Amazing Race: Families of Four

[Raiders Army]

Who's watching tonight? I hate that it's on opposite My Name is Earl and I don't have a VCR, TiVo, etc. I'm not sure if it looks that interesting with four person teams.

[Antmeister]

I think Dodgerchick is going to TiVo it. She would rather watch a show that she can fast forward through the commercials rather than actually watch it live.

[General Mike]

I'm gonna watch.

[Lorena]

Antmeister and I are watching the taped version... I can't stand sitting through commercials anymore.

It'll be interesting to see challenges with kids involved.

[jbmagic]

not all families will have kids on it.

[RailsFS]

I suppose it would be quicker for me to actually look for this myself, but is this the premiere? I thought it started last week, and was kind of disappointed. Oh, I'll be watching.

[Lorena]

not all families will have kids on it.

Yeah, which reminds me, how will they make it fair for all families? I figure the kids will slow some down. We'll see

[Pumpy Tudors]

Oh, boy. With kids involved, I think this edition will have the earliest puke scene yet.

(I can't watch this show)

[CraigSca]

This was a good episode for me, but purely for selfish reasons. Before I moved to Delaware, I lived in Washington Crossing, PA. Was fun to watch people completely bewildered - especially the girl who kept asking if Washington Crossing, PA was in Pennsylvania.

[General Mike]

These kids are so annoying.

[RailsFS]

These kids are so annoying.
I think the team of sisters takes the cake tho.

[Donnie Baker]

Why did they have to keep pointing out that one family's race? They kept putting it right there on the screen that the family was black. I think we could all tell that, but why should it matter. I called CBS to complain, I swear to God I did.

;)

[RailsFS]

Yeah, that was pretty bad of CBS, but did you see all those dysfunctional White families.

[ShaqFu]

I think the Family Edition idea is great, but I think they should require at least 2 participants to be under 18.

I'm also surprised there wasn't a grandparent/grandchildren team.

[digamma]

Big fan of the father and three daughters team.

[TazFTW]

I want the families that have children to be eliminated early. Well the kids on the Black family didn't annoy me but the ones on the Gaghan family do.

I would like to root on the Paolo family because one of their sons noticed the greatest team The Amazing Race has ever had, Kevin and Drew. The infighting is very annoying though.

The Weavers scream at everything.

I guess I'm rooting for the siblings and the dad and daughters teams.

It also looks like they're not going to leave the country for this race which is disappointing.

[Raiders Army]

I would like to root on the Paolo family because one of their sons noticed the greatest team The Amazing Race has ever had, Kevin and Drew.
That was great. I, too, hate the fact that they aren't leaving the country (and maybe it has to do with kids?). I missed the portions of the show because Earl was on (and wasn't as funny as last week), but I caught the intro music and noticed they changed it as the camera zooms into the plane. There's an American flag in the background. Combined with them not leaving for an airport in NYC, I assumed that they're going to stay in the U.S. the entire time. Did Phil say this on the show and I missed it?

If they do stay in the U.S., it would be cool to have the Amazing Race participants of races past to be at the challenges near where they live, like Kevin and Drew.

[CraigSca]

I'm not sure if producers pick families with annoying children or if the children automatically become annoying because they're on TV. But when that little 6-7 year old girl said on camera that she's smart and cute enough to trick adults, I wanted to dropkick her. Hurray for every family except the ones with obnoxious kids!

[gstelmack]

Bah, I'm rooting for the little girl all the way.

[mauchow]

I'm not sure if producers pick families with annoying children or if the children automatically become annoying because they're on TV. But when that little 6-7 year old girl said on camera that she's smart and cute enough to trick adults, I wanted to dropkick her.
Kids that age don't really realize what they're saying. They're told day in and day out that they're cute. Just like the little black boy, he too said he was 'kinda' cute.

When family members, random people tell kids they're cute, they're likely to repeat what they're told.

[gstelmack]

Kids that age don't really realize what they're saying. They're told day in and day out that they're cute. Just like the little black boy, he too said he was 'kinda' cute.

