The Amazing Race 26--Blind Date

I'm loving it!!! I really like a few of the blind date couples, AND my favorite New Kid is on! Love me some Jonathan Knight. He and his partner seem very well suited.

The selfie thing doesn't bother me all that much, and it's hilarious what happened in the second episode with the Alabama couple.

Of course, I always love the Japan legs, and thought the Sake one certainly seemed a lot easier, but that is how it is so many times - the one detour that seems hard turns out to the be the easiest one by far. And personally I didn't think that one seemed all that easy. Having to concentrate like that after having flown halfway across the world? Yeah, I could never do this race. LOL

I haven't finished the first episode yet, but I agree I enjoy the blind date idea more than I thought I would. I too, am over the over the top Fakey scripted stuff- like the selfie bit. :(

Melanie;2448638 wrote: Of course, I always love the Japan legs, and thought the Sake one certainly seemed a lot easier, but that is how it is so many times - the one detour that seems hard turns out to the be the easiest one by far. And personally I didn't think that one seemed all that easy. Having to concentrate like that after having flown halfway across the world? Yeah, I could never do this race. LOL

Mel, at first I thought that they had to remember and serve all ten of the sakes, which I thought would be an impossible task. When I saw they only had to serve one correctly (and drink it--yum!), it looked much easier. Especially as it seemed like you could correlate the number of symbols in the name on the bottle with the number of words/syllables that were being spoken, or at least it seemed that way. Does that make sense? Or was I over-simplifying it? :crazy:

I really didn't think I'd like this season with it's blind date angle, but have found it enjoyable over all.

MNNHFLTX;2448658 wrote: Mel, at first I thought that they had to remember and serve all ten of the sakes, which I thought would be an impossible task. When I saw they only had to serve one correctly (and drink it--yum!), it looked much easier. .....

I thought the same thing, Beth. When they gave the first couple their clue after getting only one right I was surprised.

The Alabama couple seemed nice enough but never showed any urgency. They were bound to go early.

I gotta admit, I am surprised to see all the love for The Amazing Race: The Dating Game.
I admit it's been an interesting little twist, but I'm not a fan of all the teams being couples.
I'm also not a fan of the in-your-face product placement with the selfies and now the fit bits. I know they need sponsors for the show but I'm definitely going to get tired of the selfie thing if they show it all the time (which I'm sure they will because they probably have to).

Great to have the new season up an running.

Quick comments on product placements:

-Selfies have to go, although watching one of the Race's dumbest teams see their train leave in the middle of taking a selfie may be a top 10 Race Fail moment. But it needs to go.

-Cars/Fitbits - used to the car plugs by now, no big deal and the fitibits seem relegated to commercials and maybe leg prizes, but so far not in show plugs, so I'm ok with it.

As far as the whole "blind date" thing, I'm still up in the air. I expected to hate it and I don't, but only time will tell if it ends up as a disaster. I think we are going to start seeing the disadvantage of not knowing your partner pretty soon. Blair and Haley look to be this season's Mark and Mallory. There definitely is no connection there and you could see cracks right from the get-go. So while I want to like this team, it would really surprise me if they make it as far as top 5 or 6, I just don't see them being able to work together.

Jelani and Jenni, again, no connection, but they remind me a bit of a Victor and Tammy, very cerebral and they look like they can get past not knowing each other, and it helps that she seems to be dominant and he passive which should cut down on the arguments. I think they are heavy favorites for top 3 at this point.

Bergen and Kurt, again I don't see any connection and I think they will be more like Blair/Haley than Jelani/Jenni. It would surprise me a lot to see them in final 3.

Jackie/Jeffrey and Tyler/Laura are the only 2 out 5 blind dates that I can see having any connection. Gut feeling is that based on more laid back personalities, I think Tyler and Laura could do better and I could see them make final 3.

After two legs I think Darwinism is again exhibiting itself, and the two weakest teams were again eliminated first. Team Tuskagee probably should have just been eliminated at the LAX airport and just saved everyone the trouble of remembering them. Team truckstop I think needs to be the next to go, I just don't see them getting anywhere in this Race.

