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Weavers arrive at the hangar first, so they pull the centrifuge clue first, and they get number five. As the Gaghans drive up to the hanger, Bill explains that this is Space Camp, and "they simulate weightlessness here." "I'm doin' it," Billy says, going for a version of "shotgun" that I'm not sure exists, but in all honesty, Carissa's been looking pretty tired. I'm not sure she's going to wrestle him for it. The Aiellos, of these three teams, are actually the first to pull the clue, but they move off to the side to read it. There's really nothing to report here, except that because of that relatively meaningless move, the Gaghans and Paolos both get their centrifuge numbers before the Aiellos, and the Aiellos pull number eight.
Now, ask yourself this: Is it really possible that anything is going to happen except that the Aiellos are going to come in last? What would have to happen for them to pass anyone? There's nothing between here and the pit stop that requires any skill whatsoever. The entire idea of putting one of these "first come, first served" Roadblocks where you pull numbers and wait in line right before the pit stop so that nobody can possibly recover is just asinine. It's horrible planning, and it makes the result basically random. It's true that they probably don't give enough attention to the "first-come, first-served" in the clue fast enough, which the Paolos do, to their credit, moving them ahead of the Gaghans. But still, to have this be the deciding moment? To ensure that there is no other ending that can result? It's ridiculous. To take a huge bunch and follow it immediately with one of these things that forces a much longer separation, and to do that as the last step in the leg? Dumb, dumb, dumb.
The Weavers finish the Roadblock. The head for the stupidest "task" ever, the AOL business. The Paolos take the Roadblock. The Weavers sign onto AOL and run to the mat. Welcome, you are team number five. Phil sort of inquires about their nervous breakdown on the bus, and they insist that they're happy now. "This is us," Mama Weaver interviews. "There's nobody perfect out there. And this is us. If you like us, great. If you don't like us, we're not going to change for you." And it's that kind of interpretation of listening to other people as a form of weakness that makes kids turn out inquisitive and self-possessed, I think. Furthermore, asking you not to scream like ninnies in the middle of the night at Waffle House isn't exactly demanding that you "change" because other people "don't like" you. It's asking you not to cause disturbances that create crossovers with COPS. Police officers are well aware of the fine line between pluck and methamphetamine.
Paolos finish the Roadblock and look for the computers.
Even in her exhausted state (eight hours on the bus would mean it was about one in the morning when they got off in Huntsville), Carissa stares transfixed at the screen, watching the capsule-cam where her dad and Billy are taking the ride. The Gaghans finish and head for the computers.
“ Because you know what this boring episode and stupid task needed? Cheesy product placement that makes no sense. I just could not be more pleased. ”
At the hangar, the Bransens pull the clue, and Phil explains that usually, Roadblocks are for one, but in this edition, some Roadblocks -- like this one -- are for two people, doubling the excitement and turning this particular one into a math lesson called "What Happens When You Multiply By Zero." In it, two people get strapped into a centrifuge and winged around until simulated gravity presses really hard on them. This is a ballast-style Roadblock, which, as we know, is the stupidest kind. We do see Phil in the simulator, which does nothing for his appearance, but kind of helps his pants. Once they sit in the centrifuge for the required time, doing absolutely nothing, they'll get their clue. Nothing makes for great TV like people strapped down and motionless in an enclosed space in a situation not actually representing any risk or sense of risk. They should really have more of these with a lot of sitting. Roadblock: Find Seats In This Movie Theater. ("Who has a taste for popcorn?")
Two of the Tonyas get the explanation and then get into the capsule. You can imagine that they're probably wondering whether this is the whole Roadblock, as are we all.
In the Linz car, Megan notes that she's actually been here before, in sixth grade. "This is Space Camp!" she says. They and the Schroeders get to the Roadblock , and the Linzes pull number two while the Schroeders pull number three. Both teams have to wait while the Tonyas take their ride. "Don't puke!" Tommy says, because -- I'm sorry, I underestimated him. His repertoire also includes puking jokes. How could I forget the puking jokes?
One of the pinks believes that a hangar is an airplane, so increasingly bossy Sharon tells her that the hangar is where you keep the airplane, actually. She's right, but you can still tell they all sort of want to poke her. They take the Roadblock, and they pull number four.
The Bransens pull their clue, which sends them a mile on foot to Rocket Park. Phil explains that when they get there -- I swear, I am not making this up -- they'll go to a set of conspicuously lined up computers, and they'll sign on to AOL to receive their clue. Because you know what this boring episode and stupid task needed? Cheesy product placement that makes no sense. I just could not be more pleased.
You'll be shocked to know that as soon as Tommy and Alex are in the capsule, Tommy announces that he has to fart. Needs. A. New. Joke. Even Alex appears to have run out of fart-related chortles, and my sense is that that's really saying something. That's like if your brother is Shaq, and he's like, "Dude, enough basketball." Yes, I am saying Alex is the Shaq of fart jokes, and yes, I know that would probably please him enormously, but no, that will not stop me from saying it.
“ The entire idea of putting one of these 'first come, first served' Roadblocks where you pull numbers and wait in line right before the pit stop so that nobody can possibly recover is just asinine. It's horrible planning, and it makes the result basically random. ”
Weavers arrive at the hangar first, so they pull the centrifuge clue first, and they get number five. As the Gaghans drive up to the hanger, Bill explains that this is Space Camp, and "they simulate weightlessness here." "I'm doin' it," Billy says, going for a version of "shotgun" that I'm not sure exists, but in all honesty, Carissa's been looking pretty tired. I'm not sure she's going to wrestle him for it. The Aiellos, of these three teams, are actually the first to pull the clue, but they move off to the side to read it. There's really nothing to report here, except that because of that relatively meaningless move, the Gaghans and Paolos both get their centrifuge numbers before the Aiellos, and the Aiellos pull number eight.
Now, ask yourself this: Is it really possible that anything is going to happen except that the Aiellos are going to come in last? What would have to happen for them to pass anyone? There's nothing between here and the pit stop that requires any skill whatsoever. The entire idea of putting one of these "first come, first served" Roadblocks where you pull numbers and wait in line right before the pit stop so that nobody can possibly recover is just asinine. It's horrible planning, and it makes the result basically random. It's true that they probably don't give enough attention to the "first-come, first-served" in the clue fast enough, which the Paolos do, to their credit, moving them ahead of the Gaghans. But still, to have this be the deciding moment? To ensure that there is no other ending that can result? It's ridiculous. To take a huge bunch and follow it immediately with one of these things that forces a much longer separation, and to do that as the last step in the leg? Dumb, dumb, dumb.
The Weavers finish the Roadblock. The head for the stupidest "task" ever, the AOL business. The Paolos take the Roadblock. The Weavers sign onto AOL and run to the mat. Welcome, you are team number five. Phil sort of inquires about their nervous breakdown on the bus, and they insist that they're happy now. "This is us," Mama Weaver interviews. "There's nobody perfect out there. And this is us. If you like us, great. If you don't like us, we're not going to change for you." And it's that kind of interpretation of listening to other people as a form of weakness that makes kids turn out inquisitive and self-possessed, I think. Furthermore, asking you not to scream like ninnies in the middle of the night at Waffle House isn't exactly demanding that you "change" because other people "don't like" you. It's asking you not to cause disturbances that create crossovers with COPS. Police officers are well aware of the fine line between pluck and methamphetamine.
Paolos finish the Roadblock and look for the computers.
Even in her exhausted state (eight hours on the bus would mean it was about one in the morning when they got off in Huntsville), Carissa stares transfixed at the screen, watching the capsule-cam where her dad and Billy are taking the ride. The Gaghans finish and head for the computers.