Okay, folks, tonight’s the night! One of the three remaining teams will win $1 million! Will it be airhead models Brent & Caite, cowboy brothers Jet & Cord, or brothers Dan & Jordan? Tell you what, it will be a fight to the finish, with the way things are starting out, that’s for sure!
The teams begin in Shanghai, China, and Brent & Caite lead the way from the Pit Stop. Their clue tells them to go to San Francisco, and find Battery Godfrey, a military outpost near the Golden Gate Bridge. Brent & Caite are looking forward to getting back to the States. Cord doesn’t know if he’s more excited to be in the Final Three or to be headed back to the US. At the airport, the marked counter doesn’t open until 10:45 a.m. Dan & Jordan arrive and meet up with the other two teams, and Jordan puts his backpack by Brent & Caite’s, and decides that puts them second in line for tickets. Dan & Jordan end up standing in front of Jet & Cord, and there is a bit of arguing. Quite low-key, thankfully (although if it got heated the Cowboys would definitely put Dan & Jordan out very quickly, I imagine). Jet wonders aloud how the brothers got in 6 hours after them but can get tickets ahead of them. Jet & Cord discuss “grabbing their backpack and throwing them backward” but say it could get them in trouble. Jet says “If that’s the way they want to run the Race, that’s fine with me. If they wanna drop the gloves, I’ll drop the gloves. As the Cowboys interview in line behind the Brothers, Jordan says “it’s a race, it’s a game, and there’s a million bucks at the end. You can hate the game but don’t hate the player.” The Cowboys just shake their heads and as they leave with their tickets, Jordan tells them “don’t hate” and Jet just tells them “get out of the way.” After not doing a dirty thing one time on the Race so far, (per Dan), they’re not being Mr. Nice Guy any more. It’s the Final Three, and they’re going for it. (I can’t really decide if this move was all that evil. Yes, they should have gotten their tickets in third place, and I think it was ethically nasty, but I think it was a smart move. If Jet & Cord hadn’t gotten tickets, now that would have been really evil of the Brothers. Besides, we’ll see if Karma catches up with them!) Dan got the idea to talk to a stewardess and see if they could move up to first class - and they did so rather than being in the back of the plane, they’re now getting off first. They make it out of the airport first and get a big jump on the other teams.
At Battery Godfrey, the clue is a riddle: “I was built in 1933. I’m 210 feet tall. My insides are lined with murals painted by 26 different artists. What am I?” The clue box will be at the Coit Tower at the top of Telegraph Hill, where you can see the city in all directions. Brent & Caite, in the meantime, are getting clues that their cab driver isn’t sure where he’s going. Jet & Cord are in the same predicament, when their cabbie says “almost somewhere now here.” Jet & Cord pass Brent & Caite as they look at a map on the side of the road, and tell their driver to go to Langdon Street. Dan & Jordan’s cab driver can’t help them solve the riddle so they run along a guy riding a bike and find out it’s Coit Tower. Jordan (who up till now I assumed to be somewhat bright) says “people who ride bicycles are smart. It’s a general rule.”
Jet & Cord pass Brent & Caite to the clue box. Back in Shanghai, they bought a travel guidebook to San Francisco, and as Jet read the clue Cord remembered it was in the book. They leave and we see Brent & Caite complaining because their Asian cab driver speaks little English. (Karma will bite you in the ass every time, kids!) Jet & Cord tell their cabbie to drive fast as they pass Brent & Caite’s cab so he won’t tell them where to go. Caite whines “now we’re gonna lose because of this dumbass.” At the Coit Tower, Jordan sees something hanging off a high window and tells Dan “you’re going to have to climb it for the clue.” Not really - it’s a Roadblock, and one team member must climb the side to grab the clue using a mechanical ascender (a rope thingy). Dan gets geared up and starts inching his way up the side of the Tower.
