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The Amazing Race 18 Episode 2

The Amazing Race Episode 1 left off with a cliffhanger. Following a stupid challenge in which half the teams did not solve their puzzle but instead just asked the other racers for the answer, Jet & Cord were left way behind the rest of the pack when they were the only team who either did not get the answer one way or another.

The virtual pit stop for the previous leg left the standings as follows:

First: Gary & Mallory
Second: Amanda & Kris
Third: Kisha & Jen
Fourth: Zev & Justin
Fifth: Flight Time & Big Easy
Sixth: Jaime & Cara
Seventh: Margie & Luke
Eighth: Ron & Christina
Ninth: Mel & Mike
Tenth: Kent & Vyxsin
Eleventh: Jet & Cord

Teams must now figure out that the clue is leading them to an anchor beside City Town Hall. There are two charter flights to Broken Hill, a small mining town 684 miles away, and the first flight is available to the first six teams to sign up. This will be the equalizer Jet & Cord needed. Several teams opt to take the ferry back because that’s the way they came, though the first couple take taxis instead. We learn that Christina’s not done whining about the way her dad treats her, and we also learn that Mel’s going to limp his way through the race and probably will be eliminated tonight or if not soon after.

Flight 1 (departs at 6:00AM): Kisha & Jen, Zev & Justin, Jaime & Cara, Margie & Luke, Mel & Mike, Kent & Vyxsin
Flight 2 (departs at 6:30AM): Flight Time & Big Easy, Ron & Christina, Gary & Mallory, Amanda & Kris, Jet & Cord

Being on the second flight means that Amanda & Kris have their work cut out for them since they have that U-turn to do.

Teams must now drive themselves to the Living Desert and search for their next clue in the outback. The detour is a choice between spirit world or natural world. In spirit world, teams use traditional materials to create an aboriginal ground mosaic, then perform a dance on their mosaic. In natural world, teams create a series of aboriginal territory markers using natural paint, which they must put in their mouths and spit on to stencils to create images.

Spirit World: Zev & Justin, Kisha & Jen, Mel & Mike, Jaime & Cara, Margie & Luke, Kent & Vyxsin, Gary & Mallory, Amanda & Kris, Jet & Cord, Flight Time & Big Easy, Ron & Christina

Everybody opts for the spirit world detour, and they’re all there at the same time trying to complete the task. Most teams seem to have difficulty following basic directions of dancing on their mosaics, rather than near/around them. As the second to last team to complete the detour, Amanda & Kris must now do the other one as well. Their only hope is that Ron & Christina keep arguing with each other in multiple languages, but even then they still end up in last.

Once they’re through with the detour, teams will drive themselves to the home of the Magpies, at Central Football Club in Broken Hill. There, they get dressed up as kangaroos and must figure out where to go next based on the periodic table of elements. Many streets are named after elements, and the two that are highlighted are the only two that cross each other. Mercury is easy enough, but who’s ever heard of bismuth? Apparently, Kent has. And the Internet.

On the way there, Margie drops her foot. Luke insists on continuing forward without it, but eventually Margie decides they have to go back for it. Now they just have to find it. Rather than just leaving it there, Mel picks it up and gives it to them, ending their search, but in the process Mel & Mike do get directions to the next clue.

The pit stop for this leg of the race is Junction Mine, a former silver mine. They will have to continue wearing their kangaroo suits to the pit stop, but they are allowed to put on different shoes.

Amanda & Kris continue to struggle to overcome their U-turn. He keeps informing her they’re in last, but she nonetheless wants a break. It’s going to be somewhat close, as they are only a few minutes behind Gary & Mallory and Ron & Christina.

First: Zev & Justin (win a trip to Cancun)
Second: Flight Time & Big Easy
Third: Jet & Cord
Fourth: Kisha & Jen
Fifth: Margie & Luke
Sixth: Mel & Mike
Seventh: Kent & Vyxsin
Eighth: Jaime & Cara
Ninth: Gary & Mallory
Tenth: Ron & Christina
Eliminated: Amanda & Kris

As much as the editors wanted to create drama, Amanda & Kris have been eliminated because they got a U-Turn within the first half an hour of the race. Do us a favor and don’t try this stupid twist again. Unlike Jet & Cord, who were given an equalizer to make up for the task they struggled with for what seemed to be hours, Amanda & Kris had an uphill battle the whole way. I would have much preferred the alternative ending, the elimination of the bickering father and daughter.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Amazing Race 18 Episode 3, which airs Sunday at 8/7c on CBS.

