Amazing Race 8/4/04
 

I'm not seeing a post on this, so I'll start it.

Lance and Marshall must go. The comment on St. Petersburg having the most miserable people shows the world we do have rude Americans. Of course, the people of St. Petersburg might be misereable because they are with Lance and Marshall.

Brandon and Nicole, the dating Christians, didn't know their Bible stories to find the painting?!? While Chip and Kim had no trouble. I guess, well, I could get into a religious faith debate and get this pulled before this sentence is finished.

Still hoping the bowling moms to win, but I doubt it will happen. They seem to be having fun.

Charla and Mirna were the smartest of the bunch at the Frankfot airport to find an earlier flight. All the other teams there should have done the same thing. Also loved the scenery of when they were riding the horses/leading the camels.

Which leads to wow, what scenery. Yes, the show is in beautiful settings, but the production values are 'amazing' too.

Loved last night's show.

Mirna and Charla: Mirna didn't fail me with her weekly "run, Charla, run". It always makes me thing of "run, Forrest, run". Ugh.
Did you catch those two throwing Italian words to the travel agent in RUSSIA and the person in EGYPT??!! Double ugh!
Again, wimpy Mirna letting Charla do all the work!
Although, smart move on their part about taking the earlier flight.

Still waiting for the twins and the pizza brothers to go.

Even though I'm not crazy about Colin and Christine, I've observed that Colin is the most polite person to everyone they run into. He gives people big smiles and thank yous when getting help or asking for it. Very smart.

Chip and Kim are a bit too helpful to others. This will come back to bite them in the a**. I'm not saying they have to be mean but they need to compete. I presume they entered the race to win $1 million and not to make friends. They helped Brandon and Nicole and the twins who I think would never be that helpful in return.

And yes, Russia and Egypt looked amazing.

I like Chip and Kim but I was soooooooo ticked when they helped the twins. Its hard to tell how close it really was with the editing but maybe the moms could have gotten ahead of the twins if the Chip hadn't helped them!

I can't imagine how the bowling moms are going to do it without any money! What are they expected to do? Stow away on a plane or expect someone to pay for them? Do they at least get food or water supplied??

I also am getting tired of the rude remarks by Lance and Marshall. Talk about being an "ugly American!"

With the helping bit, I believe firmly in karma. What goes around comes around. I side with Chip on this one.

I love Mirna & Charla. I think Mirna is taking a bad rap. Don't forget that they can edit this show any way they want to. I remember Mirna making a comment in one of the first episodes that nobody was helping them and she had had enough. They had all formed alliances and these two were on their own. I have a feeling those teams saw Charla and decided to dismiss them as a team that would be gone in one week, so why bother? Well, the girls proved them wrong and now the other teams are embarassed. Except for the pizza boys who have such big heads that nothing could embarass them. I think the other teams have snubbed them and been nasty to them and we aren't getting all the facts. Just hearing them call her midget and dwarf are enough for me to believe there is more here than meets the eye. And, does anyone else catch Phil trying to control that big grin as these girls jump on that mat, clearly having a ball, and in total control of their game? They are his favorite too, you can just tell!

bugswife1 - I agree w/ you on the karma thing and Chip really is a nice guy but ... in this situation every time you help another team you hurt all the teams behind them! Now maybe the Moms weren't close enough to catch up but if they were then Chip hurt them big time when he helped the twins. If I'm being honest though I just don't like the twins much. I guess if he helped the Moms I would have been fine with it. :)

But Chip also helped that couple who got stuck in the sand when they were moving those blocks. It seems every little thing can change the outcome of these events. They cut in line, it affects other teams, they steal cabs, it affects other teams. There is no way to control the destiny. That is why this is so much fun. The Moms & the twins seem to have similar weaknesses that will force them both out. The twins are impatient and don't really stop to think things through. And even if they did, I think they make bad decisions. The Moms are patient, but do not do enough prep before making a move. They just do the first thing that pops into their heads, also making bad decisions. I don't think either of those 2 teams have enough travel skills.