In the meantime, Ciate is being especially obnoxious and rude, now calling their cab driver a dumbass out loud. Brent tells her to chill out, and she tells Brent she wants to punch him in the face. (If they get married and have kids, Brent should stay out of the delivery room. Caite gets a little pain and she’ll kill him!) Jet & Cord get to the Coit Tower as we see Dan struggling to get up the Tower. Cord will attempt the challenge and Dan manages to finish and get back down with the clue before Jet gets moving up. (Was anyone else getting aggravated with Jordan’s encouragement to his brother - ending every sentence with “bro”?)
The clue tells them to go to Yoda Fountain which yes, is a fountain with a statue of cute little Yoda. It’s located in front of Lucasfilm Studios. As their cab takes off, calling someone to find out where the Yoda Statue is, Jet is making short work of the climb up the tower. Brent & Caite stop and ask someone to help them solve the riddle and their driver says he knows where Coit Tower is. Dan & Jordan get to the clue at Lucasfilm and it tells them they will “join forces with a special effects company." One team member will put on a motion capture suit and go to a sound stage. The other team member will sit in front of a computer dressed in a storm trooper suit and direct them through a virtual maze. Once they decide which role they’ll take, they’re escorted into the building by armed storm troopers. Looks ominous! As Cord descends the Tower, he says “riding bulls is much easier than that!”
I guess the “director” of the maze doesn’t have to wear a storm trooper suit - bummer. That would make it a bit harder, I would think, but the storm trooper was just for show. Letdown! Jordan keeps laughing that he’s wearing a “suit with balls on it.” They can hear each other, and Dan will have to make Jordan walk around a room as Dan watches a computer screen. Jordan has an avatar on the screen and there’s a maze he has to go through with Dan’s direction. Dan mentions that he’s a sports freak and not into video games. Dan first tells Jordan to “walk toward the blue light” but Jordan sees nothing but a plain room that almost looks like a gymnasium. It doesn’t take Dan long to catch on and he has Jordan turn in a circle so he can “see” everything around him.
Jet & Cord show up and as Jet is getting suited up, Cord hears Dan talking and starts barking orders himself (without his headset on yet) - telling Jet to jump up and down, and do ballet moves. Dan is getting peeved as Cord yells louder, telling Jet (who’s not even out there yet) to “do a two-step” and “sashay.” Dan gets his composure and gets Jordan through level one. Cord is finally on the headset telling Jet “you see that blue spot” and Jet tells him he can’t see anything like that. Jet’s Avatar on the screen is wearing a black cowboy hat! Dan gets Jordan to the end, but there are words circling on the screen and Dan has to read them. Back at the Tower, Brent does the climb and takes the time to enjoy the view on the way down. Jordan moves his head and Dan realizes that when he does that, the words slow down. Jet is getting close to the end of level one, but he has to move forward and Jordan is in the way. Cord slaps the wall next to him where Dan is, telling Dan to direct Jordan out of the way. Dan swears at Cord and Cord tells him “I’m gonna have these Star Wars guys take you out, man.”
Jordan is spinning around in circles so Dan can read the words, but telling Dan he’s about to throw up. Cord tells Jet to get out of the way so he doesn’t get puked on. Jet can step up enough for Cord to get to the second level. Jordan spins a bit more and Dan finally gets what he needs and Jordan is happy he doesn’t have to spin any more. As he leaves, Dan yells out instructions as he passes Cord. The Brothers leave as they read the clue: “A long time ago, on a hill, this Polynesian haven and they called it Tonga.” They must go to a Tiki Bar called Tonga for their next clue. (And they’re in San Francisco, so the “on a hill” part isn’t any help.) As they leave the building Jet gets to the end and Cord can’t figure out how to read the words (after all the spinning by Jordan you’d think they’d have figured that part out!) Brent & Caite get to Lucasfilm and Brent immediately says “I’m the director.” Cord is looking for the “slo mo” on the computer. He’s catching the beginning of the clue as Brent & Caite get through the first level.
