The Amazing Race 7...official Thread

[Beth76]

*I* wonder if Uchenna and Joyce would have stood out there looking for cabfare if Rob and Amber pulled up. I mean, it is possible that they assumed they were the first ones there, so why not try to pay the guy? They might have ran for it if Rob and Amber or Kelly and Ron had showed up.

Then again, he looked pretty surprised when they told him that they were the first ones!

I also think they should have hidden Uchenna and Joyce when Rob and Amber came in, then BOTH couples when Ron and Kelly came in, just to confuse them a little.

Ooooh, you are MEAN!

I'm pretty sure U/J would have taken off for the finish line if R/A showed up. At least I really hope so. As far as "surprise", I'm sure he was just excited and shocked. Can you imagine going through all they did (even in just that one day) and hearing you won a million dollars. No way anyone's going to be able to look "cool".

 

[shmoogrrrl]

Ooooh, you are MEAN!

I'm pretty sure U/J would have taken off for the finish line if R/A showed up. At least I really hope so. As far as "surprise", I'm sure he was just excited and shocked. Can you imagine going through all they did (even in just that one day) and hearing you won a million dollars. No way anyone's going to be able to look "cool".

Hehehe. But it would add some more drama.

The only reason I mentioned that Uchenna looked surprised is because I suggested that they might have known that they were the first ones there and that is why they were waiting around trying to pay the guy. If that were true, he probably wouldn't have been that surprised when they stepped on the mat.

Hehehehe. I am happy he wasn't 'cool' about it. I'd be squealing like a little girl if it were me!

 

[donnajon]

OK, here's an interesting thought...If Joyce had been able to do the limbo as well as Amber and Kelly, then they would have still finish first place in the first elimination round last night even with the flat tire ... they were 11 minutes behind Ron and Kelly. That would have meant that Rob and Amber would have been without money. Wouldn't that have been fun to watch!
And I remember reading the application for the family edition of Amazing Race saying that you had to be available to travel in June.
As for catching up, wasn't it last season that the final three went to Hawaii. The team that left last was on a later flight. The tasks that the teams did didn't seem to involve anything too complicated (find a shirt and dress that match and eat a pizza that didn't seem that big) and the third team never had a chance to compete with the other two. It wasn't as exciting without them not being able to catch up.

 

[DisneyWorld Delight]

But once a leg has started with the initial "catchup point", whether it be the airport/train/bus etc, the teams should just be allowed to race without tons of catchup points...i mean, looking at last nights final leg there were 3 catchup points! No other leg had that many!!!!! They allowed U/J almost 29 hours to complete the first part of that leg to allow them to catch up with both of the other couples! I just think that is not right to all the racers....QUOTE]

The only reason U/J got so far behind was due to a flat tire. Totally not their fault. So, the fact that they had a chance is what makes it worthwile. Racers would be dropping like flies if after a setback their race was over. It is right to all the racers, they all have the same opportunities to turn things around. Disney1fan2002, you couldn't have said it better in post 1946 about catchups.

I don't believe they had to pay the cabbie. If he had given his blessing right away they would have taken off. I think they felt an obligation to him. (Wasn't it M/G who couldn't pay a cabbie and Gretchen offered her watch?) Also, I don't think U/J realized they were first. They are better people than me, I would have hauled hiney to that finish line.

I was so stressed watching U/J trying to comeup with money for the cabbie, thinking R/A were right there. They had a ton of time on the mat before R/A rolled in.

 

[elliemae1192]

OK now that it's over can someone tell me what the spoilers said? Did they pan out? There are so many pages, I'm not sure where to find them.

Every week you guys would post about them in white text and I would literally be itching to highlight them. But I was SO strong and didn't peek and for me that's a big deal.

 

[bengalbelle]

OK now that it's over can someone tell me what the spoilers said? Did they pan out? There are so many pages, I'm not sure where to find them.

Every week you guys would post about them in white text and I would literally be itching to highlight them. But I was SO strong and didn't peek and for me that's a big deal.

