THE RECAPS
STORMSEEKER.COM RECAPS! Reality editor Gordon Pepper provides
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July 30, 2003 August 6, 2003 August 13, 2003 August 23, 2003 August 30, 2003 September 6, 2003 September 13, 2003
It's a Race...to the Altar! Well, that's what it...no, it's not really a race. It's a set of challenges that combines Fear Factor and The Newlywed Game. Not the most original concept in the world, but as we have seen this Summer, there are many worse concepts that are out there, so this one may not turn out to be so bad.
One of the things that separates a good show from a bad one is the likability of the contestants, so let's meet them -
Dr Carolyn Daniels (31) and Dr. Ethan langford (36) - they met in a bar and it was love at first sight. They seem around as boring as they sound. Zzzzzzzzzz.
Grace Navarate (21) and Robert Ramirez Jr (22) - Robert had to have Grace when he laid eyes on her. They seem very passionate - a real live couple. That means that they will probably get eliminated first.
Cindy Aguidelo (29) and Chris Arnold (27) - Cindy met Chris in a blind date when they were in New York - now they are in California. CIndy is acting like a glorified actress. I wonder if that's their profession.
Tonya Mattox (28) and Andree Taylor (28) - They started out very rocky, with relationship and trust issues. This is not a good way to start this sort of game.
Andy Morillo (24) and Becca Fuhrmann (22) - These Texans from San Antonio were childhood sweethearts and they met 9 years ago. How sweet...awwwBarf.
April Guzzi (29) and Vinny Piazza (29) - Here is your stereotypical Italian Couple from Dobbs Ferry New York. They were seeing each other for 10 years - but it took Vinny 5 years to pop the question. As I said - stereotypical.
Scott Milner (26) and Jessica Coughlin (25) - This couple, from King of Prussia, PA, happened when Scott broke up Jessica's engagement. I can see that this may not be the most morally virtuous couple here.
Susan Byrom (21) and Coyt Johnson (28) - 'If I could make the perfect woman for me - this is who it would be - minus a few small quirks.' This comes from Coyt, and that, plus Susan's very young age, makes this group a very big I don't know in my mind.
For the record, my top 3, after only seeing the intros, are Andy and Becca, Cindy and Chris, and Carolyn and Ethan. We'll see how good (or bad) my predictions are as we go through this series.
We start with all 8 couples travelling via helicopter over the strip in Las Vegas (is it just me, or is every single show being set in Vegas nowadays?). When they touch down, they are met by the lovely Lisa Dergan in front of the Venetian hotel.
Here are the rules. There are 2 events - a physical challenge and a relationship challenge. The 2 couples that win the challenges are the 'Power Couples' and can not be eliminated from that episode. The couples will then eliminate a team from the competition. Alliances anyone? The winning couple will get a 'Dream Wedding' designed by Colin Cowie, wedding planner of the stars. As long as there is no million dollar dowery attached to that, I'm cool with it.
The couples get to stay in the suites at the Venetian - and they are pretty sweet - stocked with jacuzzi's and love beds. Jessica and Scott also stock strategy, as they plan to not divulge much. 'The more you talk to people, the more you give about yourself.' warns Vinny to his fiance' April.
Those are people who are planning together - meanwhile, Cindy's relationship is already falling apart as she opts to sleep in different beds - since they live in different apartments. OK - they are engaged and they still live separately? This has got to be a set of actors living together - and we are seeing the drama rather quickly.
We get to see our first stunt of the show - 'To Have and To Hold'. Every stunt has an official name. Cute. If you've seen Fear Factor, you know what this it - it's a trust hold, seen in the Final Stunt of the Couples Edition of Fear Factor. Both people are attached to ropes, and you stay in the game as long as you can hold on to your partner. The couple that holds on the longest is Power Couple #1.
The power couple will not be Grace and Robter - they separate first. Carolyn and Ethan join them - and so do Becca and Andy. Cindy and Chris try some weird ballerina move and that doesn't work. Jessica and Scott drop to 4th and Vinny and April are in third. That leaves Tonya/Andree and Susan/Coyt. Tonya loses her grip and they break, which makes Susan and Coyt the first power couple. 'We're excited that we're not going to be eliminated on the first show.' says Coyt.
Andree and Tonya were in second - but they get a present from the first place team - a toast and a meeting with Susan and Coyt. They talk about strategy - and they talk about Ethan. Why Ethan? Because he put a commitment to both teams - without telling the other one. Someone else who has done that is Andy. Him and Becca are already squabbling about communication. We are starting to see the lines drawn between good team/bad team.
We also have a line between good team/stupid team. April screws up her make-up, and like in the silly beer commercial, she uses her make-up to scratch her cornea. Ouch. Vinny is concerned that the injury will cost her the competition. You should be more concerned about her eye, dude.
Or maybe more concerned about Vinny's answers. This game is called 'The Prenuptual Agreement'. The first question - Does your man's prenuptual agreement include to make love more than 4 times a week? Viny and April wear matching eye patches to start the game. AwwwwBleagh. Everyone except the Doctors get the answer right.
The next question - Do you expect to call his mother-in-law 'Mom'? 4 couples get the first 2 questions right. Question #3 - Does your man want the pre-nuptual include that you tell him before you speak to an ex-boyfriend? After question #3, the same 4 couples (Becca/Andy, Jessica/Scott, Susan/Coyt and Grace/Robert) are perfect.
Question #4 - Does your man want the pre-nuptual to include that you refrain from telling him how to drive when he's behind the wheel? Grace/Robert get knocked out of this question, so the other 3 couples will be around for the tie-breaker. Tie breaker #1 - Does your man want your 'pre-nup' to include that you defer to him in major financial situations? Jessica and Scott get knocked out and the look on Coyt's face says 2 things - #1 - They lose to Becca and Andy and #2 - they can't knock out Andy. 'I'm going to kill you' sneers Susan, who gets pissy and tells Coyt that they are now forced to deal with a couple who wants them voted off. Becca and Andy overhear that and they confront Susan about it immediately.
'What in the world possessed you do to do that in that forum?' yells Coyt to Susan, as Coyt is trying to spin this into damage control. A clearly hurt Becca, meanwhile, talks to Andy, clearly worried that Coyt/Susan is going to get them on the next episode.