Dan & Jordan get to Tonga. They must take a trunk that is there to their next destination. They’re not sure where that will be because there’s no clue box, but there’s a label on the trunk that says “The Great American Music Hall.” They bump into a local who has no idea where it is.
Back at the studio, Cord finally realizes that Jordan was spinning for a reason. Brent tells Caite to spin around pretty much from the beginning. Dan & Jordan finally find someone who knows where they have to go, and are told it’s a 10-15 minute walk away. Brent & Caite finish just behind Jet & Cord, but lose any hope of catching up when Caite asks where their “money and stuff’ is. They realize they have to turn around. Dan & Jordan are getting tired carrying the trunk and start arguing about moving the trunk the wrong way and bashing their shins. Jet & Cord are running through the streets with their trunk, telling a passing woman “excuse me, Ma’am. We got kicked out.” Dan & Jordan make it to the Music Hall and Phil explains that San Francisco was the heart of the psychedelic music scene. (So, what, they’re gonna have to drop acid and try and finish the race? Get through an orgy with 10 women? And two guys? Protest at a sit-in?) To get their final clue, they’ll have to “flash back to the Age of Aquarius.” In their trunk are 11 psychedelic posters. Eight represent the teams already eliminated and three represent the non-elimination legs. They will have to put the posters in the proper order to get their clue, and Jordan is ecstatic because after watching the Amazing Race for 15 seasons, he knows there’s a memory challenge involved. He wrote down everything as they progressed through the Race. He shouts out the order of teams to Dan as Dan hangs the posters and they finish in very fast fashion. Their last clue reads: “Jack be nimble, Jack be quick. To find the finish line, jump over to [blank].” As they put their posters back in the trunk, Dan figures out they need to go to Candlestick Park. They spend some time hugging before they dash off to find a taxi, which they have trouble locating.
Jet & Cord seem to be making good headway with the posters and Dan & Jordan still haven’t found a taxi. As the Cowboys finish, Dan & Jordan get a cab and what looks like right after, Jet & Cord hop in a cab. Their cabbie asks them if there’s a rodeo at Candlestick Park. Jordan sucks up saying they have the “best cab driver ever.” It looks very close, but I’m wondering exactly how close it is. Dan & Jordan emerge onto the field through the big helmet and jump on Phil at the Mat. They both talk about what an amazing experience it was, and how great it was to win. It seems like the Cowboys come running in shortly after, and find out they’re team two. They talk about traveling around the world with their brother and best friend, and “with my character and integrity intact.” A swipe at Dan & Jordan, for sure, but as it turned out it wouldn’t have made a difference, so they need to let it go. Brent & Caite show up and we see Brandy & Carol (talk about letting it go) watch them come in and Brandy doesn’t clap and Carol claps slowly. Phil asks her if there was anything Caite wanted to prove, and she says “that I’m intelligent” and we see Brandy snark something to Carol. Phil says she is the only woman to finish in the Final Three, “but there are two other women....” Caite turns to say something to Carol & Brandy and Brandy immediately jumps on her, saying “I don’t want to hear sorry. You purposely whacked us.” Carol is turning away in embarrassment. Caite tells her “maybe ya’ll should have treated people a little bit better.” Brandy tells her “if you can’t handle it....” and Ciate comes back with “I can handle it. Obviously I’m standing her and not you.” Sorry, folks, she’s a bitch (not that Brandy is any better). Jordan interviews later saying that he can now say that “hey, bro, when we’re on the same team, we’re unbeatable.”
So another season has ended, another race around the world is done. We’ll look forward to The Amazing Race 17 in the fall! Have a great summer everyone and thanks for your comments!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Models, Cowboys and Brothers Will Race for the Million!
The Amazing Race is nearing its end! Four teams left before next week’s finale!
As the teams leave, we hear that Jet was hit on the side of the head by a hoof and ended up with a crushed skull - they weren’t sure he was going to make it. Cord stayed at his hospital bed the entire time. Cord says Jet is the strongest guy he knows, and that gives them a good shot at winning the Race. They take off and the clue tells them to find the Garden Bridge, which locals know only by its Chinese name (and they didn’t put it up on the screen and I have no clue what Phil said!) They ask some locals, and finally find one who directs them to the Park Bridge.
