Video Beat - AMAZING RACE ASIA'S BEAUTY & THE BEAST

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

We had it figured out when the Amazing Race Asia 3's Casting Director Priscilla Yeo and Producer Michael McKay said they were going to something different this season as well as make the race the toughest it's ever been…. And that they did and THEY GOT IT WRONG. The first BEWARE sign was the focus on having so called Asian celebrities competing in the race with several being beauty queens, TV hosts and actors. - APPRENTICE FINAL FOUR..... - Recommended TV Listings

Wednesday October 1, 2008

QUITTERS NEVER WIN

We had it figured out when the Amazing Race Asia 3's Casting Director Priscilla Yeo and Producer Michael McKay said they were going to something different this season as well as make the race the toughest it's ever been…. And that they did.

The first BEWARE sign was the focus on having so called Asian celebrities competing in the race with several being beauty queens, TV hosts and actors. Topping that off was the inclusion of an heiress. What that equates to is a cast of undeserving and overqualified competitors who given their line of work are egotistical and play to the camera. In their work and privileged lives they've traveled and wouldn't appreciate that aspect of the competition.

In the first episode a so called Thai TV star Visa Sarasas, nickname Mai and her friend Oliver Faivre (obviously not 100% Thai) finished first to the pit stop. In doing so they won $5,000 each. Throughout the race Oliver carried Mai's bags. After finishing first the Mai was yelling at Olvier because he complained that carrying her bags was too much for him. At that point Mai said she wanted to quit the race.

Something made Mai change her mind about quitting. The following episode (2) the Oliver asked her why she was so chilled out (so calm). Her reply was she called her dad and he suggested that she relax and enjoy the experience. Conclusion… Mai's selfish, immature, spoiled and insecure.

She later said to Oliver that she and Pailin a Thai model on another team were the only two of the Thai teams who were interested in winning the race. Now here's where the plot really thickens.

Pailin Rungratanasunthorn who won the Miss Earth Thailand 2006 title was teamed with Russian Canadian Natalie Glebova who won the Miss Universe 2005 title. Glebova is married to Thai tennis star Paradorn Srichaphan. Pailin and Natalie met in the 2006 Miss Thailand Universe pageant and became fast friends after that. Pailin was also one of Natalie's bridesmaids when she married Srichaphan. Both are running their own business. Pailin's company makes toys, t-shirts and gifts for sale online, while Natalie's company sells beauty products across Thailand.

Thai blogs complained prior to the first episode that Natalie should not represent Thailand. The blog noted why so many models and actresses (normal people are usually more interesting). Sorry pal…. The Thai contestants disgraced whatever may have been positive about an opinion of what Thai's are all about other than corruption, political unrest, overbearing self centered ego, sex and as Newsweek once published golf and prostitution.

In the first episode Natalie ate the bugs on Khao San Road. "Who says beauty queens can't eat bugs," she bragged. Well that was her first and last shinning moment in the competition.

The next task was to wash a 22 seat bus. That wasn't for her as she complained throughout the task with her mascara running down her face. Though the race was tough she did take the time to put on her mascara. Upon arriving in Chiang Mai, Thailand after an overnight bus ride Natalie complained to Pailin "We're being treated like less than humans right now. To me being dirty is the lowest form of human existence. I need reasons to do things. As of right now I can't put myself through this."

After booking a flight to Saigon, Vietnam with a connecting flight in Bangkok Pailin opted to sleep at the airport terminal since they had to wait several hours to make the connection to Saigon. Natalie then complained to Pailin that she needed her support. Palin preferred to get some sleep and wouldn't stay awake to support Natalie in her time of anguish. Pailin felt it wasn't such a dreadful situation to be in and nothing would happen to Natalie in the airport if she were to get some sleep while waiting for their plane to depart.

The teams later traveled by bus from Saigon to the city of Hue in central Vietnam. The catch is, Hue is over 1,000kn away and the bus journey takes slightly over 25 hours. In Hue a task was to change a tire and oil on a Jeep. Natalie didn't want to get her hands dirty and refused to help her. "Try a little bit or we're never going to leave here. Please help me," Pailin begged as she tried to fit the huge wheel into the sprockets. "Fine I guess we'll just die here," was Natalie's reply.

