Video Beat EXTRA EXTRA - AMAZING RACE ASIA THREE FINALISTS

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

OLDER IS BETTER, Two Amazing Race Asia teams quit but one goes through by default. - Vinnie Pastore from the hit TV show The Sopranos is taking his TV role seriously on the Celebrity Apprentice. He has a personality problem with Piers Morgan who functioned as the Project Manger on this episode. - If you've missed the drama on Tyra Banks Americas Top Model TV show where a male dressed as a girl competed on the show you have a reprieve ... - Recommended TV Listings

Sunday November 16, 2008

OLDER IS BETTER

Two teams quit this past week on the Amazing Race Asia but one goes through by default. Who-da-thunk-it? A 44-year-old woman had more strength and determination than a 32 year-old man. Go figure. That's exactly what happened in the Amazing Race Asia semifinal as 44-year-old (as is FOURTY FOUR) actress Ida Nerina out muscled her young competitor University Lecturer Sam Wu, in a transverse crossing over a canyon with a 60 meter drop during the final leg of the semifinal race.

Wu and his partner Vince were the first team to reach the task and Nerina with her partner Tania were second. While Wu struggled with his strength after going to the other side of the canyon to retrieve a clue he didn't have the strength to pull himself to the return the starting and finishing point of the canyon crossing.

During that time Nerina buzzed right past him with very little effort. Given Wu's previous bragging of how if he and Vince were to get into a fight he would win due to his background in the Army you have to wonder what the physical requirements were in whatever Army he served. The result was he QUIT and took a four hour penalty.

Their saving grace was Fuzzie and A.D. were the last to arrive at the task. Though she admits that physical strength and stamina are not her things Fuzzie took on the task and that proved to be a BAD MOVE. The overweight lady couldn't pull her weight and also quit and took a four hour penalty. Since they were last to take the penalty Sam (Wu) and Vince qualified by default for the final three and a chance to win the race and the US $100 thousand prize.

The result is our two favorite teams were quitters and as I've written about other teams who previously quit on a task in the race, 'Quitter's never win.'

What doesn't make sense is Vince and Sam's their decision making and why Sam (Wu) took on the task. Wu admits to not being the physical one in the team. As his bio stated he has to deal with physical fears as he is terrified of needles and bees. He says, "I was hospitalized after getting stung in the head by a hornet when I was four and since then, I've had a major phobia and if anything flies near or around my head, I freeze instantly."

Vince is the more competitive of the duo, but it's because being on top is in his blood. Vince has also joined various sports teams, from softball, baseball to football throughout his life and swam competitively from age six to university. This is why Sam reckons that Vince is the more physical one, whereas he is the thinking part of the group. Go figure…

Though Ida (Nerina) and Tania are our least favorite team in the race you have to give Ida credit in her achievement proving she's not a candy ass. Both deserve credit for their determination.

Our reason for not liking their team is they are from the privileged class with Tania being an heiress. Nerina (born 13 January 1964) is recognized as a Malaysian actor, producer and director. She is married to Shaarin Razali a member of Malaysian rock band Black Rose.

Their bio on the shows web site notes, "One thing they both hope to achieve, other than taking home the top prize, is the chance to see the world from a new perspective. Ida admits, "We've shared some great trips together and who better to see if you can backpack the world with as neither of us have ever done it (referring to backpacking)."

What turned us off on the duo was a statement made early in the race when it came time to get down and dirty and carry their own bags. Tania blurted out, "Where's the porter." Oh please! They also possess (in our opinion) an elitist arrogant attitude.

The Philippines team of Tish 32 and her boyfriend Geoff 26 is the other team in the final. Geoff did the transverse with ease.

The three teams in the finals represent Hong Kong, Malaysia and the Philippines. In the past Malaysia won season one and Singapore season two.

Their quitting was a bitter pill for Fuzzie and A.D. fans to swallow. During that segment of the race Fuzzie was wearing a shirt that said, "Id like to apologize in advance for my behavior tonight."

After host Alan Wu told them that they were eliminated they ambled off into the sunset and in my mind I could hear the Beatles singing, "Don't let me down." The problem was they already did.

NOTE: Repeats of this episode will be televised this week through Wednesday on the AXN Network (note schedule below). The final is Thursday.

It seems that actor Vinnie Pastore from the hit TV show The Sopranos is taking his TV role seriously on the Apprentice. He has a personality problem with fellow contestant and teammate Piers Morgan who functioned as the Project Manger on this episode. Morgan assigned Pastore to spy on the girl's team who has yet to defeat the men in four tasks. His instructions were in part to get Pastore out of the room since they don't get along.