When family members, random people tell kids they're cute, they're likely to repeat what they're told.
Yup. My 2-1/2 year old daughter has learned the phrase "sooo cute" and has it down pat now...

[TazFTW]

I hate the screamers.

I can't believe the Gaghan family was able to complete that task when the children didn't help out and other teams were struggling with all 4 of their people helping.

Team Soprano lives to argue another day.

[kingfc22]

Yes, the screamers suck.

I'm glad that the dad did not blow it for the daughters. The one in green looked pretty good in this episode.

LOL!! "Team Soprano" :D

[General Mike]

The dad with the 3 daughters is worthless.

[TazFTW]

And Boston is eliminated early...

It looks like Team Screamers are also Team Psychotic. It will be interesting when they go to Talladega.

The Bransens get free gas for a lifetime for coming in first. With the way Phil said "licensed drivers", I'm thinking that Arco was hoping for a team with kids to win.

w00t! Waffle House!

[mauchow]

That elimination really bothered me. There was nothing that team could do to win. It was a matter of luck and whoever stepped up to the stupid challenges first. I hate when this crap happens, it really ruins it for me. Basically everyone lined up for the challenge and obviously the last team to go through the challenge is out; that's the way it went. Why not have one more travel length rather than run through a space camp. wtf.

[TRO]

So far, worst Amazing Race ever.

[gstelmack]

That elimination really bothered me. There was nothing that team could do to win. It was a matter of luck and whoever stepped up to the stupid challenges first. I hate when this crap happens, it really ruins it for me. Basically everyone lined up for the challenge and obviously the last team to go through the challenge is out; that's the way it went. Why not have one more travel length rather than run through a space camp. wtf.
The only thing that kept me from agreeing 100% with this was that the Gaghans still almost caught the Paolo family. But that required a family of runners chasing after the "almost 60-years-old" (heh) mother. Otherwise, yeah, it was all about who got off the bus first, as the last team to get on the second bus finished first out of that group.

I guess the assumption was the car ride from the bus to the space facility was the "race" part of this, but given how bunched up the teams were I think this backfired on them. Maybe the timing ended up off, and they expected everyone to get there during normal daylight hours when traffic would have spread everyone out more?

[Wolfpack]

I don't see how that could be the case because the busses took off at pre-determined times (3:00 PM and 5:00 PM, if I recall right). Based on a quick Google driving directions check, the distance from Charleston to Huntsville would take around 12 hours, so they'd be getting there in the pre-dawn as the show indicated. Unless one of the buses broke down or they hit a massive traffic snarl in Atlanta or something, it pretty much meant they'd be getting there with no one else around. I was actually surprised they had the place open that time of night. Usually, it's one of those types of things that they love to bottleneck everyone with by putting up some fake sign that reads the place won't open until 10 AM or something like that.

[Barkeep49]

This season stinks. I think I'm through watching it.

[CraigSca]

The whole family orientation (and no age limit to the children - some being in their 30's while others are 8) paired with the fact that they're staying in the US for the duration makes this the least interesting Amazing Race ever. :(

[gstelmack]

I don't know, my wife and I are having fun watching it. But then I guess we identify with the Gaghans and are rooting for them. I've never seen a team have so much FUN doing the race. They're actually deciding which part of a roadblock to do based on which one the kids think will be more fun. We're also enjoying the "Tour of America" approach.

Except for the end of this last leg, the only other bit that has annoyed us is that the Paolo's haven't been knocked out yet.

[kingfc22]

That elimination really bothered me. There was nothing that team could do to win. It was a matter of luck and whoever stepped up to the stupid challenges first. I hate when this crap happens, it really ruins it for me. Basically everyone lined up for the challenge and obviously the last team to go through the challenge is out; that's the way it went. Why not have one more travel length rather than run through a space camp. wtf.
Yea, I kept thinking to myself that this HAD to be a non-elimination leg because the task could only be done one at a time and there was no way a team could overtake another team.

