Marrion: Just to give you a little background. It is a show that starts out with eleven teams for two. Each team has a relationship ie. dating, married, brother/sister, best friends etc. It is a race around the world. The teams are given a small amount of spending money for cabs, buses etc that they must delegate as they see fit. Airline expenses are covered. They are given instructions to go to different places and along the way they must perform tasks with a local flavor ie. finding Evita Peron's cemetery, traveling by zip line across scenic canyons, etc etc. The last team each week to check in at the final "pit stop" of the race is eliminated. The first team to return home wins one million dollars. It is a lot of fun and if you love to travel, it is a great way to find new places to add to your "I have to go there" list. :)

I am so sorry that the father/daughter team was eliminated. One mistake on the airline booking did them in. He had real courage to continue after his knee injury on the opening leg. I only wish it had been the pizza brothers that went down instead of them.

UTHorns81: I agree with you wholeheartedly. My favorite moment of the show this week came from Charla's cousin Mierna who was more concerned about fixing her hair to see Phil at the pit stop than driving her car down the road.

We want to see the cousins gone ASAP! I am liking the bowling moms more and more--although they are kind of low profile, they seem very good-natured and fun-loving. They aren't glamorous, but they aren't whiners or blamers, either. I'm rooting for them at this point.

Has anyone else noticed that they no longer seem to be giving away the vacation prizes for the couple that comes in first on each leg? That would seem to decrease the incentive to come in first on any given week.

They gave a prize out to the first person at the end of the first leg of the race. During the first season, they did not give much out at all...a few digital cameras and one trip I think. Hopefully the incentive to increase their lead will be enough to get them to the finish line first. I like the internet dating couple too. They do not complain and seem to have a great relationship.

I'm rooting for the midget.

"My favorite moment of the show this week came from Charla's cousin Mierna who was more concerned about fixing her hair to see Phil at the pit stop than driving her car down the road."

I agree - that cracked me up! :) I also liked when Phil pointed out to the twins that they didn't need to swim to the pit stop - everyone else just walked across.

I had forgotten about the twins "swimming" to the check point. I bet that made Phil's day. The kids that were with him to greet the racers sure seemed to be enjoying it.:)

They gave out the vacation on the first leg and last year they really only gave out the vacations towards the end of the show. It was like the last 4 episodes, everyone in 1st place got a trip. I'd want to be in first place no matter what but that would be inticing to me!

Is it possible to have Mierna win and not her cousin? Does anyone else find Charla to be very, very annoying? The pizza brothers have to go, they are jerks. I haven't taken a liking to anyone yet so I am not routing for anyone team in particular.

I love the little person, Charla and her cousin. I think they have guts. They know that they have to really stand up for themselves and be pushy to get ahead because they are going to lose in a foot race every time. Those pizza brothers are so annoying. I was thrilled when he had to eat all that chocolate and watch the other teams run out the door ahead of them. Rofl.

I too like the little person, but not her cousin. I think the cousin is too much of a drama queen.

I was sad to see the father/daughter team get eliminated, but I was amazed at how close they came to not being eliminated - they made up some serious time on that leg. And I think that the dad had some great things to say about his daughter.

I think the pizza brothers are in trouble next week. The cousins look like they're going to be around for some time. What they lack in speed they make up for in guile, guts, and smarts.

Pizza boys must go, it is so tacky that they drove by the cousins and yelled the "B" word! Cousins really seem to be having a good time.
Hubby and I think we could do it! Could anyone else? How do you get time off work?

I think my husband and I would do well in the race. Getting the time off work would definitely be an issue though.

Have they ever shown anyone on the Amazing Race with a camera to take pictures? I haven't. If you can't take a camera, there's no way I could do it.

Donna

I was sorry to see the dad and daughter team leave too. It took a lot of guts to keep going when he got his leg torn up on Santa Monica Pier and I loved his comment that he wasn't stopping, "I'm a marine!" Loved seeing the pizza guys stuck at the chocolate factory while everyone else took a couple of chocolates and immediately found the white one. Disappointed in the bowling moms for trying to sabotage the dad and daughter team with the currency exchange misinformation.

We applied for AR5 but we weren't picked. :( We were going to have "Met on the internet" for our description and then they picked some OTHER couple who met on the internet! Sheesh! It seems that a lot of couples are not picked from the people who send in applications but are "recruited" at specially arranged events. There is a lot of discussion about this on the Television without Pity site. We still think it would be really fun and that we could do it without attacking each other.

I love Amazing Race, it's so cool and fun to watch. I really dislike the pizza brothers. They are such jerks. How immature was it to yell the "B" word to the cousins? Whatever. I was so glad he was stuck munching on chocolate! The cousins are funny and it amazes me what the little cousin will say to people to get help. I also really enjoy the bowling moms.

dwoodliff - I'm with you. If I couldn't take a camera, I'd never be able to play in the game! All those beautiful places and no Kodak memories?!?!

Does anyone know how to apply to the show to be a contestant? I have looked numerous times on cbs and can't seem to find any info on becoming a contestant.

They have had info to apply for AR7 up on the website.

I just hate that the internet dating couple got eliminated last night. He never had a negative thing to say and was always wanting to stay positive. The Russian restuarant road block was something to behold. I was surprised at all the men that deferred it to their partners. Russia looked so beautiful...cold but beautiful. :)

I watched the show for the first time last night. Not bad...but I can't believe that eating caviar was that big a stopper.

Yes it was a large quanitity, but come on. "I think I'm going to pass out"

Question, what if a team finds faster transportation that doesn't have room for the camera crew?