There were several different spoilers.
One was that betting was closed down on TAR after an unusual number of bets for U/J early in the race. The bookies? decided there must have been a leak so they shut the betting down. Obviously that one panned out.

Another one was background on team photos predicting the order they would be eliminated. It held true till close to the end of the race (I think until Lynn and Alex were eliminated). Didn't pan out.

Another spoiler said R/A didn't take the million because he broke his foot. Didn't pan out.

Those are the only ones I can remember.

 

[disneychrista]

OK now that it's over can someone tell me what the spoilers said? Did they pan out? There are so many pages, I'm not sure where to find them.

Here a spoiler from the Dis And from what it says it did turn out to be true.

 

[elliemae1192]

Thanks guys. It was really killing me not to look.

The spoilers based on the betting trends have usually panned out in the past, found out the winner of one of the seasons of Survivor that way. Now I make myself refrain from looking. It's just not the same if you know the ending.

Looks like the betting thing happened pretty early on. I'm not sure I would have believed it if I had read it back then. I liked U & J but really didn't think they would even make it to the final three. They were ALWAYS getting lost. My hubby picks on me constantly because I have to leave quite a bit early when going someplace I'm not very familiar with due to the fact that I usually get lost at least once. He says if we ever went on TAR he would always have to be the one reading the map. I guess there's hope for us yet, if U & J can win maybe we could do it too.

 

[Laurabearz]

Thanks guys. It was really killing me not to look.

The spoilers based on the betting trends have usually panned out in the past, found out the winner of one of the seasons of Survivor that way. Now I make myself refrain from looking. It's just not the same if you know the ending.
:

I looked and never will again, but I gotta say, even knowing the U&J won, watching the finalle my girlfriend and I were still wondering if the spoiler was true??? There were so many twists and turns... Flat tires, getting lost, you name it. It still was exciting.

BUT I WILL NEVER EVER READ SPOILERS AGAIN!!!

 

[KMH1]

I don't believe they had to pay the cabbie. If he had given his blessing right away they would have taken off. I think they felt an obligation to him. (Wasn't it M/G who couldn't pay a cabbie and Gretchen offered her watch?) Also, I don't think U/J realized they were first. They are better people than me, I would have hauled hiney to that finish line.

My DH and I were talking about this last night, and we think that Uchenna and Joyce had to pay the cabbie. If they didn't have to pay for cab fare, then why would they ever have to beg for money? (Yes, they need money for food and water, but Uchenna said he was starving.)

In many of the foreign countries, the contestants "negotiate" cab fare, but in the US, the meters are pretty self-explanatory. This cabbie had helped them a lot, and he was upset he wasn't going to be paid. I think they had to pay him or they would have been penalized.

Does anyone know if runners-up win any money? I know they do in Survivor, but I wasn't sure about The Amazing Race.

Amy

 

[FayeW]

Just a reminder that Rob and Amber will be on Regis and Kelly this morning.

 

[chris1gill]

why are R&A on Regis & Kelly when it was U&J that won??? I'd rather hear from U&J right now!!!

Oh, I forgot to mention, the runners up do NOT receive any money, only the winners receive the 1 million dollar award...

 

[Metro West]

Does anyone know if runners-up win any money? I know they do in Survivor, but I wasn't sure about The Amazing Race.

I was wondering too. I thought at one time the runners up got $100K but I could be wrong.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

why are R&A on Regis & Kelly when it was U&J that won??? I'd rather hear from U&J right now!!!

To promote their televised wedding coming up.

 

[jacksonsmom]

To promote their televised wedding coming up.

And no, the runner ups do not get any money!

oh and on the Early Show yesterday Uchenna said he really did not know he was in first place or not. He said when you are racing you lose track of the other teams & where they are. He was surprise when Phil said they won the MILLION!!!!!

