Episode #202
Broadcast Date: 11/16/98
Location: Mammoth Mountain, California
Summary
BreakDown
We get scenes from (supposedly) last weeks show. And it's here where we get our main plots for this episode. Janet announcing that she's in the personal adds, and Beth's fellow misfits aren't going to cut her any slack.
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The episode begins with the two teams munching on breakfast at a local trailer park. Nate and the guys are reading a newspaper. And just under the "RW get out of town!" article, they find out that there're going to compete in the X Games MTV style. And a bed race is the best they could come up with?
I guess this ties into the plot as well. Beth's down on her butt, and the next event oh so happens to be a bed race. A coincident, or a hand out? My money's on the latter!
The RW guys are determine to win this match, and it's no surprise to see the frowns on their faces when Beth enters hopping on a cain in an attempt to drum up some sympathy. Instead, Neil drags her sorry butt into the hippie Mobil where he lays down the law. Beth protest and insist that her part of the race would be better spent in bed.
From there the teams travel to the X games. On their way, the RW has a change in heart towards their lack of luxury, and decides to give Betsy (that's what there're calling it) a make over at a service station. It's here where they proceed to turning Betsy into a gang-grafitti collage of names, symbols, and other groovy stuff reminiscent of a 60's whinnie. NOW it's a hippie mobile! Jason sums it all up with "this brings new life into Big Betsy".
They arrive at June Lake (that's what it sounded like) where they meet Mr and Ms. Casper (I'm not making this up) who both look like a brother-sister comedy tag-team. They tell the teams where they can find the best mattress in town, and don't forget decorations. Keeping in mind that the winners of the bed race get time in the money machine, but most importantly get to ride in style to their next event.
Both teams discuss what sort of cheesy stuff to adorn both their beds and their selves with. All the while finding verbal nick-picks to throw at the opposing team along the way. Jason decides he'll wear his best speedo pair. This arouses Janet who inturns utters another innuendo which catches his short attention span. RR decide they'll be bed bugs, while The RW fearing they have nothing to lose finally decide on the Village People. Why am I not surprised.
Both teams spend almost the rest of the day shopping at a cheap thrift store. And as if poor Betsy hasn't had to endure enough torture from the brat pack, they proceed to cannibalizing what working parts she has left in order to "style-up" their box bed. Then Jason contemplate whether to take Janet up on her earlier offer. Then two seconds later Janet shows up in a cameo response all but saying "I do!" where she states she always has her eye on someone.
Team RR's bed adorns all sorts of rubber bugs, snakes, and other creepy stuff that is more suitable for a Holloween Parade. When they're finished, they take the bug bed for a test-drive, and Mark's already declaring victory.
Later on Jason pretends he's Plato while he spoon-feeds Janet some of his philosophy on life. Janet melts and all but makes a personal vedio add where she expresses her long list of things she want in a man. Then he makes an invitation for Janet to cozy up with him for the night to which Janet surprisingly refuses. Then he pulls the poor-lonely-guy speech where he moans that he wishes he had more female friends to fall for him.
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It's a new day at June Lake, and it's obvious that this is the Jason/Janet episode on relationship development because almost every scene revolves around the would-be poet and clueless chick. Team RW decides to have a pep-meeting where they've already claimed victory and are wondering what they'll do with out "Old Betsy".
Then we get the scene that pisses me off more than any other scene this season SO FAR where BMP throws in that stupid stuff bear from last episode. I'm almost tempted to flip to Talk Soup while we are once again forced to watch childish back and forth squabbling over the fuzzy critter.
Nate, already fed up with the conduct of his fellow travel mates, ditches the brat pack and temporally defects to RR. He shares a conversation with Kalle about their parents. They chat for quite a while and it's evident that there's a connection between them.
Both teams arrive at a Mexican cafe and Nate's deciding whether he should dump this dead weight he calls a "team" and follow his heart, or stay with the misfits and HOPE they'll actually have a change in attitude and strive to win something for a change! All the time Mark's doing his best to make the decision for him.
Then the misfits get all pissed because Nate's the only one who believes his teams existence is as pointless as the rest of do. And just when you though things couldn't get more pitiful, Jason shows up in a cameo to protest Nate's lack of responsibility and commitment towards his mission and fellow travelmates. And suggest that his recent action are the result of a hidden agenda to hook-up with Kalle. Ugh..ya asswipe! You're practically slobbering all over Janet, copping quick feels at every possible moment while spoon-feeding her your lousy poetry. Not giving as much as two seconds of your time into a mission except to complain about how well the other team is doing. And you have the nerve to criticize Nate for his lack of commitment? Get a life!
So after some begging and promises that it'll never happen again, Nate gives the misfits another chance. And they almost screw up again when there're running late for the race because (guess who?) Beth's busy curling her hair. Even a failing actress has to look good for a race! Nate, not wanting any screw-ups today yells "let's go Beth. This ain't a f&%#@ beauty contest!" Amen to that!
The two teams dress up for the race. RR looks like something out of a children's play. And the RW looks like a cheap imitation of the Village People. I have to don shades to reduce the glare off of Jason and Neil's milky white scrawny bodies.
Both teams are declaring victory, but I have a hunch who'll actually cross the finish line first.
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Nate's stressing that RW needs to win this race bad or else RR will have another chance to brag some more. And you can't blame him for being a little uneasy.
On your mark, get set.....GO!!!
As usual, RR takes the lead, and soon it's over with before you know it! Winner, Road Rules. The RW's pissed and promise they aren't going to lose the next race. At least not with out a fight!
