Thanks to the generosity of another TWoPer, I'm in temporary possession of season 3 and have watched the first 5 episodes so far. My new philosophy of life is: WWJD (What Would Jill Do?)

Just this morning, I was doing some housework and having some trouble with something. My first instinct was to call up to my husband for help, but I told myself: Don't be the Flo, be the Jill, and I did it myself. Thanks, Jill. And Mr. Lu thanks you, too.

Yes, Jill can teach us so much. And don't forget John Vito...he's more than muscles, you know.

Don't be the Flo, be the Jill...we gotta make bumper stickers with that. Inspired!

Mmm . . . cheese . . .

Holy words to live by, Batman!

That's totally going to be my next* tatoo, Babalu. Right underneath "I was told there would be no math."

(*And by "next," I of course mean "first, as I am big ole commitmentphobic chicken." *squawk*)

that's one of the most 'original way of thinking' I've heard in such a long time. and I'm going to try to live by it.

I'm surprised this hasn't been reported before:


--Reality Check magazine, Issue 1, p. 42 [bolding mine]

I know the Fine Living special has been mentioned before, but the engaged status is new to me. So was there an announcement here that I missed, or is this just another misreporting?

I'm sorry if this was mentioned in previous versions of this thread and if Miss Alli mentioned it in the recaps (because I haven't read them in a while), but John Vito reminds me of The Rock. Both are good looking, nice, smart guys as opposed to say Vin Diesel who lacks charisma IMO.

Anyway, wouldn't it be a cool gift for John to get one of Glark's 'My Girlfriend' etc. tees? Also a 'My Boyfriend etc' for Jill. Because although those two are sweet I wouldn't want to mess with them.

In the off chance somebody from Staten Island reads this: in Monday's Staten Island Advance, they had a photo from a golf tourney in the memory of Frank Thomas Aquilino, who was lost in the 9/11 attack. The photo was of two of his friends, his parents, Jill, and John Vito. For the record, the Aquilinos are about as tall as Jill, and JV was the tallest guy in the pic. Wish I could find a link to the pic.

Also, after reading the aforementioned clip, I e-mailed them. Nope...not engaged. Not just yet.

And it was great seeing them at TARCon...but I feel that goes without saying. Bonus: JV wearing a "Tramal" nametag in honor of the guy who couldn't make it.

You mean to tell me there is a reason to buy the Staten Island Advance? Who knew? I'll see if I can track down a copy. Thanks for the heads up.

[OT] Lantern, would you email me about how you took the express bus home from TARcon? I didn't think there was a late night express bus to SI.[/OT]

More reasons to love these 2?

When spotting them at TARCon, I approached them and said, "Hi guys. I met you at AndrewCon; I don't know if you remember." And Jill, beaming, cried out, "Of course we remember you!" As though it hurt her feelings that I didn't expect her to remember a bunch of crazy Internet people that she met months earlier for a very brief period of time.

And that is why they are the epitome of class. Of course I'll remember them for years to come.

God, I'm almost all choked up just thinking about it. LOVE. THEM.

This was my first time meeting them, but I must say I can understand the LOVE. What terrific people!

They've always remembered me too and always seem just as happy to see me as I am to talk to them again. Definitely great people!

They remind me of a coworker (let's call her Carol... since that's her name) that I used to have years ago. Me & another coworker (let's call him Don) used to theorize that since Carol was so nice that she must have some demonic side to her that we don't know about, because otherwise she would be a perfect human being. So John Vito & Jill must be bank robbers or purveyors of spam or litterers or something... because otherwise they're totally perfect human beings. And we can't have that. ;)

During an episode of TAR3, Jill has an interview (a voice-over, actually) in which she speaks about John Vito. The first quality she notes is his kindness to her. Which, as Miss Alli pointed out in her recap, is a really wonderful thing to be able to say about your boyfriend.

Like Kenny & Gerard, they have a wonderful knack for making you feel like you are the only person in the room when you say hello to them at a TARcon. It's hard to describe the blast of positive energy you get from them both, particularly Jill.

I'm guessing y'all have long since checked out their interview clips at cbs.com -- the clips make me both happy and really sort of miffed (still! And after several seasons!) that they didn't beat Teri & Ian to the mat in Singapore.

That is so true, DoubleTee, about their particular vibe. They're two of the nicest people I've probably ever met, and they do indeed have nothing but a giant, glorious glow of positive energy everywhere they go. They're just awesome. Probably never see another team quite like 'em.

And I don't think it's laying it on too thick to say that you almost never meet people in your own personal lives quite like 'em, either.

And, Miss Alli, your recaps really get quite a handle on Jill's really great spirit, in terms of perseverence, optimism, etc. They gave me a whole new appreciation for her than I would've gotten by just watching the show itself.

