S25: Tim & Te Jay

[Donny Ketchum]

Hi.  We're boyfriends and the race's first-ever Asian gay team.

 

As a rare gay team of color, I'm hoping for an Oswald & Danny-type run rather than a Ron & Tony-type run.

[blackwing]

They just seem so.... extra flamboyantly gay.  I really hope they don't shove their sexuality in our faces, because honestly, they shouldn't be any different than any other team.  But this quote from Tim on the website doesn't give me much hope.  He's a flight attendant.  "Describe what you do: Depending on the flight, I am a sky server, nurse, entertainer, mediator and safety professional. To put it simply, I get paid to serve Coke and look cute doing it."  Oy vey.

[fishcakes]

Has there ever been a flight attendant on the show before? I've seen all the seasons, and I don't recall anyone from the travel industry being a racer but then I forget almost all of them as soon as they're Philiminated. It will be interesting to see if having insider knowledge gives this team any advantage with their air travel.

[auntlada]

There's been at least one team of flight attendants and possibly more. The team I remember, two blonde women, did not do all that great. They had wheelie bags rather than backpacks, I think.

[ElectricBoogaloo]

Ron and Bill from S19 were flight attendants too. They were eliminated in the second leg for not donating all their money at the orphanage.

[Fukui San]

There were also air traffic controllers in season 4 I think.

[Donny Ketchum]

There's been at least one team of flight attendants and possibly more. The team I remember, two blonde women, did not do all that great. They had wheelie bags rather than backpacks, I think.

That was Christie & Jodi from TAR14.  They actually got exactly to the midpoint of the race and were booted at the F7.  They actually didn't do too badly, as they did win a leg along the way.

Edited September 10, 2014 by Donny Ketchum

[cooksdelight]

Shelley and Nici, the mother/daughter team this season, are flight attendants.

[gibasi]

To put it simply, I get paid to serve Coke and look cute doing it."  Oy vey.

That doesn't seem extravagantly gay to me.  That seems like having fun with the flight attendant stereotypes.

[Donny Ketchum]

As long as they don't get too flamboyant in their behavior, I'll be fine with them.  Although if Te Jay's mother didn't know Tim was his boyfriend, not his roommate, then she sure knows now!  Good shot at getting second place, though he owes that to Jim telling him the right way to use the compass.

[Richness]

I feel like I should like them because of solidarity and all, but I just can't. The effeminate flames burn brightly.

[SteveAC10]

Once again, a gay team and when I hit various boards everyone is A-OK with that, as long as they don't act gay - or anything like that.

 

 

They just seem so.... extra flamboyantly gay.  I really hope they don't shove their sexuality in our faces, because honestly, they shouldn't be any different than any other team.  But this quote from Tim on the website doesn't give me much hope.  He's a flight attendant.  "Describe what you do: Depending on the flight, I am a sky server, nurse, entertainer, mediator and safety professional. To put it simply, I get paid to serve Coke and look cute doing it."  Oy vey.

 

I see no mention of sexuality in this quote, only a joke about how people perceive flight attendants and what they do. They're gay and not butch. Many gay men aren't. They also seem to be fairly competent racers, which we should appreciate, and deeply devoted to each other (and if they express that to each other during the race they're no more shoving their gayness in your face than a straight couple doing the same is shoving their straightness in your face). 
 

Edited September 27, 2014 by SteveAC10

[TudorQueen]

I think they're adorable and nicely encouraging of each other. And their intro tape shows them affectionately playing with dogs, which is a fast way to my dog-loving heart. They could do well. Of course it's so early to make predictions, and Killer Fatigue hovers everywhere, but I like them and will wait and see.

[aradia22]

They're going to be amusing or annoying. Right now I find them quite cute but they seem to be the types who are ready to be personalities and crack jokes. That kind of thing only works if the jokes are funny. That has nothing to do with them being gay. I feel the same way about the wrestlers. The constant "I love yous" are sweet right now but if they do it the whole time they're on the show it will start to grate. Basically, they have the potential to be a Meghan and Joey kind of team but unlike a lot of other people, I was already used to Joey from youtube when I watched the show so I found him more amusing than annoying. Time will tell with this team but they seem relatively competent for now so I'm willing to root for them.

