The Amazing Race 9, Episode 11 Insider: I’ve Lost My Mojo

Welcome to the almost-last edition of this season’s insider clip recap. To celebrate, we will have virtually no insider clips to recap due to technical difficulties (or user error, take your pick). Saturday, I forgot. Sunday, I forgot, went on a 5 hour bike ride (my first in 20 years), fried myself like a green tomato in the South, and then tried to watch the videos. Nothing played. Nothing even came up (video-wise, that is). So today, Monday, I tried from work. I got all of them to finally, with some major finessing, to at least show me what CBS claims each clip is about, but I only got a few to play.

Nevertheless, it didn’t stop me when I recapped the Insider clips for Survivor once, and it won’t stop me now! My lobster-back arms and I are on the job.

The Letter: “I don’t care how much money I got to spend, got to get back to Pat Sajak again… Hey Vanna, pick me a letter!” It says something about me that I think of this version first and then the original Boxtops version, I think. What it says, I don’t know. I will admit though, that I knew The Boxtops version first, but the Doctor Dave one lingers.

Anyway, I digress. Already. This clip didn’t load, but it is described thusly:

Along with her purple running pants, Yolanda left a letter with instructions on how to take care of them properly, and a birthday wish.

I’d bet Eric & Jeremy would have had some snazzy comments had they been told how to take care of Yo’s pants!

The Dirty Dancer: While eating their hearty breakfast, BJ & Tyler thank the woman responsible for it, Sydney, an erotic dancer. Did she give them her hard earned tips?

Fortunately, this clip actually loaded. I cheered. Sydney, as described by the Hippies, was a charming erotic dancer they ran into early that morning (or late the night before, depending on your perspective) in downtown Darwin. They explain that she gave them enough money for breakfast and a little show for the road, something to keep the sailors warm at night. I about choke on my early morning chai. They quickly inform us that she volunteered to do it; they did not ask. Tyler smiles as he says she gave them twenty bucks then said she had another gift for them and lifted her shirt. Hah! I love this! How totally great, and I bet the camera man appreciated it as well.

The Power of Lake: How else could BJ & Tyler survive eating insects than by channeling their inner-Lake? It did the trick as the pair snagged the fast forward and another victory.

I so wish this one had loaded. Later on, in one of the clips that did load, they say BJ was all like “first place, first place” in his best Lake impression. I can only imagine this clip is hysterical. Oh, and speaking of these crickets. Did anyone else see those bowls and go DAMN!? I mean those were some serious bowls. I’d be hard-pressed to finish anything in them, much less something nasty like crickets. Blech.

Lost & Found: A destitute BJ & Tyler get a very bright idea when they look through the lost and found of Qantas airways. While the focus starts out on shoes, their attention quickly turns to fashionable hats.

So that’s how they do it! Again, sadly, didn’t load for me. This explains how they wound up with varying clothes though, and it’s not because the Powers That Be fudge the “take your stuff” but because BJ & Tyler are that amicable they can get away with stuff like this!

Brushing Up: While teacher Yolanda tries to become a student of the Thai language, boyfriend Ray can’t be bothered. He even gets a reprimand from his teacher, er… girlfriend.

Heh. I really wanted to see this. Yolanda in teacher mode amuses me, because she just doesn’t get how really annoying she is. Ray, though, does need to pull his head out of his nether regions and realize that learning other languages, or at least key phrases, is a respectful and useful thing to do. He’s sucked wind at this throughout the race, and his casual brush-off of it annoys me. If you notice, BJ & Tyler make a point to know a few phrases at least everywhere they go. It’s extremely useful in bringing locals over to your side.

Rise & Shine: Everything is more difficult in the early morning legs. Just watch Jeremy & Eric walk from the airport parking lot.

These two look so tired, and I can totally relate. They trip over stuff in the parking lot, kicking it away. They throw water bottles at each other and miss catching them, and otherwise half-awakenly stumble around the lot trying to get to the terminal. They go under a rope that catches on Jeremy’s pack, and he’s not quite alert enough to realize what’s holding him back. He finally gets it off and they meander towards the airport. Ah, fatigue!

Monkey Shines: Almost like a bad horror movie, Eric & Jeremy watch the many, many monkeys swarm around the shrine. They realize that feeding them may not have been the best idea.

Heh. So very true. I wish I could have seen this, because swarming monkeys are a guaranteed laugh. And the temple monkeys will be amusing too!

Moot Point: Monica & Joseph discuss who they’d like to be in the final three with. A couple of smashed pots later and this conversation is rendered useless.

Another non-loader. I’d bet the Hippies weren’t on that list. I wonder though if they talk about which other, already eliminated, teams they’d prefer, or if it’s just the current teams racing.

Bug Juice: Monica & Joseph discuss how they would have faired in the bug eating fast forward…then Monica complains.

What does she complain about? That they screwed themselves by not checking and asking the right questions at the bus terminal? That they didn’t get to eat all those bugs? What? I’d love to see this, but I’m sort of sick of her whining anyway, so maybe it’s a good thing it didn’t load.