Culturally Preconditioned

I don’t know how many of us realize that AXN is showing the show LIVE via Satellite every Monday morning at 9 am. I’m sorry for not informing you folks this in advance, but the episode is repeated again tonight at 9 pm on Channel 17 AXN if you missed the show this morning. We’re lucky enough to get the day off today for the Chinese New Year holiday (Happy Belated Chinese New Year, everyone!) , so I was able to somewhat catch the Amazing Race All Star premier show LIVE. If you don’t want to be spoiled for the outcome, don’t proceed. Catch the first of the show’s many many repeat starting tonight at 9 pm.

So… Amazing Race All Star. It’s finally here! I just caught the amazing advertisement for the show, where they put the images of the contestants in new movie posters (the Guidos as the mock Godfathers - Grandfathers, and Romber as the Mr & Mrs Reality - as opposed to Mr & Mrs Smith, etc). I thought that was brilliant. Anyway, yes yes yes! The show is finally here. I was a little disappointed with the one-hour show. They really need to come up with 2-hour premiers, especially since this IS All Stars.

Phil’s words of wisdom : No one should take anyone for granted.

Wether or not that will come to fruition, we’ll just have to wait and see. Teams had to fly from the starting city in Miami to Quito, Ecuador. I love how we’re finally getting back some airport chaos and drama, something sorely lacking in the Amazing Race Asia. Wonder of all wonders, we see Rob showing kind gestures towards Danny & Oswald (the Cha Chas). That’s a first! And most likely the last. It was nice to see the Chas getting along well with Schmirna (TEAM SCHMIRNA FOR THE WIN!!!) at the airport. It was also kinda hilarious watching David say “Hi Rob & Kim. We’re big fans!”. LOL It’s kinda like a slap in the face to Amber. I love it.

Teams were split onto two different flights. American Airlines which leaves later but arrives two hours ealier (on this flight were - Romber, The Chas, Schmirna, Guidos, Jon Vito & Jill and Teri & Ian. The rest leave on a different flight which leaves earlier but arrives much later. I was surprised to see David & Mary’s hostility to the Beauty Queens, though.

One in Ecuador, the teams head to Plaza San Francisco, where they have to head down to Pims Restaurant to get their next scheduled departure times (Urghhh.. I absolutely hate it when they bunch up the teams like this). Romber was the first one to arrive, as expected. And it was interesting to see how the other teams are still hung up on Romber for doing so well in the race (so far). Aside from the onslaught of ‘rapido, rapido! Mucho rapido!’ comments, there wasn’t really anyting exciting going on. Oh, other than the fact that lazy fucker Drew tripped and thought he dislocated his shoulder (even though he could actually move it) and whined and bitched and whined.

The next morning they headed to the Cotopaxi National Park, where they were advised to drive via the Northern Entrance. Mirna commented that she wasn’t accustomed to driving with a stick (gear). I laughed out loud when the both of them made crossing gestures after she made that comment. Hahaha. Schmirna was also the first team to acquire the help of a fern in this show. YAY! It’s unfortunate that they didn’t tell the fern that they were supposed to use the Northern Entrance though.

The Detour was between Wrangle It (where they had to tie down a horse to clip it’s nails and trim it’s tails) and Recover It (where they had to search the fields for three missing items for their attire). Aside from Rob & Kimber (who actually did Recover It, and gave up), all of the teams did Recover It, and all of them finished their tasks in the order of their arrivals at the Detour.

I can’t believe Kevin & Drew didn’t bother to change their flat tyre on their four wheel drive. Isn’t that dangerous? But that definitely saved them from elimination though. But still.. I don’t like Drew. He sucks. Schmirna and JvJ lost their way (they made it to the park via it’s Southern entrance instead), so that pushed them further below the pack. In the end, Jon Vito and Jill never recovered and were eliminated.

All in all, a pretty bland premier, although I loved seeing all the teams back in action again. Hopefully next week’s episode will be so much better. In the order of their arrival at the pitstop :

1. Romber - I’m no fan of Romber, but you can’t deny that they’re pretty darn good racers.

2. The Chas - Love ‘em!

3. Teri and Ian - very competent racers. Would love to see them go far.

4. Eric & Danielle - I hate the fact that they’re not an original team. Ick! Jeremy should be on it.

5. Guido - Meh

6. Beauty Queens - Another competent team we should look out for

7. Ucheynna & Joyce - Boring

8. Schmirna - heart heart heart heart heart

9. David & Mary - They might be popular, but their place should be given to another team

10. Kevin & Drew - Die already.

11. Jon Vito & Jill (eliminated) - buh bye