Survivor South Pacific - Nov 9th episode recap

Cut Throat

The episode opened as the new Te Tuna tribe returned from Tribal Council where Cochran flipped and blindsided his former tribe by voting out Keith. 
-Ozzy asks to speak to Cochran alone and lays on the guilt - I put myself out there for you and this is what I get.  Cochran goes with the argument that he has dreamed about the game for 11 years and he wasn't going to leave his fate up to picking rocks (whatever - he would have gotten more respect if he had said it was revenge for how they treated him.)   At one point Brandon comes over to play bodyguard - he is a little pit bull - Ozzy shoos him away - This isn't a gang. (Yeah, I bet Brandon was a banger.)
-Then Cochran runs the gauntlet - Jim just spits vitriol at him - tells him to never f'n speak to him again.  Whitney gets right in his face and says she and Keith saved him numerous times and this is how he repays them... "You make me sick."  (Okay, I get it, you're all screwed now but it was partially your own doing, and I bet that's also a hard pill to swallow.)
-Coach is very happy with how things worked out at Tribal Council as he goes through his morning ritual of Tai Chi, prayer and meditation - he's going to try to remain humble but not weak and likes his chances to win.
-Ozzy tells the camera his whole strategy was blown out of the water - he has no plan now - but he's not going to give up, he's going to work like hell and win immunity and stay there until there is no one left.

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
It's in two stages - first they must throw coconuts and land them in a small circle - first 4 to get nuts in their target will move on.  Second stage - they must crack open coconuts, get a mouthful of coconut water then climb through an obstacle and spit the coconut water into a tube - first one to fill their tube will win immunity.
-Getting through the first stage are Dawn, Sophie, Whitney and Jim (Go Ladies!  Ozzy was not happy.)
-Second stage was between Sophie and Jim - she was holding her own until the very last mouthful when she couldn't keep it in her mouth through the obstacle and Jim was able to fill his tube and win immunity (that would be hard though, running & climbing without breathing through your mouth... but did Jim have to win?  I don't like that guy.)

Te Tuna - Day 22
-Brandon tells Cochran they are voting for Ozzy - How many chances are you going to have to vote him out of this game. 
Cochran - Apparently two. 
Brandon - (looks confused) Oh, yeah.

-Ozzy and Coach are meeting - they both look very serious - Ozzy just says - I don't want to go - Coach says he doesn't want him to go.  Coach tells us he appreciates Ozzy's humility after the cockiness he showed before but at this point it's probably too little too late.  Of course, Coach tells him he's not going anywhere (because Coach has embraced lying in the game even though he would deny it.)  They man-hug and Coach gives him some serious eye contact (is he going to kiss him?  It was a little creepy.)

-Dawn is kissing up to Coach - a little light flirting, getting him a pillow.  She knows the 4 former Savaii without immunity are on the block tonight.  She may have to flip and vote with Upolu.

-Jim talking to Whitney out in the water - they bash on Cochran more - threw us all under the bus - he's a coward and I'm not a coward, I speak my mind.
- Ozzy joins them and Jim tells him he has a plan.  He wants to give Ozzy his immunity then give a rousing speech that everyone there has played the game with honour and integrity except Cochran and hopefully he'll get enough of them to turn and they'll get Cochran out.  Upolu will still have the numbers and if they don't have time to talk about it, he hopes he'll get at least two of them to turn.
-Ozzy feels like he's dreaming - he believes Jim will actually do what he says.  It's surreal.

Tribal Council (Only 20 minutes in... hmm)
Cochran what the reaction to your huge move at last tribal council?
-It was chilly - Jim was the loudest - didn't want to hear anything I had to say.
Jim - I said a few things that were immature but I took it personally.
Cochran, how did you deal with these reactions?
-Mostly by listening - it was a personal decision to take my own fate into my hands and to make a choice of playing the game with the sort of people I wanted to play with - no disrespect to my former tribe, I realize that sounded heinous
Ozzy & Whitney - yeah it did.
Cochran - he goes on about preparing for 11 years and choosing a rock is not the essence of Survivor, it's about taking charge of your own fate, blah, blah, blah. (He's hitting a chord with Coach and Brandon - I'm waiting for the "Amen, brother" from those two.)
-Jim speaks up - says he's got something to add to round out what Cochran has said - recounts how they all saved Cochran in past votes and having gotten to know Upolu a little he doesn't think anyone on the tribe would let someone else fight their battles for them.  I don't think any one of them would do something so dishonourable, in my opinion.
-Brandon comes to Cochran's defense - he finds Jim's tone ironic after being made fun of for playing the game with integrity at last tribal - it's poetic justice in his opinion.  Brandon says he understands not wanting to be made fun of anymore, enough is enough, the smaller people are not going to be bullied anymore - the Upolu tribe is standing behind Cochran, period. (That took all the wind out of Jim's sails, you can see the poker player readjusting his strategy...)
-Ozzy asks Cochran - did I ever make you feel small?
-Cochran - you made me feel small by constantly trying to get people to vote against me because of my weakness.
So Jim, very powerful spot sitting there with immunity.
-Yeah, I win immunity and I immediately think, I'm going to give it to Ozzy tonight.  That got a reaction from Coach, Brandon and Albert...
Why would it make sense to give it to Ozzy tonight?
-Because they can tell I have a warrior heart (reaching out to Coach) and they have been saying, honour, honour, honour.  There are ten people here that have not wavered from the loyalty to their tribe, there is one person who has.  With this one vote we can send a message to everyone who will ever play this game that you can play it honourably and if you are a turncoat you have no place on my tribe - You can say that right now by voting off Cochran. (Albert and Coach and Cochran are taking that in, two thinking and one swearing.)
Coach, Jim is not giving up.
-Of course not and he starts talking warrior this and warrior that and I stand up straighter and listen (and that's exactly why he used that word)
If you voted out Cochran tonight, would that change the game?
I think it would send the message that if you stand up for yourself, your going to get screwed and I'm not going to see that happen.
-Jim pipes in, but does it change the game, no it really doesn't. It takes out one person, they still have a 6 to 4 lead and it gives these guys the opportunity to say beyond this game what Survivor is really about.
Sophie, so whoever you keep in the game is as important as who you got rid of.
-There is no good vote because we are not eliminating somebody for sure (damn Redemption Island!)
Ozzy - let me just throw this out there - when I'm at Redemption Island, I'm not feeding 11 people, I'm feeding myself - so I'm going to be full and well rested and when these numbers change and you have to start voting each other out, it's going to get a little funky.  He's willing to bide his time at Redemption and eliminate them all that way.

Jeff asks before they vote if Jim wants to give up immunity and he says:I'm going to keep it tonight.  (Yeah, because you're not a coward at all! Loser!) I don't think Ozzy's eyebrows could have gotten any higher, he was surprised by that... Jim, you speak with forked tongue.

And they vote:
Jim - votes Cochran - I just really don't like you.
Cochran - votes Ozzy - Blah, blah, blah

Tallying the votes:
Anybody have a hidden immunity idol and want to play it... nope.
Ozzy - 1
Cochran - 1
Ozzy - 2
Cochran - 2 (and they had to blur what it said... cock something nasty - really mature Ozzy)
Ozzy - 3, 4, 5, 6  - Ozzy says, you guys fell for my master plan (right) and he heads off to Redemption Island with a spring in his step, trying to make us believe he wanted to go.
Final words: I played hard, made a lot of moves and is ready to dominate at Redemption.
He and Keith commiserate about Cochran's betrayal (stings don't it.  Maybe you'll think twice about how you treat people... I doubt it.)

Redemption Island - Day 23
-Ozzy is out fishing and marvelling at the reef there - it's the best fishing he's seen and he catches the biggest fish he ever has out there.  They eat like kings!
-Ozzy is still trying to say he's just as happy to be at Redemption... I wonder what they're eating today... and with that:
IMMUNITY CHALLENGE 2
They have to balance on a narrow beam and then balance a ball on a wooden bow - so a D shape with a ball balanced on the top curve of the D.  At certain intervals they will have to walk down the beam where it gets narrower making it harder to balance.  If at any time the ball falls off the bow or they fall off the beam they are out of the challenge (I would be so done - it looks really tough.)
Twist: if anyone thinks they are safe tonight, they can sit the challenge out and feast on pastries, muffins, iced coffee... former Upolu all celebrate but Coach - he says he wants to compete but obviously they are all safe and his tribe wants to eat so he'll stick with his 'family' (God, give me a break.)  Only Whitney, Jim and Dawn are competing for immunity.
-They start the challenge and the eating can commence - when the challenge is over the eating must end as well so they start gorging themselves.
-Jeff is stirring the pot - asking Upolu how everything tastes - no one wants to talk they want to eat and it breaks Jim's concentration - he loses his ball and is the first one out of the challenge.  Brandon celebrates that.
-Dawn says she'll hang on so they can keep eating - She says she really feels that they are one tribe right now even though it doesn't seem that way and yeah, she wants her tribe mates to eat as much as they can.  Brandon and Coach say Dawn has been amazing - she has ingratiated herself enough to stay longer than the other two it would seem.
-Dawn & Whitney make it through to the next section.  They take the ball off the bow and move down to the really narrow section of the beam - and Jeff  keeps talking... you really need to concentrate blah, blah, blah... the eating has slowed down, they are full.
-They both start to wobble but Dawn loses he balance and Whitney wins Immunity.  They do cheer for her as well.

Albert says he did not like how Dawn was treated inclusively at the challenge and he plans to nip that in the bud.

Te Tuna - Day 24
-Cochran is wearing Coach's jacket and strutting around like an idiot - much to everyone's entertainment.
-Jim says Cochran is playing the most brilliant third place game in Survivor history, all those people would like to take Cochran to the end with them because he's not going to get votes to win.  On the other hand, it's not looking good for Jim - he's going to Redemption Island unless he makes some moves right now.
-He lays out his plays in the sand to Albert & Sophie saying they are the only two that haven't drunk the kool-aid (obviously, he's not in the know) - and he wants to get rid of Edna - they'd never see it coming.
-Albert says he doesn't need to entertain Jim's plan because he has a much better plan of his own - he's going after Dawn (damn! She's my pool player) he finds her more dangerous because she's ingratiating herself into the tribe.
-Dawn is actually proud of her ability to ingratiate herself with people and that's exactly what she's trying to do.
-Albert tells Sophie he wants to vote Dawn, she doesn't think it matters what order they go in and she wants to stay rigid to their plan.
-Coach, to use jungle animal analogies, sees Jim as a rhino, charging straight at you and Dawn as the snake that comes sneaking through the grass - they could both kill you but hopefully they'll send the right person home tonight.  (No, to Redemption island.)

