Tonight begins the last leg of The Amazing Race! Will one of the all-female teams make history or will Thomas & Jill (and his superior Notre Dame intellect) pull it off? Let’s find out!!!!
The teams begin in Seoul, South Korea at the Temple of Heaven. Thomas & Jill leave at 3:57 a.m. The clue tells them to fly to their final destination, Los Angeles, California, go to the Port of Long Beach and find Pier J. Thomas says he doesn’t care about history and wants to keep a female team from winning. Brook & Claire say they deal with pressure all the time, and if they can communicate well, they can win. Brook says “we have to be more hungry than Thomas. And I’m starving.” Nat & Kat leave at 4:57 a.m. and know they can work together well when they’re stressed.
At the airport, the teams meet up at the ticket counter to wait for it to open. Brook & Claire are wearing cheetah-print pants, saying they saved the outfits for the last leg. All the females tease Thomas about being the last guy standing, making cracks about “being one of the girls” and going for pedicures later. Thomas didn’t look like he was going along with the jokes - lighten up, man!
All the teams are on the same flight. Nat & Kat get out of the airport first and as they get to the port, Nat notices all the cranes and platforms high above the water, and is getting tense thinking she’ll have to deal with her fear of heights once again. The clue tells them “Welcome to the drop zone.” Teams will ride an elevator to the top of the crane, get their clue, and then bungee off the side of the crane together (one wrong jump and they can crash into each other!) Once they get back to the pier and climb to dry land they can open their clue. Nat tells Kat that she doesn’t even want to think about it, to just get going. Getting into the gear, though, gives Nat time to think and she looks like she’s losing it already.
Thomas & Jill and Brook & Claire see the cranes and Jill looks like she’s not overly find of heights either, and Brook isn’t thrilled about the bungee jump, saying “I’ll just have to deal with it.” Kat gets strapped in and Nat stands with her eyes closed and tears dripping off her face. She’s a real trooper, even as she’s crying. They get dropped and as they swing slowly, Nat says “that’s the scariest thing I’ve ever done and I’m never doing it again.” Brook sees them drop and says “I’m feeling petrified.” Nat & Kat are lowered to a small raft in the water and Nat is proud that “I didn’t even pee my pants!” Their clue tells them they will ride a helicopter to a surprise destination. After Brook & Claire drop they spend their time swinging and screaming. Brook sounds like she’s going to hyperventilate.
I guess fear of heights doesn’t mean helicopters, because Nat seems just fine as they take off, with Thomas & Jill and the shopping hosts right behind. All the teams remark that it’s the best way to travel through LA, and not having to sit in traffic. They land at the Rose Bowl and the clue is a Roadblock. The teams will have to work on a float that takes 10,000 man hours to complete by decorating three sections of the float. If they do it correctly, they’ll get their clue from the Rose Queen. Nat dashes off to glue mums to the first section, hoping she’s doing it as well as the woman who is demonstrating. Thomas & Jill tell us that they’ve been working the Roadblocks so Thomas would do the last one, and when they saw what it was they realized Jill would have been better at it. Thomas says he’s never decorated anything before (what???!!!! Your Notre Dame education didn’t include interior decorating?) Brook is going to do this task, and is really excited about being able to decorate something. She says she’s been on a couple floats and “these are my people.” (She really is strange sometimes!)
Nat asks for a check of her work and finds out that she didn’t put water in her little rose tubes so she has to redo them, but still manages to finish first. Their clue is a mystery - they have to answer three questions:
1. I am Sancho Panza’s master.
2. I am the place to hear The Symphony in the Glen.
3. Monroe’s Year of the Itch.
They’ll have to go to that location for their next clue. They run off and ask the cab drivers if they have any ideas or an iPhone, and with all of the waiting taxis it doesn’t seem that any of them will be of any help. They grab a cab and use the driver’s phone, but the woman on the other end tells them she has a line of people and can’t help - but eventually tells Nat if she makes it fast, she’ll try to help. Thomas & Jill ask their cabbie to call dispatch and let them talk to them - and Jill grabs the phone but Thomas insists on talking. The other person on the end of the line doesn’t have Google and they can’t get their cabbie to understand that they need someone with an internet connection. Nat & Kat are told that Sancho Panza is a character in Don Quixote. She asks if there is such a place as Quixote Studios and is told yes. In the meantime, Thomas asks his cabbie if he knows what the internet is, and is told no.
Brook & Claire ask the cab driver to take them to a hotel that has internet, and Thomas begs his cabbie to use the phone while the cabbie talks on it. By the way, they’re driving right now. Somewhere. Racking up a fare. Smart? Not.
Nat, still on the phone, asks where to hear the Symphony in the Park and is told Griffith Park, and realizes they’re going the right way. Thomas’ cabbie keeps telling them that he has GPS and they keep trying to get him to understand that they need a computer. Why they haven’t dumped him for another cab is beyond me! Nat & Kat get to Quixote Studios and tell us that they figured out clue #3, that it was in reference to Marilyn Monroe’s movie, “The Seven Year Itch.” They pull up at Studio 7 and grab their next clue. Phil tells us that Hollywood game shows have tested people’s trivia knowledge, and now it’s time to find out if the teams have been paying attention to everything around them. They see a wall of 48 flashing pictures of people wearing hats. 11 of the people are the greeters from every Pit Stop. They’ll have to use a control pad to select the greeters in the proper order, and Bob Eubanks will give them their next clue.
Nat & Kat being picking people as Brook & Claire use the internet and figure out their destination. Thomas & Jill finally get out of the cab and go to a shop asking to use their internet. Nat & Kat had written down all their destinations and referred to their notes as they picked through the pictures. Thomas yells to some people asking about the internet and gets nowhere, so they jump back in the cab. Brook & Claire are on their way to the studio as Nat & Kat finish the task correctly and get their clue from Bob Eubanks, which tells them to go to the Finish Line. It’s the Graystone Mansion, where Phil waits on the giant mat with all the eliminated teams.
Brook & Claire get to the studio and the girls squeal to meet Bob Eubanks. They don’t have notes to refer to but still seem to be doing okay. Nat & Kat are hoping that the lousy traffic they’re in doesn’t last, and we’re shown shots of them sitting in the cab and Brook & Claire picking the photos - are we getting the sense of drama here? Don’t think so, looks like the doctors might have this all sewn up! (Or should I say “sutured up?” Haha, what a pun!)
Thomas & Jill are thinking they should have gotten another cab, with Thomas remarking that they have more of a language barrier in the U.S. than anywhere else in the world so far. Brook & Claire seem to be moving pretty well, and Nat & Kat finally get moving themselves. We see the back & forth shots of the cabs, and then Nat & Kat running to the final Mat, making history as the first female team to win The Amazing Race!!! Nat is happy that she finished the Race to show diabetics that they can do anything. Kat says they’ve bonded like no one can understand, except the other Racers. Brook & Claire show up and Claire says they literally “laughed their way around the world” and Phil says “I know.” Thomas & Jill, of course, are third, and Phil mentions that their Race has been pretty much mistake free, except for today. Jill gets teary talking about it and Thomas says “It’s been fantastic is what she’s trying to say.”
Phil tells us about the next Amazing Race - that former “favorite” teams will be back for another shot. We see glimpses of Brook & Claire, Gary & Mallory, Michael & Kevin and Connor & Jonathan from this season, plus quite a few from past seasons that sorry, I just can’t remember their names - but I know they’ll be liked! It will premiere on February 20, 2011. Until then, have a great Christmas and wonderful New Year!
Showing posts with label The Amazing Race Season 17. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Amazing Race Season 17. Show all posts
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Racing Through Smelly, People-Packed Bangladesh
Five teams left! Who will get ever closer to the million dollar prize? Can an all-female team finally win this thing?
Muscat, Oman is the beginning point for this Leg of the Race. Chad & Stephanie will be leaving first (and they’re not oversleeping today, they leave at 11:10 a.m.). They must fly to Dhaka, Bangladesh (the world’s most densely populated city) and find the Sundarban Square Supermarket. They have to find a sugar cane press, fill a glass with sugar cane juice, and one team member has to drink the glass before getting their next clue. (I’m feeling queasy just thinking about drinking pure sugar right now! Ick!) The clue tells them that somewhere on the Leg there will be a Double U-Turn. Chad & Stephanie say that if given a chance, they’ll U-Turn Nat & Kat because they are big threats. Chad doesn’t want to lose “to a pair of girls.” Thomas & Jill mention that they might be a team that’s U-Turned by other teams. Nick & Vicki leave next, followed by Brook & Claire. Nat & Kat bring up the rear (obviously a big threat, eh?)
Chad & Stephanie find a flight landing tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. as Thomas & Jill show up at the travel agency and get the same tickets. Nick & Vicki get seats on that flight also, as do Brook & Claire. Nat & Kat go to Oman Air for their tickets. Chad decides that he wants a cheeseburger and Blizzard so he and Stephanie wander off as Thomas & Jill hang around hoping they can get an earlier-landing flight.
Nat & Kat decide to fly to Dubai and take their chances on getting a ticket to Bangladesh because they didn’t have time to get other connections before their flight left. This could either be a big mistake or big reward - we’ll wait and see! Thomas and Jill may be getting tickets that land at 5:00 a.m. and Brooke & Claire see them and decide to find out what they were doing. The agent booked Thomas & Jill on Qatar Airlines but Brook & Claire find out the flight is full. The shopping hosts tell Nick & Vicki, who wonder if Chad & Stephanie got the same flight - but they’re off eating. Nick & Vicki find out from another ticket agent that there is a flight that lands at 8:40 a.m. - but there’s only one seat. Somehow a seat frees up and they get the tickets - and Brook & Claire find out in the travel agency they’re at that the one seat is gone and realize that Nick & Vicki got it.
Brook & Claire run into Chad & Stephanie sitting and waiting for the flight and feel better that they’re not alone. Nat & Kat are in Dubai and find a flight that lands at noon in Bangladesh.
Thomas & Jill land and are amazed at the number of people in the city at 6:00 a.m. as well as the heat. Jill remarks that it’s a normal rush hour amount of people and traffic. They’re grinding away on the sugar cane, and Thomas downs the full glass and as they read their clue, Jill grabs a swig to taste it. The clue is a Detour concerning some time-tested traditions in Bangladesh: Balanced Meal or Balanced Brick. They must pick up a snack call a “tiffin” (which after a perfunctory search online, couldn’t find out what it was, exactly - and it looks like mush) which is held in interlocking containers (I did find some places where I could buy the containers). They must take them to a ship and load 30 containers, and bring back ten empties for their clue. For Balanced Brick, they must put a loaded basket on their heads and take it from a supply barge to a shop. They have to deliver 100 unbroken bricks for their next clue. (I can imagine the headaches now!)
Jill loses her first load of bricks off her head, and gets laughs from the locals. Thomas remarks at how the locals are taking twice as many bricks and barely breaking a sweat.
Nat & Kat get to their next connecting airport and see Brook & Claire and Chad & Stephanie sleeping in some seats. They feel better that there are two other teams with them.
Thomas & Jill get their 100 bricks delivered and their clue tells them to go to Dhaka River Port. Back at the airport, the teams wake up and see Nat & Kat. Thomas & Jill find the U-Turn and talk about Brook & Claire. The Double U-Turn means that two teams can be U-Turned to do both Detour tasks. Thomas & Jill decide to U-Turn the shopping hosts. The next clue tells them to take a bicycle rickshaw to Nazira Bazaar. On the plane, Brook & Claire have some ESP because they say “If they U-Turn us they’re the biggest idiots in the world.” (Creeps, maybe, but not idiots. You two are a team to be reckoned with!)
At the Bazaar, the clue is a Roadblock. They must go to a bicycle shop and assemble a rickshaw. When the rickshaw maker is happy, they will get their next clue. Obviously they didn’t teach building/mechanics/how to use tools at Notre Dame so Jill takes this task on. She mentions there are a “lot of nuts and bullets.”
Nick & Vicki land and Vicki loves the “little buggies” and hopes that they have to rent one. (You’ll have to build one, honey!) They interview that it smells bad in Bangladesh - “everyone has nasty body odor.” Vicki mentions that the sugar cane juice looks good but when Nick asks “do you want to drink it?” Vicki says no. Jill is still working - and sweating - on her rickshaw and making pretty good progress. Nick & Vicki are taking off for the Detour Balanced Meal and she remarks that she feels bad for their rickshaw driver, because their “bags weigh almost as much as we do.”
Jill thinks she is done with the rickshaw, but she’s forgotten the chain and gets a thumbs-down from the shop owner. Nick & Vicki have their tiffin containers loaded and are off in the boat. Chad & Stephanie are the first to leave the airport, followed by Nat & Kat, while Brook & Claire are still hanging around looking for a taxi. Brook mentions that the people are staring at them a lot, and Claire says “you stick out like a sore thumb.” Jill finally realizes that she’s missing the chain, puts it on and gets their clue. They must go to Lalbagh Fort, a 300-year-old castle, which is the Pit Stop for this Leg of the Race.
Nick & Vicki get to the ship to deliver the tiffin, and are hoisting ten canisters at a time and feeling that they’re “on their game” today. They do hate the smell of it, getting it all over them. Kat, Brook & Chad are the drinkers of the sugar juice and they all decide to do Balanced Meal. Chad & Stepanie take off in the opposite direction as the female teams, after asking their driver if he’s sure he knows where to go. Somebody is gonna be wrong!
Thomas & Jill get to the Fort and are greeted by a horrible military-style band. Phil tells them they are team number one, and have won a $15,000 gift card.
Vicki sees kids swimming in the water and mentions that she wouldn’t do it - “the water is brown.” They make short work of the task and are off to get their clue. They see that Brook & Claire were U-Turned, and say that they’re surprised considering that everyone was so far behind from Thomas & Jill. Nick wants to U-Turn Chad & Stephanie, but Vicki talks him out of it saying it’s pointless because they were behind them - and Nick says she’s too nice.
Chad & Stephanie have to stop to figure out where they’re going, as do Nat & Kat, and the local the doctors ask says he’ll help them and leads them on foot. They get their boat loaded and are off as Brook & Claire get to the shop, and Chad & Stephanie can’t find anyone who knows where to go. They finally find someone and off they go.
Nick decides to build the rickshaw (he built bikes as a kid) and Vicki thinks that Nick listening to her about not U-Turning anyone is a big deal. Nat & Kat packed some extra stuff, and used straps they brought to hoist the containers to the ship. Chad & Stephanie finally show up to the shop as Brook & Claire start hoisting their tiffin containers to the ship. Nick thinks he’s done with the rickshaw but he also forgot the chain, and is told he’s not done. Brook & Claire see Chad & Stephanie show up and remark that they can U-Turn them.
Nick is having problems trying to figure out what he missed. Vicki tells him to stay calm - good advice, because he finds the chain and they get their next clue.
Nat & Kat finish their task and get to the U-Turn, and decide to U-Turn Chad & Stephanie. (Ooh, Chad’s gonna bitch something fierce!) They’re happy that they’re not on the U-Turn station. Brook & Claire get to the clue box and find out that Thomas & Jill U-Turned them, and see that Chad & Stephanie are in the same boat, and get moving to finish the Balancing Bricks before Chad & Stephanie can catch up. Brook is the eternal cheerleader, yelling at Claire to keep moving, “no complaining.”
Nick & Vicki make it to the Mat in second place, getting their best finish, and Vicki tells Nick that him being nice pays off.
Brook & Claire are shuffling bricks and Brook keeps yelling “c’mon Claire!” She’s been a little more toned down but I can see how Claire would want to stuff Brook’s mouth with a sock right about now. She’s getting really tired and Brook tells her that she’ll take more bricks the next time. Nat & Kat get to the rickshaw building, and Nat will be doing this Roadblock. Nat mentions that she buys things from Ikea so she feels that she can put this together. (?)
Brook mentions to Claire that she’s surprised that they haven’t seen Chad & Stephanie yet. That’s because they’re wandering around looking for the clue box. Their rickshaw driver offered to drive them, but the clue told them to go on foot - you’d figure they’d at least find out where they had to go from him! Chad is pretty ticked and they find someone who speaks English, and find out they’re in the right direction. They finally find the clue box, and Chad sees Brook & Claire have been U-Turned, but then notices that they are also. As they take off for the bricks, Brook & Claire finish the task and Claire pleads with Brook to just “speed walk” instead of running. “I’m not going to be a very good teammate if I’m passed out.”
Chad & Stephanie are lugging bricks and Chad is being positive again (not!) and yelling at Stephanie to keep moving. She finally tells him to “shut the hell up.” Brook & Claire get to the clue box and take off to the Roadblock, bickering a bit as they go. Claire tells Brook “I don’t run marathons like you. If you wanted a partner like that you should have picked someone different.” Brook interviews later that in the moment, it’s hard to be empathetic but later realizes that it’s really hard. They get to the clue box and see that Nat & Kat are still there building their rickshaw. Chad is being better and telling Stephanie to keep pushing, and not take so many bricks the next time.
