The Amazing Race 25 - Premiere Episode Recap

Go Big or Go Home

This is the 25th season of the Amazing Race and they started out from Times Square in New York City... with a cheering crowd all around them (that was different.)

We meet the teams as they arrive by taxi:

• Adam & Bethany, newly married surfers from Hawaii- she lost an arm in a shark attack and was the subject of the movie Soul Surfer... there is someone with a can-do attitude.
• Amy & Maya, food scientists from Madison, Wi - they study candy and ice cream (yum!) They want to prove scientists are more than lab coats and beakers.
• Dennis & Isabelle -dating, accountant and model, from California - he's Cambodian and she's Vietnamese, they want to prove to her family (they wanted her to date a nice Vietnamese boy) that this relationship is getting cemented and may lead to marriage.
• Brooke & Robbie, dating pro wrestlers from Texas and New Jersey - they are intimidating in, and out, of the ring - they are about one thing, and that's winning.
• Keith & Whitney - engaged from Nashville - they met on Survivor (and I don't really remember them... well I remember his great hair and chin dimple and her twang... but personality-wise, nope.)  They didn't win Survivor but they're gunna win the Race.
• Kym & Alli - competitive street cyclists from New York - what the heck? They race bicycles through traffic - that's nutty.  They are adrenaline junkies and are going to race like guys.
• Lisa & Michelle - barbie doll looking sisters and realtors from Miami, FL - they are aggressive in their work and use their looks to help them which they intend to do on the race as well.
• Michael & Scott - firefighters from Boston, MA - they responded to the marathon bombing and are proud to represent the people of Boston.
• Tim & Te Jay - college sweethearts from Pasedena, CA.  They met as freshmen in college and the rest is Herstory (oh boy). I don't know who is who - one of them has been trying to tell his mom they are boyfriends not just room mates... (Well, coming out on national TV might just do it.)
• Shelley & Nici - mother & daughter flight attendants from Detroit, Mi - they look like sisters, they are only 17 years apart - they know everything they are going to have to do as a team on the race will only bring them closer, so, game on!
• Misti & Jim - married dentists from Columbia, SC - these two are amazingly fake looking - fake tan, fake hair, fake teeth... and oh those teeth - the whitest veneers I've ever seen!  He thinks they are perfect competitors for the race - they picture their dreams coming true and they do. (wow).

Phil welcomes them to their silver anniversary season - and announces the new twist this season - the team to come in first on the first leg will win the SAVE.  If they ever face elimination, they can save themselves and keep racing - they have up until the 9th leg to use it.

And off they go - they read the clue which tells them to start the race where the first race ended. Luckily there were contestants from the first season among the spectators and the teams ran over and found out they had to head to the Globe at Flushing Meadows park. TAXI!  Luckily no lack of taxi's in New York but also no lack of traffic.

Shelley & Nici tell their driver to drive it like he stole it and he cheers along!  Woo!  Go Big or Go Home!

 

Flushing Meadows park - Adam & Bethany are the first team to find the clue box and they read the clue to fly to St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands.  (Oh, she can't tear open the clue... I wonder how she'll do with some of the physical challenges to come.)

-There are only seats for 5 teams on the first flight which gives those teams a 40 minute head start.  But when Adam & Bethany get to the airport, they go to the wrong ticket counter, allowing Tim & Te Jay to be the first team to check in, then Isabelle & Dennis get there... and Adam & Bethany end up 3rd, followed by Kym & Alli and finally Fakey Mcfakersons, Misti & Jim are the 5th team.

-That puts Whitney & Keith first on the 2nd flight with wrestlers Brooke & Robbie, Realtors Lisa & Michelle, Scientists Amy & Maya, Mom/daughter Shelley & Nici and firefighters Michael & Scott.

 

Once they land in St Thomas they must make their way to the Vendors Plaza and sign up for a Sea Plane flight. Only two teams per float plane.

-Misti & Jim get the best taxi driver, she takes off like a shot and says she likes being with the winning team cause she's a winner!  And they get to the Vendors Plaza first, but they can't find the sign up sheet... which allows Adam & Bethany, Tim & Te Jay and cyclists Kym & Alli to sign up before the dentists... with Dennis & Isabelle (which is my team) coming up the rear.