I still am so thrilled for them!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

My DH and I were talking about this last night, and we think that Uchenna and Joyce had to pay the cabbie. If they didn't have to pay for cab fare, then why would they ever have to beg for money? (Yes, they need money for food and water, but Uchenna said he was starving.)
Amy

I thought the same thing... that racers must have to pay the cab fare. Thus U/J were begging for money at teh end of the race. But I read something yesterday (sorry, no link) where U said it was a "matter of honor" that the Miami cabbie got paid.

 

[jhorstma]

My DH and I were talking about this last night, and we think that Uchenna and Joyce had to pay the cabbie. If they didn't have to pay for cab fare, then why would they ever have to beg for money? (Yes, they need money for food and water, but Uchenna said he was starving.)

In many of the foreign countries, the contestants "negotiate" cab fare, but in the US, the meters are pretty self-explanatory. This cabbie had helped them a lot, and he was upset he wasn't going to be paid. I think they had to pay him or they would have been penalized.

From their sense of desperation I'm guessing that a) they have to abide by all laws, including paying cabbies, and b) they can't promise anyone a share of the prize money.

Does anyone know if runners-up win any money? I know they do in Survivor, but I wasn't sure about The Amazing Race.

Amy

I would guess that R&A received a sizeable appearance fee to be on TAR based on their celebrity status and to build ratings in front of their televised wedding. No way TAR would have had nearly the ratings they realized if R&A (or some other celebrity team) weren't involved.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

From their sense of desperation I'm guessing that a) they have to abide by all laws, including paying cabbies, and b) they can't promise anyone a share of the prize money.


I would guess that R&A received a sizeable appearance fee to be on TAR based on their celebrity status and to build ratings in front of their televised wedding. No way TAR would have had nearly the ratings they realized if R&A (or some other celebrity team) weren't involved.

About the cabbie, I am going to guess, that the rules must have had something in it that said all fares need to be paid before crossing the finish line. Here is why I think that. You can hire a cab to drive you somewhere and wait for you. You would just ask the driver to wait, and he would keep the meter going. You go do what you have to do, and come back and either get in the cab and continue on, or you pay the cab the meter fare. U&J could of asked the cabbie to wait, with the meter running, run to the finish line,and then beg for the money for the cabbie, because they just won a million bucks, they could pay it back with a bonus to anyone who lent them the fare. That's my theory anyway.

About R&A receiving an appearance fee. I disagree. From the get-go, the producer's have said that R&A came to them to be on the show. I believe there was a quote fron Van Muenster that they "hounded" them. R&A said in their post-Suvivor All Star interviews that they desperately wanted to give TAR a try. I don't think they got any money. They did it because it looked like fun, and they had another chance at a million.

Also, I have to say, if I were a member of any of the other teams, and ONE team received money for just being in the race, I would not be a happy camper. Don't you think of all people, Lynn and Alex would be publicly crying foul by now?

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Don't know if this is still bugging anyone, but I watched the tape today (I tape it for my kids), and when Uchenna and Joyce were at the airport in San Juan, the plane hadn't left it's "berth" yet. The jetway had been retracted, but the chocks weren't ever taken off the wheels. This is an important distinction, because once the chocks are off and the plane starts moving, that's when you need the FAA etc. to get permission to return. Since they had only closed the doors, it's pilot's discretion (he's running through the last of his pre-flight at that point). Their pilot said yes.

Also, at the very end, when Uchenna got the okay from the cabbie, one of them had what appeared to be a business card in their hand. Uchenna said, "You'll be getting a thank you". I took this to mean that they're would be some future contact (I know you can't promise money, but maybe it's okay to send later, without having promised?). And I think they had no clue they were first--even if they didn't see another team, who is to say they wouldn't be hiding liek someone suggested they should have done?

BTW, I teared up the second time through, too. They still made a great team, and a great race.

 

[SRUAlmn]

Are you sure the second place team doesn't get any money? We saw Rob and Amber on some show (I can't for the life of me remember what it was.) And they said they were really disappointed that they didn't win and Rob said coming in second place was a difference of $975,000. That, to me, sounded like they got $25,000 for second place??? Darn, I wish I could remember what show it was on.