Brook will build the rickshaw, and she’s pretty happy that after doing both Detours, they’ve caught up with Nat & Kat. Chad & Stephanie finish and walk off holding hands, with Stephanie apologizing and Chad telling her “don’t be sorry. You busted your ass.” (Good boy.)
Kat interviews that it took her forever to put the rickshaw together, and she gets a “no” from the shop owner because she forgot something on the wheels. As she goes back to check, Chad & Stephanie show up and Stephanie will do the task. (Two of our remaining three guys neglected to do this one. I’m a bit surprised). Chad gets snarky with the doctors after being U-Turned, yelling that Nat should be better with her PhD, and “big, smart doctor can’t put a bicycle together.” She tells Chad that it wasn’t personal, they were the only team behind them. Chad figures he’s trying to help by getting in someone else’s head. He yells to Stephanie that she’s doing great and they can pass Nat & Kat. Nat tells Chad “I love you” which doesn’t impress Chad. Brook is kicking butt and Claire says she’s proud of Brook. Nat finishes, and they take off telling the other teams good luck, and especially mentioning Chad, saying “no hard feelings.” Stephanie is having problems with the back seat and Brook is getting nowhere putting the bell on.
Have I ever mentioned how much I love TiVo and being able to blast through the commercials?
Brook manages to get the bell on the handlebars and gets her clue. She hugs the guy (what, no kiss?) Stephanie finishes shortly after and they ask where the Fort is. Brook & Claire see Chad & Stephanie right behind them and decide to run faster.
Nat & Kat get to the Mat (sounds like a Dr. Seuss book) and they tell Phil they have no regrets about using the U-Turn. It’s now dark as we see Brook & Claire and Chad & Stephanie running around looking for the Fort, and Brook & Claire make it to the Mat in fourth. Brook tells Phil she can’t believe that “two little girls” got U-Turned and Phil laughs. “Don’t tell me that you’re not a threat!” Chad & Stephanie finally show up, and Phil tells them they are eliminated from the Race. Chad says he wasn’t really surprised that they were U-Turned, being the last team there. He says he still feels rich because he has Stephanie. Awwwww!
Here are our standings:
1 - Thomas & Jill
2 - Nick & Vicki
3 - Nat & Kat
4 - Brook & Claire
5 - Chad & Stephanie (eliminated)
So two out of the four remaining teams are female. And our rocket scientists are still in this! After such a nice working-together week, the previews show Nick being a butthead and making Vicki cry so maybe this will be their undoing. When will teams learn, that the better they get along and work together, the better they finish? Tsk!
Muscat, Oman is the beginning point for this Leg of the Race. Chad & Stephanie will be leaving first (and they’re not oversleeping today, they leave at 11:10 a.m.). They must fly to Dhaka, Bangladesh (the world’s most densely populated city) and find the Sundarban Square Supermarket. They have to find a sugar cane press, fill a glass with sugar cane juice, and one team member has to drink the glass before getting their next clue. (I’m feeling queasy just thinking about drinking pure sugar right now! Ick!) The clue tells them that somewhere on the Leg there will be a Double U-Turn. Chad & Stephanie say that if given a chance, they’ll U-Turn Nat & Kat because they are big threats. Chad doesn’t want to lose “to a pair of girls.” Thomas & Jill mention that they might be a team that’s U-Turned by other teams. Nick & Vicki leave next, followed by Brook & Claire. Nat & Kat bring up the rear (obviously a big threat, eh?)
Chad & Stephanie find a flight landing tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. as Thomas & Jill show up at the travel agency and get the same tickets. Nick & Vicki get seats on that flight also, as do Brook & Claire. Nat & Kat go to Oman Air for their tickets. Chad decides that he wants a cheeseburger and Blizzard so he and Stephanie wander off as Thomas & Jill hang around hoping they can get an earlier-landing flight.
Nat & Kat decide to fly to Dubai and take their chances on getting a ticket to Bangladesh because they didn’t have time to get other connections before their flight left. This could either be a big mistake or big reward - we’ll wait and see! Thomas and Jill may be getting tickets that land at 5:00 a.m. and Brooke & Claire see them and decide to find out what they were doing. The agent booked Thomas & Jill on Qatar Airlines but Brook & Claire find out the flight is full. The shopping hosts tell Nick & Vicki, who wonder if Chad & Stephanie got the same flight - but they’re off eating. Nick & Vicki find out from another ticket agent that there is a flight that lands at 8:40 a.m. - but there’s only one seat. Somehow a seat frees up and they get the tickets - and Brook & Claire find out in the travel agency they’re at that the one seat is gone and realize that Nick & Vicki got it.
Brook & Claire run into Chad & Stephanie sitting and waiting for the flight and feel better that they’re not alone. Nat & Kat are in Dubai and find a flight that lands at noon in Bangladesh.
Thomas & Jill land and are amazed at the number of people in the city at 6:00 a.m. as well as the heat. Jill remarks that it’s a normal rush hour amount of people and traffic. They’re grinding away on the sugar cane, and Thomas downs the full glass and as they read their clue, Jill grabs a swig to taste it. The clue is a Detour concerning some time-tested traditions in Bangladesh: Balanced Meal or Balanced Brick. They must pick up a snack call a “tiffin” (which after a perfunctory search online, couldn’t find out what it was, exactly - and it looks like mush) which is held in interlocking containers (I did find some places where I could buy the containers). They must take them to a ship and load 30 containers, and bring back ten empties for their clue. For Balanced Brick, they must put a loaded basket on their heads and take it from a supply barge to a shop. They have to deliver 100 unbroken bricks for their next clue. (I can imagine the headaches now!)
Jill loses her first load of bricks off her head, and gets laughs from the locals. Thomas remarks at how the locals are taking twice as many bricks and barely breaking a sweat.
Nat & Kat get to their next connecting airport and see Brook & Claire and Chad & Stephanie sleeping in some seats. They feel better that there are two other teams with them.
Thomas & Jill get their 100 bricks delivered and their clue tells them to go to Dhaka River Port. Back at the airport, the teams wake up and see Nat & Kat. Thomas & Jill find the U-Turn and talk about Brook & Claire. The Double U-Turn means that two teams can be U-Turned to do both Detour tasks. Thomas & Jill decide to U-Turn the shopping hosts. The next clue tells them to take a bicycle rickshaw to Nazira Bazaar. On the plane, Brook & Claire have some ESP because they say “If they U-Turn us they’re the biggest idiots in the world.” (Creeps, maybe, but not idiots. You two are a team to be reckoned with!)
At the Bazaar, the clue is a Roadblock. They must go to a bicycle shop and assemble a rickshaw. When the rickshaw maker is happy, they will get their next clue. Obviously they didn’t teach building/mechanics/how to use tools at Notre Dame so Jill takes this task on. She mentions there are a “lot of nuts and bullets.”
Nick & Vicki land and Vicki loves the “little buggies” and hopes that they have to rent one. (You’ll have to build one, honey!) They interview that it smells bad in Bangladesh - “everyone has nasty body odor.” Vicki mentions that the sugar cane juice looks good but when Nick asks “do you want to drink it?” Vicki says no. Jill is still working - and sweating - on her rickshaw and making pretty good progress. Nick & Vicki are taking off for the Detour Balanced Meal and she remarks that she feels bad for their rickshaw driver, because their “bags weigh almost as much as we do.”
Jill thinks she is done with the rickshaw, but she’s forgotten the chain and gets a thumbs-down from the shop owner. Nick & Vicki have their tiffin containers loaded and are off in the boat. Chad & Stephanie are the first to leave the airport, followed by Nat & Kat, while Brook & Claire are still hanging around looking for a taxi. Brook mentions that the people are staring at them a lot, and Claire says “you stick out like a sore thumb.” Jill finally realizes that she’s missing the chain, puts it on and gets their clue. They must go to Lalbagh Fort, a 300-year-old castle, which is the Pit Stop for this Leg of the Race.
Nick & Vicki get to the ship to deliver the tiffin, and are hoisting ten canisters at a time and feeling that they’re “on their game” today. They do hate the smell of it, getting it all over them. Kat, Brook & Chad are the drinkers of the sugar juice and they all decide to do Balanced Meal. Chad & Stepanie take off in the opposite direction as the female teams, after asking their driver if he’s sure he knows where to go. Somebody is gonna be wrong!
Thomas & Jill get to the Fort and are greeted by a horrible military-style band. Phil tells them they are team number one, and have won a $15,000 gift card.
Vicki sees kids swimming in the water and mentions that she wouldn’t do it - “the water is brown.” They make short work of the task and are off to get their clue. They see that Brook & Claire were U-Turned, and say that they’re surprised considering that everyone was so far behind from Thomas & Jill. Nick wants to U-Turn Chad & Stephanie, but Vicki talks him out of it saying it’s pointless because they were behind them - and Nick says she’s too nice.
Chad & Stephanie have to stop to figure out where they’re going, as do Nat & Kat, and the local the doctors ask says he’ll help them and leads them on foot. They get their boat loaded and are off as Brook & Claire get to the shop, and Chad & Stephanie can’t find anyone who knows where to go. They finally find someone and off they go.
Nick decides to build the rickshaw (he built bikes as a kid) and Vicki thinks that Nick listening to her about not U-Turning anyone is a big deal. Nat & Kat packed some extra stuff, and used straps they brought to hoist the containers to the ship. Chad & Stephanie finally show up to the shop as Brook & Claire start hoisting their tiffin containers to the ship. Nick thinks he’s done with the rickshaw but he also forgot the chain, and is told he’s not done. Brook & Claire see Chad & Stephanie show up and remark that they can U-Turn them.
Nick is having problems trying to figure out what he missed. Vicki tells him to stay calm - good advice, because he finds the chain and they get their next clue.
Nat & Kat finish their task and get to the U-Turn, and decide to U-Turn Chad & Stephanie. (Ooh, Chad’s gonna bitch something fierce!) They’re happy that they’re not on the U-Turn station. Brook & Claire get to the clue box and find out that Thomas & Jill U-Turned them, and see that Chad & Stephanie are in the same boat, and get moving to finish the Balancing Bricks before Chad & Stephanie can catch up. Brook is the eternal cheerleader, yelling at Claire to keep moving, “no complaining.”
Nick & Vicki make it to the Mat in second place, getting their best finish, and Vicki tells Nick that him being nice pays off.
Brook & Claire are shuffling bricks and Brook keeps yelling “c’mon Claire!” She’s been a little more toned down but I can see how Claire would want to stuff Brook’s mouth with a sock right about now. She’s getting really tired and Brook tells her that she’ll take more bricks the next time. Nat & Kat get to the rickshaw building, and Nat will be doing this Roadblock. Nat mentions that she buys things from Ikea so she feels that she can put this together. (?)
Brook mentions to Claire that she’s surprised that they haven’t seen Chad & Stephanie yet. That’s because they’re wandering around looking for the clue box. Their rickshaw driver offered to drive them, but the clue told them to go on foot - you’d figure they’d at least find out where they had to go from him! Chad is pretty ticked and they find someone who speaks English, and find out they’re in the right direction. They finally find the clue box, and Chad sees Brook & Claire have been U-Turned, but then notices that they are also. As they take off for the bricks, Brook & Claire finish the task and Claire pleads with Brook to just “speed walk” instead of running. “I’m not going to be a very good teammate if I’m passed out.”
Chad & Stephanie are lugging bricks and Chad is being positive again (not!) and yelling at Stephanie to keep moving. She finally tells him to “shut the hell up.” Brook & Claire get to the clue box and take off to the Roadblock, bickering a bit as they go. Claire tells Brook “I don’t run marathons like you. If you wanted a partner like that you should have picked someone different.” Brook interviews later that in the moment, it’s hard to be empathetic but later realizes that it’s really hard. They get to the clue box and see that Nat & Kat are still there building their rickshaw. Chad is being better and telling Stephanie to keep pushing, and not take so many bricks the next time.
Brook will build the rickshaw, and she’s pretty happy that after doing both Detours, they’ve caught up with Nat & Kat. Chad & Stephanie finish and walk off holding hands, with Stephanie apologizing and Chad telling her “don’t be sorry. You busted your ass.” (Good boy.)
Kat interviews that it took her forever to put the rickshaw together, and she gets a “no” from the shop owner because she forgot something on the wheels. As she goes back to check, Chad & Stephanie show up and Stephanie will do the task. (Two of our remaining three guys neglected to do this one. I’m a bit surprised). Chad gets snarky with the doctors after being U-Turned, yelling that Nat should be better with her PhD, and “big, smart doctor can’t put a bicycle together.” She tells Chad that it wasn’t personal, they were the only team behind them. Chad figures he’s trying to help by getting in someone else’s head. He yells to Stephanie that she’s doing great and they can pass Nat & Kat. Nat tells Chad “I love you” which doesn’t impress Chad. Brook is kicking butt and Claire says she’s proud of Brook. Nat finishes, and they take off telling the other teams good luck, and especially mentioning Chad, saying “no hard feelings.” Stephanie is having problems with the back seat and Brook is getting nowhere putting the bell on.
Have I ever mentioned how much I love TiVo and being able to blast through the commercials?
Brook manages to get the bell on the handlebars and gets her clue. She hugs the guy (what, no kiss?) Stephanie finishes shortly after and they ask where the Fort is. Brook & Claire see Chad & Stephanie right behind them and decide to run faster.
Nat & Kat get to the Mat (sounds like a Dr. Seuss book) and they tell Phil they have no regrets about using the U-Turn. It’s now dark as we see Brook & Claire and Chad & Stephanie running around looking for the Fort, and Brook & Claire make it to the Mat in fourth. Brook tells Phil she can’t believe that “two little girls” got U-Turned and Phil laughs. “Don’t tell me that you’re not a threat!” Chad & Stephanie finally show up, and Phil tells them they are eliminated from the Race. Chad says he wasn’t really surprised that they were U-Turned, being the last team there. He says he still feels rich because he has Stephanie. Awwwww!
Here are our standings:
1 - Thomas & Jill
2 - Nick & Vicki
3 - Nat & Kat
4 - Brook & Claire
5 - Chad & Stephanie (eliminated)
So two out of the four remaining teams are female. And our rocket scientists are still in this! After such a nice working-together week, the previews show Nick being a butthead and making Vicki cry so maybe this will be their undoing. When will teams learn, that the better they get along and work together, the better they finish? Tsk!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Running Through Russia, Clowning Around, and Mistakes Abound - our Internet Wonders Get Eliminated
All our teams are leaving from Saint Petersburg, Russia and the St. Isaac’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral, which Phil tells us was forced to become a museum of Atheism during the Communist regime. Jill & Thomas leave first, and the clue tells them to go join the circus - they must taxi to Avtovo Circus. Brook remarks that she hopes she has to wear a leotard! All the teams catch up, however, because the circus doesn’t open that early. Once inside the clue is a Detour: Circus Band or Circus Clown. For Circus Band, they choose an accordion player to teach them a tune, and once both team members complete it correctly, they’ll get their next clue. For Circus Clown, the teams will have to learn how to keep 10 plates spinning on sticks for 10 seconds to get their next clue. All the participants have to wear big red noses during their tasks, and the Russians putting them on are very serious about it! Mallory practically gets accosted by a guy putting hers on. Thomas & Jill, Brook & Claire, Michael & Kevin, Chad & Stephanie and Nick & Vicki go for the Clown and try to spin plates. Thomas is ever so encouraging, yelling at Jill to spin her plates faster. Kevin is trying to get his going amid all the noise and clowns dancing around. Chad isn’t doing much better in the encouragement department (he and Thomas aren’t the best at that so far anyway!) Nick tells us that his grandmother had a clown room that he and his brothers slept in as kids and when they woke up at night time, they saw clowns staring at them and so they don’t like clowns. He tells a clown hanging over his shoulder “don’t touch me.”
Nat & Kat are over at the Band task and having problems figuring out the melody - until they come up with the idea to write numbers on their fingers and remember the tune by which fingers play next. They wrote down every note the guy played - sheer genius, if you ask me! Gary & Mallory and their big red noses are also learning to play accordion. They get through the first part of the song and find out that there are three parts to it and they have to learn all of them. Thomas & Jill decide to abandon the plates and go after the accordions, especially since the Band challenge was right next door. Brook & Claire take their time and focus and get all their plates spinning, and get their next clue - “Time to solve a Russian mystery.” They have to figure out that they’re looking for Bank Bridge, which is “guarded” by four creatures with golden wings.
Kat is laughing because her nose keeps falling off - and unintentionally insults her teammate saying “my nose is too small.” (I guess Nat’s is pretty big?) They get through their whole recital and are off with their clue. Gary says he can’t see the keys with his big red clown nose. Chad is complaining again that he can’t get the plates so they switch tasks. Nick & Vicki get theirs spinning correctly and leave the task with their clue. Thomas is having fits that they have to learn a second, and then a third song. Gary & Mallory finish their song and off they go, followed soon by Michael & Kevin.
