Survivor Brawn vs Brains vs Beauty - March 5/14 Episode Recap

Cops-R-Us

Last week Brains did not represent very well for that trait in this Brawn vs Brains vs Beauty season. They lost both immunity challenges and lost two people... shockingly they kept J'Tia who managed to destroy their rice and bring nothing to the team.

Brains - Night 6
Spencer can't believe that Garrett proved so bad at this game that the women decided to keep someone who destroyed all their food over him.  Spencer knows he's the odd man out and he's ready to resort to crazy creative ideas to keep himself there.
-The girls are planning to stick together now... but it's still early days. Tasha is still mad about the rice but she's also mad to find out the guys had an alliance with Kass.  Kass feels like she won some loyalty from the girls by voting with them and hopes they don't screw her over for Spencer.

Brawn - Night 6
Everybody's sleeping except Tony who's sitting by the fire by himself - he doesn't trust anybody, it's just him and his idol.
-When Sarah comes over and joins him he decides he's going to trust her with his secret and comes clean that he is a cop.  She knew it, her cop-dar never lets her down.  Now they have the blue blood bond, cops are loyal to cops - she says, they will be partners in crime (well I hope not.)
-But Tony goes on to lie to her and tells her he overheard Cliff and Lindsay talking about taking out Trish and then Sarah because she's too smart.  She's shocked.  He says he doesn't trust anybody and she says she doesn't either now (No, listen to him Sarah - Don't-Trust-ANYBODY!) She swears on her badge it's Cops-R-Us and that means nothing to him, it's just words.  He's in it for himself and no one else, make no mistake.

-Then the skies open up and they are deluged; thunder and lightening and pouring rain.  Everyone is awake now and miserable.  They are either huddled in the shelter or around the tiny fire they've been desperately keeping alive... and everyone is hoping the sun comes out in the morning.

Brawn - Day 7
No such luck - it is still pouring (I think they filmed this just before the hurricane that decimated the Philippines) - I couldn't imagine having to sleep outside in that kind of weather. 
-Woo seems to be the only one embracing the elements - it's gnarly, horrible... but this is what Survivor is all about, baby!
-Lindsay is the opposite - this is the worst situation she's ever put herself in and she wishes she hadn't.
-Sarah is feeling no sympathy for her - after Tony shared his lies about Lindsay & Cliff wanting to take out Sarah, it just set her off against them. Sarah & Tony have the conversation again and he embellishes it - telling her he heard them say they can take Trish out at any time but Sarah is the smart one - Lindsay said, "But I like Sarah." and Cliff is the one who said it's a game and she had to focus. (So Sarah was focused on Lindsay and Tony tried to redirect her on to his real target - Cliff.)  Sarah is 110% in with her brother in blue, Tony... but he's a shyster and it could bite her in the butt.

Beauty - Day 7
-It's still raining - get ready to watch pretty people shake and cry... it's beauty queen Jefra that is the worst offender.  She's in a Survivor nightmare and doing a lot of complaining - not much doing. 
-LJ is disgusted with her, but he rallies the guys to try and repair/build a better shelter so maybe they can have some respite from the constant driving rain.  He's starting to see the stereo-type of Beauty in the girls especially - it takes a lot of work to survive in these situations and the girls are doing nothing... but he's got to keep his mouth shut so as not to become a target. (Oh, let it fly!  You know you want to.)
-They are huddled in the meagre shelter, freezing and complaining when LJ decides to go check out those rocks that Morgan was exploring when they got to camp to see if he could find the hidden idol. (LJ is definitely the thinker in this group... however purple pants Brice does watch him go.)
-And LJ's work pays off - he finds the idol in a tide pool by the rocks and tells the camera no one is ever going to know he has that thing. (And I believe him, he thinks the rest of his tribe are idiots.)

Brains - Day 8
-It's finally stopped raining and they get tree mail that surprisingly tells them they will have to gather water from the ocean and fill a big bucket on the end of a teeter-totter.  Tasha right away wants to strategize and practice for the challenge but J'Tia wants to get rice cooking... (I said Pardon?) Tasha cannot believe the gall of the chick who dumped out 95% of the rice bringing up cooking rice.  But Tasha is just annoyed with everyone not doing what she wants - she starts bullying Spencer, telling him that he especially should want to practice (subtext: because if we lose, you're going home.)  He just wants some water - staying hydrated is also important... but also managing his emotions is proving a challenge being the only guy left and having to deal with Tasha-bossy pants.

-Next shot is them practicing tossing water from one coconut and trying to catch it in another... and her dictating which type of arc she likes better... they settle on holding the target static against the chest so the thrower has something substantial to aim for.

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
They have to use a bucket to get water from the ocean (first bucket filled, then the bucket is tossed to the next person who then tosses the water to the next person who then fills the bucket on the teeter-totter.)  Once the bucket fills the board will drop releasing a ball - that ball will be used by two tribe mates to solve a vertical maze puzzle  - they have pulleys and ropes on either side, so they can move it back and forth. 
-First two tribes win immunity - and first tribe will get blankets, pillows, mosquito net and a tarp - second tribe will get just a tarp.

Brawn sits Tony and Lindsay (hmm, that's curious) and Beauty sits Jefra and Alexis (not a surprise.)

Off they go and no one is doing very well with the water tossing - practice did not help Brains (they didn't practice tossing the bucket itself) - Beauty is leading and Brawn is second.
Beauty is the first tribe to start on the maze puzzle - LJ and Jeremiah.
Beauty is the next tribe on the maze - Cliff and Woo.
Coming up a distant third, Brains at least gets to the maze... but barely before BRAWN wins, first immunity and the big reward!
Brains starts to mount a come back (Spencer & Kass) on the puzzle where Beauty has fallen apart... and it's BRAINS winning the tarp and most importantly - they won't have to go to tribal council again!

Brawn - Day 8
-They return to camp the conquering heroes and proceed to get that tarp set up over their shelter.  Tony's devious little mind is always working and he knows there could be another clue or an advantage in the comfort items so he paws through everything saying he wants to string up the hammock - which he does, and also finds another clue, with no one noticing.  He already has the idol, but now he's assured no one else is going to be looking for it.

Beauty - Day 8
-They come back to camp really down and while Jeremiah is struggling to coax their fire back to life, LJ floats it out there, "Maybe a stupid question, but is anybody ready to go home?" (Hey, if someone volunteers, way easier) but there are no takers.  LJ then tells his core group of four (himself, Jeremiah, Jefra and Alexis) that it's Brice.  He figures he'll be more of a problem later on (he's got no worries about B. McGee.)

-Brice is worried he could be a target but he's trusting in Jeremiah - he talks to Jeremiah and asks if LJ said anything.  Jeremiah tells him they're voting for him - Brice wants to take out Alexis tonight - so they're going to try and make that happen.
 
-Jordan (B.McGee) also wants to talk to Jefra and see if she can get her in with them as well... but she's not that good at manipulating women.  She tells her, like, we're voting Alexis and Jeremiah's with us and we want you to vote with us too.  Jefra was just like, "Hold on here, when did you talk to Jeremiah?"  She's confused but still wonders why not take out LJ instead of Alexis - but Jordan says they still need him for challenges.  Morgan, "You can talk to Jeremiah, he'll talk to you."  And that's exactly what Jefra does.

