Sunday, February 27, 2011

A Romp Through Australia With a Bunch of Strange-Looking Kangaroos!

The teams are still racing - well, ten of them are. Our Cowboys Jet & Cord are still at the flags trying to decipher the phrase for the Commodore. This should make Amanda & Kris feel better about their double U-Turn, at least!

The clue that everyone received from Phil at the Mat on Shelly Beach tells teams to make their way back to Sydney and get To Sail to Stop - which is an anchor next to City Town Hall. The first six teams to get there will be signed up for two charter flights that will take them to Broken Hill, a mining town.

We see some teams take a cab back to Sydney, and some go back to the ferry. Jet & Cord finally get the phrase and take off to sail the 16-foot skiff. Amanda & Kris and Gary & Mallory get to Sydney, except they have no idea where they’re going. Kisha & Jen are taken to the Maritime Museum, but go to the information center and ask to use the computer. Zev & Justin show up and Zev tells us that “we started Googling” and Justin deadpanned “that sounds dirty.” They find out it has to do with an anchor and Town Hall so they all decide to walk over. We see Mel & Mike on the beach, and Mel is telling Mike “I’m not gonna make it” - already! Mel's legs seem to go out and Mike is worried about his dad. Kynt & Vixsyn jump on the ferry right after Mike & Mel, and Mel is looking pretty shaky. Mike is crying that “I don’t want to kill you.” (Good, good.) Mel tells Mike that it will be his own decision on how far he’s going to go.

Back in the water, Jet & Cord are showing us that riding horses and riding skiffs are two different things as they both fall off the side. On the ferry, Margie & Luke borrow a woman’s computer and find out they need to go to Town Hall and tell Jaime & Cara. Kisha & Jen and Zev & Justin get to Town Hall and are elated to find out they are the first teams there. The teams jump off the ferry and between asking locals and checking computers, they find out they need to go to Town Hall also. Ron & Christina run into Gary & Mallory as do Amanda & Kris, and they end up asking locals about where they’re going. Jaime & Cara and Margie & Luke find the anchor, and Mel & Mike and Kynt & Vixsyn end up joining them as the six teams that will get the first flight out of town.

Jet & Cord show up at the Mat, finally, and Phil tells them the bad news, that they are the last team to arrive. He then pulls out the clue and tells them to go redeem themselves, because they’re still racing.

Oh, my gravy - our Cowboys are asking everyone about To Sail To Stop and no one knows enough to tell them. It’s getting dark, the first flight is leaving the airport, and Jet & Cord are still wandering around town. They find a cabbie who knows where to go and see there are other teams on the flight with them - now to find out if they’ve made the flight! At the airport, Kisha sees Mel and asks him how he feels, and ever the gentleman, Mel says “I feel all right. Seeing you makes it twice as better.” Jet & Cord manage to make the second flight and have caught up.

The first six teams land and their clues are on their cars. They must drive to the Living Desert and search for the clue box. Jaime & Cara are going to stop and ask for directions with Margie & Luke with Kynt & Vixsyn. Mike & Mel are following Kisha & Jen, and Mel is in the back seat saying that “a kangaroo can go faster than you Kisha.” Zev & Justin find the clue box and it’s a Detour, where teams can choose between two Aboriginal customs: Spirit World or Natural World. For Spirit World, teams use natural materials to create an Aboriginal mosaic that matches the sample, and then perform a dance on top of it for their next clue. For Natural World, they must recreate territory markers using a natural paint made with clay and water. They must pour the paint into their mouths and spary it out onto stencils to create the markers. Once they’ve done it correctly, they get their next clue.

Zev & Justin will do Spirit World, because Zev tells us that Justin is very artistic, to which Justin adds, “and autistic.” (heehee!) All the other teams are doing Spirit World as well - I guess no one wants to suck clay water (not that I blame them). Mallory ends up grabbing the materials in her shirt as other teams follow suit. Kisha & Jen get a “no” for their mosaic while Kynt & Vixsyn are approved to go dance. Kynt runs around saying they need children to dance with, sounding like a pedophile - “we need children!” Zev & Justin and Margie & Luke just jump on their mosaics and start dancing (badly, I might add). I guess they have the right idea, though, because Kynt & Vixsyn get a “no” and Zev & Justin get their next clue. They must drive back to Broken Hill and find the home of the Magpies - a stadium, Central Football Club, where the next clue box is.

