Running Around in Prague - Answering Phones and Freezing Their Buns!

It’s getting down to the nitty gritty! Three teams are left (you have to read to the bottom to figure out who they are) and the finale is next week!!!!

Still in Prague, Meghan & Cheyne leave the Pit Stop first and the clue tells them to look for the Spanish Synagogue, which is the city’s oldest Jewish house of prayer. Sam & Dan know that they are now “looked at as the villians” because they stole Ericka & Brian’s taxi during the last leg of the Race. They don’t care, they want to make the final three.

At the Ekotechnicke Museum, the clue is a Roadblock. (Ericka & Brian’s Speed Bump is there as well). One team member must go into a huge room of ringing old-style telephones which the locals call “kafka-esque.” Only five phones will have someone on the other end, and each of the five will give the teams a letter. They then have to go to the supervisors and fill out a form and put the five letters at the bottom of the form in the proper order to get their next clue - it spells “Franz.” Meghan goes in and gets the letters and associates them with animals to remember them: R for rabbit, F for ferret, Z for zebra, and then gets to N and can’t come up with an animal. Meghan has to fill in such things as name, height, weight, partner’s name, and then misses it on the first try, but gets it on the second. Their clue tells them to go to Kryocentrum for their next clue. As Meghan & Cheyne come out of the Museum, Sam & Dan are just pulling up in their cab, and Meghan & Cheyne try to grab it but Sam & Dan tell the driver to wait for them. Meghan gets the driver to call for another taxi. (They should have offered the driver more money like Sam & Dan did - wouldn’t that be cosmic justice?) Dan runs in to do the Roadblock while Sam hopes he doesn’t get overly frustrated with the task.

Brian & Ericka leave the Pit Stop saying they can overcome more than “a little Speed Bump” because they’re the only team that has been in last place. The Globetrotters get to the Museum and Big Easy goes in to the phones as Dan finishes getting his letters and gets his first try rejected. (I love how the supervisor stamps big red X’s over the form, with great vehemence, like he’s trying to tell the teams they’re idiots.) He “doesn’t know if it’s a Czech word or English word.”

By this time, Meghan & Cheyne are at the Kryocentrum and get their next clue, which tells them to “check out the coolest holistic treatment in town.” They will have to strip down to their skivvies and spend two minutes in a -180̊ room. They get to wear socks and gloves, at least, and cover their ears and wear masks.

Brian & Ericka get to the Museum and find their Speed Bump. They have to “pay a visit to the green fairy.” They will have to find the M1 Pub and prepare a traditional shot of Absinthe by lighting a sugar cube on fire and dropping it into the shot glass with the Absinthe, and then drinking it. They will then get their next clue.

Dan is still having trouble spelling the correct word and calls the supervisors “douches.” The Globetrotters get to the Museum and Big Easy goes in to the phones as Dan gets to the supervisor’s room and gets rejected. The two decide to work together to try and figure it out. A lot of good it does, because neither of them can get the right combination.

Meghan & Cheyne come out of the freezer saying that “I feel bad for polar bears.” They get the next clue, telling them to go to the Charles Bridge, which connects the old and new sections of the city, and look for their next clue.

Brian & Ericka get to the bar and see the party going on, and try to pay attention to the bartender while he makes the drink. Brian doesn’t drink alcohol at all and says “it’s gonna be a challenge for me.” Brian sees all the women dancing on the bar and says “you’re gonna get me in trouble!” Ericka wisely tells him “you’re gonna get yourself in trouble!” They make their drinks and the looks on their faces after the shot are priceless! They say it was like drinking rubbing alcohol. (I’ve never tried Absinthe, myself.)