-Jeremiah denies that he's in an alliance with Brice and Morgan and tells Jefra he's still voting Brice with the group.  But he's not the greatest liar - he looks like he's freaking out.  And he tells the camera Jefra didn't want to vote Alexis so now he's stuck. (Oh boy.) 
-Alexis joins them and they start talking about splitting the vote in case Brice or Morgan have a hidden immunity idol - if it's a three way tie and they have to revote, they'll all just vote for Brice on the second vote. (That's just dumb when there are only six people, why would you want a three way tie?  All Jeremiah has to do is vote with the other two and you're screwed. Yeah, they're pretty.)
-Jeremiah has the biggest decision to make, which alliance to choose. He says he's just a country guy and he doesn't want to hurt nobody's feelin's. (Really? Can you feel me rolling my eyes at that?)

TRIBAL COUNCIL
They start off talking about how they are all pretty and happy to be beautiful but then, Jefra said, the storm came and they lost the challenge and everything changed.  She said everyone was paranoid and as far as she knew no one had been talking strategy to that point.
-But Brice lays it out - there have been talks around camp - they see LJ and Jeremiah together and Jefra and Alexis which leaves Morgan and Brice out.  He says some people have not been talking strategy at all - Alexis hasn't talked to him so he feels like she's gunning for him.
Jeff asks: So is it a foregone conclusion that you're voting for Alexis?
-I feel like everyone should pull their weight around camp. You know... (dot, dot, dot - head wiggle, eye bulge - all we needed was the finger snap.) And Morgan throws Alexis a, "you're going down, b*tch" look.
-Alexis makes no effectual response - he knows how the game is played and he can use that as ammunition to take me out.
-Jeff asks if there's been talk of idols - Brice says there's been talk of the town that idols could be in play with Morgan getting to camp before the rest of them.
-Morgan says she thinks she knows how things are going to play out tonight after their talks today but you never know, people could stab you in the back. (Jeremiah just looks at the ground - he's like a dog that's done something wrong.)
-Jeff catches it and asks Jeremiah if he thinks he knows what's going to happen tonight and Jeremiah says he thinks he knows but it's going to hurt, it's going to suck, but it's Survivor.

And it's Time to Vote:
Morgan votes Alexis
Alexis votes Cousin Brice (what? he's not your cousin)
LJ votes Morgan

Tallying the votes:
No one plays a hidden immunity idol

Alexis -1
Brice - 1
Morgan - 1
Alexis - 2
Brice - 2
Final vote: Morgan - 2
That ties it up which means Alexis, Brice and Morgan will not vote again. (Brice throws Jeremiah a Look!)

Revote:
Brice 1, 2 - There was a lot of eye rolling - and the fabulous Purple Pants are out!

With Brice leaving, that takes Maddy D, Elaine R and Jessica C. out of the pool. (And I think it also means B. McGee's days are numbered.)

Next time: Brawn is looking to throw a challenge and take someone out - the immunity challenge is the 'blindfolded, lead people by yelling at them obstacle course' - and they show everyone getting hit in the junk by walking into things (it's not funny, but still so funny.)

Brice's final thoughts: I'm definitely disappointed in Jeremiah, he betrayed my trust but that's okay, I'm sure he didn't really understand - I'm surprised he could even spell my name (ooh, ouch).  Obviously they wanted the cutest, most fashionable person out first.  I hope Morgan does well, the rest of the people, I don't even remember their names. (Oh so bitter. Love it!)

Have a great rest of the week everyone,

Coleen

The Amazing Race 24 - March 2/14 Episode Recap

Baby Bear's Soup

The second leg of the Race started out at 8:16am with the Cowboys getting the clue to make their way to the Chen Clan Academy and stand still in front of the master (who is going to stamp their foreheads with their next destination).

-The Cowboys take off running and thinking about the headache of having to give away a second Express Pass - they are grateful to have one themselves but the 2nd is a pain in the butt.
-They ask a local if the Chen Clan Academy is within walking distance and the guy tells them it's too far away - 50 minutes to run it... but that was in Chinese - Cord thinks he says 15 minutes, that's not bad - and they take off running (no, you eediots!)

-Brendan & Rachel are the next out at 8:23am and Rachel takes off running, with no idea where she's going, just doesn't want other teams to see them.  They ask someone where the academy is and she indicates they should take the subway/metro. "Xiexie."[shay shay]

-Margie & Luke, 8:39am - she's trying to ask the cab driver if he knows the place and Luke drags her out of the cab - she tells him to just let her do it (He didn't even give the guy the chance to answer, he's so impatient, that would drive me nuts!)  They get in the next cab and she has to tell him to just chill out.

-Dan & Connor - 8:46am - they ask a girl on the street and she tells them it's far away, they head for the subway.

-Finally the Cowboys flag down another guy jogging by and he tries to tell them it's far away - but they think, "Oh, it's just over that way.  Okay."  And they keep on runnin'. Cord: I hate to catch a cab if it's just two blocks. (Oh come on! They are all telling you it's far away, sheesh.)

-Brendan & Rachel get to the crowded subway along with Dan & Connor - they're not used to that crush of humanity.

-Afghanimals, 8:53 and Mark & Mallory, 8:56am - the Afghanimals tell Mark & Mallory to follow them - they are fans of Mark & Bopper and the whole story of what happened to that team - they want to help them out (at this point anyway.)

-Big Easy & Flight Time - 8:57am - Joey & Meghan, 9:09am - John & Jessica 9:13am - they all head for the metro.

-Rachel & Brendan and Dan & Connor get to the Academy - one team at a time get stamped so it's the Rachel & Brendan first... and they're not sure what the heck the guy is doing when he comes up to them and then stamps their forehead.  Rachel: How are we supposed to tell the cab driver (pointing at her forehead) this is where we need to go?
-Dan & Connor also get stamped and Margie & Luke show up by taxi.

-Rachel & Brendan have a local take them to a cab but it looks like the driver doesn't know where to go so they get out.
-Dan & Connor jump in a cab and the driver knows - off they go.

-Finally the Country Singer girls are the last team out at 9:19am - Caroline reads the clue to stand before the Master and says, "Oh, I'm been wanting to meet a spiritual master." (He's a master of kung fu... not quite the same thing.)  And they flirt with a young guy to find out where they need to go - That's just the way they're wired - they flirt with life!

-The Cowboys are finally starting to realize this place may be farther away than they thought and they belatedly decide to get a cab. "Wasn't the best start we've ever had." "No, we kinda slow started it." (Really? Ya think?)

-Afghanimals and Mark & Mallory arrive at the Academy and Rachel & Brendan are out front just getting into a cab - not happy people are catching up.
-And then they all just start arriving - Globetrotters, Meghan & Joey, Jessica & John... they all get stamped.

-Dan & Connor are the first team to arrive to the next destination from their foreheads - It's an indoor play park and there are little kids everywhere! (They're so cute!)  They find the cluebox and it's a ROADBLOCK: Who's the mechanic?  They have to assemble a kiddy car - make sure all the lights work and it moves - to get their next clue. 
Dan/Dad is going to do this one, figuring he's had lots of practice on Christmas Eve's past assembling these kinds of things for his 5 kids and 7 grandkids - but there are lots of little parts and the instructions are all in Chinese... (good luck with that.)

-Margie & Luke show up and thankfully she's doing this one (he definitely would not have the patience for this one.)
-And the rest of the teams start stacking up at the play park:
Afghanimals (Jamal is doing this one) "this is like Chuck E Cheese on steroids."
Brendan & Rachel - he is definitely the mechanic, and she just wants to have a baby - the kids have tripped the mom switch for her.
Mark & Mallory - he is a mechanic - no-brainer on this one.  Plus he's built one of these things before for his son.
Flight Time & Big Easy - Flight time is doing this one - Big Easy just looks too big and uncomfortable everywhere in China. Getting out of the cab he says it's like emerging from the birth canal for him (haha, ew.)
Joey & Meghan - yes, she's more mechanical than him - she always wanted a barbie ride 'em car for Christmas.
Jessica & John - neither of them really want to do it but she gets him to do it - saying she'll do the next one.