American Idol Season 10 Episode 12

The top 24 very slowly started to be revealed in American Idol Season 10 Episode 11. Tonight we get the complete list. It’s going to take ANOTHER 2 hours. Seriously? So two more hours of me barely paying attention to a show that’s deliberately being milked dry. How is this beating Survivor again?

Eliminated Contestants
Brittany Mazur
Colton Dixon
Eryn Kelly
Jacee Badeaux
Jackie Wilson
Jessica Cunningham
Jimmy Allen
John Wayne Schulz
Tiwan Strong

Top 12 Girls
Ashton Jones
Haley Reinhart
Julie Zorrilla
Karen Rodriguez
Kendra Chantelle
Lauren Alaina
Lauren Turner
Naima Adedapo
Pia Toscano
Rachel Zevita
Tatynisa Wilson
Thia Megia

Top 12 Guys
Brett Loewenstern
Casey Abrams
Clint Jun Gamboa
Jacob Lusk
James Durbin
Jordan Dorsey (ugh)
Jovany Barreto
Paul McDonald
Robbie Rosen
Scotty McCreery
Stefano Langone
Tim Halperin

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of American Idol Season 10 Episode 13, which airs Wednesday at 8/7c on Fox.

American Idol Season 10 Episode 11

Following some additional performances, the judges split the contestants into four rooms in American Idol Season 10 Episode 10 to bring us closer to the top 24. Tonight they go to Vegas and perform songs by The Beatles. They must learn and perform a song in “just” 24 hours. 1/3 of them will be cut at the conclusion of this round.

Peggi Blu has been invited to the auditions as a vocal coach merely for the sake of drama. After shouting at them, she tells them she is prepared to watch them die on stage, and wants them to bury each other anyway.

Most of these contestants don’t know very much about this group whose songs they’re about to sing that weren’t even on iTunes until just recently.

James Durbin and Stefano Langone get good reviews from the judges.

Pia Tescano and Karen Rodriguez have known each other for years but seem to have come to the auditions at the same time accidentally. Jennifer liked the show.

Jacob Lusk, Naima Adedapo, and Haley Reinhart slow things down. Aside from the fact that I’m pretty sure they are singing a lullaby, it sounds quite good. Rachel Zevita, Lauren Turner, Tim Halperin, and Julie Zorrilla continue with the strongly performed ballads.

Jerome Bell, Lakeisha Lewis, and Tatynisa Wilson pick the tempo back up. Randy thought they were quite strong, sort of.

Tennessee singers Paul McDonald and Kendra Chantelle sound good together.

Hopefully tonight will be the first time Ashley Sullivan does not have a nervous breakdown. Whatever the case, since they’re in Vegas (and for no other reason), she plans to get married where her hero, Britney Spears, got married. Her new husband is getting married, or he’s dying in his sleep.

Melinda Ademi and Thia Megia are now free from creepy vocal coach Peggi. She ain’t happy, but the judges are somewhat accepting of them.

With a new last name, Ashley Suraiva steps up to perform with Sophia Shorai. Steven thought it was just okay, but Randy didn’t get it.

Lauren Alaina, Denise Jackson, and Scotty McCreery sound good, but their song choice doesn’t quite fit them. I was just happy to hear Scotty singing a different song than usual.

Robbie Rosen, Aaron Sanders, and Jordan Dorsey worked together on group day and are back together again. The judges are impressed.

With the performances at an end, it’s time to start cutting.

Thia Megia, Scotty McCreery, Jordan Dorsey, Ashton Jones, Robbie Rosen, and Lauren Alaina advance. Molly DeWolf, Carson Higgins, and Caleb Hawley are among those who get cut. Denise Jackson, Melinda Ademi, and finally Ashley Sullivan have also been cut (and no tears).