Brent & Caite leave next, and Caite says she still gets negative comments from her stupid answer in the Teen USA pageant. If she finishes in the final three it will “show the world that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to.” Except that her mind isn’t all there, so....
Jet & Cord get to the destination they were told to go to and see nothing with the Race colors, so they decide to find out from someone else. Brent & Caite get lucky and find a local to search it on her phone, and she finds out it is called Waibaidu Qiao. She writes a note and tells them to go by taxi. Jet & Cord ask a taxi driver who tells them he can get them there, then once moving tells them he doesn’t know where the address is.
Dan & Jordan are leaving and Dan says he did the Race just for Jordan’s dream (like we haven’t heard that 100 times already) but now he wants to win it for himself too. They also can’t find anyone who knows where the Garden Bridge is.
Brent & Caite reach the clue box, and their clue says they must go to the Longhua Temple for their next clue - but they cannot travel by taxi. Jet & Cord get there shortly behind. Brent & Caite get a map of the bus routes and she decides they have to take Route 3, and the bus driver confirms it. Caite says that “obviously I know how to read maps....and in China. So you people can go screw yourselves.” (I’m impressed). Jet & Cord ask their cab driver the best way to get to the Temple and he tells them by train, and the station is a kilometer away. Dan & Jordan meet a local and ask him about the Garden Bridge, and he’s Mr. Clueless. Dan has decided he hates China and will never be back because of the language barrier. Two hours after their start, they still have no idea where they’re going so they decide to go back and team up with Michael & Louie. Their strategy is never to be alone and in last place - and with Michael & Louie having a Speed Bump, this would allow Dan & Jordan to go ahead. Michael & Louie think they’ve “caught up” to Dan & Jordan after walking a bit from the Pit Stop, although they have to feel better about being close to another team. They go up to a higher point, and Michael uses his little telescope to see if he can find the Garden Bridge. Because he’s a detective, he can see things better than most people (don’t think it’s going to help you here, buddy!)
Brent & Caite get to the Temple and the clue box. It’s a Roadblock. Phil explains that the word “Arhat” means “one who has attained enlightenment.” The teams must count all the golden statues in the Arhat Hall (523). If they’re correct, they get a clue - if not, they must wait ten minutes before guessing again. Caite will attempt the task and tells Brent to leave her alone while she counts. Brent says this is a good task to show everyone that Caite is more intelligent than everyone thinks. (I’m thinking she’s gonna do something incredibly stupid this leg of the Race...otherwise what’s all this talk about Caite not being as stupid as we know she is?) Her first guess of 520 is wrong.
Michael & Louie and Dan & Jordan spot some jackets hanging on a street sign and decide maybe the clues are in the pockets. After poking through them they find they’re wrong - and I think they’re lucky they didn’t get arrested for going through someone’s pockets (although they were hanging on a public street sign). Jet & Cord are still walking and haven’t found the train station. Ciate guesses again, this time 522. So much for showing people how smart you are!
Michael asks to borrow a cell phone and calls the translation number. The phone number is in every cab and when one has problems telling the cab driver where to go because of the language barrier, they will find out in English and tell the taxi driver in Chinese. He gives the phone to a cab driver and Dan & Jordan tell their cab to follow Michael & Louie’s cab. Dan & Jordan are having fits because their driver isn’t following the other cab close enough, and the front cab gets through a light and they’re stuck behind. Louie comments how it’s nice to have the boys with them, and Michael looks back and says “they’re not with us any more.” Dan & Jordan are practically trying to crawl in the front seat of the cab, telling the driver to follow the green cab, and not getting anywhere.
Caite says the statutes started blending together into one big gold statue after awhile. She guesses 524 this time. Jet & Cord get to the Temple and pass right by Brent as they look for the clue box. They finally find it and Cord is the one who will attempt the count.
