"Amazing Race 9" Talkback (Spoilers)

[Rover_Wow]

TAR9 still stays similar to TAR5, with the elimination of only the 2nd team to make it this far without winning a single leg (MoJo). The other team was of course TAR5's Bowling Moms.

SQUEE about:
* seeing Thailand on TAR again.
* seeing Wat Benjamabopitr as a TAR pit stop.
* seeing Yolanda wear Thai silk to the pit stop.

One contestant even said "It's on like Donkey Kong", just like Chip did in TAR5.

 

[Burgundy Ranger]

One contestant even said "It's on like Donkey Kong", just like Chip did in TAR5.

And Chip won the million.

Glad to see MoJo eliminated. They made what is, to me, the most agregious mistake you can make in TAR -- failure to seek out all options at an airport or bus/train station. They were told the next bus was at 5:20 and went straight for a hotel as the midnight and 4:20 busses left without them.

BJ & Tyler made the same mistake at the Darwin airport. They went begging before securing their tickets. When they came back, the best available option had been filled up. Then it looked like they'd lucked out when seats opened on a connection that would get them to Bangkok at 10:45, 15 min before the other teams.

I'm good with each of the teams in the finals. (Well, except for Eric & Jeremy when they canceled the other teams' taxis)

My picks:

1) Ray & Yolanda
2) BJ & Tyler
3) Eric & Jeremy

In TAR5, it was Chip & Kim. In TAR7, it was Uchenna & Joyce. Just following the pattern.

 

[Mr Cat Dog]

The best episode of the season, without a doubt. Original challenges, Strenuous challenges that weren't needle-in-haystack or flex-your-muscle, Beautiful locations, MONKEYS!... and everything was tense and exciting! It was great!

I am so happy that Mojo are gone. For the past 2 or 3 episodes, they've turned from good but unlucky competitors into whiny Flo-esque people. At least with FloZach, Zach was great and completely supportive, with Mojo, Joseph didn't sound great when he was yelling at her and stuff. Even when he was trying to be sympathetic, it sounded kinda forced... and the fact that they were completely petty after the Yield... the same thing happened to Colin and Christie after a CK Yield.

I'm also happy with the final 3. If I was told who'd be in the F3 at the beginning, I would have hated E/J, been fine with R/Y and happy with BJ/T. But now I'm happy that all of them are there. BJ/T have become more buggy and petty (also, since the Yield) but I still like them... somehow; E/J are actually starting to impress me. Ever since Double D left, they've been slowly moving up in my expectations, from Jeremy and Yolanda dissing BJ at the roadblock, to Eric outsmarting Tyler in his "stirring" of the teams. R/Y have also improved, but that's probably because we've seen more of them than in previous rounds where it was about 6/7 teams. I would be genuinely happy if any of them won... but my prediction:

1) Eric/Jeremy OR Ray/Yolanda
2) BJ/Tyler
3) The other one of E/J or R/Y

 

[Rover_Wow]

Just watched a re-run.

1. Ko Kret. I've actually been there, but not to the places the racers were.
2. Love for the Lopburi monkey feast. (Done annually in Thailand.)
3. Eating crickets is not an afterschool specialty in Thailand as much as Phil would have you think. But there are stalls that sell fried bugs, you just have to know where to look.
4. MoJo are gone. Good, since they got whiney in the last couple eps. And it proves that not all 4th place teams are lovable
5. AXN Asia carries it here with a local language commentary option. For kicks, I watched it with on the 2nd soundtrack this week, and although for the most part, the commentary just translates the action and dialog straight, it did a few things for the Thailand leg. For example, it ID'd the Marble Temple by its proper name "Benjamabopitr", it referred to the monkey feast as "Toa Chin Ling" (literally, Chinese table for monkeys), and the local voice even complained that he couldn't understand Phil's accent to hear the name of the store where BJ/T Fast Forwarded by eating bugs, plus it also read a few signs that the original VO probably didn't bother (MoJo picked up their pots from Jom Jam pottery shop, and delivered them to a boat belonging to "Lung Oh Mor Thai", Uncle Oh's Thai pots).

 

[Freedom Fighter]

5. AXN Asia carries it here with a local language commentary option.

Really, you get a commentary track (even if it's on the repeat, not on the 'premiere')? Something like that's impossible to get for a TV show in America, maybe because of all of the different TVs and cable companies and such. Probably similiar to how channels that usually don't run stuff with subtitles have trouble airing something with it. But that's usually because you can't run two vocal tracks simultaneously on an analog connection.

