So, somehow the results show got dropped from my TiFaux programing and I came home to no Idol Results show. (I did get Amazing Race though - yay!)

I went online and read a rundown of the results show, so I know who went home. Bye, Kellie! And she talked through her singout time? Hunh. I read that she handled her exit really well. Which is good. She was entertaining (when she wasn’t singing) but I think it was totally the right decision.

I admit I’m really surprised America got it right since she was never in the bottom three. I figured she had a really strong voting block to have pulled that off that long and probably had another week in her. So maybe voters judge on performance after all. Whoda thunk it? Or the number of contestants is finally narrow enough they can’t afford to vote her in at the expense of another favorite. So I guess last week was her bye week.

And it looks like this week is possibly going to be Paris’s bye week. Also not a surprise. Having Kat in the top two was, but I guess Simon’s flaming rebuke last night encouraged voters to step up. And Simon apologized to Kat? Interesting. I also understand Taylor looked a bit miffed he wasn’t top two. Well, if that’s true, then Taylor? You need to sing better from the very beginning of the song. Closing it out won’t cut it at this stage. I like you, man, but you’ve been off more than on lately.

So…could I possibly get my Eliot/Chris final two after all? Hard to say…can Kat survive to pull off the final two upset?

Did they announce what’s next up? I didn’t see that anywhere.

On to Amazing Race MAC…

Fran and Berry go from first to worst. I applaud Fran for doing the prison roadblock. Not sure if Barry doing it would have made the difference, but I thought it was great that they seemed to split up the tasks so both of them fully participated. The leg looked grueling, with all the bicycle riding, dragging stuff through sand, then running or paddling through tunnels…all on jet lagged fatigue. I suspect Yolanda and Ray were a bit further ahead than editing showed, but applause for Fran and Barry hanging in. (And for helping out BJ and Tyler. You’re nicer grandparent types than you want to let on. )

So we’re back to the Frats in the lead and MoJo second again. Killer fatigue is setting in. Was glad to see the hippies hang tight for another leg. And I love how they manage to truly get something special out of each country they visit. The Bedouin pick up was priceless. Was I the only one who laughed at Ray’s less than loving look when Phil asked them on the mat if they’d rediscovered the passion? Yo needs to lighten up (and what was with the “reduce the internal chatter clutter” or whatever she said.) I think Ray would appreciate it if she’d just speak straight. I know what she’s saying, don’t get me wrong, but she kind of needs to get over it and let it go. Like, two legs ago. I’d be kind of done with her attitude, too. (Or, as Yolanda would say, her analytical, dispassionate discourse regarding their relationship.)

I think I’ve been watching too much Ryan. I feel kind of crankypants myself tonight.

I’m chalking it up to an unevenly paced leg. I know flying 9000 miles is going to end up with bunching and time lags, not to mention killer jet lag. (Which the teams rarely refer to. I guess they just race and rest based on the tasks regardless of what the clock says, but it’s got to take a toll.)

Oh, for anyone interested in a peek behind the scenes at the production end, go to www.cbs.com and read Phil’s blog. I was exhausted just reading about how hard they have to race to beat the teams and get things filmed. I had no idea how tight their time table is. Crazy! And they don’t even get a shot at the million!

Next week looks like killer fatigue sets in for good. We’re down to four teams and so you know it’s going to be a non-elimination if there are three NEL’s total in the race. I’m not as keen on MoJo or the Frats, though they are both good racers. And I will say this for Eric and Jeremy. Tools they may be, of the highest caliber, but they don’t bicker, fight, or even really get down or discouraged much. Granted, they are usually in the lead, but they race really well to get that edge. I wish I liked them more. And you know it’s bad when guys with bodies that nice do nothing for me, even on a prurient level.

Reminder…the SHaQ Attack winner will be announced Friday morning. Still time to play to win! See Monday’s blog post for all the info.

Tags: Writing //