Amazing Race 24 - All Stars

[The Hitchhiking Ghost]

Thoughts on last night? Two things bugged me:
1.Majority of the teams not having a clue as to what the "Eternal City" referred to-- come on!
2. Flight Time's boneheaded mistake on the road block. I mean he wasn't even close, and after getting it wrong multiple times, not once did he RE-READ THE CLUE!!! If it wasn't for Leo and Jamal giving away the answer, they would've been out. I'm not sorry to see John and Jessica go, and you guys know I enjoy the Globetrotters as much as anyone, but that was downright embarrassing and he would've deserved to go home after that.

I do have to give credit the the country girls. To complete the speed bump and manage to come in second was impressive.

Well, to be fair, the only reason that the Country Girls overcame the speed bump was that they were fortunate that 1) they got the first shuttle bus off the airplane and 2) more importantly, so many teams got lost finding the Spanish steps. I didn't really see that they did a whole lot on their own to get that 2nd place.

I enjoyed the leg a lot, until the Spanish steps. Reminded me too much of the Unfinished Business season where teams (including Trotters) simply were given the answers (first leg - deciphering the flags and later getting the correct mileage in Lichtenstein).

Personally, I don't think the Trotters could find Mickey Mouse in the Magic Kingdom without help. And if somehow it were final 2 between the Trotters and Country Girls, it would be the first "Unfinished Season" as both teams would keep taking penalties because they can't do things on their own.

Pre-race I really wanted John and Jessica to do well, but they really under-performed. I'm just disappointed because especially after watching last night, I think Jessica with any other partner would have been great. John just didn't seem to really have the fire to win.

I have a hard time sticking with Dave and Connor. Last night the dad's attempt at the road block was nothing short of pathetic, only Flight Time's approach to it was worse.

I guess right now, Cowboys, Afghanimals and maybe Brenchel would be my choice for best final 3 teams. I definitely don't want to see the Trotters or Country girls in final 3. Dave and Connor, maybe.

Cowboys I would think would be safe for one more week. This next leg is the 8th leg and they have to use the EP. Even if they are u-turned they can use it to avoid the second task and hopefully get back even.

[MNNHFLTX]

Flight Time's boneheaded mistake on the road block. I mean he wasn't even close, and after getting it wrong multiple times, not once did he RE-READ THE CLUE!!! If it wasn't for Leo and Jamal giving away the answer, they would've been out. I'm not sorry to see John and Jessica go, and you guys know I enjoy the Globetrotters as much as anyone, but that was downright embarrassing and he would've deserved to go home after that.

Yes, that bugged me too. Hate when I see teams keep making the same mistakes without having the common sense to go back and re-read the clue. It's like Freud's definition of insanity--to repeat the same action over and over, thinking you'll get different results.

Wow, that was some tumble that Rachel took, huh? I expected to see tears when she got up but she played tough.

Kind of hoping that the Cowboys will win this thing--initially I wasn't too thrilled to have them in as a third-timer, but they are fun to watch.

[2Epcot]

It bugs me as well when people keep making the same mistake. I would think that if you feel you're right and it is still wrong, the first thing should be to check the clue again.

I do have to give credit the the country girls. To complete the speed bump and manage to come in second was impressive.

They did well, though as soon as they started talking about being out, I knew they would make it to the end. The producers and story editors are very predictable with the sound they choose from the racers. That was way too early in an episode for people to be talking about going out, and enjoying the game.

[PirateLover]

Well, to be fair, the only reason that the Country Girls overcame the speed bump was that they were fortunate that 1) they got the first shuttle bus off the airplane and 2) more importantly, so many teams got lost finding the Spanish steps. I didn't really see that they did a whole lot on their own to get that 2nd place.

True, but we've seen teams kind of mosey along after the speed bump. They kept at it, though. I only said I felt I should give them some credit... they are still one of my least favorite teams since like you mentioned they tend to get by on favors and dumb luck.

