(Maggie is busy covering the kickass Coachella concert in Palm Springs, so I'm covering the initial reactions from this week - she might add her love later.)
As the racers are starting to feel the finish and smell that million, some long-simmering rivalries are popping to the surface.
Team Bong and Monica & Joseph trash-talked each other all over downunder, and they weren't the only one.
Unofficial Smack Talk Tally:
1. Lots of nastiness from Monica & Joseph over other teams' decisions to leave the penniless Team Bong some cash.
2. Stemming from the same topic, Yolanda got in a dig on Trollbaby and her Trollboyfriend saying, instead of cash, Monica and Joseph,"Probably left a psych letter, knowing Mojo. They act like they nice, but they NOT."
3. When Team Bong got to their SUV and discovered who was generous and who was not, they also had some choice words to say about "Mojo."
4. It's not exactly smack talk, but all the teams were hoping and certain Team Bong would not make it aboard the only flight of the night that would get them to Perth. When the Hippies squeaked aboard at the last possible minute, I'm sure the other teams thought some choice words, while the Hippies enjoyed a little well-deserved gloat.
5. Monica actually regressed and restorted to a "Stinky Boys" taunt asTeam Phi Beta Shut Uppa passed them on the road in Greece. She then alleged that the Frat Boys were "kidnergarten babies who stick their head in gravy."
Big talk from someone who is afraid of LOBSTER.
6. More griping from Monica & Joseph over Team Bong, and vice versa.
7. Preview smack talk! In the Scenes From Next Week's Episode... OfThe Amazing Race, Blond Hippie declared it "Yield Season - and Monica and Joseph are prey."
Sometime between all the Yo Mommas, Teams managed to fly to Perth, Australia, choose between two beach detours, navigate a difficult Roadblock at theFremantle Prison, then get themselves to the Fremantle Sailing Club,the Pit Stop for this leg of the race.
Which Detour Would You Have Picked?Jamie: Sand or Sea... Sand seemed like it would have been faster. Turned out to be kind of brutal, and ultimately, it would depend on my partner. I have a lot of snorkel experience, but it's not something everyone is good at.
How Would You Have Fared On The Roadblock?Jamie: Horribly. All I could think about was how difficult that wouldhave been for me. I have zero sense of direction, and it's even worse in places like that - indoors, where everything looks about the same. Give me bungee-jumping any day.
As far as which teams I like best/least, and who I think will take it all...
It's interesting, because there are four teams left, and they are split evenly for my affections. I pretty much equally like Ray & Yolanda and Team Bong, and I pretty much equally dislike Team Phi Beta Shut Uppa and Joseph & Trollbaby.
But I don't think I'm going to be happy during the finale. I've had a sinking feeling for a long time that the Frat Boys would take it all, and I don't have much faith - or see much of an indication - that they won't.
I pretty much have my predictions set for the rest of the season, down to non-eliminations, but I'll wait until predictions on Wednesday to bust them out.
