Amazing Race 11: All Stars

[CutiePie2000]

If any of the teams were "smart", they should have made the code "1234".

Originally Posted by CutiePie2000

If any of the teams were "smart", they should have made the code "1234".

Yeah but they didn't know the structure of the questions before entering the vault, did they? Unless they were both on the same page of 1234 beforehand, it probably wouldn't have worked.

I was wondering why they had to fly into OAK if they're just gonna have to drive into SFO anyway...and now I know why. The fact that the instructions specifically said to fly from HNL-OAK. In the Season 2 finale, they also flew out of HNL-OAK. There are dozens of flights to choose from if you're going the HNL-SFO route. ATA and Aloha are the only carriers that fly non-stop to OAK, and Aloha's daily flights are in the mornings. Interesting. They probably wanted to ensure a close finish and limit the # of flight choices.

I've lived here my whole life and I don't know anyone who's ever used Kamaka Air besides TAR. We usually take flights into Lanai City -- but there's only one flight to and from there daily (it's a tiny island that's not too populated), so I guess they chartered copters to ensure that the teams would be back into HNL to make their flights to OAK.

I liked the vault challenge. The physical stuff is cool, but challenges like that really show how well you know your partner and it evens out the playing field.

I wanted the blondes to win, but an ED win is definitely better that Meerna and Schmirna (check out those Heelys!). Plus, it would have sucked if Eric came in second...AGAIN.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by CutiePie2000

If any of the teams were "smart", they should have made the code "1234".

Originally Posted by OTW

Yeah but they didn't know the structure of the questions before entering the vault, did they? Unless they were both on the same page of 1234 beforehand, it probably wouldn't have worked.

Exactly. "1234" never would have worked unless the second person in somehow knew to completely disregard the questions.

Plus, unless both members of the team went through the charade of pretending to answer the questions (and just happening to arrive at "1234") might there have been a penalty for not following the rules? I don't know, but a thirty-minute penalty at the end of the race would have sucked big time. I don't think I would have wanted to risk that.

I liked the vault challenge. The physical stuff is cool, but challenges like that really show how well you know your partner and it evens out the playing field.

I did too. I like how the last task is usually something that makes the teams think back to the race as a whole, and I liked how this one also tested how in sync with each other the team members were.

I wanted the blondes to win, but an ED win is definitely better that Meerna and Schmirna (check out those Heelys!). Plus, it would have sucked if Eric came in second...AGAIN.

Same here, except that by the end of the episode, my wife and I both found ourselves pulling for E&D over the BQs, even though we were pulling for the BQs at the beginning of the episode.

But as long as Schirmna came in third, I was happy.

[tld221]

yeah i am disappointed with the turnout - i was never feeling ED to begin with. i really wanted MirnaSchmirna to win.

ive only watch this season and last season's TAR, but i feel like the last episode is anticlimatic. like, the win really couldve been anyone's. i'd hate that what came between me and $1M was a couple of red lights and a driver who didnt know his way around. i wouldve much rather lost bigtime by missing the flight to Oakland, like how Joyce and Uchenna lost out. at that point its obvious youre out.

i also didnt like that they could just go ahead if they didnt figure out the vault code after 10 minutes. it didnt really put anyone too much ahead or behind.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by tld221

i also didnt like that they could just go ahead if they didnt figure out the vault code after 10 minutes. it didnt really put anyone too much ahead or behind.

I figured that was the point -- to keep it fairly close. At worst, you can leave in 10 minutes, but you can leave faster if you can figure it out.

[AXO Alum]

I guess a million bucks was enough to make Eric "forget" all the rude comments he had made to/about Swiss Miss (and the others) as he stood there & talked about how great a partner she was & that she really lived up to the challenge... << barf >> I wish Swiss Miss would have smacked him. I also wish the other teams would have been waiting with a real shirt for Swiss Miss to put on.

The first and only season of TAR I've ever seen & it turns out this bad??!! I hope the next one will be better. I feel sorry for the Kentucky couple - that money might have paid for some nice braces!! (yeah - I'm in a foul mood)

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by AXO Alum

I guess a million bucks was enough to make Eric "forget" all the rude comments he had made to/about Swiss Miss (and the others) as he stood there & talked about how great a partner she was & that she really lived up to the challenge... << barf >> I wish Swiss Miss would have smacked him.

FWIW, Danny and Oswald said that he called them before the episodes aired and apologized for things he had said; they said they knew that he did the same with some other teams.

But seriously, I don't quite get all the hating (not necessarily from you specifically, but just in general that I've seen). He was over the top sometimes, but most of what he said sounded like most guys I've known (including me, probably) involved in an athletic competition. It's trash talk and it's competative talk. He talked to Swiss Miss (the name does fit) just like he would have talked to a guy he was teamed with, which he admitted. If she didn't have a problem with that, why should I. It worked for them.

I've watched every season since Season 3, and there's been much, much worse over the years. Shoot, Mirna was worse just this season.

At least Eric and Danielle weren't calling each other "baby" all the time.

Originally Posted by MysticCat

At least Eric and Danielle weren't calling each other "baby" all the time.

HOLY YES.

That Freddy/Kendra and Hayden/Aaron season was just horrible. They show reruns on the Game Show Network and I have to skip that season completely because I can't put up with "Baby" every 5 minutes.

Looking back on this All-Star season, ED wasn't as bad compared to other couples from past seasons. I probably criticized them because I wanted other teams to win, but I'm glad they won. They weren't that bad of a trainwreck of a couple -- and it's kinda neat how they were Yielded twice and still won.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I still don't know which is Charla and which is Mirna. I've watched each season of TAR (except for the Family Edition) and sadly, I don't know who's the midget and who's not. They've also been Meerna and Schmeerna to me. Sorry.

That said, I hope (like, Survivor) they don't do an All-Stars season for a very long time.

However, part of really hopes that CHA CHA CHA gets offered their own Reality TV Series. I loved em during their original season, but this time around I loved em even more!

[mu_agd]

Originally Posted by OTW

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I still don't know which is Charla and which is Mirna. I've watched each season of TAR (except for the Family Edition) and sadly, I don't know who's the midget and who's not. They've also been Meerna and Schmeerna to me. Sorry.

I only can tell them apart because of Mirna's "RUN CHARLA!" screeching when she thinks Charla should grow some longer legs so she could run faster.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by mu_agd

I only can tell them apart because of Mirna's "RUN CHARLA!" screeching when she thinks Charla should grow some longer legs so she could run faster.

LOL! That's exactly how I remembered which is which, too.

But what was even worse to me was: "Please, my friend, I am begging of you, it's a matter of life and death!"

ETA: The Reality News Online interview with Eric and Danielle is somewhat interesting. A few highlights:

-- They aren't together anymore -- apparently, they were headed toward break-up before the race, since neither one wanted to move to where the other lived.

-- The reason they were so mad at Danny and Oswald for the Yield was because those two teams and Schmirna had made an agreement not to yield each other.