It may be time for The Amazing Race to cut back on Non-Elimination legs, because they keep popping up at inopportune times for me this season, continually sparing teams I'd just as soon lose and, as I may have lamented previously, failing to spare Rob-n-Amber in their moment of need.

[Spoilers will follow. Duh.]

The latest team to take advantage of a Non-Elimination Leg is Eric and Danielle, as the Bickering Boors got on a late flight from Malaysia to Hong Kong and never made up the time, only to discover that the leg airing Sunday (April 15) was the leg no pigs would die.

So Eric and Danielle are Marked for Elimination next week, but will they also target Charla and Mirna with the same bitterness they grumbled at the Beauty Queens this week? The Beauty Queens Yielded them, but for my money, what Charla and Mirna did this week was far sleazier, accepting Danny and Oswald's standby number to move ahead of the place Eric and Danielle had earned by waiting in line. Mirna wouldn't think that was sleazy, but then again, she thinks that the Beauty Queens were playing dirty when they used the Yield, so she's just a moron.

For my money, Charla and Mirna deserved some sort of penalty this week anyway. In Hong Kong, the clue clearly instructed them to take a taxi to one ferry station and take a boat to another destination. Instead, their cabbie drove them directly to that second station, where they preceded to get on the wrong ferry, forcing an unnecessary round-trip voyage. I wonder if the producers decided that their stupidity getting on the Kowloon ferry was a sufficient enough penalty, but I'd have preferred to see them Marked for Death instead of Eric and Danielle.

Overall, if you take out the stupid, anti-climactic Non-Elimination ending, it was a pretty fun leg.

It had the airport drama of the counter battle between Charla and Mirna and the Beauty Queens, which played like something off the first grade schoolyard -- "You cut!" "I didn't cut. He called back-cuts!" "There's no such thing as back-cuts, cootie-breath!"

And it also had an all-time classic Detour, in which the teams had to scale the scaffolding on a tall building while random kung-fu fighters swung around punching and kicking in their direction.

Other quality moments from Sunday's episode:

Most Stomach-Churning Charla/Mirna Moment: Mirna telling the kung-fu fighters "We are here to make love not war," which wouldn't have been so bad if not for the obligatory uber-ethnic broken English.

Second Most Stomach-Churning Charla/Mirna Moment: Either Mirna's continued conviction that the Beauty Queens pad their bras (does she also have issues with Danielle's obvious, um, enhancements?) or -- seconds after her complaints about dirty play -- her attempts to get the China Air ticketing agent to bump civilians off of an earlier flight.

Third Most Stomach-Churning Charla/Mirna Moment: Mirna's mandatory assertion to the camera that Charla's in this game to prove doubters wrong. That assertion came within minutes of Mirna expressing doubts about Charla's ability to do the challenge, doubts which caused them to consider an alternate Detour and fall behind the Beauty Queens. Nobody doubts Charla nearly as much as Mirna.

Wishful Thinking Quote of the Episode: "Go stand in a puddle and drop your hair-drier in it and kill ourselves." [Eric to Danielle on their next course of action after failing to get on a good flight.]

Thoughts on this week's episode? Any not-so-favorite Charla/Mirna moments that I forgot? And is there a simple answer for why they weren't penalized?

Comments

Mirna wishing "yeild karma" on the BQs was funny...and she claims that she wants to play the game clean....then they use Danny & Oswald's code to bump E & D....sure...thats playing clean. Another yeild is coming up next week...should be interesting

mark3557 | Apr 16, 2007 6:31:22 AM | #

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they technically took the ferry to Hong Kong island when they had to return -- I think that was fair

Give credit to Mirna - that climb was difficult -- Danielle had a harder time...

Dee | Apr 16, 2007 10:15:55 AM | #

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I've gotta say, the show fooled me into thinking the BQs would (unjustly) get some bad "yield karma", what with the other three teams harping on about it (for what felt like the entire episode, like why do you care Mirna it had NO EFFECT ON YOU!). So I was pleasantly surprised when the BQs wound up in second place, between the Cha Chas. I think I'm definitely rooting for the BQs to win now, Oswald disappointed me by giving Mirna his standby priority code (bad form, and you just KNOW if he'd given it to one of the other teams Mirna would've worked herself up into a self-righteous rage).

I agree that the non-elimination legs are becoming a pain in the ass. I would rather see a couple of "superlegs", with two roadblocks or two detours, than these anti-climaxes. Especially when I was all ready for Eric and Dani to leave my screen for good.

I have this sick feeling in my gut that we're going to see a Charla/Mirna win. I really hope not, but it feels like the show is grooming us for that. Here's hoping Phil eyerolls them into oblivion next week!

Patrick | Apr 16, 2007 10:18:54 AM | #

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I think it's a measure of how much class the Beauty Queens have that they've echoed my thoughts onscreen. Why WOULDN'T you use a Yield? The fact that Mirna thinks that's playing dirty and all her tactics aren't? Total hypocrite. She is not going to come out of this season smelling like a rose, that's for sure. I also love how variable her accent is. When she and Charla are alone her accent isn't nearly as thick as when she's dealing with people in public in her condescending, fake little-girl voice. She's a troll. The way she's always calling cab drivers and ticket agents her 'friend' irks me to no end. Someone needs to throw her out of an airplane without a parachute. Mad props to Charla though, she's been a real trooper. It's a shame she's related to such an odious twit like Mirna.

