I Don't Kiss, I Make Out!

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.


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Provenance
Original URL
http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com:80/story.cgi?show=76&story=8374&page=14&sort=&limit=
Captured
2006-01-14
Page Type
recap (40%)
Wayback Machine
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