Home Not-So-Sweet Home: Schroeder Family Philiminated

The Schroeder family, who were my second favorites after the Aiellos were eliminated last week, were eliminated tonight in their hometown of New Orleans.

People are complaining about how much less exciting, exotic and well, amazing this family edition of the race is. I agree, but I'm enjoying this version on its own merits. What it lacked in exotic locales tonight it made up for in human drama. I have to admit it, I got a little teared up when Dad Schroeder talked about how the Race showed him how capable his family was and how he had no doubts about their ability to deal with real stress. That kind of speech means a hell of a lot more when you realize the Schroeders would go through Hurricane Katrina just weeks later. (Although the show didn't address it, I've read that they lost their house but did, for a time, stay with the Rogers family in the aftermath of the storm).

While the end of the show was heavy, and resulted in another likable team being eliminated, the rest of the hour was pretty light-hearted. The increasingly likable Bransens and the Linz family mooned and flashed each other down the highway. I think there could definitely be an inter team romance in the works.

Teams also visited Talladega where the freaky Weavers thought they would have to face their fears of a racetrack (the father was killed at Daytona). Instead teams had to ride a goofy multiperson party bike. Now, NASCAR is hardly glamourous, but this was a real step down. After the track, teams hit some more amazing and exotic American locales: the gas station and a mobile home park (I'm not even kidding). At the mobile home park, teams had to search for the one of three departure times. Even after watching 8 seasons of this show, I can't believe how many teams are willing to settle for a crappy departure time before knowing all of their options.

I think it's killer fatigue. And frankly, killer fatigue is what did the Schroeders in. Well, that and the curse of the hometown. I don't know what it is, but teams racing in their hometown are never successful.

Tonight's overall results:

1. Bransens: Again. Pa Bransen may not be much of a runner, but this team inevitably floats to the top.

2. Paolos: No. Really. They bitch and bitch and bitch and bitch, but they rocked the log cutting detour and moved up in the standings.

3. Linz: They seem to pick up time on the highways but chose the silly gambling detour, which probably cost them the win tonight.

4. Godlewskis: I still can't tell them apart. Apparently some of them are more emotional than others. Who knew?

5. Weavers: Lackluster performance all around. They are so going to succumb to some killer Killer Fatigue soon.

6. Gaghans: The poor Mom & Dad are ending up having to do too many detours without help from the kids. How long can a team of two compete against teams of four?

Next week: Ladies and gentlemen we are leaving the country. Woo!!!

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