So every once in a while a squirrel finds an acorn, and I managed to pick the eliminated team. 25% isn’t bad… if you’re taking Control Systems and grading on a curve. Just trust me on that one.
So as you might guess from the teaser, previews are saying that the teams are flying to Panama. And presumably not Panama City, FL. We’re finally out of the country, and again, going around the Eastern U.S. was interesting, but it worked better in ‘Beg, Borrow and Deal’ than it did ‘The Amazing Race’, simply because you want to see how these families cope with people that don’t necessarily speak English.
Speaking of which, heading South could give the Paolo’s an edge. Presumably, Tony still speaks Italian, and using that he can probably approximate enough Spanish for the family. The Weavers and Godlewskis seem to be under a lot of stress, and that could cause them to falter a bit on this leg.
Coming in last this week will be:
…but I think it will be non-elimination this week.
Standings after 4 legs:
1. Bransen (Illinois) – Wally hasn’t died yet, so they’re doing fine
2. Paolo (New York) – Luck is probably running out.
3. Linz (Ohio) – Hope they don’t stumble like the Bengals have
4. Godlewski (Illinois) – Nothing to say here, move along
5. Weaver (Florida) – Good work overcoming adversity.
6. Gaghan (Connecticut) – Next-to-last place finishes won’t cut it.
x7. Schroeder
x8. Aiello
x9. Rogers
x10. Black
Last week, teams travelled from Huntsville, Alabama to Hattiesburg, Mississippi to New Orleans, Louisiana during their race through the U.S. around the world. We saw several teams not think during a stopover, and as a result, the Paolo family benefitted, and the Schroeder family were eliminated from the Race.
And we are Live on Inside Pulse with The Amazing Race 8. Got a question? I’m logged into AOL Instant Messenger as kevwwong.
Episode 5 – We’re Getting Out of the Country, Girls
We are at Preservation Hall in New Orleans, Louisiana, the fourth Pit Stop in a race around the world. Here teams have a chance to eat, sleep and mingle with each other, but maybe not with the Weavers, since they’re pretty aloof, and they have no idea what’s in store for them on this leg.
The Bransen family, who were the first team to arrive at 12:40pm, are the first to leave at 12:40am. They’re told to fly 2000 miles to Panama City, Panama and make their way 31 miles to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, take a boat to an island, and find Ricardo Diaz who will give them their next clue.
Paolo, 12:41am. They’re happy to be leaving the country.
Linz, 12:49am. They all squeeze into a small taxi. The Bransens and Paolo get theirs later. Bransen call ahead and find out that the Continental flight arrives about 2.5 hours before the American flight
Godlewski, 1:39am. They check a map and get a cab.
Weaver, 1:52am. They think that alliances are stupid.
Gaghan, 1:54am. Their strategy is to stay second-to-last.
All the teams are lined up at Continental. Linz get on, as do Bransen and Paolo. The flight fills up after that, and so Gaghan, Godlewski and Weaver are forced to take American.
Panama City, 6:40pm. The first teams arrive, and head to the Institute. We hear our first rapido, por favor of the show. Paolo arrives first and we find out that the place opens at 7am, meaning that they’re bottlenecked. The teams are camping out.
9:10pm, the remaining teams arrive and find out that everyone’s bunched up.
Morning, the teams head out in the order they arrive and look for the “dude in the hammock”. It’s a lovely view. Linz seem to have a slow boat, and get passed by everyone. Except Gaghan, whose driver is stopping to pick up a buddy. Nice.
Ad Break
Back in the Panama Canal, the Gaghan’s driver agrees to drop them off first.
Teams land on the island and start searching around for Diaz. Turns out that there are lots of guys in hammocks. Linzes finally arrive and start looking.
Godlewski first. They note the Fast Forward, and decline to do it. They open the clue and see a Detour – Rhythm or Coos.
Rhythm – travel by Red Devil bus to a small town and collect 4 instruments and deliver them to Take Five Bar
Coos – Take the bus to an aviary and find representations of five local birds and circle the correct ones. If they’re incorrect, they’ll have to start over.
Paolos read the Fast Forward. They need to travel to the Pacific side of the Canal and do a tandem bungee jump, and this is the only Fast Forward in the Race. They decide to do it.
Weavers decide to go for Coos. Bransen, Coos. Linz, Rhythm. Gaghan, Fast Forward. The teams get on the boats, and Mama Weaver tells the other boat pilots to go slow.
Teams are now racing for the docks. Paolo, Bransen and Gaghan land first. Godlewski, Linz and Weaver miss the stop and are behind.
Paolos are going for the Fast Forward, as are Gaghan. Godlewski and Linz decide to team up to finish the Rhythm Detour, and force the Weavers us.
Bransens get help to get to the Detour. Weavers hire a taxi to follow.
Paolos arrive at the Detour and note the height. It’s a footrace to the Fast Forward, but the Paolos get there first. Gaghans stick around, thinking that the New Yorkers won’t do it. Stupid.
DJ and Marion are apprehensive about jumping, and I’m sure that we’ll see them jump after the
Ad Break
We’re back, and of course the Paolos jump. The Gaghans are now definitely in last, and decide to do the Rhythm Detour. The Paolos are told to go to the Miraflores Locks and the Pit Stop.
Bransens are lost. Weavers arrive at the park and look at bords. They finish rather quickly, but get it wrong the first time. Bransens arrive and start the task. Godlewski and Linz arrive for the Rhythm task.
Paolos arrive at the Pit Stop and win a trip to Panama – but they’re already there!
The Weavers finish and get their clue. They must travel 2 miles to a Baseball Stadium and find their next clue. Bransens finish the task. Meanwhile the Linz and Godlewski families are blowing through the task.
Gaghans arrive and start the Rhythm task. The Linz and Godlewski finish and head to the stadium. The Gaghan family get the instruments quickly.
Weavers arrive and find a Roadblock – they must hit a base hit or homerun off a Little League pitcher. They only get 3 pitches at a time. Rolly takes it. Bransens arrive and Beth takes it.
Godlewski and Linz arrive, Sharon and Nick take it.
Rolly completes the task (barely) and travel 5 miles to the Pit Stop. The last team to arrive may be eliminated. Gaghans arrive at the bar and complete the Detour.
Beth finishes the Roadblock. Nick gets a hit on the first hit. Gaghans arrive at the stadium and Bill takes it. Like Nick, he gets it on the first swing. So the Godlewski girls are obviously last. We’ll see how Sharon does after the
Ad Break
We’re back, and Sharon hits the ball. They’re off to the Pit Stop.
Weavers arrive as team number two. Bransen and Linz are racing, and the Gaghans get stuck behind a pickup truck. The Godlewskis are putting on lots of clothes in anticipation of a non-elimination leg. Linz and Bransen arrive and race to the Checkpoint. Bransens are third, Linzes are fourth.
Gaghans arrive and are running, and are team number five. Godlewski girls are the last team to arrive, but it’s a non-elimination leg. Phil then robs them of their money and possessions except the clothes on their back, and asks “Do you know how ridiculous you look?” Hah!!
Next episode, teams take a precarious journey into the rain forest, and the Weavers get stuck.