Keith

I also am so disappointed that the internet dating couple was eliminated. I wanted them to win!

And I can't understand why eating the caviar was such a huge deal. Yes, it's salty, but it's not poisonous and it's not a bug, dead or alive!

Keith, LOL re the camera crew!

I am sooo sad about the internet couple! They were my favorite team!!! I was hoping at the end it would be a non-elimination and then I heard the voiceover and I knew it was over!!

It seems like this season the challenges are more sedate--less outdoor, country specific activities which bums me out a little.

I cannot imagine eating two pounds of any food in one sitting!

I think they are trying to even out the competition a little more. There are no teams of 2 young "alpha males" and so far the challenges don't really require being young and/or really fit.

I have to give Charla credit for being a trooper - she did a good job with the caviar and really gave it her all carrying the beef. There was a nice article in USA Today about her yesterday.

Charla is a trooper, but her cousin isrude and horrible.

ttt

I agree. Charla carries that team and her cousin is very rude. As far as the caviar eating goes... Just think of two pounds of anything much less a very salty appetizer that should be eaten in small portions. I couldn't eat a 32OZ. steak much less 32 oz of caviar. I have no idea how your body would react to so much salt in such a large quantity of food. Maybe the combination of the vodka from earlier that day and salt did her in. :) As far as the outdoor challenges go, I think as we get farther along in the race, we will see more of them.

My son said that he was listening to ESPN radio this morning and the two frat brothers team from New York from Season One were commenting on the race. I just loved them. I will have to start listening each WEd. morning so I can get their take on the race. They said that they don't like the pizza brothers and that Charla's cousin is VERY rude.

I couldn't agree more, Charla is just like Bush, a real trooper, when he's not an a**.

A friend taped the first few episodes for us while we were on our own road trip and now we are totally hooked. (Just what I need, another addiction!)

Can't stand the pizza boys, the twins, the models, or the cousin. Moms are having fun, at least, and not a fight yet. Sorry to see Dad/daughter and internet couple go -- they seemed like nice folks. The black couple seem to have a really nice relationship, too.

We watch it and figure we could SO ace this thing, with all our travel experience. We know about things like asking locals for help, checking on other airlines to the same destination, and, duh, how to read a map. And I could whip my way through 11,000 chocolates with no problem at all! (The caviar was a bit much, but we sushi fans should be able to scarf it down.)

On the other hand, a 20-hour bus ride to BA followed by a gazillion-hour plane ride to St. Petersburg? Ugh. No thanks. Do they allow you to bring your own Ambien? (OMG, I would NEVER be able to pack for this trip! The horror! The horror!)

I'm charmed by Charla and Mirna both. I think they both are good-hearted considering that they are in a competition, and I love that they always take a minute or two more than the other teams to enjoy where they are.

Hey Marilyn, welcome back!

Hubby and I were talking about the same thing last night. The contestants don't seem to have traveled much - you never hear them saying that they've been to such-and-such airport or city before.

We wondered if they purposely keep off seasoned travelers - I think it would be more interesting to see some of the people on this board in the race, using all the travel savvy they have accumulated over the years.

Hi Lisa -- I agree! If I got on the show the first thing I would do is learn how to say "There's a little extra for you if you get us there quickly" in about 10 different languages.

One of my favorite teams was during the second season I think. They were from Miami and instead of running around trying to work travel plans out, they would just walk to the five star hotels and ask the concierge to help them. It worked every time. They were never in a hurry and never had a bad word to say. They came close to winning.

I think you are right about keeping seasoned travelers off this season. In the past they have had several couples that had massive travel experience and savvy. I am just glad that the series is doing well in the ratings and hope it will continue for a long time.

I would also love to see an "All-Star" season with some of our favorite teams from the past like they did with Survivor but I read that the producers were not interested in pursuing it.

I hate caviar! I would have had a hard time eating that. Also, it does seem like the challenges aren't as interesting this season.

I just printed my application for AR7. It is due 8/11. They don't give people much time to get everything together. My wife and I would love to be on the show. Not so much to win the money but for the travel/experience. I hate trying to put together the videotape.

I actually met Kevin & Drew from season one when I was in New York a few years back. They were very cool.

To me, it seems like they are spending a greater amount of time in airports compared to past seasons.

apseals - you are talking about Team Cha Cha Cha. Those guy were great.

Go to www.cbs.com. The AR site has videos of stuff that doesn't make it on the air. Phil talks about the kind of contestants they pick.

You can look at this season's teams and see a definite resemblance to previous teams. But, I don't think that rexemblance has panned out in appeal this time.

I met one of the Survivor's recently. The producers told this person that should selection for Survivor not work then person and spouse would be perfect for AR.

Flypet: You are right. I loved those guys. I am hoping that as this season goes on, I will start rooting for one team over the others. But with my luck, when I finally connect with one, they are eliminated. ie. the father/daughter team, and the internet dating team. Oh well.

apseals,

I LOVED those frat brothers from season 1. They came in second place, I believe. The team that beat them were so full of themselves... made me sick that they won.

And Team Cha Cha Cha... my next favorite team from all the AR seasons.

Charla is one heck of a trooper. I think Mirna is actually holding her back in the race sometimes. But I couldn't help laughing when she ran into the electric fence last week.

Heidi from Survivor Amazon is from my area... she said on a radio interview once that she actually applied to be on Amazing Race with one of her male relatives (father or grandfather), and the producers turned them down because they were too travel savy, or some excuse like that. But they told her that Survivor would be interested in just her as a contestant. That's how she got on Survivor.