THE AMAZING RACE VII --TAR7-- Official Show Thread & photo preview

CBS ^ | Feb 24, 2005 | Veto! with a little help from CBS.com

[Veto!]

Begins March 1 on CBS, 9 p.m. Eastern/Pacific

Here we go again, race fans, for the Seventh Season of The Amazing Race (TAR7). We'll vicariously travel with eleven teams as they fly, drive, climb, crawl, leap, slide, and boogie around the world to compete for one million dollars. They'll never know where they're going next or what they'll have to do once there. The last team to arrive at the "designated pit stop" at the end of each week's episode will be eliminated from the race -- unless it is not. So pull up your favorite armchair and travel along with the Freeper Amazing Race contingent every Tuesday night for the next few months as we root for favorites, throw tomatoes at the others, and wish we were the ones living dangerously. BON VOYAGE!

A Thumbnail Photo Guide To This Season's Possibly Amazing Racers

Brian, 27 & Greg, 24 are brothers from Santa Monica, California. Brian is an actor/bartender and Greg is a bouncer. Their primary motivation for participating in the Race is to travel the world with each other and meet new people. Veto!s opinion: Team Bro wants face time on tv. They are big, strong, in shape, and they think they're action stars. But are they wily? Could be they'll be eating other teams' dust.

Debbie & Bianca are best friends from Los Angeles, California and Woodbridge, Virginia, respectively. Bianca is a high school teacher and Debbie works as a photographer. Both are highly educated, experienced travelers, and have lived abroad. Veto!s opinion: Keep an eye on these two. Unless they scratch each other’s eyes out, they’ll probably do just fine.

Lynn & Alex are (would you believe?) a gay couple from West Hollywood, California. They both work as executive assistants. With their four-year anniversary on the horizon, they possibly hope to get married in Amsterdam—if indeed they race through Amsterdam. Veto!s opinion: Need I say?

Megan & Heidi, a make-up artist and fashion designer, are roommates from Oak Park, California. Both are allegedly extremely competitive and not afraid to take risks. They decided to sign up for the Race “just for the challenge and competition.” Veto!s opinion:. Can the Hair Queens keep up the pace when their tresses get tangled? I see hissy fits on the horizon.

Meredith, 69, & Gretchen, 66, are a husband/wife team from Easton, Maryland. Meredith is a retired executive and Gretchen is a retired nurse/flight attendant. He holds seven National Masters Swimming Championship titles, she admits to being quite loud, particularly when upset. . Veto!s opinion: If Gretch doesn’t turn into Nurse Ratched, they may go far and win Freeper kudos for their efforts.

Ray, 44, & Deana, 27, are a dating-on-and-off team from Canfield, Ohio and Youngstown, Ohio respectively. Ray, a former semi-pro football player, is a stockbroker and Deana is a marketing and promotions executive. Both enjoy weight lifting and karate. Veto!s opinion:This season’s “will their relationship last?” team. Ray will overdo it trying to beat younger guys. Ho-hum.

Rob, 29, & Amber, 26, AKA Boston Rob and Ambuh, are an engaged couple from Canton, Massachusetts and Beaver, Pennsylvania, respectively. They formed an alliance and fell in love when they competed with each other on “Survivor: All Stars.” Amber won the one million dollar prize. Rob finished as the $100k runner-up, but proposed to Amber before they knew which had won the big bucks. Veto!s opinion: Two Thumbs Up! Highly athletic and competitive, these two know how to work together. But will their “take-over-the-‘hood” skills that won them Survivor translate to racing’s Hall of Fame? Why, indeed, not?

Ron, 28, & Kelly, 26, are a dating Team from Villa Rica, Georgia and Greenville, South Carolina, respectively. Ron is a former Iraq War POW who is currently a student at the University of Georgia and works as a motivational speaker. Kelly was crowned Miss South Carolina in 2002 and works as a Legislative Correspondent…(for whom?) Ron was an Apache helicopter pilot in Iraq. When shot down, he was captured, interrogated, held captive and later rescued by the United States Marines. Following his rescue, Ron returned home and was introduced to the reigning Miss South Carolina. The two have been an item ever since. Ron is very competitive and admits he’s a thrill seeker. . Veto!s opinion: Two more thumbs 'way up. They’ll be Freepers’ favorites, and they have what it takes to win.

