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.

Parental Bonding: Team Abrasive alternately loudly whine about missing their kids and brag about them. They dominate the conversation, but Mary gets a few questions in edgewise. She finds all the names of the kids “beautiful” and likes that one of Team Abrasive’s kids all have “J” names. Finally, they ask Mary about her kids. They share pictures. They bond.

Duke & Lauren Reveal Their Secret: Once again, this involves Team Abrasive. They corner Duke & Lauren, demanding to know their relationship secret. They keep saying they’ve heard LOTS of things. Duke & Lauren tease a bit and finally admit they are father and daughter, not husband and wife as some thought. Team Abrasive claims that explains “a whole lot.” I’m not sure what, but hey, it makes them happy, so I’m good.

Godwin Breaks Down: Does anyone else totally hope he invokes Nazism at some point in the race so we can have a true television moment of Godwin’s Law? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? ::cough:: Anyway. Bilal and Sa’eed have just been eliminated, and in this interview Godwin totally breaks down. He’s crying as he talks about how much he likes these guys, and it’s bittersweet that they’re gone. He respects and admires the team, so to see them gone is hard. Erwin puts a brotherly arm around Godwin and carries the rest of the conversation for him while Godwin keeps crying. Godwin connects with the team because of their passion, Erwin explains. He continues that they are relieved it’s not them because they thought they were last. It will provide fuel for the race tomorrow. Godwin? Still speechless and crying.

Kellie & Jamie, the Cheerleaders of the Race: Whichever one the blonde is, she has a total blonde moment. Like groan-worthy, can’t-believe-it’s-on-tape moment. She is wearing her sunglasses and searching for them in her stuff, asking her companion where her glasses are. She’s also holding money and papers loosely in her hands with the windows down in the cab, and I expect a blonde moment with that, but if one happened, we don’t see it. She starts rhyming about the Great Wall of China, and it’s truly painful. Trust me on this. The other one jumps in on it, but then mercifully, they stop and just mutter that they don’t want to be Philiminated. I could have been so lucky.

Kellie & Jamie, the Babies of the Race: Tom & Terry and Kellie & Jamie chat in the airport and finally figure out that Team Airhead is the youngest team. Tom & Terry call the models Team Zoolander, and I about die laughing. As you see, I’ve picked it up. I really enjoyed it.

Kellie & Jamie, the Nicknamers of the Race: In a subway or train, or the underground shuttle at SeaTac, the girls go over their nicknames for the teams. Bilal and Sa’eed are, sadly, the Buddha Boys. Fortunately, at the end, they do redeem themselves by admitting they know they’re not Buddhists, but Muslim Men doesn’t sound as fun as Buddha Boys, I guess. They too are miffed that the handshaking won’t happen. They have little creativity. They do mention Team Zoolander, but I don’t know if they came up with that or Tom & Terry. Team Abrasive is just “the black girls” to them at this point. They thought the dad and daughter were dating, so they’re amused it’s a father/daughter team. They end talking about Bilal and Sa’eed again, wanting to shake their hands. Heh.

Peter Creates Trouble at the Airport: Peter mischievously hides the bags of a few teams that left them alone, and he comes up with the idea to tell them that airport security took them. Heh. Cute. I like this side of him. He tells Sarah not to laugh, but she’s having a hard time not. Cut to Team Abrasive who, surprise surprise, do not like this. They think it’s devious, and they do not like games. Apparently the fact they are on a game eludes them. I wonder how these two would do with Rob & Amber. Heh. I really hope they get less abrasive as the episodes wear on. Anyway, Team Zoolander comes back and instantly know what happened. They take it good-naturedly, as it’s meant to be.

Peter & Sarah Make Friends With Models: Team Zoolander and Peter & Sarah chat. Peter explains what he does; he works for an Icelandic company. One of the boys has been to Iceland for a job. When the guys ask them what their relationship is, Peter merely says they raced Ironman together and that they’ve been friends for a long time. Makes me think that the “dating” bit is a tad overblown. They explain what the Ironman is and that Sarah was the first woman on a prosthesis to complete it. “So, do you guys smoke?” quips one of Team Zoolander. They all laugh.

The Odd Couple: Terry tells us he doesn’t get why Tom thinks he’s “Felix” (Neil Simon play, movie, and a TV series, so please tell me you get the reference) just because he does dishes when they’re dirty and doesn’t put off cleaning up things. He goes on to give more examples, and I have NO problem envisioning him as Felix. None whatsoever. Oh, Terry’s the taller one with slightly more hair, by the way. Tom declares that the race will be good for Terry. He’ll have to get messy, I guess. Tom also doesn’t get how Terry can live with all the germs in New York City. We also learn how Terry has to have long, detailed private conversations with waitstaff when ordering (maybe he’s just getting phone numbers!). I envision When Harry Met Sally and chortle to myself. Terry also feels the race will be good for Tom and his (lack of) organizational skills, and that he will have to learn to keep it all with him and neat. Heh.

And that’s all she wrote for this week. I hope next week the website is a bit easier to find the new clips on! Overall, I’m excited for this season. It looks like we’ve got some fun dynamics!

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out these other recent Amazing Race 9 articles:

Heathyr Fields Ford loves commentary and feedback, and she can be reached at heathyranne@hotmail.com when she’s not being a geek in her online role-playing game.

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