Sunday soup

Here's a mix of what happened Sunday night.

"The Amazing Race" (CBS, 8:00): Since we're down to only six teams I can start using the super cool names I've given them. These are the labels I gave them when there were too many individual names to sort out, and I readily admit they aren't politically correct. Shruggsies ... It's my watch party. Tonight, our tour around the world takes us to Amsterdam.

I was worried my Globetrotters (they brought their own nicknames!) were going to spend the episode making up for coming in last on the previous leg, but all the teams ended up on the same flight. Team Chip and Dale (Dan & Sam) decide to gay pride it out and the revelation is met with a variety of comments, the funniest being "That explains the matching swimsuits!"

At the Roadblock, teams must count bells while walking up a long flight of stairs. Team Zebra (Ericka & Brian) had to do it three times before getting the correct number. Pause it: I wanted to call them Team Jungle Fever, but since they anointed themselves Team Zebra early on, I'm rolling with it). Ericka's miscalculations put them 2 hours behind going into the Detour, and their bad luck continued when they didn't follow the instructions on the clue correctly. Chip & Dale breeze through and take first place, but Team Poker Face (Maria & Tiffany) couldn't complete either side of the Detour, opening the door for Team Zebra, who despite having to take a 30-minute penalty for the clue mishap, managed to come in 5th place. Team Poker Face calls it quits and it's one of the rare times where Phil shows up at the challenge to tell a team they've been eliminated.

I was just starting to warm up to the poker players. I didn't like their ways in the beginning, but they were a smart team and I thought this may have been the year an all-girl team could win. And I know that I say this every week, but seriously, could I love the Globetrotters any more than I already do? They are funny, kind and not to hard on the eyes. Flight Time can detour to my neighborhood whenever he's ready!!!

Geography lesson: Seaside retreat Zoutkamp Harbor was the pit stop for this leg of the race. It's located in the Groningen Province of the Netherlands.

CHANNEL SURFING
Did Tracie Thoms really leave "Cold Case" (CBS, 10:00) or is she "on a break"? ... Whenever I watch this show I'm reminded that there was once a time when files were hand-written, telephones had cords and women had to fight to be seen as equals. But the one theme that always rings true: murder is as old as Cain and Abel.

I heard some really funny banter on "Desperate Housewives" (ABC, 9:00). Gabby and Carlos were arguing about who taught their 7-year-old daughter the f-word. After a "blank"-filled tirade, Gabby finishes with "Fine, but I know someone who isn't getting blank tonight." Carlos says, "Fine with me. I blanked off earlier." ... Surely, Tom and Lynette are headed for divorce court. She's had his balls in a vice for so long I don't see how they managed to stay together this long. Must be for the kids.