Ryan, 31, & Chuck, 32, are lifelong friends from Landrum, South Carolina and Inman, South Carolina, respectively. Ryan is a general contractor, and Chuck works in boiler tube replacement sales. Both are motorcycle nuts and very religious. . Veto!s opinion: Definitely wily Southern boys. Up against tough competition, but I hope they make a good showing.

Uchenna, 40, & Joyce, 44, a childless married couple from Houston. Uchenna worked for Enron as an energy trader and Joyce worked in sales for WorldCom, have different jobs since their companies went bankrupt. If they win, they say they’ll use the money for in-vitro fertilization. Veto!s opinion:A tough, scrappy pair, but too much tension here, methinks, for them to get much traction. They’re hardly Kim and Chip, the wonderful black couple who won Amazing Race two seasons back.

Susan, 54, & Patrick, 26, are mother and gay son. She is the Director for Judicial Affairs for Miami University in Ohio and Patrick is a writer now living in Hollywood. Susan, married to Patrick’s father for 34 years, earned her college degree as a “non-traditional” student. Patrick says his family has always been very supportive of him,even —surprise, surprise-- when he told them he was gay. Veto!s opinion: They’re looking for love in all the wrong places; hopefully, their elimination from the show will be swift and merciful.

That’s it for the Preview.

[Chani]

I haven't watched the retread yet, but that sounds like sumpin Rob would say. Did I win? lol

[hattend]

Nope. It was Alex (Team Exlax)

"We got the only gay llama" (llama leading)
"We got a juicy one" (goat milking)

Everytime they opened their mouth, I felt like retching.

[Collier]

Would you know if there is a Survivor thread?

Thanks,

[Collier]

I see your point.

I'm not much of a traveler, so maybe I just can't identify.

My roots are from Ireland, England, and Australia.

My brother went to Australia and checked out our heritage.

Turns out my great, great, great, great (maybe more) grandfather was born in Scotland....but was sent to Tasmania for, you ready?????? attempted rape.

How's that for family history........embarrassing. lol

[Chani]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1323005/posts

[Chani]

ewwwww guess I'll go watch it now

thanx for the warning. ;)

[Collier]

Thanks for the Survivor link.

[sweet_diane]

"Did you notice the scene last week where she was leaning in for a kiss, and Ron said "why are you leaning in?" Not very nice.) "

I caught that and attributed it to his just being a 'doof'. Now, I have much respect for his service to our country and my dad had friends who were WWII POWs, and that only increases my respect for him. I cannot begin to fathom what a POW experiences.

Yet Ron does lack in the social graces, at least when it comes to Kelly. I just don't think they are a good match and I hope they can remain civil the remainder of their time on the show! lol

As far as her 'redneck hick' remark, or whatever it was, I was able to forgive that because her level of frustation was obvious and understandable due to the lack of chemistry between them. She's tried really hard, but Ron just isn't the guy for her. What makes Romber such a good team (soulmates) is what is hurting Relly (not even a spark). IMHO, of course!

[AxelPaulsenJr]

Having a hard edge helps winners and not having one defeats losers. At least it seems to in TAR. Survivor is another story with wimps voting out the competent guys and winning so often, it's become a boring show.

This is right on the money. Cept maybe in the case of Romber who simply outwitted the rest of the pack in Survivor.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

BTW, anyone catch the great line that Romber shot Kelly as he and Amber got on the plane? "How's your stomach, Kelly"?

[Veto!]

Agree, Rob and Amber are soulmates. An excellent match. It's interesting to watch the way they relate to each other, always in harmony. They each have a strong desire to be #1, and together they're a real powerhouse. If they lose TAR7, it won't be for lack of giving it their best.

[Veto!]

Australians/Tasmanians are proud that many if not most of their ancestors were sent there as convicts. So you're in good company and would be welcomed with open arms.

[Veto!]

Sorry you missed it. I'd feel worse about it had you missed a good show, but this was just a recap, bringing back better-forgotten memories of teams we were hoping would get eliminated.

[luckystarmom]

I actually enjoyed the recap.

First they had the southern boys talking to Ron and Kelly about being republicans.

Then they had Rob telling Amber to remember the three rules for TAR: "love me, have fun with me, and don't be last." I just about rolled with laughter on that.

Then, they showed Rob's truck breaking down after the rafting thing. The mother/son team was also on the truck. Well, Rob immediately gets underneath the truck and fixes the thing. Then Amber says that Rob's good at fixing things.

