TAR discussion thread

[earendel]

I realize that we haven't had our weekly discussion thread in which vandal would run down his list of teams and rank them, and this is not intended as a substitute for that. But something did happen last night that deserves comment, IMO.

The couples raced to a chicken farm and found their first clue, which included the second (and last) Fast Forward of the race. The FF required the couples to travel to a restaurant and order a traditional Kazak meal. The first team to finish the meal would get the clue. Terence and Sarah, and Nick and Starr opted to try the FF; when they got the food it turned out to contain meat. Terence said that he had been a vegetarian for 15 years, but tried to eat the meal anyway. It was obvious fairly quickly that he wouldn't be able to do it, so they went back to do the road block that the other couples were doing. They ended up being the last team to arrive and were eliminated.

Here's the question I had: Terence's vegetarianism was probably a matter of principle, yet he was willing to compromise those principles for a chance at $1 million. What does the Bored think about this decision?

[sunflower]

I realize that we haven't had our weekly discussion thread in which vandal would run down his list of teams and rank them, and this is not intended as a substitute for that. But something did happen last night that deserves comment, IMO.

The couples raced to a chicken farm and found their first clue, which included the second (and last) Fast Forward of the race. The FF required the couples to travel to a restaurant and order a traditional Kazak meal. The first team to finish the meal would get the clue. Terence and Sarah, and Nick and Starr opted to try the FF; when they got the food it turned out to contain meat. Terence said that he had been a vegetarian for 15 years, but tried to eat the meal anyway. It was obvious fairly quickly that he wouldn't be able to do it, so they went back to do the road block that the other couples were doing. They ended up being the last team to arrive and were eliminated.

Here's the question I had: Terence's vegetarianism was probably a matter of principle, yet he was willing to compromise those principles for a chance at $1 million. What does the Bored think about this decision?

I didn't watch the whole show, so I don't know the context. Did he say why he is a vegetarian? Is it he just doesn't like meat? Or religous reason? Animal rights reasons? Other reasons?

I mean if he just doesn't like it and then was willing to try it for the money, that's one thing. I wouldn't say I like eating bugs but I would try to do it for a million. I guess it depends if he's truly compromising his principles, or whether he is just tolerating something unpleasant. So my reaction to it depends on knowing the story behind his choice.

[kusch]

I realize that we haven't had our weekly discussion thread in which vandal would run down his list of teams and rank them, and this is not intended as a substitute for that. But something did happen last night that deserves comment, IMO.

The couples raced to a chicken farm and found their first clue, which included the second (and last) Fast Forward of the race. The FF required the couples to travel to a restaurant and order a traditional Kazak meal. The first team to finish the meal would get the clue. Terence and Sarah, and Nick and Starr opted to try the FF; when they got the food it turned out to contain meat. Terence said that he had been a vegetarian for 15 years, but tried to eat the meal anyway. It was obvious fairly quickly that he wouldn't be able to do it, so they went back to do the road block that the other couples were doing. They ended up being the last team to arrive and were eliminated.

Here's the question I had: Terence's vegetarianism was probably a matter of principle, yet he was willing to compromise those principles for a chance at $1 million. What does the Bored think about this decision?

I watched and my thoughts on it are that he said he had not eaten meat for 15 years, thus I would not put a lot of "principle" into his decision to try the fast forward. So, I would say he did not comprise his principles. We really do not know why he no longer eats meat, so why bring in the "principle" thing? If of course if I missed his reason, I reserve the right to change my mind.

[a1mamacat]

Hard to say about this one. He was such a prima donna anyway. I think, if it was a serious principal, he would have headed out right away after realising that meat was involved, rather than attempting to eat it.

I must say as well, that I am a little tired of Nick and Starr getting 1st all the time. I really really really want Toni and Dallas to get a first. The cow task was probably the funniest I have seen, and they had so much fun with it. True spririt of the race.

At this point, I think it is unlikely, but I really want Toni and Dallas to win. I think that the final 3 will be Nick and Starr, Toni and Dallas, and Ken and Tina. It appears that Dandrew will implode shortly.

[earendel]

Hard to say about this one. He was such a prima donna anyway. I think, if it was a serious principal, he would have headed out right away after realising that meat was involved, rather than attempting to eat it.

I must say as well, that I am a little tired of Nick and Starr getting 1st all the time. I really really really want Toni and Dallas to get a first. The cow task was probably the funniest I have seen, and they had so much fun with it. True spririt of the race.

At this point, I think it is unlikely, but I really want Toni and Dallas to win. I think that the final 3 will be Nick and Starr, Toni and Dallas, and Ken and Tina. It appears that Dandrew will implode shortly.