I feel like I could write a whole book about how much I love them. I almost have already, just in these past few posts.

I will make it to TARCON one of these years.

But, just rewatching some of the old eps. and reading the recaps really reinforces my opionion about JVJ. Not only are they an adorable couple, but they seemed really, truly gracious, even in defeat, which is something to say.

They definitely rank up there with Davie and Margaretta as one of my favorite TAR teams ever, as well as one of the Teams I would most like to meet.

Hey I've been googling these 2 for the past ummm days and does anyone have news on them?

I was really sad that they didn't show to the last Tarcon. I hope they know that just because many of us like Jon and Kris that it doesn't deminish our JVJ love. My fantasy Utopia would have the four of them, Chip and Kim and Don and MJ as starter families to repopulate the earth. Of course there would be a forcefield around the Utopia preventing Jonathan and VIctoria and thier desendants from ever entering.

I was also sad that I didn't hear anything from them at TARcon, and I hope they're still very together because I was a big fan of them during TAR3

Word to your fantasy, MDKNIGHT!

Bumping this up, since their season starts airing on GSN tomorrow night. Maybe it's because I'm from Staten Island just like them, but these two are worth watching. They weren't the best Racers, but they were two of the nicest. Think of them as a precursor to TAR6's Kris & Jon. Also, Jill is basically impervious to any obstacle in her way, and you gotta love that.

The love returns tomorrow night. Cannot wait.

I suppose this is literally true, in the sense that if one compares them to the very best of all the seasons, there have been a few stronger teams. But they're still awfully good, as well as lovely and fabulous people.

(Give them a couple legs to bloom, though.)

And, she glosses up for Phil. Can't forget about that.

I'm from Staten Island, too, and even went to the same high school as John Vito (different years, of course). My love for them is more than just borough and school pride, though. As already mentioned numerous times, they seemed like the nicest people in the world, and were always classy throughout their run. And who can forget the cheese? Seeing the task that Chris and Alex had to do for their FF in TAR2 just annoyed the hell out of me knowing what John Vito and Jill had to do for theirs.


Could we add Danny and Oswald for the hell of it?

Ah yes, my all-time fave boy-girl couple. Classy all the way!

Yawn, never really liked them, sorry. Thank God I have most of the season's original run on tape so I could skip it if I feel like it.

ah, I haven't seen their season or heard of them...
but their name reminds me of Don Vito and Phil.. from Viva La Bam [Bam Margera's uncle and dad] ... Its so.. SIMILAR.

I think they were one of the most surprising teams to me because their pre-race info seemed...unappealing and they were tossed in a season of so many male-female teams. But I loved them and they are just as lovely in person.

At least I'm not the only one. I don't dislike or hate them, I just never got all the love for them.

Edited to move post to episode thread

I keep forgetting to mention this, but Jon Vito reminds me so much of Daniel Sunjata. Damn IMDB's no photo available - look at him on the Rescue Me site - he plays Franco.

I'm starting to like them but still not up to love. However, they are far better than most of the teams in this season.

Someone who saw it the first time around, do you think some of the love came from the closeness to 9/11 and the general feeling of mourning we all had at the time?

I can only answer for me and that would be no. I don't think the closeness to 9/11 had anything to do with my love for them. My love came (and still comes) from their mutual respect and teamwork. Plus, as I've said elsewhere, Jill is probably my favorite female TAR competitor. The love started with the Highland games and was solidified on last night's episode where Jill totaly bites it running to the detour and jumps up quickly and keeps running. My love for JV started with his admiration of Jill and was solidified with his pure joy at stopping the soccer goal with his face. They are just a joy to watch!

I'd have to say "no", too. In fact, during my first viewing of TAR3, after the first episode I completely forgot about the 9/11 connection. I'm sure the fact that, as Miss Alli points out in the FAQs, they never mentioned in after the first 10 minutes of the season helped. I guess, in the back of my mind, I always knew that one of the teams had mentioned a 9/11 connection, but I didn't remember which one. I really was under the impression that it was Andre and Damon. It wasn't until watching various interviews after the race that I remembered Jill and John Vito's story.

JVJ were never my favorite team in TAR3 (Ken and Gerard have always held that distinction), but they ranked right up there. Jill rocked!

Regardless of whether it affects the love, does anybody know whether Jill's brother was a firefighter or worked at the WTC? I'm just curious -- neither case would be more tragic than the other -- but am afraid to go to the CBS website (since that spoiled me on the TAR2 winners and thus may have ruined the excitement for the finale). Also, one of my best friends is an NYC firefighter (who, fortunately, lived to tell about it).