At the bridge, Brook & Claire grab the clue, which tells them to travel on foot across the canal bridge to a historic building, Vladimirskiy Prospekt. They can ask locals to help them but can’t pay a taxi to lead them there. Once they find the building, only two team members at a time can climb the stairs to the top where there will be a figurine on the ledge - a clue to go to the Church on Spilled Blood. They will have to walk to that church for their next clue.
Brook & Claire, Nat & Kat, and Nick & Vicki get their clues and take off walking. Michael & Kevin get to the clue box and Michael tells Kevin to “Read the clue careful, okay? Don’t miss a word.” Of course we know this means they’re gonna screw up something - and they do it right off the bat, by following their cab driver.
Stephanie is proving herself to be the brains of that team yet again, telling Chad to use numbers for their fingers for the accordion playing. Thomas & Jill are having major problems playing their accordions - if they quit complaining so much and tried playing them, they might actually get somewhere. They quit that task again and run back to the plates. Chad & Stephanie finish playing and off they run to the taxi.
Brook & Claire get a local to help them find the building and give him kisses for his trouble - then run off saying “look at every doorway, it’s gonna be marked.” Of course, they run right by the marked door. Nick & Vicki see Nat & Kat walking down the street and join them.
Back at the circus, Thomas & Jill manage to finish spinning their plates and take off, knowing they’re in last place. Nick & Vicki interview that Nat & Kat are “very smart and athletic.” (Sounds like the team they should glom onto - Nick & Vicki need all the help with smarts they can get!) They find the building and Nat and Nick climb the stairs and use binoculars to look over the city. The little figurine is sitting on the ledge and Nick says the smartest thing he’s said this whole Race: “maybe we’re overlooking it - maybe we’re over thinking this.” Down the street, Brook & Claire see Nick and Kat up on the roof and run in that direction. Michael & Kevin show up and Kevin remarks that they carried their bags - and Nat tells him “you’re supposed to leave your cab and walk.” (Clue #1 to major screw-up). Up on the roof, Nick tells Kat that “you usually know what the clue is when you see it - they’re really obvious.” At that point he spots the figurine and laughs to Kat “look how dumb we are.” They find where they need to go and decide to purposely mislead the other teams by telling them they’re not sure but they saw something that said “DS 13" on it. Kevin says that Nick wouldn’t lie to him “because he’s awesome” but he and Claire can’t see what they’re looking for and talk about just going to DS 13. By chance, Claire spots the figurine and luckily they see where they’re supposed to go. Kevin says Nick lied to him and the two teams decide to go together. Thomas and Mallory are the next up the stairs and at least Thomas looks around the inside and sees the figurine. That leaves poor Chad & Stephanie on their own!
Kat & Nat and Nick & Vicki find the next clue box. They have to figure out where Peter the Great is buried, which is the Peter and Paul Fortress, and search the grounds for the clue box. Michael & Kevin and Brook & Claire have jumped in their taxis and as the first two teams leave the clue box at the church, they see the taxis pull up with the other two teams. Nick mentions it and Vicki says “it’s okay, they’ll get penalized.” Kevin yaps at Nick about lying to him and Brook shouts a little righteous indignation too. Kevin goes to ask his taxi driver about their destination, and Nat & Kat find a local to tell them it’s the Peter and Paul Fortress. Nick says there’s nothing in the clue that tells them they can’t take a taxi, so Nat & Kat run back to their original cab with their backpacks still in it and Nick & Vicki try to grab a cab. As they take off in their cab, Kevin says he wants to beat Nick & Vicki so he can tell them that lying doesn’t do him any good.
Stephanie goes up to look for their next clue, and Chad tells us that he’s trying more to let her make decisions - maybe because she’s much better at it than you are? Nick & Vicki are having mega problems finding a taxi, and Nat & Kat get back to their original cab. Nick starts complaining that Vicki runs down a side road to look for a cab as they walk next to a canal and calls her a moron. (Thought you were supposed to be nice from now on, buddy!) In their cab, Claire reads the clue, saying “you must walk to your next destination.” They tell their driver to go back to the tower, knowing (at least from past seasons of The Amazing Race) that Michael & Kevin will get penalized, so Brook & Claire will be able to make up the time.
Stephanie sends Chad up to see if he can manage to see the clue - and he does, telling her “it was right in front of your freaking face.” Make you feel better, macho man? He makes the decision to jump in the taxi, so there goes his smarts! Nat & Kat get to the Fortress first, and the clue is a Roadblock - “Who’s the real player?” Kat will do it by trying to mastering a centuries-old game. It’s a Russian version of bowling called Gorodki. A demonstration shows Phil on a small platform up on pegs, with a Russian tossing a 3-foot stick at the pegs and almost knocking Phil on his ass - he does catch himself and is able to tell us that the teams will have to clear pegs of three different formations with their sticks before they get their next clue. They have two shots at getting all the pegs cleared. Kat gets the first one in two shots.
We see Brook & Claire getting back to thetower on foot, then jumping in a cab. Thomas & Jill and Gary & Mallory find a local to tell them where they need to go, and neither team has their backpacks and Gary & Mallory run tack to get their original cab. Kat gets her next shot at the pegs on her first stick as Michael & Kevin show up, and Michael will do this task. As Michael starts slinging sticks, Brook & Claire show up and Brook will attempt it. Kat gets her third bunch of pegs and their clue tells them to “enter the Fortress and make your way to the next Pit Stop.” Inside the Fortress they must find the bastion where Phil and the Mat will be waiting.
Chad & Stephanie find a local to tell them where to go. Nat & Kat show up at the Mat and are happy to find out they are first - and get $5000 each for their trouble. Michael is still having major problems getting his pegs off the board, while Brook gets her first one. Michael’s sticks are bouncing everywhere but at the pegs, and Brook gets her next two and their clue. Kevin is getting discouraged watching them leave. Nick & Vicki show up - and Nick will do the task, with Vicki telling us “he can take out his aggression on this.” Chad & Stephanie are close behind, with Stephanie deciding to do the task. Nick clears the board with his first toss. After lousy tosses from Stephanie and Michael, Nick clears his second set of pegs. Thomas & Jill show up and Thomas insists this one is his. Nick clears the third set of pegs on two tries and off they go. Thomas gets his first set.
Brook & Claire make their way to Phil with Nick & Vicki right behind. Gary & Mallory show up to the challenge and Gary gets his pegs on the first try - and Michael finally gets his first set of pegs, followed by Stephanie. Gary is killing this task and gets set #2, and Thomas finishes and gets their clue. Gary then blasts his pegs with Mallory telling him what a champion he is, and they make their way to Phil in fourth place. Kevin sees everyone except Chad & Stephanie leave and worries that after getting there in first place, they’ll end up in last - although it doesn’t matter in the long run, they’d get a time penalty anyway so they’re SOL no matter what. Michael gets his pegs done and they run off, with Chad worrying that they’re in last place - but we see Thomas & Jill arguing with their taxi driver about money as they run back for their backpacks, and the driver trying to grab Jill’s backpack off of her. Michael & Kevin run back for their backpacks and find out they’re short of money too, and the cabbie closes the trunk and won’t let them take their one backpack out.
Thomas & Jill find some American money and give their cabbie $60 and he lets them go. They get to the Mat in fifth. Michael manages to find $40 in American money and the cab driver lets them leave as Stephanie gets her third set of pegs. They decide to leave their backpacks in the cab and just run for the Mat. Will they beat Michael & Kevin? Chad & Stephanie see Michael & Kevin running through the Fortress and hope to beat them - and they do, but at the Mat, Phil tells them they have to go back and pay their cab driver before they can check in. Michael & Kevin get to the Mat but Phil tells them they broke a couple of rules - they had a taxi lead them to the tower, and they took a taxi from the tower to the Church, which incurs a 30-minute penalty for each infraction and they can’t get checked in for an hour. They go and sit on the steps as we see Chad & Stephanie running back to their cab. They get back to Phil and he tells them that they also broke a rule by taking a taxi from the tower to the Church. They’ll also get a 30-minute penalty, but since Michael & Kevin were waiting out an hour penalty, that puts them in sixth place. Stephanie interviews later that the Race is moving them forward as a couple and Chad is getting more supportive. (Huh?) Phil then calls Michael & Kevin to the Mat and tells them they’ve been eliminated from the Race. They both say that they’ve come to know each other better because of the Race.
So here’s the order of finish:
1 - Nat & Kat
2 - Brook & Claire
3 - Nick & Vicki
4 - Gary & Mallory
5 - Thomas & Jill
6 - Chad & Stephanie
7 - Michael & Kevin - eliminated
There are two female teams left in the Race, and they both seem pretty together. Will an all-female team finally win? Or will one of our male/female teams keep the women out of the winnings? We’ll find out next week!
Nat & Kat are over at the Band task and having problems figuring out the melody - until they come up with the idea to write numbers on their fingers and remember the tune by which fingers play next. They wrote down every note the guy played - sheer genius, if you ask me! Gary & Mallory and their big red noses are also learning to play accordion. They get through the first part of the song and find out that there are three parts to it and they have to learn all of them. Thomas & Jill decide to abandon the plates and go after the accordions, especially since the Band challenge was right next door. Brook & Claire take their time and focus and get all their plates spinning, and get their next clue - “Time to solve a Russian mystery.” They have to figure out that they’re looking for Bank Bridge, which is “guarded” by four creatures with golden wings.
Kat is laughing because her nose keeps falling off - and unintentionally insults her teammate saying “my nose is too small.” (I guess Nat’s is pretty big?) They get through their whole recital and are off with their clue. Gary says he can’t see the keys with his big red clown nose. Chad is complaining again that he can’t get the plates so they switch tasks. Nick & Vicki get theirs spinning correctly and leave the task with their clue. Thomas is having fits that they have to learn a second, and then a third song. Gary & Mallory finish their song and off they go, followed soon by Michael & Kevin.
At the bridge, Brook & Claire grab the clue, which tells them to travel on foot across the canal bridge to a historic building, Vladimirskiy Prospekt. They can ask locals to help them but can’t pay a taxi to lead them there. Once they find the building, only two team members at a time can climb the stairs to the top where there will be a figurine on the ledge - a clue to go to the Church on Spilled Blood. They will have to walk to that church for their next clue.
Brook & Claire, Nat & Kat, and Nick & Vicki get their clues and take off walking. Michael & Kevin get to the clue box and Michael tells Kevin to “Read the clue careful, okay? Don’t miss a word.” Of course we know this means they’re gonna screw up something - and they do it right off the bat, by following their cab driver.
Stephanie is proving herself to be the brains of that team yet again, telling Chad to use numbers for their fingers for the accordion playing. Thomas & Jill are having major problems playing their accordions - if they quit complaining so much and tried playing them, they might actually get somewhere. They quit that task again and run back to the plates. Chad & Stephanie finish playing and off they run to the taxi.
Brook & Claire get a local to help them find the building and give him kisses for his trouble - then run off saying “look at every doorway, it’s gonna be marked.” Of course, they run right by the marked door. Nick & Vicki see Nat & Kat walking down the street and join them.
Back at the circus, Thomas & Jill manage to finish spinning their plates and take off, knowing they’re in last place. Nick & Vicki interview that Nat & Kat are “very smart and athletic.” (Sounds like the team they should glom onto - Nick & Vicki need all the help with smarts they can get!) They find the building and Nat and Nick climb the stairs and use binoculars to look over the city. The little figurine is sitting on the ledge and Nick says the smartest thing he’s said this whole Race: “maybe we’re overlooking it - maybe we’re over thinking this.” Down the street, Brook & Claire see Nick and Kat up on the roof and run in that direction. Michael & Kevin show up and Kevin remarks that they carried their bags - and Nat tells him “you’re supposed to leave your cab and walk.” (Clue #1 to major screw-up). Up on the roof, Nick tells Kat that “you usually know what the clue is when you see it - they’re really obvious.” At that point he spots the figurine and laughs to Kat “look how dumb we are.” They find where they need to go and decide to purposely mislead the other teams by telling them they’re not sure but they saw something that said “DS 13" on it. Kevin says that Nick wouldn’t lie to him “because he’s awesome” but he and Claire can’t see what they’re looking for and talk about just going to DS 13. By chance, Claire spots the figurine and luckily they see where they’re supposed to go. Kevin says Nick lied to him and the two teams decide to go together. Thomas and Mallory are the next up the stairs and at least Thomas looks around the inside and sees the figurine. That leaves poor Chad & Stephanie on their own!
Kat & Nat and Nick & Vicki find the next clue box. They have to figure out where Peter the Great is buried, which is the Peter and Paul Fortress, and search the grounds for the clue box. Michael & Kevin and Brook & Claire have jumped in their taxis and as the first two teams leave the clue box at the church, they see the taxis pull up with the other two teams. Nick mentions it and Vicki says “it’s okay, they’ll get penalized.” Kevin yaps at Nick about lying to him and Brook shouts a little righteous indignation too. Kevin goes to ask his taxi driver about their destination, and Nat & Kat find a local to tell them it’s the Peter and Paul Fortress. Nick says there’s nothing in the clue that tells them they can’t take a taxi, so Nat & Kat run back to their original cab with their backpacks still in it and Nick & Vicki try to grab a cab. As they take off in their cab, Kevin says he wants to beat Nick & Vicki so he can tell them that lying doesn’t do him any good.
Stephanie goes up to look for their next clue, and Chad tells us that he’s trying more to let her make decisions - maybe because she’s much better at it than you are? Nick & Vicki are having mega problems finding a taxi, and Nat & Kat get back to their original cab. Nick starts complaining that Vicki runs down a side road to look for a cab as they walk next to a canal and calls her a moron. (Thought you were supposed to be nice from now on, buddy!) In their cab, Claire reads the clue, saying “you must walk to your next destination.” They tell their driver to go back to the tower, knowing (at least from past seasons of The Amazing Race) that Michael & Kevin will get penalized, so Brook & Claire will be able to make up the time.
Stephanie sends Chad up to see if he can manage to see the clue - and he does, telling her “it was right in front of your freaking face.” Make you feel better, macho man? He makes the decision to jump in the taxi, so there goes his smarts! Nat & Kat get to the Fortress first, and the clue is a Roadblock - “Who’s the real player?” Kat will do it by trying to mastering a centuries-old game. It’s a Russian version of bowling called Gorodki. A demonstration shows Phil on a small platform up on pegs, with a Russian tossing a 3-foot stick at the pegs and almost knocking Phil on his ass - he does catch himself and is able to tell us that the teams will have to clear pegs of three different formations with their sticks before they get their next clue. They have two shots at getting all the pegs cleared. Kat gets the first one in two shots.
We see Brook & Claire getting back to thetower on foot, then jumping in a cab. Thomas & Jill and Gary & Mallory find a local to tell them where they need to go, and neither team has their backpacks and Gary & Mallory run tack to get their original cab. Kat gets her next shot at the pegs on her first stick as Michael & Kevin show up, and Michael will do this task. As Michael starts slinging sticks, Brook & Claire show up and Brook will attempt it. Kat gets her third bunch of pegs and their clue tells them to “enter the Fortress and make your way to the next Pit Stop.” Inside the Fortress they must find the bastion where Phil and the Mat will be waiting.
Chad & Stephanie find a local to tell them where to go. Nat & Kat show up at the Mat and are happy to find out they are first - and get $5000 each for their trouble. Michael is still having major problems getting his pegs off the board, while Brook gets her first one. Michael’s sticks are bouncing everywhere but at the pegs, and Brook gets her next two and their clue. Kevin is getting discouraged watching them leave. Nick & Vicki show up - and Nick will do the task, with Vicki telling us “he can take out his aggression on this.” Chad & Stephanie are close behind, with Stephanie deciding to do the task. Nick clears the board with his first toss. After lousy tosses from Stephanie and Michael, Nick clears his second set of pegs. Thomas & Jill show up and Thomas insists this one is his. Nick clears the third set of pegs on two tries and off they go. Thomas gets his first set.
Brook & Claire make their way to Phil with Nick & Vicki right behind. Gary & Mallory show up to the challenge and Gary gets his pegs on the first try - and Michael finally gets his first set of pegs, followed by Stephanie. Gary is killing this task and gets set #2, and Thomas finishes and gets their clue. Gary then blasts his pegs with Mallory telling him what a champion he is, and they make their way to Phil in fourth place. Kevin sees everyone except Chad & Stephanie leave and worries that after getting there in first place, they’ll end up in last - although it doesn’t matter in the long run, they’d get a time penalty anyway so they’re SOL no matter what. Michael gets his pegs done and they run off, with Chad worrying that they’re in last place - but we see Thomas & Jill arguing with their taxi driver about money as they run back for their backpacks, and the driver trying to grab Jill’s backpack off of her. Michael & Kevin run back for their backpacks and find out they’re short of money too, and the cabbie closes the trunk and won’t let them take their one backpack out.
