amazing race 11/01
 

It finally is getting a little more interesting in terms of locations, roadblocks, etc.

Have to admit, the Weavers are on my last nerve and they certainly must behave in such a way that is offensive to others. I don't think I can remember a yield that so many (all?) of the teams wanted them to be yielded. Was sorry to see the Gaghans sp? go instead of them. That little girl was so cute at the end trying not to cry and the parents never say anything but words of encouragement to their children or each other.

at the risk of getting my head chopped off...

What am I missing about the Weavers? I find that family with the fat mom, sissy boys and garbage man dad far more annoying. Did the Weaver's do something in week one that I missed?

BTW How unclassy was the amazing race to have them go to a race track knowing that the dad was killed at one? Even if the segment was planned before the Weaver's were selected, I'm sure that they have alternate plans.

This is why I can't watch like I used to in previous seasons. There is always something that gets my blood boiling and it turns into more stress than relaxation.

I apparently have missed the deal with the Weavers also and I have watched it every week. Considering all they've been through, I'd think the others would cut them some slack. The annoying NY family is growing on me. THey have overcome some major obstacles and I think have grown as a family. It's always hard to see a family go. :(

Argh. See the problem with posting a new thread every week is that now there are two threads for 11/01 and very few posts on either of them. The old thread which lasted a whole season got a lot more action.

Last week there was some controversy about the Weavers' vocal prayer habit. Did anyone else hear them say something tonight like "let us win instead of the other teams." I thought I heard that, but wasn't entirely sure. In any case, they have to be one of the teams most disliked by their fellow racers ever.

My guess is it has a lot to do with their attitude of moral superiority (which does not seem earned).

Meanwhile, that little girl, bravely holding back the tears!! What a great spirit!! We were sorry to see them go, although I never saw how they could make it to the end with such young kids.

Dad&Daughters: is he clueless or what? He doesn't understand why his pretty blonde daughter doesn't want to get out of the car dressed in a tank top and shorts in the middle of the night in a Latin American country to ask directions from a group of strange men? Yikes.

Just loved seeing the Costa Rican scenery! Got a kick out of how all the teams pronounced Jaco Beach. What a great boost for Costa Rican tourism when the little girl said how pretty it was and the dad said he would like to go there on vacation. Although, hopefully, they can go when it isn't the rainy season! What a great opportunity for those two young children to travel to the different places they did. It was pretty heart breaking seeing Carissa's face at the end. Can't wait to see where they go next week.

Yes, CiCi, we consoled ourselves thinking what an adventure of a lifetime it was for those two kids. Plus they seem to be a really nice family and I like the way they treat their kids a lot.

I too was surprised at how well the team with the young kids held up the whole race. I thought the parents treated their kids with a lot of respect, and the little ones weren't whiney/breaking down from fatigue - no one "lost it". I was sorry to see them go. I kept saying that the mom should have gotten on her hands and knees earlier to find that red bean.

I'm finally starting to enjoy AR. I wished the non-elim week was switched btwn last wk and this wk so those screaming women would be gone.

At first I couldn't understand the dislike of the Weaver family too, but in the last couple of episodes I saw it. Marilyn...you are right I heard it too, along with "that's the stupidist volcano I've ever seen"!

Watching the Paullo (sp?) family in the first few episodes made me just cringe, and I was sure they would be the next team to go. However, in the last two episodes I think AM has done more for that family than a million dollars could ever do. Both those disrespectful, rude sons have a new appreciation for both their parents. The older son before could not stand to be with his mother and in the last couple of episodes his body language and demeanor to her have completely change. He even kissed her on the head a couple of times!

I think that mom is a real trouper. Even she had said before she had hoped the result of the AM would be that her family would treat her better. I'm glad it's coming true for her.

Enjoy-la!

I thought the Gaghan parents had a great attitude. A really nice family.

In last night's episode, one of the Weaver children explained how they had been taught not to trust other people all their life and how they are better than others.

Keith

At the road block, did you notice that when the other teams tried to give the Weavers encouragement (like "You will catch up"), the Weavers were so hateful to all of them?

Tht Gaghans didn't loose because of the kids, they lost because the mom couldn't find the bean...just darn luck. I was thinking one of the kids should have done it. I liked them.

Just let my "Amazing Race" post drop to the bottom.

Brenandg, can you start the new week's post each week? That way we won't have duplicates.

