S25.E01: Go Big Or Go Home

[Tunia]

I'm not sure I like the Save. It seems less fair than the FF. And I don't like things too easy for my racers.

 

Yeah, I'm not liking it because I really dislike when all these reality shows start gooping up their original concept, which was good enough to get me interested in the first place.  It just seems like such an act of desperation on their part to keep things "new and exciting", but I think it just gets messy.  Survivor added their Immunity Idol and Redemption Island, Big Brother added the Power of Veto, Project Runway now has Tim Gunn's save, and the various cooking shows all seem to have their behind the scenes second chances.  Once they do that, I tend to mentally "tune out" and can't be bothered.

 

I'm hoping the move to Friday night was the network's response to all our past complaints about the football delays, and not some other ratings reason.  It'll take a little getting used to, but overall I like the stability of it's timeslot.

Edited September 27, 2014 by Tunia

[lianau]

But the Save may also make a team do stupid things because they feel too save .

[Netfoot]

So, presumably you don't opt for the penalty, unless you think you are unable to complete the task.  Then, if you go for the penalty, the thing to do is stroll nonchalantly over to the production chief and quietly whisper "We're taking the penalty from right now, so note the time."  It might be several minutes before any other team notices.  In that time, you go to the other team and try to persuade them to take the penalty too.  But either way, your penalty was started first, and will end first, giving you at least a minute or two head-start to grab a cab or head for the mat!  The last thing you want to do is persuade everyone to come with you and start their penalty at the same time you do.  That only guarantees a footrace -- which you might lose.

 

There is always the risk that the remaining teams stick with the task, complete it, and head for the mat while you're still on penalty.  But if you've already decided you can't finish the task and must take the penalty, this is the risk you're taking.  Which is why, after you've taken the penalty, you try to persuade at least one other team to do likewise.

[LilaFowler]

Re: penalizing for tricks.  In Season 14, on the Phuket leg, Mark and Michael got a 30 minute time penalty for moving/hiding the tire pumps for the rickshaws.  They went from 1st to 3rd.

 

Count me in as being sick of semi celebs showing up in these shows.  No more reality show rejects.  Just find normal people please.

Edited September 27, 2014 by candy moocher

[jah1986]

Very satisfying premiere.  Glad to see the realtors go home first, definitely did not want to endure a whole race of "we're so pretty, people just want to help us, we get away with a lot because we're so pretty". So glad the firefighter didn't let them in that cab.  It was so nice knowing our show was going to start on time too.

[fishcakes]

I actually kind of like the orange dentists (but not enough to learn their names yet). His face in race mode is a super freaky orange stare of death, but he doesn't seem like a bad guy.

 

I also like the Cambodian guy (again, no idea what his name is) mainly because he looked at the setting sun, looked at his compass, said, "I'm an idiot!" then went and found his clue almost immediately.

 

Really, I liked everyone except for the real estate agents, and even then I enjoyed them for how entertainingly awful they were. Super dumb and what was with all the writhing around on the sand? It's not a Whitesnake video.

[stopeslite]

Maybe I grew up weird, but I recognized those compasses right away. They used to be sold all the time for cars - little spheres with suction cups on the bottom that you'd plunk on your dashboard, and just like the ones in the show, they spun so the letter you were reading right in front of you was the direction you were going. Much easier to use than a regular compass, because what you see is what you get; no turning dials to match the norths up first. If you look for them on Amazon, you can find several versions for sale.

[jjj]

I thought the penalty always started from the time the Racers arrived at the mat?  I'm sure someone here know the rules.  The reason being, you need to sit out whatever the time is and hope some team finishes *after* your penalty time.   The Racers can't go sightseeing after they get the clue -- they need to get to the mat (where the clock starts, I believe). 

[Ravello]

I love the new Friday time, Sundays are too busy to sit down and totally watch much TV. I wish the camera had panned former contestants and identified them. I remember how exhilarated I was when Rob and Brennan crossed that first finish line! Oh what a great show.

I disliked the dentists right out of the gate but he was decent helping others read the compass. The Miami realtors were obnoxious pushing and shoving others out of the way. The firefighters clearly had the cab. I'll have to watch a replay of the pen incident to see what happened.

They did a great job introducing the teams. Some years there are too many male female couples to keep them all straight but last night gave us great info on who is who.