Tribal Council - 2
Coach, after the immunity challenge today, is it fair to say it's Dawn or Jim going home tonight?
-Yes, absolutely.
Sophie, fair to say Jim is more of a threat in challenge than Dawn?
- They both have their niches - Dawn has shown herself to be very strong but if I was choosing a roster, I'd choose Jim every time.
Albert, fair to say Dawn's more likable?
-Absolutely Dawn is more likable and she's also a tough cookie in challenges, she may be the strongest woman out here (she looks flattered by that, not scared... he's trying to get you out, not being nice.)
Dawn, as frustrating as it is for you and Jim & Whitney, is it fair to say this is what the tribe should do?  (Is it fair to say, that Jeff uses 'is it fair to say' too much?  I say, yes.)
- It's what Savaii would have done as well - but I don't think I would have eaten the food today though, I really did think of this as one tribe, so that was a little hard for me to watch them eat. (Coach looks a little ashamed - Brandon raises his hand...)
-Brandon: I love you Dawn but you told us you would stay up there so we could eat so you just contradicted yourself
-Dawn: No, I was just saying it was hard for me.
-Brandon: I don't buy it.  That's why the Savaii tribe except Cochran are going to be picked off just like they think they're going to be picked off...
There is some back and forth - she's back pedalling, he's not buying it - blah blah blah.
-Whitney is given her chance to speak and she's getting teary - I feel like we've been vilified, we were pegged as the bullies, I never once was a bully - Full on crying now and Dawn gets going... (really, tears, that's how you're playing this.  Sigh.)
Brandon - is it hard for you to see Whitney crying?
Yeah, I don't want to see her cry but we were excluded until we got the power then we were the villains - It's a no brainer for me. 

Time to vote:
Cochran's still waring Coach's jacket - you look like a doofus.
Ouch - and Edna has a big scab on her forehead, I wonder what happened there.

Tallying the votes:
Edna - 1, 2, 3
Jim - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 - he heads to Redemption Island without looking back.  He would have seen Coach waving sarcastically.

Now on Redemption Island are:
Keith: Wendy E, Cara L and Kim A
Ozzy: Brittany/Sarah, Laura H, Krista H
Jim: Jodi S, Bob L and Bernice R. 
Jim says he's sad, he though they would be the final 3.

So no one went home this week - best time for me to miss an episode I guess.

Next week: Albert is making a move and Coach doesn't like it and Ozzy is laying in wait at Redemption Island building up his strength to win the game.

Coleen

The Amazing Race - Nov 6/11 Episode Recap

Move Goat (Malawi)

The episode started by showing the accommodations the teams had for the night in the remote village where they had carried in their own beds... and some of them act like spoiled Americans (Cindy & Ernie) but really, they have their own huts, mattresses for the beds, mosquito nets - what's to complain about?

Andy & Tommy are the first to depart at 5:28am the next morning- it's still dark and you can see their breath - gets cold there at night.  They get the clue to take the 2hr bus ride to Salima, where they will get their next clue.  Caution: DOUBLE U-TURN ahead (Ouch.)
-Andy & Tommy have come in first by default three times on the Race so far - but they think they've proven they deserve to be there (hell, you were second all those times too - not too shabby.)
-Justin & Jennifer next team out and we find out Justin came out to his sister a couple years ago and their relationship is stronger for it... (What was it like before she knew you were gay?)
-Jeremy & Sandy head out, then Zac & Laurence - no surprise, Laurence says he'd have no problem U-Turning someone on the Race (he'd probably U-Turn Zac if it would keep him in the Race, can you tell Laurence is not my favourite person?)

-Andy & Tommy get to the bus station and are told they buy tickets on the bus from some guys in a shack... I hope that's the case.

-Ernie & Cindy are next out - they think the Snowboarders are the team to beat - they just have to stop making mistakes.
-Ma & Pa, shivering, head out at 5:47am and Marcus & Amani are the last team heading out at 6:07am (and the sun is now up for them) They get $1 for this leg of the Race.  Marcus: One dollar? What are we gonna ride, a pachyderm? (I love Marcus' use of language, why say elephant when you can use pachyderm?  Awesome.)  They are a little nervous about the Speed Bump this leg but Marcus learned from his NFL coaches to pay attention to the details and when the big things come they'll take care of themselves... (hopefully.)

-First bus starts loading up and everyone is on it except Amani & Marcus - but they are loading everything and the kitchen sink in this bus - apparently it smells really bad and they're packed in like sardines (nice)... Amani & Marcus get there and are trying to get on the bus, he says his friends are on it, "Can we get on too?"  They make it and are sitting at the back of the bus - meaning everyone is going to get off before them. (But you got on the bus, that's a good thing.)
-The two hour ride through Malawi, seeing the landscape, the people on the road, carrying things on their heads, the homes looking like little shacks - really made Marcus take inventory and appreciate what they have in the US.

-The bus arrives in Salima, the Speed Bump is waiting for Amani & Marcus, and Andy & Tommy are the first to get the clue for the ROADBLOCK - one person must drive a bicycle taxi and take a passenger carrying fish to a specific address attached to the fish (I'm thinking this is a smelly day for them).  Once they drop off their customer, they must return to the dispatcher and hand over their earnings to receive the next clue.
-Andy, Cindy, Cathi, Sandy, Jennifer (really?  She'd not that steady on a bike), Laurence - all head out into traffic - Sandy: We're going to be killed. (Watch out for that tree! Ha, no there were big trucks.)

-Amani & Marcus get their Speed Bump  - they have to solve a slide puzzle to resemble the new Malawian flag (which is right above them for reference) - once they get it right, they'll get the clue for the Roadblock.  Amani - hmm, this is tricky.  (Uh oh.)

-Back on the bikes, Andy, of course, used to ride with people on his handle bars and on the back of his bike as a kid so he knows how to balance no problem (just no wheelies!)
-Laurence is getting some sore testicles from his bike seat (couldn't happen to a nicer guy) and he and Sandy have kinda teamed up - neither know where they're going so why not ride aimlessly together.
-Everyone has to ask directions, there aren't really streets let alone signs.  Cathi nearly dumps the bike - Cindy can't believe none of the children are in school  She says Malawi is much more primitive than other African countries she's been to, and with English being the official language can't believe barely anyone understands it.

-Marcus & Amani have drawn quite the crowd... she almost has it... almost has it... but the red needs to be on the top, not the bottom - argh!

-Andy was pedalling so hard he lost a bolt from the crank system and the bike was toast - no pedals, bike won't go. (Crap.)  He's able to ask some of the locals with tool boxes for some help, they pound another piece of metal in and he is up and running again - albeit at a much slower pace.

-Cindy is the first one to make it to her destination, probably because she's constantly asking annoyingly, Is this it?  Is this it?  - she gets her fare and hopefully can find her way back to the dispatcher.

-Laurence & Sandy are the blind leading the blind - he finally asks for directions and is sent back 2km in the other direction. 
-Andy & Cathi make it to their destination (apparently they had the same one) and get paid.

-Amani & Marcus are still stumped on the puzzle.

-Cindy is the first one back to the dispatcher: "Where's everyone else?"  (She's really annoying with the stupid questions) They get the clue for the DETOUR: Dugout or Lugout.
-In Dugout - Teams will have to participate in the Lake Malawi dugout canoe race, AR style - they will choose a traditional dugout canoe, paddle out to some drummers then back to shore - where they will receive the next clue.  (Those boats look heavy and clunky.)
-In Lugout - They must help unload a ferry traditional style - carrying people and goods on their shoulders and heads through the shallow water to shore (no way - are you kidding?  I couldn't carry anyone sitting on my shoulders like that. Crazy.)
-Ernie & Cindy are doing dugout - hop in a taxi and head for the lake.
-Andy comes flying in on his bike - "Dude, you wouldn't believe, my bike fell apart."  They are going to do the dugout race and jump in a cab - Tommy tells him only Ernie & Cindy are ahead of them.

-Amani & Marcus finally finish the slide puzzle (I hate those things) and Marcus is doing the Roadblock.  He said to get ready for the race he did a lot of bike riding with an 80lb sack in the kid carrier riding uphill - he was just zooming on the bike.

-Jennifer finally gets to her destination and gets her fare - but then realizes she doesn't have the clue, she left it with Justin - and now she doesn't know what she's supposed to do (GO BACK!)  She's just standing there - hmm, interesting. (GO BACK DUMMY!)
-Laurence & Sandy get to their destination, get their fares and head back together.
-Cathi arrives back to the dispatcher and gets the clue to the Detour. They are canoeing.

-Marcus says the language barrier is off the chain - he just feels like he's getting farther and farther away - asks a passing vehicle and they tell him he's heading in the right direction.

-Laurence makes it back with Sandy right behind him - they all head out for the Detour.

-Justin is still waiting anxiously for Jennifer - she's just standing with her bike - (What are you doing lady?  Do you expect divine intervention to tell you what to do?  At the very least you should be going back to get the clue... and then you'll be in the right place) (I had to change this whole passage from ALL CAPS because I was YELLING at the TV.)  She's going to see if she can find another team.

-Marcus delivers his passenger and says, "Watch out, I got a lead foot!" (He's so cute.)

-Ernie & Cindy and Andy & Tommy get to the lake and run down to the water - there are monkeys in the trees - cool.   They get down to the "Race" and there are tons of people, dancing to drums - they see the dugouts and they look like huge bananas with a slit carved in the top - you don't sit in the boat as much as on it with your feet in the slit... and they are heavy, hard to get them floating and cumbersome - this looks like it's going to be harder than they thought.
-Andy & Tommy jump in and take off - yeah, no problem.  Meanwhile Ernie & Cindy are almost going in circles trying to get the paddling right.

-Marcus makes it back to the bike dispatcher and they get the clue to the Detour - leaving Justin there, still waiting for Jennifer to come back. (Oh, he's going to be maaa- ad.  Though he is starting to worry about her.)  Amani decides they are doing Lugout (really?)

-Jennifer has decided her only option is to wait for another team (WHAT?) She doesn't want to go back and do the wrong thing.... (OMG! You are last - there are no other teams coming - go back and get the clue you IDIOT! Does she have no problem solving ability?  Just sitting there doing nothing is not going to win you a Million Dollars... argghh!)  After waiting so long she's lost track of time, she finally decides to take the bike back to the bus station and hopefully run into someone who will share their clue (they are all gone.)