 

-Bethany & Adam and Tim & Te Jay take off in the seaplane and the views and water are beautiful - these teams are all hopeful they can win the SAVE.

-2nd float plane takes off with the Dentists and Cyclists on board - one of the cyclist girls is feeling air sick but knows it would be bad form to throw up on another team - Don't get any puke in Misti's weave!

 

The 2nd flight with the remaining 6 teams arrive and they are cut throat - the first couple teams sign up for the float planes without incident but when the last three teams arrive it's pushing and shoving - one of the firefighters is writing his name on the sheet when one of the barbie sisters rips the pen out of his hand and writes her name over it... what!?!  Leaving the firefighters and wrestlers the last two teams. (OMG! Why are pretty people sometimes the ugliest people?  And no acknowledgement of their heinous behaviour, they felt totally justified and entitled to steal that spot... it was awful.)

-Michael & Scott feel they can't be gentlemen anymore - Brooke agrees, she would have gone psycho if they had done that to her.

 

-The first seaplane lands and Tim & Te Jay are the first to the cluebox - they must take a boat out to a rocky outcropping, then climb the rocks to the other side where they will leap two storeys into the Caribbean Sea where they will find their next clue floating in a bottle.

-At the rocks they have to jump out of the boat then climb a rope net - which Bethany does with one hand no problem... she is pretty amazing.  Meanwhile Te Jay is complaining that the salt water is stinging his lips (sheesh... of course that would be me until I remembered Bethany was doing all this with one arm.)

-Dentists and Cyclists are right behind them.

-Then they all start leaping (one at a time) but they are doing it with no problems.  In the bottle is a picture of a bi-mast schooner ship - Blackbeard's Revenge.  They are taken to the ship and Blackbeard gives them their next clue - they have to get in one of the small boats off the side of the ship and pull themselves along a strung line to the beach to get their next clue.

-Tim & Te Jay are the first to the ROADBLOCK - one person must use a traditional liquid compass which is backwards to the standard compass where the direction you are facing is actually closest to you - starting at a designated landmark, they must use the compass and the shovels provided, which measure 1 yard, to find the coordinates in their clue and dig up a treasure chest which will have their next clue in it.  (Oh man, this is going to be difficult.)  And someone needs to learn to read the clue as Tim just starts digging at the landmark instead measuring out the coordinates... that does not bode well for them coming in first. 

-Adam at least knows to start at the wheel and measure out from there but he can't figure out the compass. (yeah, that's gonna be a b*tch.)

 

-The rest of the teams are climbing rocks and jumping in the ocean - or in float planes or still waiting for float planes... but slowly they all start arriving at the beach.

-I think it's Alli of the cyclist girls who is supposed to start at the anchor but runs to the bell.. Tim asks her if she's supposed to start at the bell too and she's telling the camera, yes, it looks like a bell but it's an anchor too (uh, really?  I guess it could be used for one in a pinch, but, that is not an anchor... and all her wrong measures are going to be that much wronger if she starts at the wrong place - sheesh.)

-Fakey Dentists get there and Jim is going to do this because the Save is on the line so he better do it (whatever) Misti tells us that Jim is the smartest person she knows, he had the highest MCAT scores

that either of their medical schools had ever seen so she knew he would be quick at this task (really, he's smart?  Then why would he ever think being that dark orange looks good? I guess it makes his teeth pop, but it's not attractive.) 

-Adam runs over to check with Jim about how to read the compass and Jim has a compass in his watch, which shows them that they were using the compasses backwards - reset and they start again.

-Once Jim knows how to use the compass though, he bangs it out.

 

-Dennis & Isabelle are jumping off the rocks and he wants to throw up - I'm not sure if it was from exhaustion from the climb or fear but he hadn't eaten so there was nothing to throw up (gross.)  But they jump and she lands butt first - ouch!  Yeah, that hurt.

-Back at the beach, Tim also asks Jim how to use the compass and he tells him - Jim feels good that the teams in front of him are asking for help, means that he's ahead of them... because he just dug up his chest.
-Jim & Misti open the chest and inside is a shiny silver clue that tells them to make their way to the PIT STOP - Fort Christian.  The last team to check in will be eliminated.

