Episode 2 First Class and Cargo Class Awards
The Amazing Race: All-Stars, Episode 2 First Class and Cargo Class Awards – Some Things Never Change by Sandy Lamparello -- 02/27/2007 The Amazing Race is back and, following in the footsteps of Survivor and Big Brother, this season we have “All-Star” teams returning for a second shot at the race. Surely these teams will have learned from their first race, right? Is it possible Sandy will only have First Class awards to hand out? Don’t count on it! Welcome back, Amazing Race fans! I missed the first episode this season, as I was on a red-eye flight from Honolulu, HI to Washington, DC while it was airing, so this week was my first exposure to the teams. Based on past experience, I can’t say I was surprised by what I saw. Now, it’s time for some awards! This week, and every week, I will be handing out the First and Cargo Class awards for the race. What exactly does that mean, you ask? Well, the teams who perform well, have a good time, enjoy their experiences, and show some kindness or compassion will end up in First Class. A team who doesn’t finish at the top of the standings but looks like they would be fun to travel or hang out with could also end up in First Class. Think back to the classic Seinfeld episode. Comfy chairs, champagne, hot fudge sundaes, and warm towels. Maybe a soft robe and fuzzy slippers if it’s an overnight flight… On the flip side, teams who bicker, whine, complain, or are rude and disrespectful will end up in Cargo Class. They may finish high in the standings, but their performance, attitude, or treatment of others will drop them to the back of the pack for my purposes. Under the plane they go, to sit on top of Aunt Phyllis’s overstuffed suitcase among the luggage and other things you just don’t want to see during your trip. I hope you paid attention, because that’s the last time I’ll explain that! This week’s First Class award is actually going to two teams. As I was watching this week’s episode, I had an overwhelming feeling that these two teams were keeping their eyes on the ultimate goal and not getting caught up in the setbacks along the way. Rob & Amber (aka Romber) and Oswald and Danny (aka Cha3, using Jenn’s shorthand) are the proud recipients of my initial First Class award for the All-Stars season. I am well aware that many many people are sick of Romber. I’m sick of them too, trust me. This is their sixth go-around on reality TV and they long ago wore out their welcome. However, they are racing again, and unlike some other teams, they do genuinely belong there. So as sick as we all are of them, we have to get over it. At least until they are Philiminated. Romber and Cha3 thought they were on the best flight to Santiago, which was scheduled to arrive 40 minutes before the flight that the other eight teams were on. However, they ran into some bad luck when two flights were delayed. As a result, every other team arrived at the Roadblock before Romber and Cha3. Amber and Oswald did not dwell on how far behind the other teams they were. They got right down to work and finished before three other teams, including the two whose members had arrived at the Roadblock in first and second place. The teams were equalized on the flight to Calama, and were immediately met with a Detour. Romber and Cha3 picked different tasks but both teams got down to work and finished at the head of the pack. All that was left was the drive to the Pit Stop. Being in the front, neither team was delayed by the speed limit through the Valley of the Moon. And they arrived in the same order they started, Romber in first and Cha3 in second. This early in the race, all that matters is that a team is not Philiminated, and these two teams have been in no danger of that. So, Romber and Cha3, head on in and take up your nice comfy leather seats. Kick back, relax, and enjoy the in-flight entertainment and cuisine. I’m only going to give Amber the free headphones though, since Rob bickered unnecessarily with Eric at the ticket counter. Amber can decide whether she will share with her husband. Cargo Class is also going to two teams this week. Charla & Mirna (aka Charm) and David & Mary showed some real low behavior on this leg. I don’t even know why David & Mary were picked for the All-Stars version of the race, especially when considering some of the teams who were excluded (Chip & Kim, BJ & Tyler, Kris & Jon, to name a few). Although I couldn’t stand Mirna during her season, I had a lot of respect and admiration for Charla. Sadly, that’s changed. David & Mary apparently didn’t learn anything from last season. They fail to comprehend that this is a race. For A MILLION DOLLARS! It’s not about being nice, or forming alliances, or working together. Yes, working together can help a team early on, but no team should expect that their “allies” will forego a chance to get ahead, even if it means passing a team they’ve worked with. David & Mary and Charm each complained about the other team taking an advantage where one was available, all the while acting as if they were completely innocent. I think they were 100% right in their actions, but the attitude that the other team was playing dirty was 100% wrong. When Charm were following the cab driver, they were rightfully annoyed that Dustin & Kandice seemed to be following them. They very reasonably offered to split the cost of the cab driver leading them to their destination with the beauty queens. However, when the beauty queens refused to accept this arrangement—and drove off—Charm remained on the side of the road, bickering with the cab driver. They should have just given him whatever money they felt he was entitled to at that point, and gotten back into their car and on their way to the next destination. Bickering on the side of the road allowed other teams to pass them. Charla’s statement about morals and purity of heart was all well and good if they were racing for sainthood. But on The Amazing Race, strategy and luck are a LOT more important. Finally, Mary & David were smart to attempt to stow their bags in First Class, but they shouldn’t have been surprised when they were not allowed to do so. Their little spat with Drew was juvenile and certainly not All-Star behavior. They tried to gain an advantage and it didn’t work. “He started it!” is certainly not an appropriate way to respond. Someone needed to tell David to use his big-boy voice! So, Charm and David & Mary, you’ll be cozying up to each other in Cargo Class this week. Maybe you can work out your alliance there. Otherwise, hunker down for a long, cold flight! Next week, Mirna and Teri argue, and Danielle has a rough time with marine life.
