Nothing's ever easy

I had to say goodbye to some Watch Party members today. They are still part of the group, just moving to the other side of the state. Watch Party in Spokane! I'll miss you Michael and Jackie! Hopefully I'll see you after the "Survivor" finale! Here's what went down Sunday night:

"The Amazing Race" (CBS, 8:00): Welcome back to the Sunday night goodness that is "The Amazing Race"! My relationship with this show is like the one I have with my college buddy, Mike Jenkins: I don't really miss it until I realize how long it's been since I last saw it. (Mike: Love you, mean it!) It's my second favorite reality-competition show because it provides me with a bucket list of places I want to travel to before I die. First up: Chile.

It's always funny to see how the teams label each other, but I like to give them my own nicknames. Among the couples: Team Iraq and Such As (former Miss Teen South Carolina Caite Upton and her arm candy, Brent); Team Asian Persuasion (Joe and Heidi Wang); and Team Sexy Lezzies (gay dating couple Carol and Brandy). My early faves are Team Showmance (Jeff and Jordan, pictured left, of "Big Brother" fame) and Team Don't Ask, Won't Tell (gay/straight brothers Dan and Jordan). Pause it: Watch Dan's funny (and dead-on) impersonation of Caite's bungled Miss Teen USA question.

At the Los Angeles starting line, the 11 teams are given their first clue: make their way to LAX - using public transportation - and fly to Santiago, Chile. I just knew Showmance was doomed when they made it to the airport and Jordan asked for tickets to China. Pause it: Their team could also be called "Legally Dumb". Only three teams were allowed on the first flight, but unfortunately the flight was delayed so all three teams scramble to get on the second plane.

After arriving in Chile, the teams travel another 60 miles by bus to Valparaiso, the San Francisco of South America. At the Road Block, teams must walk a football field-length cable suspended 120 feet above the ground. Rewind: The course reminded me of the Capilano Suspension Bridge in Vancouver, B.C. I was breathless then and I was breathless now. Jordan and Caite from Teams Showmance and Iraq and Such As were the first to cross while Adrian from Team High School Sweetie brought up the rear.

At the next challenge, the teams had to carry four buckets of paint along with brushes and a ladder and finish painting a house that matched their paint color. The task was an easy one, but teams with a bad sense of direction provided some comic relief when they painted the wrong objects. Team Father-Daughter Issues (Steve and Allie) even went so far as to paint the interior of a random house where the residents were just as baffled as they were.

At the pit stop, Showmance came in first, winning a trip to Vancouver. See you at Capilano! Iraq and Such As came in second but were hit with a 30-minute penalty for not following the clue directions. That opened the door for Ambulance Chasers (attorneys Monique and Shawne) and 8-Seconds (cowboys Jet and Cord) to take second and third, respectively. Don't Ask, Won't Tell were also slapped with a penalty for losing one their paint brushes, but they only had to wait 15 minutes. Iraq and Such As were checked in at 7th place.

After falling off the cable course twice, High School Sweeties were one and done, making them the first team eliminated. My Watch Party buddy was really pulling for them because they were high school sweethearts. Sorry, Mary, but sentiment does not a winner make. See you at the finish line, Lovers!

Geography Lesson: The Pit Stop was Palacio Baburizza, a 90-year old palace that now houses a Fine Arts Museum.

CHANNEL SURFING
Just a few thoughts on tonight's episode of "Undercover Boss" (CBS, 9:00): Coby Brooks, President and CEO of Hooters went undercover in one of the franchise's busiest establishments where he encountered a manager who actually makes the girls participate in demeaning contests to go home early. The thing that got me was that this guy managed to keep his job by promising to apologize to his Hooter Girls. First of all, if those girls had any sense they would be filing a harrassment lawsuit as I type this. Secondly, what does it take to get fired from Hooters? Mr. Brooks said he wanted to change people's perception of his family's business, but you keep people on your payroll who have no respect for women. You said you wouldn't want your daughters to work for him, but I wouldn't want my daughters to see their inheritance pays a manager as vile as him. I'm just sayin'.

Funny lines:

• "At the end of the day, their husbands are still gonna come in." - Hooter girl, after a woman says she doesn't eat there because it's demeaning to women.
• "Shirts come in small, extra small and extra extra small." (I would need at least 3 or 4 smalls just to cover my muffin top).