Big Brother 13 Features Jeff and Jordan from The Amazing Race and BB

The 13th Season of CBS reality show Big Brother has started, and features some old friends who should be familiar to fans of The Amazing Race. Jeff and Jordan, the couple who originally appeared on and engineered a winning season on Big Brother, and then became contestants on The Amazing Race, are contestants on Big Brother, again!

Proving many rumors true, Big Brother 13 features a twist called Dynamic Duos. In addition to 8 new houseguests in the cast, the Big Brother producers brought back 3 popular ( loved or hated) couples/duos from previous seasons. Jeff and Jordan might be the most popular and well-liked couple in Big Brother history, and they were one of the duos brought back.

So while it may be the offseason for The Amazing race, fans of reality tv still have some exciting viewing options during this down time.

Racing Through China - and the U-Turns Don't Hurt, But the Dinosaurs Do!

We begin this week’s episode with everyone still racing - and Kynt & Vyxsin are way, way behind all the teams after missing their flight out of Japan by getting lost on the way to the airport last week. They seemed to be making up some time, but when it goes wrong, it goes really wrong, and they’ve left their fanny pack with their money and passports on the gondola. They were getting pretty close to Zev & Justin after the Chinese Zodiac fiasco - but now what? Although a double-leg can be pretty exhausting, maybe, just maybe, they’ll be able to stay in it.

We see Zev & Justin on the Mat with Phil, who tells them they are still in the Race, and “as a matter of fact, you’re still racing.” They must take a train back to Kunming and then travel to Dounan Flower Market for their next clue. Kynt & Vyxsin get back to the gondolas and after riding back to the top, find that someone has turned in their fanny pack. Vyxsin says that sometimes “there are screws loose” in their brains.

Margie & Luke are at the train station at noon, and find out the next train leaves at 7:05 p.m. (So much for the lead!) Kynt & Vyxsin get to the Detour and choose to make the candy rather than trying to navigate through the streets (good idea). When they get to Phil, they are told that they’re still racing - BUT! They took the wrong flight and have incurred a 30-minute penalty, which they will wait out when they get to the next Pit Stop. (I swear, if they manage to stay in this Race with everything that’s gone wrong in this leg, they have somebody watching over them!) As they read their clue, we find out there’s a double U-Turn on this next leg.

As the teams wait around at the train station, Jet & Cord see a basketball hoop and since Flight Time & Big Easy have a basketball, they get a game going. Jet, Flight Time and Kisha will play against Cord, Big Easy and Jen. Cara & Jaime were performing cheers on the sideline, and there were a whole lot of locals watching. It looked like great fun, as we see Flight Time shoot a basket after he put the ball on the back of his neck! Kynt & Vyxsin show up and are immediately quizzed by the other teams. Kynt tells the teams their car broke down and they missed the flight in Japan. Mallory asks if they’re getting a penalty and Vyxsin tells her “we still don’t know what they’re going to do.” The teams all start talking among themselves that they should have received a penalty. Everyone is back together and leaving on the same train. The rooms in the train have bunks three high, and Zev & Justin are up on the highest one, saying that being up there gives them less chance of getting murdered. (Reading too many spy novels, guys!)

Once in Kunming, Ron & Christina tell their cabbie in Chinese to go fastest, and Zev & Justin are content to follow their cab. The flower market reminds me a bit of Eastern Market. Kisha & Jen get the clue first, which tells them to taxi to the Golden Horse & Jade Cock Memorial Arches to find the next clue. There are a lot of teams showing up at the flower market at once - the Cowboys, Globetrotters, Kynt & Vyxsin, Gary & Mallory, and Jaime & Cara. Each of them tells their cabbie to wait (I see a problem brewing). As they find the clue and get back to the cabs, the Globetrotters are the last team to find the clue and there is one less cab waiting - the Cowboys take off knowing they’ve taken someone’s cab, and it seems to be our basketball stars. They manage to find one after a little searching.

The clue at the Arches is a Detour. Honor the Past or Embrace the Future. For Honor the Past, they will watch a traditional Tibetan performance and count on their powers of memory. After the performance (and without taking notes) they will have to arrange dolls representing all the characters in the performance in the order they appeared on stage to get their next clue. Embrace the Future has the teams offloading a solar heating system, carrying it to the roof of a building and properly installing it to get their clue from the supervisor. Neither sounds easy!

Ron & Christina and Zev & Justin will Honor the Past, while Margie & Luke will Embrace the Future. Kisha & Jen will try the memory task. Jet & Cord and Gary & Mallory get to the Arches, and see a McDonald’s - thinking that the clue box will be by those “golden arches.” Flight Time & Big Easy will build the solar heating system. At the Tibetan performance, they must dress in costumes which include a headdress that is basically a graduation cap with a large circle on top and long fringe hanging off all around it. We see Margie & Luke get to the building and grab a large box to take to the roof - and they must use the stairs!!!! This is a really evil task to make them do after no Pit Stop, little sleep and little food. Evil, I tell you!