I didn't like the save gimmick.

Phil looks even better than he did in season 1.

[green]

Yeah, that was really smart of them to go immediately to the former racers for information.  I wonder if there will be other nods to previous races since this is an important landmark for them.  Maybe revisit some former places or challenges?

 

 

Ask and you will receive.  The Episode 2 previews already showed one.  A shout-out to a famous detour choice from TAR3.

[jah1986]

I thought the penalty always started from the time the Racers arrived at the mat?  I'm sure someone here know the rules.  The reason being, you need to sit out whatever the time is and hope some team finishes *after* your penalty time.   The Racers can't go sightseeing after they get the clue -- they need to get to the mat (where the clock starts, I believe). 

I had the same thought.  Maybe the penalty will start at the beginning of the next leg.

[cooksdelight]

If all the remaining teams decided to screw it, take the penalty, and they all arrived at the mat at relatively the same time, the last team in was eliminated. No need for them to all sit around for four hours. Had one team stayed behind to complete the task, then yes, they would all be sitting there with Phil and the lovely lady, waiting.

[Haleth]

I'm guessing Phil and the crew didn't have 4 hours to sit around and wait so the penalty will be assessed before the teams start the next leg.

[green]

Survivor people?  Barrffffff.  I hate that they feel they must do this every season (and the reverse, where morons like The Twinees get on Survivor).

 

I'm on the fence about Bethany Hamilton.  She's in a way pretty damn famous (far more than some unknown to the general public Harlem Globetrotters). If they had a Celeb Amazing Race she'd fit.  That said, clearly there will be an interesting ongoing story about what she can and can't manage with one arm (or more importantly one HAND).

 

Anyone have any clue how the show managed the nightmare logistics of filming in Times Square?  Ten years ago when nobody knew the show it would be tough enough, but today?  I don't get it.  There should have been gridlock around the whole area too (unless they did it in the middle of the night--where there would STILL be traffic--but it might look like what we saw).

 

EDIT - I think that's DEFINITELY what happened.  We saw morning breaking when the teams boarded their flights.  Meaning the actual start likely wasn't TOO early the night before, because of all places I think New York would have one or two nighttime flights to the USVI.

 

The start was filmed at 3 AM for that reason.  They annouced the start time on their web site to assure some fans would come out at that hour to form a crowd for the cameras.

 

Also the producers know every start time at every location gets out and is posted online anyway they decided not to fight it this time and use it I guess.  The spoiler detectives at the other forum whose name escapes me (sorry) pretty much have every location ferreted out and the whole season pretty much spoiled before episode 1 ever broadcasts.  I used to read some of this stuff when it wasn't so well done cause it was fun to see the theories and mistaken sightings mixed in with the real ones.  But they got too good at what they do and it wasn't fun anymore for me.  And I found I didn't enjoy the shows as much spoiled anyway.  So only did it 2 or 3 seasons.  Never again.  Haven't gotten into a spoiler thread for years now.

 

As far as this Bethany person being famous?  Never heard of her.  I don't have names associated to the Racers yet.  Is she the Survivor person or the surfer or one of the eliminated real estate agents who some said have a TV show?  And a 7 foot tall guy running around in Globetrotter gear is going to be way more famous most places i would assume since the Globetrotters do indeed trot the globe and have played in tons of countries and have been around for over half a century.

 

As for the cross-casting, CBS started it.  The TAR producers were none too happy when it started (Allison from Big Brother, no way they wanted her on the show back then) but there was nothing they could do since Les Mooves had the final decisions on his "big three" reality show casts.  Over the years they got used to it no doubt.

 

But I can't believe CBS cared about these two Survivors no one knows though.  The casting agency is the same for both shows so maybe they pushed them (lot of casting people know some of those cast in real life too) or maybe they were an alternate team on standby and got the call at the last minute.  They do have several alt teams as back-ups for each season so that could be it.  "Hey these pre-vented Survivor guys aren't too interesting but available for stand-by and we won't be using them anyway."  Than a "Oh, whoops."  Not that I think that happened but it would be funny if it did.

[cooksdelight]

As far as this Bethany person being famous? Never heard of her

Google the movie "Soul Surfer" or read her bio online. She's more well-known by that name around the world than any Globetrotter.

[green]

Google the movie "Soul Surfer" or read her bio online. She's more well-known by that name around the world than any Globetrotter.