So the Bransons and the siblings are still alive.http://dynamic.gamespy.com/%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif I really didn't want to see Boston go.

I thought the Weaver's were just pissing off the viewers, but it looks like all the other teams can't stand them as well. Next week should be very interesting at the race track as I can't imagine what that would be like.

[kingfc22]

Except for the end of this last leg, the only other bit that has annoyed us is that the Paolo's haven't been knocked out yet.
Heh, I like watching them self-destruct.

[gstelmack]

Heh, I like watching them self-destruct.
Except that they haven't actually self-destructed yet. They're still in this stupid thing no matter how hard they try to get knocked out.

[TazFTW]

"It's one of the 5 Great Lakes." :rolleyes:

I think the Weavers nuttiness is contagious.

The dad with the daughters just seems to mellow. Like an older, chubbier Ned Flanders.

[Thomkal]

The family from Louisiana was on the morning news show on CBS today. They lost everything in Katrina, and all the other families in the game have supported them with money, supplies, etc. I believe they are staying with or near another family from the game.

[gstelmack]

Man, last night was almost my last show watching this season. Glad the Gaghan's came through so I can watch again next week. They are the saving grace of this season as they are just having so much more fun running the race than any other team.

Sad to hear about the Schroeders (the family from Louisiana). That's the second time they've had a team get lost in their own neck of the woods (first time was the Paolos from New Jersey getting lost right off the bat in Manhattan).

[kingfc22]

Ugh. Can the Weaver's please just lose already and that sucks to hear about the Schroeders.

[TazFTW]

Hmm, the dad works for the "sanitation department", the mom wants to kill their son, they are indeed Team Soprano.

I think this was the first time a team thought it was a non-elim, put on the extra clothes, and guessed correctly.

[Wolfpack]

Now what are they going to put those clothes in is what I want to know. They lost their bags on top of everything else. They can't really dress up like Michelin girls going forward, either. I'm guessing they bum some money and buy a cheap bag or trash bags or something.

[gstelmack]

Now what are they going to put those clothes in is what I want to know. They lost their bags on top of everything else. They can't really dress up like Michelin girls going forward, either. I'm guessing they bum some money and buy a cheap bag or trash bags or something.
Every other team in this situation has found a bag. That shouldn't be a problem. And four hot blonde women begging for money? I don't see this as being much of a setback for them...

I still love the Gaghan's attitude. Just pull ahead of one team at a time. They missed the fast-forward and still avoided last place.

[Subby]

I am really pulling for the Gaghans - I think its remarkable that they have gotten as far as they have...

[CraigSca]

Man, last night was almost my last show watching this season. Glad the Gaghan's came through so I can watch again next week. They are the saving grace of this season as they are just having so much more fun running the race than any other team.

Sad to hear about the Schroeders (the family from Louisiana). That's the second time they've had a team get lost in their own neck of the woods (first time was the Paolos from New Jersey getting lost right off the bat in Manhattan).
Interesting. My wife and I are rooting for the Gaghan's to lose because we can't stand the precocious little girl. To each his own, I guess.

I'm finding it hard to root for anyone this season. At least they've finally taken the show out of the U.S. - it was my impression the US was the theme for this one.

Ratings-wise, AR has really hit the tank, coming third in it's time slot. Note to the network: "No more families, please!"

[21C]

Yeah, I'm finding it hard to get into this season although I'm rooting for the Paolos now. I started off hating them but now I love to laugh at them.

This is almost the exact same reaction I had to Teri and Ian from TAR3 - the one that Zach and Flo won. They just finished showing this series on a cable channel here and I absolutely loved it even though it was the second time around for me. Ian was as obnoxious as anything and I wanted to see the back of him as soon as possible but in the end I couldn't get enough of him - he was always good for a couple of laughs every episode. I always got a good laugh at the opening credits when the two of them are standing on a boat and do a sideways turn to camera at the same time.

http://www.realitynewsonline.com/images/ar3ianyell.jpg

[TazFTW]

"Do you think you could run faster?"
"Don't you think I would if I could."
"Crap."

