Episode 4 First Class and Cargo Class Awards
The Amazing Race: All-Stars, Episode 4 First Class and Cargo Class Awards – Ugliness All Around by Sandy Lamparello -- 03/14/2007 The Amazing Race: All-Stars took our teams from Chile to Argentina on this leg of the race. After three first place finishes, Romber were Philiminated when they couldn’t spell “Philippines.” Did it land them in Cargo Class? Read on to find out. This week on The Amazing Race, the world ended. Oh wait, our teams traveled to the end of the world. That’s good, because if the world had ended why would I be writing this article? But I digress… By now you’ve surely read Jenn’s always-thorough recap, so you know why she’s not feeling fine. One award was a tough call this week, the other, not so much. So, let’s get on to them, shall we? First Class this week is once again going to Uchenna & Joyce. I had a very hard time deciding who should get this award as I watched the episode, and seriously considered not seating anyone in First Class. However, one action at the end of the leg convinced me that Joyce & Uchenna deserved it. Uchenna & Joyce did fall from second place to sixth place on this leg, but that was due to their selection of the Sign It Detour task. Had they chosen Navigate It, or switched over to that task when they first had trouble with the other task, it’s very likely they would have finished near the front of the pack once again. And as I have said so many times in this column, for the first legs of the race it only really matters that a team is not Philiminated. Joyce & Uchenna were never in danger of Philimination. Uchenna & Joyce also realized that Romber came into this race wanting to exact some retribution for the final season 7 standings. However, instead of expressing bitterness or getting angry about Rob’s comments, Uchenna simply stated that he welcomed the rematch because it gave them healthy competition. And though I can’t swear to it, I believe Joyce & Uchenna are one of the few teams (if not the only team) that hasn’t been focused on where Romber were located at every turn. They’re focusing on their own race, and it’s paying off for them. I’ve made no secret that I’ve loved Uchenna & Joyce ever since their first race. And a large reason for that is Uchenna’s actions as they stood near the mat watching Mirna run up the hill with Charla trailing behind her. Uchenna saw Charla struggling, and most likely noticed that there was no team racing up the hill at the same time as Charm. Instead of just standing there watching, Uchenna ran to Charla and offered her real help getting to the mat, unlike her partner who berated her the whole way. But there will be more about that in a minute. Uchenna saw an opportunity to help someone and as usual he jumped at it. And after they landed on the mat, he offered them some kind words and made an attempt to encourage them. He is a class act all the way. And, of course, so is Joyce. So, Uchenna & Joyce, head on in and take your place once again in First Class. It will be my pleasure to see you relax in comfort and enjoy all the amenities you so richly deserve! Now, turn around and wave to your friends Cha3, who are taking seats in Business Class. For keeping focus, not getting petty, having fun, and ending up in first place, Oswald & Danny earned themselves an honorable mention this week! Unlike First Class, Cargo Class came to me within the first 10 minutes of the leg. You’d think after all this time I wouldn’t be surprised by anything that Charla & Mirna do. You’d be wrong. Listening to Mirna whine about how she has to work harder than anyone on the history of the race to overcompensate for Charla’s shortcomings left me with my mouth literally hanging open. Not only did she practically fall over (undeservedly) patting herself on the back, but she acts as if Charla’s physical stature is something she chose or something she can change. After her comments at the start of the leg, Mirna once again berated Charla during their run up the steps to the Sign It Detour. As if that wasn’t enough, Charm seem to forget that this is a RACE, and even if they offer help to other teams, those teams are still their competition. They went on and on about how Guido passed them on the last leg after Charm offered them help with the clue they missed. Get over it already! Mirna said since she’s a lawyer she can spot when someone’s lying, well I’m a lawyer too and I can spot crap from a mile away. Mirna is full of it. Not only are they insufferable to watch, but Charm are just downright nasty and rude. During the post office Roadblock, Mirna spoke to Charla in a language that Rob did not understand. He commented that she was not allowed to talk to her partner, and instead of just ignoring him and concentrating on her own task like she should have done, Mirna went on a rant about how he’s a liar (which Rob has never tried to hide) and made a comment that he wouldn’t understand her asking for prayers from her dead grandmother. What does she know about Rob’s family? Personal attacks of that nature are never called for on the race, and only cause friction and conflict. Calling Amber a b***h was also totally uncalled for. Finally, on the run up the hill to the mat, Mirna showed no regard for Charla. That hill looked very steep and rocky, and would be difficult for a person of average height to run. Instead of hanging back with her partner (both team members have to be on the mat for their finish to count, so Mirna running ahead did nothing to improve their finish), Mirna ran ahead, yelling at Charla the whole time. Then, when she finally did wait for Charla to catch up to her, she dragged her so hard she eventually fell. How does injuring your partner help on the race? After detailing all of Charm’s exploits on this leg, I’ve decided Cargo Class is too good for them. So, thanks to reader mail from Arthur after last week’s leg, I’m going to create a new class just for Charm. Charla & Mirna, you’ll be seated in Seat on the Wing Class this week. You better hang on tight, and I hope you’ve brought your own blankets because we’ll have none to give you. I can only hope, along with Jenn, that your time on the race is drawing to a close. Next week, Guido vs. Eric & Danielle, and large rats. Or maybe just one rat.