If I had my druthers I'd have Toni and Dallas win - which almost certainly means they won't. I agree that Nick and Starr have had more than their fair share of first place finishes, and they are looking mighty strong for the final. I'm guessing that next week will be another non-elimination leg.

[Sir_Galahad]

Hard to say about this one. He was such a prima donna anyway. I think, if it was a serious principal, he would have headed out right away after realising that meat was involved, rather than attempting to eat it.

Agreed.

I am also rooting for Toni and Dallas although Nick and Starr are looking very tough to beat (but may have a tough time next
based on the snippet they showed for next week's show).

I am anxiously waiting for them to open up the application process for season 15 as Steph (my step-daughter) and I are going to give it a shot. They have just started shooting Season 14 and we expect the application gate to open shortly.

[Estonut]

Does anyone recall more of the previous food challenges? It seems they have one a season. I remember a big bowl of egg (ostrich, I think) and BBQ meat (Romber). I think I remember some kind of raw squid/seafood dish and some kind of worm dish. There was one where they were eating some kind of soup, I think, and many of them hurled.

My point is that I only remember seeing food challenges that involved eating meat (except maybe the soup). A well-prepared team would be familiar with the show and would not have attempted such a restaurant challenge.

I also seem to recall that the vegetarian on a season of Survivor did not last long, at all.

[Hotseat Or Bust!]

Does anyone recall more of the previous food challenges? It seems they have one a season. I remember a big bowl of egg (ostrich, I think) and BBQ meat (Romber). I think I remember some kind of raw squid/seafood dish and some kind of worm dish. There was one where they were eating some kind of soup, I think, and many of them hurled.

My point is that I only remember seeing food challenges that involved eating meat (except maybe the soup). A well-prepared team would be familiar with the show and would not have attempted such a restaurant challenge.

I also seem to recall that the vegetarian on a season of Survivor did not last long, at all.

A few seasons back, the one with Charla and Mirna, when they went to Russia, one of the challenges was having to eat a large amount of caviar. As I recall, many contestants had a problem with it, but not Charla, she ate it rather quickly. I also remember an eating challenge in which quite a bit of sausage needed to be eaten, I think it was 2 0r 3? seasons ago.

[Estonut]

Does anyone recall more of the previous food challenges? It seems they have one a season. I remember a big bowl of egg (ostrich, I think) and BBQ meat (Romber). I think I remember some kind of raw squid/seafood dish and some kind of worm dish. There was one where they were eating some kind of soup, I think, and many of them hurled.

My point is that I only remember seeing food challenges that involved eating meat (except maybe the soup). A well-prepared team would be familiar with the show and would not have attempted such a restaurant challenge.

I also seem to recall that the vegetarian on a season of Survivor did not last long, at all.

A few seasons back, the one with Charla and Mirna, when they went to Russia, one of the challenges was having to eat a large amount of caviar. As I recall, many contestants had a problem with it, but not Charla, she ate it rather quickly. I also remember an eating challenge in which quite a bit of sausage needed to be eaten, I think it was 2 0r 3? seasons ago.

Those both ring a bell. The caviar may be the one I was thinking might have been soup. Was it served in big bowls, were they all sitting around the same long table and did several contestants puke? I definitely remember a challenge where they had to grind meat and make sausage. There were many jokes made about the product. Was the eating part of that one, or a separate challenge/season altogether?

[jsuchard]

There was a soup-eating task a few seasons back. I think it was the year with the major ass-hole married to the former Playboy playmate.

They were in Hungary (probably Budapest) and they had to eat a very large portion of a very spicy-hot, paprika-based soup. Several contestants vomited, but kept right on going.

I've always thought it would be interesting if vomiting were not allowed and gave you a time penalty like other errors. That would make the contestants consider whether or not to re-cycle their vomit.

[Estonut]

There was a soup-eating task a few seasons back. I think it was the year with the major ass-hole married to the former Playboy playmate.

Could you narrow it down, Doc? There's at least one of those each season! I do remember them, they had a website telling everyone how loving and non-abusive their relationship was.

They were in Hungary (probably Budapest) and they had to eat a very large portion of a very spicy-hot, paprika-based soup. Several contestants vomited, but kept right on going.

OK, I am remembering correctly. This soup may have contained no meat. It's the only potentially-meatless challenge I can recall on TAR. It was astounding how those guys could puke and eat. Or eat while those next to them were wretching their guts out.

[sunflower]

Okay I just watched it and there really was no discussion about why he doesn't eat meat...

But they said it was made with fat from the rear end of a sheep...and meanwhile people are picking meat and slime from what looks like a sheep's head. I'm a meat lover but I'm not sure I would be able to stomach it, so I think it's probably a nastiness thing more than a true principle, if you haven't eaten meat in 15 years, I'm pretty sure you don't want to start with sheep's butt.

