It's Down to the 'Amazing' Final Three! And a 'Law' to Ponder

It seems last week's Phil-on-the-Fence was nothing more than a ploy to catch us off guard (which many of us weren't considering the fact that the show has used this little trick before) and set up basically another non-elimination round for the second episode in a row. That's okay, though, because those bickering Godlewski sisters would have been eliminated, and then where would we get our drama fix from? Oh that's right; we'd still have the Weavers. Cue the Weavers who were keeping to themselves in their camper at the overnight non-pit stop Pit Stop complaining about the way they get treated and how everyone hates them. You know the drill by now. I'm at my saturation point with their constant complaining, but no worries because the Godlewskis were ready to resume the drama position as soon as the sun came up and the Turtle Ranch opened its gates. At this Turtle Ranch, teams encountered the Detour of the leg: Pioneer Spirit or Native Tradition. In Pioneer Spirit, teams had to assemble the wheels on a wagon, round up some horses and ride for 1/4 mile. In Native Tradition, teams had to build a teepee using the materials and tools provided. The Linzes and the Bransens chose the former and the Weavers and Godlewskis chose the latter. Just as he did last week, Wally saved his team with his impressive strength and skill on the wagon task while the Linz brothers also breezed through it. Both teams got their next clue, which directed them to the Irma Hotel (named after one of Buffalo Bill's daughters) in Cody, Wyoming where they would have to dress up in period clothing and have their picture taken with Buffalo Bill. Meanwhile back at the teepee, things were not going too well for the Godlewskis. Their bickering and constant over thinking slowed them down while the Weavers ardent teamwork propelled them ahead and finished before the Godlewskis. And then the skies cleared, the ground shook, and viewers everywhere smiled as a rare moment in The Amazing Race: Family Edition occurred. The Godlewski sisters actually used teamwork and completed the task! Stay with me for a moment because the next bit is going to knock your socks off! It was poor picked on Chrissy and her worst offender Sharon who completed the task by working together! Yeah, I would have thought it fiction too had I not seen it for myself.

Nothing really monumental happened at the Irma Hotel. Each team took its turn and got its picture taken. It was all very mundane, until the Godlewskis arrived. Now, you would think that a team that's in last place would hurry through the task and move on to the next challenge, but not the sassy sisters from Illinois. Yes, I said sassy because these girls decided to pour it on big time on poor Buffalo Bill. They were dancing and using their boas in a seductive manner. The look on Bill's face was priceless. I think he thought these girls were crazy. Can you imagine what he would had thought had he seen Chrissy's bayckpayck crisis or Sharon's Austin Powers-like driving moment or really anything else these sisters have done. Anyway, the teams were all making their way to a golf course in Montana where they encountered the Roadblock of the leg. Two members of each team had to pick a colored flag and ride in a Buick golf cart equipped with OnStar (because The Amazing Race spares no opportunity to plug a sponsor, whoops I mean no expense) and find the four balls dispersed over nine holes that matched the color of their flag. The Linzes set out first, but the Bransens were close behind. Wally's methodical thinking of checking the holes to find the balls allowed the Bransens to slip past the Linzes and receive their next clue, which directed them to Larry Arnold's Green Meadow Ranch and the Pit Stop. The Linzes soon discovered the ball-is-in-the-hole-trick, which wasn't much of a trick, Linzes, when you consider the fact that you're at a GOLF COURSE! Oh well, I guess it was their turn to do something dumb. The two teams raced to the Pit Stop, with the Bransens landing in first and both teams earning spots in the final three as Phil and his trusty cowboy friend informed us.

Back at the Roadblock, the Weavers quickly completed the task and the Godlewskis made the big mistake of choosing the antagonizing Sharon for the task. She and sister Michelle fought the entire time and struggled to find balls as the Weavers finished and headed to the Pit Stop. Things got so bad between the two sisters that Sharon jumped off the cart and decided to walk the course. The two finally agreed to disagree in order to complete the task and head to the Pit Stop. On their way there, the sisters hoped that the Weavers either broke down or ran off the road. I guess getting lost was out of the question even though it seemed the most likely possibility. Man, these Godlewskis really do over think everything! Cut to the Weavers who are pulled over on the side of the road with a break down, no, I 'm only kidding! They were pulled over, but it was for speeding. The family used their charm and they got off with a warning, but it did set them back some. Was it enough for the Godlewskis to catch up and snag the third and final place in the final three? Nope. The Weavers raced to the mat and learned that they would be racing for the million dollars next week during the 2-hour finale. It seemed like the most likely place for a Chrissy breakdown, complete with tears, but alas it was the one moment during the race that she decided to spare us the waterworks. I have to say I found myself a little disappointed in Sharon's assessment that she loves her sister, but they'll never be close friends. This is the first team in recent memory that didn't say the experience brought them closer.

