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Archive through September 30, 2005

The TVClubHouse: Amazing Race ARCHIVES: Amazing Race VIII: General Discussions: ARCHIVES: Archive through September 30, 2005 users admin

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Tabbyking
Member

03-11-2002

Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 12:18 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tabbyking a private message Print Post    
and, yep, the appaolo doesn't fall far from the tree!

Yankee_in_ca
Member

08-01-2000

Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 12:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Yankee_in_ca a private message Print Post    
OK, here are some more of my random thoughts:

* Black family -- They were so sweet and kind to each other. Lucky boys. Older boy looked just like dad, younger boy looked just like mom. But man I just wanted to make them HURRY UP! I was sorry to see them go.

* Gaghan family -- I liked them and admired their ability to work together. So far, I don't get the sense that the kids are robots, programmed, entitled, or creepy (some of the things ppl have been saying about them). I was actually impressed that the girl could run a 7-minute mile.

* Paolo family -- Horribly difficult to watch. I have known families like this -- they are "yellers" -- i.e., they always yell everything they say, so the yelling becomes a way of communication -- almost normal. HOWEVER, the comments ("stupid" "retarted" etc.) from the boys were completely over the top, and the parents are certainly enablers. I cringed whenever they were on.

* Weaver family -- I was scared when that buggy ran over the mom. I was proud of her for getting up and going on. Thank goodness she ducked her head! The daughter's driving with her leg up and open in her short-shorts bugged me, though :-)

The rest? Some bugged, some didn't. Oh, the pink shirted sisters really bugged. PLEASE stop screeching!!!

I didn't mind this episode as much as I thought I would -- however, two things I'm not fond of so far: 1) 4-person teams make it difficult for you to get to know all the characters, 2) I'm going to miss the completely different countries/cultures, which was always a huge draw for me.

Oh and P.S. -- I'm a huge fan of the show, but have only been watching since the last 4 or so AR seasons, so I had no idea who Kevin and Drew were until I came here!

Tabbyking
Member

03-11-2002

Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 12:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tabbyking a private message Print Post    
kevin and drew were probably one of the top-liked teams ever in TAR history. i remember them going on rosie and some other shows after they were off...they were such a hoot and there were some classic lines attributed to them!

Roxip
Member

01-29-2004

Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 1:29 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Roxip a private message Print Post    
Julieboo...by the way, by no means are you wasting your time/money. No matter what your state requirements are it is a proven fact that booster seats save lives. If I could wrangle my 8-year old, 70 pound, 4'2" daughter back in one I would!

I liked the Black family too, but the difference between them and the other family with small children (Gaghan?) is that the parents did not have near the physical fitness of the other family. Of course I was hoping the Paolo's would be the final team but I guess we will have to listen to them for a while longer. Maybe they will get lost in Pennsylvania and we will never hear from them again...you think?

For some reason I really like the Linz family. They cracked me up because they really related like brothers and sisters. I was beginning to think, though, that the brother & sister riding in the buggy were never going to take a turn at pushing.

I think there are too many people to keep up with...hopefully it will get easier as they whittle down. However, I'm not sure how well we will get to the know the "personalities" of the individual players with 4 to a group. When people are isolated in groups of 2 it seems easier for individual idiosyncracies (and isn't that what we all love to see?) to show up!

Mamie316
Member

07-08-2003

Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 2:07 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mamie316 a private message Print Post    
Roxip, I liked the Linz family as well. I hope they do better this next week.



Jasper
Member

09-14-2000

Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 2:14 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jasper a private message Print Post    
Quite a funny article below.

Blood tries harder than water
Kids, parents team up in Amazing Race


VINAY MENON

The Amazing Race returned last night with a concept so horrifying it could lower North American birth rates.

Two words: Family Edition.

Have you ever been trapped in a car with a cranky toddler who keeps asking, "Are we there yet?" Imagine having to answer, "No, sweetie, still 30,000 miles to go."

This season, team size has doubled from two to four players. And each squad is now made up of people who share a familial bond.

Think of it as a family vacation. You know, one with fierce competition, tense pressure, gnawing anxiety, cryptic clues, physical challenges, an unknown itinerary, omnipresent cameras, and a $1-million prize.

The contestants range in age from 8 to 57, though only two of the 10 teams feature children who, truth be told, don't seem very child-like.

Contestant Carissa Gaghan is 9 years old. She can run a 7-minute mile.

"I might be small but I am not stupid," she says. "I can trick any adult that's trying to trick me."

A career in Washington surely awaits.

Austin Black is 8 years old. He speaks with the scripted self-assurance of a Hollywood veteran: "I think people are going to help me because I have a good personality and it doesn't hurt that I'm kinda cute."

Gosh, they grow up so fast these days.

The eighth season started in New York, with cyborg-host Phil Keoghan drifting aimlessly around landmarks as the families sped toward the Brooklyn starting line in yellow water taxis.

The teams stampeded through a park like a herd of spooked wildebeests. They collected backpacks, mumbled encouragement, climbed into shiny SUVs, and screeched blindly toward SoHo as if it was an exotic village in sub-Saharan Africa.