 

I guess if you are into surfer movies she is then.  But I have zero interest in surfing.  Ans I don't really know anyone who has any interest in the sport either.  It's a pretty niche sport.   I'd never think to Google "surfer" let alone the other stuff honestly.

 

But a Globetrotter is a Globetrotter -- doesn't matter their individual name or team nicknames.  They are more famous because of their team identity.  And as such they would be wildly popular anywhere in the world because they are Globetrotters period.  A family entertainment franchise over a century old who plays one of the most popular sports in the world -- second after soccer.  And said team through the decades have played in almost every country in the world with tons of PR and TV news reports and specials about them everywhere they show up. 

 

So we will have to agree to disagree.  Or maybe it is a define the terms thing cause I define Globetrotter and it seems you are defining individuals who happen to be Globetrotters.  But since those guys were running around in Globetrotter gear I think that was all that mattered to people around the world who saw them.  Oranges and apples.

[willpwr]

My parents don't watch much TV and are definitely not into surfing but they know who Bethany is, maybe not by name but when they saw her, they knew. 

[Peanut]

I was wondering if he would get a penalty for using his watch. After all, the task was supposed to involve figuring out that particular type of compass. But just sour grapes, I guess.

They may have assessed a penalty that didn't matter in the long run, so it wasn't shown.  I've often wondered if that's been the case in other gray area situations.

[LotusFlower]

Like others, I'm sort of surprised at the amount of Boston firefighters on the reality shows. Especially since I didn't think firefighters played a major role in the bombing aftermath (other than being general first responders and there was a fire station close by). You want the heroes of the Marathon Bombing, find me a couple of Boston EMTs or volunteers whose first aid tents were turned into mobile ERs at the finish line.

According to their bios, they're both EMT's. And one of them was, in fact, near the marathon finish line, and helped out at the scene.

[ShadowSixx]

Its not a good sign when you give up on a task on the first leg. They should be inspired by that one girl in another season who kept doing that roadblock where she kept rolling the hay and Phil had to come there and tell her that they were last and have been eliminated. She did that hay thing for 8 or 11 hours. I felt bad for her when she was eliminated.

That mom did look spent when using her shovel. Which I didn't get on how she knew how to use the compass yet didn't find the box faster. Looks like she was being a little lazy and half assing it. Will see next episode.

Edited September 28, 2014 by ShadowSixx

[jjj]

It is the same thing, whether the four-hour penalty is actual waiting at the mat, or the start of the next day.  Because your check-in time is *after* the penalty, and then you have to wait the same number of hours as the other teams before starting the next leg. 

 

These final two penalty teams probably got a little advantage of rest, unless TAR made them sit at the mat for four hours (I'm guessing not), which means they have Pit Stop hours plus their four penalty hours.  So they end up with four extra hours of rest -- say they show up at midnight, when they have a four-hour penalty; that means (if there is a 12-hour Pit Stop) their Pit Stop time starts at 4:00 AM, and they still have to wait the same 12 hours before starting the next leg.  (This is just for instance; I know the Pit Stops are no longer 12 hours, but adjusted for the next day's flight schedule.)  As I said above, bunching will likely eliminate the penalty either on the next commercial flight, or an Hours of Operation at the next destination. 

 

They should be inspired by that one girl in another season who kept doing that roadblock where she kept rolling the hay and Phil had to come there and tell her that they were last and have been eliminated. She did that hay thing for 8 or 11 hours.

I know what you mean, ShadowSixx, but that Racer with the rolled hay missed clues in the hay because she was so tired or was not looking closely enough.  Inspirational in determination, not so much in execution. We all liked that team! 

Edited September 28, 2014 by jjj

[Bad Example]

I am so in love with Phil's Voice of Disappointment and Disdain when teams give up.  Phil doesn't like quitters!

[Jobiska]

There was a team that cancelled everyone's taxis once and I'm pretty sure they didn't get a penalty, so no, the show doesn't penalize for dirty tricks.

 

As a couple of folks have pointed out, the stuntmen incurred a penalty specifically for tampering with race equipment (stuff other teams needed to complete a task).  So I was curious as to whether the pen would count as "race equipment," but in the event, blondes were last anyway so a penalty was unnecessary.