Coyt tell Andy that they heard that Andy was making commitments to other teams. Andy wants to know who. We all know who - it was Andree - but Coyt didn't say Andree - he said Ethan. They do ally themselves, but this is probably the shakiest alliance in the game. They have another job to do - which is to send out invites to the remaining couples - all except one. Each of them decide and they double-handshake on their alliance, which should last around as long as the idea of a sequel to 'From Justin to Kelly'.
Here is the order of the names on the invites - Couple #1 is CIndy and Chris. Next up is April and Vinny (the eyes have it), followed by Grace and Robert. Tonya and Andree are fourth - so the original gossip spreader gets to blab for another week. The final couple to stay is Ethan and Carolyn, and Carolyn admits to dealing with both of them.
That leaves Jessica and Scott - and they leave the competition. Coyt tells Scott that they did it randomly - but both teams really got rid of them because they saw them as a threat. If this didn't underline the power of alliances in this game, than nothing will.
My take? It's an average mish-mosh of games - but average is not exactly bad, and we already have some sizzle, thanks to Susan's mouth. This could be a very entertaining game - as long as the rules stay as is.
One thing we know for certain - one of the couples will not be staying on the show. We'll see who that is next week.
On our last show (which was our first show), the alliances have already started to form - and the back stabbing has already begun as Scott and Jessica are quickly shown the door. But enough strategy - let's take a dip in the pool! April and Vinny can't go to the pool - and they are marked to be chopped off by the now 4 team alliance. 'If we get chopped off, I will not be surprised.' says a perturbed Vinny.
The women hang out and go shopping, while the guys go to a nightclub called The Roman Jungle. The do some dancing, and some drinking, and some more dancing - maybe a bit too much drinking for Robert (and Grace), as they get in well after midnight. Robert is flushed after only 2 drinks - and that's going to be one nasty hangover.
Could that affect their physical challenge for the show? 'You're like laying on the bed and asking for a trash can.' says a very steamed Grace, who goes to get the can - and maybe to put it on Robert's head. Ethan and Carolyn decide to not care about tv and talk about Carolyn being a bitch.
Maybe it's because that she feels like a 'Ball and Chain'. That's the name of the second physical challenge, in which teams need to take a 100 pound ball (that's attached to them), unchain themselves from it and drag it from one side of the pool to the other. April and Vinny do not have to compete - so they don't - but they will automatically be put in last. That means that they need to win the last relationship event in order to not be on the chopping block.
Robert was doing well - but thanks to the booze, he cramps up, and he leaves Grace in the swimming pool all by herself. That's nice. It all comes down to 2 teams - Susan and Coyt and CIndy and Chris. It boils down to Susan and Coyt working as a team Vs. Chris doing all the work - and we know what happens in that case - the team wins. Susan and Coyt gets to be a power couple for the second straight week and Chris is cursing himself out.
And he should be, as the Alliance of Coyt/Susan, Ethan/Carolyn and Andy/Becca discuss to either get rid of Cindy/Chris or Vinny/April. Andy is just content to sit back and listen - he thinks that Coyt's team deserves to win, that is, if he and Becca can't knock them out.
They may not have to choose - Vinny and April are going back to the emergency room, because they didn't get rid of the mascara in April's eye. While they are doing that, the rest of the couples get to gamble at the casino. The women have $2,000 - and they will bet half or all of their money on each question, pending on how confident the women are that the guys are going to get the answer right.
What should never be included in a wedding invite? A. Map to the ceremony, B. Registry Info, C. Hotel and Lodging info. The answer is B, and you would have to be a lummox to get this one wrong. We have 6 pairs of lummox's - only Coyt/Susan got it correct.
Question #2 - What are the Bride and Groom supposed to do when someone toasts them? A, Stand Up, B. Clink Glasses and drink, C. Stay seated and don't drink.
The answer is C. Scott gets it right again - and they are pummelling everyone.
WHo dances with the bride first? A. Groom, B. Father of the Bride, C. Father of the Groom. The answer, is of course, A. After three questions of 'Wedding Betiquette', Susan and Coyt have amassed a whopping $10,500 - and only Carolyn/Ethan, with $4,500, can catch them. Their alliance is looking very safe right now.
FInal Topic - the Reception - and Susan bets it all. Really, it doesn't matter, because they are in their regardless, but Coyt thinks that Susan is confused. When is it acceptable for the guests to leave? A. After the bride and groom's first dance, B. After the Band plays the first set, C. After the Cake has been cut. The answer is C - and Carolyn and Ethan get it right to solidify second place - but Susan and Coyt, if they get it right, win both events and they get to eliminate a couple all by themselves. THAT'S why Susan bet the chips - and Coyt, the buffoon that he is, didn't get the message. He also gets the question right, and Coyt/Susan have all of the power. Susan is cursing Coyt out and Coyt is just shrugging his shoulders.
Vinny and April come back - and Vinny is convinced that they are going. Susan isn't, 'If we get rid of April and Vinny, we are going to look like the worst people in the world.' Susan and Coyt decide to be diplomatic and go to everyone's room to ask them why they want to stay, who they think should go, and what people say about them. Grace/Robert say that they should go after the threats - and that makes them safe. Chris/Cindy say that they should be careful about Becca/Andy - and Coyt and Susan sort of had that feeling. A visit to Tonya's and Andree's room confirms that - until Coyt tells them that Cindy told them that she overheard Andy say that he was going to get rid of them. That confuses Tonya, who is going to check up on that later.
They go to Carolyn/Ethan's room - and they tell them that they are concerned about Andy/Becca. Carolyn and Ethan deny that anyone said anything to them. Meanwhile, Tonya goes over to check with Cindy - and Cindy says that no one told her that - it was just her intuition. Oops. 'I'm playing the way that Im playing the way. I'm not going to play dirty.' says Coyt.
Here come the envelopes. Coyt reminds Susan that they have to make a smart decision. 'Someone has to go home.' Meanwhile, Andy is starting to sew the seeds of Coyt and Susan's downfall by telling Andree that Susan and Coyt said that someone told them that Andree wanted to vote them off. Andree is confused - and pissed. Andy is setting it up so that if Coyt and Susan make the wrong move, they will be toast if they are not a power couple from now on - but judging on how strong they are, they may be toast anyways unless they are a power couple.
