Try Numero Dos

I'm guessing that when I watched 20 seasons of the Amazing Race a year or two ago I probably posted on here about the same things I'm going to post now, but I'm going to post now about it anyway. The trick will be to see if Blogger allows this post to actually be published. Here are a few thoughts:

1. Can it really be possible that after 23, almost 24 seasons, no one has died in a fiery taxi crash in a third-world country? This just seems miraculous to me. In Season One, the teams go to Bangladesh and go screaming through the streets in three-wheeled taxi carts at ridiculous speeds, scooting around buses and trucks and barely squeaking by. There were no stop signs, traffic lights, lines on the roads, or order of any kind. Yet no one died. Amazing.

2. American tourists already have a bad rep for being loud and obnoxious. Offer American tourists a million bucks if they hurry really fast through foreign lands, and they become ridiculously abrasive and embarrassing. Which is why I'm surprised that no one has started a war between the U.S. and the rest of the world. I think the most cringe-worthy behavior exhibited is the screaming at taxi drivers that "IT'S AN EMERGENCY! MOVE YOUR (insert crude word for bottom)!!!" Ian and Terry from Season 3, Ian in particular, made us all look like jerks. When he wasn't saying something offensive about the culture, he was either yelling "Come ON, Terry!" or "DRIVE FASTER! Man, this country is full of morons!" I was very glad he didn't win.

3. I want Phil's job. Everyone is happy to see him, he gets to travel all over the world, someone does his hair and make-up, and he probably flies first class and stays in fancy hotels wherever he travels. Lucky. If only my teeth were that white and I had a cool accent.

4. There seem to be consistent types of teams from season to season. The "We're Seeing if Our Relationship Can Be Salvaged by Going a Month without Sleep and Enduring High Levels of Stress," the "We're Buddies that Have Never Been Annoyed by Each Other Until We Just Found Out Neither of Us Can Drive Stick or Read a Map," the "We're Finally Done Having Little Kids and Want to See the World" Married Couples, and Siblings. The most functional teams I've seen are Siblings and Married Couples. I honestly don't understand the whole idea behind thinking that having cameras following you around while you are dealing with preexisting relationship issues will bring you closer as a couple. Most of the time what it becomes is a chance to bicker on every continent. The friends always amuse me greatly. There have been a few successful friendship teams (Season One winners and the Cha Cha Chas, for example), but most of them seem to leave a little less chummy than they were at the beginning. The Siblings are used to being annoyed by each other, and have already spent their whole lives together, so they are the perfect team. So, my siblings, anyone want to listen to me cry for a month and give the Amazing Race a try? My husband gets stressed out just watching the show, so he's a no go.

5. There are also the Nice vs. Wicked and Sneaky teams. I'm always extra happy to see the nice teams win. The Cha Cha Chas and the Cowboys are my favorite teams ever. They are classy and also kicked butt. The current season also has a team from Utah, so naturally I want them to win, but if they don't, I sure hope it's the Cowboys. Colin and Christie from season 5 are the epitome of Wicked and Sneaky, with a side of Anger Issues. His meltdowns are priceless. The meltdowns come in every season, and it's usually hilarious to me. Maybe that means I'm a horrible person that would be on the Wicked and Sneaky side and not the Nice side. I just know I'd be on the crying side.

Seasons 1-22 are available on Hulu+. Come on. If you can't travel, watch other people do it. It's fun!