-Back at the rocks, Keith and Whitney are jumping and she's not comfortable with it - but they moved their wedding in order to come on the Amazing Race so there is nothing she's not going to do to win.

-Isabelle & Dennis finally make it to the beach and are relieved to see so many teams still there.  Oh and cyclist chick finally found the anchor, "Ah, an anchor that looks like an anchor." (Yup, that's an anchor alright.)

-Dennis is going to do the digging and when Keith and Whitney get there Keith is digging as well.  And Mom of the Shelley/Nici pair is digging (I think she's Nici...)

 

-The last two teams are at the rocks now, the wrestlers are in 10th place and the firefighters are bringing up the rear.

-Back at the beach everyone is still there, no one else has found their chest.  Wrestlers and firefighters are having issues with the little boats - but Michael and Scott manage to get to the beach, the wrestlers end up swamping their boat and have to drag it through the water... is this more proof that muscle doesn't float?

Now everyone is at the beach except the dentists... wrestler Robbie is using the compass like a magic 8-ball - Nici has to show him how to even line up North... oh boy.

-Barbie realtor doesn't even know her directions - Adam asks her what direction the sun sets in and she has it backwards - when he tells her to flip it, she still doesn't get it (but if she's reading the compass backwards, she's going to be right, right? Sun sets in the East she says... sigh.)

 

And then... Tim finally finds their chest!  Shut Up!
-Dennis has a mad blister right now.  As the sun starts to set they (should) all know which way is West - Keith is confused why the compass is backwards.
-And wrestler Robbie is the next to find his chest (are you kidding me? Now that was just plain luck right there.)  Nici is bitter she told him how to use the compass and she still couldn't find hers.
-Cyclists Kym & Alli are the next to find the chest (good thing she finally found that anchor.)

-Adam finally finds his chest too - so Soul Surfer is off.

 

-Nici has never been so displeased to be on a beach in her whole life, daughter Shelley can't believe she can't just find the damn box so she can get some damn food (ha, these two are funny.)
-Dennis finally realizes the sun is setting behind him and he's been going the wrong way the whole time.

-Scientist Maya is the next to find their chest, then Dennis and finally momma Nici... which leaves Survivor Keith, Barbie Realtor Lisa and Firefighter Scott still fruitlessly searching for buried treasure.

 

-Now the sun is down, it's dark and they are all exhausted - Keith & Whitney decide they have to convince the other two teams to give up and take the 4 hr penalty and they will have a foot race to the mat.

-It takes no convincing on the Realtor Barbies part and the Firefighters think about it for show but in the end they all agree and run for the taxis.

-Keith and Whitney are the first team to the taxis, they leave.

-Michael gets to the taxi at the same time as Lisa and he shoves past her into the cab, then Scott totally pushes her out of the way and he jumps in.  (Okay, it was horrible, but I was cheering for the firemen, after what the barbies did to them with the float planes, it was karma coming back on them... the girls, of course, didn't see it that way.)

 Here's How They Finished:

1) Misti & Jim (Fakersons/dentists)- they won the Save and still their teeth are amazing :)

2) Tim & Te Jay (boyfriends)- Yay!

3) Kym & Alli (cyclists)

4) Brooke & Robbie (wrestlers)

5) Adam & Bethany (Soul Surfers)

6) Amy & Maya (scientists) We can do this!

7) Dennis & Isabelle (my team)

8) Shelley & Nici (mother/daughter)

9) Keith & Whitney

10) Michael & Scott

11) Lisa & Michelle - ELIMATED! they didn't expect to be last - Lisa says they came in playing friends and not mean but [the firefighters] pushed her and sliced her arm on the cab, "if you have to be ruthless, that's what we do in business and we should have done it here." (Huh? It's like they didn't even realize what they had done to the firefighters earlier that day... really? I can't say I'm sorry to see them go.  B-bye!) 

And with Lisa & Michelle's elimination, Patty F., Andria S., Susan N., Shelley A., and Lee B. are out of the pool.

Next week: Looks like they are in England - teams go punting (lots of people falling out of boats) and in a race to the finish, there are lots of tears - Isabelle and Shelley both crying they don't want to go home... yikes.