[cooksdelight]

It still would have been nice if Phil had told them that they incurred a 30 minute penalty for interferring with equipment. AFTER they made that crappy speech about the EMT/Firemen being mean to them.

[needschocolate]

My problem with the Save is its name.  Everything else is connected with traveling - Roadblock, Detour, U-turn, they had an Intersection for a season or two and I think they may have had a Yield at one time too. Granted, Fast Forward and Express Pass aren't very travel related but they are better than the Save. I have been trying to think up a better name for it - the Stand-by? the Free Ride? - but haven't really found anything I loved (it is not like the producers are caling me for advice anyway). 

 

So, presumably you don't opt for the penalty, unless you think you are unable to complete the task.  Then, if you go for the penalty, the thing to do is stroll nonchalantly over to the production chief and quietly whisper "We're taking the penalty from right now, so note the time."  It might be several minutes before any other team notices.  In that time, you go to the other team and try to persuade them to take the penalty too.  But either way, your penalty was started first, and will end first, giving you at least a minute or two head-start to grab a cab or head for the mat!  The last thing you want to do is persuade everyone to come with you and start their penalty at the same time you do.  That only guarantees a footrace -- which you might lose.

 

    As others have pointed out, the penalty starts when you reach the mat, not when you declare it.  So if you decide to take the penalty, say it to the camera, and, 10 minutes later, convince another team to take the penalty, you still have to get to the mat before the other team, or you will be eliminated. 

 

ETA: As others have pointed out, the information in the last paragraph above is wrong.  Unless the rules have been changed, the penalty for not doing a task starts when you declare it.  I should have known better too - I should have realized that you don't always go directly to the mat after a task. 

Edited September 29, 2014 by needschocolate

[Quilt Fairy]

In response to a question upthread, in the early seasons route clues were sometimes very vague. In season 1 there was a clue that told them to go to 'the smoke that thunders' and it turned out to be Victoria Falls (they were already in Zimbabwe or  Zambia). And somewhere in seasons 1-3 there was at least one clue that was simply a postcard with a country's flag and they had to figure out the country and that they had to take a ferry there (but no one went to the wrong country). However, what has happened since then is that now practically everyone has a smartphone and it's easy to find a bystander to help figure out a difficult clue. I wish they would find some new way to make the route clues more difficult on occasion.

 

As for having a compass in your watch, if he was allowed to take it on the race, it can't have been a restricted item. Aren't the teams given a very detailed list of what they are not permitted to bring with them?  I remember one counting task where a team brought a clicker-counter with them, and it wasn't disallowed. Personally I'd think a compass would be much handier on the race than a clicker.

 

As for the last 3 teams quitting the task, I cut them a little slack given that the longer you were at it, the more physically tiring it was and they had to have been going something like 36 to 48 hours straight without any sound sleep (save the airplane trip from NYC) at that point. Undoubtedly yet another reason I will never go on TAR.

Edited September 28, 2014 by Quilt Fairy

[bmoore4026]

Here are the ratings: http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/09/27/tv-ratings-friday-the-amazing-race-hawaii-five-0-return-down-shark-tank-steady-utopia-rises/307470/

 

God, I hope this show doesn't get cancelled.  So many years and it's still engaging.  MOVE IT BACK TO SUNDAY!

[Donny Ketchum]

Or back to Tuesday, where it used to be.  I have ZERO idea why they took it off that night in the first place.

[etagloh]

Forgive me, but the Miami realtors reminded me of the "we're not porn stars any more" skits on SNL.

 

Anyhoo. There was a clippiness to this opener, perhaps even more so than most opening legs in recent memory. The attempt to be throwback with Flushing Square Park was nice but it was edited down to the bleeding edge, as was the first task. Ra-ta-ta-ta-ta. Perhaps because the digging task was so drawn out, but also because there are still overlong intros for the teams before they behave as their #hashtags throughout the first leg.

 

The dentists are clearly very capable but also ugh, and the Save feels like it's way too much of a boost, but let's see how it's implemented: if you're last in a NEL, do you give up your save and skip the Speed Bump? I hope so. Also ugh the wrestlers. Actually, it's going to take a few legs to work out who isn't ugh, because I've been far too spoiled by TAR-Canada over the summer which still has normal people.

 

 

Next week, punting on the Cam!

 

ITYM the Cherwell. (Yeah, I will so be able to commentate on how badly lost teams get in next week's episode.)

