Really Jen???

You couldn't have waited just a few more minutes before taking a potty break? Don't you know running suppresses your urge to pee?? All I know is if I were in a race for a million dollars I would have been ok with a little pee on the leg...I'm just saying. But due to your overwhelming pride we are stuck with the one of the rudest teams on TAR ever so thanks for that. Looks like the previews have the teams in Hawaii. With any hope Jamie and Cara will try to pull their same crap and get a big ole can of American whoopass unleashed on them. I can really only cheer for Victor and Tammy now - let's hope they can pull it off without a language advantage.

She's Baaack!

After a cardiology induced hiatus and a much needed West Coast jaunt your television guru is back.  Many props to M.Topes for holding down the fort in my absence.  There's a lot of TV to cover so let's get started...

Amazing Race - After seeing the previews from last week I was eagerly anticipating the drama in this episode.  I must say that I'm on Team Jen/Kisha  on this one.  Luke definitely threw a 'bow at the first clue box which was without a doubt a bitch move. And she definitely didn't push him at the next clue box.  Anyways it was nice to have some added drama since we all knew there was no way the tiny stuntmen could make up 4 hours.

The Duel II - As my sister pointed out these should really just be called Real World challenges now since Road Rules doesn't exist anymore and only a couple of them are in the cast.  All the scheming, hookups and fighting make The Challenge the guiltiest of all pleasures with the first episode living up to it's reputation with CT's attempted murder of Adam.  My early pick to win it - Mark who while pushing 40 is one of the most ripped guys on the show.

American Idol - Movie night was pretty much a ballad fest.  Kris Allen once again stole my heart singing the song from Once.  It was pretty predictable that the judges would use the save on Matt but it was still touching to see him cry and everyone else so excited.  Disco night this week should be pretty interesting (or horrifying) considering it seems to be a theme handpicked for Adam and Danny.

90210 - Donna Martin returns!  Tori Spelling's reprise of her lovable character was the perfect refreshing contrast to the gloom and doom of the Silver and Dixon drama.  This episode definitely lacked some Adrianna action and Naomi just wasn't cutting it.  Word on the street is big things are in store for the season finale including a death so let's hope things pick up soon.

ANTM - I really feel bad for London  - it wasn't her fault she blew up like a balloon.  Apparently the girls no longer have exercise equipment in the house like they had in the early years so they are pretty much forced to employ starvation as their only means to maintain those svelte model figures.  Shame on Tyra!

Make Me a Supermodel - It's like ANTM but with boys! And the people look like they could actually be models!  I'm a big fan of Branden, Mountaha and Jonathan.  Strangely enough I met a girl in San Francisco who dated Colin.  Apparently it's a big lie that girls ignore him cause girls were all over him in college..he's just super awkward and doesn't know what to do.

That's all for now - I still have to get caught up on Taking the Stage, 30 Rock and the Office, try out the newbies Parks and Recreation and Southland and embark on a 7 episode Lost catch-up marathon.  Phew it's hard work being a TV addict, but someone's gotta do it!  Check back later for thoughts on Dancing with the Stars and tonight's return of Gossip Girl and OTH.

"You Really Smoked 'Em Dad"

In general unless someone has wronged me or is playing on a team opposing Duke I don't like seeing people in pain. That's why it was so hard to the Road Block on tonight's episode of TAR. Seeing Mel schlep those buckets of water in the scorching Indian sun as he grunted and sweat made me so sad. But in true reality TV fashion all was redeemed when he of course was the only one to ACTUALLY READ THE CLUE and then beat everyone!! I'm glad to see that common sense still tops brawn on this show. Also Mel and Mike are quickly climbing up to the top of my favorite teams list. In opposite news...

Dear Jaime and Cara,

Maybe if you weren't so mean to your taxi drivers they wouldn't leave you places. They may not speak English but I'm pretty sure mocking comes across in any language.

Love,

Audra

For the love of TAR

No stranger to critical acclaim, The Amazing Race has won the Outstanding Reality-Competition Emmy for all 6 years it has been awarded. While some may doubt the legitimacy of an Emmy for such programming TAR is undoubtedly deserving. It's culturally educational, sentimental and exhilarating at the same time. We're already on the third episode of the season so here's a quick recap of the remaining teams.

-Tammy and Victor - lawyer brother and sister. He's whiny and emotional- she somehow puts up with it.
-Mike and Mel - Obscure character actor and his father
-Margie and Luke - Deaf son and mother - this season's heart string tuggers
-Brad and Victoria - married couple...they are pretty boring and got eliminated
-Jaime and Cara - 1st set of girls with same colored hair heretofore only known as the Red Heads.
-Amanda and Kris - an attractive couple who will more than likely hate each other by the end of the show
-Kisha and Jen - black sisters - total opposite of what Tyra and I would be on the show. In other words they're actually athletic
-Mark and Michael - stuntmen who are very short
-Christie and Jodi - 2nd set of girls with same hair - The Blondes seem destined to be the team that will be plagued by stupid mistakes...like not reading the clues correctly

Lessons learned on tonight's episode
1. The kindness of strangers never ceases to amaze. Would you let random people on a train use your phone to book a flight from Munich to Bucharest?
2. Travelling sucks whether you're being followed by cameras or not. This episode alone proved that the racers are not immune to headaches such as flight delays, emergency landings, incompetent taxi drivers and lost fanny packs.
3. Dreams really do come true. Training with Romanian gymnasts...are you kidding?? Oh to wear that sacred leotard with the blue, yellow and red stripes!!
4. High stress situations bring out the worst in sibling dynamics. Just because you're the oldest Victor doesn't mean your decision to follow obviously wrong signs up a giant mountain is a right one!
5. Phil Keoghan's eyebrow is so awesome it deserves recognition all its own.