It was weird having the Race on Friday night (but I still did the recap on Sunday because procrastination is my middle name :) Have a great week everyone.

Coleen

Survivor Blood vs Water - Premiere Episode Sept 24/14

Suck It Up and Survive

Last year Survivor had a compelling season of Blood vs  Water with returning players and their loved ones - they decided to do it again this season but with all new players.

We meet the couples as they are on their own together for Day 0 - they have flint to make fire on that first night but the next day they have to leave it behind when they go to meet everyone else.

• Boyfriend and Girlfriend Jon and Jaclyn - she was Miss Michigan and he played football for Michigan State - they do kind of look like Ken & Barbie... and she doesn't want people to hate them because they are "like, this perfect couple." (Oh, and did I mention, I have Jaclyn in the pool.)
• Former pro baseball player John Rocker and his girlfriend Julie - he's got a loud mouth bigot reputation he's hoping to disprove and she's got a the hair and the boobs and something to prove as well, that she can hold her own out there.  Then she squeals when she sees a crab stick it's head out of a hole in the sand (She's not proving she's outdoorsy to me right now.)
• Mother and Daughter, Missy & Baylor - we learn right away that Missy has been divorced three times and Baylor has been forced into the adult role in their relationship... oh boy, let's hope Missy doesn't find husband #4 out there.  And they are surrounded by howler monkeys - that would freak me out...
• Brothers Drew and Alec - they have always had a sibling rivalry and younger Alec wants to outlast big brother Drew.  When trying to get the fire going Drew gets Alec to chop off some hair to get it started... what?  Hair is not all that flammable AND now your fire just smells like burning hair, nice.
• Father and daughter Dale & Kelly - he's a hard working farmer and she just couldn't wait to get out and make her own way - they've had years when they didn't talk but are hoping this experience will strengthen their relationship.
• Long time Survivor fans and couple Josh and Reed, perform on Broadway and are such fans of the game that Reed gave Josh flint for their first Valentines'.  They are just so happy to be there getting dirty, building fire and playing the game.
• Boston police officer Val and husband firefighter Jeremy are rivals in their jobs but madly in love with each other.  He's been trying to get on the show for 10 years, they wouldn't leave their kids and come out there to not win.
• Twins Natalie and Nadiya were formerly on the Amazing Race where they took an aggressive approach that ultimately failed them, twice.  They hope third times the charm.   And the girls start with a prayer (oh sweet jebus) they know Survivor is going to be way harder than the Amazing Race because on the Race they had all their basic needs met but in Survivor, no food, no shelter, they have to fend for themselves.  And they are bickering over the fire, ahh, yes, that sounds familiar.
• Father and son, Louisiana firefighters Keith & Wes share a love of their job and the outdoors... and apparently Keith likes riding Wes - as they have lost the striker to build the fire, Keith was pretty sure it was Wes - they have some friendly banter - While Wes is saying it's his time to shine, Keith say he's pretty good sure Wes is about as mentally strong as a rock.  (They're funny... and Wes is a little funny looking, just saying.)

39 days, 18 people - ONE SURVIVOR!

Day 1 - they all come together in a small arena and Jeff welcomes everyone to Survivor San Juan Del Sur, Blood vs Water.

He polls them to see who was able to make fire - we find out most of them had fire but Keith and Wes provide some comic relief when they describe losing the striker, using a rock and then breaking the flint... something very hard to do, but they managed it.

-Jeff asks Natalie and Nadiya who they think is their main competition and Nadiya starts, "If there was one thing we learned on the Amazing Race, it's not  to judge a book by it's cover." blah, blah, blah... (She came off a little know-it-all-ish - 'I've been on a reality show before so I know how these things go'... whatever, no you don't.)

 

Then they divide them into their tribes, obviously each pair was split up but then they found out if they were blue or orange.

-Then the trash talk begins - Jeff asks John Rocker what it's like not being able to take care of his woman (are we cavemen now?) and he says it's like civil war, brother vs brother...

 

And Keith knows him right away - he watches baseball and he knows that is John Rocker the former relief pitcher for the Atlanta Braves - "and he was an ass then, he may still be an ass now." (We like Keith.)