In the meantime, Dan finally gets the right combination and spells Franz. He tells Big Easy “it starts with an F, that’s all I’m saying.” Big Easy protests “that’s all you’re gonna give me?” Dan interviews that they’re trying to make the final three and he wouldn’t want to help him too much. (They were right, the brothers really seem to be nice guys but when it comes to a million bucks, they can be as nasty as the rest. Can you blame them, or are they being obnoxious?) Dan comes out and tells Sam that he and Big Easy were working together and he helped, but not much. Sam seemed upset that Dan helped even that much, and we see Big Easy griping in the supervisor’s room about how he felt Dan screwed him (I don’t blame him at this point, but I’m not sure I have a problem with it. It’s a million bucks!) Brian & Ericka get to the Museum and Brian tries the Roadblock. As he begins answering phones, Meghan & Cheyne get to the Charles Bridge and their clue is a Roadblock: Legend or Lager. In Legend, “teams will delve into Prague lore and Jewish mythology and build a Golem Man, which is made of straw and clay and was constructed to protect the Jewish quarters in the 15th century. Teams will cover a wooden Golem Man with clay and transport the figure through the town to the Old-New Synagogue and if it is deemed okay by the Rabbis, will get their next clue.” (I really hope everyone appreciates the research to find out what the hell Phil was describing there - it took me all of three minutes to Google it and find out what it was!) In Lager, teams must “drink in the local culture and deliver beer to a group of rowdy soccer hooligans.” Beer drinking is also considered a sport in Prague, and the Czech people drink more beer per capita than any other country. They have to carry 30 beers from a brewery through the town square to a bar to get their next clue.

Sam & Dan get to the Kryocentrum and complain that the Speedos are too small (although I have no complaints, they’re some cute butts there!) As they enter the cold room, Brian gets to the supervisor’s room and sees Big Easy still struggling with the letters for the name - he tells Brian he’s been there for about 2½ hours. Brian gets rejected and says the supervisor “is mean with the stamp.”

Meghan & Cheyne get to the Legend task and start to cover the wooden figure with mud as Sam & Dan come out of the freezer. Flight Time says he’s never coming back to the Czech Republic if they don’t get the word right. Brian gets the word and comes out of the Museum yelling, saying “I did it drunk, too!” Big Easy gets rejected once again and decides to go out to Flight Time saying that he’s willing to take the penalty. Teams who cannot finish a task must take a four-hour penalty before they can resume the Race. They insist it’s taking a strategic move, but I see it as dumb. With process of elimination, and anagramming the letters, it would have to be shorter to figure it out than four hours!

Meghan & Cheyne are struggling to move their clay-covered Golem, as the clay makes the statue much heavier. Brian & Ericka get to the Kryocentrum, with Ericka telling us that she’s from Florida and didn’t see snow until she was 21. Welcome to the cold, boopsie! Cheyne is complaining that Golem is heavy, and Meghan tells him that he’s taking the whole handle and not letting her help. Sam & Dan drop their Golem and Dan is asking if they should keep doing the challenge. Meghan & Cheyne are in the middle if the road trying to move their Golem and getting beeped at in traffic. They stop at the curb and she reminds him to be positive, as Cheyne tells Meghan he’s not yelling at her. The brothers bicker at each other covering the wooden statue (hey, we haven’t had a bickering couple the whole Race, it might as well be them!) Brian & Ericka decide to try the Lager challenge. Meghan & Cheyne get to the Synagogue and the Rabbis okay their statue, giving them the clue telling them to go to the next Pit Stop at Strelecky Ostrov, which is a small island next to the Charles Bridge.

Sam & Dan are rolling their Golem down the road and the arm is cracking and ready to fall off. They stand it up and bicker - Dan wants to go find the synagogue first and come back for the statue rather than drag the statue to the location. They stop a taxi driver and get directions from him.

Brian “used to be a server” so he’s instructing Ericka on how to carry the tray of beer. He takes 8 glasses and gives Ericka 7 and they walk through the street with locals bouncing around them and leering at the beer (or maybe at Ericka. Or maybe Brian!) He asks “don’t you people have jobs?”

