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RNO - Episode 4: Moon Over Louisiana
« on: Oct 19th, 2005, 12:51pm » |
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The Amazing Race 8, Episode 4: Moon Over Louisiana
by Jenn Brasler -- 10/19/2005
Our seven remaining families head to the South, racing through Alabama and a pre-Katrina Mississippi and Louisiana. Along the way, they encounter a few of the world’s largest places and things and head to the Schroeders’ home state. Can the Gaghans (right) handle some hard work and keep themselves out of last place?
Thanks to everyone who e-mailed to explain that the teams who did the Muddy Waters roadblock last week couldn’t have walked to the visitor’s center because they were too far away. Let’s hope I never overlook anything like that again, because I don’t think my e-mail inbox would be able to handle it. Also, thanks to everyone who wrote to tell me that they like the Weavers, too. It’s nice to know I’m not alone!
Before the episode begins, we get a message with a voiceover from Phil, telling us that this episode was filmed in Mississippi and Louisiana before Katrina hit. It is dedicated to the people who lost their lives and the people who are now dealing with the aftermath. By the way, I’ve heard that the Schroeders and Rogerses are all fine in the aftermath of the hurricanes. I think they suffered some losses, but fortunately, no losses of life.
Previously on The South Shall Rise Again (But, Unfortunately, Not the Aiellos): Eight teams traveled from Middleburg, Virginia to Huntsville, Alabama. Everyone hates the Weavers. The Bransens did well but the Aiellos ran into trouble, especially in the Muddy Waters detour. The Gaghans passed them again. After a spin in the centrifuge and the most annoying roadblock ever, the Bransens hit the mat first and the Aiellos, sadly, were eliminated. Seven families are left. They are:
The Bransens: Wally, Lindsay, Lauren, and Beth - Father and daughters/I like them more every week
The Linzes: Megan, Alex, Nick, and Tommy - Sister and brothers/Running a pretty good race
The Schroeders: Char, Mark, Hunter, and Stassi - Stepmom, dad, and kids/Starting to grate
The Godlewskis (Pink Ladies): Christine, Sharon, Michelle, and Tricia - Sisters/Very excited
The Weavers: Linda, Rachel, Rolly, and Rebecca - Mom and kids/Screechy but strong
The Paolos: Tony, Marion, Brian, and D.J. - Parents and kids/Lose already
The Gaghans: Bill, Tammy, Carissa, and Billy - Parents and kids/Need to do something to get out of last place or I’ll be sad
Everyone is in Huntsville, Alabama, home to NASA’s research facility. Will the Weaver family continue to ostracize themselves from the other teams? Will the Gaghans continue to stay positive, even though they keep winding up in second to last place?
The Bransens are the first to leave at 1:15 p.m. Their clue tells them to find the world’s largest office chair, which is in Anniston, Alabama (no relation to Jennifer Aniston). One member of each time has to climb up to the chair to get the next clue. The teams get $51 dollars for the race. I love the completely random amounts they get. Why $51? Why not $50? Wally says that he’s tired but is holding up. Every time they get a new clue, he gets a rush of adrenaline. In the car, the girls discuss Alabama and Wally sings a little banjo music, probably thinking of Deliverance.
The Linzes leave second, talking about their sense of family and how they’re trying to figure out how to move into first place. They think their time will come. In the car, Megan and Tommy hit each other. Don’t let Char see you guys doing that! Speaking of Char, the Schroeders get their clue as Stassi says that she wants to be first. She thinks they’re underdogs and she wants to win.
The Pink Ladies leave fourth with Sharon driving. Her sisters tell her that she’ll be on the same road for a while, but Sharon says she’ll be turning soon. Tricia interviews that Sharon and Christine clash a lot. The Weavers leave fifth and Rachel prays for safety. Linda says that her husband’s death was traumatic and she had to reach inside herself for strength. Now she knows that she has that strength inside her.
The Schroeders complain about the Weavers, because focusing on other teams is always a great way to get ahead in the race. Stassi says that Linda is the Wicked Witch. Char says she’s evil, possibly trying to do a Dr. Evil impression. Mark asks what happened to peace, love, and harmony. Maybe their panties are too tight, Mark. The Paolos leave and immediately start fighting (surprised?) because Marion has misplaced their information. Why do they give her that stuff if they think she’s just going to lose it? Brian interviews that Marion and D.J. argue a lot because they’re so similar. I think if you took Brian out of that family, he could be a very decent person.
The Gaghans are the last to leave. Bill interviews that he can’t imagine what the race looks like from his kids’ perspective. Carissa says (in what’s probably the same interview from the first episode where she said she was small but not stupid) that she’s smart, funny, and can keep her team going. Rock on, Carissa. Actually, rock on, all of them, because they all beat the Paolos back to the cars. Marion accidentally (or so we’re led to believe) gives Brian a paper cut on the back of his neck. The Gaghans and Paolos wind up taking different routes. Carissa asks if they’re taking the faster route; Bill tells her that the Paolos are taking a longer route, so they’ll make up some time.
