Clifton, I believe Mumbai is Bombay, or at least an area in Bombay, rather than a small town in the middle of India. I look forward to the teams leaving the country, and hopefully not being required to do the same kinds of disgusting things on future episodes they had to do in India.

I was one of those who looked forward to the models being dumped, but they had changed so much and were getting along so well I actually hated seeing them come in last.

I thought the two teams in 1st class on the train, making fun of another team was despicable. Clint Eastwood and I both have moles above our lips and I think that's fine--used to call them beauty marks.

Still enjoying the program very much, but I must admit I find some of these teams much easier to dislike than the groups on previous shows.

Re: being dragged behind the bulls--I'm told this is a form of racing in which the contestants generally RUN (standing up) and try NOT to fall. It was not thought up just for the show but guess our novices were better off not even trying the traditional form!

As to the cash: I'm not so sure the currency is US$ just because they tell the audience the amount in $$$, pretty sure I glimpsed something more colorful than greenbacks in one of the Indian episodes.

I agree that the models were just getting somewhat likable! Also agree that those teams making fun of Millie & Chuck have little room for smugness (not that I care for M&C that much either). I'm especially fed up with Kelly--the new Flo in my book, what a shrew!

Great show; I've watched from the beginning but agree that it was better when the teams had to have some knowledge of geography and guess where their next destination was. Mumbai is Bombay but I think Clifton was referring to the small town they took the long train ride to and had the bull race at. Yes, location scout would be a great job, but they'd never hire me because the teams would never get out of Italy.

Wow ! Glad to see that there are so many others enjoying this show as I am. I didn't plan on starting such a long thread but it seems there are many kindred spirits.

Mumbai is the new name for Bombay (a few years now), and like all cities has poor and rich sectors. Only difference is that in this case, it runs to both extremes. Having travelled there myself, I know that all you see is true, but that there is another nicer side to it too, which the previous series of AR have featured. Besides, when you're actually there, you do find a way to deal with the blatant social disparity. I truly loved the south of India and the place where they are now (Kerala state) is one of the most beautiful. And the food is to die for (NOT of !!).

Having watched this show since the first series (which was my favourite), there are many things I'd like to see different (and I'm sure you have yours too) such as :

- don't tell the contestants whether or not the leg is an elimination one. Let them find out at the pit stop.

- How about making the elimination aspect 'random' ? Start the race with 13 envelopes, 9 containing an elimination and 4 containing a non-elimination. Whoever arrives last at a pit stop gets to draw one of the remaining envelopes. If you draw an elimination envelope, then you are out. But if not, you have a second chance ! Once all the non-elimination envelopes have been drawn, then the remaining legs are obviously elimination ones, which the contestants expect each leg to be anyway. The surprise element would be ratcheted higher.

- I'd like to see more teams arriving at the pit stop at night (film it indoors) so that they start the next leg in the daytime when there are more transportation options available and less opportunities for teams bunching up.

- provide opportunity for the teams to avail of a greater variety of travel modes. Not bad this season, so far.

- Have the teams 'dress up' more. Do any of you remember in previous series when contestants had to perform their tasks wearing local ethnic costumes ? It was fun and the contestants loved it. So did we !

I'm sorry to see the models gone now. Other things aside, they were strong gals and played well, though I think Tian played better than the other one, who just barked out orders. I least like the redhead (the new Flo). Don't have any particular favourites yet.

Mathieu, I really like your idea about the elimination rounds. We were surprised that this last leg was an elimination round - they still have the entire 3 non-elimination rounds to go!

I'll be cheering when the new Flo gets eliminated (Kelly the red head). I have not heard her say anything positive about her partner or the other teams throughout the entire show.

In terms of changes, I liked it better when the teams were *not* told how to get to the next place. It seems in this race teams are being told, "You must take flights A,B, or C" or "You need to take a train from Station D" in every show. I think this does bunch the teams together even more because the truly resourceful ones can't showcase their abilities. This also makes the race more weighted in favor of 'fit and strong' teams, since the brain aspect of it has been reduced.

Clifton, I think the observation your wife made is wrong; they are told the equivalency in dollars, but I have noticed the currency bills are not dollars.

If the producers are concerned about the cost of the show, maybe they should consider limiting the destinations to a region (similar to "The Mole" last shows in Italy and Hawaii), limit the number of teams, or limit the amount of challenges per show.

Totally agree Mariarosa. It should be left upto the teams themselves to figure out how to get from one stop to the next, like they did in AR1. However, I suspect that if left to do that, it may turn out to be a logistical nightmare for the producers trying to keep track of the teams : where they are and what time they arrive at the next stop. Some may still be arriving at one stop while others are ready to leave it. If this is the case and the host has to be at both stops greeting the last team to arrive with bad news, and the first to arrive at the other end, he would be in a race of his own !

I agree with some of the comments above that I would like to see more use of brains than brawn, and more of them using their abilities/wits to get from one place to the other.

I read somewhere (maybe higher up on this post) that contestants used to have the ability to buy as many airline tickets as they wanted -- one team running up a $250,000 tab for one leg of the trip. Too costly for the show, and they are now limited in their buying options.

Too many disgusting tasks -- are they trying to copy Fear Factor and Survivor? I honestly don't believe they need to do that. The show has so much going for it, they don't need to resort to tactics this low.

I'm watching out for the Redhead. They are editing, remember, and showing us her bad side. I wouldn't be surprised if she wins. Remember how bad Flo looked, and the outcome?