The Amazing Race: All-Stars, Episode 4 First Class and Cargo Class Awards – Ugliness All Around by Sandy Lamparello -- 03/14/2007 The Amazing Race: All-Stars took our teams from Chile to Argentina on this leg of the race. After three first place finishes, Romber were Philiminated when they couldn’t spell “Philippines.” Did it land them in Cargo Class? Read on to find out. This week on The Amazing Race, the world ended. Oh wait, our teams traveled to the end of the world. That’s good, because if the world had ended why would I be writing this article? But I digress… By now you’ve surely read Jenn’s always-thorough recap, so you know why she’s not feeling fine. One award was a tough call this week, the other, not so much. So, let’s get on to them, shall we? First Class this week is once again going to Uchenna & Joyce. I had a very hard time deciding who should get this award as I watched the episode, and seriously considered not seating anyone in First Class. However, one action at the end of the leg convinced me that Joyce & Uchenna deserved it. Uchenna & Joyce did fall from second place to sixth place on this leg, but that was due to their selection of the Sign It Detour task. Had they chosen Navigate It, or switched over to that task when they first had trouble with the other task, it’s very likely they would have finished near the front of the pack once again. And as I have said so many times in this column, for the first legs of the race it only really matters that a team is not Philiminated. Joyce & Uchenna were never in danger of Philimination. Uchenna & Joyce also realized that Romber came into this race wanting to exact some retribution for the final season 7 standings. However, instead of expressing bitterness or getting angry about Rob’s comments, Uchenna simply stated that he welcomed the rematch because it gave them healthy competition. And though I can’t swear to it, I believe Joyce & Uchenna are one of the few teams (if not the only team) that hasn’t been focused on where Romber were located at every turn. They’re focusing on their own race, and it’s paying off for them. I’ve made no secret that I’ve loved Uchenna & Joyce ever since their first race. And a large reason for that is Uchenna’s actions as they stood near the mat watching Mirna run up the hill with Charla trailing behind her. Uchenna saw Charla struggling, and most likely noticed that there was no team racing up the hill at the same time as Charm. Instead of just standing there watching, Uchenna ran to Charla and offered her real help getting to the mat, unlike her partner who berated her the whole way. But there will be more about that in a minute. Uchenna saw an opportunity to help someone and as usual he jumped at it. And after they landed on the mat, he offered them some kind words and made an attempt to encourage them. He is a class act all the way. And, of course, so is Joyce. So, Uchenna & Joyce, head on in and take your place once again in First Class. It will be my pleasure to see you relax in comfort and enjoy all the amenities you so richly deserve! Now, turn around and wave to your friends Cha3, who are taking seats in Business Class. For keeping focus, not getting petty, having fun, and ending up in first place, Oswald & Danny earned themselves an honorable mention this week! Unlike First Class, Cargo Class came to me within the first 10 minutes of the leg. You’d think after all this time I wouldn’t be surprised by anything that Charla & Mirna do. You’d be wrong. Listening to Mirna whine about how she has to work harder than anyone on the history of the race to overcompensate for Charla’s shortcomings left me with my mouth literally hanging open. Not only did she practically fall over (undeservedly) patting herself on the back, but she acts as if Charla’s physical stature is something she chose or something she can change. After her comments at the start of the leg, Mirna once again berated Charla during their run up the steps to the Sign It Detour. As if that wasn’t enough, Charm seem to forget that this is a RACE, and even if they offer help to other teams, those teams are still their competition. They went on and on about how Guido passed them on the last leg after Charm offered them help with the clue they missed. Get over it already! Mirna said since she’s a lawyer she can spot when someone’s lying, well I’m a lawyer too and I can spot crap from a mile away. Mirna is full of it. Not only are they insufferable to watch, but Charm are just downright nasty and rude. During the post office Roadblock, Mirna spoke to Charla in a language that Rob did not understand. He commented that she was not allowed to talk to her partner, and instead of just ignoring him and concentrating on her own task like she should have done, Mirna went on a rant about how he’s a liar (which Rob has never tried to hide) and made a comment that he wouldn’t understand her asking for prayers from her dead grandmother. What does she know about Rob’s family? Personal attacks of that nature are never called for on the race, and only cause friction and conflict. Calling Amber a b***h was also totally uncalled for. Finally, on the run up the hill to the mat, Mirna showed no regard for Charla. That hill looked very steep and rocky, and would be difficult for a person of average height to run. Instead of hanging back with her partner (both team members have to be on the mat for their finish to count, so Mirna running ahead did nothing to improve their finish), Mirna ran ahead, yelling at Charla the whole time. Then, when she finally did wait for Charla to catch up to her, she dragged her so hard she eventually fell. How does injuring your partner help on the race? After detailing all of Charm’s exploits on this leg, I’ve decided Cargo Class is too good for them. So, thanks to reader mail from Arthur after last week’s leg, I’m going to create a new class just for Charm. Charla & Mirna, you’ll be seated in Seat on the Wing Class this week. You better hang on tight, and I hope you’ve brought your own blankets because we’ll have none to give you. I can only hope, along with Jenn, that your time on the race is drawing to a close. Next week, Guido vs. Eric & Danielle, and large rats. Or maybe just one rat.