When Natalie half-heartedly tried to help by putting her hand on the tire but not lifting it she broke her nail and she jumped away. Pailin then said "Fine, I'll do it myself." She did and in doing so moved up in our ratings of the contestants. While Pailin was lifting the heavy tire onto the Jeep Natalie was constantly checking herself out in the mirror.

At one point during the oil change, Natalie peered under the hood of the jeep and asked out loud, "Do you know where the engine is because I don't." The problem was Pailin was teamed with a quitter who saw herself as a beauty but in reality proved herself to be a beast. But there was more.

After failing to help her teammate Natalie picked up the torch to do the next task which was a roadblock and only on member of the team can do. Teams traveled to the nearby tomb of Minh Mang, and look for seven coins representing the seven emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty. After finding the coins and returning to a designated location they were then to place the coins in the order of their reign. If they didn't get it right they had to return to the tomb to double check the dates. Once they found the coins, they must then waited for further instructions.

Hot and frustrated, Natalie felt like giving up after constantly being told her order of coins was incorrect. "I wanted to throw up but I didn't because I thought it was a sacred site and it wouldn't be so nice." Eventually, she decided to return to the coin site. She continually complained that she was tired. She returned to finish the coin task, but discovered that she couldn't get the proper order.

Resigned to her fate, she stopped completely and headed to a shady area and took a break. After a while she decided to quit the task and take a four hour penalty.

"I know we're last anyway, but the 4 hour penalty will give me extra sleep, which I think we need at the moment," she said. She then informed Pailin after she quit and was handing Pailin the next clue and assignment, "Here's the bad news. I didn't finish it, so we have a four hour penalty." "I'm sorry but I just can't go back there one more time. I'm already seeing stars and I feel like throwing up. I don't care. I really don't. I'm sorry if you feel like I let you down."

A dejected Pailin understood what Natalie went through and replied. "No, you were out there for a while. You tried really hard."

Natalie's plan to take a four hour penalty to get some sleep backfired. When they reached the pit stop the shows host informed them that since they didn't complete a task that they were eliminated from the race.

Now Natalie has all the time in the world to put on her mascara, take a bath and get some beauty sleep. The sad part is that Pailin though a beauty queen was up to the task and tried to win. She didn't let her beauty get in the way of competing. She came across as a real person and deserving of more and a better partner.

As for Natalie she summed up her thoughts, "This is actually a relief . I definitely can say we tried the hardest. At the same time, I feel that the suffering has ended."

Pailin has a different point of view. "I feel a bit let down because she told me she didn't want to race anymore, which was heartbreak for me. I really want to do it and it takes two people to take part in The Amazing Race."

Prior to the race Natalie said, "We're both very competitive and cannot stand to lose. We love to travel, love to do adrenaline like things, love to experience new cultures and learn."

Their previous traveling experience became second nature to them. Pailin has traveled to Japan, China, South Africa, and Egypt while Natalie, other than gracing beauty pageants around the world, has attended the G8 Summit in New York, and as a HIV/AIDS awareness advocate, has traveled extensively to India and Africa.

This team proved our fears to be proof that the casting director made bad decisions in her cast selections. As they say in Hollywood, 'Casting is everything.' In this case McKay and Yeo GOT IT WRONG.

CONTINUED

NOTE:

THE APPRENTICE final four airs tonight (Wednesday) when they will do tasks. Next week Donald Trump will select the Apprentice winner. Tonight's show will repeat in Southeast Asia tomorrow (Thursday) around noontime. Please note schedule below and determine the time in your area.

TV SCHEDULE

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

MONDAY

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

8:00 PM - AMAZING RACE USA - AXN

10:00 PM - SOPRANOS - HBO

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

11:00 PM - AMAZING RACE USA - AXN

TUESDAY

4:00 PM - AMAZING RACE USA - AXN

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

WEDNESDAY

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

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

10:00 PM - THE APPRENTICE FINAL - Star World

12 NOON - THE APPRENTICE FINAL - Star World

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

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

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

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

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

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

SATURDAY

10:00 PM - AMAZING RACE USA - AXN

1:30 PM - CLICK (Internet Technology program) - BBC

2:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

7:30 PM - HI NET WORTH - (financial magazine show) - CNBC

9:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

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

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

2:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

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

8:30 PM - HI NET WORTH - (financial magazine show) - CNBC

9:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

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