Now that the cuts have been made, we head back to LA, where the top 40 will sing again before the final judgment.

Eliminated Contestants
Alex Ryan
Chris Medina
Deandre Brackensick
Hollie Cavanagh (but Jennifer loves her)
Lakeisha Lewis

(3 of the) Top 12 Girls
Ashton Jones
Haley Reinhart
Naima Adedapo

(2 of the) Top 12 Guys
Clint Jun Gamboa
Paul McDonald

In spite of the fact that they had two hours to kill, the Idol producers still couldn’t get through more than a handful of results. Nothing like dragging it out endlessly.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of American Idol Season 10 Episode 12, which airs Thursday at 8/7c on Fox.

Survivor: Redemption Island Episode 2

In one of the best tribal councils ever, Francesca got voted off the island in Survivor: Redemption Island Episode 1 after she and Kristina devised an ill thought plan to try to rid themselves of Boston Rob.

Francesca believes she was on good terms with everyone in her tribe and can still win the game. Really?

Phil tells Rob that until he goes to Redemption, Rob owns his vote. In turn, Rob plans to vote Phillip out of the game while sticking to his alliance.

Russell has set his sights on his second target, Krista, and once he believes he has her lined up, he goes in search of an idol. You’ve seen him play before. Don’t expect any changes. While Russell searches, Ralph picks up some rocks, accidentally finding the idol without trying.

Matt and Andrea are starting to get close. Rob views this as potentially a problem because a pair can be strong in this game. So he wants to join forces with Natalie.

Phil promises to outlast any man on the other side. He’s not so sure about the women, however. For today’s challenge, they will swim to a platform, climb it, smash a tile, and retrieve a key. Once they have all 5 keys, one person will use the keys to open a box and get a ball. The remaining two tribe members will use that ball to break 5 tiles. In addition to immunity, they are playing for fishing gear. David sits out for Zapatera. Grant starts out strongly for Ometepe. Ashley retains that lead, and Matt extends it. Andrea continues the trend, followed by Boston Rob, who grabs the fifth key with nearly a one lap lead. Somehow, Natalie is unable to open her box before Stephanie, giving Zapatera the lead. Ralph and Phillip finish off the challenge with ball tosses. Phil goes up 1-0. Ralph ties it, then scores three more times. Phillip makes it 4-2. Then 4-3. 4-4. The last person to score is Ralph, and Zapatera wins reward and immunity. Matt congratulates the opposition, which Rob does not like.

Russell grabs the reward basket because he knows there will be a clue. He grabs the clue and tucks it away, in full view of Ralph. Later, Ralph asks whether there was a clue. Russell goes from maybe to no, and regardless, he doesn’t like how Ralph is coming at him.

Kristina says she plans to play her idol tonight.

As outmatched as they may be physically, the fact that Matt shook the other tribe’s hands leads Rob to want to vote him out. They pretend to Matt and Andrea that they are splitting the votes between Phillip and Kristina. Unwilling to trust Phil, for good reason, but nonetheless still wanting to test him, Rob plans to put his hand on the shoulder of the person to vote for.

Phillip is fully prepared to be eliminated, go to Redemption Island, and beat Francesca.

Just before the vote, Rob puts his hand on Kristina’s shoulder. Not a tough sell for Phil.

As planned, Kristina plays her idol.

Votes
Kristina (does not count)
Kristina (does not count)
Phillip
Phillip
Matt
Matt
Matt
Matt

With 4 votes, Matt has been voted off the island, and Andrea is quite shocked. Still don’t understand the logic behind this move.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of Survivor: Redemption Island Episode 3, which airs Wednesday at 8/7c on CBS.

The Biggest Loser Season 11 Episode 8

Having been sent to the other team to fall, that’s exactly what Jay did in The Biggest Loser Season 11 Episode 7, as his new team got rid of him without much hesitation.

Before they can leave the elimination room, Alison has some bad news for them: two people will be eliminated this week. The team that loses the weigh in will send someone home, and one person will fall below the red line, regardless of which team they are on.

Brett says he never felt any black team vs. red team. Well, perhaps he never felt it from Jay and Jen, but it obviously was there from the rest.