Yes, Bugswife, I see that too! I bet your assessment is pretty right-on.

But I have to laugh everytime I hear, "Run, Charla, run!" and I think of Caribgirl. Boy, that must come from a lifetime of practice... What kind of situations have those girls gotten into in their pasts?! Mirna really does let her cousin do all the "dirty work," and Charla actually seems to look out for her more. I love how they never take "no" for an answer. They find the plane, they hold the camels, etc. I'hope I'm raising my kids to overcome obstacles the way they always do.

Right now Colin and Christine seem unbeatable, and I don't see anything NOT to like about them. But it's always fun to root for the underdogs, and I also love the way Chip and Kim have been pulling it together. The "help" issue is interesting. I think his wife is going to have to reign him in: "Honey, just POINT them in the right direction!"

Fun stuff last night, and great scenery. Let's just hope nobody junks up this thread to make it deletable!

I don't think Mirna is getting a bad rap, I think she deserves the bad rap! Charla could do this race without her cousin screaming at her all the time. She's a real trooper.

I too LOVED the scenery while they were on the camels.

Ooops - my post came in later than I thought. I meant I see and agree with Bugswife's feeling that the host favors the cousins! And also how the other teams failed to make any alliances with them because they thought they'd bite the dust early! :)

Actually I think the host likes Charla only. He seems a little reticent when Mirna hugs him. The producers probably told him about her crush on him. :-)

Yes - I'm hooked. The thing that keeps bothering me is how everyone ran through the Hermitage with out looking at anything! What's the point?

bardo: ...cause it's a race? hence the show's title.
:-)

Does anyone think Colin and Christine made a mistake taking the fastforward? They were so far ahead anyway and now they can't use it again. I know they have a great lead but one bad day at the airport or arriving at night and having to wait for something to open up can wipe out a lead.

Mirna and that crush! She gets so flustered around him. I love it.

Yes, Charla can prbably do without Mirna's yelling, and she definitely does more of the roadblocks, and absolutely takes great care of her cousin. But, if she were of a more normal height, would it still be as much of an issue? In every team there is one person who is stronger--look at Chip & Kim. He has done every single road block to date.

Charla has proven that she can handle the roadblocks better than Mirna. It may come as a surprise because she is so tiny, but she has the will and the tenacity of a tall person. Mirna does not see her as disabled, she sees her as her cousin and friend. When she lets Charla do the roadblocks, she is treating Charla as Charla wants to be treated--like a normal person who can do anything a normal person can. And I bet she has been that way all of her life. Mirna has never had to overcome an obstacle like that and very well may be the weaker of the two in many ways.

Last night's scenery was sensational, wasn't it? Never imagined the true size of The Pyramids and The Sphinx..wow!

I like Colin and Christine, but do you notice Colin is like every other man? When he gets lost, he places the blame on her...and then when he gets found...he did it!!

I now also like the cousins. Especially, Charla. She absolutely is not afraid to tackle anything. And, you can tell she gets excited when they are out front...and she also takes time to enjoy the scenery. I'm really not sure she needs a partner to win this.

I don't dislike the brothers...the dating Christians are boring....Chip and Kim are sensational....the twins and the bowling moms are running out steam.

My prediction....the finals will be Colin and Christie......and the cousins.

((r))((r))((r))

mcqueeney: they can't hold the fast-forward. i was a bit confused about that but it's explained on the cbs web site.

I like Mirna & Charla. Before the race started, they would have been the obvious underdogs but they have shown themselves to be true competitors and I'm rooting for them all the way. I don't care for the dating christians - boring! The brothers won't make it much longer and their anti Mirna/Charla attitude bugs me - they are just angry that M/C are beating them and come up with plans they wish they had thought of themselves.

It's a great show - makes me consider traveling to places some day that I hadn't seriously considered previously.

Oh, and I agee the leaders shouldn't have used the fast forward last night. They knew they didn't need it and now they can't use it if they should find it again and really need it. Could come back to haunt them.

thanks caribtraveler ... I didn't realize the fastforward was different this year. I've been wondering why nobody was using them!