[jjj]

In season 1 there was a clue that told them to go to 'the smoke that thunders' and it turned out to be Victoria Falls (they were already in Zimbabwe or  Zambia)

In honor of the 25th "season": 

 

Drew: "Zambia. That's where we are."  Kevin: "That's Namibia, jackass." 

 

Forgive me, but the Miami realtors reminded me of the "we're not porn stars any more" skits on SNL.

 

etagloh, that is so perfect -- that is exactly who they reminded me of, but I did not put a name to them!

Edited September 28, 2014 by jjj

[shura]

 

I actually kind of like the orange dentists (but not enough to learn their names yet). His face in race mode is a super freaky orange stare of death, but he doesn't seem like a bad guy.

 

I just can't figure out how this guy gets patients. If I were looking for a new dentist, came in for a visit, say, a cleaning and an exam, and saw the Thing, my thought would probably be "Umm, this is the guy I should trust to do delicate manipulations with my teeth? I don't know about that..." Maybe she is the dentist on the team, and he is there just for tooth extractions?

[Kromm]

I guess if you are into surfer movies she is then.  But I have zero interest in surfing.  Ans I don't really know anyone who has any interest in the sport either.  It's a pretty niche sport.   I'd never think to Google "surfer" let alone the other stuff honestly.

The argument for Bethany being somewhat mainstream famous is not only the movie, but for around a decade she's also been bopping around various talk shows.  All of the morning shows, many of the nighttime shows, award shows, other reality shows as a celebrity guest (I recall seeing her on both The Biggest Loser and Extreme Makeover Home Edition), innumerable magazine and newspaper stories, etc.  

 

Globetrotters as an entity are far more famous.  But they're interchangeable and while most people worldwide would recognize the logos, if you stripped those guys of them at most they'd see these guys and think "this is an American Basketball player" and not know any other details.  Bethany, for good or ill, is fairly distinctive with her one arm--displaying it a lot more boldly than people usually do--and has a fairly identifiable surfer girl look too.  Again, to some extent it may not be her name people remember.  They may just remember "oh that's the one armed surfer girl I saw on Oprah once!" and that's it.  But it's more specific, if less widely known, than "hey that guy looks like a basketball player because he's black and really tall!"

[cooksdelight]

It's too bad a great white shark had to eat her arm and almost kill her for her to be able to get her message of her faith to the masses. After this one episode and seeing what she accomplished, I'm looking forward to watching her do things that people with two arms and two hands have trouble with, I think.

[ShadowSixx]

Idk about penalties at times because those annoying twins stole money from the rockers and didn't get penalized. I thought putting a team at a disadvantage gives you a penalty which the money would have to be used for cabs/trains etc. The globetrotters were penalized for accidentally taking the father/daughter's fanny pack but they left it where they could find it once they realize they took the wrong pack and didn't keep it unlike the twinnies.

[Donny Ketchum]

Maybe [Misti] is the dentist on the team, and [Jim] is there just for tooth extractions?

Misti is a dentist.  Jim started out as one, but is now really an orthodontist.

[LilaFowler]

Yeah, I remember the twinnies taking that money and grinning about it.  I hated them before that and my opinion certainly did not improve after that.  I laughed when they were eliminated first in All Stars.  Good riddance.

[jjj]

I watched it at cbs.com to see it in beautiful HD, and notice this time that the shovels had a yard's length marked on the wooden handle, so that was the measurement they were supposed to use. 

 

I wondered if there was more than one float plane taking them to the ship -- it seemed like they all got to the ship fairly quickly, maybe with a few minutes spaced between the flights, but not the 20-25 minutes it would take to go back and forth. 

 

They did not get to the treasure island until afternoon, based on the shadows -- did it really take most of the day just to get there?  I don't know if they needed to connect in Miami for a flight to St. Thomas. 

[aradia22]

Is it me or did they find a particularly photogenic bunch this year? I felt a whole lot lighter starting off this season. I think the All Stars season (especially with so many people who had competed recently) was a mistake. I don't hate any of these people yet. Last season I was spoiled and just waiting for the people I liked to get eliminated and the people I hated to win.

 

I'm liking the diversity this season. I hope we don't lose all those teams early. 

 

There was already a little bit of people losing time because they missed/couldn't find markers but no real catastrophes.

