Amazing Race Family Edition UpdateTerrific episode all around. The teams started out having to get a cab to a bus station, where they are assigned to one of three buses. The Paolos arrive first, and it becomes obvious that they despise the Weavers (aka Team Florida), as they try to guide other teams to the location of the bus assignments. The Gaghans move up a bit by sensibly going to the hotel to get a cab, while the Weavers and the Bransons try to find one on a busy thoroughfare. The Godlewskis must beg for cabfare.
The buses take them to Costa Rica, where switch to minvans and visit a famous volcano, which features terrific views. As it works out the three different buses didn't make any difference, as all arrive at the volcano after dark and must wait until the morning.
The next AM it's a mad dash to the cluebox, then back down to the minivans. The teams are off to a surf shop, where they receive the next clue. This time they head to a coffee plantation for the segment's Roadblock. This time it's virtually the same as finding a needle in a haystack. One team member must find and pluck out of a pile of white coffee beans the one red bean.
But the big news is that there is a Yield ahead, and it is at this point that we discover how unpopular the Weavers have become. Virtually every team ponders the Yield and resolves to stick it to Team Florida. I was actually stunned. As it works out Team Paolo arrives at the plantation first and does the dirty deed.
Sifting through the beans proves arduous work, but one by one the teams find theirs. Unfortunately the Gaghan mom, although apparently quite diligent about spreading the beans out, can't find the red one. Finally the Weavers get through their delay and start on the coffee bean task. And one of the daughters seemingly finds it almost immediately. Now the Gaghans are in last place, but finally the red bean is found and they take off in hot pursuit.
The next task is a detour. The teams must choose between carrying fifteen giant loads of bananas or traveling across a series of rope bridges and bringing back four Mayan statues. The Paulo family is the only one to choose the banana task. This pays off for them as the old man is a garbage man and quite accustomed to picking up heavy burdens (what, they don't have side loaders?). The old man carries what his two teenaged sons can't manage between them.
Unfortunately for the Gaghans, they are not able to attempt the banana task, and as everybody has arrived at the Mayan statue task, they seem to have little chance of catching up. Then suddenly disaster strikes as the Weaver's minivan is stuck in the mud. They try to push it out, but the hole seems to be getting deeper.
Then we cut to a commercial, and the Weaver mom is moaning about how she can't take this anymore. This seems pretty obviously staged as she then manages to drive the van away without any trouble.
The Paolos win the round, followed by the Linz family, the Godlewskis and Bransons. Jerry Bruckheimer doesn't seem to have the heart to make it a true drama as to whether the Weavers or the Gaghans will be the last to arrive; the Weavers are pretty obviously in the lead.
Mucho tears as the Gaghans are Phil-liminated. I was very sorry to see them go as the little girl had a lot of spunk. Unlike Ted Grant, I like spunk. But they didn't play the game particularly well, and in the end they got unlucky.
My new favorite team? Hey, I've been loving the bickering Paolos from Day One. They are at a disadvantage due to Yielding the Weavers; they've lost the opportunity to zing a more competitive team, and earned an enemy. But they're winning segments so far, which has gotta help build confidence and cohesiveness.
As always, the Viking Pundit has his
terrific race recap here, while Kris from
Dummocrats posted thoughts here.
The Closet Optimist has some
excellent thoughts on the poor use of the Yield by the Paolos.