Getting back to the family dynamics, Jeremy agrees that not being able to help his wife is going to be the hardest part out there and she pipes up that she doesn't need his help - she is alright, she runs things, "I don't need his help."  He says, "she says it all the time but we'll see when the game starts." (Hmm, them's fighting words.)

REWARD CHALLENGE

One person from each tribe will race through a wooden cube untangling rope until they come to the first ring -  they must throw the ring, attached to the rope, to snag a wooden platform and drag it back - then they have to get back in the cube, untangle the rest of the rope, get to the next ring and snag the second platform - first person to get the 2nd platform back to their mat will win reward for their tribe.

 

They rock, paper, scissors to see who goes first and Reed's rock beat Dale's scissors (who starts with scissors?) and it's Blue who gets to decide and Jeremy volunteers to go first.  (Really? Shouldn't someone smaller do this, Jeremy is built... he's a fireman.)
Then we find out that that his opponent will be... his wife.  They seem fine with that  - until they find out that the winner will get flint and beans for their tribe and the loser will be sent to Exile Island. (And I don't remember the rules of Exile Island at all) basically she'll have  no shelter and very little food and miss out on the bonding with her tribe but she will be back before the Immunity Challenge.

Jeff asks how they feel about it now and Jeremy looks pretty upset but she's in, "We're here to play."  Val's a little spitfire and I bet she'll do well being smaller having to manoeuvre through the ropes.

Off they go and they were neck and neck until they had to go over the top, then her small stature put her behind when she couldn't get up and over.  He runs the rest of the challenge but she never gave up - she did get the first platform but he got the second before she could even try.

So he wins the flint and beans but he gets choked up and has no words for Jeff about how it feels - then Jeff tells him he has to choose someone from his own tribe to join her in Exile.  And he chooses Keith (guy who lost the striker) because he knows he can build fire and protect her - Jeff reminds him that Keith didn't get the fire going - but that was his sons fault.  Keith is emotional about it - (Who wants to be sent to Exile right away - not how any of them want to start the game) but he's a positive guy, he's gonna make it work.

 

Blue Tribe - Hunahpu

-They get to their camp and the 'getting to know you, let's build a shelter' begins.  They all tell Jeremy that they respect what he had to do already... and he's sure he's never going to live down crying out there on day one - but seeing his wife go away, it doesn't look good for her and that's partially his fault.  Then Jeremy decides he's going to go make friends with all the women - (say what?  Your wife's been gone for 2 seconds (Ha!)) But he does approach Kelly and they agree/hgh five as a strong 2 - then he goes to Natalie and she's in, she likes them both, yup he's using his tears to gather his girls.  Natalie says he is her designated twinnie.  Then it's Missy, if there is anything she's learned from being married and divorced as many times as she has, it's that you have to listen to your gut. (Really lady, maybe listen to your gut BEFORE you get married and there wouldn't be so many divorces.)

-Jeremy feels this is working out perfect for him, everyone wants to date the prom king and it seems he's got a little harem started.

 

Orange Tribe - Coyopa

-Josh is so excited he's on Survivor and he's got a MACHETE! 

-They compares ages and Nadiya tells us there are three early twenties, three late twenties/early thirties, John Rocker, who's like 40 and then Dale/Dad who's like 55 - and they show Dale, off by himself, changing his shoes. 
-Dale says he's a self-employed farmer, he's used to being by himself so the social aspect is going to be the biggest challenge for him.  But the working, he's got that down - he goes to get water and notices a medallion type thing attached to the lid of their water hole - he's going to hang on to that, not sure what it is, but it's probably something.  He knows he's got to find a way to get in with his tribe and he decides that is building a fire by using his glasses and the sunlight.  While the younger folk are trying the friction method, Dale has snapped his glasses in half to double lenses and finally, he make a fire!  Let's hope he doesn't have to read anything later on... or he'll have to MacGyver them back together later.  They are all calling him a bad-ass.. and he's so cute with his little giggle.