Leg 10 Observations:
- BJ & Tyler: Not sure if the 'Hippies' made the right choice begging for money first before booking a plane ticket. Or deciding to stick with the 'grasshopper-eating' Fast Forward. But hey... those who don't take risks don't get the big reward... and boy, are they aiming for it!
- Eric & Jeremy: They seemed to be in cruise control mostly, confident they'd make the final three. Not cocky-like, but they kept major mistakes to a minimum. Could easily be the safe bet to finish first, but then I'm reminded of Rob & Amber to AR7. Dominated the race but didn't win. Hmmm...
- Ray & Yolanda: Introducing this year's classic 'back door' finalist/underdog. Like Fran & Berry, a team that talked big but stumbled out of the gate and only late did they hit their stride. Ray & Yolanda managed to avoid going out the same way (1st, then gone)... can they pull off a huge upset and win?
- Joseph & Monica: The pair's just fallen apart the past few weeks. Their 'beef' with BJ & Tyler ultimately made them lose their focus... well, Monica, anyway, who collapsed during the Detour. Can't say I'm sad to see them go, but the only animosity left in this season's race went with them.

Fearless Predictions of AR9's Finish:
1) Eric & Jeremy - Out of the three teams left, they're probably the team I'd be the least unhappy of if they won. But considering the way they've played and dominated the race... well, it would be injustice if they weren't first, right?
2) Ray & Yolanda - They're peaking at the right time, but will they use up their tank before they get to the finish line? They have the determination, but they may lack the strength to beat the 'Frat Boys' to the $1 million.
3) BJ & Tyler - As happy go lucky as they are, the fact of the matter is that they're just hanging on by a thread. If the preview holds true, they won't be in contention at race's end. Too bad... I liked these guys a lot.

 

[Rover_Wow]

Really, you get a commentary track (even if it's on the repeat, not on the 'premiere')? Something like that's impossible to get for a TV show in America, maybe because of all of the different TVs and cable companies and such. Probably similiar to how channels that usually don't run stuff with subtitles have trouble airing something with it. But that's usually because you can't run two vocal tracks simultaneously on an analog connection.

Actually, I think it's somewhat more of a necessity that they commentary it, because it takes time to subtitle. (And yes, the commentary is on the premiere as well.)
Nonetheless, the current leg does get to be aired subtitled at least twice (sans commentary on 2nd soundtrack, because it would just look weird).

AND we get commentary here because English is not the official language of the country. The commentary is so that viewers who don't understand English can understand what's going on. No need for commentary in the US.

ETA: Subtitled airing watched. Other things seen:
- "Chai-Yo... means 'go get em!'" (Even if "Chai-Yo" is more like a interjection of happiness in Thai.)
- The bus E/J and R/Y got on had its intended destination as Ratchasima (a major town in the northeast of Thailand).
- Although they didn't use the Thai name for the Marble Temple, they did use the local name of the Three Spire Pagoda (Phra Prang Sam Yot... Not "Pram" as the yellow captions said).
- Hippie at FF restaurant: "Hey, I thought I ordered Pad Thai!" Later... hippie: "T-Thai!" And of course, the obligatory "Thank you" in the local language: "Kob Kun Krab."
- I've seen this bent pagoda in the flesh so to speak, during a boat ride around, Koh Kret.
- At least altar making is a Thai traditional thing. (Though moving pots with boards, not so.)
- And just so I get it clear: No Mo' MoJo! Yay!
- Wacky music with monkeys. I remember it from Phua Chua Kang's appearance in Singapore in TAR3.
- From last week: MoJo flips off the hips... Funny!

 

[Freedom Fighter]

And the finish line is just around the corner...

The ninth edition of "The Amazing Race" wraps up this week, with only three teams left. Who will win? Will it be the best friends, BJ & Tyler? Maybe it'll be the other pair of friends in Eric & Jeremy? Or the long-distance daters Ray & Yolanda will pull it out, perhaps? There's only one way to find out...

Wednesday, May 17, 2006: Episode #912 "5 Continents... 10 Countries... and More Than 59 Thousand Miles" SEASON FINALE!
In this two-hour season finale, the teams race through Japan and quickly learn that little mistakes can cost big time -- especially when there are only three teams left and the end is in sight. The last two legs of the race prove both mentally and physically grueling and it's apparently a tight contest until the bitter end.