[Chyna]

I didn't have a lot of hope for this team when we first met them, since they're both physically small. But they seem to have some navigation mojo as well as a respectful relationship, both of which should serve them really well. Don't know if they'll win, but I think they'll make it pretty far.

 

Once again, a gay team and when I hit various boards everyone is A-OK with that, as long as they don't act gay - or anything like that.

 

Seriously--why is it so terrible if they act effeminate? If that's who they are, then that's who they are. 

[Donny Ketchum]

We don't have to like it, though.  And I know I don't, for sure.

 

Anyway, we saw them stumble quite a bit with About-Face, and then even more when they couldn't master rowing their punt.  They lost their cool for a slight moment, but on the whole, they recovered decently.  They need to stop the happy screaming, though, because that's gonna wear on the ears after a while.

[aradia22]

I really don't think they're that loud or effeminate or in any other way irritating. They make much less noise than the firefighters. I was amused by Te Jay getting excited and waving at Misti and Jim and dropping his flag and Tim telling Te Jay "your only job is to wave the flag and stand still." They don't seem to be the strongest team but they do well where they can. Barring major difficulties I think they'll stay ahead but if they get closer to the end, I think they'll struggle to get to the top of the standings. 

[Camera One]

I'm actually surprised they pulled through on their tasks since they don't seem too strong in any particular area.  There was their physical weakness with the punting for one.  We also saw no footage of them rehearsing for About Face... it's hard to know what their strengths (if any) are at this point.  Anyhow, they seem like nice guys, so I'm still going to root for them.

Edited October 6, 2014 by Camera One

[Donny Ketchum]

Navigation clearly isn't their strong suit, even though they can do their tasks reasonably well.  They did well to recover from getting their Detour clue in last, but faltered again in driving to Berry Farm, and even more in doing the sheep task.  Honestly, they'd better count themselves as extremely lucky that Michael & Scott got that bad advice about their medallion, or they would've been hot, buttered toast!

 

Shape up, gentlemen!

[Richness]

Sorry, but I'm still cringing at "What's a quarry?"

[Camera One]

I don't think they realized that they were scaring the sheep.  Though I think it was good they used their creativity to try to make a clothesline, even though it didn't work.

[aradia22]

 

Navigation clearly isn't their strong suit, even though they can do their tasks reasonably well.

Yeah, I'm worried for them in the non-English speaking countries if they're already struggling.

 

Sorry, but I'm still cringing at "What's a quarry?"

Eh, I'm willing to forgive them since those kinds of vocabulary words can depend on where you grew up/your life experiences. I was expecting someone to get tripped up over "puffin."

 

I'm glad they're still in it over the firefighters but yeah, they need to shape up.

[Camera One]

It was interesting in the bonus clip that one of them (the flight attendant one) said the tasks were not their strengths and navigation is.  That was when he said they didn't have a map and was going by the locals' directions.  Hopefully, they are actually stronger than this leg indicated.  I don't think they're that bad at the tasks either.

[Donny Ketchum]

They just keep getting really, really, really shrieky.  But I appreciate them staying calm enough when they were behind and playing catchup with the other teams at the Detour.  And Te Jay cleaned up nicely at the Roadblock.  Fifth place was well-earned.

[Richness]

T&T made up for the "What's a quarry?" whiff last episode by knowing the capitals. Though in all fairness, in my episode comment I did say that might have been missed due to accent or when spoken out of context. However, they lost points for their horrid parking job by taking up two spaces. That's a sin I want karma to smack them in the heads over for later.

[etagloh]

A bonus clip explains one reason why T&T knew the capitals: they studied abroad together in Sweden.

[auntlada]

A bonus clip explains one reason why T&T knew the capitals: they studied abroad together in Sweden.

 

I was assuming they were just smarter than all the other racers. (I still can't believe no one else seemed to know any of capitals or even the names of the cities to guess.)

[Camera One]

They only showed a clip, so maybe some racers knew, or maybe T&T asked someone before naming them?  It's good if they knew them from memory.  Those countries are pretty common and the capital cities well known.

[biakbiak]

They ran up to the map and instantly responded without a cut so they most likely knew them, I would hope that even if they hadn't studied abroad they would know. 

[auntlada]

Didn't Tim and Te Jay say something right away about knowing the answer? Something like, "Oh! I know this!" (Not those exact words.)

