Amazing Race - SPOILERS

I was yelling to my husband in the other room about how the rocker guys were killing it... until they ended up in 7th.

I think the 1st place team owes a BIG ONE to the 2nd place team.

Since I would recognize an abacus, not to mention be able to pronounce it, I am sad as usual I am not competing in the race.

Oh, and I think the twin sisters will quickly self destruct.  WAY TOO INTENSE.

Good first episode.  Interesting $2M twist...but the promos made it sound like anyone would get $2M!  I'm sure the producers have all the stats on how often the same team has come in first in the first and last legs.

So far the only person I don't like is the male half of monster truck.  Dunno, just rubs me wrong.  I'm sure I'll come up with more teams I don't like as they start to self-destruct.

Fairly straight forward first leg.  Absolutely appalled at how many teams could not pronounce abacus.

Mmmmm...Chippendales. :D  SO glad they were not eliminated.  But SERIOUSLY, they were like the THIRD team to the Bund...you'd think you'd start looking more closely or following other teams or something...hopefully they can use their strength/fitness to move up a few notches next leg...their fitness is what kept them in the race today for sure.

The team that got eliminated definitely read too much into the clues...

Should be a good season...can't wait to see it unfold.

I think I remember something about how the team who wins the first challenge "never" wins the race - that was also my first thought when I heard about the new twist.  I am sure as soon as that first place team is out the producers will have a little party

I am curious about Shanghai now, the architecture looked more European in places than I would have expected. 

Jaymes is a friend of the wife's and mine.  We are pulling for them.

JUST SLAM IT

I was about to lose it when the one NOT doing the task kept yelling this.

The kid playing table tennis with various household items was funny, especially when they used the clue.

It definitely seemed like she eventually went easier on people...I wonder how many times they went up against each other? 

I wonder if after she made it through all the items with a person she was told to take it easy on them or something.... 

The twins are growing on me...I think being loud is just part of their personality.

Sad to see the Abby and XXXX (can't remember his name) team eliminated.  They fell to the mercy of bad cabs.  Stinks.  I was hoping for a non-elimination leg.

DID NOT like that the taller substitute teacher had essentially already "given up".  NOT cool.  Never give up because you really never know if someone else got lost.

Still don't like the male half of monster truck.

Anyway, decent episode.  Those seemed like not all that hard challenges today....just time consuming.  And with the balloon one I bet that "slow to go fast" should have been the mantra of both teams.  Nearly spit out my water when they showed the Chippendale pumping up the balloon...hahahahahah

Next week looks good...double u-turns always cause...drama!!!! :D

Always sucks to get the cab driver that know nothing.  But you would think after so many years, that people would know to locate some info place or people to get the address...  Instead of driving around in circles or out of the city.

Wish that Amy and Daniel could have gone alittle further.  Her's was a nice story.

It seems like teams you hate never get the crummy cab driver.  They were probably too nice for their own good.

I had the same thought about the twins - they just operate at a much higher volume.  I couldn't stand being around them for even a minute personally, but I no longer find them to be horrible.  They really went after that challenge.  I wonder how they will do in more civilized society. I am imagining them in Switzerland, for instance, which is about the polar opposite of Asia.

I kind of like the monster truck guy. They made a really bad mistake not checking the flight times.  I thought at first they were going to try for an earlier flight, but after that I think they just didn't ask about arrival time.  Oops.  But he is strong and has a can-do attitude.  In general there are a lot of hard workers on this season.

Once again, Abba and ... James mess up after a great move at the airport.  What is their problem?

Good episodes and a handfull of good solid teams.  The twins have grown on me and I have to hand it to them on the fish setup task.

I don't think I've ever been so sad to see someone get eliminated.  Broke my heart.  What an amazing person. 

The twins did rock that fish challenge.

Another elimination decided solely by a taxi or rickshaw or whatever driver.  The weakest team by far gets through again even though they bumble through another leg.

Maybe the producers need to pony up for a pool of transporters who know what end is up.  It's making it hard to watch when dumb luck decides eliminations.

I think that is the nature of the game.  You gamble on the cabbie. Twinnies played it right when they got a crappy cabbie, although that wouldn't have helped the girls.  

I still dont like the Twinnies and am looking forward to them getting the boot.  So far I do not have a real favorite this year. 

I was a little torn at 1st with this week's elimination...sure, the eliminated team was okay to look at...but listening to them made my skin crawl.  Could they have gotten any more rude?  Do they really think screaming helps when there is a language barrier?  I hate when nice looking ladies are eliminated, but I love watching rude people get the boot!  

I was thinking the same thing.  If only the monster truck driving luggage pulling team would go next I'd be happy.

The Chippndales team is pretty likable. 

This week was really irritating to watch. I mean they were screaming that it was the cabbies fault they didn't speak English. No, that is your fault for not getting around the same barrier every other team has to deal with. And ya, the twins are not a lot better. And what is up with the ADHD Chipmunk... can he drink any more energy drinks??? To top it all off they throw in the.. I don't know the name of the instrument... but the flute that is played... it just all got a little much. No real favorites for me so far.

Yeah, too bad for those girls getting a bad driver, BUT they could have a) just gotten another one, or b) actually been nice to aid in communication.    If I were him, and they were yelling at me like that, I might have gone the wrong way on purpose.

Karma.

I LOVED it!  Those last guys will get out eventually, and those two blond girls would have never won with that attitude.  So, it will all work out and at least the nice guys get their due for one week.  They could hurry up a bit though...  But hey, they did do both challenges.  That's worth something.

Ok I'll go first this week.

The twins are really starting to drive me nuts. Claiming the bus repair is a "guys challenge"? Really? The teachers were due to get cut. Still don't have a real favorite.

Just how many weeks could those guys completely come apart and still get to the mat ahead of another team.  Finally they are gone.

The twins really do irritate me but they are amazingly tough.  Couldn't believe how she carried those bus chairs.  These girls are going to be a force til the end.

I think the teams are all pretty equal and its still anyone's race.  Some of the teams that I thought were stronger have could back into the pack.

I don't like legs were everyone gets a catchup as when everyone is on the same flight.  Makes for a better horse race but doesn't seem very fair.