The Amazing Race
Sunday, 7 p.m., KUTV Ch. 2
What happened?
Nine teams left Mongolia for Hanoi, Vietnam, visiting the Hoa Lo prison (aka "The Hanoi Hilton"), selling flowers on the street and making coal bricks. Brothers Erwin and Godwin won the leg, a karmic reward for being one of only two teams that stopped for a moment of silence at the display of Sen. John McCain's flight suit.
What were they thinking!
Ouch! Boyfriends Tom and Terry (the other team to pause at the McCain display) violated Race rules by hopping on motorbikes, and paid with a 30-minute penalty. They dropped from second to eighth - just ahead of luckless Duke and Lauren, above left, who were eliminated.
Best whine & cheese moment
David, the Kentucky coal miner, was somber through most of the leg, reflecting on his father's service in the Vietnam War. But Mary, his wife, told him to shut up and get going. No time for father-son ruminating when there's a million dollars on the line.
Who should get booted
Which whiny competitor will pull up lame first? Mary with her twisted ankle? Or triathlete Sarah, whose prosthetic leg is still leaking hydraulic fluid?
America's Next Top Model
Wednesday, 7 p.m., KUCW Ch. 30
What happened?
The models walk some fine lines to improve balance and posture. Monique, below, already unbalanced, topples under pressure. The 19-year-old Chicago marketing rep gets sick and instead of gutting it out (remember when Danielle posed on an elephant after being hospitalized in Thailand?) skips her shoot and is sent home.
What were they thinking!
Monique is one sick young woman - and we're not just talking about whatever sent her to the E.R. On a rampage against Melrose, Monique follows through on this threat: "I'm gonna take my panties and rub them all over her bed." Icky, icky, icky!
Best whine & cheese moment
A recuperating Monique lounges outside wearing a huge, floppy white sun hat, reading the Bible. Notes Melrose with some hope, "Maybe God's place for Monique just isn't here."
Who should get booted
Jaeda improves big-time, but cocky Eugena again looks vacant in her photos, and is described in judging as a "dead fish."
Dancing With the Stars
Tuesday and Wednesday, 7 p.m., KTVX Ch. 4
What happened?
The dancers either had to glide through the waltz or strut their stuff to the powerful Paso Doble. Emmitt Smith commanded the stage like the bullfighter he was supposed to be, and Jerry Springer led an emotional waltz that made us forget to chant "Jerry! Jerry!" But it was Vivica A. Fox, right, who couldn't shake her tough girl persona to stay alive to the next round.
What were they thinking!
How can the audience give more votes to the passionless dancing of country star Sara Evans and her partner Tony Dovolani rather than to Fox, who was knocked out?
While we through Springer's story about learning the waltz so he could dance with his daughter in her upcoming wedding was cheesy, we bought every word of it. "Jerry!" "Jerry!"
Who should get booted
Evans has got to go. This country singer tends to mosey along the dance floor until the audience falls asleep.
Survivor
Thursday, 7 p.m., KUTV Ch. 2
What happened?
Oh, oh. Trouble brews on the island when J.P. irks everyone by barking orders and then takes undeserved breaks and naps. When the Raro tribe loses the immunity challenge, the rest of the group decides that J.P. can have all the rest he wants and gives him the boot. Nighty, night!
What were they thinking!
After Stephannie couldn't make fire with a flint in the immunity challenge, she admitted she should to be kicked off for being an idiot. She's an idiot alright - for telling people she doesn't want to be there. It almost cost her.
Best whine & cheese moment
The award goes to Ozzy of the Aitu tribe for openly whining after his friend was voted off last week. "If they want to vote me out, they should do it soon so I don't have to keep catching food for them," he said. So he's going to take his bat and ball and go home.
Who should get booted
Actually, if Stephannie doesn't want to be there, the tribe should accommodate her. We're sure there are plenty of porcelain toilets where she's from in South Carolina.
Contributors: Anna Cekola, Vince Horiuchi, Sheena McFarland, Sean P. Means
