224 replies to this topic

[TWoP Roxy]

From zap2it.com:

A team hopes for a lucky break after making a potentially game-altering mistake; the contestants wear revealing swimsuits during a detour task.

[torreador]

LOL, I've been waiting an hour to post because the show was on early because of the AMAs, and I hope I remember everything:

Firstly, as soon as they had that train bunch so late in the episode, I figured it was a "to be continued" or non-elimination leg. At the end, we only saw one team check in and they got a prize, but I can't see them eliminate someone at the beginning of an episode.

I think Bill and Cathi will be getting a penalty: she was supposed to use the map on the tire, but she stopped and got a hard copy map. And they looked pretty good, but they don't have any sense of hitting the poses, particular Bill.

So the snowboarders can't do any challenge involving them performing, but don't suffer any kind of motion sickness. Unlike most of us. I'd be barfing before the first ride came to an end.

Wonder if Cindy and Ernie will get a penalty for riding the train without a ticket? Or because they did pay for one, they'll be ok.

Edited by torreador, Nov 20, 2011 @ 9:07 PM.

[jessied112]

I hope Ernie and Cindy get a penalty for losing their tickets. Nonetheless, I am actually rooting for them to win. Hearing more from Ernie has made me realize that I really do like him and want to see more of him. Cindy I could do without but she's not as bad as Larry (RIP)

Amani and Marcus, you both have officially made it to my team number 2 favs. They finally captured my attention, so good for them.

Bill and Cathi are cute but I reckon that they're goners. I thought they would be the second they appeared on screen.

Jeremy and Sandy...I'm still on and off with them.

I like the Snowboarders, though at least they've finally been starting to show some weaknesses. Looks like they're not strong actors or have much confidence. I can't tell which one's which but the one guy during the body challenge seemed very uncomfortable. That challenge was literally all about confidence and if you had it, then great. If not, then you might be screwed.

All in all, ok episode. Loved that it's a TBC leg. It gives more opportunities for the teams to switch up, but I hope that J/S go home. I'd rather them at this point than any other team.

[tgrfan23]

I think Bill and Cathi will be getting a penalty: she was supposed to use the map on the tire, but she stopped and got a hard copy map.

I think it's more likely that if they'll be penalized, it will be for jumping the taxi line.

I want to go to LEGOLand so hardcore. I love theme parks.

[enlightenedbum]

That suuuuuuuuucked. Subjective tasks with a mid-leg bunch and a non-elimination leg (implied).

Also, making people go to Legoland and not letting them do anything interesting there would make me the grumpiest racer.

[Camo]

There can't be rules that permit racers to take transportation when they're not ticketed, right? That seems so fucked up. And so fucked up for Cindy particularly (I loathe her), calling others 'super shady' for not sharing info, but it's good behavior to get on a train without a ticket? Doesn't matter if you've paid for it; such a worldly, accomplished person would, one thinks, know that. How fucked up.

[bandita]

Would they have had this body building challenge if a big pasty white pot bellied person was there????

Snowboarder looked like the least muscled guy of the bunch.

Maybe there were some shenanigans on that train..as in all the film crew say...all these passengers bought tickets, etc.

And the reason they were checked on the first train was to build the drama.

Edited by bandita, Nov 20, 2011 @ 9:31 PM.

[Bad Thoughts]

That was bogus! I've ridden many of those ICEs, including between Cologne and Brussels, and not only was my ticket always checked, so was my passport (which required my ticket).

[Arekuru]

Yeah, when they were going through three countries, I was like, it's got to be a TBC. And then they showed Cindy, and she was talking about being glad the leg was over, and I was like, it's got to be a TBC. And then Phil was at the matt with no greeter, and I was like, see? It's a TBC. But then he didn't however Amani and Marcus, and they won a prize and they were greeted by the band member, and I was like, wow, that's surprising. Huh.

And then it was a TBC.

Well played, Amazing editors. Well played.

I was almost as uncomfortable as the racers when they were first getting into the bikinis and speedos, but once they actually started doing the challenge I liked it. The panel took it very seriously, and the crowd was really into it. Also loved the dapper theater critic. All in all, a very good leg.

[twinmom]

Would they have had this body building challenge if a big pasty white pot bellied person was there????

Or if the couple were Conservative Christians.

[LadyEight]

I think I'll have to start going back over to the Biggest Loser thread, because there is no way I look anywhere near as good as Kathy in a bikini, and I'm nowhere near her age. Doing that would have terrified me!

[Lantern7]

Damn . . . I misjudged the time, and I wasn't expecting the next leg to start so soon. I think that's the mark of a good episode.