With the trainers aware that two people are going home this week, they look to push their contestants. The red team goes to an MMA training facility to get a mixed martial arts workout. They seem quite obsessed with this fighting as a workout philosophy. As long as it works I suppose. Meanwhile the black team stays back at the ranch and learns just how fast they can run, which Jillian uses to drive a point across: what else in your life are you doing half assed?

Seeing his daughter as vulnerable, Moses wakes up Kaylee each morning for some early training.

Bob has a simple tip: keep a daily or weekly log of your workouts. Writing it down and seeing your improvements will keep you on track.

They meet Alison on the field and see a bunch of huge balls. Hannah says she’s great with balls. Moving on. As a team, they will have to get all six balls from one side of the field to the other and through the uprights. They can’t let the balls hit the ground, they can’t hit it twice in a row, and they can’t catch them. To further complicate matters, they’ll be wearing boxing gloves. The team that wins today’s challenge will get a 3 pound advantage at the weigh in. Arthur and Sarah will sit out for the black team. Red team is the first to score a point. As the black team continues to struggle to get it together, the red team takes the 2-0 lead. Then 3-0. And 4-0. 5-0. Finally, the black team figures it out, scoring their first point. Regardless, it’s obvious what the end result of this challenge will be, as the red team wins the challenge.

Thinking they’re pretty likely to lose, Marci and Deni have decided they are ready to go home and would be willing to sacrifice their stay for the younger people, even if it means intentionally falling below the red line. Jesse is not onboard with this plan, regardless of whether everybody thinks Arthur’s at a huge risk of being below the red line. There’s no reason Arthur should fall below anyway. He may have had a huge weight loss last week, but that was after weeks of poor performances. He should be able to lose double digits easily each week until the finale. This discussion leads to much shouting from Jesse. He has issues that he needs to deal with, one of which apparently includes controlling his temper.

Now they start off the high stakes weigh in.

Austin: 299 pounds (-7, 2.29%)
Ken: 291 pounds (-5, 1.69%)
Justin: 270 pounds (-7, 2.53%)
Rulon: 367 pounds (-4, 1.08%)
Kaylee: 180 pounds (-7, 3.74%)
Moses: 322 pounds (-11, 3.30%)
Jen: 213 pounds (+2, 0.95%)
Red Total: 1942 pounds (-39, 1.97%)

Arthur: 406 pounds (-9, 2.17%) – over 100 pounds lost
Olivia: 202 pounds (-4, 1.94%)
Sarah: 204 pounds (-4, 1.92%)
Irene: 195 pounds (-3, 1.52%)
Hannah: 193 pounds (-1, 0.52%)
Courtney: 256 pounds (-2, 0.78%)
Marci: 182 pounds (+1, 0.55%)
Jesse: 241 pounds (+3, 1.26%)
Deni: 204 pounds (+8, 4.08%)
Black Total: 2094 pounds (-11, 0.53%)

A bunch of low weights this week, three of which were intentional. The older people on the black team all decided to throw the weigh in. In the process, they have not only guaranteed that one of them will go home instead of red team member Jen, but they have also guaranteed that a second one of them will be going home because the black team had no prayer of winning. Furthermore, they have also put the black team at greater risk going forward because they took their two person lead and flushed it. This decision may work for the moment, but it’s not a viable plot if their goal is to keep their kids in there longer. Moses had an alternate theory and lesson for his child: give it all you got. That would explain why he and his daughter were the biggest losers for the week.

As the person with the greatest percentage of weight gain this week, Deni has fallen below the red line and has been eliminated.

Votes
Courtney: Jesse
Sarah: Jesse
Olivia: Jesse
Hannah: Jesse
Marci: Jesse

With 5 votes, Jesse is not The Biggest Loser. From his starting weight of 293 pounds, Jesse is now down to 227 pounds. His plan is to walk every Saturday and get his community to do it with him. From her starting weight of 256 pounds, Deni is now down 86 pounds to 170.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Biggest Loser Season 11 Episode 9, which airs Tuesday at 8/7c on NBC.