EXILE ISLAND

-Val and Keith are definitely an odd couple.  But they both agree Exile Island sucks and they don't want to be there.  First thing they have to do is choose an urn - Keith has a blank note in his urn, her's has a clue for a hidden idol back at camp and she ain't sharing.  Keith, "Story of my life."  One thing they do find out they have in common is that Jeremy, Val's husband, is a firefighter and so are Keith and Wes - so that's a bond that Keith is going to check out when he gets back to camp.

 

Blue Tribe - Hunahpu 

Former model (really?) Drew thinks he's had no choice but to step up and take control of the shelter - he hopes they appreciate all his hard work.

-Julie says, bless his heart but she doesn't know why Drew thinks he's in charge.  She dates John Rocker so she's familiar with the bro mentality and Drew's just a big dumb guy.  Meanwhile he's crowing that he rocked that shelter. (It really doesn't look that great to me - why is it three feet off the ground? Silly.)

 

Orange Tribe - Coyopa

-Wes thinks he recognizes John Rocker so he goes and asks him what his last name is... "Wendle."

-"You sure?"

-John was hoping he could escape his notoriety out there and decided he was going to lie about his identity - but it only took a couple hours - John tried to keep up the charade but Wes played to his ego, said he looked like a guy who was "the Man" and played for the Braves when they were awesome.  John, "Yeah, you got me." (OH, so easy!)  He did ask Wes to keep it under his hat though.  And now John is thinking he may have to get Wes out.

Coyopa - Day 3

Josh's eyes all of a sudden have started burning and tearing - they figure out that some of the branches they have used as cover on their shelter is irritating his eyes - poison sap!  So they just rip those branches down and he's going to suck it up and survive.

 

Hunahpu - Day 3

We find out that Jon - who is a bit of a goofball, howling at the howler monkeys - is going through some sh*t.  His dad has an inoperable brain tumor and he had to decide to give up some of the precious time he has left with his father to be there (you better make it worth it then!)

 

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE

-First, the exiles return and are welcomed with open arms.

Challenge

They have to get to the top of a tower - crawling under ropes in the first obstacle, then they have to  work together to reach three suspended bags which contain the means for them to get to the top of the tower.  For the first wall, they'll use a rope, for the second, pegs and the third, just each other.  At the top, 4 members of the tribe must complete a large puzzle to win immunity (a deceptively simple looking, but difficult puzzle.)

Copoya gets off to an early lead by using the physical powerhouse that is John Rocker - he lifts Baylor to retrieve the bags and seats the rope to get them up the first wall but Josh also does really well - they make it up to the top first but, the puzzle is always the great equalizer in these challenges and this was not different - in the end it was Blue/Hunahpu that was able to get the puzzle together first and win the first Immunity.   And it's bittersweet for everyone who is worried their loved one could be the first to go.

-Dale knows it could be him, he's the oldest, but he would be surprised cause he's the only one that can make fire.

 

Hunahpu - Day 3

Back to camp and Keith is playing catch up just trying to find out everyone's name.  He also connects with Jeremy who feels he owes Keith something for taking care of his wife (I'm sure she took care of herself) Keith thinks Jeremy is half on his side anyway cause firefighters are a brotherhood (but we'll see how far that will get him.)

 

Coyopa - Day 3

Val is also being shown around and welcomed by her tribe - but her first priority was getting to the water well and starting to search for the hidden idol she got a clue for... hopefully no one notices.  But it doesn't seem like anyone is even thinking idols yet.

-Dale asks Nadiya how this compares to the Amazing Race and she says on TAR everything is given to you exactly what you need to do but here it's just, figure it out.

-Dale says Nadiya is a known entity, she's proven on TAR that she's willing to backstab people (did they backstab anyone on the Race?  I don't remember, but this is Dale working out his strategy.) And he approaches all the guys and puts her up for the vote tonight.

-Josh goes from that huddle with the boys to a meeting with Nadiya who says she has his back and Natalie is working with his boo over there (I don't like the whole boo-thing, yes, I'm old) but she continues to stereotype him as the "girlfriend" gay guy and that doesn't sit that great with Josh.  He doesn't let on though because he wants to be that person that everyone comes to to discuss who to vote off.

-Next we see Val rallying all the girls, as there are 4 girls to the 5 guys they want to stick together and Nadiya assures them that Josh, the 'gay guy' is with them for sure. (Her ignorance is shocking.)