Some of them asked blank-faced New Yorkers for directions. Others leaned out of their idling vehicles, cajoling strangers and begging for city maps; the Big Apple was suddenly beset with giddy roustabouts from the heartland.

One contestant, Mark Schroeder, made a number of peculiar comments while in the company of wife, Char, and two kids from a previous marriage, Stassi and Hunter.

While racing toward the Brooklyn Bridge, he said, "Too bad we don't have any handicapped children we could push into traffic to block traffic."

Charming. Mark probably starts his day by blow-torching small animals.

Another team, the Weaver family, applied to be on the show after a real-life tragedy; Mr. Weaver was killed two years ago after being struck by a racecar at the Daytona International Speedway.

Last night, in a rather unsettling scene — one that was potentially laced with grim irony — widow Linda Weaver was run over by an Amish buggy she was pulling down a hill.

Fortunately, Linda collapsed in the fetal position, allowing the oversized wheels to rumble safely past her head, a close-call that was repeated in slow motion.

There was plenty of rah-rah patriotism in the premiere. In a salute to the Revolutionary War, one challenge involved crossing the Delaware River in a rowboat to retrieve a 13-star American flag.

Sadly, though, the contestants never left America, a disappointing new start for a show that's established itself as a fascinating travelogue.

There were also moments of unintentional comedy.

Tony Paolo, who is racing with wife Marion and sons DJ and Brian, talked about life as a sanitation worker: "I am living the American dream and it's unbelievable."

And get this: the only contestants of colour are, ahem, the "Black family." In one scene near the end, the jubilant family overlapped their hands and shouted, "One, two, three ... Black family!"

Between the surreal image of them in matching tie-dyed shirts and the on-screen descriptor — "Black Family" — I spit out my martini laughing.

It will be interesting to see how fans react to the changes, including rumours the total travelling distance and faraway destinations has been cut to accommodate the larger teams. (The show was also shot in the summer so the precocious kids wouldn't miss any school or, say, future auditions.)

The Amazing Race, which just won its third Emmy for best reality show, is arguably the best unscripted competition on television. But, for some reason, it operates with a weird inferiority complex.

While other "reality" shows continue, season after season, with minimal tweaking, The Amazing Race is constantly reinventing itself — from game changes (the Yield) to modified rules (non-elimination legs) to stunt casting (Rob and Amber) to this revamped Family Edition.

These changes may give ratings a boost. But they run the risk of alienating purists who made the show a success in the first place.

Here's the thing: you probably shouldn't fix something that's not broken.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
vmenon@thestar.ca

Additional articles by Vinay Menon



Wahmmy
Member

07-24-2005

Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 3:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wahmmy a private message Print Post    
I wish that the Paolo family would have had a little more "screaming time". Gee, need a little more reason to drown your offspring?

The Black family were a pleasure to watch, laid back and enjoying, and those young boys, feeling so dejected, but with such a strong sense of family and pride! I was choking back as much as those kids were!

Their parents are raising very strong kids!

Nickovtyme
Member

07-29-2004

Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 3:50 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Nickovtyme a private message Print Post    
It was telling the way that Mr. Paolo let his sons speak to their mother that way.

My dad would have knocked me out.

Wahmmy
Member

07-24-2005

Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 3:51 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wahmmy a private message Print Post    
No kidding!

We would have been knocked into the garage!.....the neighbor's garage!!!!!!!!


Maris
Member

03-28-2002

Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 5:21 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Maris a private message Print Post    
The father seemed so quiet that I am guessing that the boys learned that behavior from dear old Mom and dear old Mom probably talks to dad like that. Time will tell.

Twiggyish
Member

08-14-2000

Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 5:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Twiggyish a private message Print Post    
Love the show. The historical aspect of the show (Washington crossing the Delaware) was interesting.

I agree about the Paolo family. I've also known people like them..acck.

The Pink Ladies annoy me for some reason. I see a lot of competition there among the sisters.

My favorite family has to be the widow with the kids. I think she's got a great attitude.

Riviere
Member

09-09-2000

Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 5:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Riviere a private message Print Post    
Correct me if I am wrong ~~~ wasn't it a Paolo teen who said "can ya hurry this up!?!" while watching the flag folding ceremony??? You talk about disrespect.. Then mom dropped the flag and the clue racing back to truck.. Bad karma!!!

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 5:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Riv, it was the mom who said that and the kid actually said something to her about it...

Nickovtyme
Member

07-29-2004

Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 6:35 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Nickovtyme a private message Print Post    

quote:

The father seemed so quiet that I am guessing that the boys learned that behavior from dear old Mom and dear old Mom probably talks to dad like that. Time will tell.




I didn't even look at it like that, Maris. You may be on to something there...I did notice that the sons didn't talk to him that way; maybe he's used to it.


It is only the first show, but in the previews for next week, they showed her breaking down...maybe this will be good therapy for them.