Marylin, the problem, for some of us, with having a single post that keeps getting longer is that with slow dial-up it takes forever for the post to load. I know, I know, "just get DSL or cable", right? Problem is, I can't. Too far out in the "boonies", I guess.

Anyway, I also was sorry to see the Gaghan family go. Man, is that little girl competitive, or what? A real trooper.

The Weaver's must be doing SOMETHING to get so many other teams to dislike them. Maybe we will find out when it is over.

As it is, I am enjoying it more as the teams narrow down. Can actually remember which team is which now.

I hated to see the Gaghan family go last night. They always were so encouraging of each other and treated each other so well.

The Weaver family is annoying. While they were waiting during the yield, they were making fun of the other contestants.

The dad in the Branson family should have gotten out for directions instead of trying to make the daughter. I can't imagine any dad making that suggestion.

The Paollo family is growing on me. I really disliked them at first and hoped they would go soon, but seeing them grow is great! The one son who was so awful to his mother has really made some great turns. It is like night and day from the beginning.

I sure wanted her to get down on her knees and look for that bean at closer quarters. I'm sorry the Gaghan's lost.

Costa Rica looked fabulous and its on my list now.

The Weavers deserve the disdain, I was wrong last week. You can't promote proactive isolation and then not understand the reaction. I heard them say exactly what Keith just noted. Plus they do make the most ignorant comments upon geography and physical topography that I've ever heard- recorded anyway.

The only person I truly can not abide in this race is the father of the three girls though. He is consistent- I must say that. Blau / negative/ not an iota of sensibility.

I know, crefloors, that the Paolo's make your skin crawl. And that is going to probably be the majority reaction. But those kinds of families are actually extremely common- and I, of all people, "got" them from the beginning. Some people love by fighting. I know it is toxic to most sensibilities and cultures. But I have found it rampant within immigrant cultures here in Chicago. It's rather like the respect thing imploded. My parents have been doing it to each other for 60 years on Dec. 15. Last week I was going to go "on" about them but they are what they are.

Just as an aside- those Paolo boys are going to have a hard time staying married, if the patterns I see all the time, run true.

And they are going to be tough to beat. My Dad was a Chicago garbageman, so I KNOW- and my Mom was twice as fat as Mrs.Paolo. But they are both the last one standing today at 86 and 84- and just as feisty.

I think the prize was GREAT. I would have a hard time picking between the Vespa and the jet ski. I would probably pick the jet ski as I have the perfect place to use it.

..."At the road block, did you notice that when the other teams tried to give the Weavers encouragement (like "You will catch up"), the Weavers were so hateful to all of them?"
Well, can you blame them????....when they discovered that EVERY team wanted to yield them??? I still don't see why they all hate them, but it must something that we haven't seen. Every team is SO concerned with them and with knocking them out of the race. Choosing to yield them was such an example of the other teams using their emotions instead of their heads! Why the heck are you going to yield ANYONE this early in the race??? And what happened??.....it didn't even work!....as the Gaghan family got eliminated instead!!

I can't believe the Weavers consider themselves 'good Christians; with what was shown last night. At the yield stop they were mocking all the other teams (hmm, judge not bit must not be in their bible) and poor sportsmanship (something to the effect of I hope you lose).

Mom Paolo is growing on me. She might be a tortoise, but she'll beat the hare. Seeing dad haul the bananas around while the kids struggled showed the boys that dad can do hard work (and I wonder what's the most physical labor those boys do?)

Ok, the Paulos won a choice of ATV, scooter, jetski or something else -- what do you see each one picking. I think mom and dad will get scooters, but I'd love to see mom on the jetski.

The Weavers seem to be the type of Christians who are so prevalent today...just asking God for favors all the time (help us win!)...and not knowing anything about what it really means to be a Christian.

The way their behavior and remarks at the Yield were edited, I can only hope the Weavers see the error of their ways. They claim moral superiority with one breath, and then make fun of other teams' clothing and appearance with the next. (Meanwhile, the Weaver girls are dressed like strippers midway through their act.)
God does not like ugly...

I'd love to see teams watching themselves on the show -- although I assume people like the Weavers would just protest "they edited us..."!

I thought the Gaghan family was great - so encouraging and positive with their kids. I thought the kids were wonderful at the finish line.

It was nice to see Costa Rica, too. It's so beautiful!

