So this season of The Amazing Race was definitely not my favorite. But I am really happy with the last leg. Thank goodness the Linzes won!

This season just seemed so lacking. The tasks were far too easy -- putting together a puzzle is not a million dollar task. Every clue just sent them to a new location -- they didn't have to do much to solve them. That is, of course, with the notable exception at the Olympic Stadium. How much fun was it to watch them walk through row after row after row of stadium seats? :) Now, what I didn't understand was why they walked across the rows. If you've ever been to a sporting event, you know that if you're at the back of a section looking down at the seats in that section, you can usually see the back of all the chairs in that section. Not that it mattered all that much -- the teams were at most 10 minutes apart. And they all met up at the binocular task -- a staple of The Amazing Race.

Speaking of looking for things, why oh why do the Weavers keep asking God to help them find things? As my husband says every week, "God is NOT your errand boy!!!". If they really do believe that God is helping them find entrances, doors, cabs, etc., what about all the people that God really should be helping? My husband did enjoy that it took them so long to find the stadium entrance...apparently they should have been praying during regular business hours.

A side note to the Linzes -- I agree about the curling. It looks like a lot of fun. Did you know that the United States has an Olympic curling team? My guess is that you could join up with that team pretty easily -- nothing makes a million dollar win better than a trip to the Olympics.

Anyways, this was one of the few times that the ending really was close. I like it when they really are close, not seeming close because of the editing. And the two best teams really were the last two standing. They both played clean games (and speaking of clean games, what was up with Rolly Weaver tackling one of the Linz boys at the airport? We went back and watched it frame by frame...Rolly really did grab his backpack and throw him down) and were nice to the other competitors. They both have a lot to be proud of.

Until February (with a "real" season)...

So, before I write about tonight's episode of The Amazing Race: Family Edition, a note about why there's no blog about Fear Factor. Simple reason, really -- I don't like Fear Factor. The stunts are fine (although it shocks me that anyone is crazy enough to do them) -- it's the gross and creepy crawly stuff I hate. Word is that there will be a lot more stunts and less gross stuff this season, but I don't care. For me, fear really is a factor. Ugh.

Ok, so on to tonight's episode of Amazing Race. Last week I questioned why the Linzes were not given a time credit for the fact that the production team draining their battery. Tonight we found out why -- it didn't matter. All the teams bunched up at the ranch. I guess I should have seen that coming. Every time a team finds themselves in that sort of predicament, things sort of even out. Either there's a non-elimination leg, or an overnight, or a bunch point. I don't ever remember there being a season like that before. Usually if a team falls far behind, oh well. Teams have finished hours later. There have even been legs where a team is so far behind that they end up skipping a few stops on their way to the mat. I just don't understand the producers' motivation behind constantly evening up the teams. It just doesn't make for overly compelling television.

Thankfully, the Weavers weren't nearly as annoying as they have been. Although, I loved seeing karma come up and bite them in the butt when they got pulled over for speeding. I did actually laugh out loud. And they very clearly are almost out of gas. I still don't understand why they didn't fill up when they were stopped at the gas station...they could have at least put a gallon or two in while the mom asked for directions. My guess is that it will come into play next week, since they very clearly highlighted that decision.

I really wasn't sad to see the "desperate houswives" get eliminated; their arguing was getting on my nerves. But I understand how that works with sisters. I love my sister, but there is no way she would make it home alive.

Two hour season finale next week...my prediction is that the Linzes & Bransens have a close finish but that the Linzes finally pull out the win. (and my goodness Meg deserves it for putting up with those brothers!!!)

Well, I'm glad that I'm not the only one who doesn't think this season of The Amazing Race: Family Edition isn't quite up to par with the other seasons. On the official website, there is a section where former players blog about the episode (there is a similar blog for Survivor which I love!). They have noticed that there just isn't a lot to this season. They have toned it down to accomodate the families, and in doing so, have taken a lot of the fun out of the show. Now, don't get me wrong -- I still am enjoying the race. And it's still way better than most things on television. But it's just not as good as it could be.

Part of it is the fact that the majority of the race is taking place in the United States. I understand it would be a nightmare to send familes around the world. But the language barrier (especially in taxis and other forms of transportation) is a huge part of the race. And speaking of transportation, I hate the fact that the teams are given transportation (and, if I recall correctly from the beginning of the race, gas money). Where is the challenge? And when they lose all of their money, what does it matter? The Weavers lost their money on the last leg, but they haven't needed any money yet. So where's the penalty? The other part of going country to country is that great equalizer known as the airport. There isn't really that great equalizer this season -- no place for the teams to bunch up.

The tasks are also way easier than usual. I understand that they can't have kid doing some of the things that have been done in past seasons (remember walking in the tiger pit?). But finding places that are on any map isn't but so much of a challenge. And the clues aren't even tricky -- they have the addresses on them. Go back and watch season 1 (they replay them on GSN...I think it's on DVD as well) -- each clue was actually a clue -- they had to figure them out to decide where to go. The clues have been getting easier each season, but this is a huge leap.