-Back at the lake, Cindy and Ernie still can't get their canoe moving and decide this is the perfect time to use their Express Pass (I concur) especially since there is a U-Turn coming up.
-They hand over the express pass and get the clue: Route info: find the Jamaica Shop and Caution Double U-turn ahead.

-Andy & Tommy make it out to the drummers and are heading back - Tommy is tempted to jump in like the locals and swim - but it's a long way back.
-Ma & Pa arrive at the lake and head out in the canoe - they communicate better, she paddles one side and he's on the other - they are making progress.
-Sandy & Jeremy and Zac & Laurence get into the dugouts - Laurence is yelling at Zac to back paddle - they finally figure out if one paddles on one side and one on the other it works... Sandy & Jeremy however, are starting out rough.

-Ernie & Cindy can't find anyone who knows where the Jamaica shop is - they are wasting their lead asking around...

-Bill & Cathi have a great philosophy - they don't argue and they don't blame - that's how they get things done quickly - plus being together almost 50 years they know how to work together.  Bill does a little white man dance in the canoe at the drummers (these two are so cute too!)
-Jeremy & Sandy - bicker, bicker, bicker... they are embarrassed that the 60-yr-olds are putting them to shame.

-Justin is now officially worried about Jennifer and the clock is ticking... she finally come back and tells him she needs the clue - amazingly this is the least they've argued this whole time - he was worried she was hurt and she's feeling stupid she didn't just ride back right away.  They finally head out for the Detour.

-Ernie & Cindy find out the Jamaica shop is in the village right down there (so right where they were doing the canoeing) Shoot.
-Andy & Tommy have crossed the finish line and have to do hot dog flips off the dugout into the 2ft deep water - (that's not safe, sheesh.)  They are heading for the Jamaica shop, mon. Like pied pipers with all the kids following them - they run by Ernie & Cindy - do you know where this place is? 
-It was right there on the beach... Ernie & Cindy are the first to the double U-Turn and decide not to U-Turn anyone, Ernie doesn't like to be mean spirited (banking a little good Race Karma is always good too.)  They get the clue to the Pit Stop: Make your way on foot to Sunbird Livingstonia Beach.

-Ernie & Cindy take off to get their bags and settle up with their cab driver before they head to the pit stop.
-Andy & Tommy also decide not to U-Turn anyone - and also have to go get their stuff - they take off at a sprint, "We can take them."

-Marcus & Amani get to the lake and he joins in some drumming - then they walk out to the ferry.  Marcus takes a guy on his shoulders, Amani has a chair and a fan - this walking through the water is no joke! 

-Ernie & Cindy's driver tells them where the Pit Stop is and they take off running up the road.  Andy & Tommy are right behind them but it's going to be hard, up hill with their packs...

-Justin & Jennifer are in the cab, very subdued, knowing they're last.  I think he's genuinely just glad she's not hurt, and they will keep on running the Race until Phil tells them what place they're in.

-Ma & Pa finish the canoeing and get the clue to the Jamaica Shop.
-Amani is struggling carrying too large bundles of sugar cane.  Marcus is still carrying people on his shoulders - he asks if they have any babies on board he can carry - no, no babies...

-Ernie is carrying both their packs and urging Cindy to keep running - this is where we lose it every time - those guys are right behind us and they won't stop...(Hahaha, wasn't that a line from the Terminator?) It does keep her moving though.  The Snowboarders get them in their sights and keep up the running pace...

-Zac & Laurence finish the canoeing and they start talking about who they'll U-Turn - Jeremy & Sandy who are still struggling in the canoes or Marcus & Amani who both are ready to throw up from the heat and exertion...

-Justin & Jennifer are still in the cab on the way to the Detour.

-Marcus is digging deep carrying his last person to shore - he kind of launches him into the sand... but they are done and they get the clue to find the Jamaica shop...

-Zac & Laurence can't find the Jamaica shop - Marcus & Amani are led there by the crowd (Oh, thank goodness) they decide not to U-Turn anyone.  Heading back to get their bags they pass Zac & Laurence who think they're going the wrong way and decide to U-Turn them (They already passed you and you don't even realize it... works for me.)

-Jeremy & Sandy finish the canoeing and run back up to their cab.  The cab driver tells them the Jamaica shop is down there at the beach...

-Justin & Jennifer finally arrive - they are way last.  They get in the canoe and start fighting when they have the same problems steering the thing as everyone else did.

-Jeremy & Sandy find the Jamaica Shop, see that Amani & Marcus got U-Turned (don't know it was after the fact) and decide not to U-Turn anyone.

Here's how they finished:  (First - HAHAahaha - the guy standing with Phil looked like Pinhead - his hair was in little braids standing straight out all over his head - that is totally awesome sauce.)

1)Andy & Tommy - It was a sprint through the sand to get to the mat and Cindy whined -"Boys, please let us win" - Ernie sprinted with them but both Andy & Tommy reached the mat before Cindy - Ernie, "That's so mean".  They are professional athletes and it's a race, they're not just going to let you win... (Tommy tells the guy with Phil he loves his hair - who wouldn't?)
Andy & Tommy won $15,000 from Discover card. (Ouch, just to add insult to injury.)
2) Ernie & Cindy - after she crawled into the shade she did come back to the mat - She's frustrated that their poor decision making has kept them from being first at least 3 times in the race.  This time they missed it by literally inches.
3)Bill & Cathi - (Cathi asks for an appointment where the guy gets his hair done - yes! do it!) They continue to surprise - their secret is communication.  Phil says they are inspiring to so many, 50 yrs together and travelling the world kicking some butt.
4) Amani & Marcus - they improved from last to 4th - so that's good.
5) Zac & Laurence - still in it - despite Laurence being a doofus.
6) Jeremy & Sandy - cutting it close - it's tough but they're doing the best they can to work together.
7) Justin & Jennifer - Last team to arrive **ELIMINATED**  She says it was a silly mistake on her part that she will be kicking herself for, she should have listened to her instincts.  Justin says, no matter how it ended, he feels like the race strengthened their relationship and after their rocky start they were a force to be reckoned with.  So, with Justin & Jennifer's elimination, Sandy G, Ian G, Brittany/Sarah and Kim A are also out of the pool.

Next week: They head to Denmark, rabbit agility races and Cindy is sick of being nice - they u-turn someone... (Can't really blame her on that one.)

Have a great week everyone - I'm off to Vegas :)

Coleen

Survivor South Pacific - Nov 2/11 Episode full recap

Double Agent

Last week Ozzy got himself sent to Redemption Island cause he thinks he's smart... let's see how that works out for him.

Savaii - Night 18
-They return from Tribal Council hoping that the merge does take place.  Cochran is excited to be a part of, what they also hope will be, one of the biggest and smartest moves in Survivor history.
-Sitting around the fire, Keith is being a pill - pretty much tells Cochran he's a wuss and he should have stepped up and gone to Redemption Island.
-Cochran, being Cochran, let's it go but then tries to spin the "Double Agent" aspect of the plan - asks them what they want him to say or not say when he goes over to the other side (after the merge.) 
-None of them really care, they all seem shell shocked that Ozzy made them vote him out and they just can't stand Cochran anymore.  Cochran, on the other hand, is preparing to be the best double agent EVER.  He thinks he already deserves an Academy Award for pretending to like these people for the last 18 days and he's channeling Al Pacino: First you get the ego maniac that's running things voted out, then you get his idol, then you win the million dollars. (Haha, good luck with that.)

Redemption Island - Night 18
-Ozzy comes into camp and wakes Christine up.  She asks him what happened and he say:
-Idol. 
-Who had it?
-Guess.
-Cochran? 
-Yes, how'd you know that? Then he "put on the actor suit" and spun his tail.  They all voted Cochran and he pulled out the idol.
-Gasp. He didn't tell anybody?
-Then they rail against lawyers (hahaha... something everyone can be united on - sorry, but it's true.)
Ozzy's confident that she bought it hook line and sinker (he's not that bad an actor) so the plan is in motion - first get voted out, second get her to believe his story, third beat her at the duel and plant false information.  He thinks he's either crazy or super ballsy... we shall see.

Redemption Island - Day 19
Everyone is there to witness the duel... ah, that says merge to me.
But first, Jeff is playing along.  He asks Ozzy if he's surprised to find himself at Redemption Island.  Ozzy pretends he's angry that they lost the challenge because Cochran screwed up and then played the idol to send him there.  He kind of screws up his rant but the gist is, he doesn't trust his tribe, every man for himself and his impetus to get back in the game is Revenge.  
Jeff doesn't let on... Alright. 
So the duel:
They will use sticks and ropes to fashion a long pole, they will use the pole to retrieve three keys hanging on posts on the other side of a bamboo cell - the three keys will unlock 3 locks that are keeping the cell door closed - first person to open and step through their door will win the duel and win their way back into the game - loser is out for good. (No more Redemption Island then? Please!)
And they are off:
Christine gets her pole together first but it's not strong enough - Ozzy trying too - his pole gets the key but it's not strong enough - he drops a key in the sand... but he is able to retrieve it.  Christine has to make an adjustment to her pole - Ozzy then retrieves all three of his keys and she has none. 
Cochran is pretending he's not happy that OZZY won the Duel and will be back in the game.  Coach is making note of the other tribe's reaction.  And the B*tchy One is finally going home.  She had a hard time of it out there most of the time on her own - and with her, Drew C, Cheryl J and Jeff T are out of the pool.

MERGE!  They get yellow buffs and start introducing themselves.
-Ozzy says he just made the craziest move he could make (don't hurt your shoulder patting yourself on the back there) and now he hopes that Cochran can infiltrated Upolu and they can take the advantage, take the lead and take the Victory!