Thomas & Jill find some American money and give their cabbie $60 and he lets them go. They get to the Mat in fifth. Michael manages to find $40 in American money and the cab driver lets them leave as Stephanie gets her third set of pegs. They decide to leave their backpacks in the cab and just run for the Mat. Will they beat Michael & Kevin? Chad & Stephanie see Michael & Kevin running through the Fortress and hope to beat them - and they do, but at the Mat, Phil tells them they have to go back and pay their cab driver before they can check in. Michael & Kevin get to the Mat but Phil tells them they broke a couple of rules - they had a taxi lead them to the tower, and they took a taxi from the tower to the Church, which incurs a 30-minute penalty for each infraction and they can’t get checked in for an hour. They go and sit on the steps as we see Chad & Stephanie running back to their cab. They get back to Phil and he tells them that they also broke a rule by taking a taxi from the tower to the Church. They’ll also get a 30-minute penalty, but since Michael & Kevin were waiting out an hour penalty, that puts them in sixth place. Stephanie interviews later that the Race is moving them forward as a couple and Chad is getting more supportive. (Huh?) Phil then calls Michael & Kevin to the Mat and tells them they’ve been eliminated from the Race. They both say that they’ve come to know each other better because of the Race.
So here’s the order of finish:
1 - Nat & Kat
2 - Brook & Claire
3 - Nick & Vicki
4 - Gary & Mallory
5 - Thomas & Jill
6 - Chad & Stephanie
7 - Michael & Kevin - eliminated
There are two female teams left in the Race, and they both seem pretty together. Will an all-female team finally win? Or will one of our male/female teams keep the women out of the winnings? We’ll find out next week!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Dashing Through Norway - the Locals Don't Smile and the Vegetarian Eats a Sheep Head
Our teams begin in the Swedish Lapland, far above the arctic circle. In the summer, the sun never sets! (I spent a summer in southern Alaska, and it doesn't get very dark there either - definitely different!)
Nat & Kat will leave the Pit Stop first, and must drive themselves to Narvik, Norway to a gondola station. They’ll ride the gondola to the top of the mountain to find the clue box. As Brook & Claire leave, Brook tells us she’s hyper and energetic. (Can’t say I’ve noticed that yet.) Michael & Kevin interview that Kevin is in college now, but he’ll be moving out when he’s out of college (and Michael makes a happy face with a thumbs-up. No empty nest problems there!) As they drive, Kevin tells his dad he gave him the clue but Michael can’t find it. Thomas interviews that he expected to be with someone who has gone to college since he went to Notre Dame (uppity, isn’t he?) and we get to hear Jill stating once again that she wants to prove that she’s smart even though she didn’t go to college, she doesn’t want to be following behind. Quit talking and do it woman! I think she’s got an inferiority complex, actually. She might as well give up now and find herself a plumber or something..... Michael ends up finding the clue and sheepishly apologizes.
Brook & Claire catch up to Gary & Mallory and they drive around a roundabout a few times talking to each other and trying to figure out which way to go. I guess stopping the cars to talk didn’t make much sense. Rachel interviews that it’s a race, and she and Katie want to win - “It’s not called Amazing Friends.” They also mention that Nat has a fear of heights and they’re hoping that will mess up the doctor team on the gondolas. As they take off she sits in the corner of the gondola and cries, with Kat trying to calm her down. They get to the top and the clue is a Fast Forward (should they choose to use it). For those of you unfamiliar, a Fast Forward is a special task, and if the team completes it they can skip all other tasks and go directly to the Pit Stop. The team will have to go to a restaurant and participate in a Norwegian Christmas festival - which they won’t know is to eat an entire roasted sheep’s head. Each team member will have to eat half the head.
Brook & Claire jump on a gondola just as Nat & Kat are getting off. Gary & Mallory miss the one and by the time they get on, Michael & Kevin have arrived. The non-Fast Forward clue tells the teams to drive to the Skjombrua Bridge (which Phil doesn’t even try to pronounce - he says “this” bridge. Sissy.) Michael & Kevin ask Gary & Mallory if they’re going to do the Fast Forward, and Gary says “no” but Mallory sees that it says “Christmas ritual” and yells “I love Christmas!” Well, if it involved snowball fights or mistletoe, I’d go along too. But NOT eating a sheep’s head! Blech!
On the way to the Fast Forward, Nat asks “What if it’s an eating challenge?” That’s when we find out that Kat is a vegetarian. Uh–oh! This will be interesting! They walk into the building and see the plates along with a glass of water, and Nat says they know that’s a bad sign to see the water there. Kat’s face is one of total disgust as they peel the meat off the skeleton (I’m not too thrilled either) and they decide to cut it into little pieces and then eat it. After a toast of “tastes like money” Kat tries to just swallow it and not chew it - and doesn’t look like she’s doing very well at it. There’s a woman there playing a violin-like instrument - looks really interesting. They say that the skin is thick and slimy - ew.
Gary & Mallory have teamed up with Michael & Kevin to find the bridge, and get there before Brook & Claire. The clue is a Roadblock. One team member has to step off the bridge and rappel down to the water. Once at the end of the rope, they have to call the boat to get their next clue, then use an ascender to get the 135 feet back up. Kevin and Gary decide to do it - Kevin says the clue asks “who has strength, stamina and guts” and Michael laughs saying “I don’t have guts.” Brook & Claire show up and Brook gives Claire the Roadblock to do and tells her she’ll do great. As she’s walking to the bridge all harnessed up, Claire says “it’s giving me a wedgie.” The guide asks her what a wedgie is, and she says “it’s like when it goes up your butt.”
Back to Nat & Kat, gagging down the sheep and saying it’s crunchy Romaine lettuce, or cucumbers. Kat again reminds herself that it “tastes like a million dollars.” Back at the bridge, Kevin goes down first, but Gary quickly catches up. He tells Kevin “my **** are already gettin’ it” and we’re not shown the word, but I’m thinking his "boys" are a little squished in that harness (if Claire’s getting a wedgie without even going down, can you imagine how the men will feel?)
At the “feast” a Norwegian is standing and staring at the doctors eating the sheep. They ask “how are we doing?” and get a cold stare. Nat asks “thumbs up?” Nothing. She looks at the guy and says “you’re very inspiring.” They manage to finish and the clue tells them to go to the Pit Stop - the Ankenes Marina. Kat says she wants to go to the Pit Stop and she’ll “get sick there.”
Nick & Vicki get to the gondola and decide to try the Fast Forward. They’re gonna be pretty bummed to find out it’s already taken!
Thomas & Jill get to the bridge as Kevin starts repelling back up. Claire is down below trying to figure out how to get back up and having major problems. Gary and Kevin still haven’t made it back up and Thomas is on his way up already. Meanwhile, Nick & Vicki get to the Fast Forward and there’s a sign on the door saying “Fast Forward Taken.” Our rocket scientist Nick says “I have no idea what that means.” Vicki doesn’t either, saying she didn’t know if it was “taken for right now, or just taken, period.” (OMG these two are sooooo dumb!) They don’t know if they should wait or not, and finally decide to go back to the bridge.
Nat & Kat get to Phil and the Mat and are greeted by another Norwegian who doesn’t know how to smile. (A high school mate of mine married a guy from Norway and moved there, and they’re not all like that - some actually smile sometimes!) Phil tells them that they’re in first place and will travel to Costa Rica. The first team to make first, twice!
Katie & Rachel show up to the bridge right after Chad & Stephanie. We see Kevin in first place rapelling up, followed by Gary, Thomas and Claire. Stephanie will do the challenge and I can only imagine the wonderful encouragement she’ll get from Chad when she’s like Claire - exhausted and trying to come up. Claire tells Brook to “shut up” as Brook shouts encouragement (and Brook’s not even being obnoxious about it!)
Kevin makes it up and the clue tells them to drive to Harvika and find a remote field for their next clue. Thomas is up and Claire is crying that her arms are dead - I’d kill Brook for making me do this challenge if I were her. Brook tells her she can do it, and “all I want you to do is finish this - I don’t care when.” She is making decent headway, albeit slowly. Brook tells Claire to call on her grandmother, who passed away four days before the Race started. Brook says “you think Claire & I are spicy? This woman beat us both.” She says Claire need to find the inner strength of her grandma.
Nick & Vicki show up and Vicki is excited about doing the challenge - she says “I’m the one who has the guts in this relationship.” Chad & Stephanie show up and Chad, of course, decides he’s the one to do the challenge. “I’ve got strength.” Michael &* Kevin make it to the next clue box, and the clue is a Detour. Phil tells us that when the weather gets warmer in this part of the world (and mind you, our Teams have winter coats and gloves on. So it’s all relative!) They like to get out and have a good time, but work still needs to get done. The teams can choose from Nike or Boat. For Bike, they choose bicycles and have to pay attention to the color of their bicycle lock. They ride to a sign and memorize a code that coincides with their lock color, which is the bike combination. They ride back, use the combination to open the lock and get their next clue. In Boat, they have to go to a fishing trawler, and use a map to direct the captain to a spot on shore, get off the boat, and deliver two large cod fish and a chain saw to a cabin to get their clue.
Michael & Kevin decide to try Boat, because Kevin doesn’t want his Dad to get overtaxed doing the bike ride on the terrain. Thomas & Jill and Gary & Mallory will do Bike. Brook & Claire will do the Boats. Brook says that this is so out of their realm of wearing makeup and going to parties - and Claire laughs “can we go get a manicure while we’re here?” Brook is cracking up about the life jackets, which go up through the crotch and snap, saying she’s wearing a diaper.
We see Vicki getting close to the top, and spinning around just under the bridge (and getting me dizzy!) Katie & Rachel show up just as Vicki, then Chad get done and are hopeful they can just “blast through this one and catch up.” Katie will do the task.
Michael & Kevin get to shore and climb up the slippery incline to deliver the fish and chain saw. Kevin is carrying the fish and Michael interviews later “that is why he smells so fishy right now.” I really am liking these two, they have a super relationship. We see Gary & Mallory slipping on part of the bicycle path and falling over, deciding to walk their bikes for a bit. Thomas & Jill get to the sign after Gary & Mallory but get back and open their locks first, finding out they get to drive to the Pit Stop at the Marina.
Brook & Claire pass Michael & Kevin on their way to shore in the boat, and Brook carries the fish. She laughs that the fish slung over her shoulder were slapping their tails against her butt. We see Thomas & Jill trying to find the Marina and saying they may have missed a turn - then Michael & Kevin in the car, saying the same thing. Gary & Mallory have a better sense of direction, and get to the Mat where Phil raises his eyebrow twice at the team to let them know they’re in second place. (Cute, Phil!)
Nick & Vicki decide to try the Bike challenge, and Brook & Claire give the cabin owner a kiss on the cheek. He looks pretty happy about it too! Thomas & Jill are so lost they pass Katie & Rachel on the bridge again. Katie & Rachel are ecstatic and Thomas is pretty pissed - “we just totally ruined ourselves!” Michael & Kevin end up right behind them on the road, as Katie & Rachel take off in the other direction. Nick, who allegedly rides bikes competitively, is having major problems getting up a hill while Vicki is cruising right along. They get to the sign as Chad & Stephanie find the place to dock. Katie & Rachel decide to do the Boat. Thomas & Jill stumble upon the marina with Michael & Kevin right behind. They beat the father & son team to the Mat for third.
Brook & Claire get to the Marina in fifth place, and Brook cut her eye on the car door as she was getting out. They get to the Mat and Phil is incredulous that Brook is cut, saying she’s a tough nut “all cut up and standing here like you’re going to sell jewelry.” Katie & Rachel pass Chad & Stephanie in their boat - the producers are really highlighting this, I wonder if the volleyball girls will actually catch up and beat Chad & Stephanie. Nick & Vicki get to the Marina and Nick says “I think we’re in second, dude” as they run to the Mat. (Yeah, okay.)
Chad & Stephanie stop someone on the road to ask if he knows where the Marina is, and the poor guy is a stutterer. Could this be the break that Katie & Rachel are hoping for? It seems as if Katie & Rachel get to the Marina as Chad & Stephanie do, but the dating couple gets to the Mat first. Phil tells them they’re the last team to arrive, and they’ve been eliminated. They’re happy they did it together, but they snuffle in being told to go home.
So here’s our order of finish:
1 - Nat & Kat
2 - Gary & Mallory
3 - Thomas & Jill
4 - Michael & Kevin
5 - Brook & Claire
6 - Nick & Vicki
7 - Chad & Stephanie
8 - Katie & Rachel (Eliminated)
Next week the teams “get immersed in Russian culture - music, cinema, and babushkas!” Looks like fun!
Nat & Kat will leave the Pit Stop first, and must drive themselves to Narvik, Norway to a gondola station. They’ll ride the gondola to the top of the mountain to find the clue box. As Brook & Claire leave, Brook tells us she’s hyper and energetic. (Can’t say I’ve noticed that yet.) Michael & Kevin interview that Kevin is in college now, but he’ll be moving out when he’s out of college (and Michael makes a happy face with a thumbs-up. No empty nest problems there!) As they drive, Kevin tells his dad he gave him the clue but Michael can’t find it. Thomas interviews that he expected to be with someone who has gone to college since he went to Notre Dame (uppity, isn’t he?) and we get to hear Jill stating once again that she wants to prove that she’s smart even though she didn’t go to college, she doesn’t want to be following behind. Quit talking and do it woman! I think she’s got an inferiority complex, actually. She might as well give up now and find herself a plumber or something..... Michael ends up finding the clue and sheepishly apologizes.
Brook & Claire catch up to Gary & Mallory and they drive around a roundabout a few times talking to each other and trying to figure out which way to go. I guess stopping the cars to talk didn’t make much sense. Rachel interviews that it’s a race, and she and Katie want to win - “It’s not called Amazing Friends.” They also mention that Nat has a fear of heights and they’re hoping that will mess up the doctor team on the gondolas. As they take off she sits in the corner of the gondola and cries, with Kat trying to calm her down. They get to the top and the clue is a Fast Forward (should they choose to use it). For those of you unfamiliar, a Fast Forward is a special task, and if the team completes it they can skip all other tasks and go directly to the Pit Stop. The team will have to go to a restaurant and participate in a Norwegian Christmas festival - which they won’t know is to eat an entire roasted sheep’s head. Each team member will have to eat half the head.
Brook & Claire jump on a gondola just as Nat & Kat are getting off. Gary & Mallory miss the one and by the time they get on, Michael & Kevin have arrived. The non-Fast Forward clue tells the teams to drive to the Skjombrua Bridge (which Phil doesn’t even try to pronounce - he says “this” bridge. Sissy.) Michael & Kevin ask Gary & Mallory if they’re going to do the Fast Forward, and Gary says “no” but Mallory sees that it says “Christmas ritual” and yells “I love Christmas!” Well, if it involved snowball fights or mistletoe, I’d go along too. But NOT eating a sheep’s head! Blech!
On the way to the Fast Forward, Nat asks “What if it’s an eating challenge?” That’s when we find out that Kat is a vegetarian. Uh–oh! This will be interesting! They walk into the building and see the plates along with a glass of water, and Nat says they know that’s a bad sign to see the water there. Kat’s face is one of total disgust as they peel the meat off the skeleton (I’m not too thrilled either) and they decide to cut it into little pieces and then eat it. After a toast of “tastes like money” Kat tries to just swallow it and not chew it - and doesn’t look like she’s doing very well at it. There’s a woman there playing a violin-like instrument - looks really interesting. They say that the skin is thick and slimy - ew.
Gary & Mallory have teamed up with Michael & Kevin to find the bridge, and get there before Brook & Claire. The clue is a Roadblock. One team member has to step off the bridge and rappel down to the water. Once at the end of the rope, they have to call the boat to get their next clue, then use an ascender to get the 135 feet back up. Kevin and Gary decide to do it - Kevin says the clue asks “who has strength, stamina and guts” and Michael laughs saying “I don’t have guts.” Brook & Claire show up and Brook gives Claire the Roadblock to do and tells her she’ll do great. As she’s walking to the bridge all harnessed up, Claire says “it’s giving me a wedgie.” The guide asks her what a wedgie is, and she says “it’s like when it goes up your butt.”
Back to Nat & Kat, gagging down the sheep and saying it’s crunchy Romaine lettuce, or cucumbers. Kat again reminds herself that it “tastes like a million dollars.” Back at the bridge, Kevin goes down first, but Gary quickly catches up. He tells Kevin “my **** are already gettin’ it” and we’re not shown the word, but I’m thinking his "boys" are a little squished in that harness (if Claire’s getting a wedgie without even going down, can you imagine how the men will feel?)
