The Amazing Race 15

[AGDee]

I'm like that with spiders too. I know I couldn't go on those shows. Last night, it was raining and the dog wanted to go outside. I opened the french door to let her out and, as I was closing it, saw a huge spider drop down on a string and it was just hanging there, in front of the door. When the dog wanted to come in a few minutes later, I tried to see where the dang spider had gone and couldn't see it anywhere. I'm still a little freaked out that it may have found it's way in out of the rain. Ugh! It was big, an orb weaver.. ugh!

[jojapeach]

Oooh! That's AWFUL! I'm only spooked by huge spiders and those that spin huge webs. I'm constantly looking for huge webs when I step outside in yard or my parents' yard because I've seen them connect from a tree to the bushes.

Q: Are there any remaining contestants that you either hated, loved, or had no opinion about, but now you've changed your minds? I now realize I had no opinion of Meghan & Cheyne (love his name), but now Cheyne's hair is just...annoying, and Meghan's control freak is just as annoying since she hasn't relaxed very much.

[ADqtPiMel]

Originally Posted by Jen

I was in awe of Dubai. I miss last week's episode, so I'm so glad I got to see some of Dubai in today's episode. I would LOVE to go to that Atlantis Resort!

The one in the Bahamas is very nice, and much closer than Dubai

I've been wanting to go to Dubai ever since some of my collegians went for a leadership program last year and I saw their pictures. So cool.

[AGDee]

I really like the Globetrotters, the poker players and the brothers. All three teams are fun. I like that some of them help each other. I was wishing someone would help the Globetrotters with the watch thing though! Or that they would overhear other teams. It seemed like other teams said the answers fairly loudly. It must seem that way due to microphones.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I was actually thinking that the Globetrotters talking trash to her like that would make her get pissed at them and go down the slide to spite them. That's probably how I would react. A sort of "f you, I'm doing this" reaction. But, that's the rebel in me I guess.

I actually thought the same thing, which is why if I had been Big Easy, I'd have kept my mouth shut. And I have to admit, I still love the Globetrotters and I know it's a race, but I though the trash talk was a bit over the top sportsmanship wise.

I think the reality is even if she had gone and Canaan had followed her, she still would have been freaked at the bottom. The Globetrotters could have pretty easily gotten down the slide and to the mat before Mika and Canaan, I think.

Canaan certainly did not handle it well at all, but sheesh. She was way beyond reasoning with. I watched it over a few times -- it was hard for me to tell whether he was really pushing her toward the slide or whether he was just trying to hold her (for comfort or support?) and her strong reaction made it look like he was pushing her. I don't know, but either way, he didn't help things.

ETA: Canaan said he was pushing her a little. From their interview at Reality News Online:

RNO: Mika, have you seen The Amazing Race much before you went on it?

Mika: Yeah, I’ve watched – and, yeah, I knew that there were heights and water challenges! You know, before going on the race, Canaan had tried to teach me how to swim. So, we had practiced that, I guess. I honestly thought that being there in the moment, going for a million dollars, I could do these things for a million dollars.

But when it came down to it… It was like, “I guess I’m just myself. I am scared and I tried my best, but it just didn’t work out.

. . .

RNO: Canaan, looking back on it and knowing that Mika wasn’t actually going to go down the slide, do you wish you had given her a little shove?

Canaan: Well, see, I did push on her. Unfortunately, I wasn’t allowed to do it – but I did push until I couldn’t anymore. Yeah, I tried my best to push her down – and that was the arrangement from the beginning. I told her going into it, “I’ll push you down or I’ll throw you over – whatever I have to do!”

RNO: How did you feel about that, Mika?

Mika: Oh, I don’t know what I thought! I was just like, “Oh, whatever.” I didn’t really think about it at the time. Then the time came and I was like, “Oh my God!”

They also said they were up there for 30 or 40 minutes before the Globetrotters arrived and that they are still dating. And I was right:

RNO: What was it like when you saw the Globetrotters run up? Did you think that would be what you needed to get you down the slide?

Mika: When I saw the Globetrotters I knew it was the end. I knew that if I went down the slide anyways, right in front of them, by the time we got down the slide they would be right there behind us and it would be a footrace. Big Easy’s legs are about as long as I am tall! I was kind of like, “Well, we’re done now. This is it.”