I think Globetrotters will be next to go.

[Ian]

I kept shouting at the TV, "Flight, read the clue for Pete's sake! Read the darn clue!!!"

Okay well that's a slightly edited version of what I said, but you get the idea

I thought it was a fun leg, but I was sort of annoyed at the Afghanimals giving away the answer at the end. I wasn't particularly a fan of John and Jessica (actually they were probably my least favorite team left since I find John incredibly annoying), but I still hated to see them go out like that.

[The Hitchhiking Ghost]

I kept shouting at the TV, "Flight, read the clue for Pete's sake! Read the darn clue!!!"

Okay well that's a slightly edited version of what I said, but you get the idea

I thought it was a fun leg, but I was sort of annoyed at the Afghanimals giving away the answer at the end. I wasn't particularly a fan of John and Jessica (actually they were probably my least favorite team left since I find John incredibly annoying), but I still hated to see them go out like that.

If I got the scene right, I think Leo/Jamal were thinking forward, that in an upcoming leg there will be a u-turn and that if they helped teams this leg, it might save them from a u-turn down the road. They had already completed the task and received the next clue, Flight Time and John still had to turn in their answers, so the Afghanimals did have some lead time. All of this though was based on one assumption, that the Country Girls still had not made it to the roadblock and would be the team eliminated. You could tell at the mat that all three teams were stunned to find out they were final 3.

If John hadn't needed to go back for the postcard, they probably would still be in it. Not sad to see him go, but I think Jessica was really good.

[JanetMegan]

Flight time and Big easy got very lucky at being given the answer. Flight was a long ways from figuring out what exactly he needed to do.

[Melanie]

I was never on the Dave train anyway, but now I'm officially OFF. It's a game! He needs to get over his 60 year old self! And I am sick of them helping everyone. Too bad they couldn't take a lesson from the Afghanimals and not take everything so serious. And the previews? Seriously, grow up and act 60.

As much as I love Flight and Big Easy, after last week and this week of not reading the clues carefully, they really deserved to go. The show will be a little less entertaining now.

[Ian]

I was never on the Dave train anyway, but now I'm officially OFF. It's a game! He needs to get over his 60 year old self!

It's a toss-up for me as to who was more annoying, Dave with his "60 year old man!" rants or Brandon with his suddenly found religion at the Abbey.

They're both off my list!

As much as I love Flight and Big Easy, after last week and this week of not reading the clues carefully, they really deserved to go. The show will be a little less entertaining now.

Yeah, I'm sorry ... I love the two of them and how well they always work together ... but they simply didn't deserve to win. Not reading the clue like that two weeks in a row is a one way ticket home.

[JenniferP]

I cannot stand Dave!! He took the U-Turn wayyyy too personally - it's a game! I can't stomach his bitterness and his poor attitude.

[PirateLover]

Gotta agree on Dave's poor attitude. I mean, really- he whines and moan about being U-turned by Brenchel but then U-turns the Afghanimals because they "had to." Well so did Brendan and Rachel. It's a game! Dave sounds like a teenage girl with all the complaining. And he actually threw something out there about Rachel's looks. Really? Grow up!

[Melanie]

Yep. Her looks and then is mocking her next week, and creating the gang up situation as well. I thought they were supposedly good Mormon folk. This kind of thing really bugs me.

And Brandon's praying didn't really bother me. Do we know it's a 'sudden' thing for him? He was more than rational and apologetic towards Dave. Brandon is right - it's a game. Everyone signed up for it, and there is nothing wrong with using what is given (in this case, U Turn) to get ahead. Brenchel now has $15K, and the whiner hypocrites have nothing.

[JenniferP]

Gotta agree on Dave's poor attitude. I mean, really- he whines and moan about being U-turned by Brenchel but then U-turns the Afghanimals because they "had to." Well so did Brendan and Rachel. It's a game! Dave sounds like a teenage girl with all the complaining. And he actually threw something out there about Rachel's looks. Really? Grow up!

