Handicapping the contestants
Now that I've had some time to mull over the bios, here are some predictions for the teams on this season's Amazing Race...
Most likely to go home first:
Ari and Staella. You thought I was going to pick
Kate and Pat, didn't you? (Older women typically don't do well on the race, but these gals seem smart enough to get through a few legs. They're gay female clergy, for cryin' out loud - they know how to take on a challenge!) Staella says she wants to "flirt her way front of the pack" - hon, have you ever seen the show? Ari describes himself as "mean" - that'll get you far. So basically they're going to alienate all the other teams and argue amongst themselves. There's a winning formula.
Most likely to have some spectacular arguments:
Lorena and Jason. Any couple using the race as a test of their relationship is instant trouble. Watch the sparks fly!
Most likely to look completely different by episode 3:
Kynt and Vyxsin (no, that's not a typo). This goth couple look hilariously fantastic in their pre-race photo, but what happens when you have to sleep on a plane and race non-stop for a day and a half? No time for hair product and elaborate eye makeup!
Most likely to not be speaking to each other after the race:
Azaria and Hendekea. This brother and sister are a couple of smartie pants, but it sounds like they REALLY don't get along. He calls her irrational; she calls him confrontational. That's not a good recipe for teamwork.
Most likely to be the team to beat in the finale:
Jennifer and Nathan. Young, athletic, driven... look out!
Most likely to be the first female team to win the race:
Marianna and Julia. These sisters know each other well, are energized and ready to race. Sounds like they won't back down from a challenge.
Most likely to leave early despite looking great on paper:
Ronald and Christina. This father/daughter team are well traveled and super smart, but as soon as they hit a physical challenge it could put them at the back of the pack.
Most likely to be the dark horse:
Rachel and TK. A substitute teacher and a florist who have been dating less than a year? Sounds like a disaster, but he was a college athlete just a few years ago and she started her own business. Smart and athletic with a laid back attitude... hmmm.
Most likely to be the team I hate most:
Shana and Jennifer. No, I'm not being catty (and frankly I think Marianna and Julia are cuter). It's just obvious from their bio that they are using this for career exposure. Their looks will only get them so far.
Most likely to be the team I like best:
Nicolas and Donald. How cool is it that they have a grandfather/grandson team?! Not only that, but they are well traveled and it sounds like they know how to navigate well. If grandad's in good shape, this team could be tough.
Posted by tivogirl at 1:27 PM
Amazing Race 12 - The Teams
From CBS:
CBS announces the 11 Teams set to compete in THE AMAZING RACE 12. The 11 Teams will travel approximately 30,000 miles, covering five countries never before visited on the Race, including Ireland, Lithuania and Croatia. The five-time Emmy Award-winning reality adventure series premieres Sunday, Nov. 4 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
THE AMAZING RACE has won five consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Reality Competition Program.
Following are the 11 teams, listed in no particular order:
Name: RONALD HSU
Occupation: VP of Sales
Age: 58
Hometown: Tacoma, Wash.
Name: CHRISTINA HSU
Occupation: Policy Analyst
Age: 26
Hometown: Washington, D.C. via Tacoma, Wash.
Relationship: FATHER/DAUGHTER
This father/daughter team is certain they can win the Race by relying on their intellect. Christina's main goal on the Race is to have her father, a self-proclaimed workaholic, stop and smell the roses for once in his life.
Name: KYNT COTHRON (MALE)
Occupation: Waiter/Hair Salon Receptionist
Age: 31
Hometown: Louisville, Ky.
Name: VYXSIN FIALA (FEMALE)
Occupation: Waiter/Hair Salon Receptionist
Age: 29
Hometown: Louisville, Ky.
Relationship: DATING GOTHS
Representing the "Goth" community in Louisville has embedded a strong sense of "us against the world" mentality in these two Racers. Therefore, don't look for them to fall apart when the chips are down — a trait that will undoubtedly be tested on the Race.
_______________________________
Name: LORENA SEGURA
Occupation: Bartender
Age: 27
Hometown: Sherman Oaks, Calif.
Name: JASON WIDENER
Occupation: Wedding Videographer/Actor
Age: 33
Hometown: Sherman Oaks, Calif.
Relationship: DATING
This couple met at a bar over three years ago, quickly started dating, and have been trying to figure out if they really belong together even since. Lorena is from Puerto Rico and Jason hails from Arkansas … and the cultural differences between them has often caused friction in their relationship. Both are running the Race to see if they have what it takes to withstand the pressures of traveling around the world in under 30 days.
_______________________________
Name: AZARIA AZENE (BROTHER)
Occupation: Facilities Engineer
Age:27
Hometown: New Orleans
Name: HENDEKEA AZENE (SISTER)
Occupation: Aerospace Engineer
Age: 23
Hometown: Torrance, Calif.
Relationship: BROTHER/SISTER
This brother sister team has all the intelligence, wits and skills to win the Race. Although their personality differences could be the X factor. She describes him as confrontational and emotional, while he describes her as irrational. Both are worried that the big brother/little sister power struggle will rear its ugly head on the Race.
_______________________________
Name: KATE LEWIS
Occupation: Episcopal Clergy
Age: 49
Hometown: Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Name: PAT HENDRICKSON
Occupation: Ordained Deacon
Age: 65
Hometown: Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Relationship: MARRIED MINISTERS
These lesbian Episcopal ministers dated for seven years before tying the knot three years ago. Kate and Pat are ready for the adventure of lifetime – but don't let the collars fool you – they can play dirty too.
