The Amazing Race 10, Episode 1 Insider Clips: Twist Me Up, Twist Me Down

Welcome back to the wonderful world of Insider clip recapping and the fun that is CBS. I will say this - the new Innertube system PLAYS much easier for me, especially after I realized Norton Internet Security was the reason I wasn’t getting clips to play at the end of last season. ::kicks overly protective programs:: However, there are some negatives right now that I’m hoping CBS will change. Actually, just one big one -ORGANIZATION. Yes, I am yelling that. It’s hideously organized. I had to pull up TAR/Teams and then click on each team individually until I’d found all the clips. Unfortunately, after there are multiple episodes, this method will become a PITA as I try to remember if I’ve recapped that clip or not. Pulling up “episode one” does not, as one would expect, pull up all new clips for episode one. It only pulls up three!

So, bottom line, things may play easier, but Innertube might make me lose my mind by the end of the season. But hey, it’s a lost cause anyway, so I’ll be here happily going mad and recapping for you. Let’s get down to it, shall we?

First off, I love Gasworks Park. And Seattle. If it weren’t for the traffic and cost of living, I’d probably be living there still instead of stuck in central WA. If you get a chance to visit, go see the park. It’s groovy. Anyway. Here we go!

Tyler & James & Drug Addiction: Team Zoolander discusses their issues with drug addiction. So far, I actually like the pretty boys, since they have depth. And no, it’s not just because I always fell for bad boys. Really. Tyler lost his father when he was young, he explains, and then his mom moved, so he lost all his friends. Drugs filled the void, he continues, as James nods in agreement and support. As Tyler says, drugs provided an unhealthy escape. James adds that for him, he just sort of fell into the lifestyle until it became un-fun, and like a job. He admits to doing anything just about (such as stealing) to get his drugs. He says they were not the most fun-loving people during this time.

Yep, like them so far.

Lyn & Karlyn on Peter & Sarah: I’d like to just call Lyn & Karlyn Team Abrasive because that’s what they are. One giant SOS pad. They totally rub me wrong. One bitches that Peter just wants to run everyone’s business, and that he’s hypocritical with Sarah. One minute he’s all “oh, her disability” and the next he’s all “oh, she’s so tough.” The other Team Abrasive pipes up with, “I just want her to be one or the other. Either need it or don’t” was her message. While I can somewhat understand this viewpoint, I don’t agree with it entirely. Not in the context of the race. Take the advantages offered you. Also, you can be tough as hell and in great physical shape, but that doesn’t necessarily negate the fact that YOU. DON’T. HAVE. A. LEG. So, um, shush.

(And on that note, Peter needs to shush with his hyper spastic “go girl, you’re the greatest, superwoman” gagworthy crap on the Great Wall. I’d’ve KILLED him if that’s how he tried to motivate me. It came off a bit Richard-Simmons-on-crack-ish.)

Bilal & Sa’eed’s Parting Words: Not too fond of these two, so I’m not overly upset they’re gone. Overly religious, in-your-face, “God is the reason for everything and I must say that as many times in a day to as many people as I can” sorts really grate. I’m sure they’re nice people, but, well, really, you won’t shake my hand? Sorry. Not a fan. Their parting words were meant to be very spiritual and inspiring, and again, I get the impression they are really good-at-heart guys, but it was a bit much. One explains he doesn’t gamble, only has a checking account, earns everything he has, etc. This was an opportunity, he continues, to get more for his family without gambling. He states that mankind only gets out of life what they strive for. You have to strive, and then, IF God wills it, then you might get it. The other one comments that he quit his $60K-a-year job figuring they’d win at least that much (um, I hate to ask this, but isn’t that sort of a gamble??). He claims it was not slacking that led them to be last and eliminated, but that it was already God’s plan for them and out of their control.

Yep, Phil’s twisty, twisting twist was totally in God’s radar. He really, absolutely is a reality TV fan and TAR is just his bag.

Arti Gets a History Lesson: Actually, she DOESN’T get a history lesson. Arti & Vipul, whom I really thought were adorable and hated to see go, totally lose major points here. They are in a cab and the driver mentions Tiananmen Square. She doesn’t know what it is. She thinks it’s historical. Vipul assumes it’s like New York City’s Times Square. Or maybe it’s just historical. OH. MY. FREAKING. GOD. They both appreciate China a bit more, and Vipul remarks that he thinks it’s a really old country with a lot of history. They both claim to love history.

Uh, hate to break it to you, but love it you may, but know it? Nope.

Vipul’s Free Ride: At SeaTac, Vipul is talking with Bilal & Sa’eed, one of whom is very excited. Vipul remarks that his family couldn’t figure out why Vipul & Arti wanted to do the show. The two teams agree it’s because it’s fun, exciting, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Vipul laughs that his father, who doesn’t watch American TV, wanted to know how much it cost to do this. They’d seen one or two episodes when it went to India. When Vipul told him it was free, he continues, his dad was all, “Nothing is free!” The teams have a nice laugh. I can just picture his dad. Too cute.