[Camera One]

I remember Jim immediately said they need to find someone with a phone.  The Wrestlers and the Surfers huddled around a map they had brought along  I think you're right for T&T that there was no cut since most of us got the impression they knew.  

 

Team Survivor, the Bikers and the Mom/Daughter didn't have to answer since they drove efficiently.

 

Which leaves Team Scientist.  I don't think they showed how they got the answer.

[TudorQueen]

When the question was first asked, I rattled off the answers. TudorPrince said "Wow!" and I responded that I had better damn well know them because I'm a history teacher. However, I was also not on a race around the world with killer fatigue hovering around every corner, so I'm cutting the others a wide swath.. Still, kudos to the College Sweethearts for knowing it off the tops of their heads.

 

I like them in general, they're so warmly enthusiastic about the whole Race, and every task they accomplish and so clearly wild about each other, while courteous to everyone else.

Edited October 19, 2014 by TudorQueen

[biakbiak]

However, I was also not on a race around the world with killer fatigue hovering around every corner, so I'm cutting the others a wide swath..

 

That is true. Plus, I have had moments where someone asks me a question out of the blue and even if it's something I know and in two or three minutes I will know it again but it just leaves my brain at that moment.

[Jersey Guy 87]

 

A bonus clip explains one reason why T&T knew the capitals: they studied abroad together in Sweden.

 

Sure, or they just happen to know the capitals of three fairly well-known countries.  Sure, some of the others might have been suffering fatigue but this wasn't rocket science.

[Donny Ketchum]

Sure, or they just happen to know the capitals of three fairly well-known countries.  Sure, some of the others might have been suffering fatigue but this wasn't rocket science.

Agreed.  I don't get the praise they're getting when it wasn't all that special that they remembered the capitals.

[elychari]

I'm not convinced that this team has the smarts to win TAR. They did lose their shoes in US Virgin Islands.

[Donny Ketchum]

Once again, not much from them this week.  Tim seemed to do okay with the Roadblock, and they seemed to be the team that struggled the second-least with the Detour.  Third place only because Shelley & Nici had to settle their cab fare.

 

Good job, boys.

[Camera One]

Tim does seem to be very proactive... going straight to get a lesson on how to scrape the fur; leaving the group in the square and finding the leather shop a millisecond before everyone came; identifying that he should do the pouring.  But getting lost on the bike slowed them down.  Unfortunately, they are not really that strong in anything, which makes me wonder how far they can go.  Still, I'm glad they're still squeaking by.

[Lingo]

They're certainly flying under the radar.  In a bonus clip, one of them was very happy they weren't U-Turned, exclaiming (surprised??) that "This means that people like us!"  And I'm thinking, "No, honey, it just means that no one thinks you're a threat."

[aradia22]

They're not doing great but they're not doing awful. I wish they hadn't snarked on the local food vendors but a lot of teams did that. Kudos to Tim for immediately breaking from the pack and finding the location to drop off the leather. I think he had some trouble getting back though. Tim & Te Jay and Amy & Maya are two teams I want to like but my sense is that they both struggle with navigation. Still, I want them to stay in it. They snap at each other every once in a while but they generally don't fight and I think they're likable.

[Donny Ketchum]

These two seem to be decent at the tasks.  It's just finding things that throws them off.  And it seems like they needed help more than once on this leg, first from Shelley & Nici in finding the hay, and then from Alli in Te Jay getting through the Roadblock. 

 

They've gotta get better at doing things themselves, or they're as good as toast.

[aradia22]

Not the best and not the worst. Unless we get tasks that really play to their strengths, they might not last long. I vaguely remember hearing that we'd be heading to Asia later in the race. That could help them out if one of them speaks the language in whatever country they go to. I don't know what else would really play to their strengths from what we've seen. I do think it's possible that they're better at mental challenges but I don't think we've seen enough to confirm that. I said this on another team's board but I can't tell if they suck at navigating or if they have terrible luck asking for directions. Or maybe it's a little of both. I won't be upset if they win but they're not my favorites right now. They need to be a little stronger to win me over.

[Lingo]

I don't think the Race has ever not gone to Asia!

 

These two always seem lost and frantic.  I'm kind of surprised they're still in the race. But Jim and Misti are underestimating them.  In a bonus clip Misti assumes that they must have been good milking the goats, because she didn't think they'd be able to build the tent.