Team Soprano rules!


Nice to see all the teams want to get rid of Team Screamer.

[sachmo71]

:( for little girls crying.

[gstelmack]

:( for little girls crying.
Oh, go easy on her. 9 years old and she held up great during the race. Not sleeping well, not eating well, I thought she was in remarkably good spirits for a young girl that age. No temper-tantrum, no open bawling, despite losing that leg. That's actually a pretty well-behaved young girl.

Wait'll you have a little girl at home, it will change your whole outlook on this race.

[TazFTW]

Nooooooo! Team Soprano got whacked. :(

"Put on extra clothes in case this is a non-elimination"
"Another team is coming."
"Run"

http://images.dvdtalk.com/images/smilies/lol.gif It wasn't that hard to do the math. 5 teams left, 3 SUVs parked when you arrive.


Weavers: "we're the only ones trying to live a Christian life" :rolleyes:

That one Weaver girl who said they felt all alone and that everyone was against them and they didn't know why.

http://images.dvdtalk.com/images/smilies/violin.gif

[gkb]

I'm actually happy to see Team Soprano go, they drove my wife and I nuts.

We both shook our heads at the Weaver's comment about "the only ones trying to live a Christian life" as well. I don't remember the previous episodes very well and as a result I'm not sure what, exactly, triggered such dislike for the Weavers, but I'm hoping they're the next to go.

I was disappointed to see them back in the U.S. again. This is only the second season of T.A.R. I've watched and I'm still enjoying it, but I liked last season a lot more.

[sachmo71]

Oh, go easy on her. 9 years old and she held up great during the race. Not sleeping well, not eating well, I thought she was in remarkably good spirits for a young girl that age. No temper-tantrum, no open bawling, despite losing that leg. That's actually a pretty well-behaved young girl.

Wait'll you have a little girl at home, it will change your whole outlook on this race.


1. I was going easy on her. It made me sad.

2. I believe she was a very nice little girl.

3. I have a little girl at home. Goto 1.

[gstelmack]

1. I was going easy on her. It made me sad.

2. I believe she was a very nice little girl.

3. I have a little girl at home. Goto 1.
Sounded like you were mad at her, not sad. Sorry.

[sachmo71]

Sounded like you were mad at her, not sad. Sorry.


no worries. just wanted to set the record straight.

[gstelmack]

Weavers: "we're the only ones trying to live a Christian life" :rolleyes:

That one Weaver girl who said they felt all alone and that everyone was against them and they didn't know why.

http://images.dvdtalk.com/images/smilies/violin.gif Agreed. My rant for the week:

The Weavers are one of the types of Christians that give the rest of us Christians a bad name (the other ones are the fundamentalist evangelicals that are trying to take over the Republican party, but I digress). They are such hypocrites! Saying you are a Christian does not make you a good person superior to everyone else! You are supposed to actually LIVE a Christian life. Living a "Christian Life" does not include:



Picking on a family because their father is a garbageman. Who is going to pick up your trash if not him?
Nicknaming teams "The Desperate Housewives" or "The Cleavers" or "The Brady Bunch"
Defacing pictures of the other teams while stuck at a Yield.
Badmouthing all the other teams while stuck at same Yield.
Throwing trash at the car of another team.
Just a few examples off the top of my head. They are complaining about the other teams doing to them exactly what they are doing to the other teams! Wake up and smell what you've been shovelin'.

Enough rant.

[TazFTW]

BS. A yield and there was no elimination? Now the Weavers have another episode to annoy me. :mad:

[sachmo71]

Agreed. My rant for the week:

The Weavers are one of the types of Christians that give the rest of us Christians a bad name (the other ones are the fundamentalist evangelicals that are trying to take over the Republican party, but I digress). They are such hypocrites! Saying you are a Christian does not make you a good person superior to everyone else! You are supposed to actually LIVE a Christian life. Living a "Christian Life" does not include:



Picking on a family because their father is a garbageman. Who is going to pick up your trash if not him?
Nicknaming teams "The Desperate Housewives" or "The Cleavers" or "The Brady Bunch"
Defacing pictures of the other teams while stuck at a Yield.
Badmouthing all the other teams while stuck at same Yield.
Throwing trash at the car of another team.
Just a few examples off the top of my head. They are complaining about the other teams doing to them exactly what they are doing to the other teams! Wake up and smell what you've been shovelin'.

