Episode Report Card Miss Alli: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT On The Road Again
By Miss Alli | Season 8 | Episode 1 | Aired on 09.26.2005
When we return, the Paolos are still arguing over the clue, and although Mama Paolo wants to go back, DJ insists that they don't need it, because he knows what it said -- it said Fairmount Park, Belmont Plateau. Speaking of which, here are the Blacks at Belmont Plateau now. They get a hand from Papa Bransen as well as Papa Gaghan. And, of course, Carissa, who is back on her favorite job -- hammering tent stakes. "If I had a girl, she'd be like you," Mama Black says happily. And...I kind of think that same thing at that same moment. It's a nice thing. The Blacks finish their tent and get their 11:00 departure time. "We're full of love," Reggie interviews. "Full of happiness and just proud of our family." Austin grins through his erratically placed teeth. Hee. And then they all put their hands in and yell, "Black family!", and I laugh so hard I am sure I am going straight to hell.
The Goodlookskis show up at the park and pitch their tent. Lots of help from the other teams. Billy pounds a tent stake. One of the pinks tells the rest of the teams that they have cookies for the whole group. Literally, they are distributing cookies, which in the past would have been a metaphor for exactly the environment this isn't. "You don't expect us to, you know, bring cookies for the other teams!" and so forth. So there's no doubt that this is different, like I said, at least right now. But if you're going to make the decision to bring kids, I'm just as happy to have it be a little more Disney and a little less brutal, because who wants to see kids in an environment like the one that existed between the HugeTinies and the Twins? I mean...it's just different. The pinks get a departure at 11:00.
The Linzes pull up thinking they're last, but they're not. They're next to last. Everybody else helping out? Check. Carissa on the tent stakes? Check. The Linzes interview that being second to last didn't exactly do their morale any favors, but it's still early.
Finally, the Paolos show. And the other teams help, and Carissa does tent stakes. She loves the hammering. And I would point out that in none of the shots of her hammering is she lecturing anyone, or talking about how awesome she is, or mugging. She's just working. She found a job she likes, so she's doing it. Mama Paolo tells the Eagle Scouts that both of her kids were scouts. Way to devalue the uniform, there, lady.
The next morning, it's raining as the teams wake up. The Aiellos, Gaghans, and Weavers get ready to leave at 10:00. When they rip their clues, the clues say to find Tony Brubaker's farm in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania. (Still a state!) Phil explains that the teams have to drive 92 miles to Mount Joy, where they'll find the farm and get another clue. Mama Weaver prays for Jesus to protect everyone's driving. Much better than praying for victory, but...still. She interviews over the famous Amazing Race Arpeggios that God helped them through her husband's death, which I'm sure is true. And then she says that God has a hand in their being in the race. Which...I am much less certain about. I mean, in a sense, God has a hand in my being on my couch, you know? But...I probably wouldn't say that. Anyway. They look at a map and tell Rebecca to get on 76 West. Aiellos do the same, as do the Gaghans. Billy reaches for a random button in the SUV, wondering what it is, and he finds that it's the radio, which his dad doesn't want him playing with, and they're probably not allowed to. For some reason, I think Billy would listen to NPR.
At 10:30, the Bransens, Rogerses, and Schroeders rip their clues and leave. Lots of chances to see everyone's rain gear today, that's for sure. Driving ensues. The Schroeders and Rogerses agree to work together, and Char comments, "And people think people from the south aren't that smart!" Well, you'd better hope they do. That's your secret weapon to be underestimated!
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