[srmom]

Q: Are there any remaining contestants that you either hated, loved, or had no opinion about, but now you've changed your minds? I now realize I had no opinion of Meghan & Cheyne (love his name), but now Cheyne's hair is just...annoying, and Meghan's control freak is just as annoying since she hasn't relaxed very much.

I remain constant in my love for the Globetrotters (trash talking aside ), I love how positive they are about the race, with each other, with the other contestants, and with the locals. They seem to really be enjoying and soaking it all in. That is how I would want to be if I went on TAR - but, that's from sitting on my couch, I'd probably be a raging lunatic (if I'm totally honest with myself )!

As for the other teams, I am liking the poker players more and more, now that they aren't mentioning that they're poker players every chance they get , I also like the dad and dayglow son, I think they are getting the full experience along with some much needed bonding. The others - Meh...

I liked Cheyenn/Meghan before, but I agree, the spiked blonde guido hair is grossing me out (give me an Alabama swoop any day) and she is getting bitchier by the minute (maybe killer fatigue is setting in).

Still don't like the ambiguously gay duo, or the beauty queen and her geek couple. They just irritate me.

[ASTalumna06]

Question:

Let's suppose this was a non-elimination leg of the race, and Canaan and Mika show up at the mat last, after not having gone down the slide... are they still eliminated because they didn't complete everything?

[srmom]

I'm not sure what the rules are about it. Maybe a time penalty? But, it would have to be a hefty one for sure...

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by srmom

I liked Cheyenn/Meghan before, but I agree, the spiked blonde guido hair is grossing me out (give me an Alabama swoop any day) and she is getting bitchier by the minute (maybe killer fatigue is setting in).

You mean Malibu Ken and Barbie? As much as the hair has got to go, I find myself even more annoyed by the white watch he wears.

Still don't like the ambiguously gay duo

LOL, I don't think there's anything ambiguous about the brothers, since they've been open about it. I actually do like them; poker girls not as much.

or the beauty queen and her geek couple. They just irritate me..

Is it my imagination, or does she seem to do a lot of complaining while she sits and watches him do thes tasks?

[Shellfish]

When Rob and Amber (or was it just Rob?) didn't finish eating all that beef in Argentina in season 7, they incurred a four-hour penalty, but other teams were behind them and also bailed on the task. I wonder if in this case, they'd have had the four hours tacked on at the beginning of the next episode. That could be disastrous, but a lot of the time teams catch up at the beginning of a leg because of limited flight departures, which always kind of disappoints me. Let the winners have a lead they earned!

[srmom]

LOL, I don't think there's anything ambiguous about the brothers, since they've been open about it.

I was under the impression that they were being open with the audience, but that they were keeping their sexual proclivities a secret to the other contestants - hence the effectless flirtation from the poker players.

I think they've got the hots for them - and it's ironic because they are SO good at reading people.

But, maybe I'm wrong and their out with everybody now.

Love calling them Malibu Barbie and Ken - perfect description.

[AGDee]

I was under the same impression.. that the brothers are being honest with the audience but not with the other players. They mentioned that they hoped to be flirtatious with the all female team to keep them on their side. I haven't seen anything to indicate that it has changed.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by srmom

I was under the impression that they were being open with the audience, but that they were keeping their sexual proclivities a secret to the other contestants - hence the effectless flirtation from the poker players.

I think they've got the hots for them - and it's ironic because they are SO good at reading people.

But, maybe I'm wrong and their out with everybody now.

I get you. I don't think they're out with everybody, but I seem to remember that fairly early on they told the poker girls. Maybe I misheard it, though.

Love calling them Malibu Barbie and Ken - perfect description.

I wish I could take credit for it -- I can't remember where I heard it.

[ComradesTrue]

It looked like one of the brothers was wearing a Pi Kappa Phi shirt, and if my eyes weren't deceiving me it appeared that is was from my own school- TCU.

I won't comment on the rest of the episode since I know not all parts of the country have seen it yet.

[nittanyalum]

Oo! Blondie, good call, I was about to get on and blab all about it, but I'll hold off for the Pacific timers.

(and btw, hi Blondie! *waving*)