At the “feast” a Norwegian is standing and staring at the doctors eating the sheep. They ask “how are we doing?” and get a cold stare. Nat asks “thumbs up?” Nothing. She looks at the guy and says “you’re very inspiring.” They manage to finish and the clue tells them to go to the Pit Stop - the Ankenes Marina. Kat says she wants to go to the Pit Stop and she’ll “get sick there.”
Nick & Vicki get to the gondola and decide to try the Fast Forward. They’re gonna be pretty bummed to find out it’s already taken!
Thomas & Jill get to the bridge as Kevin starts repelling back up. Claire is down below trying to figure out how to get back up and having major problems. Gary and Kevin still haven’t made it back up and Thomas is on his way up already. Meanwhile, Nick & Vicki get to the Fast Forward and there’s a sign on the door saying “Fast Forward Taken.” Our rocket scientist Nick says “I have no idea what that means.” Vicki doesn’t either, saying she didn’t know if it was “taken for right now, or just taken, period.” (OMG these two are sooooo dumb!) They don’t know if they should wait or not, and finally decide to go back to the bridge.
Nat & Kat get to Phil and the Mat and are greeted by another Norwegian who doesn’t know how to smile. (A high school mate of mine married a guy from Norway and moved there, and they’re not all like that - some actually smile sometimes!) Phil tells them that they’re in first place and will travel to Costa Rica. The first team to make first, twice!
Katie & Rachel show up to the bridge right after Chad & Stephanie. We see Kevin in first place rapelling up, followed by Gary, Thomas and Claire. Stephanie will do the challenge and I can only imagine the wonderful encouragement she’ll get from Chad when she’s like Claire - exhausted and trying to come up. Claire tells Brook to “shut up” as Brook shouts encouragement (and Brook’s not even being obnoxious about it!)
Kevin makes it up and the clue tells them to drive to Harvika and find a remote field for their next clue. Thomas is up and Claire is crying that her arms are dead - I’d kill Brook for making me do this challenge if I were her. Brook tells her she can do it, and “all I want you to do is finish this - I don’t care when.” She is making decent headway, albeit slowly. Brook tells Claire to call on her grandmother, who passed away four days before the Race started. Brook says “you think Claire & I are spicy? This woman beat us both.” She says Claire need to find the inner strength of her grandma.
Nick & Vicki show up and Vicki is excited about doing the challenge - she says “I’m the one who has the guts in this relationship.” Chad & Stephanie show up and Chad, of course, decides he’s the one to do the challenge. “I’ve got strength.” Michael &* Kevin make it to the next clue box, and the clue is a Detour. Phil tells us that when the weather gets warmer in this part of the world (and mind you, our Teams have winter coats and gloves on. So it’s all relative!) They like to get out and have a good time, but work still needs to get done. The teams can choose from Nike or Boat. For Bike, they choose bicycles and have to pay attention to the color of their bicycle lock. They ride to a sign and memorize a code that coincides with their lock color, which is the bike combination. They ride back, use the combination to open the lock and get their next clue. In Boat, they have to go to a fishing trawler, and use a map to direct the captain to a spot on shore, get off the boat, and deliver two large cod fish and a chain saw to a cabin to get their clue.
Michael & Kevin decide to try Boat, because Kevin doesn’t want his Dad to get overtaxed doing the bike ride on the terrain. Thomas & Jill and Gary & Mallory will do Bike. Brook & Claire will do the Boats. Brook says that this is so out of their realm of wearing makeup and going to parties - and Claire laughs “can we go get a manicure while we’re here?” Brook is cracking up about the life jackets, which go up through the crotch and snap, saying she’s wearing a diaper.
We see Vicki getting close to the top, and spinning around just under the bridge (and getting me dizzy!) Katie & Rachel show up just as Vicki, then Chad get done and are hopeful they can just “blast through this one and catch up.” Katie will do the task.
Michael & Kevin get to shore and climb up the slippery incline to deliver the fish and chain saw. Kevin is carrying the fish and Michael interviews later “that is why he smells so fishy right now.” I really am liking these two, they have a super relationship. We see Gary & Mallory slipping on part of the bicycle path and falling over, deciding to walk their bikes for a bit. Thomas & Jill get to the sign after Gary & Mallory but get back and open their locks first, finding out they get to drive to the Pit Stop at the Marina.
Brook & Claire pass Michael & Kevin on their way to shore in the boat, and Brook carries the fish. She laughs that the fish slung over her shoulder were slapping their tails against her butt. We see Thomas & Jill trying to find the Marina and saying they may have missed a turn - then Michael & Kevin in the car, saying the same thing. Gary & Mallory have a better sense of direction, and get to the Mat where Phil raises his eyebrow twice at the team to let them know they’re in second place. (Cute, Phil!)
Nick & Vicki decide to try the Bike challenge, and Brook & Claire give the cabin owner a kiss on the cheek. He looks pretty happy about it too! Thomas & Jill are so lost they pass Katie & Rachel on the bridge again. Katie & Rachel are ecstatic and Thomas is pretty pissed - “we just totally ruined ourselves!” Michael & Kevin end up right behind them on the road, as Katie & Rachel take off in the other direction. Nick, who allegedly rides bikes competitively, is having major problems getting up a hill while Vicki is cruising right along. They get to the sign as Chad & Stephanie find the place to dock. Katie & Rachel decide to do the Boat. Thomas & Jill stumble upon the marina with Michael & Kevin right behind. They beat the father & son team to the Mat for third.
Brook & Claire get to the Marina in fifth place, and Brook cut her eye on the car door as she was getting out. They get to the Mat and Phil is incredulous that Brook is cut, saying she’s a tough nut “all cut up and standing here like you’re going to sell jewelry.” Katie & Rachel pass Chad & Stephanie in their boat - the producers are really highlighting this, I wonder if the volleyball girls will actually catch up and beat Chad & Stephanie. Nick & Vicki get to the Marina and Nick says “I think we’re in second, dude” as they run to the Mat. (Yeah, okay.)
Chad & Stephanie stop someone on the road to ask if he knows where the Marina is, and the poor guy is a stutterer. Could this be the break that Katie & Rachel are hoping for? It seems as if Katie & Rachel get to the Marina as Chad & Stephanie do, but the dating couple gets to the Mat first. Phil tells them they’re the last team to arrive, and they’ve been eliminated. They’re happy they did it together, but they snuffle in being told to go home.
So here’s our order of finish:
1 - Nat & Kat
2 - Gary & Mallory
3 - Thomas & Jill
4 - Michael & Kevin
5 - Brook & Claire
6 - Nick & Vicki
7 - Chad & Stephanie
8 - Katie & Rachel (Eliminated)
Next week the teams “get immersed in Russian culture - music, cinema, and babushkas!” Looks like fun!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
The Race is Less Musical as the Singers, Connor & Jonathan, are Eliminated
The nine remaining teams begin in Ghana - but before they leave, they stay to paint the school (dripping paint all over from what I see). It underscores again how lucky we are in the US, and the teams work away with smiles and kisses for the kids.
Connor & Jonathan are the first team to leave the Pit Stop - and they rip open the clue to find out they’re going to the Arctic Circle. Actually, it’s Kiruna, Sweden, in Swedish Lapland. All teams have been given tickets for the same flight that flies from Ghana to Frankfurt and on to Sweden, but they’re not going to be forced to use them (making me think there are other ways to get there, and someone will try, and get stranded in some country somewhere.....). They must drive themselves to Jukkasjärvi and find the Icehotel, which is made from 10,000 tons of ice, and they’ll get their next clue there. The singers say they’ll be missing their college graduation on this Leg, and it’s a testament as to how bad they want to win it.
Gary & Mallory leave next, and Mallory screams to find out they’re going to the Arctic Circle. (She screams a lot!) Gary mentions they’ll be going from “a hundred to zero.” Chad & Stephanie leave and Stephanie asks “did I mention I hate freaking snow?” Katie & Rachel leave and Katie (I think, still can’t tell them apart) tells us she’s half Swedish but only knows a few words in Romanian, and the most mentioned is “dumb.” (Don’t think that saying “dumb” everywhere will help - nor will Romanian in Sweden!) Brook & Claire say they didn’t bring their snow boots, and Claire is bummed that they’ll have to put on more clothes (and no one will see her hot pink leopard shorts). Nick & Vicki, our resident brainiacs, get in the cab and Nick asks the cab driver if he knows where the Arctic Circle is. Michael & Kevin, leaving in last place and looking at a Speed Bump along the way, call the airport on the way and find out they can get a flight that leaves two hours earlier from Frankfurt to Kiruna. They decide to tell Gary & Mallory, because they can relate to them as a father/child team. They’ll have an hour between flights, so they hope that’s enough time to connect. Mallory sees an airport employee and asks him to check and see if they can get tickets. She laughs that they “need a girl” to help them out. Brook & Claire decide to check on an earlier flight also, and see an internet café and figure that’s where Nat & Kat are. Mallory’s “best friend” comes back and says they are all on the flight that leaves earlier. Mallory laughs that “I’m so glad I have blonde hair.” Connor & Jonathan are watching all this go on and think there’s an earlier flight and go to an information desk to find out. Nat & Kat bought tickets for the earlier flight, and decided to share that info with Brook & Claire (although how would they not - the Shopping Network gals showed up as they were buying the tickets!) Jonathan and Katie & Rachel find out that all the flights are fully booked and are nervous about some other teams getting a quicker flight. The teams that do have those tickets are preparing for a mad dash to the gate because of the one-hour window before their flight leaves. (Of course, if they miss it they can always use their original tickets - unless they had to give those up to get the new flight).
Nat & Kat make the flight, as to Gary & Mallory and Brook & Claire. We see Michael & Kevin in an elevator worried about making it on time - but the manage to get to the plane before it takes off. Gary & Mallory pass up the sign to the Icehotel, and with Michael & Kevin following them they have to turn around. Brook tells the woman standing by the clues that “my fiancé calls me an ice princess so I may have to borrow that [outfit] later. It’s very pretty.” The clues are blocks of ice with Swedish words etched in them that will lead them to Fjellborg’s Lodge - once they figure out the words. Michael & Kevin get their Speed Bump here. They have to sit on the furniture made from blocks of ice for ten minutes. Sitting for ten minutes sounds like a pretty easy thing to do - but to sit on solid ice with regular pants on? I dunno ‘bout that! Kevin is wearing soccer shorts, too! Michael laughs that he wishes they had that furniture in Ghana.
Nat & Kat ask a local what the words on their ice block say, and he tells them “it’s a camp. By a lake.” Mallory just wants to follow them (bad idea - you ALWAYS find out where you’re going before you decide to follow someone else!) Michael & Kevin get through their Speed Bump, but not before Kevin tells us that his butt is tingling. They get their block-of-ice-clue and say they should have brought gloves - “and butt pads.” A local gives them exact directions on where to drive.
Brook & Claire are following Nat & Kat on an unmarked trail through the (sparse) woods. Claire, in a sinister voice, narrates: “Four girls, traveling alone in the woods, and their car stalls ... and out come the ax murderers.” Michael & Kevin get to the clue box first (after leaving the Icehotel last) and it’s a Road Block: “Who’s feeling kind of mushy?” Dog sleds are the transportation of choice with snow eight months out of the year, but the other four months they have to stay in shape. They’ll have to mush their dogs with a summer training sled along a trail and pick up five different flags along the route. They’ll trade the flags for some pelts. For every flag they miss, they’ll have to do a penalty lap around the hunter’s camp. They then mush the dogs back to the start and exchange their pelts for the next clue. Michael takes off, yelling “good doggy” all the way. There’s a bear that jumps up next to the road - what—!!! Okay, it’s a guy in a bear suit. Cute. I’d like to think they’d find a way to keep real bears from getting that close to the contestants!
Mallory, Claire, and Kat will do the Roadblock too. As Michael gets all of his pelts the rest of the teams land in Sweden. Mallory misses the red flags but passes Kat up on the road, saying “I’ve got good dogs.” Kat’s dogs stop in the road and Claire passes her up as well. Mallory has to do a penalty lap and Claire gets her pelts with all of her flags, and kisses the hunter. I guess they’re doing a kiss count, and Claire’s was the sixth of the day. Wahoo! Germs from every part of the world!!!
The five remaining teams get to the Icehotel and some write down the words on the ice (as opposed to some other teams, who take the ice with them). Katie & Rachel ask a local, who says he can take them there. Thomas takes his ice but is having problems keeping a grip on it and uses Jill’s jacket.
Michael mushes back to the beginning and gets the clue, which tells them to drive to the Vassijaure Train Station for the next clue. All the mushers come back with mega smiles on their faces saying it was awesome.
Chad & Stephanie see all the other teams except for Jill & Thomas driving to the clue box. Katie, Connor, Stephanie and Nick race off to mush the dogs, and Jill & Thomas show up. Jill decides to do the task but they start running off in the wrong direction! We hear the familiar “zing” in the music that lets us know they’re making an AWFUL mistake. As Connor and Nick take off, laughing and urging their dogs on, Jill & Thomas keep running down a road to nowhere - but at least they’re thinking that maybe they screwed up, with Thomas asking “did we miss a sign or something?” (Yep.) If I’m them, I’m thinking about now that it shouldn’t take that long to get somewhere! They finally figure they’re off track and turn around, and Jill asks if they want to use the Express Pass. Thomas doesn’t want to make any decision yet but wants to check it out first.
Nick is hot on Connor’s trail, yelling “I’m coming, Connor!” as he catches up. Jill & Thomas get back to the dogs and off Jill goes.
Michael & Kevin get to the train station and the clue is a Detour. Phil tells us they're in a place where people can go to do extreme sports, but there are also people who follow the customs of their ancestors. They can do Sleds or Beds. For Sleds, they go to the top of the mountain and speed down a course on a tech sled. They both have to finish the course in less than a minute and 58 seconds. If they don’t make it, they have to go back to the top and try again. In Beds, they go to the camp of Sami people, descendants of Scandinavian nomads. Using the traditional tools, they must build a tent known as a ghoatti (if the internet tells me correctly). When the tent is up and the inside ready for sleeping with pelts and a fire, they’ll get their next clue. Kevin would love to do the sled, but he’s worried that his dad wouldn’t be able to do it. As they’re putting up the tent, and it’s flopping all over, the local Sami are cracking up watching them. (I think we have to have at least one set of locals laughing at a team or two every episode, or it just wouldn’t be The Amazing Race!)
Nat & Kat are next to the clue box and head off to Sleds. Back at the mush dogs, the teams finish their challenges and Nick tells the dog handler “your dogs are awesome!” They get their clues, and as Chad & Stephanie leave just before Jill & Thomas, Chad says that because of Jill & Thomas’ Express Pass, they’re running the Race as if they are in last place. After seeing what the Detour is, I wouldn’t blame them if they used the Express Pass!
Michael & Kevin are making better headway with the tent, but they tell us that they thought they’d be building a bed, not a tent. Nat & Kat get to the sled course and are loving the scenery sitting in the chair lift. They’re excited about trying the sleds, but Nat interviews that the turns were really icy and the course was fast, and pulling the brake didn’t do much. Kat misses a turn and gets tangled in a fence as Nat finishes in 1:48. Gary & Mallory start their run, and Gary takes off quickly but Mallory is kneeling on the seat and going slower. But! It looks like they make it - 1:58 on the dot. The guy tells them no, they have to BEAT the time. Back at the tent, Michael & Kevin have it up and are off to get pelts and firewood, and Kevin says his feet are frozen - he’s only wearing ankle socks. Nat & Kat make it in 1:55 on their second try. Their clue tells them to drive to the Pit Stop which is at the Norwegian Border. Brook & Claire make it in 1:48, and Gary & Mallory do 1:24 on their second try.
Chad & Stephanie decide to try the Sleds, but only Chad is excited - Stephanie wants nothing to do with it but says she’ll try for Chad. (Awwww). Nat & Kat find Phil and the Mat, and are the first team to arrive. They win a trip to Belize.
Michael & Kevin finish their hut and get their clue. Gary & Mallory then Brook & Claire get to the Mat and there are hugs all around.
Jill & Thomas are the last to the clue box at the train station and talk about using the Express Pass to just bypass the tasks and “kill everybody.” Jonathan & Connor are on the course, and Jonathan keeps falling over. Stephanie says she’s never been more scared in her life looking at the course. She ends up right behind Chad and yells at him to go faster, but ends up wobbling and tipping over. Chad yells at her to get back on. She hits a turn and flies off the sled and gets tangled in a fence. Ever the supportive one, Chad yells at her “well, don’t even try or anything!” Connor & Jonathan finish, but in 2:03 and have to try again. Stephanie crashes once again and tells Chad she can’t do it. At the bottom, Chad says Stephanie is letting her head get to her.
