Barbara

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.

chepar

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.

KathrynT

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.

BigJim

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.

Lori

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 !!!

BigJim

Good point Lori!

mah1980

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.

MikePinTucson

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.

crefloors

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.

faithie

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 .

gualalalisa

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.

moldyhotelsaregross

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

brenandg

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

saiguanas

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!

Marilyn

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.

MikePinTucson

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?

Marilyn

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.

christiegr

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

brenandg

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.

sandi

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.