The Amazing Race 4 At The Quarter-pole
OK, we're a quarter of the way through this season's TAR, so let's revisit my
predictions:
- Amanda & Chris. My prediction: first out. Actual: second out. I can't for the life of me recall one instance of Chris trying to screw anyone over (exactly as I predicted), unless you count his awful job on the Masquerade roadblock, and then he only screwed himself and Amanda over. Apparently, they were right on the Falconettes' tails in the very short dash from the Masquerade to the Pit Stop, but had to try to navigate around them because they thought Monica and Sheree would win if it came to a footrace (FORT link here). Too bad.
- David & Jeff. My prediction: second place. Actual: still racing. Haven't seen hardly anything yet. They've managed to say in contention despite seeming to bumble around just about everywhere, mainly because they've avoided the Fatal Mistake. I'm a believer in the Airtime Inverse Proportionality Hypothesis (the less we see of a team early, the longer they're likely to last). If that's true, these guys win. At least they finally clued in to the way Reichen & Chip were using them. I don't loathe these guys nearly as much as I did before the race, but maybe that's just because I haven't seen much of them yet.
- Debra & Steve. My prediction: fifth out. Actual: first out. The Weebles wobbled and fell down. And fell down. And fell down. Geez, my drunken chronic-vertigo-suffering inner-ear-disorder-stricken neighbor doesn't fall down as much as Debra did. Oh, by the way - they weren't out because they were slow, not really anyway. They're out because they grabbed a ticket for the last bus while there was a ticket for the second bus still available. That would have given them a two-hour lead over the last group, and they would have to have Fallen Down a lot to blow that lead.
- Jon & Al. My prediction: fourth place. Actual: still racing. Another team we're not seeing a lot of (and when we do, it's almost always the clown schtick, but what can you do?). Liking them more as we go along, especially the way they stayed with Millie during her asthma attack and the 'just another day at the office' expression on Jon's face when doing the bungee.
- Kelly & Jon. My prediction: third place. Actual: still racing. flower_goddess and I have pet names for each other that others probably would consider insulting, so that aspect doesn't really bother me. One thing's for sure, though: they'll won't be able to get away with NOT READING THE CLUE CLOSELY (snow rafting, not asking directions in Venice, the fiacre stand) forever.
- Millie & Chuck. My prediction: sixth out. Actual: still racing. Millie occasionally gives off a Jill vibe but usually she's just irritating. Chuck is looking more and more like a non-person with each passing week. Meh.
- Monica & Sheree. My prediction: second out. Actual: still racing. Quickly traversing the learning curve after a really stupid Fast Forward in leg 1. More physically imposing than I originally thought (I had forgotten they were both former Colts cheerleaders); they definitely intimidated Amanda & Chris into trying to run around them rather than by them. Also seemed like they escaped the FireCop trap of just following other teams around, with good performances finding the Mozart house and the Pit Stop (where they left the last train with several other teams but beat them all to the finish). We'll see next ep how big a lead they have.
- Reichen & Chip. My prediction: winners. Actual: still racing. And I'm really hating these guys now. I have lots of gay friends, and NONE of them act as petty and childish as these two have. I really wanted to like them; now I'm hoping for a quick exit.
- Russell & Cindy. My prediction: third out. Actual: third out. I like Cindy more now than I did during the race, mainly because it seems like the cluetrain finally arrived vis-a-vis Russell. And speaking of the Lord High Schmuck, he hasn't done his postmortem yet. Coincidence or sore loser?
- Steve & Dave. My prediction: seventh out. Actual: still racing, although with two engines out and a third on fire. Normally I'd be worried about how far they are behind, but since this week's preview shows them with several other teams, it looks like they've caught up to the pack. But how long will they hold out?
- Steve & Josh. My prediction: eighth out. Actual: still racing. Geez, Dad, say something! Josh is stepping on all your lines! Go away quickly, please.
- Tian & Jaree. My prediction: fourth out. Actual: still racing. These girls are headed for a major meltdown. Personally, I think it'll manifest as Tian lightening Jaree's pack for her, where we'll see carton after carton of cigarettes flying out a train window. Tian is a good racer whose patience has run out; Jaree is an anchor.
Posted by Chris at June 17, 2003 05:35 PM
Category:
Reality TV