12/21/05 5:33 pm I enjoyed the final race to the mat. I liked that they finally used a puzzle during the race. I have been hoping for this in the up coming seasons. Congratulations to the final three. Even though I was hoping for the Bransens to win I am equally glad the Linz family won. I pick them both at the start of the season to win place or show. www.realityminute.com for full podcast on the Amazing Race As we wait for The amazing Race 9 in February and are back to the two person teams I only have one wish. Please bring back the Fast Forward in legs 4 - 10 and limit the yield to one leg in the race. Al, Alex,Bill, Flo, Joyce, Lynn,Uchenna, Victoria, Zach and Kevin- thank you it's been fun. I want to thank everyone for being a part of the CBS Blog. It has been fun get all your emails and comments. Thank you for making the season so interesting. 12/19/05 2:28 pm The Gaghans were also such a great family to meet and talk to...I kind of wish they were in the final three as well, although as the race went on it just would have gotten more and more difficult for the younger contestants. After talking to many of my friends and TAR fans everyone agreed that the family edition was just too dumbed down for whattever reasons, maybe it was to accomodate the younger contestants? or just to accomodate the large groups (4 instead of 2) or maybe it was budget reasons why they didn't do as much international travel but from what I gathered I thin a lot of the teams expected some more international travel and some more difficult tasks on the road blocks and detours. 12/19/05 2:28 pm Whhhew.. almost forgot to write a last note or two.. Well the Linz family took it all...and it came down to putting together a map of North America, how appropriate because most of the race took place there. I was very happy with the outcome although I still would have loved to see the Paolos in the final three...after meeting them at the finale' party and all the other teams I still think the Paolos are a blast!!! The Linz family is most deserving of the million bucks though, they ran an awesome race, positive throughout and just rose above whatever was placed int here way!! Congratulations to the Linz family and I was convinced even more after I heard they were giving half of it to their parents (who are wonderful people and so proud of their kids) and then splitting the remaining $500,000 among the 7 siblings.. how great is that! 12/16/05 2:18 pm Congratulations, Linzes! The team that did just about everything right and consistently avoided disaster should be the team to win. A wise man once said, "you need only win ONE leg of this race to win the million dollars." OK, so they won two or three :) I congratulate the Bransens on doing a great job and being classy about it throughout. Dad should be very proud of his girls and they should be VERY proud of him. The Weavers? Well, they should just be proud. Of finishing the race. Little else. However, every race needs a villain and they filled the role quite nicely. The Guidos set the standard in our season, Tara and Will put their own special spin on the role in season two and now we have Rolly's Apostles. Job well done! And to all of the Season 8 families, welcome to OUR family!! In terms of this season versus the others, I feel it's unfair to compare. Most people seem to feel that it doesn't compare favorably; I just think it shouldn't be compared. Different rules, different scope of travel, different team dynamics. The one thing, however, that is a constant is the format: pure competition. No stupid premise, no manufactured drama, no voting-off crap. In the world of reality TV, the Amazing Race is in a league of its own. While it's not the highest-rated nor the sexiest of the reality genre, it's the only show you can count on to deliver quality episode after episode. Three Emmys and still "surviving." Amazing! 12/14/05 2:34 pm Here it is: MERRY CHRISTMAS! Joe and I snuck out of my company Christmas party early! We couldn't stand to have TIVO recording all the fun. Just as the carols were starting....we bolted, with just minutes to go before Phil hit the airwaves....PHEW! "We give the Linzes the edge for a race consistently run"....THERE THEY ARE, ON THE FINISH LINE WITH PHILLIP! (not all that hard to predict, we know) Even with the editing that Bertram and crew threw at us, the Linz power surge at the end of this well fought race could not be denied. The Bransens did put up a very strong resistance, but the Linzes wore them down, with those big smiles and bigger....okay we won't go there. It suffices to say that the Alpha males win once again, and sis, you did do a great job keeping up....BRAVO! A few fun moments from the show were: The constant prayer vigil, that was for naught. The Weavers could not find the strength, or maybe the right combo of prayers to make the finish line appear. Rolly, you were the only member of the team who kept his mouth shut and raced, the rest of the family should thank you for keeping your eye on the prize. The jet boats at the falls rapids were a cool pick. If only there had been more of that kind of excitement, and less driving in an SUV with trailer....talk about slowing down the plot. The flying circus act was also a fine finish to a somewhat lackluster series of previous tasks. The Linz brother who did this task must have forgotten to take the velcro off his pants. He just never let go, and he was too bulky for the circus performer to yank off his perch! All in all a much more satisfying ending than the previous weeks might have suggested. The families surrounding the mat did look relieved that it was almost over...the map puzzle seemed a bit like a take off from the other show CBS airs in its reality show family. Whatever it takes to get back to our former show, we will go there. The clips from next season aired at the end of last night's episode gave us chills all over again. All those continents and miles add up to sheer unadulterated fun...and frustrated, tired, and completely vexed contestants. NOW THAT WILL BE A RACE! See you all next season, until then....kisses from the Guido! MERRY CHRISTMAS, Even if it isn't kosher to say it! Thanks families for a great game...and Marion, when are you coming skiing? Bill, Joe & Guido