Pastore followed his spy instructions and jotted down some notes of the girls plans. When leaving to assist Mary Lou Henner he threw his notes on the floor towards Steven Baldwin who refused to pick it up. As a born again Christian Baldwin thought that was going too far and cheating. Lennox Lewis picked the note up and took them to Pierce who had a laugh.

Our opinion is Pastore feeling he was disrespected in his efforts then became a turn coat and told the girls he was on their side and with their approval was working for them. As the episode closed all of this came to light. This week will show what the results of the RAT (by instruction) Pastore who turned on his men's team will be. Here's a tip…he will leave the show and this will be his last week.

Tune in Wednesday night on the Star World channel to see how this backstabbing turns out and if there is a lesson to be learned.

A new episode airs Wednesday night on the Star World Channel. This was originally a two hour episode when it aired in America the first quarter of 2008. The delayed Asian telecast was split into two episodes thus this week the second hour of that episode will be telecast this week.

The contestants include famous talent from sports, recording artist, actress and models.

The contestants include:

* Trace Adkins - recording artist

* Carol Alt - model '

* Marilu Henner - actress

* Stephen Baldwin - actor

* Nely Galán - Entertainment business executive

* Piers Morgan - gossip columnist and a judge on 'Ámerica's Got Talent'

* Lennox Lewis - former heavyweight boxing champion

* Omarosa - controversial former Apprentice contestant

* Tito Ortiz - former UFC champion (Ultimate Fighting Championships)

* Vincent Pastore - actor 'The Sporanos'

* Jennie Finch - Olympic Gold medal winner - Fired week 4

* Gene Simmons - formerly of the rock group KISS and currently of his own reality TV show Gene Simmons & His Family Jewels. - Fired week 3

* Nadia Comaneci - Olympic Gold medal winner - Fired 2nd week

* Tiffany Fallon - Playboy Playmate/Miss Georgia USA 2001 - Fired 1st week

TOP MODEL

If you've missed the drama on Tyra Banks Americas Top Model TV show where a transexual Isis King competed on the program you have a reprieve. A rerun of the first sex episodes will be telecast on Channel V Sunday November 23rd. Also of note is the participation of the first all Asian contestant Sheena Sakai who is half Japanese and Korean. Check your local listings for the time.

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TV SCHEDULE

Note: The shows listed are for the Cambodia - Thailand time zone. Check your local listings for time in your area.

NOTE TIMES AT OF THE SAME TELECAST IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES

SUNDAY

10:00 AM - AMAZING RACE ASIA 3 - AXN - repeat

3:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

7:00 PM - AMAZING RACE ASIA 3 - AXN - repeat

8:00 PM - America's Next TOP MODEL with Tyra Banks - Channel V

9:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

Midnight - America's Next TOP MODEL with Tyra Banks - Channel V

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

8:00 PM - AMAZING RACE USA - AXN - NEW EPISODE

10:30 PM - CLICK (Internet Technology program) - BBC

11:00 PM - AMAZING RACE USA - AXN - repeat

4:00 PM - AMAZING RACE USA - AXN - repeat

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

7:00 PM - AMAZING RACE ASIA 3 AXN - repeat

11:00 PM - AMAZING RACE ASIA 3 AXN - repeat

12 NOON - FRONTLINE - Australia Network

3:00 PM - AMAZING RACE ASIA 3 AXN - repeat

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

10:00 PM - THE CELEBRITY APPRENTICE - Star World - New Episode

12:00 PM - THE CELEBRITY APPRENTICE - Star World

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

8:00 PM - AMAZING RACE ASIA 3 AXN - New Episode

10:00 PM - MISSING PERSONS - Australia Network

11:00 PM - AMAZING RACE ASIA 3 AXN - repeat

??? - STAR SPORTS - NBA GAME - CHECK NBA TV SCHEDULE for Southeast Asia

11:00 AM - AMAZING RACE ASIA 3 AXN - repeat

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

4:30 PM - CLICK (Internet Technology program) - BBC

9:00 PM - America's Next TOP MODEL with Tyra Banks - Channel V

SATURDAY

??? - ESPN SPORTS - NBA GAME - CHECK NBA TV SCHEDULE for Southeast Asia

7:30 AM - CLICK (Internet Technology program) - BBC

9:00 AM - AMAZING RACE USA - AXN - repeat

3:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

7:00 PM - THE BEST OF SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE - (1 1/2 hr) Star World channel

9:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

10:00 PM - AMAZING RACE ASIA 3 - AXN - repeat

11:00 PM - THE BEST OF SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE - Star World channel

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