Totally agree with you! He's 60 and he acts like a catty 16 year old! You'd think by the age of 60 you would have learned not to criticize someone else's looks.

I don't blame Brendon and and Rachel for giving the U-Turn to Dave and Connor - they were right behind them! It's a competition and there are perks if you finish the leg in first place. It seemed perfectly sensible to me. I really don't understand the Brendon and Rachel hate from Dave/Connor and the other teams. Just because Dave is 60 he should be excluded from U-Turns? It's not like he's a frail elderly man! Brendon and Rachel U-Turned someone because they had to, much like Dave & Connor did.

At this point I'm rooting for Brendon and Rachel and I'm not too sure about anyone else. The teamwork is kind of annoying at this point. It's a competition - team versus team. I'm tired of everyone helping each other and making it a group effort. It's more enjoyable to watch when every team is competing on their own.

[Melanie]

Just because Dave is 60 he should be excluded from U-Turns? It's not like he's a frail elderly man! Brendon and Rachel U-Turned someone because they had to, much like Dave & Connor did.

At this point I'm rooting for Brendon and Rachel and I'm not too sure about anyone else. The teamwork is kind of annoying at this point. It's a competition - team versus team. I'm tired of everyone helping each other and making it a group effort. It's more enjoyable to watch when every team is competing on their own.

I agree! Dave/Connor are a threat. Brendon and Rachel were totally justified in UTurning them. For goodness sakes, they won two legs (I believe) last season after he tore his Achilles. Hey guys - did you know that Dave tore his Achilles last season? And they are consistently near the top this season.

I'm up for either the Cowboys, Afghanimals or Brenchel winning. The blondes have been carried along long enough, despite all their talk of what a great team they are.

[PirateLover]

I still like Connor... Dave is the one who has really gone over the top. And what is his obsession with the country girls? His behavior reminds me of kids in middle and high school who were never popular, but suddenly find themselves in with the "cool kids" and start acting out. I think what makes it even worse is the behind-the-scenes knowledge we have of Rachel not even WANTING to U-turn them, and she ends up being the one relentlessly mocked. Bad form, Mormon Dave!!!

[Melanie]

I still like Connor... Dave is the one who has really gone over the top. And what is his obsession with the country girls? His behavior reminds me of kids in middle and high school who were never popular, but suddenly find themselves in with the "cool kids" and start acting out. I think what makes it even worse is the behind-the-scenes knowledge we have of Rachel not even WANTING to U-turn them, and she ends up being the one relentlessly mocked. Bad form, Mormon Dave!!!

And we saw them kind of arguing last night for the first time when Dave insisted Connor do the road block. I'm actually glad to see they aren't getting the perfect edit anymore.

[The Hitchhiking Ghost]

I guess I'm in the minority. I thought Brenchel's use of the u-turn stupid, moronic and short sighted. Historically there are two u-turns legs on the Race. This is the first time that I can recall that since the u-turn has been around (S12) that the first place team on the first time it appeared wasted it simply to win a prize. Who cares, isn't the goal to win a million? Now, if it appears again, Brenchel will not have the ability to use it to either slow down a bigger threat or to save themselves in the event they get u-turned. Besides, if their true goal was to win the leg, then they should have used it on the Cowboys, who, depending on how they used their EP could easily have won the leg, they were the bigger threat.

I guess I just learn to tune Dave out, so it doesn't bother me. I think his whining wasn't so much about that they got u-turned, it was WHY they were u-turned, and the fact that it made no sense, which the Country Girls, Cowboys and Afghanimals all said the same thing.

That said, so glad to see the Trotters eliminated. Yeah, they were fun loving up to the end, trying to get the Italian host to high 5 Big Easy, but its hard to think of a more incompetent team of late than the Trotters. Running the Race for the 3rd time, you'd think you'd learn a thing or two, if even by accident. How they got that lost and then unable to figure anything out was beyond me.

