Brock's Bad Day

Poor Brock. It would be nice to think that his family's elimination on tonight's episode of The Amazing Race might've spared him another few weeks of misery, but I doubt it. If we've learned anything about the Rogers Family, it's that Brock is always to blame. Just ask his dad, Denny, who's a big believer in laying blame, except when he's at fault.

At least Brock now has an entire episode of a television show devoted to his being right and Denny being a jerk. Even after admitting that he instructed Brock to drive on 50 East instead of 50 West, Denny refused to internalize the blame for the error. Instead, he said that one man couldn't do everything. Sometimes, one man can't do one thing. Brock was driving. Denny, you were just reading the map.

Brock's frustration was evident throughout the tasks as it was undoubtedly just another day for Brock Rogers, Family Whipping Boy. And even though his familial role isn't likely to change even after his family watched this episode, at least viewers won't have to endure the tyrannical Denny any longer.

There's only room for one overbearing parent on TAR, and that role's been taken by Marion Paolo. It's amazing that her sons haven't divorced her (a trend I really thought would take off after some kids took their folks to court in the early 90s). If she's that shrill, obnoxious and miserable at home, maybe the boys are just biding their time before they can ditch her during a task. "Hey, Ma, go check over there for the clue. We're gonna see if it's anywhere near the car."

In an interesting change from previous seasons, host Phil Keoghan introduced the show as a "race for $1 million." By not using the customary "race around the world," he seems to have confirmed that the race has been shortened to accommodate the families. It's too early to tell if this will help or hurt the show. There will still be plenty of interpersonal drama, but part of the draw for the audience is the exotic locations. Who didn't see the Temple of Rats in TAR 1 and think, I've gotta go there?

Aspiring racers learned an important tip from the Gaghan family tonight: if you're lost, read your clue again. The Gaghans spent two hours searching for a cluebox in the wrong location. This after Bill had told his kids earlier in the day, "We're in race mode, not in stupid mode." I guess the two modes really aren't that different. And so far, stupid mode seems to be working for the Weavers. They finished first.