After they see teams running off, they finally realize that they have to dance on top of the mosaic and get their clue. Ron is being a butthead again micromanaging Christina’s completion of the artwork. She tells him to speak in Chinese so the other teams don’t hear them and copy what they do. No worries about that, mate - the Globetrotters, Cowboys, Jaime & Cara and Gary & Mallory all take off ahead of them. Ron & Christina don’t get an okay, and Amanda & Kris take off to do the other Detour. It’s funny to watch Amanda trying to spray the paint, and Kris takes over and does a pretty good job. They’re using reddish paint and when they’re done, it looks like they’re bleeding from the mouth. They finish just as Ron & Christina finish grabbing all their stuff and taking off also.

Zev & Justin get to the stadium and the clue tells them “time for a ‘roo’d’ awakening.” Phil says this task will challenge their knowledge of high school chemistry (in which case I’d be dead meat!) They will have to do it dressed as kangaroos! All they will have is a paper with the periodic table of elements written on it. They will have to bounce through the mining town, looking for the streets named for the elements in the table - but the street names are the names, and the table has the abbreviations. There are only two streets that cross each other, Mercury and Bismuth, and they’re highlighted on the paper. When they get to that intersection, they’ll see the next clue box.

The kangaroo costumes have little bouncy things on their shoes and Margie has problems staying upright. She and Luke tag along with Zev & Justin as Jaime & Cara drive up, laughing that the teams are dressed as kangaroos. The two teams find a local with a handheld computer and she looks up the abbreviations and directs them to the streets. As they bounce through town, locals watch and laugh. Back in the locker rooms, Kisha & Jen go to the men’s locker room and are shooed out to the women’s, with Mel remarking “they’re always trying to get in the locker room.” Jaime tells us with a seductive grin that the kangaroo costume is “a far cry from a little green bunny suit.” Kynt & Vixsyn join up with Jaime & Cara, and Kynt knows the names of the streets they’re looking for. He tells us he got an “A” in Chemistry and it’s nice to know it finally paid off. One of the girls tells him “Brains and beauty! Go Kynt!” Mel is running ahead with the bouncy feet and decides that he wants them for the rest of the Race. As they bounce down the street with three or four other teams, we see an Animal Control truck parked!

Margie & Luke and Zev & Justin find Mercury Street, and Margie ends up dropping a part of her costume on the street. Luke tells her to “just go” and something tells me this is not a good idea. Would have taken her 2 seconds to pick it up! I guess she didn't know that she dropped it until later on, and she tells Luke that they have to go back to get it (smart lady) as Zev & Justin get to the clue box. It tells them to go to the next Pit Stop (in their kangaroo suits), which is Junction Mine, a former silver mine built in the 1800s. They are allowed to put their shoes on and as they get in the car, Zev slams his tail in the door and yells “ow!”

Mel finds the costume part and picks it up as Margie & Luke get back to the spot. Margie gives Mel a big hug in thanks. Zev & Justin get to the Mat where Phil tells them “I’ll give you the bad news - you look ridiculous.” The miner Phil is with tells Zev he’s the female (with the baby roo sticking out of his pouch). Justin says he’ll be the female as long they’re still in the Race.


Flight Time & Big Easy
are second to the Mat and Phil asks the miner if he’s ever seen a kangaroo that big before. (I guess Phil is gonna have a field day with these costumes!)

Ron & Christina and Gary & Mallory are talking about teaming up, but Gary & Mallory take off in the direction that the other teams did, with anal Ron saying they need to get their bearings first and wondering why Mallory is just running off. Take a chill pill, dude!

Jet & Cord get to the mine just as Kisha & Jen do, and beat them in a foot race for third place.

Ron & Christina and Gary & Mallory figure out the streets they’re looking for, but aren’t doing a great job of finding them. Amanda & Kris get to the clue box right after they do, and Ron again complains that Mallory is “just impulsive.” At least she’s moving, buddy!

Margie & Luke get to the Mat fifth, and Mel & Mike are sixth. Mike tells us his Dad is his hero. Kynt & Vixsyn are seventh, Jaime & Cara follow and Phil tells them they’re the best looking things to hop into town. Gary & Mallory prove that impulsive isn’t a bad thing as they check in next. It looks like a foot race at the mine as Ron & Christina and Amanda & Kris pull up, but Ron & Christina make it to the Mat in tenth place. That leaves Amanda & Chris to get eliminated, and Kris is really bummed about it. They still love the opportunity and “would do it again.”

The previews for next week are interesting - “the teams are steeped in Japanese tradition” which includes flinging mud in their underwear. And it looks like Jaime & Cara end up hitting someone or something as they drive along. Hmmmm!