The Amazing Race 18 Episode 1

The Amazing Race 18 cast consists of 11 teams from previous seasons who have unfinished business, whatever that’s supposed to mean. The intent is not so much an all star season as it is to just bring back a random mix of teams who have been on the show over the past three years that may have performed well, dumb lucked their way to the end, or merely went down in flames early on.

For a change, the race is starting on time tonight. We start off from Palm Springs, CA, the second windiest place on Earth (but still one of the hottest).

I see Kent is going by his real name this year, even if Vyxsin is still calling herself something that cannot possibly be a real name. Zev & Justin hope to not lose their passport again. Both Ron & Christina and Margie & Luke tripped up at the final road block. Jaime & Cara were bitches who hated everybody, including each other. They plan to be the ugly Americans again.

The team that places first during this first leg will win the express pass. Apparently, Zev & Justin believe they are part of team Globetrotter during this first leg, or so their T-shirts say. Phil warns the teams they will not just be given their first clue. No, they’ll have to earn it by searching through the desert for a paper airplane from Queensland And Northern Territories Aerial Services, which unbeknownst to most of them is Qantas. At least nobody will be eliminated at the starting line. However, the first 8 teams will make the first flight, while the other teams will be on the second flight, landing 90 minutes later. Ah, but the final team will not only get that 90 minute penalty, but also automatically be U-turned in the next leg.

From here, the teams will head to Sydney, Australia. Kisha & Jen are the first team on the second flight. Amanda & Kris hope the strategy of trying random airlines will work. Mallory, meanwhile, starts praying. Prayer works slightly quicker than randomness, and Amanda & Kris have been U-turned, ironic considering that’s what eliminated them last time.

Bad news for the first flight. A man on their plane had a heart attack. They will be making an unscheduled stop in Honolulu due to the medical emergency, which also means time to refuel.

Flight 2 lands first at 10:20AM. The flight that was originally scheduled to land first actually lands at 10:47AM, nearly half an hour later, which means all those teams that thought they had an unbeatable lead are not scrambling to avoid elimination. Ron & Christina, Mel & Mike, and Jet & Cord miss the first train, placing them at the back of the pack. Missing the second ferry puts Jet & Cord in dead last.

After they land, the teams will take a ferry to Oceanworld in Manly. The road block is to search for a hidden compass while swiming amongst sharks and stingrays, then decipher a sentence written out in nautical flags.

Road block (in order of arrival): Mallory, Kisha, Amanda, Margie, Flight Time, Cara, Justin, Vyxsin, Christina, Mel, Jet

A handful of teams realize that cooperating will give them a leg up, so Kisha & Jen work with Amanda & Kris, while Jaime & Cara work with Margie & Luke. So many teams from season 14 should bode well for them. But there’s a problem. Working together, Margie and Cara still can’t get the puzzle right and are turned away. Also keeping it among seasons, Zev & Justin pass on the answer of their clue to Flight Time & Big Easy, who assumed they could not finish the clue but somehow pick it up along the way. When the option presents itself, Justin refuses to help Jaime & Cara and Margie & Luke, although it wouldn’t hurt to make a couple more allies along the way. Nonetheless, Ron & Christina and Mel & Mike decide to help out Jaime & Cara and Margie & Luke. That will leave just Jet & Cord and Kent & Vyxsin battling for last, with both teams deciding that only half the clue is sufficient. Jet & Cord head back, while Kent & Vyxsin just ask Margie for the answer. This sharing answers nonsense is lame. I don’t assume we will be seeing a similar task to this in the future.

The clue will lead them to join the crew and help sail a 16 foot skiff along a water course, where they will find their next clue.

In what seems like a pretty quick leg, the pit stop for this leg of the race is Shelly Beach.

There’s a reason this seemed quick. Although Gary & Mallory have been granted their express pass for placing first, they are still racing, or at least they will be once Mallory stops yapping. Amanda & Kris are in second, which puts them in a decent position for now, but they still must contend with that U-turn.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Amazing Race 18 Episode 2, which airs Sunday at 8/7c on CBS.

The Amazing Race 18 Cast

The Amazing Race Season 18 (Unfinished Business) brings back 11 teams from five of the past six seasons, half of whom are from season 14, running the range from those who finished second all the way down to those who finished ninth.