In regards to the bodybuilding task . . . it should be a Detour option, not mandatory. If I was racing, I'd probably wrestle the clue away from the judges, go to Phil, and announce that I would take elimination or a 24-hour penalty rather than showing my stuff. The ten remaining Racers looked good, and that was at minimum. If it turned out Worldrace monkeyed with things last episode to ensure Larry & Zac got eliminated, I wouldn't be too surprised. Larry in Speedos? Yikes. Or maybe we're talking about magic Belgian swimwear that makes anybody look good. But if I have to take part in a task inspired by Jean-Claude Van Damme, I'd rather travel back in time by ten years, because that would be so much easier.

For anybody in southern California . . . is Legoland a fun place? Nice idea to put the Racers on the local version of the Disney teacups, though there wasn't a glorious vomit shot.

Roadblock: is this the first memorization task of the season? I think that's not the case. Wouldn't be surprised if everybody was required to go into poses, like they would do later in the episode. Or maybe it's a natural way to let the memorized words flow from the mouth.

I'm guessing that Ernie & Cindy will have to take a penalty for getting away with a free ride. I also figure the cameraman who caught the ticket on the floor is going to get a nice Christmas bonus.

This is a good final 5. I think everybody belongs, and the remaining episodes are going to be sweet. I'm also thankful Amani & Marcus are still racing, from the stellar posing to the highlight from last week with Marcus trying to coax the bunny over the finish line.

ETA: Phil in swimwear . . . and he hasn't won the Emmy for Best Host why, exactly?

Edited by Lantern7, Nov 20, 2011 @ 9:34 PM.

[Cazzer]

I loved this leg and seeing Phil shirtless made my night!

So happy to see Amani and Marcus arrive at the pit stop first.

is Legoland a fun place?

I went to Legoland last year and had a great time.

Edited by Cazzer, Nov 20, 2011 @ 9:36 PM.

[culturevulture73]

I knew the snowboarders wouldn't have trouble with the teacups since they do lots of tricks with rolls and going upside down but I would have thought two people who are in a judged sport that depends on performance would be better at the bodybuilding

That TBC was so wicked - argh!

Phil posing was hilarious - bonus points for the eyebrow!

Note to self - if ever cast for TAR, waxing is part of prep!

Edited by culturevulture73, Nov 20, 2011 @ 9:33 PM.

[DavidK93]

I, too, really want to go to Legoland now! When Sandy was on the verge of being sick on the pirate tilt-o-whirl, did anyone else notice a little blonde girl walking past her in the background, apparently giving a quizzical look at the distressed American lady?

I was impressed by how good pretty much everyone looked in the posing outfits. Especially Cathi, Ernie, and Jeremy--and of course professional athletes Andy and Marcus. Tommy is too lean for me. But Bill has impressive arms. And Bill and Cathi's trainer was just gorgeous.

I may be a bad person, but when Amani was calling out for their driver, "Martin," all I could think was, "Damn, Gina!"

I think Cindy and Ernie will be okay, penalty-wise. The rule, to my understanding, is that the the provider of transportation has to be satisfied. Cindy and Ernie boarded the train without tickets, but with the good-faith intention of explaining their situation to the conductor if necessary. And they did purchase tickets, so the provider of the transportation was paid exactly what they expected even though they didn't bother to verify it while their passengers were on board. What I wonder is, since none of the tickets were checked, did any of the teams get refunds for their "unused" tickets? And would that be permitted? As a frequent train passenger on the Baltimore-DC corridor, I will freely admit that I've done that in the exact same situation.

Edited by DavidK93, Nov 20, 2011 @ 9:36 PM.

[Haleth]

Amani is quickly becoming one of my fav racers ever. I love how she methodically rocks every task. No drama, just quiet focus.

I don't think Cindy & Ernie should be penalized. They purchased tickets, but if no one on the train was there to collect them, then they lucked out. Also, getting cabs on the street instead of waiting in the queu shouldn't incur a penalty either since the drivers were willing to pick them up. Didn't all the teams do this so they'd all get the same penalty?

How mortifying would it be to have to stand in front of a catcalling crowd in a teeny bikini? And be judged? <shudder> Not unlike some nightmares.

Edited by Haleth, Nov 20, 2011 @ 9:39 PM.

[sinycalone]

Have they ever eliminated any team at the end of the first leg of a "to be continued" set of legs? I'm wondering if they were just playing some mind games with the preview....because I didn't see Cathi and Bill in it.

Actually, there were several instances where a penalty might be imposed: the taxi line jumping (although there was a team in Finland in season 10 that did just that -- but I don't recall if they were penalized or not.) Riding the train without a ticket (although someone got a shot of their tickets on the station floor, so technically they have proof of a sort that they did purchase the tickets). And Cathi buying the map when she was supposed to use the map on the bike.

[DavidK93]

Oh, also, shirtless Phil is always a plus. And this episode gave me flashbacks to my one and only case of motion sickness, throwing up after riding the tilt-o-whirl at the Kiwanis Carnival, c. 1992. It probably didn't help that I had also ridden the Gravitron--twice--immediately before that.

