The Amazing Race 8: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Episode 4 - "Thunder or Cannon Fire, It's All the Same"

The only real matter for discussion this week is discussed below. So get to it!

The Good:

That Took Guts: Yep, you’re seeing it right. The Weavers are under the Good. I honestly didn’t expect them to do the Talledega task. I was not surprised that there was a semi-equalizing overnight stay immediately afterward. I don’t know what would have happened if the Weavers had refused to complete the task, but I’m guessing a large time penalty – which would not have been insurmountable, given the equalizer.

Look, I don’t do conspiracy theories, but I have to address them. I don’t believe for a second that the producers inserted the Talladega task because the Weavers were in the race. But for those who think they did, I counter with this – they also put the overnight stay to help mitigate any huge time penalty they might have gotten.

A lot of people would complain how unfair it is to make the Weavers do a task at a race track. But anyone who has watched Phil’s Diary segments on CBS.com knows how far in advance they set up the race. It was just bad luck for them, pure and simple. To suggest that the producers make a special exception (and not milk the drama for all it’s worth, I might add) is nonsensical.

Which brings us back to my point – while I’ve been very tough on the Weavers, merely stepping foot on a race track like that, even under controlled circumstances, took guts that, frankly, I didn’t think they had. I mean, they couldn’t even drive past the sign without getting skittish!! But I also think that they’ll be the first to tell you that the experience did nothing but help them. So my hat is off to them for this, and for running a very nice leg.

Cut Four: Now, the Play detour looked like the quicker option, and the one I would have taken. A twelve inch log sounds a lot thicker than it is, really. I hate to advocate switching tasks, but I agree with the Linzes – if you don’t win immediately, it’s time to go. But then, if I had four strong people on the team, I wouldn’t have bothered with Play in the first place.

That said, the Gaghans thought they had no choice but to Play, and again, I would have agreed with them. But they knew they were running behind, and faced the possibility of finishing like Lena and Kristy’s hay-rolling debacle in AR6. So Bill and Tammy sucked it up and did what they had to do. Sometimes having two small teammates is a positive, as I said last week. Sometimes it means you have to do all the work. Major praise to Bill and Tammy for getting it done.

Gee, Wally: A couple weeks back I lambasted Wally Bransen for not being physically fit enough to be in the race. Well, it looks like he was just having a bad day because they’ve been going like gangbusters ever since. Now watch them get eliminated next week.

Moon River: In addition to the idea of seeing a finely-shaped female rump, I enjoy Races where the contestants are able to be competitive AND have fun. I’ve ripped racers before for taking the whole thing way too seriously, so I feel I need to compliment the Linzes and the Bransens – as well as Wally Bransen for having enough of a sense of humor about the whole thing.

The Bad:

The Aiellos Are Still Gone: Sorry. Give me a little while.

Say What?: I couldn’t let you get away with it, Mom Weaver. Lake Ponchartrain is one of the Great Lakes? Man, you need some new textbooks. And by the way, if anyone had any doubt that the Weavers are battier than Bruce Wayne, please check out the CBS.com Insider videos, or preferably, Heathyr’s recap. I expect all those emailers from a couple weeks ago to apologize any day now. Seriously, I’m waiting.

If She Talks About One Minute Making a Huge Difference One More Time…: Stassi, just ask Mom Paolo about not shutting up – people stop listening to you. And you didn’t complain loud enough when it would have actually mattered.

Mark, you ran a horrible leg and you deserved to be eliminated. Hey, I liked you, but face facts. You ignored directions that would have saved a lot of time and Stassi’s mental health, you took a bad departure time that could have cost you the race,

BP Stands for Blatant Plug: Last week I said that BP was a logical sponsor for the show. But to have a “clue box” be Mr. BPwrench was a little… well, stupid. And speaking of stupid, why would the Godlewskis pass the station? Do they think that there was another one on the next block? Yeah, there are Walgreens on every corner, but I think BP stations are a little scarcer. I mean, wouldn’t you even CHECK?

The Ugly:

That’s Not Very Nice: I like the Schroeders, but even I’m not a big enough jerk to laugh about the Weavers having to face their trauma. Yes, I’ll tell them to suck it up, but that’s quite a bit different.

In any case, it’s pretty sad to constantly complain and harp on one fam… um, you know what? Never mind. Complaining about one family constantly is very cool and healthy.

Cry NOT Beautiful: Seriously, Christine Godlewski. Get a grip. Seriously.

Yeah, I just quoted Hilary Duff. Shut up.

Mike DeGeorge is an Accountant from St. Louis and is also Associate Editor for RealityNewsOnline. You can reach Mike at rno.mike@gmail.com.

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