The Amazing Race: All-Stars, Episode 2 First Class and Cargo Class Awards – Some Things Never Change by Sandy Lamparello -- 02/27/2007 The Amazing Race is back and, following in the footsteps of Survivor and Big Brother, this season we have “All-Star” teams returning for a second shot at the race. Surely these teams will have learned from their first race, right? Is it possible Sandy will only have First Class awards to hand out? Don’t count on it! Welcome back, Amazing Race fans! I missed the first episode this season, as I was on a red-eye flight from Honolulu, HI to Washington, DC while it was airing, so this week was my first exposure to the teams. Based on past experience, I can’t say I was surprised by what I saw. Now, it’s time for some awards! This week, and every week, I will be handing out the First and Cargo Class awards for the race. What exactly does that mean, you ask? Well, the teams who perform well, have a good time, enjoy their experiences, and show some kindness or compassion will end up in First Class. A team who doesn’t finish at the top of the standings but looks like they would be fun to travel or hang out with could also end up in First Class. Think back to the classic Seinfeld episode. Comfy chairs, champagne, hot fudge sundaes, and warm towels. Maybe a soft robe and fuzzy slippers if it’s an overnight flight… On the flip side, teams who bicker, whine, complain, or are rude and disrespectful will end up in Cargo Class. They may finish high in the standings, but their performance, attitude, or treatment of others will drop them to the back of the pack for my purposes. Under the plane they go, to sit on top of Aunt Phyllis’s overstuffed suitcase among the luggage and other things you just don’t want to see during your trip. I hope you paid attention, because that’s the last time I’ll explain that! This week’s First Class award is actually going to two teams. As I was watching this week’s episode, I had an overwhelming feeling that these two teams were keeping their eyes on the ultimate goal and not getting caught up in the setbacks along the way. Rob & Amber (aka Romber) and Oswald and Danny (aka Cha3, using Jenn’s shorthand) are the proud recipients of my initial First Class award for the All-Stars season. I am well aware that many many people are sick of Romber. I’m sick of them too, trust me. This is their sixth go-around on reality TV and they long ago wore out their welcome. However, they are racing again, and unlike some other teams, they do genuinely belong there. So as sick as we all are of them, we have to get over it. At least until they are Philiminated. Romber and Cha3 thought they were on the best flight to Santiago, which was scheduled to arrive 40 minutes before the flight that the other eight teams were on. However, they ran into some bad luck when two flights were delayed. As a result, every other team arrived at the Roadblock before Romber and Cha3. Amber and Oswald did not dwell on how far behind the other teams they were. They got right down to work and finished before three other teams, including the two whose members had arrived at the Roadblock in first and second place. The teams were equalized on the flight to Calama, and were immediately met with a Detour. Romber and Cha3 picked different tasks but both teams got down to work and finished at the head of the pack. All that was left was the drive to the Pit Stop. Being in the front, neither team was delayed by the speed limit through the Valley of the Moon. And they arrived in the same order they started, Romber in first and Cha3 in second. This early in the race, all that matters is that a team is not Philiminated, and these two teams have been in no danger of that. So, Romber and Cha3, head on in and take up your nice comfy leather seats. Kick back, relax, and enjoy the in-flight entertainment and cuisine. I’m only going to give Amber the free headphones though, since Rob bickered unnecessarily with Eric at the ticket counter. Amber can decide whether she will share with her husband. Cargo Class is also going to two teams this week. Charla & Mirna (aka Charm) and David & Mary showed some real low behavior on this leg. I don’t even know why David & Mary were picked for the All-Stars version of the race, especially when considering some of the teams who were excluded (Chip & Kim, BJ & Tyler, Kris & Jon, to name a few). Although I couldn’t stand Mirna during her season, I had a lot of respect and admiration for Charla. Sadly, that’s changed. David & Mary apparently didn’t learn anything from last season. They fail to comprehend that this is a race. For A MILLION DOLLARS! It’s not about being nice, or forming alliances, or working together. Yes, working together can help a team early on, but no team should expect that their “allies” will forego a chance to get ahead, even if it means passing a team they’ve worked with. David & Mary and Charm each complained about the other team taking an advantage where one was available, all the while acting as if they were completely innocent. I think they were 100% right in their actions, but the attitude that the other team was playing dirty was 100% wrong. When Charm were following the cab driver, they were rightfully annoyed that Dustin & Kandice seemed to be following them. They very reasonably offered to split the cost of the cab driver leading them to their destination with the beauty queens. However, when the beauty queens refused to accept this arrangement—and drove off—Charm remained on the side of the road, bickering with the cab driver. They should have just given him whatever money they felt he was entitled to at that point, and gotten back into their car and on their way to the next destination. Bickering on the side of the road allowed other teams to pass them. Charla’s statement about morals and purity of heart was all well and good if they were racing for sainthood. But on The Amazing Race, strategy and luck are a LOT more important. Finally, Mary & David were smart to attempt to stow their bags in First Class, but they shouldn’t have been surprised when they were not allowed to do so. Their little spat with Drew was juvenile and certainly not All-Star behavior. They tried to gain an advantage and it didn’t work. “He started it!” is certainly not an appropriate way to respond. Someone needed to tell David to use his big-boy voice! So, Charm and David & Mary, you’ll be cozying up to each other in Cargo Class this week. Maybe you can work out your alliance there. Otherwise, hunker down for a long, cold flight! Next week, Mirna and Teri argue, and Danielle has a rough time with marine life.