Dan & Jordan manage to catch up to Michael & Louie’s cab at the bridge and get the clue. Back at the Temple, Cord notices that there are two statutes standing up, not of Buddha, but re-reading the clue he sees he must count “all the gold statues.” He figures he should count those too, and it turns out that he’s correct and gets his clue. Caite comes out just behind him and manages to have the right answer as well, finally. The clue tells them they must choose a motorcycle and ride it to the Yuyuan Gardens and find their next clue. One team member rides on the back of the bike and the other in the sidecar. Jet laughs that riding in a motorcycle through China was something for a country boy like him, from a town with one stop light.
The Brothers and the Detectives go to a hotel and ask how to get to the Temple and are told how to get to the bus stop. Michael says if they were going by taxi they would ditch the Brothers and go on their way. Brent & Caite and Jet & Cord are having problems finding the Gardens, and Caite is being accosted by vendors asking if they want to buy things, and being snotty about it. Jet & Cord find the clue box and it's a Detour: Pork Chops or Pork Dumplings. For Pork Chops, they must go to a store which sells elaborate carved stamps, which are called “chops.” They must find a stamp with a pig and one with their name and turn them in for their next clue. In Pork Dumpling, teams go to a restaurant and pick up ten orders of dumplings and make their way through the market to deliver them to get their clue. Jet & Cord decide on Pork Chops and find the store rather easily and start looking through the stamps as Brent & Caite find the clue and pick the same task. Brent can’t even concentrate because he has to go to the bathroom really bad. Caite tells him to “just go” and Brent says Caite can’t look while he’s in the bathroom, so Caite tells him to just hold it. He tries to convince her to go with him to the rest room and she says “I’m not going anywhere.” (Nice girlfriend. Although that’s what got the female basketball players eliminated a couple seasons ago, when one of them had to stop to pee.)
The other two teams get to the Temple and Michael & Louie get their Speed Bump. They will have to perform a local good luck ritual by tossing a coin into an incense burner. They’ll be able to continue from there “hopefully with enough good luck to make up the time.” The incense burner is right by the Temple so they don't have to go far. Louie gets his coin in pretty quickly. Dan is the one who attempts the counting and Michael & Louie make short work of the coin toss and join the Brothers at the Temple to count statues. Louie is a “mathematical genius” and he’ll kick butt, according to Michael - and Jordan asks “so you’re calling my brother stupid?” Back at the stamp store, Brent is still complaining about needing to go to the bathroom, and not looking for stamps at all, telling Caite if they went to the bathroom he would be able to help. They started arguing and finally went down the hall to the bathroom.
Dan decided the best way to do things is to take your time and it would be done right, and gets it right on the first attempt. Michael is bummed as he watches them leave. They take off on the motorcycle and Jordan says “you have these glasses, a helmet, and gloves, I had to hang onto this Chinese guy .... okay I liked that part.” Louie comes out with a guess of 521 and has to wait ten minutes. Michael says it’s “tortuous.” Louie reads the clue again and realizes he forgot to count ALL the statues.
Cord finds his name on a stamp and shoves it in his pocket, not wanting Brent & Caite to know he found one thinking they’d be more motivated. Caite found Cord’s stamp and of course, doesn’t say anything. Brent finds his and says it’s huge, “just like everything else.” Louie comes out with the correct number of statues and off they go on the motorcycles. Brent finds the pig and they get their clue, telling them to find the next Pit Stop, the Riverside Promenade, a park overlooking Shanghai’s waterfront. Jet & Cord find their next stamp and manage to get a cab before Brent & Caite, and Cord tells the driver “rapido” and then shakes his head, saying he doesn’t know any Chinese. They see Brent & Caite trying to find a cab as they take off and hope it will get them ahead.