Meghan & Cheyne run up to Phil at the Mat and find out they are team #1 once again. They each win 52" TVs.

Sam & Dan are seen pulling their statue and yapping at each other. Dan is complaining about how heavy it is, and Sam is telling him “Meghan did it!” Back at the Museum, Big Easy tells Flight Time that he killed about four trees filling out the forms. We then see Ericka & Brian carrying their beer, and as Brian tips one of his glasses over, Ericka turns around and loses her whole tray of beer. She tries to convince Brian to go do the other task., saying “it’s insane” and they won’t be able to do it. After seeing the other teams go through the Legend task, I’m with Brian - just stick with this one! Ericka just wouldn’t have the strength to pull that statue around. Brian gives her two glasses and tells her to just keep with it, and Ericka uses her hands to carry the two glasses. They have to dodge drunks walking down the street trying to grab the beers. Sam & Dan are still yapping and carrying the statue. Brian & Ericka are walking down the street with full trays of beer, and a girl walks by and says “For me?” and tries to grab a beer. Ericka gets an attitude saying “she’s about to get her ass beat” and saying she has “an American attitude.” Back at the Museum Big Easy is saying “it’s all on me.” Brian & Ericka meet up with some more drunks and manage to deliver their beer anyway. Sam & Dan get to the Synagogue and call it the “Detour from Hell” and still bitch at each other in the cab to the Pit Stop.

Brian & Ericka grab their last 11 beers and end up with a couple of guys following them down the street. Sam & Dan make it to the Mat and they two guys say “ooh, ow!” as they see the pretty lady standing with Phil. Phil tells them they’re Team #2, and still in it for a million bucks. They think they can overcome Meghan & Cheyne because the other teams see them as “second or third place.”

Back at the phone bank, the Globetrotters’ penalty is over and they head to the Kroycentrum. It’s daylight when Brian & Ericka finish delivering the beer and the guy waiting for them is half asleep. As they head to the Kryocentrum, Big Easy & Flight Time are hoping that someone had a real problem with a Detour - but it’s not to be, as Brian & Ericka get to Phil at the Mat and are told they are Team #3 and they celebrate.

We don’t see the Globetrotters go into the freezer, or which Detour they chose, but we get to see a recap of their exploits on the Race, with them riding the bikes, and dancing at the Opera House. As they get to the Mat, they know they’re in last place and Phil tells them they are eliminated. Big Easy says that this Race can tear up relationships, and it didn’t do that to them - and I give them credit. They really were the quintessential team, helping each other and staying positive the whole way. Too bad they were eliminated, but someone had to go!

Here is the order of finish:
1 - Meghan & Cheyne
2 - Sam & Dan
3 - Brian & Ericka
4 - Big Easy & Flight Time - eliminated

So next week is the finale - who will be victorious and get the million bucks? Will Meghan & Cheyne keep their winning streak alive or will the brothers manage to get ahead? Will the perpetual last-place team of Brian & Ericka pull it off? We’ll find out next week!

Cooperation is Out the Window! Sam & Dan are Thieves!

The teams begin this leg of the Race in Estonia. Meghan & Cheyne leave first, finding out they have to fly to Prague, Czech Republic. They will have to find a man in a Praga, which is a vintage convertible. Sam & Dan leave next, saying that the Globetrotters are their biggest competition, especially “since they accused us of elbowing them” running to the last Pit Stop. For their credit, Big Easy & Flight Time say they’re not harboring any ill will. “They’re in the final four and you have to respect them for that.” Brian & Ericka bring up the rear but catch up at the airport because the first flight doesn’t leave until 5:20 a.m. Meghan & Cheyne spot a Praga on the internet and find out that it’s a vintage car and plan to tell everyone that they need to look for a certain kind of hat - but they see the Globetrotters see the car on the internet too so they don’t bother.