Enough rant.

Nor comparing themselves to Lance Armstrong. You can ask for God to help you tie your shoes, drink a coke, and all of the other things they invoke the divine guy for, but not even God can't turn that chunky butt into a champion!!

[kingfc22]

Agreed. My rant for the week:

The Weavers are one of the types of Christians that give the rest of us Christians a bad name (the other ones are the fundamentalist evangelicals that are trying to take over the Republican party, but I digress). They are such hypocrites! Saying you are a Christian does not make you a good person superior to everyone else! You are supposed to actually LIVE a Christian life. Living a "Christian Life" does not include:




Picking on a family because their father is a garbageman. Who is going to pick up your trash if not him?
Nicknaming teams "The Desperate Housewives" or "The Cleavers" or "The Brady Bunch"
Defacing pictures of the other teams while stuck at a Yield.
Badmouthing all the other teams while stuck at same Yield.
Throwing trash at the car of another team.
Just a few examples off the top of my head. They are complaining about the other teams doing to them exactly what they are doing to the other teams! Wake up and smell what you've been shovelin'.

Enough rant.

You are spot on. I can not believe that this past leg was a non-elimination. I was so happy that they were finally going to be booted.

[TazFTW]

:sigh: Last week was a non-elim and now this week was a to be continued. Will they get rid of the Weavers already?!?!?

What is with the cameras on this race? This is the second ep where one team was slowed down because the camera drained their car battery.

[gstelmack]

What is with the cameras on this race? This is the second ep where one team was slowed down because the camera drained their car battery.
I know, and it's the second time it's taken a team from the front of the pack to the back. I understand when they do the "roll the dice" bits with some boats faster than others, better taxi drivers, etc, but when your own production people are screwing up and potentially costing a team a million dollars, well, maybe you need some new production people.

And to have it happen TWICE? Don't you think they'd have taken steps after the FIRST incident?

[AgustusM]

I was pissed last night - I really like the Linz family, they seem like "normal" people and I agree 100% on the roll of the dice comment - that is part of the game, but there should be some kind of protection against the friggin camera guy messing up your race.

the dad and 3 daughters are fine

the sisters annoy the hell out of me especially the one that always cries about everything,

but good god good rid of the weaver family - the comment above about the "christian life" deal is dead on. it has always been a pet peeve of mine when people "pray" or ask god for something like winning a game, or getting a nice can of soda. I have hit my knees every night in my life and it has always been in thanks and the only thing I have ever asked for is health and happiness for my loved ones.

I hope they see themselves on TV and realize what asses they make of themselves, but I sincerly doubt it.

[gstelmack]

I was pissed last night - I really like the Linz family, they seem like "normal" people and I agree 100% on the roll of the dice comment - that is part of the game, but there should be some kind of protection against the friggin camera guy messing up your race.
The more I think about it, the more I wonder why, in this day and age of cell phones and communications, they can't "pause" the race (have everyone stop) while they fix something like this caused by one of their own people.

[tdydynasty]

Let me get this straight:

November 29-no pit stop (4 teams left)
November 22-non-elimination (4 teams left)
November 15-no show (4 teams left)
November 8-elimination (4 teams left)
November 1-non-elimination (5 teams left)
October 25-elimination (5 teams left)

This means that the Paolo family is the only team eliminated since the end of the October 25th show. I guess this is to build the drama I guess.

[Subby]

dear jesus please let the weavers be eliminated next week in your name we pray amen.

[kingfc22]

Yea, if that had been an elimination leg would they have really booted off the Linz family? That seems way too harsh for a mistake made by the CBS crew and not by the contestants.

