S09: Talk

[Whimsy]

Since some older seasons are available to view on different platforms, we are starting all episodes threads for each season.

[ApprenticeFan]

One of few non-LA race start, Eric & Jeremy and BJ & Tyler become good friends throughout the race. Starting in Sao Paulo area, then Europe overload in a Fall/Autumn weather, then to Oman, and down under to Australia, up once again to Far East.

[Supay]

IIRC, one of Lena and Kristy (a.k.a. the Two against Haybales) helped cast this season; alas, the task designers' insatiable and inexcusable appetite for needle-in-the-haystack challenges all but guaranteed the least satisfying permutation of finalists that in craftier hands would've upped the odds of a mom/daughter, nerds-in-love, and oldies F3.

[scowl]

For some reason this season is not available on Amazon. 

[Ducky]

Really?  That's odd- I was able to watch S9 on Amazon.  I just looked it's there- at least in the USA and is free under Amazon Prime.

[scowl]

I'll look again but the season listing jumped from eight to ten on my Tivo. 

[ApprenticeFan]

It's pity that Greece has its only appearance for this season, that would be visited again in the future season. In which recently visited in TAR China 1 and

TAR China 3 for the second time

.

Edited April 22, 2016 by ApprenticeFan

[Supay]

I'll look again but the season listing jumped from eight to ten on my Tivo. 

 

Were you able to watch it since then?

[scowl]

Season 9 is back on my Amazon Prime.

[scowl]

And it looks like a fun season! We have the hippy guys that look like they're from an early 70's country/rock band. There are the surfer guys who will probably win and win. There are "Dani and Danielle", the not-twins who look, talk, and behave completely identically. There's the "hick" guy Lake ("like the ocean"?) and his wife who is hard to believe she's his wife. There's the pretty blond girl who acts like Tracy Flick in Election (always tightly wound). There are Wanda and gorgeous Desiree who I will be sad for when she gets eliminated. There's the nerd couple who remind us that they are nerds every five minutes because you can't tell by looking at them. Oh, yeah, I heard about the Glamazons somewhere.

 

But especially helpless is the Middle Aged Couple. They walked past the clue box over and over and over and over. Once they saw the not-twins run up to it, they had a simple explanation: it wasn't there when we went past it. Damn those cheating TAR producers!

[Supay]

Enjoy the fun while it lasts, i.e. the very first cross-country TBC*.

* Formerly just within the same nation, e.g. Hungary in S6, India in S7, and the USofA in S8.

[scowl]

At this point the not-twins and Desiree have been eliminated so the only hottie left is Monica. I thought she had shed her Tracy Flick personality but now she was walking in tears carrying a swordfish. But she didn't give up so that alone makes her better than Flo. 

BJ and Tyler (the early-70's rock band) were clearly the fan favorites of this season. They knew how to entertain for the cameras unlike a recent "HEY! HEY! HEY!" contestant. 

[biakbiak]

BJ and Tyler (the early-70's rock band) were clearly the fan favorites of this season.

Not really. Many people loathed them. 

[scowl]

Why? Do many people prefer teams fighting and having a miserable time?

[Supay]

Precisely, especially when the alternative was a pair of closeted frat d-bags.

(Not to mention that the Hippies are still the only team in TAR history to have thanked all the greeters in the native language.*)

* Obrigado, (spasibo), danke, grazie, efcharisto, shoukran, thankies, khop khun khop, and arigato.

[scowl]

A U-turn on a non-elimination leg? That doesn't make much sense.

[Supay]

Yield, you mean? (Point stands.)

[scowl]

Oh I see, they got rid of Yields a couple of seasons after this. 

[Supay]

Once the Double-Ds took the title of the only team to be eliminated by it, there was little reason to retain such a device, even despite their conjunction with Intersections. 

[ApprenticeFan]

On 4/22/2016 at 10:33 AM, ApprenticeFan said:

It's pity that Greece has its only appearance for this season, that would be visited again in the future season. In which recently visited in TAR China 1 and

  Reveal hidden contents

TAR China 3 for the second time

.

 

Now, Greece will be visited in TAR 29 for the second time. The country has not visited for over 10 years in the original TAR after amidst of longer painful economic troubles in that said country's recent crisis.

Edited September 7, 2016 by ApprenticeFan

[Quilt Fairy]

On ‎4‎/‎30‎/‎2016 at 2:20 PM, scowl said:

Why? Do many people prefer teams fighting and having a miserable time?

