, massage makes the most sense but I like Thai massages and I can't learn choreography. From the example of the engaged couple, it clearly wasn't impossible. The choreography was arguably slower and simpler than some dances racers have had to learn. Some people seemed to genuinely enjoy their massages. I don't know if the others weren't used to it or if the masseuses had been instructed to really go hard on them.
-
3
-
-
I'm waiting on Here Lies Love until my parents can go with me. Hopefully it'll still be open late October. I might try to see Hadestown now while I'm not busy.
I'm debating whether or not to see I Can Get It For You Wholesale at CSC. Strong cast. $35 preview tickets if you're under 35. But the story doesn't appeal to me and I don't imagine the songs will either. Walk on Through depends on how far into December I might still be in the city. I think I I have to rule out Buena Vista Social Club unless my plans radically change and I don't leave until around Christmas. Unfortunately I have to miss another Michael R. Jackson show because I'm just not going to be around in February. Too bath, Teeth sounds cool.
Suffs and Lempicka have announced so that changes my budgeting. Right now of the shows I don't have tickets for yet, I want to see The Notebook, Merrily We Roll Along, The Lonely Few, Suffs, and Lempicka. Everything else is negotiable.
-
1
-
1
-
-
I finally got around to watching the show in its entirety. I really wish they'd put Best Original Score and the John Kander/Joel Grey tributes on the actual broadcast. This also left KPOP off the main broadcast entirely.
I liked the revival performances best. Into the Woods, Camelot, Sweeney Todd. There was nothing I could do about Camelot aside from buying another ticket but the size of the Sweeney cast was a selling point. Interested in seeing Groban develop his lower register. He could become a compelling baritone over time. I had the same quibbles about Brian d'Arcy James, Jordan Donica, and Ben Platt as I've had seeing their other performances and nothing changed for the Tonys.
Kimberly Akimbo came across as much more annoying than it was in person. I'm not sure if that was the size of the theater or a sound issue. &Juliet also sounded kind of bad. I hated Shucked. At this point, I really appreciate shows like Shucked and Once Upon a One More Time filming high quality versions of their best numbers so they're preserved for posterity even if there isn't a pro-shot and any press performances don't go the way they might like. I can just watch Alex's solo and skip the show. I was sold on Some Like It Hot. Hopefully I'll get a chance to see it when Ghee returns.
Happy for the acting winners though there was a slight sense of diminishing returns hearing the same message three times. I didn't miss the writers at all and I would have been fine if they'd cut even more of Ariana DeBose's random (apparently unscripted) banter. It felt like there was more of a focus on plays since they were showing so many clips. The show was solidly fine. B/B+
-
1
-
-
Quote
J. Harrison Ghee has revealed in an Instagram story that they will be out of Some Like It Hot for at least six weeks in order to undergo surgery.
In the Instagram story, Ghee stated, "I'm okay, I will be okay, I am so at peace and grateful for this moment of restoration, of healing to come. And I hope that you will continue to support the incredible cast of Some Like It Hot at the Shubert Theatre."
DeMarius Copes will be taking over the role of Jerry/Daphne for Ghee.
-
Quote
Titanique, the musical send-up of the blockbuster film Titanic, has announced two new cast members set to join the off-Broadway company at the Daryl Roth Theatre. RuPaul’s Drag Race star Willam will take over the role of “Victor Garber” (currently played by Anthony Murphy) beginning Tuesday, September 5, while actor-comedian Drew Droege (Bright Colors and Bold Patterns) will take over the role of “Ruth” (currently played by Russell Daniels) beginning Thursday, August 31.
Written by Tye Blue (who also directs), Marla Mindelle, and Constantine Rousouli, Titanique spoofs the classic love story of Jack and Rose to the music of Céline Dion, featuring iconic songs including “My Heart Will Go On,” “All By Myself”, and “To Love You More.”
The cast currently stars Jackie Burns as Céline Dion, Lindsay Heather Pearce as Rose, Michael Williams as Jack, Brandon Contreras as Cal, Anne Fraser Thomas as The Unsinkable Molly Brown, and Marcus Antonio as The Iceberg. Cayleigh Capaldi, Brad Greer, Dimitri Moise, Nya, and Kristina Walz round out the ensemble. Chani Maisonet and Terrence Williams Jr. join the cast as background vocalists on September 5, and Tess Marshall joins as a swing on August 31.
Titanique is scheduled to run at the Daryl Roth Theatre through January 7, 2024.
Whoa. Also, interesting Willam wasn't cast in a female role.