All the non-participants were talking and figure out the Blondes and the Cowboys were the two teams that weren't there yet. (The first and last teams) but everyone else was there.

-Back at the Chen Clan Academy - Jennifer is pulling away from the Master - He has to stamp your head! (yeah, she's not a rocket surgeon) - and the Cowboys finally get there, and realize they went from first to last, "Holy cow!"
-The Country Singers are trying to hail a cab but having no luck, when the Cowboys just whistle and one stops for them right away (Arghh, how's that fair?!)

-Back at the kid park, everyone is still working on their cars and enjoying the cute little kids but I'm sure the producers had some of those kids on payroll because they kept pestering the Racers - most of them thought it was cute except Flight Time who found his nemesis in a 3ft tall little girl - I think she had a crush - but he thought she was the most ornery kid in the building. (Hahaha, she was so cute!)

-Cowboys show up and can't believe they are so far behind. Cord asks if they should use the Express Pass but Jet's got a bee in his bonnet - "I'm not going to need it."   And the Globetrotters know from racing with them before that once the Cowboys get to a challenge, they go through it fast! (They really are machines.)

-But on this challenge, it's Mark that was the machine. "Just like baby bear soup." (I have no idea what that means.) But he is done in two shakes of a lamb's tail.  They get the clue to take their car to the students at the cultural centre (so they have to strap the toy car onto a taxi and drive it across town) - the one thing Mark says to Mallory is, "Don't forget my backpack." and she responds, "No way!" So off they go, he's got the toy car over his shoulder, they head out to the taxis and she just drops his backpack on the ground and it's forgotten while they are strapping in the car - but she's definitely got her own bag.

-Margie is the next person done.
-The Country Singers show up.
-Mark & Mallory take off without his backpack - but blissfully unaware at this point.
-Dan finishes the car next.
-When the Country Singers read the Roadblock, Jennifer tells Caroline she's the mechanic and she's having none of that.  I am not - this is my worst nightmare... blah blah blah, the b*tching and complaining did not stop.
-Jamal & Leo finish but can't find a cab.
-Margie & Luke and Dan & Conner get their cars strapped in and take off.
-Mark & Mallory stop to check the car in the trunk and she finally realizes she left his backpack.  But she says she has his passport so it should be fine in her mind - but he is very upset.  He wants to go back but she thinks he should suck it up and go on the rest of the rest with nothing.

Back at the Play zone - Jennifer has situated herself right beside Cord - you know, the guy with the extra Express Pass.  Caroline comes over to complain about how bad she is at assembling things (Would you shut your pie hole and just get to work! Sheesh.) But Jennifer starts using the charm on Cord to angle for that Express Pass...  With absolutely no shame, the rest of the teams are right there and everyone knows what she's doing...

-Brendan finishes and he & Rachel take off.
-Jet finishes and Cord makes Jennifer ask him if she can have the Express Pass - the girls are planning on using it right away - so the Cowboys give it to them.  The Cowboys figure they've finished that task, if the girls burn the Express Pass right away, the Cowboys are going to be the only team with an Express Pass left - seems a win/win.
-The Globetrotters also finish.
-That leaves Joey & Meghan and John & Jessica as the last teams assembling their cars.  And not happy the Blondes flirted their way in front of them.

-Meanwhile, Mark & Mallory deliver the car to the cultural centre and get the clue to the DETOUR:
Feather Ball: China's hacky sack - they have to make 10 successful passes of a shuttlecock in a row using their feet (not hitting the ground or using their hands) to get their next clue. (I would suck at that.)
China Cup: Traditional Chinese therapy of having heated cups suction onto their back. (Oh yeah, I'd totally do that one.)

Mark & Mallory say they are going to do Feather ball (really?) but he is determined they have to go back and get his backpack first.   She does not want to go back for it at all and they polite fight - He says he does not come from the means that she does - he doesn't have that many clothes, even the backpack is borrowed.  She wants him to wear the same thing for the next 23 days.  They are going back and she's complaining that it's going to lose the race for them and implies it's his fault... (I'm sorry, but this is her fault - she had ONE job to do!)

Margie & Luke - are doing Feather Ball.
Dave & Conner - also doing Feather Ball.
Long story short - Every team chooses Feather Ball (EVERY TEAM! Wow, I guess they are all pretty fit, maybe it's just me who's a total klutz and would be at that task all day - I'd rather lay down and have cups on my back - but who knows how long that would take?)

Feather Ball - Margie & Luke start and this looks like it could take a while.  There is definitely a learning curve on this one.
-Dan & Conner start out no better.

-Back at the cultural centre, the Afghanimals are unstrapping their car when the Cowboys and Country Girls pull up - noticing the girls don't have a car they realize the Cowboys gave them the Express Pass - that's a game changer - they thought for sure the girls would be eliminated this leg.

-Back at the play centre - Meghan and John are still working on their cars - she finally gets hers to work and she stops to help John - these teams raced together before and are still friendly.  John & Jessica are so thankful for her help.
-Meghan is not impressed with the Country Girls game play - as a woman, it's important to do stuff on your own (yes!) She sees their playing as if they're weak to get ahead as a slap in the face for all girls, "I'm just saying." (I do also detect a little bitter Betty, but I can't help but agree.)

Meghan & Joey get a cab, Jessica & John have a little trouble and Mark & Mallory get back and find his backpack, laying there in the street where she left it.

The rest of the teams are all showing up at the Feather Ball - and Mark & Mallory are at each other's throats (that doesn't bode well for them playing this kicky-passy game together.)

-There are a lot of feather balls hitting the ground... but it's Dan & Connor who are the first team to get 10 passes!  (Wahoo! That's my team!) They get the clue to head for the Pit Stop, the promenade on Shamian Island.
-Caroline & Jennifer are the next team done (way to go!) then Margie and Luke right behind them.  Cord makes a sliding dive kick and they get 10 - then Brendan & Rachel right after them - Flight Time and Big Easy make it to 10 and Jamal uses his head to help them reach the goal ... they are all in cabs heading for the Pit Stop.

-Mark & Mallory are not doing so well with the Feather ball, but then neither are Meghan & Joey - though Meghan is a trooper, she makes a couple diving kicks.  And John & Jessica are also there now kicking that little thing around.

-Mallory starts thinking maybe they should switch tasks but Mark doesn't think that's a good idea, they have no idea how long the other one will take - they have to soldier on.  (I would be so frustrated!)
-Mark & Mallory got to 9 - and he messed it up! ARGHHH!
-Joey & Meghan get to 10, then John & Jessica get to 10... leaving Mark & Mallory - it was a hard task but I'm sure their arguing and bad feelings didn't help them either.

 Here's How They Finished:
1) Brendan & Rachel - foot race with Margie & Luke, Rachel says, "it's okay, we're not last," and he says, "Yes, but what if it's first?" And that got her moving.  They had never won a leg before.
2) Margie & Luke - He was mad when he realized his Mom's slow running cost them first place (he's kind of a baby.) 
Right on their heels came... everyone else.
3) Caroline & Jennifer - Phil asks them about the Express Pass - "We needed it!"
4) Dave & Connor - Phil got confused with everyone on the mat and told them they were 5th - but no, it was #4.
5) Flight Time & Big Easy - We're #5
6) Jet & Cord - Phil counted it off again.
7) Leo & Jamal
- And with everyone there at the mat, Phil told Brendan & Rachel, they won $2500 each for winning the leg.
8) John & Jessica
9) Joey & Meghan - she learned a very interesting lesson, they will help each other when it's to their advantage but probably not like today again - had they been the last two teams Meghan & Joey would have been gone.
10) Mark & Mallory - **ELIMINATED** - She starts bawling and he is a gentleman, thanking Phil for the opportunity - but he figures he wasn't meant to travel around the world without his buddy Bopper.
The rest of the teams were all still there at the mat and applauded them out.  I think everyone was sorry that Bopper wasn't there that day - not that Mallory didn't do her best, but it just wasn't the same.