[Subby]

I feel bad for Rollie - he would have been a cool kid but now he will turn into a fat bitchpig like his horrid sisters...

[Subby]

Priceless moment was when Weaver Mom referred to Lake Pontchatrain as one of the Great Lakes...

[kingfc22]

I feel bad for Rollie - he would have been a cool kid but now he will turn into a fat bitchpig like his horrid sisters...
ROFL

[TazFTW]

The cop should have arrested them. The Godlewskis were very annoying this episode, good riddance. Hopefully, the Weavers will not win it next week.

I also can't wait for them to go back to groups of two. Interesting experiment but meh.

[kingfc22]

I think I will cry if the Weavers win. Please NO!!

[sachmo71]

I think I will cry if the Weavers win. Please NO!!


Impossible. God really doesn't like them. He told me.

[digamma]

The cop should have arrested them. The Godlewskis were very annoying this episode, good riddance. Hopefully, the Weavers will not win it next week.

I also can't wait for them to go back to groups of two. Interesting experiment but meh.
And get out of the freaking U.S. I watch the Amazing Race because it's supposed to be an "amazing" race around the world, not a road trip/scavenger hunt I could do with my own family.

[gstelmack]

And get out of the freaking U.S. I watch the Amazing Race because it's supposed to be an "amazing" race around the world, not a road trip/scavenger hunt I could do with my own family.With some of the younger kids they have, I'm glad they stayed close to home. Just not sure how some of those kids would have handled some of the places they've been. And my wife and I thought it cool that they finally did a "tour of America".

But I'm also in agreement that while this was interesting once, it's time to return to the tried-and-true formula again.

[gkb]

I think I will cry if the Weavers win. Please NO!!

I don't want to see them win either...although last night I was hoping the Godlewskis would go; they grew more and more annoying as the show went on.

I'm hoping the Bransons win. :)

[TazFTW]

Go Not-Weavers! CBS.com also had a mini challenge for an SUV between the 2nd and 3rd place teams.

In even better news, they're going back to the normal Amazing Race in February.

"We're girls. We're cute. And we like boys."

http://images.dvdtalk.com/images/smilies/wavey.gif Welcome back normal Amazing Race.

[Booj]

I'll tell ya one thing.... it was wierd seeing them go to Montreal, and hilarious hearing them try to pronounce Stade Olympique...

Also, I found it funny how on the clue they had CN Tower in French even though they were in Toronto!

Oh, and yes, I do love to go log rolling. We meet every Saturday after the hockey and curling games.

[Pumpy Tudors]

HAY GUYS IS THIS THE STAND OLYMPIC???

[sachmo71]

Hey, it looks like Jesus and God let the Weavers down!

[kingfc22]

Glad to see the Linz and Branson families finish 1-2. :)

[Flasch186]

Hey, it looks like Jesus and God let the Weavers down!

Jesus and God are two seperate things IMO only one of them let her down :)

[JonInMiddleGA]

In even better news, they're going back to the normal Amazing Race in February.

Probably a very good idea:

http://medialifemagazine.com/artman/publish/article_1852.asp

Adding celebrity couples to CBS’s “The Amazing Race” worked splendidly last season, spurring big ratings. Adding families this year had quite the opposite effect.

Last night’s two-hour season finale of “The Amazing Race: Family Edition” averaged a 4.6 overnight rating among viewers 18-49, down 31 percent versus the 6.7 overnight rating season seven’s finale earned last spring.

“Family Edition” averaged a 4.2 overnight rating among 18-49s through 11 episodes this season, off 21 percent versus the Rob and Amber season.

“Family Edition” was also off compared to the last non-Rob and Amber season of “Race.” Last night’s 4.6 overnight for the finale was down 12 percent versus a 5.2 for season six’s finale last fall.

Viewers never warmed to the family format, with one common complaint being the challenges weren’t as exciting as past editions of “Race.” People also did not like having kids on the show, a frequent gripe about reality TV.

Last night’s episode was the highest-rated of the season, and up 24 percent from the 3.7 overnight rating the show had averaged over its previous three episodes.