Once the teams land, they all take off in taxis - except for Brian & Ericka, who talked to someone on the plane who said it would be quicker to take the subway. Flight Time & Big Easy say “we gotta go to an old town and look for an old car, and we’ve got an old man driving, and he’s driving like one.” In the cab, Sam & Dan discuss what a Praga might be, asking their cabbie if it’s a robe.

The clue tells the teams to go to an outdoor adventure center, Kayaky Troja, and search for the clue box. Sam & Dan saw Meghan & Cheyne running to the car and realized that is where they needed to go, and in the cab afterward mentioned that they would have looked forever because they didn’t know what they were looking for. Ericka & Brian are stuck in traffic on a shuttle bus to the subway and finally decide it’s taking too long and grab a taxi. Brian says “we did what we did, and we’re only looking forward.” Eternal optimist, that one!

At the Kayaky Troja, the clue is a Detour: Fast and Furious or Slow and Steady. In Fast and Furious they have to ride down a white water course that is used to train professional kayakers. They will have to grab a ribbon with their next clue written on it. If they tip over before they get to the ribbon, they have to start all over again. For Slow and Steady, they have to pull themselves along an aerial rope course to the end to get their next clue. Sam & Dan think they can do the white water, while Meghan & Cheyne decide to do Slow.

Brian & Ericka get to the square but have no idea what they’re looking for. (Now, they got the tip from somebody to take the subway to the square - but they didn’t ask the person what a Praga was?)

Sam & Dan paddle underneath Meghan & Cheyne and the Globetrotters as they hit the rope course, yelling “we’re gonna beat you!” They end up bickering the entire time about paddling. They get into the part of the course with faster water and end up tipping over. The rope teams find out it’s harder than it looks, as they first go downhill, but then end up having to pull themselves uphill. Big Easy is so heavy his feet are hitting the water. Meghan figures out to lay back and put her feet up on the rope to make it easier, but Flight Time was already there and making good headway. Sam & Dan paddle under them for their second attempt, yelling at each other again and tipping over once again. Flight Time is the first one to the end, and Meghan mentions that it’s the first time she’s seen the big strong Big Easy struggle on anything. The locals at the end platform tell Flight Time to go down and Cheyne wants to go first because Flight Time is going too slow - Flight Time says “I’m going slow because I’m tired.” Cheyne keeps yelling that he’s going slow on purpose, and Flight Time realized that he could hold them up by doing just that. Flight Time talks to Meghan on the ground saying “I don’t play like that” but “once you gave me the idea, it sounded good.” Meghan tells him it’s okay. The brothers seem to have the paddling down and tip over yet again. After that spill they decide to try the Slow and Steady. They say “as long as Brian & Ericka don’t show up we’re okay.” And of course, here come Brian & Ericka.

The teams need to figure out the next clue on the ribbons, which are Stavotske Divadlo and mean the Estates Theater. Meghan & Cheyne ask a local about getting a taxi and he points them to the train station. Meghan yells to the Globetrotters “we know where we’re going” and Cheyne isn’t too thrilled, but the Globetrotters say they would have followed them anyway so it was no big deal. Brian says he’s afraid of heights but they decide to do the rope challenge, and Ericka thanks him for challenging his fear for her (she’s afraid of water).

Meghan & Cheyne ask a local about the fastest way to get to the building, and as she’s writing it down for them, Cheyne spots a taxi and just snatches the note pad out of her hands to run to the taxi. The Globetrotters get the woman to write it for them, and Meghan chastises Cheyne for being rude to everyone, and leaving the Globetrotters after saying they’d help each other. Cheyne has a point, that this “isn’t a frickin’ hold your hand game.”

Sam is having mega problems with the ropes, and Brian shouts to Ericka to “use two hands” (which she is) and she’s getting upset with him. In the cab, Cheyne apologizes to Meghan “if you thought I was rude” but Meghan tells him that if the Globetrotters get ticked off at them it will motivate them and “give them a reason to mess with you.”