The invites and prepared - and they are listed in order of preference. Grace and Robert are first. Huh? Cindy and Chris are next, which means that unless they have a change of heart and booted Vinny and April, one of the alliance is going home. Ethan and Carolyn are third, and April and Vinny are fourth. Wow. Coyt and Susan do not take the easy way out - and they instead take out Andy and Becca. Tonya and Andree are the couple who get the last invite. Last words? 'If they want to play dirty, that's fine.' says a steamed Becca. Andy tells the remaining people to watch their back, as he swears that he never did anything wrong.
As for Andy and Becca? They tell Coyt and Susan that they blew it, big time. After the ceremony, Ethan and Carolyn went to confirm with Coyt and Susan that their alliance is still safe - and Coyt and Susan say that they are still set. Coyt was very concerned that Andy was turning into a salesman 'When he was done talking to us, I wanted to take a long shower afterwards.'
From what it was looking like, it seems like Coyt did the right thing - it definitely seemed like Andy, who was marketing himself, was only looking for the right time to plunge the knife into Coyt's back. That being said, Coyt and Susan better do some winning, because the next week that they are not a power couple will probably be their last week that they are on the show. We'll see if that week is next week.
We have 2 couples down - and 6 left to go. Susan and Coyt, who have won 3 of the 4 power challenges, look like the team to beat - a fact that has not gone unnoticed by the other competitors. Ethan and Carolyn miss talking to Andy and 'Becca 'We can still have fun here - but it's not going to be the fun that we've been having. It's going to be a game.' Meanwhile, the only team that Susan and Coyt do trust is Cindy and Chris - but they are not a team in the alliance.
Of course, Coyt and Susan don't have to worry about it as long as they win challenges - and one of the advantages of sticking around is to meet with wedding guru Colin Cowie. Today's episode with Colin is to decide the best dining arrangements and table fashion statements. This is as much fun as watching Gigli 6 straight times - but it turns into a competition when they have to find a missing plate - which is in the fountain. Vinny finds a plate - but it's Coyt's and Susan sees it immediately. She gives it to Coyt and he brings it to the end. Once again, Susan and Coyt wins, which leads Vinny to say this - 'Once I realized that it was Coyt's, I should have thrown it away and watch it shatter to the floor.' Ouch.
The winning teams, in order, get to pick out the setting that they want. Robert accidentally breaks his plate in half, so he not only has to have his hand bandaged, they get the setting that would be good if we witnessed the wedding of the Creature From the Black Lagoon. Chris, meanwhile, doesn't even try to jump in the water, and he and Cindy get stuck with the Children of the Damned collection. Cindy rips into Chris and that carries into their bedroom. 'Cindy can be difficult' laments Chris, and it seems like it right now. 'We both have to choose our own battles.' says Cindy, who is getting into it.
Does Cindy get into Black Jack? She better be into High Stakes - they get $10,000 to play with. You get to play 20 hands - and the winning couple not only gets to be Power Couple number 1 - but they get to keep all of the money that they win. Nice. The minimum bet is $500, while the maximum is $5,000.
Vinny is very experienced in BlackJack - and he thinks that this could be his opportunity to finally win a challenge. It's looking that way - as Coyt and Susan lose $4,000 on the first hand. Vinny is clapping - which is something that Coyt and Susan notices.
On the second hand, Carolyn and Ethan split 20's (which you should NEVER do) but they win both of those hands. despite that, at the halfway mark, they are in 4th with $4,500. Vinny/APril are in first with $10,500, and the dangerous Susan/Coyt team are in 32nd with $7,800. Andree/Tonya round up the top 4 with $5,500.
It's Last Hand time - and no one can figure out what Susan and Coyt have because they hid their chips very well. Cindy and Chris realize this and they go the full $5,000, while Coyt/Susan limp in with $500. Chris/Cindy double up and put everything out there with a 10 over a 5 showing - and they get an 8 for 18. The dealer winds up with 17, and Chris and Cindy double their money. That redeems the couple, and all of the couples rejoice for them. They think that they have it - and they have $17,000.
Is that enough? That certainly beats Ethan/Carolyn ($100), Grace/Robert ($1,050) and Andree/Tonya ($2,400), but do they beat the big guns? They beat Vinny/Tonya ($14,300) so they only need to beat Coyt/Susan - but they racked up more than enough in the second half. They finish with $18,000 and Vinny is again shaking his head in disbelief. 'This is huge for us' says Coyt, who win $18,000 - and are Power Couple #1. Vinny? 'I'm pissed. I didn't play the way that I usually do - with aggression - and that screwed us in the end. I'm pissed.'
As for the $18,000? It's time to pay off debt and schooling, so even if they lose, they still win. The other couples don't nearly feel the same way. 'I'm sick of them winning', says Robert, and the rest of the teams are planning to try to get rid of them - if they ever get the opportunity.
But it's fun and games time - time to go on the roller coaster - in this case, one that is 18,000 feet in the air. Grace gets taken on a different ride - Robert, who already has injured his hand, gets his ego injured as he has no intention of going on the ride. Grace bitches him out in front of everyone 'She called me every damn name in the dictionary - and she did it in front of everyone.' That squabbling continues in the Ghost Bar, where they separate themselves from each other. If they don't get their act together, they don't have a ghost of a chance of winning the next event.
Vinny and April are stressing out over the next event - which is another Newlywed-type game. Whoever gets 5 answers right first wins the game. If she saw you glance at a pretty woman in public, would she A. Laugh it Off, B. Get upset, or C. You never look at women. That's the first question that's used, and everyone gets it right - except Chris and Cindy. Not a good way to start the game.
Next question - If you wake her at 3am to make love would she A. Say No and go back to bed, B. Say yes immediately, C. Say no, then get her to change her mind. Susan/Coyt and April and Vinny are the only people to get both questions right so far.
Question #3 - If the woman's mother criticized you behind your back, would the woman A. let her talk, then tell you, B. let her talk, then say nothing, C. tell mom not to tell her about it. Vinny makes his first mistake - but Susan and Coyt get it right, as they are all alone in the lead - again.