So with Mark & Mallory leaving that also take Drew C, Cara & Alex L, Lynne B and Alexis G. out of the pool.

And my recording cut off the preview of next week, so I'm going in blind - but I bet they race to a new country and shenanigans ensue!

Have a great week everyone,

Coleen

 

Survivor Brawn vs Brains vs Beauty - Premiere Double episode recap

Hot Girl With a Grudge

The new season of Survivor opened with three tribes of people coming in by helicopter, truck and boat - Jeff tells us these 18 individuals have been divided into three tribes based on the qualities they most rely on in their daily lives.

The Brain Tribe: with an average IQ of 130, this group utilizes their intellect to reach their goals.  The young kid, Spencer, says he's a diabolical genius but you wouldn't know it to look at him.  Short, dark haired guy, David, is the president of the Florida Marlins Football(?) team, used to a game where there is only one winner.  Blond, mousy woman, Kass, is an attorney who is undefeated, looks like a mom but more cunning and ruthless than 95% of the population.

The Beauty Tribe: this group includes a cheerleader (Boobs McGee), a beauty queen and a male fashion model who rely on their looks to get what they want.  Boobs McGee, Morgan, says she doesn't want to sound super conceited (which means she is) but from a guy she usually gets what she wants (sigh, and I'm sure it's true.)  The male model, Jeremiah, speaks and he's got a back woods southern accent - he says he's going to win them over with his looks (good cause that accent is not attractive.) Beauty queen, Jefra, was 2nd place three years in a row for Miss Kentucky (oh good, so she's used to losing), she believes that her beauty is going to help her with the social aspects of the game.

The Brawn Tribe: this group relies on physical strength - Cliff Robinson, played 18 years in the NBA (this guy is huge!) he always plays for bread & meat, "If I don't win, I don't eat." That's what Survivor is all about.  Female police officer, Sarah, also trains for mixed martial arts, "doesn't get better than getting paid to punch someone in the face."  Another police officer, Tony, bald muscle head guy, thinks this game should be easy compared to physically chasing bad guys.

It is the ultimate challenge, Brawn vs Brains vs Beauty - which trait will prove the most valuable? 
39 days, 18 people, ONE Survivor!

The Tribes converge to meet Jeff at their mats and the pre-judging begins.  The Brawn tribe gets to their mat first and Dreadlocks Lindsey is already disgusted by the entrance of the Beauty tribe from a speed boat with the hot girls in the front, "I'm surprised there wasn't cheesy music." (Oh, but there was for us.) And the Beauty Queen is judging the Brain tribe as they get off the chopper, looks like a bunch of nerdy, Cochran types.

Jeff welcomes them and tells them they have been divided into three characteristics that are required to do well in this game, Brawn, Brains and Beauty - they seem happy with their categorizations.
Jeff calls on Boobs McGee (Morgan - I better start calling her Morgan, but really, you can't miss 'em), and asks her what tribe she thinks she's on.  "I don't mean to sound conceited (but you are) but I think we're beauty!"
Then Jeff asks Spencer, where does he think they fit in.  "I guess we're the nerds.  I don't know." (Oh, you so do know.) Based on the fact that the other team is very physical.  They all laugh and Jeff asks Tony if he accepts the fact they're the brawny tribe, he says he gladly accepts that (yeah, ask the guy with no neck and arms the size of my thighs if he minds being brawny) He loves that they are going to stomp on the other tribes.

Jeff tells them they are going to have to learn to adapt in this game starting right now - they have to choose a leader.
-Beauty chooses the oldest looking guy - LJ.  He thinks he's the inner beauty of the group (no, that would be the Fabulous Brice - who I think just admires beauty - yes, I'm saying he's not that good looking.)
-Brawn has a quick pow-wow and they choose Cop Sarah cause she says she's a talker... Jeff asks Skinny Trish why Sarah and she says she looks like she can get the job done.
-Brains jokes, "Who looks the smartest?" and they choose David, basically because he's wearing a blazer (and he has short man syndrome so he was puffing up and putting it out there.) Jeff asks Kass why David and she says she never trusts a man in a suit but she likes David so we'll go with that.  He has to point out that the pants don't match the jacket so it's not a suit (and I hate the Brains tribe - socially awkward know-it-alls...great.)

Jeff now tells them it's going to get a little tougher - the leaders of each group have to decide who is the weakest of their group.
-LJ picks Boobs... um Morgan - who is shocked - (come on, you know she can't run with those things.) LJ tells the camera there is hot and there is cute - she's hot and he trusts cute more than hot. (So he doesn't trust himself around her, nice.)
-Sarah picks Trish and instantly I think it's because she's already too skinny but she is also the oldest member of their tribe - so I get it and she doesn't seem to take it personally.
-David says he makes decisions like this often and he taps the tallest most built guy - Garrett (oh yeah, small man syndrome).  David says he's focusing on the last 2/3 of the game (waayyy too early for that dude. I think David is not as smart as he thinks he is.)

Jeff tells the three picked weakest that they are not out of the game, they are not even out of the tribe - they are going to get on the chopper and be taken to their camps before the rest of the tribe and there they will have a decision to make for the rest of the tribe that just voted them out.  (What is it??)

Beauty is Solana, Brawn is Aparri and Brains is Luzon (I don't see me ever using those names.)

Brains - Day 1
Garrett arrives at camp alone and pissed off at David's high-handedness.  He reads the note left for him and he has to decide whether to benefit himself by taking a clue to the hidden immunity idol or forego the clue for the good of the tribe and take a 2nd bag of rice for everyone.  Garrett is in it for himself and takes off looking for the immunity idol.  He tells us people see his body (which is pretty spectacular) and think he's a dumb jock but he was valedictorian of his high school and is a high stakes poker player for a living.  Whatever he does he's all in.  Also, he wants David out of the game.
 
Brawn - Day 1
Trish gets to camp and she tells the camera when Jeff asked who was the weakest she looked at her tribe and saw she was clearly the thinnest and clearly the oldest so she wasn't surprised it was her.  She reads the note and knows she should go for the idol but she's always been a team player, she's a divorced mom having to support her kids on her own, and she is going to go for the good of the group. (Noble, but I don't know if she'll get any respect from her tribe for that move.)

Beauty - Day 1
Morgan (B-McGee) is still shocked she was chosen as the weakest - maybe LJ was tempted by her and he didn't want her to get in his head, after all that's what she's good at. (Argh, make her stop talking, her voice is grating....) She says she holds grudges - big time - she will never forgive him for this.  And she doesn't even hesitate - she rips into that clue and goes looking for the idol.

Brains - Garrett strips to his underwear (hello) and gets in the pond by the waterfall - and he finds the hidden immunity idol.  He is now in a power position and he is going to do everything in his power to get rid of David.

