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<p>Sorry, but that scares me a lot more than deep water. How does ANYONE just up and bail on job, family, bills & other obligations with one day’s notice??? Sorry, but the fact that it’s TV is not going to secure your job, feed the kids, walk the dog or pay the mortgage for a month.</p>
<p>BTW, I’m guessing the doc’s may have had floaties to get from the dive site to the jet skis.</p>
<p>The process (what they shared with me), dodgersmom, was quite long. Video sent in in June. Paperwork galore submitted in July. Phone interview in September. Personal interview with producers in (I think it was) Dec or Jan for a March or April take off date. There was plenty of time to prep family, employers, and the like. BUT…like all of these shows (Project Runway is one for sure) most will give up their job and even apartment for the shot of a lifetime.</p>
<p>JustaMom:</p>
<p>Do you know how long the contestants are actually on the show - i.e. the filming time? I’m wondering if it’s really something like 2-3 weeks in which case most people can manage to fit that in because it’s about like a normal vacation time period.</p>
<p>OMG, can you believe how aptly and fast that dad got around on those crutches???</p>
<p>So happy that they at least got one “first”.
So happy that the one team honored the express pass agreement to give them opportunity.
So HOPING that dad/son will hang on for at least another show - what a lesson in not giving up!</p>
<p>And a continuing episode - wasn’t expecting that! </p>
<p>New Zealand is GORGEOUS!!!</p>
<p>It’s 21 (or 24?) days, same as Project Runway. We just see it over months.</p>
<p>Last night’s episode was a hoot. The newlywed’s wife outdid the husband in the driving challenge and I couldn’t stop laughing. The Yahoo Host kids are really cute, and I like them more each week. I guess they remind me of "just"aDaughter’s friends when they were in HS. Just silly and full of energy. The dad on crutches blew my mind. I think they’ll keep racing until they just cannot. They certainly do not seem like the type to give up.</p>
<p>Loving this season so far - adding to my travel bucket list with every episode!!!</p>
<p>Driving in loose dirt like that is not a matter of jumping on the gas - which most of them seemed to not understand. Need to drive through the course fast - but under control. Too fast means corners are too wide and you actually go slower. </p>
<p>The obstacle course looked like fun. I’m wondering about the strategy many of these teams seem to be taking - even early on, you need to balance who takes the roadblocks. Otherwise you get stuck at the end without a choice…</p>
<p>I hope the father and son stick around, but I owuldn’t blame them for quitting. I don’t know what long-term problems the dad could have if he doesn’t get his torn achilles repaired.</p>
<p>New Zealand was gorgeous. </p>
<p>Learning to drive a stick is also one of the things you need to master if you’re going on TAR. But if everything was reversed in the car in New Zealand, I’m not sure how well the training would help. I’ve driven a stick for over 30 years, but I’d have trouble with the pedals reversed.</p>
<p>I thought about that too. But…H tells me that the pedals aren’t reversed, the gas is still the Right foot and the clutch is still the left…</p>
<p>Good to know if I ever drive in New Zealand (or any place else they drive on the left).</p>
<p>The only thing different with right-hand-drive is that the stick is on the left so you’d be shifting with your left hand rather than right - the pedals are configured the same regardless of LHD/RHD.</p>
<p>I think the father was scooting along quite well also - he may be able to go faster on crutches than mulletman’s wife can run. I assume and hope when he was seen by the doc in Tahiti the doc gave him guidance regarding whether the injury needed some treatment immediately or not and whether scooting around with the boot can protect it or might further damage it. It seems that since he went on from Tahiti to NZ he believes he won’t be damaged by what he’s doing. Either that or he’d prefer to get treatment in NZ rather than Tahiti. If it won’t get further damaged, it seems that since he’s this far along he may as well keep going at least for this segment of the race since he’s already there. He may as well keep going until he gets knocked out of the race since he might at least end up in another location or two which would be fun. Although it might be hard for them to win, they could well beat out a couple more teams depending on what the challenges are.</p>
<p>I would have had a hard time being patient doing the fishing roadblock - just standing there waiting for a fish to bite. It seems that every minute of waiting wold seem like a looong time.</p>
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<p>They have to be able to commit to a six week period. I enjoyed last night’s episode. What fun!</p>
<p>Dave & Connor, and Chuck & Wynona, are going to have to be careful with their distribution of roadblocks.</p>
<p>PERFECT ending tonight!! How could you not regret such a series of dumb decisions? (Yes, made under pressure, but he really choked tonight, repeatedly.)</p>
<p>Re the newlywed couple. In the first episode, she said something indicating she’s very introverted. We already guessed he might be gay and either not know it or is trying to hide it, and she just didn’t have the social or dating experience to know he was a little different.</p>
<p>I can’t recall the relationship of the couple that came in last tonight (dating? engaged?) - but, whatever it is, if she ever forgives him for his nonchalant attitude . . . it’s too soon!</p>
<p>Or maybe it’s just that he always has to be right . . . even when it’s obvious to everyone (on the planet!) that he’s wrong. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Phil was hilarious with his “Oy vey!” and that expression on his face. :D</p>
<p>Tonight’s episode was great. A task where luck is involved (the monkeys), and a few where being observant is key. I like those kinds of challenges. </p>
<p>Dang the losing couple, man, she asked numerous times to use the Express Pass & he was just hanging on! Like those at a blackjack table. Up $25 but continue playing until you’re down $100. </p>
<p>Bali is gorgeous!</p>
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<p>Isn’t a manual transmission car a typical task in the contest (since the contestants are Americans, it is likely that some of them do not know how to use one)?</p>
<p>Isn’t refueling a diesel fuel car (rare in the US, so some Americans would just put gasoline in it without noticing the small “diesel fuel” label) also a typical task?</p>
<p>So happy to start this season in some really beautiful places. Seems the last couple of seasons we were eternally stuck in underdeveloped countries or overdeveloped asian countries!!! Nice to have the mix!</p>
<p>That losing guy must be OCD or something. The manner in which he acted at the fruit thing, insisting on doing that surf board thing in such a peculiar way, just really odd behavior. His partner was way more patient with him than I would have been. And that comment, “I don’t even need/want a million dollars” - what the heck kind of comment was that?? Strange.</p>
<p>I just don’t see a particularly strong team right now going forward. I would like to say the son/dad of course, but at some point that leg is going to catch up with him, even just in the # of tasks he is going to be able to complete. </p>
<p>I think I would have gone NUTS trying to figure out the paths/way to get up to Phil on that surf board challenge - and all those stairs - exhausting!</p>
<p>I don’t hold out much hope for the relationship of the couple that were eliminated. I’m not sure she’ll ever get past his refusal to use the Express Pass.</p>
<p>That was just bizarre. Phil said it best “Oy vey”, indeed! In all the seasons of TAR, I’ve never seen such a stupid decision. </p>
<p>Again, Chuck/Wynona and Connor/Dave are going to have to be very careful with their distribution of roadblocks. Both are at 4-1, which isn’t wise this early in the race.</p>