-Baylor tells the camera she's not really with the women, she's going to do whatever Josh wants to do - (hmm, I missed that relationship developing) She goes and compares notes with Josh, tells him the girls want to vote Dale, he says the guys are talking Nadiya and Baylor says she just wants to vote with him.  Josh is feeling the pressure of the swing vote - he's trying to weigh who will benefit him the most in the game - and Nadiya has unknowingly offended him slightly, Dale is looking safer.

 

TRIBAL COUNCIL
They all agreed that three days is really quick for them to have to make a decision on who to vote out.  John Rocker says they don't have an obvious choice of the obnoxious lazy person or the real jerk. (Yeah, everyone's been pretty vanilla so far.)

-Nadiya says the vibe of the tribe is that they have all been getting along but they have to weigh the physical attributes of everyone.  She gives a little "just keep going" speech.

-Josh feels like they do need to keep a positive spirit.

-Jeff asks Nadiya how Survivor is comparing to TAR and she says it's so different - in Survivor it's "Here's your island, do whatever you want with it."  Survivor took away all her primal needs; water, food, shelter and not least of all her twin sister who is the only blood family she has in America.  For the next, however many days, this is her fam. She's surprised how well they are doing and she's proud of her tribe.

-Val says it's been stressful for her because she doesn't really know these people and hasn't had the time to bond with them but Exile had it's points too, she was able to look around and find things... (Oh, did anyone catch that hint that she may have an idol?  Looks like Jaclyn might have.)

-Jaclyn noticed that the guys have bonded but then just lists the younger guys.

-Jeff asks Dale what it's been like for him then being the older guy - he admits it's hard to find things to talk about but he made sure to prove his worth by building fire for them.

-Wes tells Jeff that Josh is the most well liked and everyone tends to gravitate to him.

-Nadiya pipes up that she agrees that Josh has the advantage to go in between the girls and boys (oh, just stop talking) Jeff asks if that's because he's gay and she says yes (yeah, her calling him 'girlfriend' was just uncomfortable for everyone.)

-Josh says it could be that he's in the middle but he he's not saying that's what's going on here - it is a lot of pressure though.

 

And it's time to vote:

John Rocker votes for Nadiya because she had too much experience on TAR.

Nadiya votes for Dale because he's the odd man out.

 

Tallying the Votes:
 No plays a hidden immunity idol though Val did fiddle with her bag and made them look :)
Votes:

Nadiya - 1

Dale - 1

Baylor - 1 (who voted Baylor?)

Dale - 2

Nadiya - 2

Dale - 3 (he starts to gather his bag)

Nadiya - 3, 4 and the first person voted out with 5 votes is NADIYA! (Wow, I'm a little disappointed, I wanted to see how the twins were going to be on their own... but then she was pretty mouthy and missed the social cues of the group so I guess she did show me how that twin did on her own :)
And with Nadiya leaving us first, that means Tori K, Ian G, and Dave & Lois L. are out of the pool but get their stake back (good & bad?)

 

Nadiya's final thoughts - second time she's out first and it sucks - she doesn't know if it was because of TAR that she had a target on her back but, it is what it is.  She hopes Natalie wins the whole thing.  She's not surprised but she's definitely disappointed.

And they showed that Baylor voted for Nadiya with the guys and Josh was the one vote for Baylor... interesting.

So, it wasn't the flashiest beginning to a season but they showed some hinting footage that someone is going to quit and someone will do the worst thing ever... and there are tears and threats... it looks like it's going to get better!

Have a great rest of the week everyone - and don't forget, The Amazing Race starts this FRIDAY!