Beauty - Morgan is also down to her underwear and checking out the rock shelf along the shore near their camp... when the rest of her tribe arrives.  LJ found it very suspicious that she wasn't around camp when they got there and she knew she had to come up with something... so she lies.  She comes up and says she hopes they like what she picked: and tells them she chose the rice, shelter stuff and fishing gear.  Most of them bought it but LJ is suspicious, he thinks she was too cool and collected for someone that was voted off.  He thinks she might have the idol or a clue - so he better be on his best behaviour, "She could be the hot girl with a grudge." (LJ is no dummy.)
-Brice also sees through her, he knows a scorned woman when he sees one.  And he uses his purple pants and his personality to get in with her (Brice, not to put to sharp on point on it, is very gay) he points out the two other guys and the two other girls have kind of paired off so he's got her.  For now, she's good with that, but Morgan is the kind of girl that uses her feminine wiles to make men do her bidding, I don't know if she'll want to hang with a guy that doesn't care about that for long.
-Beauty proves they are not just pretty faces when the guys succeed in building a fire!  They are proving they can kick butt out there.

Brawn - Trish welcomes her tribe with open arms and in an effort to prove she's not the weakest she tells them she chose an extra bag of rice over the idol clue for herself.  Tony tells the camera, had that been me, there would only be one bag of rice, and one idol in my pocket.
-They get started building their shelter and Woo is star struck with Cliff Robinson, he's one of his basketball idols - Tony couldn't care less.  The rest of the tribe think it's cool and Cliff is feeling great that they seem to be accepting him as just one of the tribe. (One freaking huge part of the tribe.)
-Sarah also confronts Tony asking him if he's a cop and he denies, denies, denies.  She knows a cop when she sees one and she also knows when she's being lied to, interrogation is part of the job.  Tony has decided he's going to hide his profession because he thinks the tribe will see it as threatening, "he's strategical, quick on his toes..." (I don't think Tony's the brain trust, he's got nothing to worry about there.)
-Sarah doesn't trust him, he's got to go as soon as possible.

Brains - Day 1
-The rest of the tribe gets to camp and Garrett meets them with all smiles (he has an idol, of course he's happy).  Spencer tells the camera he couldn't believe David's decision to vote Garrett out, the one guy that could help them in challenges (I know, right.)  Garrett sloughs off the question about the decision he had to make, telling them he found still water and the waterfall... but he's not an architect and knows nothing about building shelter.  And this is when J'Tia stepped up, told them she's a nuclear engineer and she's got some plans for the shelter.
-They are willing to let her take the lead but Tasha said it best, "Her approach was not the... sleakest.  She comes off very bossy."  Then it's just J'Tia telling everyone what to do and doing nothing herself.  (Oh yeah, J'Tia is my girl in the pool and she's shooting herself in the foot right now - looks like I'll be getting my $10 back.)
- J'Tia's master plan ultimately fails as well (the platform falls apart) and Kass points out in a sarcastic know-it-all way, "Not very smart for the brain tribe." (I know, how about you come up with a plan instead of making snarky comments!  I'm not impressed with the Brain tribe.)

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE #1
They have to maneuver a cart through an obstacle course, at every tower they will have to retrieve a key, unlock the chains around a chest, load the chest on the cart and move on - once they have all three chests on the cart they get to a barricade where they have to disassemble the cart, get all three chests and all the pieces of the cart over/through the wall, then reassemble the cart and carry the chests on to the end where they will then open the chests and use the pieces to complete a circular dragon puzzle. 
First tribe to finish gets immunity and a large fire making kit, second tribe to finish also gets immunity and fire in the form of flint - losers go to tribal council.

-Off they go - and the Brains suck from the outset - I'll spare you the details - the Brawn tribe and the Beauty tribe are working on the puzzle and Brains are basically out of it. Jeff says it's one of the worst performances in Survivor history.
1st place: Beauty (and they already have fire.)
2nd place: Brawn
Last = Brains - will be going to Tribal Council

Brains - Day 3
-They are all realizing they have to stop thinking they're so smart because they are getting their butts kicked.
-David and Kass go off on their own to complain about their tribe mates - Kass thinks J'Tia's got to go and David is still on the Garrett kick - he wants to take out who he views as the alpha male to solidify his alpha status in the tribe.  Kass is actually using her head - knows that's ridiculous, Garrett is a workhorse and J'Tia isn't pulling her weight around camp or in the challenges. 
-J'Tia approaches Kass and asks her what she's thinking and Kass tells her, I'm leaning towards you.  You're doing a lot of directing but not doing anything.  Kass tells her she's an honest person and it's time to scramble.
-J'Tia gets choked up when she tells the camera that Kass kinda hurt her feelings.  She thought she was being motivating to the tribe but clearly it didn't come off that way.  "I may have ruined my chances."
-Tasha comes over and talks to J'Tia, who tells her that Kass was talking about voting her out. Tasha does confirm that she may have rubbed some people the wrong way but then Garrett comes over and makes his pitch for them taking David out, he's the much bigger threat - if they vote together and he gets Spencer on board, they'll all be okay.
-Spencer is worried that David might have a hidden immunity idol because there hasn't been any talk of clues or an idol - and he's seen David and Kass going off on their own a lot.  Spencer feels like J'Tia is the safer vote (Man! I hate going out first.) And now Garrett is worried they won't have the numbers to take out David.

TRIBAL COUNCIL #1
Garrett had a huge spider on his neck/ear... ON HIS EAR! He jumped up and to his credit did NOT scream like a little girl (like I would have) but Jeff still gives him a hard time. (SPIDER, on his HEAD! Geez Probst, give the guy a break.)

Okay, I have to start condensing this thing - We're only half way through. 
J'Tia tells Jeff there'd already been talk about voting her out and she knows she came off bossy and her plan didn't work but she wants her tribe to succeed and she's not looking at the last 2/3 (calling out David's justification for voting out Garrett day one) of the game, she wants them to get there first.  She calls out David as the person that should go instead of her.

And they vote:
David votes J'Tia
J'Tia votes David

Tallying the votes:
No one plays a hidden immunity idol.
J'Tia - 1
David - 1
J'Tia - 2
David - 2, 3... 4!  WHAT!?!  My girl survived, how did that happen?

And with David leaving us first, Shelley A, Bob L & Roxanne S, will get their $10 back.
Also David has no hard feelings, obviously his tribe doesn't have things together or at least not together with him - but he still considers himself the luckiest guy in the world. (Just not on Survivor.)

Brains - Day 4
-Garrett tells the camera he's not having fun playing Survivor.  Manual labour is not fun, starving is not fun.  When he's playing poker, he's sitting in a comfy chair and chicken and vegetables are brought right to the table.  Then he starts whining - "I want to play survivor to out-wit and out-play people, I don't want to play survivor to survive in the wilderness" (Has he not seen the show before?)
-Garrett and Spencer approach Kass because they'll need her for the numbers to take out J'Tia and Tash or, if she doesn't want to play ball with them they'll just take her out.  Kass knows after the blindside of David - and herself a bit - last night, she's going to be the third vote for someone so she knows she's the swing vote.  The boys get her to shake on them being the final three but Kass says to the camera that she has no allegiance right now - she'll shake but it doesn't mean anything.

Brawn - Day 4
Woo (oh yeah, did I mention there is a martial arts expert named Woo on this tribe?) and Cliff take the boat out to do some fishing!  But boatsmen they are not... Cliff likes having a wingman - Batman has Robin, Cliff has Woo... then they lose balance in the boat and it goes over - And Cliff Robinson has the best laugh - it's almost the old 7-Up commercial laugh (did I just age myself horribly?). 
-Cliff enlists Tony's help when they get back to shore to tip the boat up so they dump the water out... and all the girls say how they just love Cliff (how can you not? He's awesome.) Well, Tony doesn't think so, he's just sounds jealous.