I enjoyed them at the time - this was actually the first season of TAR that I watched - but on a rewatch their antics do seem to be over the top. And IIRC, it came out later that they really weren't that much like the personas they had on the race; they put on an act to be on the show.

[Writing Wrongs]

I just started watching this season on Amazon and this may be the most obnoxious bunch I've seen so far.

[Quilt Fairy]

One of the scenes that will probably always live in my memories of TAR is BJ digging hole after hole after hole in the desert (not sure where they were, Northern Africa?) trying to find a clue. I think they arrived first to the task and every other team came later and found the clue relatively quickly and he just couldn't find one.  I know everyone else remembers Lena and the haybales as the classic "needle in a haystack" task, but that was in S6 and I wasn't watching then.

[TheRabbi]

That was in the lovely country of Oman, and agreed it's a great one. My favorite moments of the season are the entire episode in the Australian outback, which is one of my all time favorites. Eric and Jeremy canceling cabs, Monica and Joseph bickering even past their yield penalty, skydiving, and one of the all time closest finishes (actually probably the closest finish ever). Just a great episode.

[Kanaloa]

On 9/23/2016 at 11:04 AM, Writing Wrongs said:

I just started watching this season on Amazon and this may be the most obnoxious bunch I've seen so far.

Indeed, the elimination order places it in the bottom three just above Seasons 20 and 24. 

[Writing Wrongs]

I'm on Season 15 now. I'm really enjoying watching them again. What season does the show go HD?

[TheRabbi]

18 is the first HD season

[Michel]

On ‎9‎/‎28‎/‎2016 at 6:49 AM, TheRabbi said:

My favorite moments of the season are the entire episode in the Australian outback, which is one of my all time favorites. Eric and Jeremy canceling cabs, Monica and Joseph bickering even past their yield penalty, skydiving, and one of the all time closest finishes (actually probably the closest finish ever). Just a great episode.

Don't forget Ray & Yolanda's shocking win.  That surprised a lot of fans!

[Kanaloa]

Fran and Barry did it better.

[TheRabbi]

Sad news to report. Per the all-knowing Race fan georgiapeach, Lisa, of Glamazon sisters Lisa and Joni has passed away. I greatly enjoyed that team

[Star Aristille]

16 hours ago, TheRabbi said:

Sad news to report. Per the all-knowing Race fan georgiapeach, Lisa, of Glamazon sisters Lisa and Joni has passed away. I greatly enjoyed that team

Oh, my God.  That's so sad.  How and when did it happen?:(

[Star Aristille]

On ‎5‎/‎8‎/‎2016 at 11:16 AM, Supay said:

Once the Double-Ds took the title of the only team to be eliminated by it, there was little reason to retain such a device, even despite their conjunction with Intersections. 

Actually, the fact that they were eliminated by it, even after having a great lead on Ray & Yolanda, who were back in last place at the time, when the time ran out, is mute testimony as to how weak Danielle & Dani were as a team.

[Roccos Brother]

I liked BJ and Tyler, and I'm glad that they won. But I had already predicted their victory very early on, just based on intuition and the edit they were getting. I also liked the mom/daughter team and the nerd couple. Sadly for me, neither of those teams lasted very long.

[Star Aristille]

7 hours ago, Roccos Brother said:

I liked BJ and Tyler

The show didn't.  That's why they were never invited back, and they both got red in the face about it.

Edited November 16, 2017 by Star Aristille

[Star Aristille]

4 minutes ago, Geenee said:

Same, but at least the oldie spouses won a leg before they too left.

Phil's shocked face when Fran & Barry won the Oman leg is something I always remember, even eleven years later.:)

[Roccos Brother]

On 11/16/2017 at 3:01 AM, Star Aristille said:

The show didn't.  That's why they were never invited back, and they both got red in the face about it.

I wonder what that was about, I had always assumed it wasn't anything personal. I personally don't like the idea of previous winners coming back for another chance to win again, even winners that I liked. We've seen enough of them and already got a chance to rejoice at their prior win. Would make more sense to want to be able to feel that for another team.