It looks like a race to the finish as Jet & Cord and Brent & Caite look around the Promenade for Phil and the Mat, and Brent & Caite get there first, where Phil stands with the world’s tallest man. He’s a herdsman from Outer Mongolia and is 7 feet 9 inches tall. Caite decides that she’s proved she’s intelligent. (Good for you, honey!) Jet & Cord are told they’re second, and plan to get a new belt buckle if they win saying “Amazing Race Champs.” (*rolling eyes*)
Dan & Jordan decide to try the Pork Chops and Dan finds Louie’s stamp. Michael & Louie get to the clue box and decide to try Pork Chops also. Dan & Jordan had about 20 minutes on Michael & Louie and Michael is feeling pretty good. Jordan is fussing that “this is impossible” and Dan tells him to stop complaining and keep looking. He doesn’t want to hear excuses. Dan finds his stamp and we see Michael using a flashlight looking at the underside of the glass shelves. Jordan finally finds his stamp and they get their clue and take off. They ask locals for help to find the Pit Stop location and get some girls to come with them to show the way. Michael finds Louie’s stamp and Louie finally finds Michael’s as Dan & Jordan take off in a cab. The Detectives can only hope that the Brothers get a bad cab, and it seems like they do - they say that their cabbie may not know where he’s going. “He seems to lack any real motivation to help us.” It looks as if both the cabs show up very close together, and we see both teams looking for Phil all over the Promenade. It’s Dan & Jordan who make it to the Mat in third and are told that they’re in the finals. Jordan says Dan is an unbelievable brother and they’re going to win the million dollars. Phil has to tell Michael & Louie that they’re out of the Race. Michael says there’s no one he’d rather do the Race with, and Louie says there were a couple of instances when they had to share a full-sized bed.
So it’s models Brent & Caite, cowboys Jet & Cord, and brothers Dan & Jordan in the finals for the million bucks. Who’s got the best shot? Are the models smart enough? Are the cowboys tough enough? Are the brothers determined enough? We’ll find out next week!
As the teams leave, we hear that Jet was hit on the side of the head by a hoof and ended up with a crushed skull - they weren’t sure he was going to make it. Cord stayed at his hospital bed the entire time. Cord says Jet is the strongest guy he knows, and that gives them a good shot at winning the Race. They take off and the clue tells them to find the Garden Bridge, which locals know only by its Chinese name (and they didn’t put it up on the screen and I have no clue what Phil said!) They ask some locals, and finally find one who directs them to the Park Bridge.
Brent & Caite leave next, and Caite says she still gets negative comments from her stupid answer in the Teen USA pageant. If she finishes in the final three it will “show the world that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to.” Except that her mind isn’t all there, so....
Jet & Cord get to the destination they were told to go to and see nothing with the Race colors, so they decide to find out from someone else. Brent & Caite get lucky and find a local to search it on her phone, and she finds out it is called Waibaidu Qiao. She writes a note and tells them to go by taxi. Jet & Cord ask a taxi driver who tells them he can get them there, then once moving tells them he doesn’t know where the address is.
Dan & Jordan are leaving and Dan says he did the Race just for Jordan’s dream (like we haven’t heard that 100 times already) but now he wants to win it for himself too. They also can’t find anyone who knows where the Garden Bridge is.
Brent & Caite reach the clue box, and their clue says they must go to the Longhua Temple for their next clue - but they cannot travel by taxi. Jet & Cord get there shortly behind. Brent & Caite get a map of the bus routes and she decides they have to take Route 3, and the bus driver confirms it. Caite says that “obviously I know how to read maps....and in China. So you people can go screw yourselves.” (I’m impressed). Jet & Cord ask their cab driver the best way to get to the Temple and he tells them by train, and the station is a kilometer away. Dan & Jordan meet a local and ask him about the Garden Bridge, and he’s Mr. Clueless. Dan has decided he hates China and will never be back because of the language barrier. Two hours after their start, they still have no idea where they’re going so they decide to go back and team up with Michael & Louie. Their strategy is never to be alone and in last place - and with Michael & Louie having a Speed Bump, this would allow Dan & Jordan to go ahead. Michael & Louie think they’ve “caught up” to Dan & Jordan after walking a bit from the Pit Stop, although they have to feel better about being close to another team. They go up to a higher point, and Michael uses his little telescope to see if he can find the Garden Bridge. Because he’s a detective, he can see things better than most people (don’t think it’s going to help you here, buddy!)