Merged Tribe - Day 19
-They all head out to camp and come across their merge feast - it's all polite, "Where ya from"s but Jim says pretty quick it was game on.  They are 6 on 6 so everyone is looking for an in.
-Coach is talking to Cochran, asks him how he feels after last night.  Cochran says he hopes it gets better, today feels like a rebirth. 
-To the camera, Cochran is crowing that everything worked perfectly, now he just has to start working Upolu. 
-He and Coach are off and he starts laying it on thick... that his tribe was really mean to him, ostracized him and he's wondering if he's on the right side.  Coach cuts him off and just lays it out - Upolu will not break, he sees right through them.  Sending Ozzy to Redemption on purpose, having immunity in their pocket... but Upolu will vote 6 strong.  Cochran tries to talk but he's up against the master crazy babbletier here - Coach says he supposing it was as Cochran painted it for him, Coach understands being made fun of, he wasn't always the Dragon Slayer - he understands being superior in some ways that other people see and find other ways to cut you down (see, if you realized you're not necessarily superior, but just like everyone else, maybe you'd have a better time of it.)  Anyway, Cochran went from "Oh Sh*t, he sees right through me" to, "Coach is a very intelligent guy and maybe I should jump ship for reals and go with Upolu."

-Next Cochran is telling Coach, Albert and Sophie about Ozzy's dream - that he wanted to go to Redemption (so the using the idol story is right out the window) and he says he doesn't want to be viewed badly because he's ditching his tribe.  Albert assures him there is no disloyalty if he's been treated badly by them.
-Then Cochran is talking to Brandon by the fire (jeez, this kid gets around) and says he guesses he's supposed to be gathering information.... but he's providing more than gathering - Cochran tells him Jim has a temper but that Keith has been more consistently rude to him.
-Brandon tells him he would be completely protected from them if he were to jump ship. 

-Cochran says he believes that Upolu is super solid and completely honest and trustworthy.   He says he considers himself a strategist, possibly a mastermind (and so modest too), but not an evil mastermind, so he returns the hidden immunity idol to Ozzy as it was given to him with honesty and trust.  Cochran finds it crazy and exciting that he is now in a position to control his own fate in the game - he is the person who will decide how Survivor South Pacific takes shape and possibly ends. (Oh boy, this could really blow up in his face.)

Merged Tribe - Day 21 (Huh, there has been no discussion of renaming at all.)
-Cochran and Dawn have gone for tree mail (and I just have to say - wash your hair - God, they must stink!) and she asks him what his plan is.  He says he's going to vote with Savaii no matter what on the first vote but then it could come down to drawing rocks and he'll have to see from there.  Dawn says she doesn't feel much loyalty to the tribe... oh... then she starts crying again (What?  I thought we were over this.  Dawn does not seem to respond well to change.)  She tells the camera that Cochran reminds her of her ginger son and she has witnessed him not being treated well by the tribe and hasn't stuck up for him.  She respects people that stand up for what they believe in despite the million dollars and she hasn't done that - but when you're there in it, you just want to stay... she doesn't want Cochran to be a casualty of the game.
-He tells her for the first time in the game, he, and she, can be the masters of their own fate. (If she stops blubbering!)  Dawn sounds like she is ready to sacrifice herself for Cochran (oh man!)

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
Apparently the new tribe name is Daytuna?  Keith says it's based on the story of how the coconut came to be, uh huh huh...(yes, that was a Beavis & Butthead noise he made.)

-It is the first individual immunity challenge... and Jeff reveals Two Immunity necklaces  - oh, it is immunity for one man and one woman.
-They must balance on a small board/perch while holding a coconut suspended between two ropes. At regular intervals, they will add more length to the ropes making it harder to keep them taunt and keep the coconut suspended.  If at any point the coconut falls, breaking their tile or they fall off their perch, they are out. Last man & woman standing, win immunity.
-Off they go: and Cochran is already wavering on the perch but Edna pull the coconut in to her body (also a no no) she is the first out for having it touch her stomach - seconds later, Cochran falls off the perch - and we're down to 10.  (I bet the Marlboro Man wishes his cowboy hat wasn't black - it looks hot and he's sweating.)  First round is done and they can put the coconut down - add more rope and get back at it and Whitney is out right away bringing it down to the two remaining women - Sophie and Dawn - Jeff remarks that Sophie's legs are shaking and she drops the coconut - just like that DAWN wins the first female immunity (and she cries.) (And I just realized it's 8 men and 4 women... how did that happen?)
-Jeff counts down the men that are left: Rick (Marlboro Man - still never remember his name), Brandon, Ozzy, Jim (grunt), Albert, Keith and Coach... and just as he says Coach, he drops his coconut. (Wow, Jeff is cursing them.) Next he points out Rick is struggling and Rick drops his coconut (shut up Probst).  Jeff, "Hang on and you will advance to the final round." And Jim drops out and Keith drops out (has a little tantrum, punches his tile to break it - whatever) ... down to Ozzy, Brandon and Albert.  They place their coconuts on the post and add more rope on the sling - it's hot, they're sweating - Brandon adjusts his arms and loses it.  Down to Ozzy & Albert... and Albert is the first to drop it.  OZZY wins the first male immunity.
-Jeff tells them someone will be voted out tonight and sent to Redemption Island (Really? Crap, I'd hoped that was over.)

Te Tuna - Day 21 (Oh, that's what he said.)
-Savaii is celebrating that two of their members got immunity and they bandy about voting either Sophie or Rick - they think they'd run less risk of Rick having a hidden immunity idol.  Ozzy asks one more time if they are all in and Jim & Keith are a-holes and single out Cochran - you're not going to flip right.  Cochran, "Do you want me to flip?  I already said I was in." (That's right shut em up.)  Jim tells the camera both teams are pretty certain it will be a deadlock tonight and come down to picking rocks - but that's a sucky way to lose a million dollars.  They figure Upolu will vote Whitney so they should give her the hidden immunity idol then they are down to three people against their 6.   Cochran should still act waffly and if they tell him who to vote for, they'll know that is not how Upolu is voting.
-Cochran tells the camera, he's not happy picking rocks - and he goes and lays out the whole plan for Sophie.  They are voting Rick, was going to be her but changed - would be ideal if they gave Rick the idol... little fishing, she gives up nothing.  He tells her Ozzy's going to give Whitney their hidden idol and again he fishes for who they are voting for... nothing.  Cochran says he just hopes that they will protect him after tonight and she basically says, she's not the one making those decisions.  Sophie is good - she says she believes Cochran though, he seems genuinely afraid he'll get beat up for flipping.
-Cochran also seeks reassurance from Coach that they'll protect him - he's afraid he'll get eaten alive and Coach says he can sleep between him and Edna.  Coach tells the camera he has no choice but to trust in Cochran because the odds are not in their favour.  He's told him he'll be loved and respected with them and it is time for the nerd to rise against the bully... (I'm torn, I'm not sure what way I want this to go...)

-Cochran is talking to Dawn and he's thinking he's going to flip his vote after the initial tie so it doesn't go to rocks.  She's now changed her tune - she doesn't think he should start this war... (oh, flopperella!)  He tells the camera it gives him pause that she's now not willing to vote with him & Upolu but makes a good argument, the promises they have made to him don't hold much water, if two Upolu had won immunity they wouldn't even be talking to Cochran.  She says what goes around comes around and their behaviour will catch up with them.  Cochran isn't as zen, he wants to take control of his fate - she cautions him on voting on emotion.
-Dawn tells us her change of heart came from praying about it (oh, well, at least she didn't make a big production of it, seems more genuine in her case) and she has liked her tribe, they are not perfect but she's had great experiences with them and she wants to stay loyal to the tribe.
-Ozzy comes over and tries to be buddies with Cochran, we're almost there man, you'll be back in the fold (whatever dude, he's never been in the fold.)  Dawn isn't going to say anything to the tribe because she has hope that Cochran will do the right thing. (Then they show rays of sunlight coming through the clouds - really, are they going to ask for donations to the Billy Graham Crusade at the end?)

TRIBAL COUNCIL
Coach, 6 on 6 - the assumption is we're looking at a tie vote tonight.
-That is correct, we are putting all the cards on the table tonight, we'll see most likely 6 and 6.
Ozzy - rings true to him - they went in trying to win both immunity necklaces because they thought the vote would tie up and it would go to rocks, "And if it does, we better have the odds on our side - it's all going to be fate I guess."
Dawn, stakes are so high because if it is tied after two votes and we go to rocks, the two people that had votes are immune and everyone else is picking rocks... it's a big risk.
-It's big stakes, it's worth a big risk.
The only way to break up a tie is if someone defects.  Edna, can you see any scenario where it makes sense for someone to switch?
-If one individual didn't feel incorporated or part of that tribe, that would be one reason.
Cochran, student of the game, what are the odds that you would have two tribes this unified.(Keep it brief...) I've never seen two tribes that seem two totally cohesive in their own separate ways.  I don't do odds, I do Survivor. (Wow that was brief. Ozzy looks happy with that response.)
Jim, what are the odds that someone from your tribe, joins their tribe?
-Zero, it makes no sense.  We have the numbers on our side, it makes no sense to do that. (Coach smiles slightly at that.)
Albert, has there been much talk of the hidden immunity idol?  If the other tribe has one?
-Well, we were all present at the duel and saw Ozzy's Broadway show about feeling backstabbed when the idol was played - if they play an idol we'll know if that was all just an act.
Sophie, is the consensus that Ozzy wasn't telling the truth at the duel or is it the question you're hoping to have answered tonight.
-I was offended at Redemption Island that they would think we would believe that.  I found the charade to be over the top and somewhat pathetic.
And Ozzy rises to the bait again (he's so easy)
-Yeah, the acting may have been over the top and the truth of the matter is I do have the idol, or rather, WE have the idol.  I was just trying to give us an advantage and fight for my tribe and if that is pathetic, so be it.  (Upolu loves that he admitted it.)
Ozzy, you were very clear to say We have the idol.
-Yes, definitely for this group AND most likely for this vote, but you don't have to take my word for it, we can go ahead and do this.  That's it. (He kinda Brandoned that - instead of Period, That's it.)

And with that, it is time to vote:
They don't show how anyone voted.
Tallying the votes:
Anybody has a hidden immunity idol and wants to play it... Ozzy steps up and says he's going to play it since he has it - "This is for Whitney" - Sophie smiles, Albert shakes his head and Jim notices, realizes this could be going sideways...
Keith - 1,  (Upolu looks happy, Savaii and Keith especially upset)
Keith - 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Rick - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

They are tied - they re-vote and can only vote for Rick or Keith - this is their last chance if anyone is thinking of switching their vote... Dawn looks at Cochran...

