The Amazing Race
I'm still enjoying this season quite a bit. Most of the families aren't spectacularly dysfunctional, and none of them are model/actresses, which is a nice change. The locations certainly haven't been as exotic, but, you know, the US is a big country. It's a legitimate place to race around. Plus, it's meant they've had to navigate for themselves a lot more, which I appreciate.
Aiellos: You know the editors are reaching for a storyline when they use Aiello Son-in-Law's marine background twice in two episodes. I like them, though; functional, decent, treating each other well. Though I keep expecting Father-in-Law Aiello to keel over. Man.
Bransens: Er, yeah, about that keeling over... poor guy, not realizing how out of shape he was. That's rough. He's gonna have to come to terms with that fast and let his daughters pick up the physical slack.
Gaghans: Oh, sweeties. I want to keep liking you, but two hours without thinking perhaps something is wrong? They just don't hide the clue boxes that well anymore, and you should know it. On the plus side, wow, they're a couple of monsters physically, aren't they? They rocked that wounded-carrying task, when some four-person teams had trouble with it.
I was also somewhat alarmed when Billy busted out the "we should ask someone" thing and, listening to him, I suddenly realized that he is me at that age. Poor kid.
Godlewskis: The squealing is a bit much, but I can cope with that. They're racing well--good for them. I can imagine them being the first all-female team to win the Race.
Linzes: Much more likable when the boys aren't trying to be frat-boy funny. I'm sure they'll get back to it and make me pray for them to shut up again soon.
Paolos: I really couldn't tell you, because I fast forward past Paolo scenes. They seem to still be arguing, and I definitely still want them eliminated.
Rogerses: And what did we learn from this episode, boys and girls? We learned that sometimes, Daddy is wrong! (See also: Gaghan, Billy.) A more perfect example of the dangers of "I'm in charge, don't ask questions" I have rarely seen.
Schroeders: Dad Schroeder is aggressively unfunny. On the plus side, they seem internally functional and they actually haven't been assholes to anyone else yet, so I don't have to fast-forward them. Plus, I like that they don't whine.
Weavers: I should be annoyed by them--the praying every time Mom looks at a map, the spectacular geographical ignorance--but, you know, I'm just not. They like each other, they're supportive of each other, they seem to be enjoying themselves, and they're doing a better job of actually getting to where they need to go than several teams with more knowledge at their fingertips.
I retain the right to decide I can't cope with the attempt to apply Jesus to a game show, though.