The race ends tonight at 8 pm EST on CBS!

 

[TnAdct1]

Woot. Not only did the Amazing Race finally have a leg in Japan, but they also snuck in an anime reference to boot (B.J. and Tyler delivering a package to the Gonzo offices).

BTW, did anyone else knew what Hachiko is before Phil even described the dog statue?

 

[Freedom Fighter]

Finale Observations:
- Ray & Yolanda: I honestly felt good about the couple's chances coming into the finale, but I guess I should've seen them having no chance compared to the other two teams. Getting lost in the streets of Tokyo, losing their expressway toll ticket... more than enough to knock them out of contention. Kudos to Yolanda having a blast at the amusement park and being mistaken for Janet Jackson, but the pair just didn't have enough to come through. They found out a lot about each other, though, and despite some bumps it looks like their relationship survived the race in good shape.
- Eric & Jeremy: The 'dominator' curse rides again... despite only finishing out of 1st or 2nd once over the entire race, they could not seal the deal. It's been a two-team race since Phil said 'Go!' and Eric & Jeremy definitely looked like they had the slight edge over the Hippies. Not so much... who would've thought brains would do them in over brawn in the final Roadblock?
- BJ & Tyler: The team I was pulling for to win in my heart did in fact finish first. Despite Tyler knowing Japanese, it didn't seem to be an sort of quantifiable advantage over Eric & Jeremy. In fact, save for a few hours apart between airports, the two teams were neck-and-neck the entire way. I think both teams realized this and did their best to knock the opposition off their trail... but to no avail. The Hippies nearly killed their shot at the win twice. The first saved by luck... the delivery plane being grounded because of the weather made the final Detour choice a no-brainer. The second by all three teams making the plane to Denver, despite BJ & Tyler running past the snowshoes several times.

Luck was surely the one factor that determined which team would win between the 'Frat Boys' and the 'Hippies'... and Lady Luck decided to side with the latter team.

Despite attempts by the cast choosers to mix things up with some quirky teams and some new locations, AR9 was by large a disappointment... though luckily, still better than AR8: Family Edition. The fact that the race was by large dominated by two teams sort of made it a forgone conclusion that they'd make it all the way to the Finish Line (with what other team managed to make it there with them to be just along for the ride). It was also not helped that there wasn't a team everyone really, really liked or really, really hated.

I feel bad for CBS. These things can't be helped sometimes... maybe they'll give us a better show in AR10. I really hope so...

With that... farewell to AR9! Enjoy summer vacation, and see you this Fall for Season 10... when "Amazing Race" moves again! Sunday Nights @ 8 pm EST! Until then... bye bye!

 

[bigddan11]

I rooted for the hippies most of the way, and they didn't disappoint me. They had the last laugh as they quickly figures out they had messed up with one flag, and they claimed the crown. I only wish the frat boys hadn't been one of the final three teams.

 

[Burgundy Ranger]

I rooted for the hippies most of the way, and they didn't disappoint me. They had the last laugh as they quickly figures out they had messed up with one flag, and they claimed the crown. I only wish the frat boys hadn't been one of the final three teams.

I was wondering if they were looking, at first, for the old Soviet hammer-and-sickle flag.

Good ending. I was hoping for a last-minute tag at the end saying "Join us for the next race this fall -- on Sunday nights -- on CBS."

BTW, in Thursday morning's reunion on The Early Show, BJ was wearing some garish purple medevel thing and Ray proposed to Yolanda.

 

[Mr Cat Dog]

T'was an OK finale. Nothing compared to TAR5 (T-E-N--S-E) with Chip/Kim winning, but not as bad as TAR6 with Freddy/Kendra winning.

The Japan leg was good, although the roadblock could have been so much better. It was obvious that teams were going to see it... one of the reasons that this season's completely dumbed down compared to previous ones. The detour was good, but still kinda boring. Wow - riding a bike across Tokyo... that reminds me of the ascender in the Philippines! In the end, bunching enabled non-linguistics to achieve relatively the same position as the linguistic teams. The rest of the leg was good though. Shibuya looks even more chaotic than Times Square (and I was there last month one night at 9pm - ), and Mt. Fuji (or Mt. Tokyo - HA!) looked incredible.