Tallying the votes again:
Keith - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Rick - 1, 2, 3, 4...  Last vote is KEITH!  (Oh, snap!)
Ozzy & Jim are livid - Cochran, of course, swings around - "I swapped, I'll explain it."  Jim calls him a coward.  Coach is jubilant but keeps it contained.  Keith's flame is snuffed and Jim spits "Coward" at Cochran again.  Brandon comes to his defense - "Don't talk to him like that.  That's what you get for talking to people like that in the first place."
-Dawn is upset - but you did kind of leave your boy swinging in the breeze, Mom.

By far the biggest move of the game, and the game is far from over. 

-Brandon tells Cochran to stay close to him and they troop off for camp.

Next week: Upolu spits venom all over Cochran and Jim starts trying to get Upolu to vote for Cochran (Albert & Sophie specifically.)

Keith is working out that Cochran must have been the backstabbing weasel. (It never fails to amaze me how some people just have no clue - how did you expect him to feel and react to the crappy way you've treated him?)  I really can't feel bad for Keith - at all.

Hope you have a great weekend - Oh, and I will be off next week, going to Vegas - so there may not be a recap next week.

Coleen.

Amazing Race 19 - October 30, 2011 Episode Recap

We Love Your Country Already, It Is Very Spacious (Malawi)

The teams get the clue to head from Thailand to Malawi, Africa - Marcus & Amani are the first out, and they are very excited to be heading to Africa - they've never been.  Marcus & Amani tell us their youngest daughter is a special needs child and she's shown them how to celebrate every little achievement and they want to show her and all their kids (they have 4) not to give up.
Bill & Cathi are the next out, actually they leave staggered as usual but, as there is only one flight from Thailand to Malawi they are all on the same flight. 

Once they land in Malawi they must take taxis to Gate 07 of the tobacco warehouse and look for their next clue.  The flight lands and the order is pretty close to reversed as they jump in cabs - Sandy & Jeremy are the first out, followed by Cindy & Ernie then mid pack and coming up the rear are Marcus & Amani and Bill & Cathi.

Jeremy & Sandy are the first to the tobacco warehouse where they get the clue to the ROADBLOCK - who is ready to put up bale?  They will have to move 10 bales of tobacco weighing 200lbs each with a short dolly through the maze of bales in the warehouse to their assigned row.  Jeremy suits up in his orange jumpsuit and gets started - most of the regular workers are standing on the piled bales making tons of noise while others are running around moving bales and generally getting in the way.  Ernie joins in the bale moving along with Justin, Tommy and Laurence (really?  I think they should have made the kid do this one - Laurence was already tired before they got there.)

Stuck in traffic are Bill & Cathi and Marcus & Amani, their cabs are behind an engagement celebration procession - "It looks like a parade."  But was just a huge pain in their butts.

Marcus & Amani get to the warehouse but the cab stops at the wrong entrance - Bill & Cathi make it to gate 7 first and Bill jumps in to move some bales (he's got the experience with hay bales on the farm).  Finally Marcus wades in as well, and he looks high-larious in the overalls - way too short and snug - but he's getting it done.  The warehouse workers are having a blast - I would be too, they are probably still getting paid and getting to watch the soft Americans trying to do their work - looks like a fun break from work to me.  Everyone is sweating and saying it's hard to breathe - the smell of the tobacco is overwhelming (yeah, I see some of the workers with respirators, the Racers, not so much... um, I guess workplace safety isn't an issue on the Race?)

Jeremy is the first to finish and he gets the clue to head to the Memorial Tower to get their next clue - all the teams finish one after the other- and the workers cheer them like conquering heroes (that would be cool).  The teams jump in cabs and make it to the next clue easily
The clue is to the DETOUR - All Sewn Up or Not Grown Up
-In All Sewn Up - they must make their way to a tailor shop in the old market and choose a guy with a suit requiring sewing - on a pair of manual sewing machines they must finish the leg and sleeve of a suit and when it's completed to their clients satisfaction they'll get their next clue.
-In Not Grown Up - they must make their way to a school and using scrap materials (milk cartons and bottle caps) construct two toy trucks - when they children try them out and deem them worthy, they'll get their next clue.  (Both of these seem kinda picky tasks - how to choose.)

-Jeremy & Sandy - she says she can't sew to save her life so Not Grown Up it is.
-Ernie & Cindy choose All Sewn Up - she says she can sew, he thinks he can (oh great.)
-Justin & Jennifer - she's a special ed teacher so it's a no-brainer for her - it's all about the kids.
-Tommy & Andy - Trucks?  Absolutely.  (It just struck me, Tommy, the non-bearded snowboarder totally reminds me of Dana Carvey - look next time.) He says we chose Not Grown Up cause we're not quite grown up yet. (Ha, yeah.)
-Laurence & Zac - They are going to build trucks - and Laurence shows he's sexist, "This is where the ladies whip past us with the sewing."  (What?  Do you know what century you're in? )

-Bill & Marcus are the last two left still moving the bales of tobacco.  Bill finishes rather easily, he's in such great shape for his age - they head off for the tower.  Marcus finishes not too far behind and all the workers swarm him as he gets the clue then they help strip him of the overalls - He loved having their encouragement (it would have freaked me out I think).

-Sandy & Jeremy get to the school and get started on the trucks - seeing all the kids made Jeremy miss his son.  Sandy has focus issues - she keeps getting distracted by how adorable the kids are - she wants to go play soccer (someone forgot their Ritalin on the Race.)
-Justin & Jennifer get to the school and Justin is studying the example like a surgeon, how do I take this apart and put it back together.

-Cathi & Bill get to the tower and she is of the generation Laurence referred to - she's a great seamstress so they choose All Sewn Up.
-Marcus & Amani also choose the sewing, he says his grandma and mom sew, so he's seen it all his life (ha ha, I've seen a lot of things too, doesn't mean I can do it... we'll see.)

-Laurence & Zac's cab driver takes their urging to heart and improves his own lane right down the middle to pass the Snowboarders (eek!)
-They all get to the school and run in to the craft area - Laurence says to Sandy, "I thought you would have been sewing my dear." (Jennifer throws him a look - Really? Oh Laurence, give it a rest already.)  Sandy says she doesn't sew and Justin says don't you do that in the OR?  We find out Sandy is a Nurse Practitioner - so she can sew people, just not clothes.  And then Laurence really p*ssed me off when he cautioned Justin about marrying her because she doesn't sew. (Shouldn't you be able to sew as a sailor? Oh yeah, you should be able to read a marine map as well... wanker.)

-Ernie & Cindy finally get to the market and Cathy & Bill get their right behind them - the power of a good cab driver cannot be underestimated in this Race.  
-Cathi gets right to sewing, she has Bill working the pedal and she's sewing away - but her thread wasn't set so no actual stitches went into the pants.  Gah, start again.
-Ernie & Cindy say they won the Express Pass in the first leg but they are going to try and hold on to it for as long as they can.  They seem to be doing alright with the sewing.

-Back at the school, Jennifer is thinking she'll get her kids to make some of these trucks to teach them to appreciate the toys they have.  Most of them want to try and remember how to do it to take the lesson home to their kids.
-Laurence makes another crack to Sandy about her going to do some sewing and she looks like, "Is this guy for real?" (I know, really?)

-Marcus & Amani get to the tailor shop and choose a suit - she's not so thrilled to be sewing but they jump right in.  I think if they seam is closed, they are good to go.  Marcus, "Watch me granny, I'm going to work."

-Jeremy & Sandy finish their trucks and the kids test drive them - they work - so they get the clue to make their way to a furniture shop where they'll get their next clue.  Sandy stops to play a little soccer, she wants to enjoy this.  Jeremy says he is enjoying it (subtext: but I want to win more.)
-Justin & Jennifer right behind them - she tries to high 5 a kid and he has no idea what she's doing.
-Andy & Tommy next done, the kid knows the high 5 for them - Tommy tries some soccer on the way by and kicks the ball away from the kid - nice, go get it.

-Back at the tailor shop Ernie says Cindy normally wears the pants in their relationship, so when she's running the ship, things go much more smoothly.  They are the first finished.  Cathi is still having threading issues with their machine.  But they finish not too long after them.  Marcus & Amani still working away.

-Justin & Jennifer and Jeremy & Sandy get to the furniture shop and on the side of the road are a bunch of slatted bed frames - they get the clue that tells them to take two beds to Phil at the next Pit Stop (ask the shop keeper to call you a truck.)  They will have to carry the beds though for the last part of the way to Phil at the mat - and they will be sleeping on those beds tonight.
-Andy & Tommy show up and they steal Jeremy & Sandy's truck - oops.  They had an okay attitude about it though - we just have to get a new one.

-Laurence & Zac show up and as usual Laurence doesn't read the whole clue about asking for a driver - he's trying to talk his cab driver into letting them strap the beds on the cab.  Finally the cab driver tells them to read the clue - Oooh. (Laurence is my least favourite person this leg - thick lump)
-Ernie & Cindy are loading their beds on a truck - everyone is squeezing in with the beds in these trucks - also, not very safe.  This episode is a WorkSafe nightmare (haha.)

-Marcus & Amani are the last team to the furniture shop - Last again - Dag nabbit. 

-Justin & Jennifer get to the end of the line for the trucks and find out they have to carry the beds to the mat.  On their shoulders, off they go.
-Andy & Tommy are the next there, they pay the driver and take off running with their beds (of course they do.)
-Sandy & Jeremy unload their beds and are about to take off when she asks if he paid the driver - no - what are you doing.  (oh, that's going to be a thing.)  Sandy is having problems carrying the bed and drops it, Jeremy says something reasonable and she freaks out, "Don't yell at me!" (Uh, he didn't - she's a little touchy.)

-Marcus & Amani have loaded their beds on a truck but they are riding in their taxi following the truck (I wonder why?)  Then, the taxi breaks down on them so they are farther behind. They jump in the truck with the beds - oh, that's really little - I get it, that's really not safe.  But they are off to the Pit Stop.

-Cindy & Ernie pay their truck driver - Bill says to Cathi, "I assume we have to pay the driver." "Only if he asks." (What? Only if he asks?  What is that?  That is Bill & Cathi having to come back is what it is.)
-Cindy has problems with the bed too - she gets it on her back but she loses the balance on it and just crumples under it... Haha - she's trapped under the bed cage.
-Sandy puts down the bed every 2 feet - Jeremy is berating her now but she really deserves it - she's such a whiner - my shoulder, whine, whine, whine.  Bill & Cathi pass them.

-Justin & Jennifer run back by the teams coming in with their beds - What's going on?  We have to pay our guy.  (Of course they say this before they get to Bill & Cathi so they don't hear them.)