[mrkelley23]

What I didn't get is why they sat there for so long after it became clear that prima donna was not going to be able to finish his portion. And it wasn't because they didn't know, because he kept stealing peeks at Starr and seeing that she was going through it quickly.

[sunflower]

What I didn't get is why they sat there for so long after it became clear that prima donna was not going to be able to finish his portion. And it wasn't because they didn't know, because he kept stealing peeks at Starr and seeing that she was going through it quickly.

Yeah that part definitely didn't make sense, they really should have left a lot sooner.

[peacock2121]

I realize that we haven't had our weekly discussion thread in which vandal would run down his list of teams and rank them, and this is not intended as a substitute for that. But something did happen last night that deserves comment, IMO.

The couples raced to a chicken farm and found their first clue, which included the second (and last) Fast Forward of the race. The FF required the couples to travel to a restaurant and order a traditional Kazak meal. The first team to finish the meal would get the clue. Terence and Sarah, and Nick and Starr opted to try the FF; when they got the food it turned out to contain meat. Terence said that he had been a vegetarian for 15 years, but tried to eat the meal anyway. It was obvious fairly quickly that he wouldn't be able to do it, so they went back to do the road block that the other couples were doing. They ended up being the last team to arrive and were eliminated.

Here's the question I had: Terence's vegetarianism was probably a matter of principle, yet he was willing to compromise those principles for a chance at $1 million. What does the Bored think about this decision?

I don't have a problem with his principle - I have a problem with how long it took him to say he wasn't going to do it.

[peacock2121]

I also want to frat boys done - outta here - what a whiner - if it is about team - get your fat ass in gear and step up - stay with your partner.

[geoffil]

I read that Starr is a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader and her last name is Spangler.

[tanstaafl2]

Does anyone recall more of the previous food challenges? It seems they have one a season. I remember a big bowl of egg (ostrich, I think) and BBQ meat (Romber). I think I remember some kind of raw squid/seafood dish and some kind of worm dish. There was one where they were eating some kind of soup, I think, and many of them hurled.

My point is that I only remember seeing food challenges that involved eating meat (except maybe the soup). A well-prepared team would be familiar with the show and would not have attempted such a restaurant challenge.

I also seem to recall that the vegetarian on a season of Survivor did not last long, at all.

There was a FF in AR9 in Thailand that required racers to eat a large bowl of fried crickets/grasshoppers. Almost always seems to be a food challenge along the way.

[tanstaafl2]

I read that Starr is a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader and her last name is Spangler.

Starr is her nickname (for obvious reasons given her last name, Emily is her given name) and her bio does indicate she has been a Cowboys cheerleader in the past. Her brother is (or was?) in the cast of "The Fantasticks" in New York according to the bio so clearly those "regular" folks who apply have an equal shot at getting on given the rather pedestrian background of these two...

Not my favorite team but not really any strong contenders this year for me. I suppose Toni and Dallas are the top of the bunch at the moment.

[mcd1400de]

I read that Starr is a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader and her last name is Spangler.

Starr is her nickname (for obvious reasons given her last name, Emily is her given name) and her bio does indicate she has been a Cowboys cheerleader in the past. Her brother is (or was?) in the cast of "The Fantasticks" in New York....

He still is. I attended yesterday's matinee -- in fact, I'd already gotten the tickets before remembering Nick was in the cast, even though I'm a huge TAR fan! He and the rest of the show were quite good... very entertaining.

We stayed around afterwards and chatted with Nick for a good 15 minutes or so, and he was very gracious and friendly.... even if he wouldn't divulge any spoilers. (Btw, he said that Starr is her actual given middle name, rather than a nickname.)

[tanstaafl2]

I read that Starr is a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader and her last name is Spangler.

Starr is her nickname (for obvious reasons given her last name, Emily is her given name) and her bio does indicate she has been a Cowboys cheerleader in the past. Her brother is (or was?) in the cast of "The Fantasticks" in New York....

He still is. I attended yesterday's matinee -- in fact, I'd already gotten the tickets before remembering Nick was in the cast, even though I'm a huge TAR fan! He and the rest of the show were quite good... very entertaining.

We stayed around afterwards and chatted with Nick for a good 15 minutes or so, and he was very gracious and friendly.... even if he wouldn't divulge any spoilers. (Btw, he said that Starr is her actual given middle name, rather than a nickname.)

Well, a nickname I can kinda understand. But if that is her given name then at least one of her parents must be related to Bill Lear. Or at least they seem to have the same odd propensity for naming of children...

[Winnamill]

The Spanglers run a funeral home in Mountain View, CA. It's about 2 miles from where I am right now -- at Starr's alma mater.