I also question what on earth is going on with the production crews using the car batteries to run their equipment. This is the second episode where a team fell behind because a camera crew drained their battery. Why on earth does that happen? (and happen twice??) You would think that they would know better. And why haven't the teams received a time credit.

Oh dear. Even the previews aren't as good -- last week the preview for tonight's episode made it look like there was going to be a hot air balloon crash; it was really just a "nudging." So I'm hesitant to get excited that the previews for next week's show have the Weaver's being pulled over by a cop. It just might be too good to be true.

Anyways, I really did enjoy tonight's show...I guess I'm just still cranky that the Weavers are still there (message to Mrs. Weaver -- you are now a single mom -- please be a ROLE MODEL for your children!). Maybe they'll spend part of the next episode in jail...

I am a big fan of irony. And my favorite bit of irony tonight has to do with the fact that Amazing Race: Family Edition is on opposite My Name is Earl. For those of you who only watch reality tv, the basic idea behind My Name is Earl is karma -- what goes around comes around. How ironic that the one team on The Amazing Race who really should watch a show about karma can't because they are presumably watching themselves on television. Oh, sweet irony.

I just don't know where to start with the Weavers. I spent so much of the episode saying "did they just say that?" Like when they were driving through the natural beauty of Utah and one of them said "God must have spent a little less time on this state." Or the time when they were talking about the fact that a lot of Mormons live in Utah, and one of the girls said "Well that would explain it..." (it actually sounded like she said something else that was so horrible it had to be edited out). Or when the Linzs were commenting on the beauty of the waterfalls, and the Weavers called them "pimples on the mountains." Or maybe when Rolly yelled at a random biker that he wasn't Lance Armstrong. Wow. That "scenic loop" kind of came right up on you. As did the yield. And the fact that "none of the teams like you." Oh karma.

Aside from the joy of irony, my favorite part of The Amazing Race is always seeing the places that they go. And I loved looking at the scenery in Utah. In fact, I've decided that my next trip will have to be to Utah. It was just breathtaking. The producers did just a great job planning this leg of the race. I also loved watching the teams on the roadblock. Hee hee!

Hoping karma continues to bite the Weavers in the butt...

Amazing Race: Family Edition...or "I still hate the Weavers." That's right, I said it. I hate the Weavers. Don't get me wrong, I do feel bad for them that their father died. That's a horrible tragedy that no family should have to go through. But that doesn't give you the right to be mean.

Over and over they asked "why are they so rude to us?". And had the guts to complain to Phil that the other teams were "classless," while they were trying to be "Christians." Where to start, where to start...Oh my God!!!! You don't know why other teams are rude to you? Maybe because you threw apple cores at another car? Maybe because you constantly make fun of the Paolos for being a garbage collector? Maybe because you asked the guard at the Grand Canyon to hold up the Linz family? If this is how Christians act, I'm proud to not be a Christian.

Really, what on earth are you thinking? If you're not eliminated next week I may have to stop watching...

Next up on Tuesday? The Amazing Race: Family Edition. Ok, so while I'm not such a fan of the whole "family edition" thing, Amazing Race is still one of the best reality shows on tv. But Tuesday's episode should have been named "Why I hate the Weaver family."

I know, that sounds harsh. You're probably wondering how I could hate a family that I've only seen on tv. Or, you could have watched the show, and be hating them along with me. First of all, don't give me any more of this "feel-sorry-for-us-our-dad-died-and-now-we-have-to-run-this-race" stuff. Let me remind you that you applied for the show. That's right -- it was your decision to go on national television. Let's all just remember that every time they want us to feel sorry for them -- they decided to go on the show.

Next, I consider myself a religous person. I believe in God. I pray. But there is a big difference between praying and asking God to run errands for you. "Please God, help me open this jar of pickles." Wasn't this an episode of The Simpsons? Didn't it not work out so well for Homer? Did it ever cross your mind that God's first priority might not be deciding who wins The Amazing Race? And what makes it even worse, is their behavior at the Yield. After being rude to every team (or did you not remember when you asked the driver of the other boat to go slower?), they were shocked that someone would want to yield them. They then proceeded to make fun of people on the other teams...that one team posed in front of a garbage truck, that another girl looked like she had "fake boobs", that another kid looked "retarded" (which, by the way, is a horrible horrible horrible thing to call someone). They then proceeded to say that they would never play dirty (who knew that yielding someone was playing dirty?) because they "answer to a higher authority." Really? How on earth did you not get crushed by the irony?

At the same time, I decided I loved the Gaghan family. With their 2 little kids, they stayed positive, and supported each other through the whole race. They took time to appreciate the majesty of where they were. And I loved it when the dad said that they would come back to Costa Rica for their vacation so they could see more of the country. What great parents. (note to self...be supportive to future children...) I was so bummed to see them be eliminated.

The episode itself was really good. I loved the coffee bean challenge -- reminded me a lot of unrolling the bales of hay in Sweeden a few years ago...total luck. And they are finally out of the United States. That's my favorite part of the show -- getting to see all the places in the world that someone like me (read: a 29 year-old without a passport) has never seen. Costa Rica looked amazing -- I wish I could go.

Maybe the Weavers will be eliminated next week...