Here's How They Finished:
1) Justin & Jennifer - HOLD IT - They didn't pay their truck driver so Phil can't check them in until they go back and do that... Which means...
1) Tommy & Andy - win a trip for two to the British Virgin Isles - oh, that is so pretty... yes, please.
2) Justin & Jennifer - after elbowing past Cathi at the mat are now team #2
3) Bill & Cathi - didn't pay their driver - and they busted it passing a bunch of teams with the beds.
3) Jeremy & Sandy - Phil checked them in much to Bill & Cathi's dismay - oh, paying, right.
4) Laurence & Zac - Laurence nearly falls into the Malawi lady's arms - it's been a tough leg for him.
5) Ernie & Cindy - She never looks happy to be anything but first - but they're still in it.
6) Bill & Cathi - ran back and paid and ran past Marcus & Amani to get to the mat 6th
7) Marcus & Amani  - Last team to arrive - however - this was a NON-ELIMINATION leg and they will need those beds cause they are still in the Race.  They don't want to quit - they want to show their kids what teamwork and be an example for them. (Yeah, they're such great parents they've left their kids at home to go on a Race around the world... hahaha.)
So, they will face a Speed bump on the next leg but still have the opportunity to win the Race for Susan N, Jeff T, Cara L and Shane B in our pools.

Next week - they work as taxi drivers Africa style (on bicycles, in traffic) and Jeremy & Sandy are fighting while trying to paddle what looks like a log boat thing. 

Have a great week everyone,

Coleen.

Survivor South Pacific - Oct 26/11 Episode Recap

Trojan Horse

The episode opens at:Upolu - Night 16
-They return from tribal council where Brandon had another blow up and Mikayla went to Redemption Island.
-Edna says Brandon is making her job of staying there easier by being a loose cannon.
-Rick (Marlboro Man) is telling Coach they can't have that keep happening, they have to get Brandon under control or he is a liability to the tribe.
-Coach likens Brandon to Lenny in Of Mice and Men - "There comes a time when you have to put a bullet into somebodies head." (WHAT?) "This game is kill or be killed." (Sweet Jebus, sounds like Brandon should be sleeping with one eye open.)

REDEMPTION ISLAND - Day 17
-We jump right to the duel (hello) - Albert & Sophie and Ozzy & Cochran are the witnesses.  The latter were surprised to see Mikayla there.

Duel - they will take apart a crate and use the boards to build a bridge - set them into peg holes across a platform, then they will use some of the planks to complete a puzzle - they have a design painted on the back.  First person to complete the design correctly remains - loser is gonzo.
-Off they go - Christine is in the lead completing the bridge - Albert is shouting help to Mikayla but she's just not as smart... I know, mean, but true.  They move on to the puzzle and Mikayla thinks she has it but the design is just not right - Christine pulls off another win!  She is the B*tchy One that could. Sophie & Albert are not happy.

And with Mikayla leaving - we don't need to hear her speak - oh, she wants to be stronger - whatever - we also see Susan M, Virginia D, Elaine/Kevin leaving the pools. (Tough week for Elaine & Kevin - first AR and now this.)

-Jeff points out that Christine has now single-handedly sent 5 people packing - she's becoming a legitimate force - "I've always been a legitimate force." (For Evil!  Actually, I don't know that, she could be perfectly lovely - hahahaha.)
-This gets Ozzy thinking - everyone thinks the merge will be after the next challenge, if his tribe loses, it could be worth it for them to send someone to Redemption to beat Christine and come back into the game giving Savaii the numbers. (Huh, not such a bad strategy - I hope Christine wins!)

Savaii - Day 17
-Ozzy lays out his plan to Cochran - starts out buttering him up - "We're, like, on opposite poles here but oddly in the same place - we should work together."  Cochran is such an eager little puppy - lapping it up.  So, anyway, worse case scenario - Ozzy says he doesn't want to go to Redemption but he will (because, of course, it's a given he will beat Christine) so he'll have to entrust his hidden immunity idol to someone (pointed look at Poindexter) and hopefully they'll give it back to me when I come back - keeping their numbers even.  Cochran, "That is so courageous of you." (Oh gag me.)
-Cochran sees this great for him - if Ozzy is serious about falling on his sword, so to speak, means Cochran won't be the one going to Redemption (and then, going home - if we're honest.)

Upolu - Day 17
-Coach is doing his yoga/martial arts/zen posing in the water -(I've kinda missed that this season) - but now he's actually praying to God, not just some nebulous spiritual ideal... (hmm, you know, Coach has actually shown a lot of growth and maturity this season - but I miss the crazy... just a little.)  Oh, hold on, his prayer is from Wayne's World, "I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy." HAhaha!
-Coach's meditation has brought him to the realization that the only way for him to boost his tribe out of the dumps they've sunk into after losing last challenge is to share with them all that "they" have a hidden immunity idol. "Go Team."  (Uh oh, Brandon's going to be p*ssed.)
-Oh no, this is the new Coach - he rallies them all around to search for the idol today (and he's going to miraculously 'find' it) oh yeah, he's playing this game with honour and integrity alright :) He leads them in a prayer circle before sending them off on their fool's errand and it gives Sophie an icky feeling.  (At least someone has a conscience - but in Coach's mind he's doing it for the good of the tribe so it can't be wrong. Right?  Wrong!)

-Coach & Sophie end up finding tree mail - they have to pair up within the tribe and paint their bodies/dress identically for the challenge - May the best Twins win.  Hmm.
-They call everyone in and they tell them they found the idol - Brandon is so excited, "Pray together, stay together."  (He's going to hate Coach when he finds out about this.)

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
-They all look ridiculous!  But Brandon with the painted on bikini top is PRICELESS! (I've just realized I've been very exclamationy this recap - oh well!)
-And we find out this is the new movie commercial episode - the winners will go to the Survivor Cinema and have to suffer through the new Adam Sandler movie Jack & Jill where he plays twins - one of which is a woman -yes, that movie got made.  The popcorn, candy, soda may make it worth watching, if I was starving out there - maybe.
-So, one set of twins will be the callers for the tribe and the other two sets of twins will be blindfolded.  One set at a time will have to listen to the callers to guide them through a course and collect bags of masks.  Once they have all 4 bags, the last set of twins (still blindfolded) have to get the masks out of the bags and, using only their sense of touch, must match the twin masks and set them on the board in their pairs.  First team to complete the matches correctly wins Immunity and Reward. (If you want to call it that.)
-Upolu callers: Coach & Rick  - directing Brandon & Edna
-Savaii callers: Jim & Cochran - directing Keith & Dawn - and first obstacle - Dawn cracks her head right into the log (Ouch).  They're not very good at this.
Then Edna takes a hard hit - smashing her forehead into a log as well - Coach did tell her to duck but Brandon was pulling her along - She is definitely seeing stars.
-Brandon & Edna find the first bag first but Keith & Dawn are not far behind.  They switch out the pairs and now Albert & Sophie head out along side Ozzy & Whitney.  Upolu is back first with the 2nd bag but Keith & Dawn take over the lead on the third bag - they've moved out into the water with the obstacles and Edna is not doing well. 
-Savaii hits a snag though, literally - they are tethered to a rope through this whole thing and Cochran was trying to undo one team and hook up the next... well, it was Cochran - it didn't go well and they lost the lead.
-Albert finds the 4th bag but they could not untie it - Ozzy and Whitney get to the bag and untie it quickly but they are all tangled in their rope and it totally slows them down (I think Cochran is toast.)

-Upolu is the first back with all the bags and Albert & Sophie get started on the Twinning of the Masks.  Coach is praying and Brandon is witnessing with his arm in the air (okay, hypocrite, give it a rest already.)  Or, it totally worked - Albert & Sophie knocked it out of the park before Savaii even got started.  Upolu wins Immunity and a movie. 
-Coach demands they all get on their knees and he leads a prayer - Yeah, I'm going with give it a rest already.
-Ozzy has another little temper tantrum - yelling they weren't hooked in right and he hits the wall, then kicks the wall... Cochran knows his agreement with Ozzy has just gone out the window.

And we were subjected to a commercial for Jack & Jill - that's enough for me, thank you.

REWARD
-They b-line to the candy - and they are showing us scenes from the movie -  Please stop it!
-Coach loved it, loves Adam Sandler - movie reminded him family comes first and they have to remain strong as a tribe/family, blah, blah, blah.

Savaii - Night 17
-Returning from the challenge - Cochran looks like he's been crying and Ozzy is ranting.  Cochran feels a new level of ostracism from the tribe and he knows he's the next target.   Ozzy flat out says, "You lost it for us."  and Cochran takes it on, I should be held accountable.
-So Ozzy has his out - he says it's a risky move to send Cochran to Redemption but it's even riskier to send Ozzy and have the merge be delayed another week (why is that?  Ozzy just doesn't want to go - he knows he should but he's just not that good a guy - I think he's a bit weaselly.)  He says this is Cochran's chance to 'redeem' himself (oh, so that's how you're spinning it. Right.)
-Then they all jump on board - You can do it, you have to believe you can do it - it's about redemption.  They start trying to fire him up to go to Redemption and beat Christine and save their tribe.
So Cochran says to the camera, instead of sending Ozzy, the Trojan horse, to Redemption and shaking everything up, they're sending the Court Jester and I don't know what I'm supposed to do but shake my hands around (You go and YOU WIN!  He does need a good dose of self esteem this guy.  Hopefully Survivor will get him laid.)  He says what made it worse was they had a weird kum ba yah justification for sending him there - he says he's not there to be a hero, he doesn't want to save his tribe, he just doesn't want to go to Redemption. Period (as Brandon would say.)
-They show Ozzy unable to sleep... (oh, what's this?)

Savaii - Day 18
-Ozzy tells the camera he had crazy dreams about actually doing what he said he was going to do [get them to send him to Redemption island] so he goes and gets his hidden immunity idol to show everyone that he actually does have it... he puts it on to make his grand entrance and tells them he thinks he should go to Redemption Island.  "What do you think Cochran?"
-To his credit, he did not scream YES! but you know he wanted to.  He's hoping he'll get a reprieve here.
-The rest of the tribe is very resistant though.  Keith thinks everyone should stand for their own actions (but we know Keith could not be strategic if he tried) he explains that his worry is they have another challenge before a merge and they are left with Cochran to take up the slack if they've voted Ozzy out.  Ahh.  Jim shares this worry (okay, and I really can't blame them.)