3 2 1...GO!
This time the brat pack proceeds to cheating tactics such as Beth whipping out a water gun and spraying the other team. Isn't that against the rules?. Apparently the water pistil had an affect because Roni takes a spill. Then the misfits are scene throwing other crap at their opponents in hopes of cutting them down. But all those grade school playground antics are put to rest when RR crosses the finish line and wins.
As usual, the brat pack puts the blame on RR for THEIR lose. But all that moaning and complaining doesn't affect RR who don't bother giving the misfits two seconds worth of their attention while they rejoice. Then Neil retrieves the we're smarter than thou mentality that was used to no a vale in the first episode. Then he elegantly says that THEY have the intelligence, beauty, and style while RR only has the Braun. At least there're putting (in his view) their limited talent to good use!
Nate pouts and moans some more firmly placing him back in the brat pack.
Some guy calls both teams over to tell them that their next challenge will be in HollyWood. So the teams cruise down the highway towards LA. And as a moral boost, RR allows the misfits to take the lead. It's here where we finally get to see Kefla and Roni, a "real" developing relationship at work.
In the hippie Mobil, the misfits pout some more while Nate's wondering what else could possibly go wrong. He hasn't long to ponder on that thought when a State trooper blows them down probably more so for vehicle vandalism than a speeding violation. The officer ask to see Nate's license, but he doesn't happen to have it. Instead, he offers his ID. [This reminds me of that one scene in License to Drive when that cop ask Less for his license but instead he whips out his school ID]. By this time, Nate's practically wetting in his pants. Then the cop realizes that running these twerps in just isn't worth slaving over hours of paper work. So he doesn't bother wasting anymore of his time, and cuts them some slack by letting them off the hook.
Apparently having what's left of her exterior degraded by graffiti, interior sections scavenge for use on a piece of scrap iron that wasn't suitable for a skunk to sleep on, never mind a race. And now hauling 6 over pampered slackers in the 100 degree Cali heat is just too much for old Betsy to take. So she gives-up the ghost, beside the fact that Nate's doing vehicle CPR on her.
R.I.P. Betsy, we hardly knew ya.
The misfits manage to work-up a few fake tears, then call RR on the CB to give them a lift. RR hesitates at first not wanting to share their hard-earn luxury with a bunch of losers who have nothing better to do but whine.
After a while RR arrives to pick up the extra baggage. And apparently Nate's turned on his stalk mode again because now he's doing photo shoots with Kalle. Wanting to get in her head, and her under his sheets. All this apart from the fact that just 5 minutes earlier he was humping Betsy. Now, he probably doesn't even remember its name.
Analysis
Wow! This episode seemed a lot longer than a half hour. Let's start out with the nick-picks.
I was disappointed with the conduct of the RW this episode. And many of you probably think I came down a little too hard on them this week. How could I not, I have never seen a bunch of whinny, disorganize, crabby, misfits on any other show. This bunch makes the Northern Trail cast look like saints. I was willing to swallow their crap last week hoping things would improve, instead they got worse. The main pick I have with this particular group of RW cast members is that they can't seem to work together on a challenge, and when they loose, they blame everyone but them selves.
As for Nate. I'm find myself going back and forth with him. Last week I trashed him because I felt that his behavior was as bad or worse than his travelmates. This week, it seems that the tables have turned to where now the cast makes him look bad. And for a brief time Nate took off his blinders and realized that these people are slackers and have no real determination to win. I guess it brings a new meaning to the opening credits when David says...."Forget the house, forget the rules, this is the "real" challenge!" You got that right!
You have Janet chasing after Jason and vice/versa, Beth trying to drum-up sympathy for her oh so "terrible" condition, Neil's always whipping out the Where're smarter than thou line. Nothing wrong with being smart, but intelligence can only take you so far, then you have to get out and walk! And Montana's so use to the pampered life that she wouldn't know what ROUGHING IT meant if you paced it to her forhead.
I wouldn't have been surprised if Nate had joined RR. It would have given him more time with Kalle. Speaking of which, I've heard rumors over the past several months saying that Nate was dating an attractive blonde from RR. I figured it was either Christina or Kalle. I believe that has promise, but how committed Nate would be. That's this a question.
Back to RW
If you think about it, this wasn't a fair challenge to begin with. RR is use to handling these sort of missions on a regular basis. They have to work hard for their money, and sometimes have to live on bread and water till their next mission. Although I'm sure the producers give them hand outs even once in a while. So in a effect, they have been previously trained. On the flip side, the only thing the RW is use to is getting paid while chilling in a rent-free, phat pad. Free cars to whisk them off to their cushy job. Then there're given a dream vacation to some tropical paradise where the only "roughing it" they do is on the plane trip.
RR was great. This was mainly the RW's episode because almost every scene revolved around them. Beth's leg, Jason/Janet connection, and Nate frustration with his team. look for Jason and Janet to be slobbering over each other in future episodes. I would of like to have seen more of Kefla and Roni in this episode. Their relationship is the only one I can honestly say that real at this point. And look for more returns of the dreaded stuff bear. I think that thing will be commonly used as a subplot just like the road key was in the second season.
Then there's Old Betsy. If there's anything on the RW side you got to feel sorry for it's Betsy. For all
the crap she had to endure from the RW, I'm surprised she lasted as long as she did before biting the
dust. Now the question is will RW ride shot gun with RR, or will MTV reach into their deep pockets
and give the kids another winnie?
Next Week:
The two teams go head-to-head against the NBA.
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