[Lamb18]

I think Hamburg train station had the first real clue box this season! Also, go Bill and Cathi!!! All you have to do is smile and you've got it! I hope they don't get eliminated.

This was an entertaining leg--lots of tasks, stress, race order changing, etc. I think everyone jumped the taxi line, not just Bill and Cathi. Cindy and Ernie lucked out that no one checked their tickets from Cologne to Brussels. Also that they didn't have to run their tickets through a machine when they got off in Brussels. (I've had to do that in Europe.) Since they paid for their tickets they didn't exactly cheat, but . . . it's questionable.

If Bill and Cathi go out, then Marcus and Amani will be my favorite team. Amani was so cute as she was smiling away up there. So what if she has a few extra pounds? She could have been self-conscious but she just glowed. I keep imagining how their kids must be reacting as they watch the show. For example, they would have been yelling "Yay Mom!" as she aced the poem.

Jeremy posing in his speedo showed more sense of humor than he has all season so far. I think he needs a different partner.

[etagloh]

In the abstract, I like the TBC format here -- the next-gen TBC with a Pit Stop and prizes -- but it has to be a NEL and a Speed Bump for the last team after that bunch and that hyper-subjective task. Perhaps it was done this way to bulk up the "[number] countries" at the very end, or perhaps equally to ensure a mass bunch, but it's nice to get a sense of how Europe joins up: 175 miles from Billund to Hamburg, 300 miles from Hamburg to Brussels.

This was Amani's episode, I think: nailed the memory test, held her stomach at Legoland, kept Marcus focused during the bodybuilding, endured countless bad NFL analogies.

That challenge was literally all about confidence and if you had it, then great. If not, then you might be screwed.

Nicely foreshadowed by the poetry reading: "more drama!". Odd that the extreme sportsters, who you associate with style points, seem not to be able to showboat when it's called for, and the bodybuilding judges were definitely rewarding lack of self-consciousness.

Would they have had this body building challenge if a big pasty white pot bellied person was there????

Laurence would have been there, but for messing up on the way to the Pit Stop, and I don't think he's the sveltest or most bronzed.

[bandita]

I don't think Cindy & Ernie should be penalized. They purchased tickets, but if no one on the train was there to collect them, then they lucked out

But they didn't follow the requirements. I don't know the current rules. But for example, in the 90's I was going from France to Italy...or maybe it was all in France. They told me I could have my ticket punched on the train. But once I was on the train I got fined because it wasn't punched. Cost me the money I was saving by not having to purchase a hotel room since it was an overnight train. I felt like I was being set up.

[Arekuru]

And so fucked up for Cindy particularly (I loathe her), calling others 'super shady' for not sharing info, but it's good behavior to get on a train without a ticket?

I'm reasonably certain when she said that she just meant that Lawrence and Zach clearly had info on another route, not that they were horrible people for not sharing it or that she was morally superior.

[tgrfan23]

Roadblock: is this the first memorization task of the season? I think that's not the case.

Have you already forgotten the task at Confucius Temple?

Or if the couple were Conservative Christians.

I would bet good money that this is part of Tommy's discomfort with the task.

[mwolf]

I think Amani had a Detour clue in her hand after the bodybuilding task.

I don't understand how B&C "ran out" of a map. Did they not buy one? If so, that's poor racing.

I knew the snowboarders wouldn't have trouble with the teacups since they do lots of tricks with rolls and going upside down but I would have thought two people who are in a judged sport that depends on performance would be better at the bodybuilding

But they're not acting/showing off their body when they're competing; they're showing off tricks -- tricks they're comfortable with. This was clearly something they're not comfortable with.

Roadblock: is this the first memorization task of the season?

The first RB of the season at the temple was memorization.

[JessieQ]

I missed the resolution of Ernie and Cindy's missing tickets. What happened?

Forget a 24-hour penalty; I would rather be shot and left to die in the streets of Calcutta before showing my bikini-clad bod on television.

[DavidK93]

JessieQ, no conductor ever came to check tickets on the Cologne-Brussels train.

Oh, also-also, the pirate employee at Legoland was adorable! He kind of reminded me of my server last week at Piratz Tavern in Silver Spring, MD, which is an awesome place to down a few tankards of grog.

Edited by DavidK93, Nov 20, 2011 @ 9:43 PM.

[tgrfan23]

I missed the resolution of Ernie and Cindy's missing tickets. What happened?

In a word: nothing. The conductor never came to check tickets.

[enlightenedbum]

I missed the resolution of Ernie and Cindy's missing tickets. What happened?

No conductor on the second leg, so they escape unharmed.

[JessieQ]

In a word: nothing. The conductor never came to check tickets.

Well, isn't that special... I thought they were goners for sure!

[speedroc]

I really enjoyed this leg. Even more since my team came in first. Bill is in excellent shape for a man his age I must admit.