The Bransens reach the chair. Their clue tells them to drive 18 miles to Talladega, Alabama to the International Motor Sports Hall of Fame (hereafter called the IMSHOF, because no way am I typing that full name over and over). Wally recognizes the place as being known for stock car races. He realizes that the Weavers won’t appreciate this. In their car, the Weavers look at a map and realize that they’ll be passing Talladega. The kids are worried but Linda says that they’ll play it by ear.
The Linzes reach the chair. After they get their clue, Nick says that he’s going to build a chair that’s just a little bit bigger. Alex asks him if that’s because he wants to be the world’s biggest dork. Hee! Calling someone (especially a sibling) a dork is always funny. Even Carissa knows that. The Schroeders reach the chair and, after reading their clue, remember that they passed Talladega on their way to Anniston. The Pink Ladies get the clue and realize the same thing.
The Bransens arrive in Talladega and get their clue. It tells them to go to the Super Speedway and take a lap around the track. The Super Speedway is the biggest motor sport facility in the world. (Sensing a pattern yet?) However, instead of taking a lap in a race car, the teams will be riding what are called party bikes. How to explain the party bikes? Hmmm. They’re big, circular bikes that can be pedaled by a bunch of people. They look like fun. The teams will have to complete a 2.6-mile course to get their next clue.
The Linzes arrive at the IMSHOF, followed by the Shroeders. The Bransens get excited when they see the party bike. They feel like clowns and think that people probably use the bikes in halftime shows. They’re probably right. The Gaghans arrive at the chair and Bill and Tammy let Carissa climb up to get the clue. I wonder if Billy resents Carissa a lot on this race. I hope not - he’s just as cute as she is. The Weavers reach the chair not long afterwards and freak out upon learning that they have to go to Talladega. Rebecca says that she doesn’t want to go and Linda tells her that she can wait in the car.
The Paolos reach the chair. Brian tells Marion that she’s been a baby on the whole race. The Bransens are about halfway done with the party biking when the Linzes start. The Schroeders also start, and then the Bransens finish. The next clue tells them to travel 261 miles to Hattiesburg, Mississippi and find the Southern Colonel. What the clue doesn’t tell them is that the Southern Colonel is a trailer home dealership.
The Pink Ladies arrive at the IMSHOF. The Linzes pedal to catch up to the Schroeders, talking about drafting them. One of them (either Alex or Nick) rings the bell, which cracks me up, for some reason. They try to imagine how hilarious they look. Mark asks his family if the can imagine how mad the Weavers will be when they get there. Only he’s smiling a little and obviously doesn’t feel sympathetic at all. What a jerk. Speaking of the Weavers, they’re pretty nervous. Rebecca decides that they’ll just have to do the task as quickly as they can; Linda thinks this is a good idea. The Weavers get the clue sending them to the speedway and Rachel says they can’t do it.
Linda tells the kids that they can do this task. As they head to the track, she tells the kids that their father liked racing and they need to let go. Rebecca interviews that their father would encourage them to be strong. Mark asks his family if they should stop and adjust the seats on the bike. They don’t want to, but he stops anyway. Stassi tells him he’s a pain. Char isn’t happy either, since Mark screwed up their momentum. Stassi says (not for the last time this week) that one minute can make a huge difference.
The Linzes finish and pass the Pink Ladies, who are on their way in. The Shroeders finish, Stassi complaining about her major wedgie. Thanks for that, Stassi. The Weavers start and the Pink Ladies finish. The Gaghans arrive at the IMSHOF. The Weavers finish and Linda says that it was a great victory for them. They broke through something they didn’t want to. They’re not necessarily leaving the mourning, but they’re leaving the depression behind, which will help them move on. Rachel says that they’re tough and can conquer more than this.
The Gaghans start biking, though Carissa can’t reach the pedals. The Paolos arrive, thinking that they’ll be driving a race car. Carissa tells her family that she wishes she had longer legs; Tammy replies that they wish the same. They head to the car as it starts raining. The Paolos are shocked to see the bike. “Where’s my race car?” D.J. exclaims.
Out on the road, the Bransens spot the Linzes catching up to them and one of the girls (Lauren, I think) decides to moon them. Wally is amused and says nothing. The girls say that they’d better get a moon back. Instead, Alex (again, I think) flashes the girls and then yells, “Now it’s your turn!” It’s nice to see everyone having fun. The Paolos pedal. The Bransens reach Hattiesburg and decide to look in a phone book, where the discover that the Southern Colonel is a trailer home dealership. They find the place and learn that they will be spending the night there. They have to search the trailers for a departure time (7:20, 7:40, or 8:00). As usual, once you take a time, you can’t trade it in.