[thelegacies87]

This is a season I've been struggling with thus far(and just saw who in this thread, which is my fault!) and it makes me wanna stick with it...But is this the most sexist season yet? It's VERY male centric. Usually, when it's couples, yeah a guy might be more abrasive, but outside of Yolanda and Fran, the women are either crying or non-existent. And the men are just so freakin' gross. ARe we supposed to find the Eric and Jeremy amusing? Is it just me, in this 2019 world who find them skeevy creeps who hit on every woman they see, putting certain women(like airline workers) in incredibly uncomfortable situations? They're just such bros...and they both look older than I think they are, so it comes across kinda sad.

Then we have hick man, who treats his wife like garbage(which she takes, because, um, that's what she thinks a good wife does) and says of Fran, after she tells him to back off, "SHe's a doctor's wife, she shouldn't behave like that"...First dude, you're a dentist. In the doctor hierarchy, Barry is above you. 

And while I like the hippies, I kinda feel they're kinda a bit too "try hard" at times, while other times I feel they're sweet and endearing.

Edited July 6, 2019 by thelegacies87

[sinycalone]

I really disliked the Hippies...so have never rewatched the entire season...but the episodes I did rewatch reinforced my negative reaction to them.  I felt they were phony throughout,

[thelegacies87]

15 hours ago, sinycalone said:

I really disliked the Hippies...so have never rewatched the entire season...but the episodes I did rewatch reinforced my negative reaction to them.  I felt they were phony throughout,

As I go on, 'm leaning towards the dislike. Dear God, tone is down. They're the least genuine cast members yet. They're legit trying to just be characters. 

Not sure how much more of this season I can handle. I haven't enjoyed an episode yet, which is the first time since i started my watch of the many seasons of Amazing Race(I skipped season 6 after character introductions, because more than half of them were actors/model, and one of them had the worst haircut I've ever seen...It was like, front pig tails, for dudes)....But I can't imagine any of them were as awful as the majority of the cast this season(Yolanda/Ray, and Barry/Fran are the only ones I like. OH and the hick dentist just called his wife a bitch and she just accepted it. How nice!)

Edited July 7, 2019 by thelegacies87

[TheRabbi]

On 7/7/2019 at 1:11 AM, thelegacies87 said:

As I go on, 'm leaning towards the dislike. Dear God, tone is down. They're the least genuine cast members yet. They're legit trying to just be characters. 

Not sure how much more of this season I can handle. I haven't enjoyed an episode yet, which is the first time since i started my watch of the many seasons of Amazing Race(I skipped season 6 after character introductions, because more than half of them were actors/model, and one of them had the worst haircut I've ever seen...It was like, front pig tails, for dudes)....But I can't imagine any of them were as awful as the majority of the cast this season(Yolanda/Ray, and Barry/Fran are the only ones I like. OH and the hick dentist just called his wife a bitch and she just accepted it. How nice!)

Stick with it through Australia at least. There's a couple really great moments coming up.

[dgpolo]

I quite liked the hippies, whether they were playing characters or not, one of my criteria for a 'liked' team is politeness to the locals and support for each other, and they did. If they were annoying it wasn't in the way Flo was annoying. So Yay! I'm glad they won over the obnoxious E&J. I can't believe they aired them groping Danielle.

I do wish Dave and Lori had made it farther.

Still surprised at how far Barry and Fran made it. I liked that BJ & Tyler helped them and not so happy that Fran was unkind to them on the bus when BJ & Tyler were still crossing the bridge. They had helped them with directions to clues (which they surely needed after walking within 6 inches of one w/o seeing it) and always asked if they were OK. But they did give them some money after their first non-elim so that was good.

I have no idea what was actually said at that pit stop, but Barry & Fran and Ray & Yolanda gave them money while E&J and MoJo didn't. Mojo said they threatened them with a Yield but no one else said anything about that and BJ&T didn't seem to be serious about until they thought Joseph had cancelled their cab.

I'm glad BJ&T gave some money to R&Y to pay back the favor.

Was that slap dance the first Dancing Roadblock?

And was that the first memory task?

And I loved BJ&T's Bowling Mom's shirts.

[Hera]

22 hours ago, dgpolo said:

I quite liked the hippies, whether they were playing characters or not, one of my criteria for a 'liked' team is politeness to the locals and support for each other, and they did. If they were annoying it wasn't in the way Flo was annoying. So Yay! I'm glad they won over the obnoxious E&J. I can't believe they aired them groping Danielle.