The Olympians would be one of my early likes and favorites of the dating teams to make F3. Matt and Ashley seem a bit of a wild card. Matt seems a bit like Jim from last season. Very cocky about how fast they were going to knock out that dance routine, only to spend 20+ attempts on it. I think they will have big highs and big lows, just a question of whether or not the lows will be fatal. I can see John and Harley being around quite a while, but so far they are just kind of bland for me.

I enjoyed the first two episodes and locations and it looks like they go to Thailand next, so that should be another good local.

I didn't care much for the u-turn on the first leg. I'm not a big fan of the u-turn to begin with, and once again it resulted in an elimination (not that they were real long for the Race anyway).

Looks like the Save isn't back, which I guess is ok. I wouldn't have minded seeing it again, but less powerful, maybe only thru leg 5 instead of 9.

Looks to be a good season.

Loving this season so far ... I'm kind of having a hard time picking a favorite, because I really like pretty much all of the teams.

Funny to see so much hatred for the selfies. I don't know why but I actually think they're pretty cool. I like seeing the little snapshots shown in the larger context of the race. It's fun!

I don't really mind the selfies either, especially how funny it was when the one team missed their train because of it. I'm liking this season way better than I thought I would. Liking all of the teams so far except for the dr./nurse team. He seems very conceited and she is extremely annoying.

OMG Hayley is so unbelievably annoying! I can't believe how patient Blair has been with her. I think I would have throat punched her by now. UGH!

Not a fan of Jenny either. Who the heck is "deathly afraid of cats?" She's a shrieking harpy just like Hayley.

I'm loving Tyler and Laura more and more each episode. The whole blind date concept is kinda lame, and I think they'll definitely be the only couple to come out of this with any chance of a romantic connection. I like that it seems Bergin and Kurt are putting their differences aside and seemingly working well together.

I'm sad that Jon and Harley are gone, but truth be told, they didn't seem too overly into it. I think, like Jon said last night, he's a super fan and his dream was to be on the race. Dream fulfilled! He's got a million gazillion dollars anyway, and his anxiety issues are really deep, so it's probably a relief for them. Fair to others? Probably not. But life ain't fair. lol

I just watched for the first time last night, I'm hooked!:thumb-sup
Although, I didn't like that one poor taxi driver can screw up a teams excellent work. I guess that can be blamed on poor communication or failing to double check by the team!

Ian;2449985 wrote: OMG the Hayley is so unbelievably annoying! I can't believe how patient Blair has been with her. I think I would have throat punched her by now. UGH!

Not a fan of Jenny either. Who the heck is "deathly afraid of cats?" She's a shrieking harpy just like Hayley.

:ditto: to all of this.

Jeff;2449992 wrote: I just watched for the first time last night, I'm hooked!:thumb-sup

Although, I didn't like that one poor taxi driver can screw up a teams excellent work. I guess that can be blamed on poor communication or failing to double check by the team!

You mean this is the first time you've ever watched, Jeff?

Taxi drivers are very much a part of this show. Through the years, we've seen them make or break teams many times. All part of the drama.

dobby2010;2449967 wrote: Liking all of the teams so far except for the dr./nurse team. He seems very conceited and she is extremely annoying.

I don't feel that Blair is conceited. Just that he is now at the point of enduring.

Ian;2449985 wrote: OMG the Hayley is so unbelievably annoying! I can't believe how patient Blair has been with her. I think I would have throat punched her by now. UGH!

Not a fan of Jenny either. Who the heck is "deathly afraid of cats?" She's a shrieking harpy just like Hayley.

I don't think anything would stop Hayley or Jenny from their annoying mouthiness. If I were either of the guys my mantra would be, "shut up, shut up, oh ,please just shut up".

Melanie;2450015 wrote: Taxi drivers are very much a part of this show. Through the years, we've seen them make or break teams many times. All part of the drama.

Taxi drives are probably one of the biggest equalizers along with "bunching".