So have Jet & Cord redeemed themselves from that horrible start? The teams seem to be pretty cooperative with each other, how long will that keep up? You know someone’s gonna get cutthroat sooner or later!

1 - Zev & Justin
2 - Flight Time & Big Easy
3 - Jet & Cord
4 - Kisha & Jen
5 - Margie & Luke
6 - Mel & Mike
7 - Kynt & Vixsyn
8 - Jaime & Cara
9 - Gary & Mallory
10 - Ron & Christina
11 - Amanda & Kris (eliminated)

Sunday, February 20, 2011

"Unfinished Business" - Let the Race Begin!

11 of our favorite non-winning teams from seasons past (actually, seasons 12, 14, 16 and 17) are back this season for some "unfinished business." Kynt & Vixsyn and Ronald & Christina from season 12, Jaime & Cara, Margie & Luke, Kesha & Jen, Mel & Mike and Kris & Amanda from season 14. Season 15 veterans are Flight Time & Big Easy and Zev & Justin, and Jet & Cord are the lone team from season 16. Gary & Mallory will round out the field, doing 2 Amazing Races in a row. Can either Jet & Cord, Jaime & Cara or Ron & Christina pass up their 2nd-place finish in their season to take the million bucks this time around?

This season’s Amazing Race begins in Palm Springs, California, the 2nd-windiest place on earth. We see the teams gathered in the middle of a windmill field, wind blasting, and everyone is shivering. Phil starts explaining the new twists to the 11 teams waiting to take off, saying that the first team to check in on the first leg of Race gets an Express Pass, which will enable them to skip any task during the Race that they wish.

Zev & Justin are wearing Harlem Globetrotters t-shirts - they were in the same Race together, I guess they’re planning on teaming up with the basketballers again like they did the first time. This may be interesting, having some teams from the same seasons helping each other out....

To begin, the teams have to go across the road and “look for something in the desert” and bring it back to Phil for their clue. The first 8 teams to do so will be on the first flight out of town; the rest of the teams will be on a second flight landing about 1½ hours later. AND the last team to finish this task will receive an automatic U-Turn, requiring them to do both Detours on the first Detour of the Race. Phil tells them they’re looking for Queensland and Northern Territories Arial Services (Qantas, the Australian airlines). And then, of course, Phil has to begin their journey:

“The world is waiting for you. Good luck. Travel safe. GO!”

Running to the field of paper airplanes on sticks with various airline names written on them, Christina tells Ron that it’s Qantas that they’re looking for (after they take a PanAm flag to Phil and find out they’re wrong). Mel & Mike find a Qantas, followed by Zev & Justin and Jet & Cord. They find out they’ll be flying to Australia, and Cord tells us that “it’s a fantastic opportunity...again, again.”

In the meantime, Christina yells to her Dad that they’re looking for Qantas, helping out the other teams. They find the correct flag, followed by the Globetrotters, Margie & Luke and Jaime & Cara, which makes up the first flight teams.

Kesha & Jen are the first team on the 2nd flight, leaving Gary & Mallory and Kris & Amanda fumbling around in the field. Gary & Mallory manage to beat Kris & Amanda to Phil, leaving Kris & Amanda stuck with the U-Turn on the first leg.

The first flight is forced to land in Hawaii because of a man having a heart attack, evaporating their 90-minute lead. At least Big Easy mentions that “it’s good that the man was all right” rather than complain about the forced stop.

The teams will land in Sydney, take a train to Sydney Harbor and take a ferry to Manly Ocean World. The second flight teams found out from Mallory that the first flight had to land, although Kesha tells Mallory “I think you’re lying.” Mallory laughs and says “You’ve been to Kentucky, you know we don’t lie there.”

The first flight finally lands, and seven teams get on the train but Ron & Christina just miss it. On the beach, Gary & Mallory get to the clue box first and find a Roadblock: “Who wants to tank it?” Then we see sharks swimming.....that’s a way to eliminate some teams, let the sharks eat ‘em! Phil explains that team members will have to search for a compass in a million-and-a-half-gallon tank full of sharks and stingrays (as big as a queen-sized bed, no less!) Once they find the compass, they will have to decipher a sentence using flags hung outside, which will tell them they have to go to the Manly 16 Ft. Skiff Sailing Club, find the commodore, and tell him a secret phrase (“I am between the devil and the deep blue sea”) to get their next clue. Kesha volunteers, remembering Jen’s problems in their first Race with swimming. Amanda and Mallory are also doing this task.