If you wanted to lend $500 to you and your fiance's friend, would she say A. Talk to the friends first, B. Say No, C. Say Yes, no problem. Coyt and Susan FINALLY get one wrong, which throws them into a tie with everyone except Grace/Robert.
Next up - If you called your fiance to put on something sexy, she would put on A. Lingerie, B. A sexy Dress, C. NOTHING. Vinny/April knock themselves out, and they are squabbling already.
Last regular question - If she accidentally put a scratch on your car, would she A. Tell you immediately, B. Give you some loving, then tell you, C. Not tell you. Andree and Tonya and Cindy and Chris both get it right - so they are tied at 5. Coyt gets it wrong - but they are sort of relieved that they don't have to deal with the pressure all by themselves this time around.
So do they share it with? Here's the tiebreaker - If you took the phone behind closed doors and didn't tell her who, you're talking to, would she A. interrupt, B. Never ask, C. Let you finish, and then ask. Andree gets it right - and Chris gets it wrong. That's the ball game, and Andree/Tonya are power couple #2.
It wasn't a must win for either team, since they are all aligned with each other. Grace/Robert and Vinny/April should be worried - because they are the only 2 teams that aren't in the alliance. Grace/Robert are the teams that are bickering, but Vinny looks like he's ready to go. 'I want to get rip-roaring drunk, so if they vote me off, I can go blaaaaahhhhhh - I don't care.'
Some couple will be able to get drunk after the elimination ceremony. It really looks like Vinny is ready to go. 'I realize how this game is getting in the way of our relationship.' Here are the invitations, in order - Cindy/Chris, Grace/Robert, Carolyn/Ethan. Vinny gets his wish, and he and April can toss their cookies wherever they want. 'Susan and Coyt are smart - they knew that we were gunning for them.' so they get gunned down first.
Next week, as the show moves to Saturday, another couple is moving out. And do Susan and Coyt LOSE a challenge? We'll find out in 10 days.
No, you didn't read that wrong. Yes, that show got changed to a Saturday from a Wednesday. Yes, the ratings are going down the sewer - which won't change now that it's going against football. But let's see what happens in the episode anyways.
When we last checked out our couples - we have 3 of our couples falling into disarray, but the couple who is the closest together is the one in the biggest danger. Susan and Coyt have won by far the most amount the most amount of challenges - and they have to be the heavy favorite - as long as they win challenges. If they don't, then the other teams need to get rid of them as soon as possible.
We start with Susan and Coyt not going together at all - Susan is accusing Coyt of being a boozeaholic, and Coyt snaps in front of the camera. Andree and Tonya and the other couples also have moments of weaknesses - and we all get to see it on camera. 'If couples don't fight, then they don't have a relationship.' says Coyt.
Susan and Coyt know that they are on the chopping block. 'If we don't win, we will probably be marked as the first couple to go.' We then get to see on eof the first 2 challenges of the evening - this first one is about heights, which Tonya wants nothing to do with. Andree calls her a big wuss, and they bickered in the limo.
Here is the physical challenge, called 'Leap of Faith' - the men have to grab a ring and leap off of a building. The men, suspended by a set of girders, will toss a ring to their spouse, who will put their ring on a podium. Whoever gets the most amount of rings in 60 seconds wins the challenge. Here's the catch - if you don't get at least 5 rings, the platform under the woman drops and she goes down in free fall. Of course the women don't fall and go splat on the sidewalk, but it is a nasty drop and the couples are acting like if they don't get 5, the woman will go splat. At the very least, it will be No Sex For You.
Robert and Grace begin the challenge as the first couple. Grace is fine as she catches the first 2 rings, but she misses the next 2 and it's clear that Robert won't have enough time to get Grace the 5 rings. Time is up, and with only 3 rings obtained, down she goes. She looks like she was going to lose her lunch.
If she looked like that, how will Tonya, the women who hates heights, react? 'I told you I'm going to get you 5 rings.' says Andree - well, that's what Robert said, and Tonya says that she can't do it. They bicker some more, and Andree is trying his best to get her to play. His best is not good enough, and Tonya decides to not even try it. 'I was pissed' says Andree, who throws down a ring in disgust.
Carolyn and Ethan are the next group up - and Ethan learned what Robert did wrong. He moves much quicker than Robert, and he gets Carolyn the 5th ring with 4 seconds to spare. Andree and Tonya look on, and Andree is ready to toss Tonya and impale her right onto the pedestal.
Cindy and Chris are couple number 4 - and Chris moves faster than Ethan. Not only is Chris faster, Cindy doesn't miss a ring. That gives them 6 - and it's good enough for the lead. Ethan watches the event, then turns around in disgust
Coyt and Susan are the final group up - and it doesn't look good when Susan misses her first ring. They get the next 6 rings - and they wind up tying Cindy and Chris.
Tie breaker time - and here's how this works. The men and women switch positions - and the platform will drop, regardless of how many rings they have collected. Whichever team gets the most amount of rings wins. Susan and Coyt start - and Susan throws as well as a blind muskrat. They get a miserable 2 in 60 seconds. This opens the door wide open for CIndy and Chris - and Chris catches the winning ring with 8 seconds left to go. 'We've been so close in these competitions.' says Chris, and they finally win a competition.
'If I get eliminated because I didn't get into an event, then it's something I have to live with.' that comes from Tonya - and Andree is convinced that they are in trouble. Susan is not as troubled - but she does not want to let her team's fate being controlled by other teams - so they make it a priority to win the second event. 'It's been a stressful 2 days', says Susan, as they are already practicing for the second event.
But while some people are working, others are playing - Andree and Tonya relax at a spa. Andree has been eyeballing the ladies at the spa and pool, which allows Tonya to say 'Andree is going to get divorced before he is going to get married.' Ouch.
The mental challenge is called 'Sit down and forever hold your peace.' Like the other ones, you have to match the spouse. Question #1 - What is the one attractive quality that his ex had that you don't have? Question #2 - How many times does your fiance says that he thinks about sex every day? Question #3 - Of all of your friends, which one did the guy say was the hottest? We are getting a whole bunch of wrong (and funny) answers. There is a 3 way tie - with 1 right question.
