‘The Amazing Race’: meltdown in Dubai
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What we learned Sunday night on “The Amazing Race”: It’s too darn hot in Dubai. We all should have paid more attention in math class in case we ever needed to calculate the value of gold. And if you’re afraid of heights AND water, don’t go on “The Amazing Race.”
in an episode that was, sadly, kind of a bore, the Roadblock called for one member of each team to row a dinghy out to a yacht. Turns out, if you can’t row, you can actually dog-paddle a dinghy; who knew? But it was at this point that the heat of Dubai apparently began to addle brains. “8:35″ on a watch picked up on the yacht was supposed to translate to 8-3-5 as the combination to a briefcase lock. Everybody got it instantly, except Big Easy, one of our Harlem Globetrotter buddies (and can I just say right here that I am OVER hearing “Sweet Georgia Brown” whistled whenever they’re on camera?) who stewed and sweated over it forever.
That put Big Easy and partner Flight Time in last place going into the Detour in which they had to choose between weighing out an exact amount of gold (as the exchange rate kept fluctuating) and assembling a bunch of hookahs. In full sun, the hookah assembly made everyone crazy, including those who were already a bit crazy. The detailed task brought out the worst in many, especially Ericka, who kept insisting to husband Brian that it surely didn’t matter exactly how the smoking devices were put together. If he’d shoved a striped hose into her mouth, who’d really have blamed him? Meanwhile, the poker girls finally got to shine at the gold-counting task, thanks to their basic knowledge of long division and the loan of the brothers’ Walmart calaculator. But the Globetrotters showed the most ingenuity: They borrowed a calculator in the counting room.
The Globetrotters were still last getting to the final challenge, an enormous water slide called the Leap of Faith. How sad was it to see Mika, in her little arm floaties, revert to age 4 at the top of the slide. “Help! Help! You can’t make me!” she squealed. Canaan first kept reminding her of the $1 million, then tried to ease (force?) her down, and she kept shrieking and hanging on until the Globetrotters arrived — at which point Big Easy tried to talk her out of doing it and succeeded long enough for her time to run out.
Is karma, rather than a boomerang, actually a water slide? Maybe we’ll find out next week. I wasn’t particularly a fan of Mika and Canaan, although he looked very nice in his swimsuit, because they seemed like an unbalanced pair, with him doing all the heavy lifting and dragging her along. And maybe Easy was just doing what he had to do. Then again, perhaps the sharks in the pool were metaphors.
“I wasn’t particularly a fan of Mika and Canaan, although he looked very nice in his swimsuit, because they seemed like an unbalanced pair, with him doing all the heavy lifting and dragging her along.”
And that was their downfall, and the reason I’m glad they’re gone! If you’re not open to the adventure of trying new things from heights to water to food challenges, then give your spot to someone who is! I’m guessing that adventurer Phil wanted to smack her for her total FAIL! to complete the challenge.
I cannot believe Ericka while trying to calculate the gold saying “that’s why she married up”. What an idiot!!! Brian should recognize she’s a witch and after the show he needs to run. She calls on the Lord in one segment and 5 seconds later is cursing. No offense Brian but I hope you guys get elimated in the next segment. Surely you will not be the winners!!!
Canaan was such a jerk at the water slide. Then at the elimination station, he’s all about forgiveness. Uh-huh. Mika needs to dump him - quick. I’m terrified of heights myself so I know that intimidation and shoving won’t work. It only makes me want to not do it even more. Best thing to do is sit back and let me make my decision at my own pace. Yes, I would have done it but only after hearing a mantra of “a million dollars” a few times. (I have done a similar slide but not as tall and not for a million).
Mika was never going down that slide no matter what anyone said. If knowing the last team had arrived and your team would lose if you didn’t suck it up and go down the slide wasn’t enough to motivate her, nothing else would. I don’t blame Big Easy at all. She acted like a whiny little crybaby. If she has that many phobias, she shouldn’t have signed up for the race. Without fail there’s at least one challenge involving heights and at least one challenge involving water.
Does anyone remember the mother/daughter team from a few seasons ago that was in Russia, (or a former Soviet Country) and they had to dive into the outdoor pool to get the next clue? I think it was the mom who had a huge fear of deep water and couldn’t do it. This slide incident tops that by far!!! I kept imagining her starting down the slide then managing to stop herself after a few feet and trying to climb back up, just struggling and screaming for help. That would have been awesome.
I was wondering if I was the only one who noticed Maria lost her top after coming down the water slide. I guess the only time people have a problem with wardrobe malfunctions is during the halftime show of the Superbowl.
I am so ready for Ericka to be eliminated! She just stands there and whines at her poor husband, Brian, who seems like such a good sport.
So, how did Mika get the clue to go to the Pit Stop if she never went down the water slide? Don’t both team member have to com plete the challenge before getting the next clue?