Jill & Thomas are attempting Beds and talking about using the Express Pass, saying it would be a shame to be eliminated and not use it. They decide it will take too much time and give the Sami their Express Pass and get the clue to go to the next Pit Stop. As Stephanie gets to the bottom of the course, she tells Chad she’s done. She doesn’t want to go again after crashing three times and the sled landing on top of her. She’s too afraid to try again. I’m looking at Chad’s face and thinking it reminds me of the old saying “if looks could kill....” She cries as they walk away and Chad thinks they’re giving up.
We see Connor & Jonathan trying again, and failing miserably, and Jonathan interviews that “saying Connor is batter at the sledding than I am is a gross understatement.” He kept going over and through the fences and was afraid he’d end up in Norway. Nick & Vicki begin the course and Vicki interviews that they’re a more physical couple than a mental one (you’ve definitely proved that!) and this challenge was more suited to them. They finish in 1:46 on the first try. Katie & Rachel are flopping all over and Rachel loses her sled down the hill, so they decide to switch tasks. After another disastrous run, Connor & Jonathan switch also.
As they get to the Beds challenge, Jonathan & Connor are happy to see the other teams, but Chad & Stephanie are soon finished. Katie & Rachel’s first check isn’t good enough, giving Connor & Jonathan some hope. Chad & Stephanie arrive at the Mat carrying their block of ice clue! Katie & Rachel get approval and drive off, and Connor & Jonathan get their clue. It looks like both teams get to the location of the Mat at the same time (and they have their block of ice also). The A Capella team sings their way to the Mat but Phil tells them they’ve been eliminated. From first to worst! They tell Phil they graduated from Princeton and graduated from the Race on the same day, and toss their baseball caps into the air. We’re treated to them singing about the Race and Phil sending them home.
1 - Nat & Kat
2 - Gary & Mallory
3 - Brook & Claire
4 - Michael & Kevin
5 - Jill & Thomas
6 - Nick & Vicki
7 - Chad & Stephanie
8 - Katie & Rachel
9 - Connor & Jonathan (eliminated)
Okay, yet another team finishes first. Are the teams that close? Do you see a clear front runner yet? Next week will only tell!
By the way, I've found a couple other "amateur" bloggers that are quite entertaining - you should check them out!
Sean - http://sfurfaro.blogspot.com/2010/10/amazing-race-recap-we-should-have.html
Josh - http://www.joshwolk.com/blogs/archive.php
Connor & Jonathan are the first team to leave the Pit Stop - and they rip open the clue to find out they’re going to the Arctic Circle. Actually, it’s Kiruna, Sweden, in Swedish Lapland. All teams have been given tickets for the same flight that flies from Ghana to Frankfurt and on to Sweden, but they’re not going to be forced to use them (making me think there are other ways to get there, and someone will try, and get stranded in some country somewhere.....). They must drive themselves to Jukkasjärvi and find the Icehotel, which is made from 10,000 tons of ice, and they’ll get their next clue there. The singers say they’ll be missing their college graduation on this Leg, and it’s a testament as to how bad they want to win it.
Gary & Mallory leave next, and Mallory screams to find out they’re going to the Arctic Circle. (She screams a lot!) Gary mentions they’ll be going from “a hundred to zero.” Chad & Stephanie leave and Stephanie asks “did I mention I hate freaking snow?” Katie & Rachel leave and Katie (I think, still can’t tell them apart) tells us she’s half Swedish but only knows a few words in Romanian, and the most mentioned is “dumb.” (Don’t think that saying “dumb” everywhere will help - nor will Romanian in Sweden!) Brook & Claire say they didn’t bring their snow boots, and Claire is bummed that they’ll have to put on more clothes (and no one will see her hot pink leopard shorts). Nick & Vicki, our resident brainiacs, get in the cab and Nick asks the cab driver if he knows where the Arctic Circle is. Michael & Kevin, leaving in last place and looking at a Speed Bump along the way, call the airport on the way and find out they can get a flight that leaves two hours earlier from Frankfurt to Kiruna. They decide to tell Gary & Mallory, because they can relate to them as a father/child team. They’ll have an hour between flights, so they hope that’s enough time to connect. Mallory sees an airport employee and asks him to check and see if they can get tickets. She laughs that they “need a girl” to help them out. Brook & Claire decide to check on an earlier flight also, and see an internet café and figure that’s where Nat & Kat are. Mallory’s “best friend” comes back and says they are all on the flight that leaves earlier. Mallory laughs that “I’m so glad I have blonde hair.” Connor & Jonathan are watching all this go on and think there’s an earlier flight and go to an information desk to find out. Nat & Kat bought tickets for the earlier flight, and decided to share that info with Brook & Claire (although how would they not - the Shopping Network gals showed up as they were buying the tickets!) Jonathan and Katie & Rachel find out that all the flights are fully booked and are nervous about some other teams getting a quicker flight. The teams that do have those tickets are preparing for a mad dash to the gate because of the one-hour window before their flight leaves. (Of course, if they miss it they can always use their original tickets - unless they had to give those up to get the new flight).
Nat & Kat make the flight, as to Gary & Mallory and Brook & Claire. We see Michael & Kevin in an elevator worried about making it on time - but the manage to get to the plane before it takes off. Gary & Mallory pass up the sign to the Icehotel, and with Michael & Kevin following them they have to turn around. Brook tells the woman standing by the clues that “my fiancé calls me an ice princess so I may have to borrow that [outfit] later. It’s very pretty.” The clues are blocks of ice with Swedish words etched in them that will lead them to Fjellborg’s Lodge - once they figure out the words. Michael & Kevin get their Speed Bump here. They have to sit on the furniture made from blocks of ice for ten minutes. Sitting for ten minutes sounds like a pretty easy thing to do - but to sit on solid ice with regular pants on? I dunno ‘bout that! Kevin is wearing soccer shorts, too! Michael laughs that he wishes they had that furniture in Ghana.
Nat & Kat ask a local what the words on their ice block say, and he tells them “it’s a camp. By a lake.” Mallory just wants to follow them (bad idea - you ALWAYS find out where you’re going before you decide to follow someone else!) Michael & Kevin get through their Speed Bump, but not before Kevin tells us that his butt is tingling. They get their block-of-ice-clue and say they should have brought gloves - “and butt pads.” A local gives them exact directions on where to drive.
Brook & Claire are following Nat & Kat on an unmarked trail through the (sparse) woods. Claire, in a sinister voice, narrates: “Four girls, traveling alone in the woods, and their car stalls ... and out come the ax murderers.” Michael & Kevin get to the clue box first (after leaving the Icehotel last) and it’s a Road Block: “Who’s feeling kind of mushy?” Dog sleds are the transportation of choice with snow eight months out of the year, but the other four months they have to stay in shape. They’ll have to mush their dogs with a summer training sled along a trail and pick up five different flags along the route. They’ll trade the flags for some pelts. For every flag they miss, they’ll have to do a penalty lap around the hunter’s camp. They then mush the dogs back to the start and exchange their pelts for the next clue. Michael takes off, yelling “good doggy” all the way. There’s a bear that jumps up next to the road - what—!!! Okay, it’s a guy in a bear suit. Cute. I’d like to think they’d find a way to keep real bears from getting that close to the contestants!
Mallory, Claire, and Kat will do the Roadblock too. As Michael gets all of his pelts the rest of the teams land in Sweden. Mallory misses the red flags but passes Kat up on the road, saying “I’ve got good dogs.” Kat’s dogs stop in the road and Claire passes her up as well. Mallory has to do a penalty lap and Claire gets her pelts with all of her flags, and kisses the hunter. I guess they’re doing a kiss count, and Claire’s was the sixth of the day. Wahoo! Germs from every part of the world!!!
The five remaining teams get to the Icehotel and some write down the words on the ice (as opposed to some other teams, who take the ice with them). Katie & Rachel ask a local, who says he can take them there. Thomas takes his ice but is having problems keeping a grip on it and uses Jill’s jacket.
Michael mushes back to the beginning and gets the clue, which tells them to drive to the Vassijaure Train Station for the next clue. All the mushers come back with mega smiles on their faces saying it was awesome.
Chad & Stephanie see all the other teams except for Jill & Thomas driving to the clue box. Katie, Connor, Stephanie and Nick race off to mush the dogs, and Jill & Thomas show up. Jill decides to do the task but they start running off in the wrong direction! We hear the familiar “zing” in the music that lets us know they’re making an AWFUL mistake. As Connor and Nick take off, laughing and urging their dogs on, Jill & Thomas keep running down a road to nowhere - but at least they’re thinking that maybe they screwed up, with Thomas asking “did we miss a sign or something?” (Yep.) If I’m them, I’m thinking about now that it shouldn’t take that long to get somewhere! They finally figure they’re off track and turn around, and Jill asks if they want to use the Express Pass. Thomas doesn’t want to make any decision yet but wants to check it out first.
Nick is hot on Connor’s trail, yelling “I’m coming, Connor!” as he catches up. Jill & Thomas get back to the dogs and off Jill goes.
Michael & Kevin get to the train station and the clue is a Detour. Phil tells us they're in a place where people can go to do extreme sports, but there are also people who follow the customs of their ancestors. They can do Sleds or Beds. For Sleds, they go to the top of the mountain and speed down a course on a tech sled. They both have to finish the course in less than a minute and 58 seconds. If they don’t make it, they have to go back to the top and try again. In Beds, they go to the camp of Sami people, descendants of Scandinavian nomads. Using the traditional tools, they must build a tent known as a ghoatti (if the internet tells me correctly). When the tent is up and the inside ready for sleeping with pelts and a fire, they’ll get their next clue. Kevin would love to do the sled, but he’s worried that his dad wouldn’t be able to do it. As they’re putting up the tent, and it’s flopping all over, the local Sami are cracking up watching them. (I think we have to have at least one set of locals laughing at a team or two every episode, or it just wouldn’t be The Amazing Race!)
Nat & Kat are next to the clue box and head off to Sleds. Back at the mush dogs, the teams finish their challenges and Nick tells the dog handler “your dogs are awesome!” They get their clues, and as Chad & Stephanie leave just before Jill & Thomas, Chad says that because of Jill & Thomas’ Express Pass, they’re running the Race as if they are in last place. After seeing what the Detour is, I wouldn’t blame them if they used the Express Pass!
Michael & Kevin are making better headway with the tent, but they tell us that they thought they’d be building a bed, not a tent. Nat & Kat get to the sled course and are loving the scenery sitting in the chair lift. They’re excited about trying the sleds, but Nat interviews that the turns were really icy and the course was fast, and pulling the brake didn’t do much. Kat misses a turn and gets tangled in a fence as Nat finishes in 1:48. Gary & Mallory start their run, and Gary takes off quickly but Mallory is kneeling on the seat and going slower. But! It looks like they make it - 1:58 on the dot. The guy tells them no, they have to BEAT the time. Back at the tent, Michael & Kevin have it up and are off to get pelts and firewood, and Kevin says his feet are frozen - he’s only wearing ankle socks. Nat & Kat make it in 1:55 on their second try. Their clue tells them to drive to the Pit Stop which is at the Norwegian Border. Brook & Claire make it in 1:48, and Gary & Mallory do 1:24 on their second try.
Chad & Stephanie decide to try the Sleds, but only Chad is excited - Stephanie wants nothing to do with it but says she’ll try for Chad. (Awwww). Nat & Kat find Phil and the Mat, and are the first team to arrive. They win a trip to Belize.
Michael & Kevin finish their hut and get their clue. Gary & Mallory then Brook & Claire get to the Mat and there are hugs all around.
Jill & Thomas are the last to the clue box at the train station and talk about using the Express Pass to just bypass the tasks and “kill everybody.” Jonathan & Connor are on the course, and Jonathan keeps falling over. Stephanie says she’s never been more scared in her life looking at the course. She ends up right behind Chad and yells at him to go faster, but ends up wobbling and tipping over. Chad yells at her to get back on. She hits a turn and flies off the sled and gets tangled in a fence. Ever the supportive one, Chad yells at her “well, don’t even try or anything!” Connor & Jonathan finish, but in 2:03 and have to try again. Stephanie crashes once again and tells Chad she can’t do it. At the bottom, Chad says Stephanie is letting her head get to her.
Jill & Thomas are attempting Beds and talking about using the Express Pass, saying it would be a shame to be eliminated and not use it. They decide it will take too much time and give the Sami their Express Pass and get the clue to go to the next Pit Stop. As Stephanie gets to the bottom of the course, she tells Chad she’s done. She doesn’t want to go again after crashing three times and the sled landing on top of her. She’s too afraid to try again. I’m looking at Chad’s face and thinking it reminds me of the old saying “if looks could kill....” She cries as they walk away and Chad thinks they’re giving up.
We see Connor & Jonathan trying again, and failing miserably, and Jonathan interviews that “saying Connor is batter at the sledding than I am is a gross understatement.” He kept going over and through the fences and was afraid he’d end up in Norway. Nick & Vicki begin the course and Vicki interviews that they’re a more physical couple than a mental one (you’ve definitely proved that!) and this challenge was more suited to them. They finish in 1:46 on the first try. Katie & Rachel are flopping all over and Rachel loses her sled down the hill, so they decide to switch tasks. After another disastrous run, Connor & Jonathan switch also.
As they get to the Beds challenge, Jonathan & Connor are happy to see the other teams, but Chad & Stephanie are soon finished. Katie & Rachel’s first check isn’t good enough, giving Connor & Jonathan some hope. Chad & Stephanie arrive at the Mat carrying their block of ice clue! Katie & Rachel get approval and drive off, and Connor & Jonathan get their clue. It looks like both teams get to the location of the Mat at the same time (and they have their block of ice also). The A Capella team sings their way to the Mat but Phil tells them they’ve been eliminated. From first to worst! They tell Phil they graduated from Princeton and graduated from the Race on the same day, and toss their baseball caps into the air. We’re treated to them singing about the Race and Phil sending them home.
1 - Nat & Kat
2 - Gary & Mallory
3 - Brook & Claire
4 - Michael & Kevin
5 - Jill & Thomas
6 - Nick & Vicki
7 - Chad & Stephanie
8 - Katie & Rachel
9 - Connor & Jonathan (eliminated)
Okay, yet another team finishes first. Are the teams that close? Do you see a clear front runner yet? Next week will only tell!
By the way, I've found a couple other "amateur" bloggers that are quite entertaining - you should check them out!
Sean - http://sfurfaro.blogspot.com/2010/10/amazing-race-recap-we-should-have.html
Josh - http://www.joshwolk.com/blogs/archive.php
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Ghana Makes Some Interesting Coffins!
The Pit Stop on the last Leg of the Race was in Eastnor Castle in the English countryside, a beautiful place that leaves Andie & Jenna to say they felt like princesses. Jill & Thomas and their Express Pass get to leave first, and they open their clue to find they have to fly to Accra, Ghana and go to Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, which is a monument to the “Father of Ghananian independence.” Nat & Kat leave next, telling us that if there were two boats in the ocean, Kat would be the slow and steady ocean liner and Nat would be the dinghy bouncing alongside. Connor & Jonathan open their clue right before Brook & Claire and Rachel & Katie and decide to wait for them to pool their resources. They decide to ask someone and Brook tells a tractor driver she’ll give him a big sloppy kiss if the writes down the directions to the airport - and then just gives him a peck on the cheek. Cheater!
Once at the airport, the teams are all on the same flight to Ghana. There’s a mad dash to get a taxi outside of the airport, and the teams find out that their drivers have no care for anyone on the roads - including pedestrians and other vehicles, almost hitting them. At red lights, the cabs are inundated with people begging for money and Andie can’t resist the kid’s face and gives him a coin. She says “that’s somebody’s son” and Jenna hopes it will give them good Karma.
The clue tells the teams to go to Makola Market and find the clue box across from the entrance. It’s packed with people and finding the main entrance isn’t an easy task. The clue is a Roadblock: “Who thinks they can handle some shady dealings?” Since it is so sunny, sunglasses are a hot item and one team member has to sell enough sunglasses to make 15 Cedi (Ghana money), and they’re not allowed to sell the glasses for less than 3 Cedi. Brook is ecstatic since this is right up her alley. Chad tried flirting with the women and seemed to make good headway. Brook told a customer that “you look like a gangster!” Mallory & Gary are still in their cab as the other teams get to the market, and their cab dies but they seem to get another one pretty quickly. Nick is having big problems and Brook is selling away, offering cheek kisses with her sales. Jill and Nick seem to have a lot of lookers but no buyers. Of course, Brook gets done first and the clue tells them to go to the Peace Motor Spare Parts store in the June 4th area for their next clue. Connor’s tactic is to get on his knees but it seems to work, and they leave right behind Michael & Kevin. Jill and Kat are getting nowhere but frustrated.
At the Motor Parts store, the clue is a Detour: Tune In or Check Out. For Tune In, teams have to go to an electrical supply store and pick up television antenna system. They must then find a marked house and install the antenna to the owners’ specifications. If the house gets TV reception, they get their next clue. For Check Out, they have to go to a woodworking shop that makes unique coffins (lions, cameras and soda bottles, to name a couple). They choose a coffin and then must transport it through the back streets to the showroom.