_______________________________
Name: SHANA WALL
Occupation: Actress
Age: 32
Hometown: Los Angeles
Name: JENNIFER Mc CALL
Occupation: Legal Assistant
Age: 32
Hometown: Los Angeles
Relationship: FRIENDS
Don't let their good looks fool you — this all-female team is ready to do whatever it takes to bring home the $1 million prize. Shana and Jennifer met six years ago and have been friends ever since. These women are both very competitive and eager to become the first all-female team to win the Race.
_______________________________
Name: DONALD JEROUSEK
Occupation: Retired
Age: 68
Hometown: Elkhorn, Wis.
Name: NICOLAS FULKS
Occupation: Pilot
Age: 23
Hometown: Originally from Chicago
Relationship: GRANDFATHER/ GRANDSON
Nicolas started his aviation career at the age of 17 at the University of Illinois and currently works as an airline pilot based out of San Juan. He describes himself as reliable, competitive and goofy. He describes his teammate as rough around the edges and not too accepting of people who go against his advice.
______________________
Name: JENNIFER PARKER
Occupation: Student
Age: 23
Hometown: Huntington Beach, Calif.
Name: NATHAN HAGSTROM
Occupation: Volleyball coach
Age: 24
Hometown: Fountain Valley, Calif.
Relationship: DATING
This athletic couple first met in college while living together with other friends. Both admit they couldn't stand each other at first, but soon grew closer and started dating. Each will tell you that they are soul mates, yet they drive each other crazy.
_______________________________
Name: RACHEL ROSALES
Occupation: Florist/Store Owner
Age: 23
Hometown: Huntington Beach, Calif.
Name: TK ERWIN
Occupation: Substitute Teacher
Age: 22
Hometown: Huntington Beach, Calif.
Relationship: NEWLY DATING
This eccentric couple has only been dating for close to a year. Their mothers were friends while they were growing up in Huntington Beach, Calif., yet TK and Rachel had never really spent time together until recently. They always seem to be laughing and they're eager to put their carefree relationship to the test while dealing with the rigors of the Race.
_______________________________
Name: MARIANNA RUIZ
Occupation: Art Gallery Manager
Age: 25
Hometown: Miami, now residing in Los Angeles
Name: JULIA RUIZ
Occupation: Office Production Assistant
Age: 26
Hometown: Miami, now residing in Los Angeles
Relationship: SISTERS
These feisty sisters describe themselves as best friends and worst enemies, but they're convinced they'll make for an unbeatable team. Julia serves as the problem solver while Marianna is the athlete. Both are super competitive.
_______________________________
Name: ARI BONIAS
Occupation: Waiter
Age: 21
Hometown: Long Beach, Calif.
Name: STAELLA GIANAKAKOS
Occupation: Restaurant Manager
Age: 23
Hometown: Fountain Valley, Calif.
Relationship: BEST FRIENDS
These fun-loving friends are all about having a good time. They hope their laid back approach to the Race will result in the $1 million prize. Ari is not afraid to speak his mind, while Staella is prepared to flirt her way to the front of the pack.
_______________________________
THE AMAZING RACE 12 will send 11 teams — each comprised of two people who have a pre-existing relationship with one another — on a trek around the world for approximately 30 days. At every destination, each couple will have to compete in a series of challenges — some mental and some physical — and only when the tasks have been completed will they learn their next destination. Couples who are farthest behind will gradually be eliminated as the contest progresses, with the first team to arrive at the final destination winning $1 million.
For more information on THE AMAZING RACE 12 and the new 11 couples log on to www.cbs.com.
Posted by tivogirl at 11:27 AM
Sarah Connor is coming...
Fox just announced that they've scheduled the Sarah Connor Chronicles for debut in January (the 14th to be exact), alongside the second half of the premiere of 24. This is GREAT news!!
The show takes place in the time between the Terminator 2 and 3 films and follows Sarah and her son, future human revolution leader John Connor, as they attempt to stay alive and have a relatively normal life between Terminator attacks. I was lucky enough to get a screener of the pilot over the summer and the show is fantastic! Even if you aren't a fan of the films (and really, who isn't? What's your problem, anyway?) you'll like the show. The casting is terrific, the actors are talented, the action is relentless and the effects are top-notch.
It blows away most of the new shows this season that have already debuted, so I'm quite pleased to see Fox treating this show right by pairing it with a solid hit. Sure, 24 has had its ups and downs, but everyone is always on board for the premiere. Hopefully the dose of Sarah keeps them coming back.
Posted by tivogirl at 6:55 AM
Bye Bye season passes
We are deep enough into the new season now that I'm starting to make some crucial decisions. It's slash and burn time for the season pass list. Get rid of the old stuff and the new stuff that didn't pan out and make room for the worthy new shows.
As I've posted before, there is just too much on Mondays. Even with three Tivos and five tuners, I just can't fit it all in. Prison Break gets the axe. Honestly, it probably jumped the shark the second the guys escaped, but I kept watching anyway. This season has just been laughably bad, so it was an easy decision. I'm really enjoying Chuck in its place.
Second to go is Back to You, the Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton tv news comedy is so cookie cutter you can taste the sugar sprinkles. I kept hoping it would get better, but I think it's actually getting worse. I actually kept track this week and I only laughed twice in the entire half hour. Obviously these two veterans have some bills to pay and really needed that juicy paycheck. Bye bye.
Finally, I'm bailing on Survivor. Again. It's just the same over and over and over again. Every season the casting gets worse and the challenges and "twists" get more gimmicky. No thanks, I'll wait for the Amazing Race.
On a brighter note, I've added Carpoolers and Big Bang Theory to my season pass list. Carpoolers is the best sitcom to debut this season by far. Great characters, terrific casting, hilarious writing... check it out if you haven't. Big Bang Theory is a bit more standard, but I love the Sheldon character and, so far, it makes me laugh.
Posted by tivogirl at 10:11 PM
Handicapping the contestants