Login  /  Register  | 3 premium articles left before you must register.
TheDay.com <h1>The Amazing Race 15: Mandolin Reign</h1> Southeastern Connecticut News, Sports, Weather and Video The Day newspaper

The Amazing Race 15: Mandolin Reign

By Elissa Bass

Publication: TheDay.com

Published 11/23/2009 12:00 AM
Updated 11/23/2009 07:48 AM


Apparently, it’s not called Czechoslovakia anymore.

OK, so I did not know that. But at least I did know that Prague is not a country, it’s the capital of what we are now supposed to call the Czech Republic. Sam and Dan, I am talking to you.

I’m not sure why AR producers think it’s so challenging to not spell out things for the racers, like what exactly a Vintage Praga is, or what exactly the (insert name of theater here) is. Between Google and all the helpful locals, these "tricky" clues add nothing to the suspense of the race.

And so Season 15 continued to disappoint last night, as the expected NonPhilimination resulted in Miss AmEricka remaining in the race heading in to next week’s penultimate episode. It seems, of course, only to be putting off the inevitable by keeping Brian and Ericka in one more week. But, as with everything this season, whatever.

So we go from the scenic swamplands of Estonia to the really lovely city of Prague, where we find a guy sitting in a vintage car (is it just me or was it the same dude in the car as on the opera stage?) who gives out the clue. Then it’s off to the manmade kayak course.

Where of course, this being the dullest season ever, only one team decides to kayak. As annoying as their Raggedy Andy and Raggedy Andy thing is, I give the brothers credit for getting in the boat. Everyone else opts to haul themselves along the not-zip-line, which, while clearly physically demanding, was less interesting than watching paint dry.

After that we go to the ginormous opera house where one team member has to find a really teeny mandolin and give it to that eerily similar white guy on the stage.

Of course, the real drama (not) in this episode is in how all the teams are sniping at each other. We left off the swamp episode with Big Easy menacingly saying that now that he knew elbow-throwing was allowed, it was on. Except they opened last night’s episode with Big Easy saying, "Aw, we love those little gay dudes. It’s not really on."

And then there was notebook-snatching, and promise-breaking, and taxi-stealing, none of which made for compelling watching. Is it on again? It’s hard to tell.

So Meghan and Cheyne inevitably win another leg, and GaySquared 2.0 and the Globies are again neck-and-neck for second and third (which is, of course, not winning, and therefore who cares?) and Miss AmEricka brings up the rear.

We are due for an eating challenge, kids, and please, Bertram, make sure someone has to eat their own puke or something. It’s the least you could do for us in this oh-so-disappointing season. 

Reader Comments

HIDE COMMENTS

MORE FROM THIS BLOGGER

DAY BLOGROLL

News

Town Blogs | Notes from our town reporters

Day Photo Staff | On Assignment

David Collins | Today, in The Day

Karen Florin | On The Docket

Rufus Giuseppe | The Dog Dishes

JC Reindl | The Capitol Conveyor

Opinion

Paul Choiniere | Ruminations

Arts & Entertainment

Day staff | Taste Buds (Dining)

Kristina Dorsey | Reel Life

Michelle Gallerani | Motherhood

Julianne Hanckel | Glitterati

Rick Koster | Aging Rock Dude

Jennifer McDermott | The Sipping Room

Marisa Nadolny | Fear No Recipe

Sports

Steve Fagin | The Great Outdoors

Vickie Fulkerson | High School Sports

Nick Giuliano | Fenway Frankly

Gavin Keefe | UConn Men's Hoops

Jim O'Neill | Golf

Grace

Faye Trafford | In Other Words