Fucking CBS and their fucking name changes every season. Why do they insist on screwing with the season passes?

Yes, all the eliminated teams spend the remainder of race time in a luxury resort, so that team will still have some fun together with much less stress.

Props to the Chinese-American team dad for getting to show some of his skills off.

Given the culture, I wouldn't be surprised if asking 3 ceda straight off for the sunglasses would be a mistake, because I bet dickering is expected. If you started at 4 or 5, I bet you can arrive at 3 as a sale fairly quickly.

I think I really like the doctors, and surprisingly the home shopping hosts. The father/daughter who came in next-to-last -- I think I'd kill her if I had to spend a race with her. There is NO filter between brain and mouth the more stressed she gets, which maybe makes for good footage but also makes me grind my teeth.

Maybe it will give them some time together to talk cause don't they put the losing teams up somewhere until the race is over?

I was thinking the same thing.

I think I really like the doctors, and surprisingly the home shopping hosts.

Also this! The blonde HSN girl has the kind of perkiness that makes my teeth grind, but I was really impressed with them during the antenna challenge - no reason you can't be supergirly AND up on a rooftop in Africa with a hammer, right?

I was really impressed with them during the antenna challenge

I was a little amazed at the way she just crawled up there and got to work. Very impressive.

I was bummed about the losing team, too.

Man, am I the only one relieved by that elimination? I was kinda uncomfortable by that- seemed exploitative and really really weird to me.

ION, Next Iron Chef! When we started watching it, Tom was like, "shouldn't Ming Tsai BE an Iron Chef already?" and then one of the contestants was saying, "is this even fair?" and we answered, "NO."

But you do never know- He might get a run for his money, he may not have that hunger that some of the younger chefs have.

Also, OMG HILARIOUS for the Karate Kid meditation move he made on the beach before time started for everyone.

I thought that Estes was pretty cute at first but I did agree that the her sandwich stunt was a little eye-rolly. I am relieved the dude with the pornstache is gone, though.

I like the Indian lady, she seems badass!

no reason you can't be supergirly AND up on a rooftop in Africa with a hammer, right?

Yeah, that made me feel super-dorky Girl Power.

IO(semi-related)N: My co-worker went to Paris and brought me back my two favorite teas from Mariage-Frères (the store was the first Fast Forward on the Season 1 of TAR).

What are they, megan? I have some puits de dragon that a neighbor (French professor) gave me that I should really give to someone more deserving; I don't appreciate it much myself.

I like their black tea blends, especially Chandernagor (chai) and Casablanca (bergamot black tea and mint green tea). You wouldn't think Earl Grey and Mint go together, but I really like it.

I think the blonde HSN woman is too shouty, but that's just me not wanting to be her partner. But her actual partner seems fine with her, so, I guess it's fine. I definitely was surprised at her just going to work. So, yay.

I wanted to like the father/daughter, but yeah, she is super stressed for this early in the race. Plus, did not love at all the whole "will I get to hold African babies" thing. Ech.

I was really happy with the Chinese/Chinese-American team, both for how the dad performed and how the son treated him. I don't think they'll make it for the long run because it's just so physical. But I really like them and I'm glad they had a modicum of success.

I also want to like the punkish couple because they look a lot like friends of mine, but yeah, the previews do not bode well.

There are definitely a lot of generic people for me right now. It seems like there is a higher percentage of pretty to character casting this season.