The Schroeders ask a sheriff about the Southern Colonel. He tells them what it is, but they don’t think that’s what they’re supposed to be looking for. Char suggests looking in a phone book, but Mark doesn’t think it would be that easy. What now? What sort of logic is that? The Pink Ladies turn to the Internet and find out what the Southern Colonel is. The Weavers stop at a convenience store for directions. The Schroeders finally do the same and look in a phone book, realizing that the sheriff was right. Stassi is upset.
The Linzes look around for departure times. The Bransens find 7:40 but don’t take it (smart!). The Linzes take 7:20 and yell for the Bransens to find the same time. The Bransens do so. Once the teams are back together, one of the Linzes comments that there was a nice full moon out. On the road, the Pink Ladies spot the Weavers behind them. Both teams get the clue and start looking for times. The Pink Ladies find 7:40 and pull it without looking to see if there’s an earlier time. So not a good idea. You know what’s also not a good idea? Finding 8:00 and pulling it without looking around, as the Weavers do. Oh, Weavers.
The Schroeders are lost. Stassi wants Mark to shut up because he’s upsetting her. They find the Southern Colonel and Stassi starts crying. The family finds 8:00 and Mark wants to pull it, but Stassi points out that the Pink Ladies told them to get 7:40. She refuses to take 8:00 until they’ve looked around. Smart girl. The Gaghans arrive and take 8:00. Boo! Carissa likes the trailers. The Paolos arrive and don’t like the trailers so much. Mark tells Stassi that they have to take 8:00 because the Paolos are there, looking around as well. No, then you can just keep looking. If the Paolos get 7:40, then fine, you can take 8:00. But maybe they don’t know what the best time is. In other words, shut up, Mark. Stassi complains that no one listens to her and now they have to travel with the Weavers. Char says something about them being a few minutes behind, but Stassi says again that one minute can make a huge difference.
Mark suggests food and relaxation as a cure for what ails Stassi. The Paolos find 7:40 and pull it. The Gaghans, Schroeders, and Weavers do realize that they just let the Paolos pass them by 20 minutes, don’t they? Marion wants to spend the few hours before their departure sleeping. At 7:20 the next morning, the Bransens and the Linzes leave. Their clue tells them to travel 84 miles to Richland, Mississippi and find a BP station. (Hmmm, what a coincidence - BP is a sponsor!) At the station, they’ll get their clue from a guy named Les. I wonder if the Bransens can start using their lifetime supply of gas right now.
The Linz boys think the Bransen girls are cute. Poor Megan is left with Wally. Too bad the only guy left on this trip who’s close to her age and isn’t a relative is D.J. At 7:40, the Paolos and Pink Ladies leave. The Gaghans, Schroeders, and Weavers leave at 8:00. The Bransens and Linzes arrive at the BP station and get the clue from Les. It tells them to go to the Pelican State (which is Louisiana). They’ll travel 150 miles to Madisonville and find Fairview Riverside State Park.
The Pink Ladies look for the station and pass it, not thinking it’s the right one. They see the Paolos pull into it and think that they’re just stopping to get something. Yeah, the clue. They finally decide to go back to the station. The Schroeders, Weavers, and Gaghans all find the station and get their clues. Back in the car, Bill looks for his pen and Carissa sings a song about Bill’s lucky pen. I want her to be my little sister. So, so cute.
In the Schroeders’ car, Char says that they live in Louisiana and they’ve never heard of Fairview. Stassi complains that the Weavers are ahead. Mark tells her to stop acting so ugly and she tells him he’s not looking so pretty right now himself. Yeah, but at least he doesn’t keep whining about the other teams. In the Pink Ladies’ car, everyone yells at Christine. She finds where they’re going on a map and asks for validation; her sisters give it to her half-heartedly. The Linzes reach the park and find a detour. This week’s choices are Work and Play. In Work, teams use a hand saw to saw a log into four 12-inch slices. In Play, they play 21 against a professional dealer on a riverboat and have to win three rounds.
Megan suggests that the Linzes Play. The Bransens arrive and decide to do the same. First the teams have to put on period clothing. It’s all ugly. The Schroeders are looking for the right route. Stassi notes that they’re supposed to be going half an hour from their house but are not close to it now. The Bransens head to the riverboat and note that they don’t know how to play 21. The Paolos arrive and choose Work. The Pink Ladies show up as the Paolos don flannel. Okay, that was worth it. The Pink Ladies also choose Work.
The Bransens lose their first hand. So do the Linzes. The Bransens then win one. Watching people play cards isn’t exactly thrilling (though you wouldn’t know it from all of the episodes of Celebrity Poker Showdown). The Weavers look for the park. The Gaghans arrive and decide to Play because they don’t think the kids can handle Work. The Linzes lose a hand. They decide that this task involves too much luck and switch to Work. There’s been a lot of detour switching this season.