When I saw Rob take matters into his own hands and help fix the truck, then I just think that the other teams are just jealous of Rob and Amber. If Rob and Amber win, they deserve it.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

When I saw Rob take matters into his own hands and help fix the truck, then I just think that the other teams are just jealous of Rob and Amber. If Rob and Amber win, they deserve it.

Agreed: The only thing that would make their race more perfect to me would be, if Rob and Amber had at least slowed down at the wreck site of the two brothers and asked out their window if everyone was ok.

[luckystarmom]

You are correct. That is the only time that I thought they were nasty. All they needed to do was slow down and ask.

If they keep on being nice to each other, then I'll keep on pulling for them.

[Veto!]

Last night’s “Special” didn’t seem all that special though it promised from the start to present “more exciting moments” from the first half of the race that has so far covered 13,000 miles.. Basically, it whizzed through the race from the beginning in Long Beach, CA to the end of the last episode when the surfer dude bros from Santa Monica were eliminated.

A few highlights:

On the first lap, Rob explained the rules to Amber: “Love me, have fun with me, and don’t be last.” And later declared that they were “living the American Dream.”

Kelly and Ron are Republicans. She is very enthusiastic about Bush.

Patrick hit his head inside a bus and medics arrived in an ambulance to put in one stitch. They did not wear rubber gloves.

During one long Bunching wait, Megan and Heidi (The Hair Queens) and Brian and Gregg (Bregg) went back to a hotel and all shared a room. In a later interview, the HQ’s swore up and down that “nothing inappropriate happened,” but smiled like the kitties that ate the canaries. One wonders what, exactly, is considered inappropriate amongst HQs in SoCal these days.

Rob whispered to Amber in an airport, “They (ExLax) may be the strongest besides us. They’re on top of things.”

ExLax displayed further bitchy moments, and from the beginning, badmouthed Romber to everyone every chance they got.

Airport begging was more common than viewers realized. Uchenna did backflips for money in one shiny airport, ExLax cadged extra bucks to pay “entry fees” to the next country.

During a layover, Romber found a magazine on the racks at a magazine stand with their picture on the cover in living color, and a full-color feature within. (They look gorgeous in tux and evening gown.) Other teams failed to congratulate them, preferring to grouse and mutter amongst themselves. “Cry all you want,” said Rob.

After the elimination of Bregg this week at the Khwai River Lodge, everyone gathered around for a big party to celebrate the mid-point of the race. The staff at the lodge entertained, singing and dancing around in their chef suits, waitress outfits, etc. Really quite a mellow moment, everyone happy and smiling and –glory be! -- no noticeable barbs sent in Romber’s direction from ExLax.

What Lies Ahead?

Previews of next week’s Race show them running around India or some similar place where everything’s dusty and drab. (NOTE TO PRODUCERS: Europe! Asia! I for one loved the episode in Russia when teams ran through gorgeous museums and ate caviar. And beautiful, shiny, clean Punte del Este on the Uruguay coast! The Ice Bar in Stockholm! Fascinating Dubai with it’s extraordinary gold-fixtured hotels. Grumble, grumble, will you PLEASE show us places we’d actually like to go! )

Some facts and figures:

Six of Twelve episodes have been completed.

Romber has won three times
Relly has won once
ExLax has won once
Juchenna’s best placing: #2
Metch’s best placing: #5

AVERAGE PLACING:
Romber: 2nd place
Relly, Juchenna, ExLax : 4th place
Metch: 6th place

WORST FINISH:
Romber: 5th place
Relly: 10th place (last)
Juchenna: 8th place
ExLax: 5th place (3x)
Metch: 7th place (3x)

Looks like Metch should be the next to go, but I'm going to bet that Relly has a tough time finding their way around the next destination.

And now a backward glance at the team eliminated this week, favorites of many here: Brian and Gregg.

If you want on or off ping list, please FreepMail me.

[rarenmrepublican]

Darn, now I am sorry I missed it, I am a huge Romber fan and would have loved to have seen Rob fixing something.

[hattend]

Grumble, grumble, will you PLEASE show us places we’d actually like to go!

Boy, ain't that the truth. Hello? CBS? The third world is called the third world for a reason...Let's go back to Europe! (Scotland!!!) Australia! New Zealand! Heck, even some towns in China look awesomely modern.

These dingy places are growing old.

I'd much rather see more stuff in South America than hanging out in Africa.

[luckystarmom]

I think Japan would be fun.

Alaska and Canada would be okay too.