Siansonea | Apr 16, 2007 10:34:39 AM | #

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They also need to change the fast forwards. How lame was that car stunt. If you going to have a fast forward you should have to work harder to achieve that one goal then everyone else.

I also agree more "superlegs"

Jake | Apr 16, 2007 11:18:05 AM | #

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I think Patrick is right on with his guess that Mirna & Charla are going to pull off a win. Can't stand the thought of it, but it seems to be going their way. I'm finally coming around about the BQ's. They should win, they've played the best game so far. Like the Cha-Chas also, but can't stand Mirna or Charla...kinda like Charla by herself but not the pair. No words this week for E&D.

Cheri | Apr 16, 2007 1:17:08 PM | #

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Love Charla and Mirna, can't stand the BQ's.

pepper | Apr 17, 2007 1:13:34 AM | #

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"Love Charla and Mirna" what are you related to them or something!?! At least the BQ's have respect for the people and cultures they visit instead of trying to manipulate them as if they were pets!!

Marc | Apr 17, 2007 5:29:32 AM | #

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As a fan of this site, I have been reading this blog as entertainment and have generally enjoyed it.

That being said and since you asked, I think the worst Charla & Mirna (C&M) moment that you didn't mention this week, and every week it occurs, frankly, is your insistance on pointing out what you feel are C&M's "most stomach-churning" moments. Just because you don't like a person's personality doesn't make it "stomach-churning". However, beyond that, it appears to me that it somewhat colors your perspective. I mean is there really any reason to call Mirna a moron?

Furthermore, you and others have complained about her "phony" accent but I don't think there is anything phony about it. Rather, it seems to me that it is just the way she gets when she gets exited. You don't have to enjoy it but it seems a stretch to call it phony.

Regarding the Yield - People who've watched this show from the beginning should understand that, amongst the players, it is generally frowned upon to use the Yield especially against competitors whom you have worked with and when the situation is not desperate (call it an AR Code of Honor). That doesn't make it wrong; Kandace and Dustin had every right to do what they did. But you claim M&C accepting Danny and Oswalds reservation was "far sleazier". I don't see how. On the one hand, the yield actually stops another team from competing, on the other the team that missed that flight could have been eliminated, or they could have gotten on the same plane. All M&C were doing was ensuring their place on a flight using what means were available. Isn't that just being good players? I have to wonder what comment you'd make about this if the BQ's had done this? And while you didn't make this comment, it would seem your sentiments lie in the same bed: what exactly is "unfair" about hoping another team has bad karma. Teams do it all the time when they are near the bottom.

Regarding Mirna's comments about the BQ's - I don't think Mirna started the name calling. I may be wrong but I remember at least 2 incidences where D&K made nasty comments/expressions about them for no immediate reason. From what I remember, the "Beauty" Queens were one of the meanest, snottiest teams on last years race, earning the disdain of several of their competitors. They've seemed much better on this race, except for when they've bumped into C&M. I mean what was that bizarre comment about "making a beauty queen sandwich" out of Mirna. So that sword should at least cut both ways.

Lastly, when Mirna "questions Charlas abilities" it is in the midst of a challenge and they are trying to decide what to do. Then, when Charla comes through and Mirna's asked about it in an interview she is full of nothing but praise for her. I don't see a problem with that. If you think that means "Nobody doubts Charla nearly as much as Mirna" then I think you really need to examine why you dislike this person so much.

At any rate, it's your blog. You and all the posters are entitled to your opinions (as am I). My posting this is not to complain, rather comment as I saw fit and as stated before because you asked.

FriendofM&C | Apr 17, 2007 11:10:36 AM | #

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I don't like the ideal that C & M might win this race. I don't like the BQ's either, but this week I agree with Daniel that C & M had more stomach churning moments. Especially at the airport were Mira was trying to get other people knocked off the plane. I also agreed that it does sound very condescending when they use the "my friend" remarks. My favorites are Oswald and Danny. I was glad to see that they came in first this week.

theresa | Apr 17, 2007 12:06:21 PM | #

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to FriendofM&C,

Mirna, stop reading this blog

Jake | Apr 17, 2007 2:30:02 PM | #

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BQ's suck. They were the ones who wanted to be bumped ahead of people on the plane. Oswald and Danny for the win!

Kemille | Apr 17, 2007 10:45:03 PM | #

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Charla and Mirna hilarious moment of the week:

Charla being pulled through the airport on her wheelies!

Almost as good as the knight armor challenge.

I still would prefer Eric & Dani to win. I don't care for Dani, but I like Eric a lot.

Second would be the BQ's, who I've grown to like and don't blame them at all for their spat with the disgusting Mirna.

Jason | Apr 18, 2007 11:21:31 AM | #

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I hope Charla & Mirna get eliminated on the next episode, just so I don't have to hear anymore of that fake accent broken English crap spewing out of her mouth.

As for winners? Beauty Queens or Oswald & Danny, with a heavy leaning towards the BQs.

Craig | Apr 20, 2007 8:56:20 PM | #

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