Amanda Blackledge & Kris Klicka
Engaged Couple
Season 14, 8th Place

Gary Ervin & Mallory Ervin
Father and Daughter
Season 17, 6th Place

Jaime Edmonson & Cara Rosenthal
Former NFL Cheerleaders
Season 14, 2nd Place

Jet McCoy & Cord McCoy
Cowboys
Season 16, 2nd Place

LaKisha Hoffman & Jennifer Hoffman
Sisters
Season 14, 4th Place

Kynt Cothron & Vyxsin Fiala
Dating Goths
Season 12, 5th Place

Margie Adams & Luke Adams
Mother and Son
Season 14, 3rd Place

Mel White & Mike White
Father and Son
Season 14, 6th Place

Herbert “Flight Time” Lang & Nathaniel “The Big Easy” Lofton
Harlem Globetrotters
Season 15, 4th Place

Ronald Hsu & Christina Hsu
Father and Daughter
Season 12, 2nd Place

Zev Glassenberg & Justin Kanew
Friends
Season 15, 9th Place

American Idol Season 10 Episode 10

American Idol Season 10 Episode 9 brought us gropu night in Hollywood. Tonight we see the final cuts in Hollywood.

Forgetting the words yesterday, Haley Reinhart just barely made it through. Her improved performance of the day puts the judges in a better mood. Ashton Jones also performs well, and at least now she’s not stuck in a group with Ashley Sullivan. Thia Megia, the girl from America’s Got Talent, continues this trend.

Now we move on to the bad performances. Adrian Michael, Caleb Johnson, and Frances Coontz struggle to get in sync with the live band.

Clint Jun Gamboa is lucky he’s a good singer. If this is a popularity contest (it is), he’s going to struggle after getting rid of Jacee on group night, which left him looking like an ass. We go from him back to the ladies, as Kendra Chantelle and Sophia Shorai give solid performances.

Carson Higgins may be goofy, but he’s got the talent to back it up. He chooses My Prerogative of all songs, and he does it as a band number, which seems to work. Chris Medina, meanwhile, tries to turn it into a guitar solo song, and is ultimately left unsatisfied with his performance.

Julie Zorrilla, Colton Dixon, and Robbie Rosen play keyboard, while Caleb Hawley and Brett Loewenstern play guitar. Casey Abrams opts to drag a stand up bass with him. People will remember him for this, even if the instrument turns out to be quite pointless in the end.

Jacqueline Dunford is sick and off to the hospital. Before going there, she decides to leave the competition. That leaves Chelsee Oaks, who lost Rob Bolin last night, alone there without her best friend or her not best ex boyfriend.

Lauren Alaina chooses to sing I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing again. At least the licensing rights are probably cheap. Jacob Lusk put his name on the map last night, and he continues with a performance that results in a standing ovation. John Wayne Schulz is still in the competition after his poor group night performance, and he’s got Jennifer Lopez singing along with him as he sings.

Ashley Sullivan is freaking out. Again/still. I grow tired of the drama. Unable to remember the words, she tries restarting, which doesn’t work, leading to more tears.

Stefano Langone, Jovany Barreto, and Jacee Badeaux all perform well.

Scotty McCreery is hopefully going to sing something new tonight. Nope, that song isn’t on the list, so he’s chosen to sing I Hope You Dance. He’d probably sound good if he could remember the words. Tatynisa Wilson, too, stumbles over this song.

Now it’s time for the judges to deliberate and split the contestants into four rooms.

Room 1 is moving to the next round. This includes Jacee Badeaux, Ashley Sullivan, Brett Loewenstern, Robbie Rosen, Lauren Alaina, James Durbin, and Casey Abrams.

Room 2 has been eliminated. Room 3, too, has been eliminated. This is the end of the line for Brielle von Hugel, Corey Levoy, Mark Gutierrez, and Chelsee Oaks.

Room 4 will be advancing to the next round. Thia Megia, Carson Higgins, Julie Zorrilla, Jovanny Barreto, Rachel Zevita, and Scotty McCreery are among this group.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of American Idol Season 10 Episode 11, which airs Wednesday at 8/7c on Fox.