JV & J seem a bit more working class so I was thinking firefighter -- though some of those guys do make it to Wall St. -- and I think many firefighters do live on Staten Island. (As the NYC Fire Dept. head said at the time, heaven must have a great fire department right now.) But then I see above that JV is a bond analyst (to TAR3 newbies like me, don't peek or you'll get spoiled), so maybe that's how he met Jill (i.e., by meeting the brother at work).

strategery This is the direct link to the bio. There's nothing that gives away the ending, but just in case you get tempted, here's the info you're looking for:

Here you go strategery; it is from the cbs.com website:



ETA: Looks like mtlchickie beat me to it!

Much obliged, mtlchickie and mystic80. I'd forgotten about the devastating losses incurred at Cantor Fitzgerald. I guess for me this does increase the love. I'm getting a tear just thinking about it.

ETA: Well said, Rinaldo. Very very very sorry if I even seemed to imply that 9/11 sympathy has to equal JVJ love or the converse (or I guess it's the contrapositive). This is just a damned race, after all. And I'm not saying that you were saying I said this -- or whatever -- I just didn't think. Dobby will go punish himself now.

Likewise speaking purely for myself, I offer another "no." In fact my love for them very definitely came in spite of the 9/11 connection. Not (I hope I need not specify) that I don't take their loss seriously, or have anything but deepest sympathy for those who lost loved ones that terrible day. But it seemed expoitative of the tragedy for this to be their "hook," and I had unwelcome visions of "sister and friend of 9/11 casualty" being splashed on the screen every time they showed up (alas, I think TAR7 very nearly went that route with the P.O.W. rubric). Plus, as Miss Alli posted at the time, how do you snark on someone with that kind of association?

Instead, it was never referred to after the first 10 minutes of the season, it turned out that the two were dating and clearly very much in love, and they were a source of joy and energy with their enthusiasm, kindness, and abilities. All my love for them comes from what the two of them show onscreen. (And also have in person at the TARcons they've attended, I might add.)

Not me. It was totally her attitude toward the tasks, her partner and the race in general which was a stark contrast to whiney-butt Flo and her cry and quit attitude when things looked bad and her "aren't we just so great" attitude when things went well. Tiny little tough Jill was completely different and that brought the love.

I remember a great deal of concern on the boards about how CBS would use the information about the brother's death as the race progressed, but after the mentions in the first episode, that was it.

It's interesting to compare/contrast how TPTB do not seem to have urged J/JV to talk about her deceased brother vs. how they pummeled Ron with POW questions. I guess they decided against being tactful, unfortunatley...
(yes, They aren't they same things, but in terms of CBS explioting someoones personel trauma, I just think it's interesting)

After seeing them back on tv, I am reminded of how much I liked them. So calm and collected compared to the spazzes Aaron and Arianne. Anyone know if these two are still together?

Ken mentioned on TARflies that "John Vito and Jill are still great friends but not together since last year".

Still don't like them at all. They aren't hot, they are boring, I just don't see what there is to be hooked by. Sure i don't hate them, but they fall more into the forgettable bracket for me.

I think the love is based on a few things.

1. Jill is right up there with the top female racers in all of TAR. (Face plant; highland games)

2. They are eminently respectful of each other and fellow racers.

3. They don't complain or do anything obnoxious.

4. They seem to suffer from bad luck more than bad racing.

I'm seeing them for the first time now, and they haven't really gotten much screen time. This is probably because they don't do anything obnoxious and they don't have the self-conscious fabulosity/voyage-of-self-discovery that some other popular teams have had. By all reports, they are lovely people in real life.

Not together? I can't see it! The really seemed destined.

I feel horrible for what they went through with her brother. The same as I did for Ron and his POW status. They are all heroes in my book.

I think she kicks butt like no other.

However, I'm still not feeling the love. They're just in the middle to me.

I had totally forgotten, but what did it for me was her BFF status with Flo.

While they do seem like very nice & competent people, I'm just not feeling the love either. In fact, I was kind of surprised when I came to this sight and there was all this love for them because they hardly registered any reaction from me at all. OTOH, it did take me a while to start loving Kris & Jon in season 6. But Jon's comment about her being "hot" while doing the salt task won me over for them.

I liked them okay but didn't really feel the love the first time around, but rewatching this time I was surprised at how much I'm enjoying them. I think it's her willingness to do anything in front of her without complaint, their support for each other (such as last night, when even though Jon Vito was the last person by far to do the shoot-the-apple roadblock, when he finally hit it she simply responded, "Good job!), and their respectful way of treating each other and everyone around them. I'm finding myself absolutely adoring them this time. Surprised myself how much. So obviously, you never know.