Now it's the women's turn to match the guys. What is the name of the last guy that she kissed passionately before she met you? What % of the time did she say that you listened to her? After those 5, there is a 2 way toe between Susan/Coyt and Andree/Tonya. Last question - Other than you, which guy still left in the game has the best body? Andree gets his question wrong, so if Coyt gets it right, them and Susan win. Coyt doesn't, which means that we have a 4-way tie with everyone - except Chris and Cindy.
Sudden Death time - you miss this question, you're gone. Which woman was most bummed out when he got engaged? Susan/Coyt and Robert/Grace get it wrong, so they are gone, and Susan is very worried about their continued existence in this game.
Tie breaker question #2 - What is the one thing that your fiance wishes that you would stop spend money on? Ethan and Carolyn get it wrong. If Tonya gets it right, then they win the game. Tonya says 'Clothes', and that's what Andree says. They win the second event, and Tonya is redeemed from backing out of the first challenge.
Strategy time - Carolyn thinks that Susan and Coyt are gone - and so do Susan and Coyt. 'If my eye was on the prize, and personalities were not into play. I'd be going to vote us out.' Maybe, but in terms of commitment, the only couple that is not in the clique of commitment is Robert/Grace - so I can see them going first. There are only 3 couples on the block, though, so you never know...
Here come the invitations to stay in the game this week. The first couple to be invited back is Ethan and Caroline. The other couple to be invited is...Coyt and Susan. So the couples chose loyalty over potential threat. The other couples consider it payback for keeping them around in the competition. Grace and Robert felt it coming, and unlike previous eliminations, there wasn't any bad feelings.
So the alliance of four has hold - and they are the only 4 left. But now they must turn on each other - and we also get the obligatory twist. What is the twist, what teams get twisted out of shape, and which team will be out of time? We all find out in a week.
For the first few episodes, we have had commitments, which, for the most part, have been fulfilled. Now we are getting down and dirty, and we will see which ones are stronger - and if commitment is stronger than strategy.
You would think that Susan and Coyt would be the first team to get knocked out - but maybe you are seeing that they are starting to bicker now that they are not winning challenges. Actually, all of the couples are bickering - except Ethan and Caroling, as Caroline is observing this. Could this be a hinting of things to come?
There will be no bickering for the brides, as they experience a BACHELORETTE PARTY!!!! The women meet some of their friends - and they decide to go to Chippendales...but not Cindy. She takes a moral stance on it and she doesn't go in. Tonya joins Cindy outside, but Carolyn, on the other hand, watches the barely clothed men with her best friend. Cindy thinks that the guys are going through the same thing, and he thinks that Chris may be going through the same thing that Chris did. 'Had (either of us) gone in, I don't think we'd be getting married any time soon.'
The men are seeing the naked...silverware, as they are gwtting dining tips in ettiquette 101. It seems like that it's actually useful and they have a toast for the evening. Meanwhile, Susan and Carolyn are toasting the guys at 11:45 pm while Cindy (who she thinks that her parents will kill her if she is caught doing anything bad on tape) and Tonya hang outside. Flashback to an earlier conversation whereshe divides the bad with a big pillow. Cindy loves Chris - but she loves her parents even more and that has been a huge problem with her on this show.
What would be a bigger problem for them is if they don't win the first of the 2 challenges. The couples are greeted with a Fear Factor-type apparatus. As the couples stand on platforms, a set of bars will be rotating towards them - the low bar (that you must jump over) and a high bar (that you must duck). 2 couplds will be competing against each other in each heat, and the couple that survives wins the competition.
The first heat is Susan and Coyt Vs. Andree and Tonya. Andree gets knocked off, but he stays on the rig. Coyt thinks that he's won - but he didn't, and that split second in hesitation costs him as he gets knocked off the platforn. Andree wins it by luck.
In the second heat, the women get knocked off early, which leaves it up to Ethan and Chris. They stay up there for a long time - over 30 minutes worth of long time - when Chris can't balance himself and he gets knocked off the platform. Ethan advances - and him and Carolyn meet Andree and Tonya in the finals. The women get knocked off very very early, which leaves the guys. You would think that they would do it for another 30 minutes, but Ethan once again pulls the teetering over the edge thing and Andree falls for it, like Coyt did. He goes over the edge and Ethan and Carolyn become Power Couple #1. 'Now hopefully, everyone will be coming to my room and laugh at my jokes.' kids Ethan.
You can choose where the couple spends their honeymoon. Why?
Everyone vlears their stress by taking dancing lessons. Well, that's not helping Susan, who's family doesn't want dancing at the wedding and who's dad is not into dancing at all. Susan then starts to cry and I'm left scratching my head. This breaks into a montage of who wants it more.
We'll see who wants it more in the second game - 'For Better or for Worse'. 6 questions will be asked - whoever gets the most amount of questions right wins. Questions #1 - One negative quality that he thinks that you share with your mother is...Question #2 - He finds it completely unattractive when you...Question #3 - Ladies - He thinks that you are unable to compromise with him when it comes to...Well, you can see where these questions are going - it's time to Nit Pick! After the halfway mark, Tonya and Andree are at 2, Cindy and Chris are at 1, and Coyt/Susan and Ethan/Carolyn are looking for the address of the closest sushi restaurant.
Question #4 - Romantically speaking, even though she told you likes it, one thing she wishes that you'd never do again is...Question #5 - One think you think is sexy - but she doesn't - is...Question #6 - She's said she's told you a million times that you never remember to...? Tonya and Andree are still at 2 - and everyone else is still in the land of Suck, so if Andree gets the question right, they win and there is no more drama. He does, and Tonya/Andree and Ethan/Carolyn are yuor episodes Power Couples.
This means that Coyt/Susan or Cindy/Chris are going home. This is an interesting decision. If you are talking threats, then Susan/Coyt should be packing their bags - but Chris's performance in the first stunt makes them a very strong threat now as well. 'I'm hoping that our commitment will stand over how much of a threat that they think that we are right now.'
Cutting to the chase, the couple who will be invited back is...Coyt and Susan. That is not the strategy that I would have used - you need to get rid of the strongest threats now. But the couples do value the commitment over the game, and we are down to the elite three.
