Last night was the premiere of the the Amazing Race 9 on CBS. I’ve never watched this show before, but I had to this time around because I know one of the contestants from college.
So, can you guess who I know? Well, we can eliminate right off the bat the frat boys from California or the sluts from Staten Island. It’s not the old married couple, the extraordinarily grating Tall Southern Sisters, the “just friends” gay dudes, the psychotic dentist and his wife/hygenist, or the intensely aerobic black couple. So is it “Ken and Barbie,” the too-perfect couple with the popular kids attitude? Is it one of the overly-affectionate nerds? Is the mother-daughter latina combo? Or is it one of the bearded, colorful hippies?
It’s one of the “hippies,” BJ! I know, smart money would have been on the nerds. Suckah!
The thing is, I would really not describe BJ and Tyler as hippies, and not just because I know BJ and know that he is not a hippie. The whole show was an interesting look into how people judge each other on little or no information. I would describe their look and attitude more generally as “wacky Muppet hipster.” Are hippies really known for wearing pink frilled tuxedo shirts and colorful patterned pants? Also, they’re clearly fast-running smart thrill-seekers. Hippies? Really? It’s just the long hair and beards. People get fooled, and then are clearly shocked when BJ and Tyler turn out to be pretty awesome at the game. Yeah #2! Woooohoooo!
Let’s compare and contrast BJ and Tyler with the winners of last night’s challenge, the frat boys, Eric and Jeremy. Basis for the comparison: How they comport themselves when meeting the Staten Island Sluts for the first time.
BJ and Tyler: (At the ticket counter. Casual.) Hey, what’s up, we’re BJ and Tyler. We’re Dani and Danielle. Dani and Danielle? Really? Can we call you Double D? Sure! (laughs all around)
Eric and Jeremy: (In front of a hotel, as the girls’ cab drives away. Hyperactive.) HEY! I’M ERIC AND THIS IS JEREMY! (the girls mock and laugh at them)
I think we can see who the clear winner in that competition is.
Right now I’m rooting for BJ and Tyler, obviously, and the mother-daughter latinas. Do I like the mom-daughter group because they remind me of the Gilmore Girls? Maybe. The nerds almost got my vote, but they were too busy kissing each other all the time to really give their all to the race. I also kind of like the Staten Island Sluts as dark horse candidates.
Coming later this month, ANOTHER guy I know from college debuts in a reality TV show. And that one’s sure to be embarrassing for everyone involved and everyone who knows him. Just kidding, you know I love ya, Hunter Maats.