The Fourth Leg

Schroeder Family, You Have Been Eliminated!

This team was starting to grow on me, seriously. The dad and daughter, Mark and Stassi, certainly had some sarcasm, and that eventually grew on me. But damn, Mark messed up this time by not listening to Stassi. First he didn't listen to her when she suggested that maybe the Sheriff in town wasn't making up the thing about the Southern Colonel and suggested also to verify in the phone book. Then he didn't want to look around at the trailer park when he KNEW that there was better times than 8:00 to leave by and available. So I completely understand why Stassi was so frustrated and began to cry. And her declarations about every minute counting (the every second counting bit was a tad extreme....) were quite prophetic. Plus, the fact that this team was the 'Louisiana' team was embarassing for them when they completely screwed up navigating in their own backyard. So while I grew to like this team, they royally screwed up.

Huntsville, AL to places all around the South

Ah, I don't remember what cities these people went to all around Alabama and Mississippi. I just know they saw a huge office chair, and that after that the Weaver/Florida family basically had to deal with their worst situation ever: go to the world's biggest speedway (another name I can't remember). I felt bad for them this time, as they weren't freaking out and returned to being somewhat normal. But I completely understood why they had no desire to that challenge - but at least it was just those crazy bikes (those look like FUN!) around the track. 2.6 miles of track. That's one HELL of a long track.

The other teams made some dramatic moves. I'm most shocked by the Paolos. They were still extraordinarily annoying. But they raced a good race this time. They picked the good Detour, got to places with minimal backtracking or error, had a decent pick of mobile home, and somehow managed to get ahead of the Linzs and place second. I'll grudgingly give them props. But like the youngest Paolo said, DJ and Momma Paolo are so alike it's what makes them attack each other. But when he shrieked like a little girl when she gave him a paper cut, I had to laugh.

Roadblock: Blackjack or Log Cutting

When the stipulation was made as to that ALL the team members had to win at the blackjack table in order to win a round, I knew I'd probably have chosen the log cutting. From my blackjack experience, it's rare to have the whole table win. Better to take your chances with physical labor on cutting logs (sts). As the Linzs and the Gaghans realized - but for the Gaghans, it is getting tough I think to have to gamble on physical challenges when it's just the parents who can do many of the physical things. They're just hanging in there - if they end up last the next leg, I think it's possible they're going to hit the non-elimination round and get cleaned out of everything. If they have to deal with whiny, unhappy children, this Amazing Race will turn into the Horrific Race. Ugh.

New Orleans, LA

Why is it that when the Amazing Race comes thru your town, you're about to get hit by a natural disaster? It happened with Sri Lanka a season or two ago - a few weeks after their visit, the Indian Ocean got rocked by that horrendous tsunami. Then now they go to New Orleans - I hope everyone got a good look at what you saw, as I'm sure most of that stuff is not in that good of condition any more, if it's there at all after Hurricane Katrina. Crazy. Amazing Race in your town = bad news. Evacuate, now.

My thoughts on the Teams, Episode 4:

Bransens: The old guy hung in there and managed to ride the Crazy Bike. Plus his daughters were cool enough to moon others around him. Wait, maybe that's more creepy than cool. But I know that the girls were just picking up on the Linz boys.
Paolos: Annoying. But not quite as much this time.
Linzs: Not much airtime, but that's cause they're running a great race by 'aligning' with the Bransens. These teams are going to last awhile!
Godlewskis : Shrieky girls equals catfights and tears. You know it's only going to get better (meaning worse!)
Weavers: Not quite crazy this time - actually felt bad for their plight but they got through it stronger. Good for them!
Gaghans: Your kids are becoming a liability. Better hope future challenges will align with their strengths or you guys will get drained superfast.
Schroeders: You messed up good. And it cost you.

Others' Thoughts:

Links:

Amazing Race, Episode 4 (CBS Official Site Summary)

Episode 4: Moon Over Louisiana (RNO) - Episode Summary