Brook & Clair decide to install an antenna and it’s ridiculous to watch - and listen to, because Brook NEVER shuts up. The home is painted a bright green inside (maybe there was a special on the color at the Ghana Home Depot?) Michael & Kevin make it to the parts store but for some reason can’t see the clue box right in front of it. Connor & Jonathan’s cabbie doesn’t know where the June 4th area is and Chad & Stephanie get ahead of them. Chad is “good with electronics” so they decide to Tune In. Michael & Kevin see them getting their equipment for the task and ask where the clue box is. Rachel & Katie decide to Check Out and load a piano coffin to deliver onto a wheeled cart.
Back at the market, Jenna does a great job and gets more than 3 Cedi per pair so she doesn’t take long. Mallory freaks out when one guy tells her he’s going to buy the whole board’s worth of glasses and makes her count each one. There were 200 pair but he just takes one in the end but pays her 15 Cedi for them. Kat is still having major problems selling. Jill feels bad about selling glasses that are scratched to someone, and later Thomas tells her “why do you care? I hope you’re not going to be too nice to people on this Race.” Nick is on his last pair and a woman tells him she wants them for free and starts walking away, with Nick saying “I think I just got jacked for some sunglasses.” She actually comes back and pays him and off he and Vicki go, leaving Nat & Kat alone in the market. Kat says she’s not going to quit her day job to become a Ghanian sunglass salesman. Rachel & Katie are weaving through traffic with their piano coffin.
Despite her constant yapping, Brook manages to tweak the antenna to make the TV come in clear (although I think the homeowner accepted the job just to get his peace and quiet back.) Their clue tells them to go to the next Pit Stop, the Kaneshie Market, one of the largest in all of west Africa. They must get through the crowds and vendors to a bridge, where Phil and the Mat will be waiting. Rachel & Katie breeze through their delivery and dash off to the Pit Stop in second place. Chad & Stephanie are in a blue-walled house and turn the TV on to nothing but snow, and Chad is sounding surprised when the owner says “no good.” Michael turns out to be adept at antenna installing and he and Kevin leave ahead of Chad & Stephanie. Jill & Thomas decide to move the coffins also and grab the camera coffin. Brook & Claire get to the market just before Rachel & Katie and it’s a mad dash to find Phil and the poor woman standing next to him with a huge basket of fish balanced on her head. Brook & Claire are team one and win a trip to Hawaii.
Finding the antenna installation too rough, Connor & Jonathan decide to switch tasks and move a coffin. We see Nat & Kat and Gary & Mallory stopping for directions and Andie & Jenna do the same. They all find out they’ve gone too far and have to turn around. Jenna looks absolutely pissed as she watches the cab driver go for directions.
Connor & Jonathan grab a fish coffin and Nat & Cat grab a lobster, tying a surgical knot to keep it on the cart. Connor & Jonathan are bashing the heck out of their fish coffin on other coffins, cars, and whatever they get close to. The remaining teams are stuck in a major traffic jam and Nat & Kat manage to convince their driver to mash his way through the lanes of cars and pull ahead of everyone. Jonathan & Connor's cabbie follows them, and Jonathan says “these taxi drivers are nuts. We’re not complaining, as long as we’re not dying.” It’s scary enough watching, I can imagine what it looks like from the passenger’s perspective! Connor says he’s proud he hasn’t soiled himself (I imagine the cabbie is too). When they get to the market, Connor & Jonathan beat the doctors Nat & Kat to the Mat.
Nick & Vicki get to Phil and it’s a race to the end for Gary & Mallory, who are paranoid that they’re last. Mallory says they’re going to have a heart attack and die on the Mat - “Has that happened before?” Phil lets them sweat a little and tells them they’re in 9th place and still in the Race. Andie & Jenna make it to the mat last and are eliminated. They interview that they’re happy to finally know each other. Andie says her gift to Jenna was giving her to a good family who made her the person she is today, and wished she could have done that herself. (This is what adoption is all about and how it’s supposed to be!)
Here is the order of finish:
1 - Brook & Claire
2 - Rachel & Katie
3 - Michael & Kevin
4 - Chad & Stephanie
5 - Jill & Thomas
6 - Connor & Jonathan
7 - Nat & Kat
8 - Nick & Vicki
9 - Gary & Mallory
10 - Andie & Jenna
Next week, they’re still in Africa and it seems Nick shows his nasty side, and Michael shows his age. Who will be the next team to go home? Do Brook & Claire make you think an all-female team has a shot to win this? Or are you hoping they don’t, because they’ll have to add another hour to the finale just for Brook’s yakking?
Once at the airport, the teams are all on the same flight to Ghana. There’s a mad dash to get a taxi outside of the airport, and the teams find out that their drivers have no care for anyone on the roads - including pedestrians and other vehicles, almost hitting them. At red lights, the cabs are inundated with people begging for money and Andie can’t resist the kid’s face and gives him a coin. She says “that’s somebody’s son” and Jenna hopes it will give them good Karma.
The clue tells the teams to go to Makola Market and find the clue box across from the entrance. It’s packed with people and finding the main entrance isn’t an easy task. The clue is a Roadblock: “Who thinks they can handle some shady dealings?” Since it is so sunny, sunglasses are a hot item and one team member has to sell enough sunglasses to make 15 Cedi (Ghana money), and they’re not allowed to sell the glasses for less than 3 Cedi. Brook is ecstatic since this is right up her alley. Chad tried flirting with the women and seemed to make good headway. Brook told a customer that “you look like a gangster!” Mallory & Gary are still in their cab as the other teams get to the market, and their cab dies but they seem to get another one pretty quickly. Nick is having big problems and Brook is selling away, offering cheek kisses with her sales. Jill and Nick seem to have a lot of lookers but no buyers. Of course, Brook gets done first and the clue tells them to go to the Peace Motor Spare Parts store in the June 4th area for their next clue. Connor’s tactic is to get on his knees but it seems to work, and they leave right behind Michael & Kevin. Jill and Kat are getting nowhere but frustrated.
At the Motor Parts store, the clue is a Detour: Tune In or Check Out. For Tune In, teams have to go to an electrical supply store and pick up television antenna system. They must then find a marked house and install the antenna to the owners’ specifications. If the house gets TV reception, they get their next clue. For Check Out, they have to go to a woodworking shop that makes unique coffins (lions, cameras and soda bottles, to name a couple). They choose a coffin and then must transport it through the back streets to the showroom.
Brook & Clair decide to install an antenna and it’s ridiculous to watch - and listen to, because Brook NEVER shuts up. The home is painted a bright green inside (maybe there was a special on the color at the Ghana Home Depot?) Michael & Kevin make it to the parts store but for some reason can’t see the clue box right in front of it. Connor & Jonathan’s cabbie doesn’t know where the June 4th area is and Chad & Stephanie get ahead of them. Chad is “good with electronics” so they decide to Tune In. Michael & Kevin see them getting their equipment for the task and ask where the clue box is. Rachel & Katie decide to Check Out and load a piano coffin to deliver onto a wheeled cart.
Back at the market, Jenna does a great job and gets more than 3 Cedi per pair so she doesn’t take long. Mallory freaks out when one guy tells her he’s going to buy the whole board’s worth of glasses and makes her count each one. There were 200 pair but he just takes one in the end but pays her 15 Cedi for them. Kat is still having major problems selling. Jill feels bad about selling glasses that are scratched to someone, and later Thomas tells her “why do you care? I hope you’re not going to be too nice to people on this Race.” Nick is on his last pair and a woman tells him she wants them for free and starts walking away, with Nick saying “I think I just got jacked for some sunglasses.” She actually comes back and pays him and off he and Vicki go, leaving Nat & Kat alone in the market. Kat says she’s not going to quit her day job to become a Ghanian sunglass salesman. Rachel & Katie are weaving through traffic with their piano coffin.
Despite her constant yapping, Brook manages to tweak the antenna to make the TV come in clear (although I think the homeowner accepted the job just to get his peace and quiet back.) Their clue tells them to go to the next Pit Stop, the Kaneshie Market, one of the largest in all of west Africa. They must get through the crowds and vendors to a bridge, where Phil and the Mat will be waiting. Rachel & Katie breeze through their delivery and dash off to the Pit Stop in second place. Chad & Stephanie are in a blue-walled house and turn the TV on to nothing but snow, and Chad is sounding surprised when the owner says “no good.” Michael turns out to be adept at antenna installing and he and Kevin leave ahead of Chad & Stephanie. Jill & Thomas decide to move the coffins also and grab the camera coffin. Brook & Claire get to the market just before Rachel & Katie and it’s a mad dash to find Phil and the poor woman standing next to him with a huge basket of fish balanced on her head. Brook & Claire are team one and win a trip to Hawaii.
Finding the antenna installation too rough, Connor & Jonathan decide to switch tasks and move a coffin. We see Nat & Kat and Gary & Mallory stopping for directions and Andie & Jenna do the same. They all find out they’ve gone too far and have to turn around. Jenna looks absolutely pissed as she watches the cab driver go for directions.
Connor & Jonathan grab a fish coffin and Nat & Cat grab a lobster, tying a surgical knot to keep it on the cart. Connor & Jonathan are bashing the heck out of their fish coffin on other coffins, cars, and whatever they get close to. The remaining teams are stuck in a major traffic jam and Nat & Kat manage to convince their driver to mash his way through the lanes of cars and pull ahead of everyone. Jonathan & Connor's cabbie follows them, and Jonathan says “these taxi drivers are nuts. We’re not complaining, as long as we’re not dying.” It’s scary enough watching, I can imagine what it looks like from the passenger’s perspective! Connor says he’s proud he hasn’t soiled himself (I imagine the cabbie is too). When they get to the market, Connor & Jonathan beat the doctors Nat & Kat to the Mat.
Nick & Vicki get to Phil and it’s a race to the end for Gary & Mallory, who are paranoid that they’re last. Mallory says they’re going to have a heart attack and die on the Mat - “Has that happened before?” Phil lets them sweat a little and tells them they’re in 9th place and still in the Race. Andie & Jenna make it to the mat last and are eliminated. They interview that they’re happy to finally know each other. Andie says her gift to Jenna was giving her to a good family who made her the person she is today, and wished she could have done that herself. (This is what adoption is all about and how it’s supposed to be!)
Here is the order of finish:
1 - Brook & Claire
2 - Rachel & Katie
3 - Michael & Kevin
4 - Chad & Stephanie
5 - Jill & Thomas
6 - Connor & Jonathan
7 - Nat & Kat
8 - Nick & Vicki
9 - Gary & Mallory
10 - Andie & Jenna
Next week, they’re still in Africa and it seems Nick shows his nasty side, and Michael shows his age. Who will be the next team to go home? Do Brook & Claire make you think an all-female team has a shot to win this? Or are you hoping they don’t, because they’ll have to add another hour to the finale just for Brook’s yakking?
Sunday, September 26, 2010
The Amazing Race begins!
The Amazing Race begins in Glouster, Massachusetts - on the East Coast for the first time! Lobster boats are taking all the teams to the starting line, and we get to meet them:
Brook & Claire tell us they are great communicators and can manipulate people to get their way. Chad & Stephanie just met eight months ago and already bought a house together. Chad says he is going to propose to Stephanie on the Race. Katie & Rachel want us to know they are smart, tough, athletic. But when the time comes, “We’re gonna be some bitches.” Connor & Jonathan, the a capella singers from Princeton, say they’ll sing to make other teams like them. They offer that tenors are tough guys and manly. (Okay.) Nat & Kat as doctors, they’re used to being stressed and sleep deprived so they figure they’ll have a leg up there. Michael & Kevin say they have conflicting cultures because Dad is an immigrant and Kevin is more Americanized. Nick & Vicki are full of tattoos but say those are deceiving because they’re very athletic. Ron & Tony met while doing “The Wiz” and are best friends, and it’s Tony’s dream to run the Race. Jill & Thomas tell us Thomas is outspoken and competitive - he’s gonna be a bulldozer and there might be some good arguments with these two. Mallory & Gary tell us that hard work and being a good person can get you anywhere. Gary says “Don’t let the pot belly and gray hair fool you.” Jenna & Andie are meeting for the third time and want to feel fulfilled after the Race.
Phil welcomes the teams and tells them there is a new element in this Race. The first team to check in on the first Leg gets a prize - an Express Pass they can use any time during a challenge they don’t want to complete. The Pass will allow them to skip the task, get the clue and move on. Phil also tells them that even though two flights are waiting, first flight has room for only three teams and will land 30 minutes earlier.
So now we begin. Phil? “The world is waiting for you. Good luck...Travel safe...Go!”
They’ll be flying to London & going to Stonehenge to find the next clue. There are Mini Coopers (at least I think they are, the cars might be Smart cars. Anyway, they’re really small). The cars must have cameras in the dashboards, because there’s no room for camera guys in them for sure! There’s also no air conditioning, because all the teams are sweating bullets as they drive.
Ron & Tony tell us they can navigate well. (Hmmm, does this mean they’re gonna get lost big time?) Connor & Jonathan find out they’re on the wrong side of the city and Connor laughs “I hope we get out of America.” Ron & Tony get to the airport first. Rachel & Katie know they’re in fourth behind the best friends, Chad & Stephanie and Jill & Thomas but decide to try to go to American to get on the first flight anyway. Gary & Mallory and Brooke & Claire jump on a shuttle bus and tell the driver to take off before Nat & Kat get on the bus, which he does.
Ron & Tony get the first flight. Chad & Stephanie go through a long line instead of to the flagged counter so Jill & Thomas get ahead and get on the first flight. Chad & Stephanie are told to go to another counter and Katie & Rachel are racing to the counter, but Chad & Stephanie beat them to it. Rachel says “son of a bitch” a lot.
Ron & Tony meet up with other teams on first flight. Ron says they may have been underestimated because “we’ve got a big fat guy on the team.” Tony tells him “It’s called healthy.” All the teams on the second flight are hugging and greeting each other.
Once they get to London, everyone forgets they have to get in the “passenger side” to drive. Stephanie laughs about driving a stick on the left side. Ron & Tony stop to get a map. Chad & Stephanie end up back by the airport and Chad snips a little, and these two are gonna argue a bit too. Nick & Vicki seems lost. Andie is driving and not doing well with the clutch - she’s burning the clutch and their car smells - Connor & Jonathan are behind them and can smell it. Connor & Jonathan try to help but end up leaving them stuck in traffic. Andie was riding the clutch and ended up trying to shift into reverse instead of forward gear. Nat & Kat get to Stonehenge first.
The clue tells them to “Find the castle that is the opposite of Nor’easter,” which is Eastnor Castle. They stop and ask a local and are told it might be near Tewksbury. Chad & Stephanie use the internet and Rachel & Katie ask a local - Brook & Claire just jump in the car and go. Rachel & Katie see Nat & Kat on the road and ask if they want to find it together. Rachel is trying to drive the stick and stalls it. Ron & Tony are lost. Gary & Mallory and Connor & Jonathan get their clues together at Stonehenge and Mallory tells Jonathan “c’mon Princeton!” as they try and figure it out. They ask a local who tells them Castle Ledberry at Hedfordshire (what that has to do with Nor’easter, I haven’t a clue!) As Nick & Vicki drive up, Vicki says it’s the first she’d ever heard of Stonehenge, “and I find out it’s a bunch of rocks.”
Jill & Thomas get to the Eastnor Castle first with Nat & Kat and Brook & Claire right behind. The clue tells them to “storm the castle,” meaning they have to climb a ladder being guarded by a mob of peasants and retrieve a flag. They then have to travel across the moat in an ancient boat and give their flag to a knight in shining armor to get their next clue. (I wonder if any of the peasants are going to tell them “Your mother is a hamster, and your father smells of elderberries!” - It’s from Monty Python’s “Search for the Holy Grail” movie. If you haven’t seen it, rent it. It’s funny.) The peasants are tossing muddy water on them as they climb up the ladders. Rachel & Katie manage to get the flag first and run off.
Mallory & Gary get a flat as they stop at a gas station and Connor & Jonathan, who are following, decide to take off instead of waiting for the tire to get changed.
Brook & Claire end up sinking, as do the other teams, so they all have to go back and try again. The boats look like turtle shells and are quite wobbly. Jill is in the boat with her back to the shore and doing all the pulling to get across, and Thomas just tells her how great she’s doing. Nat & Kat are pulling the rope together with Brook & Claire bringing up the rear.
Rachel & Katie are calling Stephanie “Tinkerbell” for some reason. They’re happy to see Chad & Stephanie, knowing they’re not far behind. Ron & Tony finally get to Stonehenge and ask how many teams are ahead, and the local tells them “lots and lots.”
It’s hysterical watching Chad & Stephanie trying to get into the boat without it tipping, although Chad is getting aggravated. He’s standing and she’s sitting, and they sink - twice.
