JJ5, I don't know how you can be so sure what they were thinking. This is only your opinion, right?

There would be nothing wrong with her being engaged if she hadn't milked the loss of her husband every week for every ounce of sympathy and help she could.

Barbra, the Linz's did call Ma Weaver "Thunder Thighs" last night. Though that is the first time I have noticed and I've watched all the broasdcasts twice and watched most of the online suplimental footage.

The Bransens showed dislike to the Weavers several times during the final episodes. Usually it was when the Weavers weren't present, but at Old Faithful they sat on the ground with their back to the Weavers and wouldn't acknowledge them.

Not that I am defending the Weavers, but the Producers may have asked her not to pubicise the engagement.

This was the first Amazing Race where I never grew familiar with the player's first names. I must know some others, but off the top of my head, I can only think of Wally.

Keith

Keith, I just re-watched the thunderthighs part. They may have been talking about the Weavers, but to each other. Why do you think they were referring to Ma? She wasn't driving the golf cart, it would more likely have been about the girl driving. But, none of us actually knows as nothing was said face-to-face.

Additionally, I have just been reading that, apparently, quite a few people think it was Rolly Weaver who made the thunderthighs comment. Higher voice, not typical of the Linzes but very typical of a Weaver, etc. We'll never really know.

Ugh, one of the Weavers threw garbage (okay, biodegradable--I think it was an apple?) out of the car window at either the Linz or Godlewski family. Ill-mannered and, in most states, illegal. Didn't watch it last night, but I am SO glad that nasty family didn't win.

Keith, you wish came true. The Bransen's won the extra challenge. It went like this: the two teams returned to the completed puzzle maps. They were then instructed to find 12 icons of their trip (like a hotdog, teepee, etc) in a box about 100 feet away. Take them out one at a time, run back and place them on the map in the correct state. It seemed like a close race (editing?) but the Bransen's won the SUV.

Funny about the Thunderthighs comment. I was thinking last night was nice legs Ma Weaver had, and that her daughters inherited them!

And did they like to share those legs with others! Who wears shorts, especially short shorts, everywhere! That is so trashy.

But they didn't stick their butt out the window like the Branson girl did mooning people, and with her father in the car. Funny how no one ever mentioned that gem.

JJ5,
Are you related to them or something? Maybe it was clever editing, but I have never seen a team on TAR so disliked. There has to be good reason for that. We don't see it all and they no longer really show what goes on at the Pit Stops. Has anyone else seen a time when all teams would immediately yield the same team if given the chance?

I personally thought the mooning incident was pretty funny. It wasn't spiteful and the Linz boys seemed to like it! Remember that these are a younger generation than is typically on TAR.

I am going to have to watch this episode again (I taped it) to catch some of the little details. Why did the Weavers wear the shorts in the ice rink? Was it because their belongings were taken? Even if they were taken, are "Daisy Dukes" really necessary for this type of show? (Just re-read your post mah, totally agree).



One more thing, I didn't quite catch that whole thing that happened at the airport when Rolly and one of the Linz boys ended up on the ground. Did Ma Weaver try to get a better flight for her trouble? I'll have to watch it again.

It was interesting at the end, when all the teams were there, some of them did not clap as the Weavers came up at the end, but a couple of the small children raced to the Weaver daughters to hug them when all the teams came forward.

In this final episode, the Weavers did much less objectional behavior. Again, we'll never know if that was an editing decision.

It has been over 20 years since I was last at Niagra. Do those boats go on closer to the falls?

Keith,
The jetboats do not get "close" to the Falls. They travel upriver to the Whirlpool where it meets the water coming downriver from the Falls, hence the churning. There are also rapids prior to the whirlpool. It departs from Lewiston, New York and Niagara on the Lake, Ontario. We did the one from Niagara on the Lake which is about 20min from the Falls. Very cute little town. It is about an hour ride and they give you some interesting history before the hijinks begin. Other than the actual Falls, it was the highlight our our trip. We were completely soaked to the skin, water gear did pretty much nothing with that kind of water coming on the boat.

No, I'm not related to them. And just because someone or some group is totally disliked by the majority does not mean that hate mongering/ gloating is ever justified. Do you know how many times they used the word "hate" in this race? A lot. As in "I hate that witch."
etc.

And they constantly name-called Mrs. Weaver- someone a whole lot older than they were/are. And mooning someone with your father in the car, whooaa, that's funny and ok because they are a "younger" generation. What a double standard in judgment.

That's exactly how group genecide and prejudice started in Germany. And the Weavers were "different". The Paolos and Lenzs were both relentless in the name calling, to the point where Wally Branson asked his daughters to cool it and "stay out of it."

Just because there is a hate band wagon, doesn't mean everyone plays into that chorus.

Ironically it's the same people who think they are so open-minded that often fall for the group pecking order attack against "the other". And also categorize them- ie Pat Robertson's etc. above. The degree is different but that is exactly how it starts.

I am sorry that I lectured. It's for fun, but the fun stuff reaction here, has really bothered me. Many sects and peoples seem obnoxious to others' social manners/ sensibilities etc. and that is not a reason to start bringing out the hate flags.

If you think some of the Weavers' manners and rudeness was bad, it was actually minimal compared to the stuff we have to put up with in full view in our very mixed and diverse neighborhoods in Chicago. That doesn't mean we take up sides and they become "the other." I don't think some of you have had a lot of life experience dealing with obnoxiousness (to your own sensibilities) behavior, that we here have to put up with daily. You have to develop a whole lot more tolerance and less mouth. Regardless of what the "mouth" perceived against you.

The Weavers managed to make every other team dislike them, and may be part of the reason that the other teams all became so close.

Keith

WGN Radio talked to one of the Branson girls yesterday afternoon and was asked about the "hate the Weavers" part of the race. All she said was that when they all met for the race and they started, all the other teams were trying to get to know each other and fraternize - the Weavers stayed to themselves.

Question - the other 2 teams got "soaked to the skin", but it seemed like when they showed the Weavers in the boat, they hardly got wet - one was even wearing a hat that seemed dry. Did the editing just take the "soaking" part out?

You can't get to the area where the clue was without getting soaked... you do have a 20 minute ride to dry out on the way back... short shorts dry fast and the weavers were so far back at that point that they edited out their run through the rapids...

smokey,
I think if you are in the back of the boat, you don't get as wet. That said, I don't remember where they were sitting.

JJ5,
Lighten up! Did the posters on the forum ever say "hate"? I think most of us just didn't feel that they deserved to win. I myself just had an intense dislike for their hypocritical principals. We are all entitled to our opinions. For you to assume that we somehow live sheltered lives and that our neighborhoods aren't as "mixed and diverse" as your Chicago area, is completely wrong. I myself work in an Emergency Department in a suburb of a big not so nice city. Trust me, I see alot. That said, it doesn't mean that I like or respect everyone that I encounter that comes through the doors. Also, using Hitler as an analogy is hardly appropriate. The Paulo's may have been obnoxious in their own way, but it doesn't seem as though everyone had an intense dislike for them.

You are missing my entire point, which is PEACE!

Peace, and Happy Holiday's to all!