Brent & Caite get to the Temple and the clue box. It’s a Roadblock. Phil explains that the word “Arhat” means “one who has attained enlightenment.” The teams must count all the golden statues in the Arhat Hall (523). If they’re correct, they get a clue - if not, they must wait ten minutes before guessing again. Caite will attempt the task and tells Brent to leave her alone while she counts. Brent says this is a good task to show everyone that Caite is more intelligent than everyone thinks. (I’m thinking she’s gonna do something incredibly stupid this leg of the Race...otherwise what’s all this talk about Caite not being as stupid as we know she is?) Her first guess of 520 is wrong.
Michael & Louie and Dan & Jordan spot some jackets hanging on a street sign and decide maybe the clues are in the pockets. After poking through them they find they’re wrong - and I think they’re lucky they didn’t get arrested for going through someone’s pockets (although they were hanging on a public street sign). Jet & Cord are still walking and haven’t found the train station. Ciate guesses again, this time 522. So much for showing people how smart you are!
Michael asks to borrow a cell phone and calls the translation number. The phone number is in every cab and when one has problems telling the cab driver where to go because of the language barrier, they will find out in English and tell the taxi driver in Chinese. He gives the phone to a cab driver and Dan & Jordan tell their cab to follow Michael & Louie’s cab. Dan & Jordan are having fits because their driver isn’t following the other cab close enough, and the front cab gets through a light and they’re stuck behind. Louie comments how it’s nice to have the boys with them, and Michael looks back and says “they’re not with us any more.” Dan & Jordan are practically trying to crawl in the front seat of the cab, telling the driver to follow the green cab, and not getting anywhere.
Caite says the statutes started blending together into one big gold statue after awhile. She guesses 524 this time. Jet & Cord get to the Temple and pass right by Brent as they look for the clue box. They finally find it and Cord is the one who will attempt the count.
Dan & Jordan manage to catch up to Michael & Louie’s cab at the bridge and get the clue. Back at the Temple, Cord notices that there are two statutes standing up, not of Buddha, but re-reading the clue he sees he must count “all the gold statues.” He figures he should count those too, and it turns out that he’s correct and gets his clue. Caite comes out just behind him and manages to have the right answer as well, finally. The clue tells them they must choose a motorcycle and ride it to the Yuyuan Gardens and find their next clue. One team member rides on the back of the bike and the other in the sidecar. Jet laughs that riding in a motorcycle through China was something for a country boy like him, from a town with one stop light.
The Brothers and the Detectives go to a hotel and ask how to get to the Temple and are told how to get to the bus stop. Michael says if they were going by taxi they would ditch the Brothers and go on their way. Brent & Caite and Jet & Cord are having problems finding the Gardens, and Caite is being accosted by vendors asking if they want to buy things, and being snotty about it. Jet & Cord find the clue box and it's a Detour: Pork Chops or Pork Dumplings. For Pork Chops, they must go to a store which sells elaborate carved stamps, which are called “chops.” They must find a stamp with a pig and one with their name and turn them in for their next clue. In Pork Dumpling, teams go to a restaurant and pick up ten orders of dumplings and make their way through the market to deliver them to get their clue. Jet & Cord decide on Pork Chops and find the store rather easily and start looking through the stamps as Brent & Caite find the clue and pick the same task. Brent can’t even concentrate because he has to go to the bathroom really bad. Caite tells him to “just go” and Brent says Caite can’t look while he’s in the bathroom, so Caite tells him to just hold it. He tries to convince her to go with him to the rest room and she says “I’m not going anywhere.” (Nice girlfriend. Although that’s what got the female basketball players eliminated a couple seasons ago, when one of them had to stop to pee.)