On the ferry, Kynt says “We’re going to Manly!” Vyxsin adds “where he’ll fit right in!” Ha! They’re cute. Jaime & Cara are loving the scenery and saying they wouldn’t trade it for anything “except an Express Pass.”

Mallory and Amanda find the compasses and make their way out of the tank as we see Ronald & Christina catch up at the ferry with Mike & Mel, and end up leaving the Harbor first. Jet & Cord are close behind but miss the boat, and realize that they’re the last team. Mallory sits with her compass to figure out the phrases, and as Amanda joins her, Kris gives her the kiss of death by saying “Amanda is good at word puzzles.” Mallory finishes and they ask for directions to the Skiff Club. Justin, Margie, Flight Time and Cara find their compasses. It seems that the team members that don’t do the task are more freaked out by it. Jet tells us “I’m from Oklahoma, I don’t do water. I don’t even take baths.” (I'm hoping that means he at least takes showers!)

Gary & Mallory get their clue from the Commodore and find out they must sail a 16-foot skiff to a marked buoy that has a clue attached. They get a quick lesson on the beach and take off with a couple of sailors. Back at the flags, Amanda ends up working with Kesha, and they dash off to find the Commodore. Jaime tells Cara to work with Margie, and mentions that they’re back to working with Margie & Luke like they did on the last Race, and “we really care about them.” Gary & Mallory’s skiff is getting to the buoy, and Gary leans out as they pass to grab the clue, hanging by a set of wires. Back on land, the open the clue to find they must go to the Pit Stop, which is Shelly Beach, a hot surfing spot. Phil is wearing a Crocodile Dundee hat and looks quite dapper!

Vyxsin is having problems getting out of the tank, because she’s panicking a little and finding it hard to breathe correctly. To help herself she thought about Kynt’s Dad, who passed away suddenly, telling herself “it’s for Dad.”

Gary & Mallory are running toward the beach, and we see Kris & Amanda close behind, desperately wanting to get the Express Pass. It’s not to be as Gary & Mallory get to Phil and the surfer dude first. Phil gives them the Express Pass - and another clue, telling them to open and read it right there because they’re still racing. Mallory is standing there and chattering, so Phil has to tell her “stop talking and go!” Kris & Amanda meet Phil and get their clue, and Kesha & Jen are third to the Mat.

Margie & Luke get to the Commodore followed by Cara & Jaime, and find out their secret phrase is wrong by saying “I am the devil and the deep blue sea.” Flight Time and Big Easy don’t finish the puzzle so they don’t get too far behind, and catch Justin as he leaves the Commodore, asking him what the phrase is. They yell “I owe you one!” and Justin agrees - we’ll see how that pans out later in the Race. Margie & Luke and Jaime & Cara hope to overhear what Flight Time tells the Commodore, but he whispers it so the two wrong teams head back. They ask Justin if he can help them out, and he says “no, we already helped somebody.” Justin says he doesn’t know them from a hole in the wall, so it was easy not to help them.

Mike and Christina are helping each other and meet up with Margie & Luke and Jaime & Cara as they leave. They offer to tell them the correct phrase if they help them find the Commodore, and they’ll all just tell him together.

Jet thinks he has what he needs and takes off but they get to the Commodore and find out they need more. Vyxsin tells us that she figured she had enough, so off they went. Jet & Cord go back to re-figure, and Kynt & Vyxsin pass Margie & Luke, who tell them the correct phrase. Jaime & Cara’s skiff ends up tipping over, leaving them hanging from the boat “like shark bait.”

Zev & Justin get to Phil and get their next clue, as do Flight Time & Big Easy. Everyone is exhausted and are surprised they’re still racing. Jet & Cord give the phrase another stab, and are still wrong. Kynt & Vyxsin get to Phil and he tells them “I have some bad news.” Vyxsin hangs her head and asks “what did we do wrong?” Phil says “you’re still racing” and Vyxsin doesn’t think that’s bad news at all. Phil tells them they’re way behind so they have to get moving. In the meantime, Cord is still having great problems at the flags and I guess this makes up for the Roadblock from their Race, where they had to rope something. Give the Cowboys a mental challenge and it stops them dead in their tracks!

The hour is up and we don’t see what comes next ... it will be continued next week! So after Gary & Mallory’s sixth-place finish last season, does seeing them make first give you hope? Jet & Cord just missed out on winning their Race, and now it seems they’ll be lucky to make it past the first Leg of this one. Does all the cooperation between some teams make you think it will help or hurt in the long run? Looks to be a good Race, at least!
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