I neglected to take into account that I would be away the first two weekends The Amazing Race aired – so there won’t be a full recap this week and we’ll see how my schedule goes next. After that, though, I’ll be in full swing posting my every thought about each episode.

For the most part I was underwhelmed with the first episode. Maybe because my favorite team going into the race was eliminated on the first leg? Good thing I didn’t bet any money on my picks.

So the teams all headed out to Salvador, Brazil after departing from the Los Angeles Coliseum. There were a few blunders made by some teams early on at the airport, but nothing that ended up costing anyone too much in the end. Since the teams had to stay over night, any time lost was basically made up the following day even though their daytime departures were spread out 45 minutes.

Here’s an update on my overall impressions of the teams after the first episode. I’m listing them in the order they finished, so don’t scroll all the way down if you don’t want to know who was eliminated!

Nick & Starr: This brother/sister duo were not high on my list going in, but they surprised me. I actually liked them! They seemed to get along great. The way they interact reminds me a bit of my twin brother and I, except we’re more silly. At any rate, their relationship is about 1,000 times better than the brother/sister team from last season, Azaria & Hendekea.

Ken & Tina: Hey, did you guys know that Ken cheated on Tina? If Tina would have mentioned that one more time, I would have screamed. I’ve got such an issue with people who air their dirty laundry in public, but obviously it makes for good television. My prediction about the fate of their realtionship remains the same as it was before I ever saw them: it’s doomed.

Terence & Sarah: Here’s another team that I read wrong. Actually, I guess it’s just one half of the team since Sarah seems to be okay. I particularly loved her fluent Portuguese speaking. Girlfriend was flying through those words on the clue cards which made it quite amusing when everyone else stumbled over them. Terence, though. Wow. What was the deal with him asking Sarah to slow down? I thought he coached marathon runners. Maybe coaching means he sits on the sidelines and instructs them via  bullhorn.

Mark & Bill: These two seemed relatively okay. They performed well in all the tasks and weren’t annoying at all. I think we’ll be seeing them for some time to come. I especially loved how they were the only team to even attempt to contain their candy on those insane little carts as they cobbled through the crowded streets of Salvador. As I thought would happen, though, these guys were slowed down by the physical challenge of getting to the detour and then climbing down the cargo net. They didn’t do too bad, but Nick & Starr and Ken & Tina easily out performed them.

Kelly & Christy: The only thing we really learned about these two is that they had really bad marriages and even worse divorces. I’m sure we’ll get all the nitty-gritty, painful details as time goes on if they manage to stay in the race.

Toni & Dallas: I have to tell you – I’m impressed with the relationship of this mother and son team. I thought for sure we’d have a replay of seasons past where the parent had no concept whatsoever that their adult child was an actual, er, adult. Toni seems to have a good handle on the fact that her son is a grown man and they seem to get along splendidly. Refreshing. Let’s hope they keep it up!

Andrew & Dan: I thought these guys would be funny. I was wrong. So wrong. The complaining. Oy!

Aja & Ty: We didn’t learn a whole lot about these two so far. They must not have a lot of idiosyncrasies.

Anthony & Stephanie: Here’s what we know – Stephanie really wants a ring. Anthony really looks uncomfortable when she talks about the future and taking their relationship to the next level. Can not wait to see these two completely break down on national television.

Marisa & Brooke: Ahh, good old Team Hot Pink Velour Tracksuits. They did not disappoint nor surprise. What else needs to be said except they came in next to last, so we might not be seeing a whole lot of them for much longer. Too bad, so sad.

Anita & Arthur: Team Hippie Grandparents, what happened?? I had such high hopes for you. Yet you never once looked like you even knew you were on a race. Maybe it was all that hair weighing you both down. I have to admit I’m a bit relieved that I won’t be seeing that on my television screen any longer. Scary.

So next week we get to see Terence & Sarah start hating on Ken & Tina and Nick & Starr, who have formed an alliance. Good times. Can’t wait!

Tina Fey previously did an amazing Sarah Palin with Amy Poehler doing Hillary Clinton on SNL. In true SNL fashion, Tina Fey returned again as Sarah Palin being interviewed by Katie Couric.