I liked the hippies too, for the same reasons you did. In addition to your criteria, I like watching teams who genuinely seem to appreciate and enjoy the experience of being on the race and getting to go to all the different places, and I think the hippies did. It's also why I didn't like Eric and Jeremy—I got the impression they would have been just as happy (if not more so) doing race challenges on a sound stage in LA. Also, on a personal level, they came across as kind of skeevy and extremely vapid. I tend to find that kind of person even more exhausting to be around than people who are always "on" like BJ and Tyler.

This was the first season I watched as it aired and the one moment I remember the most clearly was Ray and Yolanda having an argument, Ray flipping Yolanda off while she walked ahead of him, and her spinning saying something like, "Did you just flip me off?" How she knew he had done that, I have no idea—watching on TV, it really looked like she had eyes in the back of her head. I wonder if one of the camera operators audibly reacted to it, tipping her off.

Edited July 19, 2019 by Hera
Fixing a typo

[Lamb18]

I'm watching season 9, episode in Corsica. BJ and Tyler just finished the laundry detour and I noticed on the T-shirts they're wearing - one T-shirt says "Bowling" and the other T-shirt says "Moms." Now I like them a bit extra for that.

[Brookside]

On 7/18/2019 at 1:59 PM, dgpolo said:

I quite liked the hippies, whether they were playing characters or not, one of my criteria for a 'liked' team is politeness to the locals and support for each other, and they did. If they were annoying it wasn't in the way Flo was annoying. So Yay! I'm glad they won over the obnoxious E&J. I can't believe they aired them groping Danielle.

Still surprised at how far Barry and Fran made it. I liked that BJ & Tyler helped them and not so happy that Fran was unkind to them on the bus when BJ & Tyler were still crossing the bridge. They had helped them with directions to clues (which they surely needed after walking within 6 inches of one w/o seeing it) and always asked if they were OK. But they did give them some money after their first non-elim so that was good.

 

I'm re-watching and I'm kind of horrified by how many ugly personalities there are.  Their parents must be embarrassed. 

[SVNBob]

My mother and I have hit this season in our re-watch.  And this seems like the first season that's actually a rewatch for the both of us.  (She'd finally picked up watching TAR about here at first airing, while I'm rapidly approaching the point I fell off because of the schedule change to post-Sunday Night Football).

We're only up to the first half of the TBC in Moscow so far.  And it is a little difficult to watch this season.  I'd forgotten how "fratty" Eric and Jeremy were, and how bad Lake was (not as bad as someone else from a previous season...but working his way there.)  And while they're not bad on the show, it's not as easy to watch the Hippies knowing that it's an act and they're more like the frat bros than it appears.

[kaygeeret]

I remember really liking the 'hippies', especially because they seemed to be one of few team from all seasons who took the time to appreciate what they were seeing.  That has only increased on the rewatch.

Their appeal tarnished a bit upon learning it was all an act, but in comparison to the screamers (god, how many of them are there) and the whiners and the abusers, a little acting is looking A-OK in my book.

I wonder why they were never on any of the all star shows.

[Lois Sandborne]

Where are people getting the gospel that BJ's & Tyler's personas were an act? This was (one of?) the first seasons I watched live too, and they were one of the few parts of it I enjoyed.They were definitely divisive and over the top on the show. But I've never looked into any real life stuff about the racers.

[Lois Sandborne]

Okay, I'm just gonna take that as all speculation then.

I'd only seen random seasons of TAR here and there; basically if I happened to see that one was premiering I'd try to keep up with it. But since it's on prime I've been catching up. I bet I'd love this season a lot more if Eric and Jeremy hadn't been so dominant.  Even so, I've watched up through 18 now and so far this finale still stands out as a favorite. Meta, race-referential challenges, the thrill of rooting my heart out for Ray & Yolanda even though I knew they were gonna lose, and a good team still won.

[kaygeeret]

Sorry Lois Sandborne, I should have responded sooner.

I got the info about the hippies from the old website TWoP (Television without Pity) and the recaps that were posted regarding TAR.

I was hooked on the recaps back in the day and I found them still available and got hooked all over again.  Try the web site below.

 brilliantbutcancelled.com/show/the-amazing-race

[lilabennet]

I'm re-watching this now.  I didn't remember how obnoxious the majority of the teams were this season.  It was so bad that by the end of the first episode I was stressed out and angry-irritated.