Beauty - Day 4
They're all just standing around like zombie's.  Brice isn't happy with his tribe playing dumb - Alexis is flirting and in her underwear all the time - he doesn't like it.  And Jefra, he doesn't know her game - but all the crayons in her crayon box aren't bright. (hahaha!)
-Jeremiah tells Morgan (B.McGee) that her socks are cute and she tells the camera she thinks she can reel him in and have him in her back pocket (ugh, she's showing us she sure isn't pretty on the inside.)
-Brice sees Jeremiah drooling over Morgan and playing the wingman, he's going to facilitate Jeremiah's access to her and bring him into their alliance. The three of them are by the fire and Brice says he thinks they need to be the brains of the operation - Jeremiah seems up for that - and bug-eyes Brice is proving they shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, he's more than a pretty face. (You're on the Beauty tribe, it's all about the cover!)

Brawn - Day 4
-Trish has an armload of firewood and says to dreadlocks-Lindsey that there is lots of firewood to be had if she just goes looking and Lindsey takes offense.  Why would you tell me that?
T - We're all just trying to chip in.
L - Why am I not chipping in?
T - You tell me.  And Trish walks away.
Sarah tells Lindsey to let it go but she tells the camera that Malnu-trisha needs to chill out, she can't stand her voice, her attitude, etc.  Then Lindsay starts making fun of her like a 10 year old. (nice)
-Trish goes and bitches about Lindsey to Tony... she's really no better.  She tells the camera she's from Boston Mass, if she really snapped on Lindsey, she'd still be crying. (Uh, too much testosterone ladies, dial it back a notch... though I am anticipating some good fireworks in the future.)

-Tony tells Trish he's got her back, that she's got to be strong and not let those girls get in her head.  He's working on something over there that he's going to tell her about later... (uh, what?)   He tells the camera it looks like he's building a shelter but he's really building a spice rack (What?) - no, that was Spy Shack! (Ohh!) He's planning on skulking around and spying on them talking.  Tony says his main target is Cliff, he knows in order to take over the pride, the strongest lion has to take out the other older one, and then he has to kill the cubs.  "I'm more brains than brawn." (I wouldn't go that far.)

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE #2
They have to swim out to a large bamboo cage, climb over the top and fall inside, then swim down and untie the door to the cage and drag 4 large fish traps back to shore.  Once back to their mat, one tribe member will use the pieces inside the traps to complete a fish puzzle.
First tribe wins immunity and a large fish kit (nets, worms, lures, spices, pan, oil) Second tribe wins immunity and a smaller fish kit: line, hooks, weights.
Brawn sat Cliff and Beauty sat Brice... hmm, I'm going to leave that alone.

Off they go and again, sparing you the play by play - but Brains kicked butt getting their traps back to shore way ahead of everyone thanks to Garrett and then J'Tia lost it for them on the puzzle (literally the worse puzzle performance EVER! - my girl is not good at anything - but hopefully nuclear engineering.)
1st - Brawn
2nd - Beauty
Last - Brains - Again?! Really? (I think I'm definitely out now, they gave J'Tia enough rope to hang herself and she didn't disappoint in that respect.)

Brawn - Day 6
They get back to camp and are celebrating their win.  Tony doesn't bask in the glow, he's got hidden immunity idol on his mind and he knows there could be a clue in the basket of fishing stuff... so he looks on the sly and low & behold, he finds the clue (no way.)  And then he reads the clue and he goes and finds the idol (huh, they be making these clues way easier this time - everyone is finding the idols - oh wait, B. McGee didn't find hers - never mind.)

Brains - Day 6
They get back to camp dejectedly and Garrett just dumps their flag in the dirt.  They all sit at their shelter by the fire and Garrett decides they should just have an open discussion about what they're going to do at tribal council instead of going off and having side discussions on their own.  He's thinking this will force Kass to declare with the boys in front of everyone but it blows up in his face.  Kass, just being honest, says she's thinking J'Tia (this is horrible, she's sitting right there.)  Garrett asks Spencer and he's like, "we're really doing this right now? Okay, I think J'Tia.  Garrett?"
"Yeah, I agree." 
But Tasha is having none of it.  "Yeah, I just want to talk to people individually because I don't think we're being as candid as possible."
Garrett cuts her off and says he'd prefer not to have side convos (And why should they care what you prefer?  Really? Who is this guy?)
-Tasha tells the camera she loves Survivor and she's so frustrated to be stuck with people that don't want to play the game.  She's looking forward to scheming and back-stabbing and she's being told (in a hoity-toity voice) "no" and it saddens her.
-Garrett's best case scenerio is they all just sit there until Tribal Council.
-Tasha says she just wants to talk to you two (the two guys, I think?) and Garrett says he doesn't know why she wants to do that, it's all out in the open.
-She says, "This is Survivor, you talk."
-Garrett Super Whines, "I don't want to do that anymore."
-Tasha yells, "Then QUIT!" (Oh yeah, you tell him!) Tasha controls herself though, she tells him this is the least strategic game she's ever played.  She tells the camera she doesn't know why Garrett thinks he's the leader of the tribe, he sits around all day, he's always hungry and now he doesn't
even want to play the game.  If you don't want to play the game the way it should be played - get out of here.

-J'Tia can't believe they thought this was the way to go.
-Spencer also thinks that Garrett is an idiot.  It would have been so easy to just tell J'Tia what she wanted to hear but now that he's put everything out in the open they have to baby sit these girls to make sure they go home.

-Somehow Tasha and Kass escaped down to the water and Tasha is ready to scramble and flip this game.  She says to Kass this is the last time they'll have the numbers, they need to flip it so they are not 3 and 4 to the boys but 1 and 2 for themselves.... and boom, there is Garrett and Spencer - gnawing on some weird fruit like animals - having left J'Tia all alone in camp - BIG MISTAKE! 
-J'Tia decides if she's going out, she's going out Crazy Hantz style - and she dumps all their rice into the fire. (Why? Why do you make it so impossible to root for you?)  (She's got to go now, how can they keep her there?)
-The rest of the tribe comes back to camp and they see the rice in the fire... then it just seems like bad acting because no one really freaks out, that was all their rice - on the fire.  And we get more of Garrett whining, that's why I wanted us all to stay up here. (This guy is a piece of work - his brain is not working with no food, that's often what happens with the super fit guys.)

Then the best line from Kass to the camera: "How did we come up with the criteria for brains?  I'd like to see that data." (Hahaha!) Ironically she was going to approach J'Tia about turning this around and she's poured all their rice out - I can't align with someone like that.

TRIBAL COUNCIL #2
They tell Jeff Garrett decided to have an open forum discussion and they all pointed fingers at J'Tia. Tasha tried to talk to the guys separately but he would have none of it.  He wanted Kass to know they were with her.  J'Tia didn't know why Garrett got to call all the shots so wanting to hurt him she poured all the rice in the fire.  Not her best moment (Y'think?)
Jeff gives them a lesson - the reason blindsides work is not because they're fun, it's cause they're effective.
Garrett does some more whining, J'Tia painting him in an unflattering light to his tribe mates is unfair (what?) and then he paints himself in a corner talking about an alliance, which Kass says she's not in and Tasha thought she was in... He just keeps digging the hole, the four of us are all equal. J'Tia, which four? It was pretty amusing - and I don't know who had crazier eyes, J'Tia pouring out the rice of Garrett's bug-eyed back-pedalling.