Bombay has been Mumbai for years now.

Thankfully the models are gone, even though they seemed to be more civil to one another (end of last round and this one), I'm sure if they were still in the game, the "evil" would rear it's ugly head again.

They are given USD to spend, and in most countries USD will be taken for payment - if in some cases they have to change to local currency, I'm sure the time it takes to do so at a cash exchange window has to be cut (it's only a 1-hr show). We have seen in some countries the teams negotiating prices for taxis or other means of transport. And last night's show had some teams checking if the drivers had sufficient petrol for the ride to the bull ride.

In this last episode in India, the place where the bull ride in water was an overnight trip by train - remember - about 850 miles/km (whichever) from Panval station and that disgusting train they had to travel on.

Apparently in all the preplanning that goes on, these countries, cities, etc. know "who's coming" and what might be expected of them and their ctizens, bt then maybe not. Often you see crowds watching what's going on with these strange people invading their communities.

About the teams determining their own routing to destinations (except the flights) - do recall in many of the shows they often had automobiles or some means of transportation waiting at a destination. And as another poster mentioned, if left to their own to figure out how to get to some destinations would wreck havoc on scheduling and possibly people getting lost. Don't you recall the grannies in AR2 (I believe) couldn't or missed connection from London and lost a full day.

As to the trains in India - if you noticed there were "ladies cars" (as you find in many 3rd world countries - Muslim especially) so that women aren't bothered by men or seen by them. I don't know if this would be the case in India, but maybe the teams could have used these cars so as not to have been "gropped" in those very crowded cars (and remember there were photographers with them in those same crowded cars).

In some countries, I believe the producers have no choice but to advise them how to travel or who knows when we might seem some of these teams again.

It was nice to see that The Clowns moved up in this round. They seem to be the most civilized of the teams.

As to the eliminations - the last card advising to get to the pit-stop specifically states whether it is an elimination round; if not, "nothing is said" except to get to the pit-stop.

What I must say about this AR4 is that they've been to or so far have had to do "some nasty stuff".

Now let's see what's next. Just love this show.

Yes, Mumbai and Bombay are one and the same, renamed. I was referring to the villages, as Grinisa said, specifically where they held the bull drag. I bet it's very hard to schedule an event where village locals are a pert of the setup without the whole town finding out. Even in the US, I think the whole little town would turn out to watch.

Maira, after she mentioned it (from the Dolomites episode), I watched and sure enough, I've seen US 20's fanned out from those episodes by different teams, in Vienna and again in India. I suspect Sandi is right, that they're just hitting exchange windows off camera.

I like Mathieu's idea on the last second elimination vs non-elimination suspense. That would add a lot to the show. Also like Grinisa's thought about never leaving Italy. :) On this leg of the race, teams must race to find the best gelato in Rome....

I've been pulling for the clowns ever since they waited behind during Millie's asthma attack. I haven't seen anything from them but class and good humor.

Too many tasks being done by too many teams in too many countries in too short of one hour per week. You read my post and its short. I rest my case.

To Clifton:

Yes, I understand the leaving 12 hours later, but they never actually say it is, say, 4 am (12 hours later) or 4 am two days later. I got the impression on AR2, when the group was resting in South Africa that they had more than just 12 hours, that they actually were there at least one or two days. Before this i had thought it was just 12 hours.

Michelle,

You know, I never thought if it like that. I guess they don't say it's 12 hours later, and not 36, do they? I just always assumed, when the host said "Team #1 arrived at 2pm, so they depart at 2am" that it meant the next 2am. Hmmm... I truly have no idea. You have me wondering now.

Dear Clifton:

Thanks for writing back so soon. I never thought about it either until the South Africa stop in AR2. They showed brief clips of the group enjoying the surroundings(riding horses???) etc. So, now I have paid more attention and they never actually say how long the rest is for. Well, stay tuned this week. I really hope they bring this show back next season.

Michelle

They actually do say at the very beginning that it is a 12-hour layover period. It is said before each show starts, that the teams have a mandatory 12-hour rest period when they can eat, sleep, and socialize with the other teams before heading out. Listen for it at the very beginning on the next show.

In many post-show interviews (and on the TWOP message boards where many of them post) the racers have said on many occasions that they either hope to or have gone back to certain places because the race does not allow for any time to sightsee.

How did Reichen and Chip get dubbed "The Chippendales"? Off shoot of Chip? The sports bar where we watch,they are referred to as the AquaMaids....if you watch right at first they are "showcased" while practicing their synchro swimming skills.

Most of the answers to the questions several of you have posed on this thread can be found at www.tarflies.com. Click on the "TAR FAQ" link on the left-hand side of the page.

For example, here's the answer to the question about how long the racers are at the pit stop:

QUESTION: I've heard that pit stops are sometimes longer than they appear on TV. Is this true? Why?


ANSWER: Yes, there are extended pit stops. The pit stops are always extended by a multiple of 24 hours, so that when the show airs, the viewers can't tell which pit stops were extended. So, for example, if Team A checks in at 4 pm, they'll still leave at 4 am. But they may be leaving on Day 3 or 4 instead of Day 2.

Pit stop extensions happen for a variety of production-related reasons: extremely bad weather, problems setting up the next leg, Phil being sick, a team lagging several hours behind the rest of the production, and so forth.

when is this show on? I know CBS but what day and time? It sounds like fun!

Sasha:

It's on Thursdays at 8pm Eastern/7 Central on CBS.

It is fun!

Jennie