Afterwards, Chris and Cindy talk, and they express themselves - so much that Cindy wants to get married now in Vegas. Sure enough, they do just that - 2 days later - in Vegas - with their family. Cindy breaks down, and we have our first wedding on the show - albeit, not the final one, but one nonetheless. AwwwwBarf.
Next time out - we have an Amazing Race to the Altar. How much of a rip-off will this idea be? Find out in 7 days...
We are down to the final three couples - and one of them is going bye-bye. If we have the same format that one person wins the physical challenge and one team wns the social challenge, then there would be only one team left - and that would be a very boring climax. I'm doubting that they would do it this way, so let's see what they have in store for us in this episode.
'It's not about winning', says Susan, who accuses Coyt of being conniving. Sure enough, the pressure is mounting and the couples are feeling it. The couples meet Lisa, and there is only one competition - there are 4 challenges. Whoever wins more of the challenges becomes the sole power couple - and they decide which of the other 2 remaining couples that they will be taking to the finals.
The first challenge is called 'Get me to the Church on Time' - The couples have 90 minutes to get as many pictures of the chapels as possible. Whoever gets the most pictures wins this leg of the challenge. The 2 couples quickly get taxis, while Susan and Coyt go to get a rent-a-car. Ethan and Caroline draw first blood and get a pic - but Andree and Tonya get one right afterwards.
Here's some examples of the lovely dialogue between Caroline and Ethan, who see their way blocked by a giant Pepsi truck. Ethan - 'Don't kill or eat anybody yet.' Caroline - 'I may have to.'
Coyt and Susan decide to get a cab - and give him the full $100 to stay with them for the 90 minutes. We see a montage of them getting many pictures - and then the montage switches to the other 2 couples getting pics as well.
With 5 minutes remaining, Ethan/Caroline and Susan/Coyt turn in their pics. With 5 seconds left, Tonya/Andree do the same. Did the extra time give them the win? Andree seems to think so - but we won't know who wins that until the end.
For the second leg of the race, each couple gets their own hummer - nice. At 11:20, they arrive at Lake Mead for 'With This Ring' - the couples have to pick up big plastic rings while driving a Skidoo in the water around buoys. The couples then have to put the rings over a flag and then race to the finish. 'This is the only part of the race that you will know in advance who has won.' says Lisa.
Susan and Coyt, despite dropping a ring, are far in the lead - until Susan screws up putting the rings on the flag. Andree and Tonya get the chance to get the lead - but Tonya screws up too. All of the couples have a chance to catch Susan and Coyt, but they don't take advantage and Susan/Coyt finish first. Coyt does a back-flip off of the skidoo into the water, while Ethan and Andree want to push their respective women into the water. 'I was like damn, can they lose? Are they human?' wonders Andree.
Leg #3 - Each couple is stanging in a tank filled with water of ice. A cold shower will be raining on you. You have to hold on for as long as you can - the person who stays in for the longest amount of time wins in a game they call 'Bridal Shower'. I'll let Sarah give you my opinion of this. 'This is ridiculous.'
'Nothing prepares you for ice cold water on the head.' says Caroline - and her husband, Ethan, is the first person to wuit. Caroline quickly joins her. Andree and Tonya are next - and Tonya is making weird noises. That throws off Andree's game, but when Tonya leaves, Andree can stand there longer - much longer. He gets out - and it looks like they beat Ethan and Caroline.
But can they beat out Susan and Coyt? It seems like they can. Susan isn't that long in there and Coyt sounds like a chicken with his head cut off. He hyperventilates and he gets out of there. It looks like Andree and Tonya wins this leg, as they give the other teams the cold shoulder.
For the fourth and final leg of the race, the couples need to get 'Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed and Something Blue.'The Old is back at the Viva Las Vegas Hotel. The new can be purchased at the Bonznza Gift Shop. The couples have to Borrow some rice at a museum, while the Blue is actually Blue Suede shoes, which are hidden at the THomas and Mack center. The first couple to come back with everything wins this leg of the race.
Each couple takes on a different task first - Andree/Tonya goes for the old, Susan/Coyt goes for the new and Caroline/Ethan go for the blue. Susan/Coyt quickly run into the Thomas and Mack - and the grab the shoes, which leaves Ethan cursing up a storm. Meanwhile, Tonya/Andree get both old and new and move into the lead.
After both teams are done cursing out Coyt and Susan ('I am sick and tired of being beaten by them' moans Caroline) and Susan and Coyt are done cursing each other out, in a weird hummer race, Susan and Coyt once again beat Ethan and Caroline to the rice - but they both get it done, and now everyone is tied at 2.
12:30 am - and while Tonya is about to find the rice, the other 2 couples are racing to find something new. Andree finds the rice, and they are up to 3 completed tasks. All they have to do - is to find the shoes at the Thomas and Mack center.
Caroline is looking for something Old, and she goes to the Viva Las Vegas gift shop - but that's the wrong place and they screw up that task, That pretty much finishes off Ethan and Caroling, and it's now a 2 team race.
1:10 am - Susan and Coyt get something old and are down to their final item - as is Andree and Tanya, who are still at the Thomas and Mack center. Meanwhile, Ethan and Caroline are sniping at each other. That turns out to be really academic, as Andree and Tonya find their last item, and all they need to do is to get back to the starting point. Coyt and Susan find the last item - and so does Ethan. It's a three team race to the end.
'I'm tired... you know what, I'm too old for this.' says Caroline, and she is finally about to break down. Ethan gets their spirits up long enough for them to run to the finish line. Runing down neck and neck, the winning team is...To Be Continued. To Be Continued is the winning team? Well, no, but it means that NOTHING happens on this episode, and I have just spent an hour of my life that I would like to have back, so I could play .hack, Vandal Hearts 2, clean my apartment, go bowling, listen to cd's, count butterflies...
I am done ranting and raving - and apparently, so is the show. We are down to the final episode, where we see who gets the wedding - then I have to cover an hour of reality wedding. Yuck.
But before we can get to who wins the wedding, we have to first get to who wins the 4 leg challenge. Before we get to who wins the 4 leg challenge, we need to see who first wins the scavenger hunt portion of the 4 leg challenge. The hip bone's connected to the thigh bone...
We start the episode with the gratuitous flashbacks - then we have the couples pacing back and forth - and not knowing who won. Wha? Did we miss something here?