Jenna & Andie think they’re looking for Norwest Castle. Ron & Tony are having major problems navigating because of the number of roundabouts and lack of marked roads on the maps. Vicki tells us she needs “kindergarten directions.” (I think Vicki is our dumb blonde this Race - and she’s a brunette!)
Jill & Thomas get their flag to the knight first and get the next clue. The knight tells them “Welcome to the tournament” and the clue asks “who’s ready to go into battle with a knight in shining armor?” I’m wondering if they will have to joust, but no, Phil says it’s a Roadblock where they have to team up with a knight and use a medieval weapon, a balista, to shoot watermelons at a knight figure 50 feet away. It looks like a giant slingshot. Once they knock over the knight, they have to find the jester and get their next clue. Thomas decides to do it, and jumps on the horse with the knight. Claire thinks she’s got it in the bag because she grew up with horses. As Nat rides off with her knight, she says “My knight in shining armor, finally!” As they start flinging watermelons, they realize it’s not as easy as they may have thought and Claire now knows it really has nothing to do with horses.
Rachel & Katie get to the boats at the moat as Chad & Stephanie are still crossing, and Stephanie is yapping the whole time, telling Chad to go slow. Connor & Jonathan start climbing the wall at the castle and Connor tells us they’re missing their graduation to do the Race because it’s their last chance “to be kids, in a way.” As Chad & Stephanie sink yet again, we see that it’s their 12th attempt. Rachel & Katie laugh that they” just passed Tinkerbell and Pan.”
Thomas finally blasts his knight with the watermelon and gets the clue from the Jester. It tells them to find the Pit Stop, which is on the grounds of the Castle in the Eastnor Castle Meadow. Oh wow, it looks like they get to sleep in tents?! They see Phil at the Mat, and are told they are team number one. The Express Pass can be used up until the eighth leg of the Race (nice that they can’t use it close to the end, let’s keep stuff fair!) Even winning the leg of the Race, I noticed Jill doesn’t really have a happy face - she looks really dour all the time.
Rachel & Katie start navigating their boat as Nat absolutely blasts her knight and gets their next clue. Nat & Kat get to the Mat in second place. Claire manages to hit the flag next to the knight, and in her next attempt as Brook tells her to hit the knight right in the kisser, the watermelon springs back and smacks her right in the face. Claire has a headache and says she can’t see right, but Brook tells her she has to keep going - “They don’t call this The Amazing Race for nothing.” Rachel & Katie feel that Claire is brave to keep going. After two more shots she finally gets the knight, and the Jester is even impressed as Brook yells “she just got hit in the face with a watermelon!” Connor gets his knight and Rachel hits hers right after. As they run through the field, Claire keeps saying “I can’t feel my face.” Connor & Jonathan get third (after slipping and falling on his ass onto the Mat) and Brook & Claire get fourth.
We get to Kevin & Michael and their many attempts to manage the boat, and at least they’re laughing as they sink. Andie & Jenna are still on the road as are Nick & Vicki and Ron & Tony, looking for the Castle. Mallory & Gary are cracking up as they get pelted with water going up the wall. They see Kevin & Michael and Gary says “they look like a couple carnies in a dunking booth.” Mallory & Gary seem to get the boat on the first try and give Kevin & Michael an idea how to do it. Andie & Jenna finally make to the Castle as Nick & Vicki stop for directions and Ron & Tony are really getting discouraged.
Chad & Stephanie are wandering around the grounds and can’t find the Mat. Michael & Kevin finally get across, slow and steady, with Michael saying that was the best moment of the Race for he and his son. (Considering it’s only been a day.....) Nick & Vicki actually make it to the Castle and as they read the clue to “retrieve a medieval flag from the battlements” they’re dumbfounded, asking people “are you the battlement?” I really hope they stick around for comic relief! They wander around in a stupor, walking right past a flag.
As Gary rides off to defeat the knight Mallory stands watching the Jester juggle as he stands on a ball, and seems to be in awe. She seems kinda ditzy too, but nowhere near as Vicki! Can’t wait to see them in the boats - as they wander right by the boats, saying that there are no more boats left and they’ll have to go across and get one. They finally realize where the boats are and I’m bummed, they figure it out on the second try. Kevin hits his knight just after Gary does, and as Chad & Stephanie still wander around the grounds looking for the Mat, Mallory & Gary get to Phil in sixth and Michael & Kevin are right behind. Somehow, Chad & Stephanie manage to find the Mat and admit in their interview that the arguing defeats their purpose.
Jenna finally hits her knight and they get to the Mat in ninth place. Ron & Tony’s boat sinks time after time as Nick keeps slinging watermelons, and they get their clue. They get to the Mat and Phil asks them “What’s the name of this country?” Vicki answers “We’re in London, right?” Phil shakes his head and says “That’s right, we’re in the country of London.” They do correctly guess that they’re in 10th place.
Ron & Tony seem to give up but get to the Mat, and Phil hates to tell them they’ve been eliminated. They’re very sweet, saying that their friendship is worth everything. Awwww, you’re still going home, fellas.
So here’s how they all ended up:
1 - Jill & Thomas
2 - Nat & Kat
3 - Connor & Jonathan
4 - Brook & Claire
5 - Rachel & Katie
6 - Mallory & Gary
7 - Michael & Kevin
8 - Chad & Stephanie
9 - Andie & Jenna
10 - Nick & Vicki
11 - Ron & Tony (eliminated)
Well, I get my wish, and Nick & Vicki, the rocket scientists, will still be around to give us a good laugh for at least another leg of the Race. Any teams jump out at you as frontrunners? Will Nick & Vicki manage to find their way out of the country of London? We'll find out next week!
Brook & Claire tell us they are great communicators and can manipulate people to get their way. Chad & Stephanie just met eight months ago and already bought a house together. Chad says he is going to propose to Stephanie on the Race. Katie & Rachel want us to know they are smart, tough, athletic. But when the time comes, “We’re gonna be some bitches.” Connor & Jonathan, the a capella singers from Princeton, say they’ll sing to make other teams like them. They offer that tenors are tough guys and manly. (Okay.) Nat & Kat as doctors, they’re used to being stressed and sleep deprived so they figure they’ll have a leg up there. Michael & Kevin say they have conflicting cultures because Dad is an immigrant and Kevin is more Americanized. Nick & Vicki are full of tattoos but say those are deceiving because they’re very athletic. Ron & Tony met while doing “The Wiz” and are best friends, and it’s Tony’s dream to run the Race. Jill & Thomas tell us Thomas is outspoken and competitive - he’s gonna be a bulldozer and there might be some good arguments with these two. Mallory & Gary tell us that hard work and being a good person can get you anywhere. Gary says “Don’t let the pot belly and gray hair fool you.” Jenna & Andie are meeting for the third time and want to feel fulfilled after the Race.
Phil welcomes the teams and tells them there is a new element in this Race. The first team to check in on the first Leg gets a prize - an Express Pass they can use any time during a challenge they don’t want to complete. The Pass will allow them to skip the task, get the clue and move on. Phil also tells them that even though two flights are waiting, first flight has room for only three teams and will land 30 minutes earlier.
So now we begin. Phil? “The world is waiting for you. Good luck...Travel safe...Go!”
They’ll be flying to London & going to Stonehenge to find the next clue. There are Mini Coopers (at least I think they are, the cars might be Smart cars. Anyway, they’re really small). The cars must have cameras in the dashboards, because there’s no room for camera guys in them for sure! There’s also no air conditioning, because all the teams are sweating bullets as they drive.
Ron & Tony tell us they can navigate well. (Hmmm, does this mean they’re gonna get lost big time?) Connor & Jonathan find out they’re on the wrong side of the city and Connor laughs “I hope we get out of America.” Ron & Tony get to the airport first. Rachel & Katie know they’re in fourth behind the best friends, Chad & Stephanie and Jill & Thomas but decide to try to go to American to get on the first flight anyway. Gary & Mallory and Brooke & Claire jump on a shuttle bus and tell the driver to take off before Nat & Kat get on the bus, which he does.
Ron & Tony get the first flight. Chad & Stephanie go through a long line instead of to the flagged counter so Jill & Thomas get ahead and get on the first flight. Chad & Stephanie are told to go to another counter and Katie & Rachel are racing to the counter, but Chad & Stephanie beat them to it. Rachel says “son of a bitch” a lot.
Ron & Tony meet up with other teams on first flight. Ron says they may have been underestimated because “we’ve got a big fat guy on the team.” Tony tells him “It’s called healthy.” All the teams on the second flight are hugging and greeting each other.
Once they get to London, everyone forgets they have to get in the “passenger side” to drive. Stephanie laughs about driving a stick on the left side. Ron & Tony stop to get a map. Chad & Stephanie end up back by the airport and Chad snips a little, and these two are gonna argue a bit too. Nick & Vicki seems lost. Andie is driving and not doing well with the clutch - she’s burning the clutch and their car smells - Connor & Jonathan are behind them and can smell it. Connor & Jonathan try to help but end up leaving them stuck in traffic. Andie was riding the clutch and ended up trying to shift into reverse instead of forward gear. Nat & Kat get to Stonehenge first.
The clue tells them to “Find the castle that is the opposite of Nor’easter,” which is Eastnor Castle. They stop and ask a local and are told it might be near Tewksbury. Chad & Stephanie use the internet and Rachel & Katie ask a local - Brook & Claire just jump in the car and go. Rachel & Katie see Nat & Kat on the road and ask if they want to find it together. Rachel is trying to drive the stick and stalls it. Ron & Tony are lost. Gary & Mallory and Connor & Jonathan get their clues together at Stonehenge and Mallory tells Jonathan “c’mon Princeton!” as they try and figure it out. They ask a local who tells them Castle Ledberry at Hedfordshire (what that has to do with Nor’easter, I haven’t a clue!) As Nick & Vicki drive up, Vicki says it’s the first she’d ever heard of Stonehenge, “and I find out it’s a bunch of rocks.”
Jill & Thomas get to the Eastnor Castle first with Nat & Kat and Brook & Claire right behind. The clue tells them to “storm the castle,” meaning they have to climb a ladder being guarded by a mob of peasants and retrieve a flag. They then have to travel across the moat in an ancient boat and give their flag to a knight in shining armor to get their next clue. (I wonder if any of the peasants are going to tell them “Your mother is a hamster, and your father smells of elderberries!” - It’s from Monty Python’s “Search for the Holy Grail” movie. If you haven’t seen it, rent it. It’s funny.) The peasants are tossing muddy water on them as they climb up the ladders. Rachel & Katie manage to get the flag first and run off.
Mallory & Gary get a flat as they stop at a gas station and Connor & Jonathan, who are following, decide to take off instead of waiting for the tire to get changed.
Brook & Claire end up sinking, as do the other teams, so they all have to go back and try again. The boats look like turtle shells and are quite wobbly. Jill is in the boat with her back to the shore and doing all the pulling to get across, and Thomas just tells her how great she’s doing. Nat & Kat are pulling the rope together with Brook & Claire bringing up the rear.
Rachel & Katie are calling Stephanie “Tinkerbell” for some reason. They’re happy to see Chad & Stephanie, knowing they’re not far behind. Ron & Tony finally get to Stonehenge and ask how many teams are ahead, and the local tells them “lots and lots.”
It’s hysterical watching Chad & Stephanie trying to get into the boat without it tipping, although Chad is getting aggravated. He’s standing and she’s sitting, and they sink - twice.
Jenna & Andie think they’re looking for Norwest Castle. Ron & Tony are having major problems navigating because of the number of roundabouts and lack of marked roads on the maps. Vicki tells us she needs “kindergarten directions.” (I think Vicki is our dumb blonde this Race - and she’s a brunette!)
Jill & Thomas get their flag to the knight first and get the next clue. The knight tells them “Welcome to the tournament” and the clue asks “who’s ready to go into battle with a knight in shining armor?” I’m wondering if they will have to joust, but no, Phil says it’s a Roadblock where they have to team up with a knight and use a medieval weapon, a balista, to shoot watermelons at a knight figure 50 feet away. It looks like a giant slingshot. Once they knock over the knight, they have to find the jester and get their next clue. Thomas decides to do it, and jumps on the horse with the knight. Claire thinks she’s got it in the bag because she grew up with horses. As Nat rides off with her knight, she says “My knight in shining armor, finally!” As they start flinging watermelons, they realize it’s not as easy as they may have thought and Claire now knows it really has nothing to do with horses.
Rachel & Katie get to the boats at the moat as Chad & Stephanie are still crossing, and Stephanie is yapping the whole time, telling Chad to go slow. Connor & Jonathan start climbing the wall at the castle and Connor tells us they’re missing their graduation to do the Race because it’s their last chance “to be kids, in a way.” As Chad & Stephanie sink yet again, we see that it’s their 12th attempt. Rachel & Katie laugh that they” just passed Tinkerbell and Pan.”
Thomas finally blasts his knight with the watermelon and gets the clue from the Jester. It tells them to find the Pit Stop, which is on the grounds of the Castle in the Eastnor Castle Meadow. Oh wow, it looks like they get to sleep in tents?! They see Phil at the Mat, and are told they are team number one. The Express Pass can be used up until the eighth leg of the Race (nice that they can’t use it close to the end, let’s keep stuff fair!) Even winning the leg of the Race, I noticed Jill doesn’t really have a happy face - she looks really dour all the time.
Rachel & Katie start navigating their boat as Nat absolutely blasts her knight and gets their next clue. Nat & Kat get to the Mat in second place. Claire manages to hit the flag next to the knight, and in her next attempt as Brook tells her to hit the knight right in the kisser, the watermelon springs back and smacks her right in the face. Claire has a headache and says she can’t see right, but Brook tells her she has to keep going - “They don’t call this The Amazing Race for nothing.” Rachel & Katie feel that Claire is brave to keep going. After two more shots she finally gets the knight, and the Jester is even impressed as Brook yells “she just got hit in the face with a watermelon!” Connor gets his knight and Rachel hits hers right after. As they run through the field, Claire keeps saying “I can’t feel my face.” Connor & Jonathan get third (after slipping and falling on his ass onto the Mat) and Brook & Claire get fourth.
We get to Kevin & Michael and their many attempts to manage the boat, and at least they’re laughing as they sink. Andie & Jenna are still on the road as are Nick & Vicki and Ron & Tony, looking for the Castle. Mallory & Gary are cracking up as they get pelted with water going up the wall. They see Kevin & Michael and Gary says “they look like a couple carnies in a dunking booth.” Mallory & Gary seem to get the boat on the first try and give Kevin & Michael an idea how to do it. Andie & Jenna finally make to the Castle as Nick & Vicki stop for directions and Ron & Tony are really getting discouraged.
Chad & Stephanie are wandering around the grounds and can’t find the Mat. Michael & Kevin finally get across, slow and steady, with Michael saying that was the best moment of the Race for he and his son. (Considering it’s only been a day.....) Nick & Vicki actually make it to the Castle and as they read the clue to “retrieve a medieval flag from the battlements” they’re dumbfounded, asking people “are you the battlement?” I really hope they stick around for comic relief! They wander around in a stupor, walking right past a flag.
As Gary rides off to defeat the knight Mallory stands watching the Jester juggle as he stands on a ball, and seems to be in awe. She seems kinda ditzy too, but nowhere near as Vicki! Can’t wait to see them in the boats - as they wander right by the boats, saying that there are no more boats left and they’ll have to go across and get one. They finally realize where the boats are and I’m bummed, they figure it out on the second try. Kevin hits his knight just after Gary does, and as Chad & Stephanie still wander around the grounds looking for the Mat, Mallory & Gary get to Phil in sixth and Michael & Kevin are right behind. Somehow, Chad & Stephanie manage to find the Mat and admit in their interview that the arguing defeats their purpose.
Jenna finally hits her knight and they get to the Mat in ninth place. Ron & Tony’s boat sinks time after time as Nick keeps slinging watermelons, and they get their clue. They get to the Mat and Phil asks them “What’s the name of this country?” Vicki answers “We’re in London, right?” Phil shakes his head and says “That’s right, we’re in the country of London.” They do correctly guess that they’re in 10th place.
Ron & Tony seem to give up but get to the Mat, and Phil hates to tell them they’ve been eliminated. They’re very sweet, saying that their friendship is worth everything. Awwww, you’re still going home, fellas.
So here’s how they all ended up:
1 - Jill & Thomas
2 - Nat & Kat
3 - Connor & Jonathan
4 - Brook & Claire
5 - Rachel & Katie
6 - Mallory & Gary
7 - Michael & Kevin
8 - Chad & Stephanie
9 - Andie & Jenna
10 - Nick & Vicki
11 - Ron & Tony (eliminated)
Well, I get my wish, and Nick & Vicki, the rocket scientists, will still be around to give us a good laugh for at least another leg of the Race. Any teams jump out at you as frontrunners? Will Nick & Vicki manage to find their way out of the country of London? We'll find out next week!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
