TVSquad

Have you ever wanted to audition for a reality television show, but didn't have enough sick leave to fake an illness for your boss or the patience to wait in lines that would rival the bread lines in Cold War Russia?

Mark Burnett has struck a deal that will let people produce their own audition tapes.

Burnett signed a deal with Studio One Media to supply high traffic areas with self-serve kiosks that let people put together their own tapes for a measly twenty bucks. They can also provide a web-based service that lets contestants upload their own videos.

(S10E02) One of the cornerstones of the Amazing Race is car trouble. Like plane reservations and traffic jams, car trouble can often make or break a team. Car trouble also serves as a test to see which teams will leave the others in the dust and which ones will lend a helping hand. This week the rugged terrain and uncertain mechanics of Mongolia lead to major car drama.

(S04E27) Mike Boogie has issues with women. I know this is not a newsflash but it still must be said. Boogie suddenly starts lashing out at Erika. He calls her a witch, a whore and all sorts of other lovely words. In a house of women without a bro to hang out with he's just bereft and bitter. He's so lonely without Will it almost makes me feel sad for him especially when he does a Chilltown skit by himself. Hey, I said almost. Mainly I just wish this whole turn of events didn't seem a bit like a top secret quest of a vice president to suddenly be the commander-in-chief.

(S04E06) No one seems to know who to get rid of and there is lots of last minute scrambling to try and decide who is the bigger threat, Diane or Nakomis. Nakomis steps up her game and makes her case to the SeaSick alliance promising to help them get rid of Chilltown and Diane generally tries to not be quite so much of a mess. This week the voting doesn't seem to be along alliance lines. The voting clips they show prove that, after all Will and Boogie vote differently as do Season Sixers Janelle and James. What is going on here? Are the alliances starting to splinter already?

Tonight's episode was one of those navigation episodes with plenty of behind-the-wheel angst but no really difficult tasks to make anyone vomit or go ballistic.  BJ and Tyler, who are first to arrive at the first location create a little sign-up sheet, which Eric and Jeremy find amusing. Considering that these teams are always jockeying for first, they don't seem incredibly competitive with each other.  No wonder, seeing the pictures up on Jaunted this week. The first challenge is to count the number of heads surrounding an amphitheater, a nice little non-task that sets the pace for a pretty boring episode.

Any drama to be had in this episode centers around big smelly swordfish. The detour is to either pick up a 32-pound swordfish and carry it to the fish market or to sell fish in the fish market.  Most teams end up doing the fish lugging since it's the easier task. But toting the swordfish is no simple business, especially for Monica who ends up scraped up and weepy. Joseph has an Ugly American moment, saying he wants to stab the locals. She's the type of girl who, even completely covered in fish guts, looks charmingly mussed. But these two are quickly reaching Lake and Michelle levels of annoyance.  I'm a little mystified as to why Ray and Yolanda aren't doing better. They are young, fit and organized. Is it all bad navigation that's doing them in?