The other two teams get to the Temple and Michael & Louie get their Speed Bump. They will have to perform a local good luck ritual by tossing a coin into an incense burner. They’ll be able to continue from there “hopefully with enough good luck to make up the time.” The incense burner is right by the Temple so they don't have to go far. Louie gets his coin in pretty quickly. Dan is the one who attempts the counting and Michael & Louie make short work of the coin toss and join the Brothers at the Temple to count statues. Louie is a “mathematical genius” and he’ll kick butt, according to Michael - and Jordan asks “so you’re calling my brother stupid?” Back at the stamp store, Brent is still complaining about needing to go to the bathroom, and not looking for stamps at all, telling Caite if they went to the bathroom he would be able to help. They started arguing and finally went down the hall to the bathroom.
Dan decided the best way to do things is to take your time and it would be done right, and gets it right on the first attempt. Michael is bummed as he watches them leave. They take off on the motorcycle and Jordan says “you have these glasses, a helmet, and gloves, I had to hang onto this Chinese guy .... okay I liked that part.” Louie comes out with a guess of 521 and has to wait ten minutes. Michael says it’s “tortuous.” Louie reads the clue again and realizes he forgot to count ALL the statues.
Cord finds his name on a stamp and shoves it in his pocket, not wanting Brent & Caite to know he found one thinking they’d be more motivated. Caite found Cord’s stamp and of course, doesn’t say anything. Brent finds his and says it’s huge, “just like everything else.” Louie comes out with the correct number of statues and off they go on the motorcycles. Brent finds the pig and they get their clue, telling them to find the next Pit Stop, the Riverside Promenade, a park overlooking Shanghai’s waterfront. Jet & Cord find their next stamp and manage to get a cab before Brent & Caite, and Cord tells the driver “rapido” and then shakes his head, saying he doesn’t know any Chinese. They see Brent & Caite trying to find a cab as they take off and hope it will get them ahead.
It looks like a race to the finish as Jet & Cord and Brent & Caite look around the Promenade for Phil and the Mat, and Brent & Caite get there first, where Phil stands with the world’s tallest man. He’s a herdsman from Outer Mongolia and is 7 feet 9 inches tall. Caite decides that she’s proved she’s intelligent. (Good for you, honey!) Jet & Cord are told they’re second, and plan to get a new belt buckle if they win saying “Amazing Race Champs.” (*rolling eyes*)
Dan & Jordan decide to try the Pork Chops and Dan finds Louie’s stamp. Michael & Louie get to the clue box and decide to try Pork Chops also. Dan & Jordan had about 20 minutes on Michael & Louie and Michael is feeling pretty good. Jordan is fussing that “this is impossible” and Dan tells him to stop complaining and keep looking. He doesn’t want to hear excuses. Dan finds his stamp and we see Michael using a flashlight looking at the underside of the glass shelves. Jordan finally finds his stamp and they get their clue and take off. They ask locals for help to find the Pit Stop location and get some girls to come with them to show the way. Michael finds Louie’s stamp and Louie finally finds Michael’s as Dan & Jordan take off in a cab. The Detectives can only hope that the Brothers get a bad cab, and it seems like they do - they say that their cabbie may not know where he’s going. “He seems to lack any real motivation to help us.” It looks as if both the cabs show up very close together, and we see both teams looking for Phil all over the Promenade. It’s Dan & Jordan who make it to the Mat in third and are told that they’re in the finals. Jordan says Dan is an unbelievable brother and they’re going to win the million dollars. Phil has to tell Michael & Louie that they’re out of the Race. Michael says there’s no one he’d rather do the Race with, and Louie says there were a couple of instances when they had to share a full-sized bed.
So it’s models Brent & Caite, cowboys Jet & Cord, and brothers Dan & Jordan in the finals for the million bucks. Who’s got the best shot? Are the models smart enough? Are the cowboys tough enough? Are the brothers determined enough? We’ll find out next week!
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