Can we have a do-over of that stupid bean roadblock? The Gaghans are the best example of a family to be on television ever. What marvellous parents. How great was it when Billy asked his dad if they could come to Costa Rica on vacation and dad Bill said he really loved it and they would definitely come back for a vacation.

The Weavers didn't know that all/most of the other teams wanted to Yield them, they just guessed. They are as hypocritical as the Gaghans are great. I really hoped the mad mom would drive off and leave the kids...and be eliminated. What pitiful example of how-to-be-Christian they are. Oh well, I can dream.

Bigjim, there are only two Yields in the whole Race, so I don't think it's too early to use one. I wish they'd go back to having the Yield on every leg.

If we have to have a new thread for each episode, it would be nice if people would post about that episode. It just isn't possible to carry on "conversations" from one week to the next on separate threads.

I hope the Paulos at least get to the final three. I like the Linz family still, but the others are so loud and screamy all the time.

I'm finding the Branson dad to be very annoying. What kind of dad would expect his daughters to get out and ask directions at night in that location? I bet the Linz brothers wouldn't have told their sister to go.

I hope the Weavers go next, but I'll bet next week is a NEL.

I was sorry to see the Gaghans eliminated, they have grown on me the past few weeks.

The Paolos are growing on me too, strangely enough. The mom seems to be a real trouper and it's nice to see that her sons are gaining an awareness of that.

The Weavers had no way of knowing that the other teams all wanted to yield them, but their assumption was accurate. I'm thinking that the nasty comments they were making about the other teams' photos is an indication of their behavior that we don't get to see.

It took a while to warm up to this AR but I wouldn't miss it now. My daughter and I were practically in tears watching the disappointed Gaghan kids at the end of the show. That family did so well against terrific odds and were so supportive of each other that I hoped they would somehow be able to continue.

I agree with the comments about the dad with the three daughters.

What an amazing transformation for the Paolo family! Whether or not they make it to the end, they have already won the grand prize.

I agree. The Yield should be available on more legs of the race. But it's just another example of the teams not thinking! Use the Yield on a team that's a THREAT to you, not just because you don't like them! I really don't see the Weavers as a threat.

I guess I am the only one thrilled to see the Gaghan's eliminated. My take on the kids was that they were spoiled rotten and never lost anything before in their lives -- it was a good lesson for them. Hopefully the Weaver's will go next. Frankly I have never seen a season of AR with such horrible contestants. I realize the show is heavily edited and the producers "want" us to see the fighting, etc. as it is good for ratings, but enough already of the entire bunch !!!

Good point Lori!

I was disappointed that the Gaghan family was eliminated and that the Weaver family wasn't. I thought the Gaghan kids were so polite, albeit a little too competitive. I really liked how the family tried to use the race as a learning/life experience about never giving up even when facing defeat.

The Weaver family, on the other hand, seems pretty mentally unstable. They talk about being big Christians, yet they make fun of the other family on the yields. The mom doesn't set a very good example for her kids by instigating much of the negativity directed at the other teams.

My personal favorite team is the Lunz/LInz (sp?) family, although I really like the Italian family for sheer entertainment value.

I think I figured out Wally Branson and the thing about directions.

Wally has an affliction common among us men -- a refusal to admit when we are lost. I am sure all or most of the females posting here have experienced that phenomenon. Driving around with husband/boyfriend/brother looking for something. And the male (usually the driver) refueses to admit he is lost and will NOT stop to ask directions. but, eventually he WILL stop, but ask someone else in the car to go ask for the directions.

Yes, I have done it, too.

It is so interesting getting everyone's "take" on the different families. We all watch the same thing but see it differently. I guess that's why eye witness accounts are frequently not accurate. I never saw the Gahgan kids as being spoiled. Interesting that someone else would see them that way. The Weavers..well, I guess that is ONE area where we all see the same thing. Sheesh!!! The Paolos..well, I'm with holding judgement on them at this point. I think that maybe they are actually learning something as a family, and I was pleased the whimpy boys suddenly gained a new respect for their father AND mother. It's probably NOT all their fault, talk about spoiled. I think this is a real "traditional" family and the men and boys rule. THOSE boys are the spoiled ones, their mother has probably totally slaved for them all their lives. I'd love to put them in front of a wash machine with a load of laundry!!! (: Will be interesting to see how it all jells in the end.