I guess not, because the results are going to be revealed now.
As we know, Susan and Coyt won the Seadoo race. The picture collection was won by Susan and Coyt as well (23, Vs 18 for Ethan and Carolyn and 14 for Andree and Tonya). In the shower endurance, Susan and Coyt came in third, Ethan and Carolyn came in second, and Andree and Tonya wins the shower challenge. It boils down to the scavenger hunt. As long as Andree and Tonya did not win that one, then Susan and Coyt win - and Susan and Coyt do wind up winning the final leg. That guarantees that Susan/Coyt stays - and they have to decide right there on who leaves.
Ethan/Caroline has the stronger commitment to Susan/Coyt - but they are also the bigger threats. The couple couldn't make a choice, so they flipped a coin - well that's what they told the couples, but Susan knows that Tonya is a liability to the Andree/Tonya team. The couple who will be competing is...Andree and Tonya. Ouch. Caroline and Ethan get knocked out, and from a game-playing strategy standpoint, that's the right move.
It's time for the couples to say goodbye. Caroline insists that there are no hard feelings to either couple, and they depart. LEt's see if those sentiments ring true at the wedding, shall we? According to the TV, Ethan/Caroline will be married on September 27, 2003. Cute...
We are here at 7:30 am in the finals - and we have one more day left. Susan complains that her parents don't care about what Susan wants for the wedding. - and we go back to the dancing and alcohol segment. Susan's parents won't show up - but Coyt's will Awww....Andree is psyching himself up for the last challenge - and that he has to win.
The final challenge is a 3 leg challenge. Whoever wins 2 out of 3 wins the whole shooting match. Each couple gets $10,000 to start - and they are allowed to bet it in any way possible. You can keep any money you make - but you must make at least 5 $1,000 bets. Whoever wins the most amount of money in 30 minutes wins.
Susan and Coyt play black jack - because it's the only game they know how to play. That's also the game that Andree and Tonya play - and Andree lets Tonya play - they also play conservative - because they know that Susan and Coyt are big risk takers. That strategy would work - if Tonya and Andree were winning - but they aren't.
Both couples are continuing to lose - but Tonya stops at Blackjack and they move over to Craps. Meanwhile, Coyt takes control from Susan at the table - and he is watching his money go down the toilet. Susan wants to stuff Coyt down the toilet to chase after the money.
Susan and Coyt are down to their last $500 - and Susan is complaining. Coyt spend the last $500, and Coyt stupidly blows the last bet in 12 minutes and 35 seconds. They quibble and Coyt admits that he bet stupidly. 'Honey, you're acting like you're 5 years old. Stop it.' Coyt - 'Stop treating me like I'm 5 years old.' The two 5 year olds stop talking and they start calling their mommies. Well, no they don't.
While they are complaining, Tonya and Andree do well on the table. Andree wants to tip the dealer - but Tonya doesn't, because they never know if they need the tip. 'I don't want to lose to them by 1 dollar.;
They come back - and both couples have to make ONE LAST BET with ALL of their winnings. Tonya and Andree made $19,100, and they are in shock when they see Coyt and Susan with nothing. That takes Susan/Coyt out of the last bet, and Tonya and Andree win the first leg by default. All they need to do is win one more challenge.
Challenge #2 starts at 3pm - and both people are told to pick up a package on the side of the road. Coyt sees a woman, which Susan says looks like Coyt's mom. He can't possibly think that it's his mom - but sure enough, it's mommy! 'There's no better package that I can pick up.' says Coyt. Tonya and Andree's package is Andree's mom.
At 4pm, the couples come to the El Dorado Dry Lake Bed - and they find a 1963 convertible, which is as good as new - but the gas and brake pedals have been relocated. The steering will be operated by the groom, the gas and throttle will be operated by the bride, and the brake....has been put to the back of the car - where mom gets to work the brakes. You lose 2 seconds for each cone you knock over in the course, and whoever gets through with the shortest time wins.
Coyt's mom is nervous that she will blow the race and the wedding for the kidlets. She shouldn't b worried - they look like they did very well, which means that Andree and Tonya needs to do the same. They did have a communication system going, but it seems like they went slower than Coyt's team. Part of that was because Andree saw some of the cones being knocked down from Coyt's run. They did better in terms of the cones - but they seemed much, much slower. 'Part of me was thinking that we did win, so I was holding my breath for a second.' said an optimistic Andree.
Here we go - Susan and Coyt did it for 3 minutes and 3 seconds - but they hit cones - but only 2 of them, for a total of 3 minutes of 7 seconds. Tonya and Andree completed the course in.....an agonizing 4 minutes and 40 seconds. You can't win when you play not to lose, and Susan and Coyt (and mommy) tie the best of 3 up at 1. Everyone says goodbye to mommy, and they prepare for the final lap.
It has all come down to the last challenge - and this is yet another race. You get a clue to the check point, and then you have do a task and then get to another check point, etc. Whoever gets to the end first wins the Wedding, and sure enough, we finally do get THE AMAZING RACE...TO THE ALTAR.
'If you Honeymoon in Vegas, you need something to wear - it's waiting for you at the glitter gulch...'. Susan and Coyt get there - and the item is a dress. The next part tells them to go on a ship. That brings them to Treasure Island - Tonya yells that she found the clue, but Susan is within earshot and she tells Coyt about it for the next clue - which is to get a tux.
Susan and Coyt take the lead - and they have to go to the 'City of Lights', which Coyt thinks is the Stratosphere. The driver tells Andree and Tonya that they have to go to the 'Freemont Experience' - which is the laser show. They both go in different directions, which means that at least one of them went the wrong way - and that may be the dumbass move of the show.
Coyt went up to the Stratosphere - and Susan find out that they went the wrong way. Tonya and Andree are also told that they are going the wrong way - and the right place is Paris. The way that the couples handle it may tell the tale - Andree and Tonya shut up and move their butt, while Susan and Coyt are sniping and Susan is telling Coyt that they may as well give up, which leads to Coyt verbally bitch-slapping her. I'm getting a Flo/Zack flashback for the whole episode.
Both couples realize that they are going the wrong way, and the first team to make it to Paris is...Andree and Tonya. But it's Susan and Coyt that know where the flag is - and they get there first. The clue tells them to get a veil and see a genie with the lamp - which has to be the Aladdin.