TRIBAL COUNCIL
Ozzy, at the end of last challenge there was a lot of emotion, was there any finger pointing back at camp?
-He laughs - Yeah, a lot of emotion and a lot of finger pointing at Cochran.
Cochran, what happened.
-Tangle - Panic - Blank - worst nightmare - embarrassing. (He's wordy, I condensed it.)  He claims he's usually calm cool and collected. (Right.)  Then he babbles on about them hoping the merge happens as historical precedent has shown in Survivor and that Redemption Island will work in our favour and get the numbers back up to 6-6. (Jim looks worriedly around that he's mentioned this plan.)
Dawn, he says hopefully Redemption Island will help us - tell me about that.
-She just says they hope whoever goes to Redemption wins the duel and can re-enter the game so it's even numbers.  (No specifics, good girl.)
Ozzy, I'm a little confused - why would Cochran put his life on the line if you vote him out?
-The thing of it is, Jeff, (dramatic voice) I'm putting my life on the line.
(Cochran suppresses a quick grin.)
You're putting your life on the line?
Yes
You're going to Redemption Island?
Yes.  I had a dream, I saw the merge and I saw a chance at my OWN Redemption.  He says it's haunted him that last time he played the game he didn't listen to his heart/his gut and he got voted out by not playing his hidden immunity idol - this time his heart/his gut is telling him to get his butt to Redemption Island and prove to his tribe that he's WORTH keeping in this game.  Then he tells Jeff that he has the idol and he's going to give it up - he's going to tell Christine that Cochran, smart little weasel that he is (backhanded compliment did not go unnoticed by said smart little weasel), found the idol and played it to send Ozzy to Redemption Island.  This makes Cochran, not only the villain but a double-agent and he thinks this is their best shot at taking them by surprise and keeping them in the game.
What if we don't merge tomorrow?
-Then these guys could face a challenge without me - but I go out on my own terms not on someone elses terms like last time. (Little selfish of you.)
For another argument - If you don't win the duel, you go out a bigger fool than you did last time.
Yeah.
Keith, any reservations at all about this?
-I was the most vocal, I think this is Cochran's time to go and redeem himself to the tribe.
Whitney - Ozzy is one of our strongest players, if we go to another challenge, we are not 100% (she said pur-sa-ent - not three syllables honey) without Ozzy.
Jim - worse case scenario tomorrow morning?
-Ozzy loses and we go the 5 of us strong against the 6 of them. (Christine will not be with them.)
Risky move, let's see if you have the courage to go through with it... 

It is time to vote:
Cochran - Blah blah blah - thrilled to be a part of this especially if it means saving my *ss.

Jeff asks if anyone has a hidden idol, now is the time to play it.
Ozzy, "I've changed my mind.  I'm going to let Cochran go to Redemption Island." (WHAT!?!) "Just kidding" (That did get me for a second)  He hands the idol over to Cochran and says you better give it back to me -"Right back at you tomorrow." (I wonder if he'll try to keep it... could happen.)

Tallying the votes:
Ozzy - 1, 2, 3, 4.... Lucky 7th person voted out of Survivor South Pacific.  He does act like he's excited for this chance at Redemption - big smile, runs off into the night.

Jeff says they just made one of the Biggest Moves in Survivor History, based on an assumption.  We'll see soon enough if you were right.

Next week - they don't show much - Ozzy has to win the duel, retrieving a key on the very tip of a stick and Cochran is talking to the camera like a movie gangster, "First, you get the mastermind voted out, get his idol, then win a million dollars."

Ozzy's final thought - this is either the stupidest thing I've ever done or one of the most iconic moves in Survivor history (these people have to get over themselves.  You didn't cure cancer.)
Ozzy wakes up Christine and says what do you think happened?  Cochran.  Yes!

Now I really can't wait for next week!  I think I'm rooting for the B*tchy One to sweep.

Have a great week/end,

Coleen

Amazing Race 19 - Oct 23/11 Episode Recap

I Feel Like I'm in the Circus (Bangkok, Thailand)

This leg of the Race, Andy & Tommy are the first to head out at 10:07am - they get the clue to travel by local transportation up the river to get their next clue.  They have to take a local taxi which looks like a little pick up truck converted into a double-decker... little pick up truck - once at the river they will travel by elephant (that is so cool!) until they reach the next clue.
-Andy & Tommy tell us how their faith in God is very important to them - they have scripture verses on their packs reminding them to be joyful and pray always... (Hey, whatever floats your boat - they are joyful and fun - can't deny that.)
-They get on the elephant, riding along over some rough terrain when the driver slides down the front of the elephant - whoa, where ya going? - He's directing from the ground and Tommy slides forward to drive from behind the elephant's head.  Andy says he's going to get an elephant when he gets home - you can do some serious 4-wheeling. (Could you imagine how much those things eat?  Good luck with that.)

-Fighting Siblings, Justin & Jennifer head out at 11:01, Jeremy & Sandy, Zac & Laurence are off at 11:44 and 11:45am respectively.  Laurence says he's proud of what Zac's accomplished at such a young age but he's the Dad and Zac will have to listen to him (as long as you read the clue, it'll be no problem.)

-Andy is now driving the elephant - "Look ma, no hands."

-Jennifer & Justin get on their elephant and she's waving, "Hello. I feel like I'm in the circus." [parade] apparently.

-Ernie & Cindy are the next out at 11:52am - they grew up in very different environments - he was a B student (that's an Asian F), not pushed like her - he wants to prove himself worthy of her in the Race... (I'm thinking she has some pretty traditional parents - good luck to you sir.)
-Amani & Marcus are next to leave at 11:53am.

-Andy & Tommy get to the bucket with the clue and it's the ROADBLOCK: Who wants to hear some Water Music?  They must follow the sound of music to a waterfall and a traditional Thai flautist, then search the pool he's standing beside for their next clue.
-Ro-sham-bo and scissors cut paper - Andy is doing the Roadblock.  He dives right in but the water is really murky and he doesn't know what he's looking for - takes a minute and decides it's probably right below the flutist - goes back down and of course, there it is - wrapped bundle.  He unwraps it and it's a ceramic koi fish that says break me - he takes it back to Tommy and they smash it and inside is their next clue.  Disassemble a Spirit House: they must travel by the taxi-thingy to a local shop where they have to disassemble a model shrine called a spirit house - then they must transport the pieces to the temple to get their next clue.  Back on the elephant they go.

-Bill & Cathi are just starting out at 12:22pm - seems like so much has happened...

-Justin & Jennifer get to the Roadblock and he's heading to the pool.  Yeah, no swimming there - he's just walking through the water - I don't see it.

-Jeremy & Sandy and Laurence & Zac get on the elephants - she says she loves her Dumbo - Jeremy says it's definitely not the fastest form of transportation (and there you have the personalities of these two in a nutshell.)

-Justin stumbles over his 'clue' bundle - and they are off to disassemble a spirit house.

-Ernie & Cindy and Marcus & Amani are riding the elephants - Marcus says it's a little scary for him, he is a large man - their seat does seem to be leaning over a bit to his side... eek.  (Aw, baby elephants bathing in the river - aww.)

-Andy & Tommy arrive at the Spirit House shop and Andy says they should take mental note of how it looks assembled in case they have to put it back together (smart man my bearded friend.)  They get down to disassemblage and are back in the pick up/cab lickety-split.

-Justin & Jennifer's elephant has to divert into the river to get around Sandy & Jeremy and Zac & Laurence.  Justin says good luck to them and all of sudden Sandy is scared...? (She needs to stop over thinking things.)

-Andy & Tommy get to the temple and the clue is another ROADBLOCK - requires one team member to reassemble the Spirit House exactly how they found it, on the grounds of the temple.  Once they get it exact, the monk will give them their next clue.  SURPRISE - if you did the water Roadblock, your partner must do this one. (oooh, that could be interesting for some.)
-So, Tommy is doing the reassemble and says it's been interesting as Christians doing these tasks at the Buddhist temples - but they know the one true God and he's greater than the temples (really? You can't respect other people's beliefs?  Don't make me not like my Snowboarders.)
-Tommy: "I have no idea where this guy goes." (Uh oh, that could be bad, you have to get the figurines in the right places.  He's going to think God's forsaken him because it's a Buddhist shrine!)

-Back at the Water Music - Sandy and Laurence wade in looking for the clue.  He is the first one to find it - so she soon follows.

-Tommy can't remember how the Spirit House is supposed to look - they focused on opposite sides when they took it apart - he decides he's got to go back to the shop and take another look - off they go.

-Elephant traffic jam - as Sandy & Jeremy and Zac & Laurence are trying to turn their animals around - Marcus & Amani and Ernie & Cindy come up on them... "Lovely day for riding an elephant, eh?" (That was Laurence, it sounded so proper in his accent too.)

-Back at the shop, Tommy makes himself some notes on the placement of things and heads back.

-Ma & Pa are finally on the elephants and...
-Liz & Marie are finally heading out at 1:35pm... and they also have a speed bump they'll have to face at the elephants.  They are still smiling because their Dad taught them to go going, be positive and you'll be successful - they're trying to live by that.  They are thankful they got $135 for this leg of the race because they never changed their Indonesian money so they haven't had Thai money for this leg of the Race.

-Marcus and Cindy head to the pool and are looking for the clue.

-Tommy completes the Spirit House correctly and gets the thumbs up and the clue to travel 550 miles by bus to Bangkok.  Once there they must make their way to the Bangkok Noi canal and feed the fish to receive their next clue.

-Justin & Jennifer get to the shop and figure they're going to have to put the thing back together, borrow the cab drivers cell phone to take a picture (huh, I guess they can do that.)

-Back at the waterfall, Marcus finds his 'clue' and just has to reach down and pick it up - Cindy has to dive under the water (haha.)  They all head off for the Spirit House shop.

-At the temple, Jennifer has to do the re-assemble for them - the parts are heavy and she's complaining. (Surprise.)  She says, "Even though this is not the same religion as mine it warrants the same respect." (Exactly - and now I like Jennifer more.)  She gets a No - runs and looks at the phone and realizes she forgot the cups of water - she gets the clue and head off for the bus depot.

-At the shop, Jeremy and Sandy take notes on where everything is situated on the Spirit House figuring they'll have to put it back together.
-Zac says we should take notes and Laurence, "No, no, we just have to take the thing apart." (Oh yeah, "I'm the voice of wisdom, he has to listen to me." Poor kid.)  He's just focused on passing Jeremy & Sandy - they take off and Zac says again - we didn't take any notes.  Dad - Don't worry.