 

[TudorQueen]

I was talking about how I like them but don't think they'll make the finals because they never quite put it together all the way for a win. My friend pointed out that they are very good at the challenges, which I agreed was true, but they often bleed time in between (the same navigational issues that knocked out the Mom/Daughter)

[Camera One]

I'm actually surprised at their ability to pull through on the challenges for the most part.  Maybe their frantic searching sometimes defeats the purpose since they're darting here and there and everywhere.  In some ways, I like them because they're not super-anything.  They're more like ordinary people trying to be on the race.

Edited November 4, 2014 by Camera One

[Donny Ketchum]

Not a good leg for these guys.  Te Jay did the Roadblock well enough, but after that, it was a leg of failure when they biffed the Painters Detour.  But at the same time, was I the only one who thought that it was kinda karma-ridden for way-too-openly celebrating beating out Amy & Maya in snagging the last spot?  The food scientists were able to fly right by them at the other Detour, and they ended up in last.  And with so many other teams with much better strengths going for them, I highly doubt they can overcome their Speed Bump in two weeks.

 

Good luck, guys!  Uphill battle ahead of you!

Edited November 10, 2014 by Donny Ketchum

[aradia22]

I had a feeling it would be a NEL. They'll likely be out soon unless the wrestlers go first or another team majorly screws up but I do like them. 

[Camera One]

I don't think they made any particular mistakes in this leg.  They were steady.  They just don't have that extra ability/edge which the top teams have for overtaking other teams, whether by navigation or task completion.  Even an average team like the Wrestlers have the edge of physical strength, which allows them to go through certain tasks faster.  Meanwhile, T&T goes through any task at the regular speed.  Combine that with their weakness of navigation and searching, unless someone else makes a huge mistake, I agree with aradia22 that they might not be around much longer.  This is especially the case since they have to do an extra speed bump, as DonnyKetchum mentioned... even if it's not onerous, they would need that extra 10 min or so to keep pace.  

Edited November 9, 2014 by Camera One

[Donny Ketchum]

I don't think they made any particular mistakes in this leg. They were steady. They just don't have that extra ability/edge which the top teams have for overtaking other teams, whether by navigation or task completion.

That is a very good point. In some ways, this team reminds me of Nary & Jamie from TAR20. You know, the federal agents who told the other teams they were teachers. They weren't a bad team by any stretch of the imagination. They had no huge weaknesses going against them. But what did go against them was that they were one of those occasional teams who simply lacked flaws more than they possessed any real benefits that would've given them the oomph they needed to set them apart from other teams. Their racing was steady, but steady only gets you so far in the race. They wound up going out in sixth place since they didn't have the edges the other teams in the F6 with them had. Bopper & Mark, Vanessa & Ralph, and Art & J.J. had the physical part of the race going for them, Brendon & Rachel were decent at the physical and mental parts of the game, and eventual winners Rachel & Dave were good all-around racers.

Same thing looks like it's gonna happen to Tim & Te Jay if they don't step things up. They have no real benefits to them. They just don't have glaring flaws. This season, Adam & Bethany and Brooke & Robbie have the physical side of the race going for them, Amy & Maya have the mental edge, and Misti & Jim and Kym & Alli seem to be all-around-good racers. Tim & Te Jay, like Nary & Jamie, don't really excel at any part of the race.

Edited November 10, 2014 by GenL

[Camera One]

I remember liking Nary & Jaime (as usual, I tend to like the underdogs)... I do think overall, they were more competent than T&T, though.  I don't remember them getting lost as often (not that I can remember any specifics), and they seemed to have the smarts going for them.

 

The only way T&T could survive is if they really luck out, or there is a task that really plays to their skills (but as we have discussed, I'm not sure there's anything that would fall into that category).  In most seasons, there are strong teams which have major conflict issues which end up costing them, and allowing middling teams to squeak through, but this is definitely not the case with the teams that are left.  The Bikers, the Dentists and the Surfers almost never argue with their teammates.  Even the Wrestlers, with Brooke's constant whining and being frustrated, would power through a muscular challenge while T&T limp their way through.  I'll still root for them, but it's not looking good.  

Edited November 10, 2014 by Camera One