Going back to the US, not so good. Everything in Alaska was self-navigated, so that was definitely a plus, and the detour (well, not really a detour) was also good! But ck in Denver, it was just kinda bad. Everything was Taxid, so R/Y had a CHANCE of winning, and the roadblock (which should have been awesome) was watered down so much! Having your team-mate help you DEFIES THE RULES OF ROADBLOCKS!, and the flags made it too easy! There were flags printed in all of the clues as well, so teams should have realised and remembered! AAAGH!

OK, I'm calm now! Now for the teams:

Ray/Yolanda - Definitely did not deserve to win. The editing proved that. The toll fiasco, to the navigations in Tokyo and Anchorage... it was inevitable that they were going to lose. Sad really, but inevitable. They were still nice people though.

Eric/Jeremy - They were screwed the moment they read that flag roadblock. According to people at the TARCon on TWoP, they checked in 15 minutes after BJ/Tyler (and they too screwed up once, when their referee accidentally marked them right when they were wrong) and you just knew that they would be second. Although they were very good racers, their shortage of brain cells was their downfall. I was rooting for them towards the end though.

BJ/Tyler - The opposite with E/J. When the flags came up, you knew they were going to win.They got on my nerves more towards the end than at the beginning... but they still were very deserving of the prize money. I want to throttle them every time they say TTOW, but at least they enjoyed the race, so good for them.

My final thoughts on TAR9 and my suggestions for TAR10 (well, too late now, but whatever):

• This season was definitely dumbed down from previous ones. Make the next season harder - please!
• Vary the teams a bit more - There weren't any real villains or heroes like in previous races (Colin/Christie and Chip/Kim for example). There wasn't really anyone to root for.. which was a shame.
• Locations were very nice, but apart from the Thailand and Greek detours, there were very little cultural tasks involved
• TOO MUCH PRODUCT PLACEMENT! DIE TRAVELOCITY GNOME! Yeah... way too much product placement. Almost as bad as the Hungary Internet Cafe Leg in TAR6.

That's pretty much it! Roll on TAR10 (Eeeh - double figures!)

 

[Rover_Wow]

I only got around to seeing a good chunk of the finale yesterday.

1. I would have rocked the flag roadblock. There was only one flag I didn't recognize from the bunch (that of Oman's). And apparently, the hips are good at flags too, since they got them all right at first go to win the mil, while E/J were too busy having to switch the flags around (and even picked one of the dummy flags at one point!).
2. As a race planner, I'd get rid of the "cheat sheet", but I might have the checker tell them how many they have right.
3. That must be a first: a weather dependent Detour choice. Practically made everyone drill ice.
4. Quote of the week: "You look like Janet Jackson." -- Japanese guy to Yolanda.
5. I caught the 2nd hour, plus the part where the racers went to Ayuthaya (Thailand's former capital) for one last Thailand task before Japan: to go to a elephant kraal (most unusual Hours of Operation bunch... 4am opening?)... and get a T-Mobile with their next clue on it. T-Mobile? It's not even a local brand here.

So, the comic relief team finally wins one. Either you love it, or you hate it. Personally? Love it. This would be like Kevin and Drew winning TAR1.

ETA: And finally caught the whole of the first hour of the finale last night.

(Man, I feel so dorky for editing a bottom of page 2 topic...)

Anyways, highlights:
- I think BJ/T are like the first ever contestants to speak the official language of every country they've had a pit stop in, am I correct? Hmm... I think they didn't do so in Greece or Italy. Especially in Italy where they were too busy doing their ethnic humor skit ("We get a pizza pie!").
- Tyler's been to Japan before (even made a film, "Kintaro Walks Across Japan", there, but that's not mentioned), and unlike previous contestants with a hometown advantage, actually makes good use of it. I mean, they started the Japan portion 90 minutes behind the other teams, and still finished first.
- Quote highlights: "May I touch your beard?" "Crazy foreigner on bike coming through" "I hope I don't wake up in 1972"
- And for those of you who love your anime, BJ/T delivered one of their detour packages to Gonzo Studios.
- You gotta love that electric guitar Japanese music. And that swan boat chase.
- And would Jerry Bruckheimer cut it out with the "too fast for anyone to read" closing credits? Besides the Phil Keoghan, Travelocity, and producers' credits, everyone gets flashed for like a quarter second. Couldn't they at least play the creds over the full version of the theme (they cut it down to like 30 secs for the creds)?