The clue at the Theater is a Roadblock - “who can remain composed under pressure?” The Estates Theater is where Motzart premiered his opera Giovanni. One team member must look throughout the theater for a tiny mandolin, which is the instrument Giovanni plays in the opera, and give it to a singing Giovanni for their next clue. Cheyne takes off to look for the mandolin in the massive opera theater. Cheyne finds a lute-looking thing and hands it to the Giovanni on stage, who laughs at him and says “no.”

On the train, the Globetrotters say how they hope they can catch Meghan & Cheyne and “stick it to Cheyne” for not wanting to work with them. Big Easy is going to do the Roadblock and takes off looking for the little instrument. Back at the Detour, the brothers finish and find out the taxi waiting is Brian & Ericka’s, and tell the driver they will pay him more to take them. Brian yells to Ericka “here’s some motivation...the brothers are trying to steal our taxi.” Brian & Ericka yell to the taxi to wait for them, but the taxi driver decides to take the brothers. Ericka gets her motivation and says “I’m going for the jugular now.” Meghan is telling Cheyne’s name and encouraging him, while driving Big Easy crazy. Brian & Ericka get finished and moan about Sam & Dan stealing their cab, and Brian says “I don’t think we’ll be working with them any more.” Ericka is firm, “We’re not working with anybody ... ever.”

Sam & Dan get to the theater and Dan will do the Roadblock. Sam sits with Flight Time and Meghan, and when Meghan asks about Brian & Ericka Sam says “we kind of took their cab.” Big Easy grabs a guitar and Meghan laughs that “It’s miniature to him.” Flight Time starts ballet prancing around the stage as Giovanni sings, and when Dan brings up a small violin, Giovanni laughs at him, too, and says “no.” Flight Time says “I haven’t seen Big Easy in five minutes - somebody send the paramedics up there.” Cheyne is crawling around the upper stage walks, and Big Easy finds a small bag and gives it to Giovanni, who laughs at him. Big Easy says “you can’t laugh at me no more, I’m gonna find it.” He does find a small case and brings it back - but it’s empty, and he gets laughed at again. Cheyne finds a small case and hands it to Giovanni, singing with him (badly) and getting his clue. It tells them to go to the next Pit Stop, Prague Castle. It is the largest ancient castle in the world.

Brian & Ericka get to the Theater as Dan finds the small case and gets his clue. Brian & Ericka walk in as the brothers walk out, and Brian complains that they didn’t even look him in the eye or apologize. Big Easy says “I don’t want to hear him sing no more” as he finds his case. “No offense, but I want to get to the Pit Stop.” To her credit Ericka isn’t freaking out looking for the little case. The Globetrotters get done and Sam & Dan are still looking for a taxi, and they end up leaving at almost the same time, but Sam & Dan beat them to the Mat. Flight Time & Big Easy say “we’re gonna crash this party” as they show up and when Phil asks if there’s tension on the Race, they say “All we know is someone stole someone else’s taxi, so we’ll just let them beat each other up and step on ahead.” Sam & Dan are standing there looking like they’re ready to kill someone. I think they don’t have room to complain, they were pretty nasty doing that - but again, this is a race for a million bucks!

Back at the Theater, Giovanni grabs a sandwich and sits with Brian as he waits for Ericka. When they finally make it to the Mat, Phil asks if they’ve enjoyed the Race, and Brian says they’ve had an angel every leg, and it’s been fun. Phil tells them they have another angel because it’s a non-elimination leg. (I’m wondering if the producers did that because Sam & Dan stole their cab).

So here’s the order of finish:

1 - Meghan & Cheyne
2 - Sam & Dan
3 - Big Easy & Flight Time
4 - Brian & Ericka

So, should Sam & Dan’s karma bite them in the ass because they were rotten and stole Brian & Ericka’s taxi? Are things getting nasty between the teams and is it really the end of cooperation? Should it be the end of cooperation? Can Meghan & Cheyne be beat? Stay tuned!