That was my favorite line on Amazing Race last night. Ah, you can never have too many cheerleaders to lighten things up. I’d heard really rough things about this season, and they certainly started off by throwing them straight into the thing, didn’t they? (Fish eyes? On the first leg? Dayum.) But there are teams I’m really enjoying and, so far, none of them are completely vile. Although there is plenty of vile potential. Yes, I’m looking at you Dating Couple. (I really need to learn names.)

Some of the teams I thought I wouldn’t like, I ended up pleasantly surprised by. (Dad and Daughter for one.) I was sad Team India was sent home (not so much with Team Muslim, that one guy just kinda grated the nerves. I don’t think his partner got one word in.) I really liked the Indian team though, and thought they were wonderful together. A shame they didn’t last longer. No surprise that Team Rehab Models are in the lead, although over the course of that monster first leg, many teams moved up and back, so no real dominant players yet. And the ones who are the current front runners aren’t necessarily who you’d think they’d be.

I thought they all did great to make it up that wall. So grueling at the end of a tough leg. Some teams I like more than others, but no absolute favorites yet, and no total villains. I suspect that will change quickly on both ends.

I did admire Sarah, though I’m torn on her using her disability to get ahead at various points, but then she scaled that wall and all was forgiven on my end. Peter on the other hand…yeah, he grates. But he does support her (though in an almost obnoxious, over the top cheerleader way that might make even the Team Cheer! gag.) Team Boyfriends are pretty entertaining. I don’t think I’ll be rooting for them to win, but they will keep things interesting. Team Single Moms were a bit of a surprise. They are really hanging in there. You go! Team Coal Miner was a hoot and a holler. Love that she doesn’t take his stuff at all. She hung in there, too. I thought they did really well for being literally thrown into the world.

Both Team Cheer! and Team Beauty Queens did really well, so golf clap to them both. (The cheering on the pedicab ride just cracked me up to no end. God, they’re entertaining.) Team Models were both eye candy and pretty funny, so I’m okay there. Loved Team Cho Bros. More eye candy. Not really great racers for all their brains and brawn, but hopefully they’ll pull it together. (And was I the only one who looked at the major diversity in the teams this season and wondered if Bruckheimer was sitting in on the Survivor production meetings?)

But most of all…..more than ANYthing else…I got my Phil back! Complete with teasing eyebrow poppage. Ah, Phil, you know what I like. (But those jeans? Who dresses you? You should let me help. Personally.)

Next week? Wild Farm Animals Attack! Should be interesting…. Who do you think will go home next?

Now for this week’s SHaQ Attack!

Tell me who Jinty belongs to. Send emails to donna@donnakauffman.com with Here Boy! in the subject line and the correct answer in the email. I will draw one winner from the correct entries and announce it on Friday. Winner receives a signed copy of the book associated with the winning answer.

Happy Monday everybody!!

Tags: Writing //