-Liz & Marie get to the elephants and they're dying - Oh my god - baby elephants - they're may favourite animal (oh, they're so young.)

-At the Temple Zac finds out he has to put the Spirit house back together - great.  Thanks a lot Pop.
-Jeremy is fine with his notes.

-Ma & Pa have reached the first Roadblock and she heads into the pool - and falls down (do I need to start Cathi fall counter part II?)

-Poor Zac is screwed - he gets a no.  He's thinking he's going to have to go back and take notes.
-Jeremy gets it right and they head out for the bus station.
-Zac runs to the cab and says he should have taken notes, Laurence says, "Don't blame me." and is mad Zac couldn't do it - We're losing time - this is something I could have knocked out quickly I think. (Really?  You have a photographic memory do you?  Jerk!)

-Cathi finds their clue so they are heading back to do the Spirit Houses.

-Liz & Marie have to do their Speed Bump and they are squealing like little girls about the baby elephants - then they find out they have to wash and clean up after (yes, that means shovels of poop) the elephants before they can carry on riding one.  They say it doesn't smell and they're happy to do it because elephants are (one of their) favourite animals.  (Uh, right.)

-Zac is taking notes - Laurence stayed behind at the temple in a snit - he heads back.

-Marcus & Amani arrive at the shop and she's taking notes - Ernie & Cindy get there at the same time and they just start stripping the thing... uh oh.  She says she wants to take a good look at one of the other ones and he says "Why, it doesn't say we have to re-assemble it." (Oh buddy, listen to the smart one.)

-Zac gets the set up correct and they didn't lose their spot - they get the clue and head off for the bus terminal. (Do you think Dad learned anything from not taking the time to make notes - no, he thinks he could have done it - it's Zac's fault.)

-Amani and Ernie now have to reassemble the Spirit Houses - you should have seen Cindy's face when she read that clue and knew she now had to rely on Ernie to complete this part... He says he thinks he remembers how it goes.  But he has no idea.
-Amani has her notes and is glad of it.

-The twins finish shoveling sh*t and are ecstatic they get to now scrub an elephant (okay, you're weird).  When they finish and then get to ride an elephant Marie (I think) says this is the best day of her life, "No Joke."

-The Snowboarders get to the bus station and the taxi ride costs them almost all their money - they buy bus tickets to Bankok - leaves at 4:30pm, arrives 6am (thirteen hours on a bus... smelling like elephant ;)
-Justin & Jennifer and Sandy & Jeremy get tickets on the same bus.
-Zac & Laurence get tickets on another bus leaving at 4:30 - it's a first class bus - Zac, "Do you think that will be a problem?" Laurence, "No, not at all." (Really?  This guy is such an idiot, doesn't learn.)

-Ernie has to go back to the shop to take another look at the Spirit Houses - "It's another bad day for team Cindy & Ernie and they all seem to be my fault." (Aw... but yes, they do. Haha.)
-Amani gets hers right and they get the clue to head for the bus station.

-The Twins get to the Water Music and get their clue rather quickly - off they go for the Spirit Houses.

-Ma & Pa get to the Spirit House shop and they know to write down where the pieces go.
-Ernie gets his notes down and heads back to the Temple - he says he thinks he has it now - "And if I don't, I think Cindy's going to kill me." (It's funny cause it's true!)
-Zac finally gets his Dad to see reason - reminds him they're not supposed to take First Class transport, "We can't afford another penalty"- they get the driver to let them off the bus and they have to make their way back and get the proper bus.  Laurence, on the side of the road, "We're screwed now." "Yup."

-Ernie gets back and makes some adjustments and he gets the clue - he says he screwed up again but she's comforting him - (they are pretty cute together.)

-Laurence and Zac are jogging back to the bus station - hopefully they have money for more tickets.

-Liz & Marie get to the Spirit House shop and they bet they have to reassemble it - they take notes.

-Pa gets the shrine together correctly and they head out for the bus station.
-Liz & Marie get to the Temple and Liz has to reassemble the house but she took notes.

-Amani & Marcus get to the bus station and get tickets on the 5:30pm bus.  Ma & Pa also get on the 5:30 bus.

-Ernie & Cindy get to the bus station and they don't have 4500 baht to pay the cab driver - they shove $100 US dollars at him and take off to buy bus tickets.  The driver comes after them (4500 baht is $150) - some woman starts arguing for the cab driver and Ernie & Cindy play the ugly Americans - "Why are you doing this to us, you were a terrible driver..." (So you don't have to pay him? Ugh. - Cindy does say in their interview after that it was not their finest hour, that behaviour was not acceptable but the race is so stressful.)
-Ernie & Cindy get on their (first class?) bus - Marcus & Amani and Ma & Pa are on another bus and they start heading out at 5:30pm as Zac & Laurence come running back into the station. Marcus, "And they look beat."

-Zac & Laurence find out the next bus they can catch is an 8:00pm bus.  They do not look happy hanging out at the bus station.
-Liz gets her Spirit House together and they head for the Bus terminal.
-Zac & Laurence get on the 8:00pm bus and they look like wrung out dishrags - and there is a screaming baby on the bus (nice.)
-Liz & Marie don't have enough money to pay their cab driver - they buy tickets for the 8:00pm bus which is leaving-right-now!  But they still owe the cabbie $40 more dollars that they don't have.  The bus pulls out and now they don't have money for more bus tickets either. (Still the best day of your life Marie?)  They get a reprieve though - the cab driver agrees to accept the money they have and they stop the bus for them and he drives them to the bus... (Ah, the power of being young and pretty.)

BANGKOK
-Ernie & Cindy's bus is the first one to arrive - (Express bus? First class?) They have to go feed the fish.  They have been to Bankok before but they don't think it will help them unless they have to find some lady-boys, "we know where those are." (Oh really?)

-2nd bus arrives with Tommy & Andy, Sandy & Jeremy and Justin & Jennifer - their bus made a lot of stops. They have no idea where any other teams are.
-3rd bus arrives with Marcus & Amani and Ma & Pa.
-They all hop in cabs and head for Bangkok Noi canal.

-Zac & Laurence and Liz & Marie - are still on their buses - they both took 8pm buses but weren't on the same one.
-Liz & Marie have no money now so they won't be able to cab to the canal to feed the fish - Marie hates fish.

-Ernie & Cindy feed the fish with the fish food they got at the temple with the last clue.  They then receive the clue for the Pit Stop - M.R. Kukrit Heritage Home - last team to arrive may be eliminated - their cab driver is phoning a friend to find out where they need to go. hmm.

-The 2nd bus team's cabs are stuck in Bankok traffic snarl - one block in 20 minutes - ugh.
-Ma & Pa and Marcus & Amani's drivers took a short cut and they are the next teams to feed the fishes and to get the clue to the Pit Stop. 

-Laurence & Zac's bus arrives and they hop in a cab for the canal.
-The twins bus arrives and they ask someone how far the Bankok Noi is- they're told it's 3 blocks so they start hoofing it - hoping it's within walking distance.

-Cindy & Ernie's cab gets stuck in traffic and they are worried not to be moving so they pay up and hop out of the cab.  (Where are you going?)

-Ma & Pa and Marcus & Amani apparently have the best cab drivers ever - they are heading to the Pit Stop and know it's going to be a foot race.  Marcus, "They may look like Ma & Pa but don't let that fool you, they can run."

-Cindy & Ernie are walking and she's so p*ssed they got out of the cab (I guess so.)

-Liz & Marie ask another guy where Bankok Noi is and he tells them it would take them 5 hours to walk there.  They feel they have no choice, they feel way too guilty to ask people for money.

-The Snowboarders and Jeremy & Sandy are feeding the fish and both get the clue to the Pit Stop - the snowboarders are told the Pit Stop house is right across the water so they take off running.  Jeremy & Sandy hop in a moto-cab.

-Justin & Jennifer feed the fish and jump in their cab.

-Liz & Marie are tired of walking and decide to beg a cab driver to take them - they say they have no money, will you take us?  He laughs - and agrees.  "Never underestimate the generosity of people." (I guess not.)

-The Snowboarders stop to ask directions at a school - the lady they ask takes off with their clue - tells them to wait there - and she doesn't come back.  Another woman comes out and tells them she's teaching and they'll have to wait - (WHAT?)  They say it was God's will... (Oh, my...) Then a man comes out and shows them on a map where they need to go and they jump in a cab.  Finally!

-Zac & Laurence feed the fish and head for the Pit Stop.

-Jeremy & Sandy are dropped off somewhere and they take off on foot - hopefully in the right place.

-Liz & Marie get to feed the fish and get the clue for the Pit Stop - have to go try and beg another ride. (And you can tell it's hot - the camera lens is all steamy.)  They bat their eyes and get another free cab ride. (I hope this doesn't corrupt these nice young girls - I can get things for free if only I ask sweetly and bat my eyes.)

-Jeremy & Sandy are lost walking around and finally realize they need to get in a cab - they hope this isn't the end for them... but they are proud of each other.

Here's How they Finished:
1) Marcus & Amani - Team #1, now that is some celebration - they win a trip for two to Bali (ahh, nice.)
2) Bill & Cathi (Ma & Pa) - hug M&A and are very happy with 2nd.
3) Ernie & Cindy - Team #3 - however?  No, I guess they were just lucky and got an express bus.
4) Justin & Jennifer - find out they're team number 4 and he says - We were hoping for first place (looking at Phil like it's his fault) but we'll take 4th. (Yes you will, and you'll be happy about it!)
5) Andy & Tommy - alright
6) Laurence & Zac - Phil tells them that the No First Class travel rule only applies to air travel and they would have been okay on the first class bus - (Arghh! So many rules.) I think Laurence wanted to throttle someone but I don't blame Zac for second guessing him at this point.
7) Jeremy & Sandy - Phil plays with them a little - gets her crying that it was a rough day - then tells them they are still in the Race - that really gets her going - "I can eliminate you if you want." "No!"
8) Liz & Marie - Last team to arrive - ELIMINATED - cry talking that they were doing this for their Dad and wanted to show him they'd never give up.  He's be proud of them.
And with the Twins: Kevin & Elaine, Krista H, Janine S and Denise R are out of the pools - and there goes the last all-girl team too.

Next week - they are heading to Africa - moving bundles of tobacco and bed frames...

Have a great week everyone,

Coleen