Coleen

Survivor San Juan Del Sur - Blood vs Water - POOL PICKS

SURVIVOR - SAN JUAN DEL SUR - BLOOD vs WATER
Premieres  Wednesday, September 24, 2014
COYOPA			HUNAHPU
Nadiya Anderson	1. Tori K.		Natalie Anderson	1. Manny W. (2)
Age: 28 - New Jersey	2. Lois & Dave L.		WINNER	2. Susan M.
Natalie's Twin Sister	3. Ian G.		Nadiya's Twin Sister	3. Robert & Cindi
Josh Canfield	1. Cindi C.		Reed Kelly	1. Maggie H.
Age: 32 - New York	2. Donna P.		Age: 31 - New York	2. Sue & Hannelore
Reed's Boyfriend	3. Cara & Alex L.		Josh's Boyfriend	3. Nenad M.
Alec Christy	1. Marla L.		Drew Christy	1. Andria S.
Age: 22 - Florida	2. Bernice R.		Age: 25 - Florida	2. Katie L.
Drew's Brother	3. Mike L.		Alec's Brother	3. Roxanne S.
Val Collins	1. Manny W. (1)		Jeremy Collins	1. Sharon R.
Age: 35 - Massachusetts	2. Kim B./Gail W.		Age: 36 - Massachusetts	2. Terry B.
Jeremy's Wife	3. Jeff T.		Val's Husband	3. Krista H.
Wes Nale	1. Paul M.		Keith Nale	1. Lynne B.
Age: 23 - Louisiana	2. Shelley A.		Age: 53	2. Jeremy N.
Keith's Son	3. Karen W.		Wes' Father	3. Gillian H.
John Rocker	1. Natalie M.		Julie McGee	1. Robert L.
Age: 39 - Georgia	2. Shane B.		Age: 34	2. Monica S.
Julie's Boyfriend	3. Jennifer G.		QUITTER	3. Kevin R.
Jaclyn Schultz	1. Lindsay J.		Jon Misch	1. Bryon L.
Age: 25 - Las Vegas	2. Coleen T.		Age: 26 - Michigan	2. Alexis G.
Jon's Girlfriend	3. Julie T.		Jaclyn's Boyfriend	3. Carol-Anne D.
Dale Wentworth	1. Susan N.		Kelley Wentworth	1. Elaine R.
Age: 55 - Washington	2. Karen S.		Age: 28 - Seattle, Wa	2. Sunnie C. (2)
Kelley's Father	3. Kevin C.		Dale's Daughter	3. Bob L.
Baylor Wilson	1. Ritch G.		Missy Payne	1. Kim A.
Age: 20 - Nashville, TN	2. Sunnie C. (1)		Age: 47 - Dallas, TX	2. Lee B.
Missy's Daughter	3. Vikki M.		Baylor's Mother	3. Drew C.

The Amazing Race 25 - POOL PICKS

The AMAZING RACE 25
Premieres Friday, September 26, 2014
Adam & Bethany	1. Jeff T.		Amy & Maya	1. Kim B. / Gail W.
Married Surfers	2. Maggie H.		Food Scientists	2. Alexis G.
THIRD PLACE	3. Alicia H.		WINNERS	3. Jeremy N.
	4. Shane B.			4. Lindsay J.
	5. Don T.			5. Natalie M.
Brooke & Robbie	1. Roxanne S.		Dennis & Isabelle	1. Rachel R.
Dating Pro Wrestlers	2. Monica S.		Newly Dating	2. Nenad M.
	3. Kim A.			3. Coleen T.
	4. Karen S.			4. Laura W.
	5. Hardeep G.			5. Ian G.
Keith & Whitney	1. Lois & Dave L.		Kym & Alli	1. Bernice R.
Engaged	2. Karen F.		Urban Bike Racers	2. Lynne B.
	3. Sandy G.			3. Bob L.
	4. Karen W.			4. Sia D.
	5. Sue & Hannelore			5. Kevin R.
Lisa & Michelle	1. Patty F.		Michael & Scott	1. Bryon L.
Realtor Sisters	2. Andria S.		Firefighters	2. Robert & Cindi
	3. Susan N.			3. Drew C.
	4. Shelley A.			4. Sharon R.
	5. Lee B.			5. Pat T.
Misti & Jim	1. Cara & Alex L.		Shelley & Nici	1. Miranne D.
Married Dentists	2. Cindi C.		Mother/Daughter	2. Denise R.
SECOND PLACE	3. Donna P.			3. Krista H.
	4. Carol-Anne D.			4. Tori K.
	5. Ozzy R.			5. Elaine R.
Tim & Te Jay	1. Marla L.
College Sweethearts	2. Katie L.
	3. Vikki M.
	4. Heather G.
	5. Robert L.