Just a quick note on last night's Law & Order: SVU. It was another surprising and compelling hour of television. It pulled you in different directions and you were never sure what to believe. It didn't seem that Mama Zoe would molest Emma, but the evidence was so compelling that I fell right into the trap. It was a nice victorious moment when Casey learned that it was Emma's grandparents' lawyer who had planted the idea of molestation into the heads of the grandparents. What I like about this show is that there are no simple answers. Zoe deserved to raise Emma, but I also wanted the grandparents to have access to her as well. Hopefully, the two sides will work it out.

About Last Night... CBS claimed the first hour of the night with NCIS (r), followed by ABC's holiday showing of A Charlie Brown Christmas and the return of NBC's Fear Factor. At 9, NBC's My Name is Earl and The Office took the hour, followed by Commander In Chief (r) on ABC and The Amazing Race on CBS. The final hour of the night went to NBC's Law & Order: SVU, followed by ABC's Boston Legal and CBS's special Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. For more on last night's ratings, visit Zap2it.


~Primetime Pass~
@8 p.m. - UPN's America's Next Top Model ends its fifth season tonight and announces the winner of the competition.

@9 p.m. - Steve Guttenberg returns as Veronica gets called to jury duty over her Christmas break. Plus, the usual twists and turns at every corner on UPN's Veronica Mars. I don't want to resort to begging people, but this is a golden opportunity to check out this show if you haven't already. Lost is a repeat, CBS is airing the second part of that Pope movie that nobody watched Sunday night, and NBC has The Apprentice: Martha Stewart, which as Edie put it the other night on Desperate Housewives, pretty much says it all. So, tune in to UPN at 9 p.m. EST tonight and enjoy the best show on television!

@10 p.m. - Sark returns and he has a thing for Rachel on ABC's Alias. Over on NBC, a man is mysteriously killed after desecrating a treasured edition of the Hebrew Torah on Law & Order.




Santa Claus is Coming to Town - This animated Christmas special features the voice of Fred Astaire as a mailman who explains the ins and outs of the man in red. 8 p.m. ABC Family

E-Ring - JT works a humanitarian relief mission in an Afghani village on Christmas Eve, but their efforts are hindered by bad weather and an advancing Taliban force. 8 p.m. NBC

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys - The "most famous reindeer of all" and his friends work to save Christmas after Santa's toys are stolen. 9 p.m. ABC Family

QUICK CUTS

*CBS is jumping on the wireless bandwagon and offering content from some of its popular primetime line-up through Verizon Wireless's V CAST service. The network will offer content from CBS news as well as Paramount owned Entertainment Tonight and preview clips from all three CSIs, Survivor, The Amazing Race, The King of Queens, and Late Show with David Letterman. Plans are in the works to offer behind the scenes glimpses and interviews with the casts of the network's primetime programs. Look for the content to begin this month.

*And finally, it's Nielsen Wednesday! CBS once again dominated the week in total viewers, but ABC took the coveted 18-49 year old crown. CBS was led by a CSI rerun (#2), Survivor (tie #6), CSI: Miami (tie #6), and NCIS (#8). ABC was led by Desperate Housewives (#1), Monday Night Football (#3), Lost (#4), Grey's Anatomy (#5), and NFL Monday Showcase (#9). NBC's Law & Order: SVU (#10) rounded out the Top 10. For the complete list of the Top 20 shows last week, click on over to USA Today.

That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for the Veronica Mars edition! Yes, it's the last new episode before the holidays, which does not mean that those of you who missed the beginning of this season, and you know who you are, should take a break from this show until after the holidays. In fact, UPN is giving you and the rest of us a wonderful Christmas present: reruns (in order!) of the episodes you missed/want to catch again from this season starting next Wednesday! If you haven't seen them or if you want a refresher, tune in every Wednesday on UPN! That means all of you Lost fans who don't watch Veronica have an opportunity to check it out. I'll remind you guys again as these wonderful episodes draw closer. I'll also have thoughts on the return of Alias and all the latest television news tomorrow!