Beruthiel
Member

08-07-2000

Thursday, September 29, 2005 - 12:27 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Beruthiel a private message Print Post    
Team I'd like to see leave next: the Bratboys and parents! I don't know about blaming the mother, seems to me the father should have opened his mouth and told them to have some respect or at least, reminded them that they were being filmed and were looking like total jerks.

It was a shame to see the Black family leave so early, they were such a welcome contrast to the Paolos.

Regarding the US tour this year, I'd think that it's a good idea considering the dangers out there for youngsters in the rest of the world, and there should be a plethora of interesting homegrown places, sights, and events to take advantage of for the show. I'm looking forward to getting a closer look at some interesting things from the US.
I know, for example, that I could have spent every vacation of my whole life in the British Isles, and still not have seen all of the historical sites, beautiful scenic areas, cultural places of interest, etc., and that's true of any country one might care to name.
The US has a shorter history but a vivid one, and so many wonderful places of varied natural beauty that it should be a good season wherever they go, and it will be a great learning experience for the youngsters taking part.

Alisons
Member

01-10-2003

Thursday, September 29, 2005 - 9:14 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Alisons a private message Print Post    
I liked the Gahgans, the father with the three (stunning) daughters, the brothers and sisters and the father with the three sons-in-law. I couldn't STAND those pink sisters. I was totally irritated with all the shrill screaming. I don't recall that type of thing in any of the previous races.

It was a shame about the Black family. At first I thought that they were referring to their ethnicity when they called them the black family, and I really did a double take - then I realized it was actually their name. However I was glad to only be treated to one day of tie-dye.

Karen
Member

09-07-2004

Thursday, September 29, 2005 - 12:43 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Karen a private message Print Post    
Nick / Maris: Don't forget, though... there was the one scene in the back of the car when Mom started going off to Dad about some *ahem* personal tidbits of their married life. Something along the lines of having put up with his sh!t for 15 years now and she's getting sick of it and if he doesn't smarten up she's going to leave him once they get home...

Totally paraphrased, of course, but I remember watching that part thinking, Oh my God. That's a little personal for national television, isn't it?

Maris
Member

03-28-2002

Thursday, September 29, 2005 - 12:52 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Maris a private message Print Post    
Yep Karen and judging by what I have seen of the mother she doesnt strike me as the type who has kept her mouth shut for 15 years. I have seen a family just like hers and the mother's nickname was "Buster". I am just saying, I am betting that we will get a good look at the mother and see what is what over the next few weeks (hopefully only one more)

Karen
Member

09-07-2004

Thursday, September 29, 2005 - 1:24 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Karen a private message Print Post    
The only thing I got out of Mom Paolo was that she had absolutely NO IDEA what she had gotten herself into, and on many, many instances in just the first leg, looked like she desperately wanted to be anywhere BUT on the Race.

Quite telling that out of ten teams, only the Paolo son recognized Kevin and Drew from TAR1. Hmm, I wonder who's idea in the Paolo family it was to sign up for the race. Not Mom's, that's for sure!

Good point, Maris, about Mom doing all the squawking... I didn't even think about that, but the more you review Dad's attitude, the whole sit-and-take-it-like-a-man, he probably is used to hearing her go on like that. Like she wants to be the agressor, but play the victim. . I hate women like that.

Twiggyish
Member

08-14-2000

Thursday, September 29, 2005 - 1:24 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Twiggyish a private message Print Post    


Loved the father-in-law and sons-in-law, too. =)

Kittyab
Member

07-16-2005

Thursday, September 29, 2005 - 2:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kittyab a private message Print Post    
Ok, who else loved the hotdog guy? Me & dh were laughing over his comments!

Ladytex
Member

09-27-2001

Thursday, September 29, 2005 - 3:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ladytex a private message Print Post    
of course we loved the hotdog guys! It was Kevin and Drew from TAR1

Puzzled
Member

08-27-2001

Thursday, September 29, 2005 - 8:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Puzzled a private message Print Post    
I think they're going to Canada, too. I hope they go to Quebec. LOL--the highways around Montreal are a nightmare.

Students come from around the world to see the amazing mess so they won't repeat it.

Another joy of Quebec roads is that you can't trust North (N), South (S), West (O), East (E), because the directions are for where the road starts and ends.

So, the road may eventually meander North, even though most of it goes East or West and the road is marked North (N). LOL.

Dona
Member

06-21-2005

Friday, September 30, 2005 - 9:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dona a private message Print Post    
I didn't like the Gaghan family, the father and his wife reminded me too much of Jonathan and Victoria.

I think the Paolo family need to go, and I have a feeling that the reason the father never says anything is because the mother doesn't want him to. I know families where the kids talk to the mother like that and if the father tries to say anything to the kids the mother jumps in and tells him to stay out of it. It's like the mother doesn't want the father to punish the kids.

I like the Father and Daughter team, the Father-In-Law and Son's-In-Laws and the brothers and sister.

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Friday, September 30, 2005 - 10:18 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
Dona, in what way did the Gaghan family remind you of Jonathan and Victoria? I saw nothing that even vaguely resembled Jonathan and Victoria. The husband and wife were nothing but cooperative, supportive, and respectful toward each other.