 

I enjoyed either Tim or Tee Jay saying "Hi, Mr. Phil!" as they ran past on their way to the clue box. Doesn't he usually film those things when the teams aren't there? Oh, well. Still cute. I also think it's cute that they keep saying that they love each other but it's going to get old after a while. As old as it gets whenever someone has a catchphrase or they just keep saying "oh my God" because they're not clever enough to come up with another remark about the scenery or the situation.

 

The female surfer is just awesome. Not inspirational for having only one arm or whatnot but just doing really solid as a competitor. 

 

I was super confused when either Tim or Tee Jay started digging. I wondered if the video has skipped or they'd edited things really weirdly.

 

How is the dentist allowed to use the compass in his watch?

 

It's too soon for me to love or hate anyone but I feel like the firefighters will be annoying. The easiest way to get me to dislike a team is for them to be loud and obnoxious. See: Afghanimals

 

What the hell? Why were the wrestlers sinking in their boat?

 

I don't hate the dentists yet. We haven't seen enough of them. Could they be another reincarnation of Max and Katie (and teams like them) from season 22? Sure. But right now they seem much more supportive and since he won, I don't mind her bragging about his MCAT (though it would mean more if we got the actual number because I don't know where they went to school).

 

At the moment I tentatively like Tim and Tee Jay, the wrestlers, the soul surfers, and mom and daughter. I'm just going to root for the all-female scientist team no matter what unless they prove to be annoying or hateful.

 

The "actual location" thing was hilarious. I feel bad because they were so clearly exhausted but come on. Just dig a little to the left or right and you'd find it. And from the other... unearthings, you could see that they didn't bury the chests that deep.

[green]

The argument for Bethany being somewhat mainstream famous is not only the movie, but for around a decade she's also been bopping around various talk shows.  All of the morning shows, many of the nighttime shows, award shows, other reality shows as a celebrity guest (I recall seeing her on both The Biggest Loser and Extreme Makeover Home Edition), innumerable magazine and newspaper stories, etc.  

 

Globetrotters as an entity are far more famous.  But they're interchangeable and while most people worldwide would recognize the logos, if you stripped those guys of them at most they'd see these guys and think "this is an American Basketball player" and not know any other details.  Bethany, for good or ill, is fairly distinctive with her one arm--displaying it a lot more boldly than people usually do--and has a fairly identifiable surfer girl look too.  Again, to some extent it may not be her name people remember.  They may just remember "oh that's the one armed surfer girl I saw on Oprah once!" and that's it.  But it's more specific, if less widely known, than "hey that guy looks like a basketball player because he's black and really tall!"

 

And wearing Harlem Globetrotters uniform tops over their tee shirts or whatever.  That's the giveaway, hah.

 

Thanks for explaining about the surfer person.  I have never seen any of these shows you mentioned so didn't know.  Except once years ago I watched the Today show when a friend was on for a short filler segment about an unknown, lost book manuscript by some famous author he had discovered at some used book store.  Turned out he was on at the very end and I sat through 2 hours of hell on earth filled with endless empty chatter about crap and 50 million commercials waiting for his 30 seconds of fame.  Gag.  So these types of shows don't interest me as a result.  But they must have audiences since they keep running and running on TV so now I understand why other people other than surfers might know her.  Thanks.

 

About penalties.  TPTB aren't going to slap on penalties for the small stuff.  There are the set rules for skipping detours and roadblocks and the other stuff is basically avoid penalties whenever possible.  Unless it is a specific violation of a rule on a clue that either impedes others or helps that team.  Example.  During TAR2 we learned in the next episode several teams had a later departure due to a penalty accessed because they had broken an instruction on the clue itself saying they had to drive below the speed limit a certain number of km/hour at night because of lots of animals on the roads where they were in Namibia (jackass).  But it is not a penalty if they break regular speed limits that aren't mentioned on the clue itself.  Any penalty there would come if a local cop caught them like on TAR Asia's Season 1 with Andy, the English ex-pat from Thailand.

 

Nobody wants to see The Unamazing Endless Penalties show complete with team lawyers and endless debates.  So like in basketball say, common sense prevails.  Cause in that sport they could call a penalty pretty much every other second technically.  But you use common sense and just call the ones that need calling and let the players play.  No harm, no foul.