-
Quote
What about Back to the Future? Any thoughts on that?
Not for me
-
1
-
-
I was trying to find the name of another actor, and learned that Peter Saide passed away in 2020. I loved him in R&H's Cinderella (without the weird Douglas Carter Beane book) with Lea Salonga and I got to briefly stage door after Desperate Measures. A talented actor with a gorgeous voice. He was so young.
https://playbill.com/article/peter-saide-nyc-based-australian-actor-dies-at-age-36
QuotePeter Saide, a New York City-based Australian performer, passed away February 26 at the age of 36. The singing actor, who was seen Off-Broadway in the 2018 production of Desperate Measures, was rushed to the hospital due to complications from DVT following surgery and died shortly after.
Last fall, he was seen in the George Street Playhouse production of Last Days of Summer. In 2019 he was also seen in the Bucks County Playhouse production of Mamma Mia!, the world premiere of the musical comedy Love and Other Fables at Theatre by the Sea in Rhode Island, and in the York Theater Company gala staging of I Do! I Do!.
Throughout his career, Mr. Saide performed at The Ogunquit Playhouse, San Diego's Old Globe, the Paramount Theatre in Aurora, Illinois, the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, and with One Year Lease in New York City, among other theatres.
“So he is gone. You will not find him in any church, the theatre was his cathedral and the table his alter,” Mr. Saide's father, Tom Saide, shared in a statement. “And when you are on the stage, or writing the stories, or composing or playing or singing the music, or off the stage working in your field, or in a quite place, stop for a nano second, and he will be there if you want him.”
Friends and family have taken to social media to share their condolences and memories. Mr. Saide is survived by his father, his mother Marilyn Kingsford, and his sisters Carmen Saide and Anna Satmari.
-
3
-
-
Fall is creeping up and I'm realizing I don't have a lot of shows books (mostly concerts) so I'm evaluating the current/upcoming shows and what I might want to budget for.
CURRENT SHOWS
Funny Girl: About to close, if I don't win the lottery (which is even more unlikely at this point) I won't see it. It's fine. I'm seeing Lea in concert in the fall.
Here Lies Love: I will be making my best effort to see it. I just need to find a day I won't mind standing for a while.
Once Upon a One More Time: Tempted to see it before it inevitably closes but it looks so lackluster. Even for a lottery/rush ticket... there are other shows.
&Juliet: Still seems pretty popular and I don't need to see the OBC.
SIX: Also pretty popular. Feels like I could see this whenever; not a priority.
Kimberly Akimbo: Curious how it changed since off-Broadway previews... not that curious.
Sweeney Todd: Might be easier to get a ticket in the lean months? I don't really need to see Sweeney again.
Shucked: I waffle. I would want to see most of the OBC if I was going to see the show at all. But I do not feel like this one is for me.
UPCOMING (ANNOUNCED)
Hadestown: Betty Who and Phillip Boykin joining in September. Might finally see it (saw it off-Broadway at NYTW)
Love Letters: First with Victor Garber, then with Brooke Shields. Probably won't make the effort to get tickets though I'm tempted to go get things signed.
Teeth: February at Playwrights Horizons when I might not be in the city. I missed White Girl in Danger. This is an exciting project on paper.
Merrily We Roll Along: Curious about the star cast. I've never seen a proper production.
Here We Are: Didn't want to splurge on tickets. If it's unfinished, I think I'll be content if they (hopefully) release a cast album.
Rachel Bloom's Death, Let Me Do My Show: Very short run at the Lucille Lortel in September. No idea what demand will be like. Probably too rich for me.
The Notebook: Opening March 14th. I love Ingrid Michaelson's music. I haven't been too caught up in the music they've released so far because her voice is so specific... but Sara Bareilles managed to write one of my favorite musicals so I'm hopeful.
The Gardens of Anuncia: LaChiusa score. Exciting cast. I might see it late in previews or try to stay a little later in the fall to catch this after it opens.
Poor Yella Rednecks: From the writer of Vietgone. I found that show engaging and worthwhile but also super cheesy. I'd like to catch this. Maybe I'll go for the $30 under 35 tickets since I'm not subscribed to papering services anymore.
Buena Vista Social Club: I'd have to delay my trip to see this one but I usually like what I see at the Atlantic.
I Can Get It For You Wholesale: I imagine it might be easier to rush this than other recent CSC shows. Low interest for me though.
Gutenberg: I never got into Book of Mormon so there's not much to sell this to me right now.
Mary Gets Hers: Interesting concept. Tickets aren't too badly priced. It is a play though... I'll think about it.