Time to vote:
Garrett votes J'Tia
J'Tia votes Garrett
Spencer votes J'Tia (he's genuinely scared that she's a nuclear engineer)

Tallying the votes:
No one plays a hidden immunity idol
J'Tia - 1
Garrett - 1
J'Tia - 2
Garrett - 2  (and now he looks scared)
Garrett - 3  Ha! Garrett is the 2nd person voted out.
 (How did J'Tia escape again?  She's magic!)

And with Garrett, Lois L, Kevin C and Lynne B are out of the pool.  Well that was quick and crazy!

Garrett's final thoughts: He can't believe he left with a hidden immunity idol back at camp, he didn't even take it with him he was so sure how the vote was going to go.  That was very embarrassing, very, very embarrassing. (Go have some chicken and vegetables, it'll make you feel better big guy.)

Next week, Tony confesses to one of the girls (I think it's Sarah) that he's been a cop for 13 years and the rain is proving to make this one beauty's Survivor nightmare.

Well, that was a long one, sorry guys, I'm out of practice but the episode was 2 hours.  I'm kind of missing the blood vs water dynamic, not sure if I'm liking three tribes but we'll have to see how it plays out.

Have a great rest of the week everyone!
Coleen

The Amazing Race 24 - All Stars - Premiere Episode Recap

Back in the Saddle

The UCLA marching band playing the theme song opened the Amazing Race 24, which saw 11 teams returning to rewrite their Amazing Race history:

Jet & Cord: Brothers from Oklahoma. "Oh my gravy!" Last time they were on the race Jet had just gotten married and Cord had a little 2 year old -so it was tough to leave home, this time it's a little easier. "We are definitely back in the saddle."

Caroline & Jennifer: Country singers from Nashville, TN.  On the last race they were a little boy crazy (with the hockey brothers).  They have no boyfriends this time and they sang, "We're gonna win the Amazing Race."

Natalie & Nadiya: Twinnies, born in NY and raised in Sri Lanka.  They are really loud and can be obnoxious (this was Natalie saying this, hahaha)  We were a hot mess last time.  This time we'll be more focused and productive.  "Shut up. This is the Amazing Race, if you're not a hot mess, you're not doing it right."

Brendan & Rachel: recently married from LA - they showed a montage of her whining and crying - yay.  Now that they're married they'll be fighting way less (right.)

Jessica & John: the only team ever to be eliminated with an Express Pass in their pockets.  John's declaration that he didn't need a million dollars made Phil exclaim, "Oy vey!"  John admits, "Yeah, that was dumb."  This time around, there will not be an 'oy vey' moment.

Flight Time & Big Easy: Harlem Globetrotters - they haven't lost a game in 15 and 9 years respectively, the only game they have lost is the Amazing Race, twice.  They're older, wiser and they still look good.

Dave & Conner: Father & Son from Salt Lake City UT.  Last time Dave/Dad ruptured his Achilles early on in the race and it cut their adventure short.  They are going to show 'em what an old man and a young kid can do (I said pardon? I have such a dirty mind.)

Joey & Meghan: U-Tube sensations from LA.  After the last time they raced their U-Tube subscribers went from 1/2 mill to 3 billion.  They want to make their fans proud and make it to the end.

Leo & Jamal: Cousins from Southern Cali. In their last season they were being sneaky and conniving - they were targeted quite a bit.  This time the creativity is going to go up a notch.  They are the Afghanimals and they haven't been fed yet... with their million dollars.

Margie & Luke: Mother & Son from Colorado. He signed he's very excited to be running the race for the third time (oof) he wants to make up for the mistakes he made before.  She's nervous, she's five years older - but Luke says she's just better than she was before.

Bopper & Mark: Friends from Kentucky - This is their second opportunity to win life changing money for their families.  "We're going to ride together, we're going to die together." (Not on the Race, I hope.)

All the teams run into the UCLA stadium and line up along the track.
Phil welcomes them back and says he has to make an announcement:  Last night one of the teams had to make an emergency visit to their Race doctor....
They show footage from the night before and it was Bopper (gasp, oh no!), he had a pancreas attack - He's waiting for the doctor to say, "Brother, you're fixin' to hit the race agin." But Phil breaks the news to Bopper that the doctor doesn't think he's healthy enough to race around the world again.  They are devastated. (oh man, this show shouldn't be making me cry this soon!)
-Phil offers Mark the opportunity to continue in the Race with a different partner... Bopper gives his blessing and...
Back at UCLA, they reveal Mark's new partner is... Mallory, little blond, also from Kentucky, ran the race before with her dad... We'll see if this team can gel (they might do alright if Mark stops crying.)

Okay - let's race.  Phil tells them they are heading to China.  Winners of the first leg win an Express Pass for themselves and a second pass to give away before the end of the fifth leg. 

First task, find the band members that have the Chinese characters on their hats representing their first destination.  Once they bring the band member to Phil they can jump in their Ford Fusion Energy (of course) and drive to LAX - where they have to plug in the cars before catching their flights. 

Off they go!  First they run to the band leader that has the sample symbols on his hat then they have to run in among the marching band as they are marching and playing to look for the matching hats - Jamal is the first to find one, then Jet & cord, then Dad & son (oh good, that's my team) and the Twinnies are the last team on the first flight.  John & Jessica are right behind them but are first on the 2nd flight - everyone else is on the 2nd flight with them.

The team with the biggest obstacle right off the bat is Mark & Mallory - they have to try and get to know each other while racing around the world for a million dollars.  She says she can eat almost anything and says he may be willing to put on a dress? "Whoa, whoa, whoa."

The first flight is going to have an hour head start on the rest of the pack so the Dave & Conner feel they, along with the Afghanimals, Jet & Cord and the Twins have the best shots at the Express Passes.

Once they arrive in Guangzhou, China, they have to make their way to the street of wedding dresses and Shop 'Til you Drop - they have to find one of three shops each containing a limited # of clues.
First flight lands and all the teams run for the cabs except Jet & Cord who take the Metro.  This proves to be a good idea cause they're the first team to find the Street of Wedding Dresses - but, as usually happens in China, the language barrier rears it's head.  They can't read any of the signs and it's not that easy to find someone who speaks English.  The Cowboys do get directions to a shop and are heading there.  The Afghanimals and the Twins team up and head for a hotel to ask where the shops are.  Conner & Dad see the Cowboys and follow them.
-The Twins think the Afghanimals are stupid, more of a hot mess than they are.  (Ha, I like these teams working together, they could be comic relief.)

Jet & Cord are the first team to find one of the shops - they get a bag with a bubble in it and a clue telling them to head to the Canton Tower (well, the building with the bubbles on top - it's a Ferris wheel of sorts.)  They'll find the next clue in one of the bubbles.

Second flight lands and everyone heads for the Metro... first train takes off with four teams leaving Country Singers, U-Tubers and Jessica & John as the last teams at this point.

Dave & Conner are the 2nd team to find a shop - and Conner's carrying both of their bags - Dave says he feels bad for hurting his back (WHAT??? When did that happen?  Sheesh - Dave is the man of glass, how did he get cleared to race again and Bopper didn't?)

Back at the Metro, Jet & Cord wonder where everyone else is... and they show the Twins and Afghanimals almost in the right shop, but one of the twins said it wasn't the right name... so they didn't even go in!  OHhhhh, noooo!

Next group hits the Street of Wedding Dresses and they all just pile in one shop together - Rachel & Brendan, Margie & Luke, Mallory & Mark and the Globetrotters all get the clue to the tower with the bubbles on top.  Back to the Metro.
-Last group enlists a lady from the Metro to take them to one of the shops - she's leading them right there.

-Afghanimals and Twins are still lost, though they have someone helping them it looks like... or she's just taking them to her shop (they are not couples looking for dresses - yikes.)