 

I only have a vague memory of the Sri Lanka Twins and the money.  I thought one of the other Racers lost or dropped it and it wasn't in a wallet or anything.  Am I remembering that right?  If so then it wasn't theft but finders keepers, losers weepers.  They didn't rob the person or pick their pockets in other words.  Good and noble if they had returned the money but perfectly legal if not ethical at a personal level to pocket it if someone was careless enough to lose it.

[jjj]

Did a memo go out to the Racers that said "Do not hug the Phil"?  He got so many sweaty, fish-scented hugs in recent seasons, but I don't think I saw anyone even try to reach for him in episode one. 

[Kromm]

And wearing Harlem Globetrotters uniform tops over their tee shirts or whatever.  That's the giveaway, hah.

That's kind of my point.  Those two aren't famous.  Their UNIFORMS are famous.

[heebiejeebie]

Plus if jerseys are the means to claim fame I saw Lebron James in Nairobi once.  And Cairo.  Saw him a year later in Budapest, Tokyo, Singapore and Brisbane.  He should go on the Amazing Race.  Because he is already everywhere.

Edited September 28, 2014 by heebiejeebie

[Kromm]

Thanks for explaining about the surfer person.  I have never seen any of these shows you mentioned so didn't know.  

She was also plastered all over magazines of a certain type too, but since they seem to be pop culture and "womens" magazines, I can see not having recognized her from any of them either.  A quick Googling says she had stories at least in People Magazine, In Touch, Glamour, Oprah Magazine, SELF Magazine,  Ladies' Home Journal, LIFE, American Girl Magazine (those are just ones I found easily--there could obviously be much more, including newspapers). The big thing is that it was considered hugely newsworthy at the time, because she was 13 at the time (and back on the surfing Pro circuit within 3 months).  So a lot of TV and mags saw it as a golden "inspirational" human interest story (because it was a kid, and also had that super-Christian "god helped me" aspect on top of that).

[Kromm]

Plus if jerseys are the means to claim fame I saw Lebron James in Nairobi once.  And Cairo.  Saw him a year later in Budapest, Tokyo, Singapore and Brisbane.  He should go on the Amazing Race.  Because he is already everywhere.

 

Several of the really old-timey Globetrotters DID become famous as individuals though--it is true.  If I say the name "Meadowlark Lemon", almost everyone who was walking and talking in the 1970s will know exactly who that is--and might even recognize a picture of him from that age.  Ditto for Sweet Lou Dunbar, and Curly Neal. Probably far less though if you go beyond that very short list.   Why were these guys famous?  Because the Globetrotters of that age were all over the mainstream media (including cartoons!) and those guys were the spokespeople.

 

Fun fact: the one other Globetrotter everyone knows was... Wilt Chamberlain!  He was a Globetrotter BEFORE he played in the NBA.  Although for only a year, apparently.  So he's not famous AS a Globetrotter, even though he was one.   

 

[Richness]

I thought the penalty always started from the time the Racers arrived at the mat?  I'm sure someone here know the rules.  The reason being, you need to sit out whatever the time is and hope some team finishes *after* your penalty time.   The Racers can't go sightseeing after they get the clue -- they need to get to the mat (where the clock starts, I believe). 

 

 

    As others have pointed out, the penalty starts when you reach the mat, not when you declare it.  So if you decide to take the penalty, say it to the camera, and, 10 minutes later, convince another team to take the penalty, you still have to get to the mat before the other team, or you will be eliminated. 

 

 

There are several penalty types and they are assigned at different times. Most time delay penalties are served at the mat at the end of the leg. However, the 4 hour time penalty for not completing a Roadblock occurs at the Roadblock. Technically, it begins the moment the next pair of racers arrive at the Roadblock. But since everyone was already there, it started immediately. Or at least that's the way it's happened in the past.

 

That doesn't mean that's the way it happened now, but there's no reason to believe they've changed the procedure. That's also why the girls couldn't go back when they saw they were last as someone here speculated. Not only are they committed to the time penalty once they tell the judges/producers, but also because they had already served the 4 hour penalty before they even got in the taxies to drive to the check-in.

 

Granted, there may have been some producer shenanigans behind the scenes in order to hasten the filming/production process. After all, Phil has to get on the plane to the next city for filming before the racers arrive. Therefore, they could have skipped the actual waiting altogether and simply have them start 4 hours later, or make them wait at a different point like after they checked in. However, I don't think they would actually do that since it would give them 4 hours of extra uninterrupted rest.