I did not find the family eliminated last night had spoiled their children at all . Their attitudes were great , they seemed incredibly supportive and well rounded . I thought the childrens competitive spirit was super and not over the top at all . I was sad to see them go .I hope dad DOES spoil them and takes them back to Costa Rica !!! Pura Vida ! Faith .

According to several articles, the Weavers were cold, rude and standoffish to all the other teams during the down time (which we aren't seeing this year).

Calling people "retards" and making fun of someone who works as a garbage collector is not my idea of Christian values. And adding "o" to the words "right" and "left" in a Spanish-speaking country is just ignorant and wrong IMHO.

No one on the show, however, seemed to be able to pronouce "Jaco" or "Quepos" correctly. I wonder if they purposely cast the teams this way - we seem to see this every season, i.e. "Doonoob" River last year in Budapest.

Regarding the prize for 1st place, I'd have to pick the Segway. I love em!

mikepintuscon,
Sorry Mike, I didn't realize til I did a search tonight that you had started the other recent posts or that there even was one started for this week. Please continue with your weekly threads. I think a new one for every week is a good idea as well, even though we have cable connection, just makes it easier to read.

I have found that even though I prefer the couple teams, I find it a little hard to follow in the beginning with them as well. This AR just got off to such a slow start.

I couldn't stand the Paolo's at the beginning, they are now growing on me too. Now that the Gaghan's are gone, can't really say that I have a favorite to win. I don't think those kids are spoiled either. It was so cute when that little girl was out cold when they were driving and the mom said, she'll be up and raring to go when she has to.

I was cracking up when the Weavers were stuck in the mud :-D

I guess it's okay to be rude and make fun of people as long as you are not a Christian. Remember Christians aren't perfect and the Weaver's are being judged for doing half of what the Paolos do to them.

As for the Paolos. If I were the dad, the older son would have yelled at his mother once. Now I do admit that the mother is reaping what she sowed. She was her son's best teacher. I can't believe that some of you say that they are growing on you and that that's just the way that some families are. Yeah...disfunctional ones!

Lori, I could not disagree more about the Gaghan kids being spoiled. The little girl bravely held back her tears when they were eliminated -- that is NOT how a spoiled child reacts. A spoiled child has a tantrum.

I also didn't see the Gaghan kids as spoiled. I think those parents are bringing up those two kids the right way. They ARE competitive, but the whole family was not competitive to the point where they got reckless or denigrated the other teams. Way to go, Gaghans!

In the episode where the Weavers had to go to the race track, I found myself warming to them. After this last episode, all I can say is tell them to go take a flying #?@$%&##&^

The Paolos. Now there is a family I have see countless times growing up in New England. As JJ5 pointed out, that kind of behavior is not atypical in immigrant families. Being Italian (Sicilian, actually), I have seen so many families "back east" that acted the same way. "Traditional families", ruled by the males, as crefloors put it. Actually have seen it in New England (RI, Mass) and in New York -- also with Jewish families in NY. But the kind of interaction the Paolos are having DOES seem to shock some people. But doesn't it make for fun viewing, even if you hate them?

Actually, Mike, it makes me cringe. And the fact that they treat each other that way with the cameras running and the entire country watching makes my jaw drop in astonishment.

I am not from one of those wrapped-too-tight families where emotions are never expressed and issues are never discussed. But I really never saw anyone in my extended family, even when they were angry, speak to each other like that.

I also hated to see the Gaghans go last night.They were doing pretty good to have had the youngest kids in the competition.

Christie

Everybody Loves Raymond or Everybody Loves the Paolos? Notice any similarities? Think Mr Paolo genuinely loves the Missus. He got a little teary in the interview and said " I love her" Awwwww.

We grew up in a community - then - Italian/Catholic and Jewish. If any of us kids even thought to sass a parent or teacher (any adult), we wouldn't live to do it again. And, over the years with new friends who have discussed our growing-up years... whether white, black, Asian, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddist or Muslim - same story. We wouldn't dare. For those of us with children... same thing. Don't even thingaboutit!

Sure we were able to get angry, be pissed, hate our parent/s or sibling/s - but no way were we allowed to be verbally abusive, other than the "I hate you!" which for sure had to be expressed out of earshot.

The Paolo's are very sad, indeed. As for the Weavers - hey, God is busy with more important things these days (or hadn't you noticed), over and above a silly race and who should/will win. They should keep their prayers to themselves and just play the game!

Wonder what all these families think when they finally see the edited show and just how foolish they come across.