1:30 am - Coyt runs right past the clue - and Susan yells at him to look outside. Sure enough, there is the clue, and they go run to the penultimate clue. Coyt 'We will run until we get a cab' Susan 'You are not wearing a dress.' Andree and Tonya ask the cabbie - and the cabbie says that it will take them a few miles. That's a long way to run, and fortunately, Susan/Coyt get a taxi. Susan and Coyt get to the Limo - and they are told to run to the top of the hotel - NO ELEVATORS.' Running - now that's something that Susan and Coyt are used to.
Both of the guys are yelling at their respective women to run - and Tonya looks like she is running out of gas. The couple that gets to the set of flags on the 12th floor is.....Susan and Coyt. They win the race - and they win the wedding - 5 minutes before Tonya and Andree get there...or should I say Andree, as he leaves Tonya gasping for air on the 10th floor. NIce. Andree goes to get Tonya, and they celebrate together - but they don't come home empty handed. They get the free Honeymoon, thanks to RTTA, and everyone has reason to celebrate - and the $19,100 that they made will be good for some souvenirs. As for Susan and Coyt, Coyt yells, 'There will be DANCING at our WEDDING!!!!'
'The moment has finally arrived' starts our favorite announcer. Susan and Coyt's family and friends show up - as well as the other couples from the show. Based on some of the burnt bridges that Coyt and Susan have made, this may not be the wedding of dreams that we are talking about here...
Colin Cowie gets the formal and traditional there. Part 1 is the outdoor ceremony, with hundreds of blue/white flowers and roses. The altar is covered with flowers and garlands, and there will be a cocktail reception with a champagne fountain. We also get food at the reception - but first...the wedding. Will Susan's parents will show up? 'Do I think my parents will show up? No.' Way to go, supportive parents. 'I have Coyt there - as long as he is there,nothing else matters.'
On to the wedding, which is being narrated by Colin, who sounds like a cross between Herman Munster, Robin Leach and Vincent Price. Chris and CIndy come down in the wedding party Abby the sister is also coming down. Leah, Susan's friend and Brandon, Coyt's brother is next. The maid of honor is Susan's sister Natalie, and Brett, Coyt's brother, is the best man. Susan's parents indeed wind up not showing up, so Coyt's father, Randy, is escorting Susan (and her $20,000 gown with diamond pendant) down the aisle. Way to look like morons in front of millions of people, mom and dad.
We start the sermon with the speeches, which no one wants to hear, so I won't bother with it. 'There are, in the end, 3 things that last, faith hope and love, the most powerful thing being love...Coyt, do you take Susan as your lawfully wedded wife.'...blah blah blah. Coyt yes 'With All my heart', Susan says 'I do', as they talk about how wonderful their lives are because of the other person. 'With this ring I give you my promise, from this day forward, you will never walk alone. My heart will be your shelter, my arms will be your home.' They become husband and wife and we get the obligatory AwwwwwBLEAGH moment. 'It was exactly what I've always wanted.' says Coyt. 'I could have never dreamed like a wedding like this - it's perfect' glows Susan.
Cindy and Chris, who were invited in, also thought that it went swimmingly - as did some of the other competitors = like Andree and Tonya, Caroline and Ethan - and even Andy and Becca.
We now start with part 2 - the pavilion, with the exquisite table settings that they won in the setting competition. We have prosuitto and melons, followed by Tuscan Chicken and a premiere wedding cake with 3 tires of shades of blue. Cost of the banquet? 'Ka-ching, ka-ching, ka-ching.' says Colin.
Brett the best man delivers the toast. 'As your younger brother, your relationship is a reason why I may give up bachelorhood some day...but don't hold your breath.' Susan's sister Natalie starts - and can't finish her statement without crying. 'No one deserves this moment like this person does.' Coyt's dad talks about the friends that Coyt made - and Vinny and April second it. The contestants congratulate Coyt and Susan - and told them that they earned it. They are also proud of them - and appreciate being there for the event. That's a nice touch of class - as Ethan and Caroline say that they made friends with everyone.
But not everyone is friends with each other. Now that the show was over, all of the couples saw what Cindy did to take Andy and Becca out of the game - and we get a flashback of what happened. Andy and Becca and Cindy and Chris are still at each other, with Andy calling Cindy/Becca jealous and Cindy calling Andy/Becca fake. 'I was so nice during the show - if they don't like it, then I'm going to be a b$tch.' Cindy - don't hold back - tell us how you really feel.
Chris holds up a toast - and everyone celebrates, letting bygones be bygones. AwwwwwBarf. Colin comes up and tells them that it's time to DANCE - which is what Susan and Coyt wanted to do in the first place. Welcome to club Johnston, with a lit dance floor, bar, and couches right off of the dance floor. They get the first dance, with the song 'Feels like home' - which was sung by the original singer who created the song, Chantal Kerviaszuk. She sings it as the couple swoons. We get through the song with Susan and Coyt kissing and hugging.
At 10pm, we have dancing - and tons of it. 'I'm having a ball... Colin Cowie is the man.' says Andree. Everyone is enjoying it - and Vinny says that Coyt's family rocks. Coyt throws veil - and Andy catches it. Susan throws the bouquet - and Tonya catches it. Hmmm...
Lisa stops them off - with one more detail to address. America votes to send them on the honeymoon - and they are sending them to...BECCA'S HOUSE!!!! No, only kidding. They are going to ECUADOR!!! (Andree and Tonya get the 'runner-up prize' of Fiji). Now I'm being serious, and Andree/Tonya's Fiji trip - or maybe even Becca's house would have been better.
It's time for the last dance, and Chantal is back to sing 'Time'. Susan is thrilled about her dream wedding, we get flashbacks of the series, we see Susan and Coyt drive away in their 'Just Married' car, and we fade to black. End of series.
My take? Well, this show was fun, but it brought NOTHING new to the table, ripping off almost every single relationship game in the process. They did rip off the games well, however, so the show gets a 'B-' from me. I don't see this getting a second season, but it does deserve to - if it could add some originality into it. Due to the day/time change, we may not see a second honeymoon, but the marriage was good enough for a decent reception.