 

For more on penalties and when they're assigned, a quick google search turned up this WIKI entry that I used to refresh my memory:

http://amazingrace.wikia.com/wiki/Rules_and_Penalties

[ShadowSixx]

I've had 25 seasons of blonde moment lol I just read some interview questions Phil answered from fans and read that the contestants have to buy their crew members plane tickets as well. It never occured to me because they never are shown saying I need 3 or 4 tickets, cause if there isn't enough seats for the crew they can't get on the flight. I mean do they go back up to the counter and buy more tickets?

Phil gave some insightful stuff and that he doesn't just stand there at pit stops waiting on teams. Production is in his ear telling him about the teams and how he's sorry to see some teams get eliminated and not feel bad about eliminating some teams. I thought that was funny and hope that he was doing backflips in his head when he eliminated the realtors.

TAR really doesn't have much eyecandy for women but the men seem to get a full suppply lol last eyecandy I remember were the twins from S20 one was a soccer player and the other a rocker, they were hot along with the blonde chippendale dancer, Jet from Cowboys and Flight Time his personality more than anything but Phil fills most of the void.

Edited September 28, 2014 by ShadowSixx

[green]

I've had 25 seasons of blonde moment lol I just read some interview questions Phil answered from fans and read that the contestants have to buy their crew members plane tickets as well. It never occured to me because they never are shown saying I need 3 or 4 tickets, cause if there isn't enough seats for the crew they can't get on the flight. I mean do they go back up to the counter and buy more tickets?

Phil gave some insightful stuff and that he doesn't just stand there at pit stops waiting on teams. Production is in his ear telling him about the teams and how he's sorry to see some teams get eliminated and not feel bad about eliminating some teams. I thought that was funny and hope that he was doing backflips in his head when he eliminated the realtors.

 

According to posts in the past on several forums past Racers have explained that the teams ask twice in a row.  Once for 2 tickets for the camera.  Then immediately for 4 tickets.  And yeah if a team says they are one ticket short for a flight it actually means there were three tickets free, not just one free cause the crew has to remain with them at all times.  The audio guy -- boom mic for other people talking and ambient sounds, Racers have their own mikes of course -- anyway that guy actually carries the production company's credit card used for the tickets too the posts said.  Can't trust those Racers with the good CC, haha. 

 

They do the production so well must people forget there are even two man camera/audio crews following every race team let alone four tickets bought each time.

 

Thanks for the info about Phil being filled in about the proper emotional responses.  Interesting stuff.  Cause we also forget he doesn't know what just went down on the leg himself at the time.  The audio guy also calls in some of that stuff on the company cell phone that the Racers aren't allowed to touch I believe Racer forum posts in the past have explained.  Cause the producers themselves are clueless as well and have to depend on their two man crew to provide the intel. 

 

Those camera crews do all sorts of things.  They even are the ones that carry the releases people that give directions or cabbies etc have to sign to appear on TV as well.  A toast to the tech crews!

Edited September 28, 2014 by green

[jjj]

Thanks, Richness, this all makes sense about the four-hour penalty.  Once I realized they would have had four extra hours of rest, I thought there must be some mechanism to prevent that from happening.  I still predict bunching will wipe out the penalty, but I'm fine with any team being eliminated that quit a RB on the first leg! 

 

By the way, I was quite surprised to see Phil ("Hi, Phil") on the beach when they arrived in St. Thomas -- he must have had great connections! 

[Haleth]

I still predict bunching will wipe out the penalty

 

Yeah, that was probably one factor in all of them deciding to take the penalty.  Chances are they will all be bunched up again at the airport when they fly out.  How many times have we seen teams get their start clue in the wee hours and end up waiting for hours and hours for their flight?

Edited September 28, 2014 by Haleth

[ghoulina]

I watched it at cbs.com to see it in beautiful HD, and notice this time that the shovels had a yard's length marked on the wooden handle, so that was the measurement they were supposed to use.

 

I still don't get why the realtor chick was laying down, wriggling around in the sand, though. You could just lay your shovel down, then crawl/duckwalk over to the end, flip it, and repeat. No need to reenact some hair band music video.