Jet & Cord get to the Canton Tower and go up to the bubbles on the top. They jump in one of the cars and check out the amazing view - then the door closes and they see the clue on the inside of the door - but it is a Try Again.  They have to take a slow ride, then try another car.  (Oh, how frustrating!)

Back on the street of Wedding Dresses - the last group and the Twins and Afghanimals get to a shop at the same time and they start rifling through dresses, making a mess, then realizing they must not be in the right place.  Caroline & Jen take off with the Twins and the Afghanimals are just as happy to see them go.  A local guy grabs the boys and shows them the correct shop... you know the one the girls made you not go in like an hour ago.  The Afghanimals finally get a clue.

-The Cowboys finish their first ride and get in the next car... and find the actual clue. (YAY!)  It tells them to look for their next clue at the stadium on the river below.
-Margie & Luke are the next team to show up at the bubbles and the Cowboys are shocked - they were on the 2nd flight.  Brendan & Rachel gets there, then Dave & Conner.  The Cowboys are watching the other teams looking for the clue and no one is looking at the door. "No way!"  Finally Margie & Luke find it, but theirs says Try again.  Brendan & Rachel get an actual clue and Dave & Conner get Try Again.  Mark & Mallory also get a try again.  Afghanimals show up and they get the clue on the first try.

-Twins and Country singers are still running around the wedding shops and the U-Tubers and Jessica & John decide to split off from them (Good idea). J & J and Joey & Meghan find a shop and get the bubble clue.
-Finally the Twins & Singers find a guy who knows all the shops (isn't that convenient) and he takes them to all of them - the first two all the clues were gone but they finally got their clues in the third shop.

-So now all the teams are just getting to, just leaving or riding the bubbles. 
-Mark& Mallory get the clue and he sees the stadium below them right away but Mallory is waffling... he tells her it's plain as day, don't second guess it.  She feels like they have to... (this is going to be a rough honeymoon.)

-At the Stadium, Jet & Cord get the clue to the Roadblock: Who's feeling wired?  One person will be rigged up and raised 300ft in the air, then they will have to do 5 flips while suspended by the wires.  This is redhead Cord all the way... oh, and they have to put on a leotard/costume! HAhaha!  He doesn't like heights but nothing stops the cowboys, it's gotta be done and he does it... Then he's ready to get down.

-Brendan & Rachel get there too - Brendan is going to do this one.

-Cowboys get the clue to make their way on foot to the first Pit Stop, Guangzhou Opera House. 

-Brendan gets the world's biggest wedgie, Rachel is down below screaming "That's my husband" and he yells, "I'm the King of the World." (Ugh, I'm remembering how annoying these two are.)

-Back at the bubbles the Twins are yelling at each other and everyone is watching them... as they all slowly go around in their bubbles.  "I guess they didn't get a clue." (Ya think?)

-Over at the stadium, Conner is flipping and Margie is suited up and heading up to prove to all those old ladies out there... (they too can do crazy stuff for money?) She gets through it.  Leo is also flipping just after her.

-Joey & Meghan had a 'try again' in their bubble and they realize all the teams leaving were in even numbered cars so they hop in the car the Country Singers were in.  The Twins on the other hand were too busy fighting to pay any attention and have no idea which are the right cars.  They have the chance to jump in #2 but then second guess it.  I think they're going to wait for Joey & Meghan's bubble... (huh? Oh yeah, they're hot mess-edness has carried over to this season.)
-They finally do get on bubble #4 and get the clue but they have to go all the way around.  Meaning Joey & Meghan get off first and the Twins are in last place.

-Flight Time and Mallory do the flips - he says better him than Big Easy - haha! There is no way they would have had one of those leotard suits to fit him... but it would have been funny.
-Joey is doing the flipping and the Twins fight some more then Ombre Twin (Natalie) is flipping... she also gets a serious wedgie. 

Here's How They Finished:
1) Jet & Cord - Win the Express Passes.  Jet says he's glad they won them but he'd just as soon not have to give one away.  These two run their own race, they're not interested in the politics or game play.  Jet says he's just going to tell everyone he's leaving it up to Cord, "Don't do that!"
2) Brendan & Rachel
3) Dave & Conner
4) Margie & Luke
5) Leo & Jamal
6) Mark & Mallory - Mark says they're trying their best for Bopper.
7) Flight Time & Big Easy - Lucky 7, better than 11.
8) Jessica & John - She's glad they don't have to worry about the Express Pass this time.
9) Caroline & Jennifer
10) Joey & Meghan
11) Natalie & Nadiya - Why can't we just get it together?  They're twins for godsakes, they should be able to work together better than anyone else - but today they just ripped each other apart.

So, with the Twins stinking it up and going out early, Heather G., Kim A., Roxanne S. and Andria S. are out of the pool and get their $10 back.  I can't say I'm sorry one of the loud and annoying teams was out first but I did feel a little bad for the Twins.

Next week: The Country singers are up to old tricks and using their feminine wiles on the Cowboys wheedling for the Express Pass.  And Mallory leaves her bag behind somewhere testing her and Mark's new partnership and possibly costing them if they go back for it.

Have a great week everyone,
Coleen

Survivor Cagayan - Brawn vs Brains vs Beauty - POOL PICKS

Survivor Brawn vs Brains vs Beauty
Tribe:  Aparri	Brawn	Tribe:  Luzon	Brains	Tribe: Solana	Beauty
Lindsey Ogle	1. Kim B.	Kass McQuillen	1. Bernice R.	Alexis Maxwell	1. Sue & Hannelore
Age: 29	2. Gillian H.	Age: 41	2. Sunnie C.	Age: 21	2. Carol-Anne D.
Hairstylist	3. Andria S.	Attorney	3. Krista H.	Student	3. Shane B.
Tony Vlachos	1. Cara & Alex L.	Garrett Adelstein	1. Lois L.	Jefra Bland	1. Mike L.
Age: 39   WINNER	2. Sharon R.	Age: 27	2. Kevin C.	Age: 23	2. Donna P.
Police Officer	3. Manny W.	Pro Poker Player	3. Lynne B.	Miss Kentucky Teen USA	3. Kim A.
Cliff Robinson	1. Drew C.	J'Tia Taylor	1. Roxanne S.	Brice Johnston	1. Maddy D.
Age: 46	2. Karen S.	Age: 31	2. Coleen T.	Age: 27	2. Elaine R.
Former NBA All-Star	3. Katie L.	Nuclear Engineer	3. Wendy E.	Social Worker	3. Jessica C.
Sarah Lacina	1. Susan M.	Spencer Bledsoe	1. Tori K.	LJ McKanas	1. Kevin R.
Age: 29	2. Elliot L.	Age: 21	2. Alexis G.	Age: 34	2. Jennifer G.
Police Officer	3. Ritch G.	Student	3. Annemette J.	Horse Trainer	3. Robert L.
Yung "Woo" Hwang     2ND	1. Heather G.	Latasha "Tasha" Fox	1. Sue S.	Morgan McLeod	1. Lindsay J.
Age: 29	2. Chandra K.	Age: 37	2. Linda G.	Age: 21	2. Ian G.
Martial Arts Instructor	3. Cindi C.	Accountant	3. Tamara J.	Ex-NFL Cheerleader	3. Lee B.
Trish Hegarty	1. Fred & Gary M.	David Sason	1. Shelley A.	Jeremiah Wood	1. Marla L.
Age: 48	2. Bryon L.	Age: 45	2. Bob L.	Age: 34	2. Nenad M.
Pilates Instructor	3. Jeff T.	President, Miami Marlins	3. Roxanne S. (2)	Male Model	3. Janine S.