I guess I'm looking for a Brenchel, Afghanimal, Cowboy final 3.

[MNNHFLTX]

I guess I just learn to tune Dave out, so it doesn't bother me. I think his whining wasn't so much about that they got u-turned, it was WHY they were u-turned, and the fact that it made no sense, which the Country Girls, Cowboys and Afghanimals all said the same thing.

I tend to disagree with you--it seemed pretty clear to me why Dave was bent about the u-turn; he felt that Brendan and Rachel were gunning for him (and Connor) and took it personally. He took everything they did personally, even the fact that they wouldn't tell him where the helmets were for the donkey race. I got a laugh out of how he turned to one of the other teams and said "They u-turned us. Can you believe that?" And then in the next instant is all apologetic to the Afghanimals, saying they had no choice but to u-turn them. I agree that it may not have been the most strategic u-turn, but coming in first has its own advantages at this point in the race (aside from the extra money). Any one of the teams could implode from here on out, as they have in the past, so I would take any advantage I could get, if I were in their shoes.

I am also getting kind of tired of all the teaming up taking place this late in the race. It will be interesting to see what happens when they finally start playing each man for himself.

I think it was fitting the the Trotters were the ones to go last night; they were likeable but just didn't deserve to be there anymore. And I felt sorry for the donkey having to carry Big Time around that track. He really is just too big of a guy to be riding on a horse or donkey of that size.

[The Hitchhiking Ghost]

I tend to disagree with you--it seemed pretty clear to me why Dave was bent about the u-turn; he felt that Brendan and Rachel were gunning for him (and Connor) and took it personally. He took everything they did personally, even the fact that they wouldn't tell him where the helmets were for the donkey race. I got a laugh out of how he turned to one of the other teams and said "They u-turned us. Can you believe that?" And then in the next instant is all apologetic to the Afghanimals, saying they had no choice but to u-turn them. I agree that it may not have been the most strategic u-turn, but coming in first has its own advantages at this point in the race (aside from the extra money). Any one of the teams could implode from here on out, as they have in the past, so I would take any advantage I could get, if I were in their shoes.

I am also getting kind of tired of all the teaming up taking place this late in the race. It will be interesting to see what happens when they finally start playing each man for himself.

I think it was fitting the the Trotters were the ones to go last night; they were likeable but just didn't deserve to be there anymore. And I felt sorry for the donkey having to carry Big Time around that track. He really is just too big of a guy to be riding on a horse or donkey of that size.

That's what I was trying to convey. I think Dave/Connor are smart enough to know that the u-turn is part of the game, they used it themselves. I think had Brenchel been team #5 and Dave team #6, Dave would still have been upset, but would have understood the reasoning behind it. But at least from what they showed, none of the teams could really figure out why Brenchel u-turned Dave/Connor. Even Rachel questioned the logic and Brendon who was already so fixated on the leg and winning it, tells Rachel to not get emotional. Really?? He's decision on whether or not to use the u-turn and who to use it on was all based on emotion and not logic.

I usually tend to be on the other side of the argument with regards to the u-turn. I believe in the long game, not the short game. In general (not always) leads are negated by the start of the next leg so using it just to maintain a lead thru the next leg doesn't make much sense to me. And from a strategic stand point, I'd rather go forward knowing that even if I don't need it or use it, that I at least have the option of using the u-turn, to save myself from elimination, rather than using it to simply stroke my ego and win a prize.

[PirateLover]

I can see how it can be considered a strategic error, but the fact is, they U-turned Dave and Connor, and instead of Dave just accepting that and getting things done, he chose to whine incessantly about it to everyone! Questioning the reasoning and being bummed out by it is one thing, but he took it over the top. He said multiple times I "hate" Brenchel, he said Rachel looks scary, and we see in the previews that he continues to mock her next week. To me, that is over the top and immature.