Tammy is amused that there’s a little outfit for Carissa. She looks adorable, of course. The Paolos have two of their four pieces. The Bransens have won two out of three hands. The Gaghans lose their first hand and note that now they know why the Linzes switched. The Paolos have three out of four pieces. The Pink Ladies saw as the Paolos finish. The clue tells them to go to the pit stop. No roadblock? Hmmm. The clue sends them across the world’s longest bridge, which goes over Lake Pontchartrain, and into New Orleans. Awww. They’ll have to run through the French Quarter and find Preservation Hall, a jazz hall. The last team to arrive may be eliminated.
The Bransens win their third hand and tell the Gaghans to hang in there and be patient. The Weavers find the park and choose Play. The Linzes finish, followed by the Pink Ladies. The Weavers learn that their dealer’s name is Roy, which is Rolly’s real name. They win a hand. The Gaghans are still 0 for 3, and the Weavers have won two hands. Tammy says that they’re wasting time and Bill asks her if she wants to switch tasks.
After some deliberation, Bill decides that they should switch. The Paolos and Bransens drive, noting how long the bridge is. Wally tries to pronounce Pontchartrain. I like him. Actually, I like all of the Bransens. I really didn’t think I would. I thought they would fight all the time, but they’ve been doing so well together. In the Pink Ladies’ car, Christine tells her sisters that they should take their packs with them when they arrive. Her sisters point out that they’ll be running through the French Quarter. Christine starts crying. She interviews (in an interview in which she is crying) that crying is a release for her. In the car, she sarcastically thanks her sisters for making her cry. Michelle tells her that she brought it on herself. Christine doesn’t want to cry at the mat and says she needs to pull it together. I wouldn’t want to cry in front of Phil either, unless they were tears of joy.
The Weavers win their third hand. The Gaghans start sawing. On their way to the pit stop, the Weavers pass the Schroeders, who are driving in the opposite direction. The kids start cheering but Linda points out that the Schroeders are on their home turf. At the detour, the Schroeders pick Work. The Gaghans have two out of four pieces done and are happy that they’re not quitting. The Schroeders realize that Work might be brutal and immediately switch to Play. They quickly win a hand while the Gaghans keep sawing. The two families finish and Stassi calls the dealer her best friend. After they get their clue, Char excitedly says that they’re going home.
On the bridge, Linda tells her kids that Lake Pontchartrain is one of the five great lakes. Oy. Isn’t she a teacher? The Paolos find Preservation Hall, though they’re six blocks away. The Bransens arrive in the French Quarter as well. Stassi wonders if it’s fair that they know the area. I’m surprised she would think that. The Bransens and Paolos look for Preservation Hall. Marion is wandering. There’s Phil at the mat, and the first team is… the Bransens! Yay! They’ve won a trip to Orlando and admission to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.
The Paolos arrive, having managed to move into second place. I’m scared. They hug the Bransens at the mat. Phil notes that the family is in good spirits for once. Tony says that they ran a perfect leg. Well, part of it was luck, but okay. The Pink Ladies and Linzes look for Preservation Hall. The Linzes find the pit stop first and are in third place. Phil mentions that there was a moon out today. Phil, marry me. Oh, darn, you’re already married. Have you considered polygamy? The Pink Ladies run through the French Quarter, one of them yelling, “Crazy women coming through!” They reach the mat in fourth place.
The Gaghans arrive but the Schroeders are still driving. Stassi is happy now. The Weavers run around the French Quarter and hit the pit stop. Linda tells Phil that she’s scared, but not to worry - they’re in fifth place. Rebecca says that the leg was a struggle for them, but they did it together, so they can get through everything else.
The Schroeders and Gaghans look for Preservation Hall, and I start cheering because the Gaghans arrive at the mat in sixth place. Yay! The Schroeders finally arrive and learn that they are eliminated. Char and Stassi start crying. Phil looks a little like he doesn’t know what to do with them. He asks what happened. Mark says that they couldn’t find the park, which was a disgrace, because he used to work near there. He interviews that there was nothing that they could do because they did their best. Stassi interviews that she loves her father but she wishes he had listened to her. She thinks that she should have been more focused. I don’t think she should beat herself up over this; she did very well (other than her Weaver obsession). After all, she was the one who didn’t want to pull the 8:00 departure time. Mark feels responsible for Stassi being upset and for the loss. He’s learned, though, that his family is capable and he’s glad that they can deal with stress and hardships.
Next week: The families finally leave the States. D.J.’s fear of heights might get the better of him. There’s a task that looks like it might involve a huge catapult. Sharon tries to keep her sisters in the game. It looks like they’re playing baseball or softball. Maybe they’re in Cuba? Hard to tell.
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