SNL is good and Tina Fey is just unbelievable. Of course, my favorite quote from Tina Fey this week was, “I hope that come November I can stop playing Sarah Palin.” If Palin doesn’t win, then I hope she stays in the spotlight at least enough for Tina Fey to play her again. It’s just wonderful television.

Decisions, decisions!

On the season finale of New York Goes to Hollywood, which ended earlier than planned, our girl had to choose between being a queen of reality or a real actress. Which did she choose?

Here’s the music featured in Episode 5 of MTV’s Exiled. You can find the music from previous episodes of MTV’s Exiled here.

Atreyu
“Your Private War”

David Moore
“Breaking You Down”

– David Moore Music Video
Roark
“All of the Riches”

The Hanks
“Sometimes”

Andy Zipf
“Where You Are Not”

Eyelevel
“Not My Home”

Finally, a sweet 16er to make us proud. Marissa has shown the most heart and class of all the exiled cast. Unlike some of the others, Marissa is not really a spoiled brat, just a typical sheltered teen. She reflects the struggle kids face when their parents make life too easy and comfortable. One day they have to go out into the world and kids that have never had to rely on themselves are easy targets for people willing to take advantage.

Marissa was ‘exiled’ to the remote hills of India in hopes that she would finally learn how to stand on her own two feet. At the beginning of this episode, Marissa lacked the confidence and self-reliance needed to make the transition from child to adult. Like Chelsi from a previous episode, Marissa had trouble doing the simpliest tasks for herself. But unlike Chelsi, it was obvious that Marissa really wanted to do well. She actually did all the chores without complaints and never displayed an attitude towards her new family. I really felt for her when she cried. She wasn’t crying because things were hard and she wanted to go home. She cried because she realized that she couldn’t do things that she should be able to and didn’t want her host family to think she was stupid.

Marissa did really well and I wish her the best.

See the full episode.

On the first season finale of America’s Best Dance Crew, Jabbawockeez defeated Status Quo to become the champions. Jabbawockeez set the bar high on ABDC and have been hard at work fulfilling their mission to “inspire the world through music and dance.”

A special thanks to Chelsea over at KarmaloopTV for sending this new video with the Jabbawockeez they just launched.
Read more…

Mosaic
Black Eyed Peas-Let’s Get It Started

– Original Black Eyed Peas Let’s Get It Started music video
Las Caprice
Rihanna-SOS

– Original Rihanna SOS music video
Ju-Taun
Mario-Let Me Love You

Jazmin
Leona Lewis-Bleeding Love

– Original Leona Lewis Bleeding Love music video
NJ5ive
Usher-Confessions

– Confessions Part 2 Usher
Confessions Part 2 Usher Music Video
– Weird Al Yankovic’s parody called Confessions Part 3
S1
Young Jeezy-Put On

– Young Jeezy and Kanye West singing Put On
– Music Video
Concrete Rose
Fergie-Big Girls Don’t Cry
– Original Music Video

This week Omarion was the guest mentor and he offered the groups some great advice. I hope everyone appreciates the value of what they are being taught on this show.

I have no doubt that all these groups want to make it big in the music industry. But their lack of real experience and dedication is overshadowing their potential. Right now most of these groups are ‘opening acts’ not headliners. They need a lot more practice performing as a group if they want to make it. While this show is a crash course in performing in front of an audience, I don’t know if three months of practice will be enough.

This week we had a “Make It Your Own” Challenge, in which the seven remaining groups had to put their own spin on a top pop hit.

Performances:
Best: Mosaic and Ju-Taun
Good: NJ5ive and S1
Least memorable: Las Caprice
Worst: Jazmin
Eliminated: Concrete Rose

Episode 3 Performances:

Just thought I would share with everyone that the phone used in the last episode while in the dinner was a Nokia 6110 Navigator with built in turn by turn GPS navigation.

Screen 2.2 inches, 320 x 240 pixels, TFT, 16 true million colors, QVGA
Memory 35 MB (internal) + MicroSD Memory Card (Included)
Networks EGSM 850/900/1800/1900 WCDMA/HSDPA 2100
Connectivity USB Mass Storage via mini USB , Bluetooth 2.0
Physical size 101×49x20mm
Weight 125g

Pretty nice phone with dual camera’s. (front and back)
I even own one myself!