Walk on Through: I do love Gavin Creel and his pop albums are decent so I know he can write music. I'm not a museum novice but I've read good things. You can't buy single tickets yet though and I'm not sure what the dates are besides November.
The Connector: Not going to be around in January. Something tells me this is going to be one of the JRB shows I don't care about.
The Lonely Few: A Zoe Sarnak musical! I'll try to catch this in April.
How to Dance in Ohio: I don't love the songs I've heard. It just sounds like contemporary musical theater in the most basic way. I'm curious to hear what neurodivergent people think when more audiences get to see the show.
All the Devils Are Here: Interesting concept from Patrick Page. It reminds me off that Len Cariou show I saw. Probably won't make a big effort to catch this.
UPCOMING (MAYBE?)
Cabaret: Strongly rumored West End transfer. Haven't been impressed with the screamy clips and direction but people love this new "immersive" interpretation.
The Wiz: No theater confirmed but I'd love to finally see it.
-
2
-
-
Quote
Chicago will be first to experience the new musical Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil—based on John Berendt’s iconic non-fiction book—next summer. With a book by MacArthur “Genius” Grantee Taylor Mac and music and lyrics by Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown, the world-premiere production will be directed by Tony Award winner Rob Ashford, with choreography by Tanya Birl and sets by Christopher Oram. Berendt’s 1994 blockbuster book, a Pulitzer-Prize finalist that was on the New York Times Best-Seller list for 216 weeks and was adapted for Clint Eastwood's 1997 film of the same name, is the story of a socially prominent Savannah, Georgia, antiques dealer who was tried, and retried, for murder. Tickets to Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (appearing June 25 - August 4, 2024 in the 856-seat Albert Theatre) are currently available by Goodman Membership; to purchase, call 312.443.3800 or visit GoodmanTheatre.org. Individual tickets go on sale at a later date.
Usually like JRB's scores (minus Honeymoon in Vegas, etc.) The only Taylor Mac show I've seen is Gary (which I hated aside from seeing Nathan Lane on stage).
Strong cast for the reading. Curious to see who goes to Chicago.
-
2
-
Theatre Talk: In Our Own Little Corner
in Everything Else
I don't know if this will interest anyone but I saw my first show of the fall. It was the 92Y tribute to Howard Ashman. I enjoyed it for what it was, but it was also a bit of a disappointment. It ran under 80 minutes with no intermission (I turn my phone off so I can't give a more exact time). It was advertised with Christian Borle's name but he did not narrate or perform. His directing was completely behind the scenes. So the most notable names for the evening were John Cariani and Manu Narayan. Heather Ayers was the other adult. Nadina Hassan and Khadija Sankoh appeared fresh out of college.
It was like a good cruise ship performance (I think cruise ship performers are terrible) or like a more intimate show at a Disney theme park (since they often call in Broadway talent). The script found some nice little moments but I guess I expected more humor from Christian Borle and it was missing the magic of lyrics & lyricists which is hearing from the actual composer or lyricist or a close collaborator or someone who has intimately studied their work. It felt a little like a pleasant but not terribly informed youtube video essay. There are definitely better shows I could have rushed for almost $40. I still cried but Howard Ashman/Disney stuff is a weakness of mine.
There were some familiar songs that were highlights like Poor Unfortunate Souls, Proud of Your Boy, and Mean Green Mother From Outer Space. Overall, though, it was a bit lackluster with the Disney songs and Suddenly Seymour. No major insights into Howard's life or work and the actors just sort of presented together, but they did spent a good chunk of time on the deep cuts from Smile and Babe and there was one song from Rosewater that was performed in a really lovely way. It always makes me sad thinking of what Howard would have done artistically if his life hadn't been cut short. He was at the height of his powers. Who else might he have collaborated with? In the non-Disney work there's a thread of cynicism that only really works well in Little Shop of Horrors. The time he was working was definitely not my favorite period of musical theater. I hear more Maltby and Shire and Marvin Hamlisch than Kander and Ebb and Sondheim. Partially it's the sound of the time. It's the mix of the proto-contemporary musical theater sound and the vaguely folksy saccharine mush of 70s music. (And I like the Carpenters.) Partially I think it's that these adult stories concern quiet characters with complex issues but Howard really thrived on simple stories with passionate, earnest characters. To me, that's what ties Little Shop and the Disney stuff together. And then the cynicism and commentary is kind of layered on top. Also, why is there a song for the beauty pageant photographer? It was an okay night out but the train ride back with all the Halloween costumed characters was not fun. Why are the subways so hot at the end of October?