Jaime & Cara and Kynt & Vyxsin will try the solar panels, along with Jet & Cord. Gary & Mallory and Jen & Kisha go off to try their memories. At the performance, Zev & Justin get their first guess of dolls wrong, but go back to check and get the clue first, which tells them to go to the place in the photo they are given, which is the Chinese Minority Heritage Center. There is a double U-Turn waiting for them there. Kisha & Jen get their clue and join Zev & Justin in the street asking locals about the photo. Ron & Christina are wrong on their first try also but figure it out and see the other two teams still there. Zev asks if Christina knows what it is, and she says yes, telling the cab driver to go to the Yunnan Province Cultural Center. Might be the same place, might not.....

Margie & Luke finish their task as Cara & Jaime and Kynt & Vyxsin show up to start assembling. Jet & Cord get there too and begin lugging the equipment up the stairs as Kynt & Vyxsin squabble as they build. (Well, actually, it’s just Vyxsin trying to push Kynt around, yelling that he’s going too slow). Jaime & Cara are the next to finish.

Ron & Christina’s cab stops and the two teams following get out, racing around to try to find the clue box. Christina realizes that the cabbie took them to the Kunming Cultural Center and everyone gets back into their cabs to race to the correct spot, hoping that no other teams get there first. However, that’s not to be as Margie & Luke show up, grab their clue and tells us they will not U-Turn anyone. The clue says they have to find the Stone Forest, where their next clue is.

Jaime & Cara get to the Heritage Center next, but Jet & Cord find the clue box before they do. They also choose not to U-Turn anyone, and then tell Kynt & Vyxsin where the clue box is. They get to the clue box barely before Jaime & Cara, and decide to U-Turn the Globetrotters with urging from Jaime & Cara. Unfortunately for the Cheerleaders, Kynt decides to U-Turn them, apologizing as they run off, saying “sorry, guys, it’s the only way we’re gonna survive.” They remembered that on their last Race, they U-Turned a team that was already ahead of them, and Kynt knew 100% that the redheads were behind them. Jaime & Cara U-Turned the Globetrotters and took off to do the other task, hoping that they could sail through it and get on with the Race.

Zev & Justin, Ron & Christina, and Kisha & Jen catch up to Kynt & Vyxsin and Jet & Cord at the U-Turn, where Vyxsin says her cab driver knows where the Stone Forest is, so everyone will follow them. Gary & Mallory tag along in this caravan also. Jaime & Cara get to the theater as the Globetrotters find out they’ve been U-Turned and head to the theater also. The Cheerleaders manage to finish before they show up.

We see Jen & Kisha telling their cabbie to lose the other cabs, and Zev & Justin’s cab can’t keep up. They are aggravated that they didn’t stick with Ron & Christina. The Globetrotters make quick work of the dolls and take off, as we see Jaime & Cara’s cab having to stop for gas. Gary & Mallory are following Zev & Justin, who are not sure their cab is going the right way. Kisha & Jen get to the Stone Forest and their Roadblock clue asks “Who’s ready for a task 1000 years in the making?” This is a place where scientists found the largest amount of dinosaur relics in China. The team member doing the task must reconstruct a 20-foot dinosaur correctly to get their clue from the paleontologist. Kisha, Margie, and Christina will attempt the task. Kynt will do the task also, and Vyxsin hugs Kisha as they wait. Kisha asks why they U-Turned, and Vyxsin spills the beans that they have a 30-minute penalty to make up, telling Kisha that they didn’t want to lie, but just “fudged the truth a little bit.” Ron overhears and will tuck that away for future reference, saying that they are like Kibuki dancers, lying and hiding behind their masks.

Flight Time & Big Easy pass Jaime & Cara on the freeway, as we see Zev & Justin and Gary & Mallory stop and try to figure out where to go. Justin grabs a rock and shows his driver, then points to a tree, and the driver seems to get his meaning. Jet & Cord get to the dig site, and Jet will attempt this task also. Big Easy, and then Jaime will do it, and then Justin and Gary get to the site and will attempt it also. After looking at all the other teams there, and the task at hand, Gary & Mallory pull out the Express Pass and get their next clue. It allows them to skip the task and go to the next Pit Stop, which is Green Lake Park in Kunming.

Christina is told mid-build that her dinosaur is unstable. Kynt’s dinosaur is finished, but wrong. Jet is given the okay on his and off go the Cowboys. Flight Time asks Cara what the deal was with the U-Turn, and she says it started with Kynt & Vyxsin U-Turning them. Vyxsin then tells Flight Time that they had to make up for their 30-minute penalty, and Flight Time says “okay then, as long as you weren’t being mean.” He adds that he thinks the Redheads were being mean.

Jet & Cord manage to pass up Gary & Mallory, whose cab left. Margie & Luke get their clue after Margie’s successful build. At the park, Gary & Mallory arrive to see the Cowboys and it’s a mad dash to Phil at the Mat, which Jet & Cord win handily and get $5000 as their first-place prize.

Vyxsin is watching Kynt get another “no” on his build and sweating that they have to make it 30 minutes ahead of another team - and then Kynt’s stepladder collapses and sends him flying to the ground. All the others are having major problems assembling their dinosaurs as well, putting stuff in and taking it out. Jaime is exhausted and Kynt and Christina figure out what’s wrong with theirs. Kisha manages to finish hers correctly and gets the clue. Kynt then manages to get his correctly and off they go. In the parking lot, Kisha & Jen find out that their cab has left them and Kynt & Vyxsin leave ahead of them. Big Easy finishes his dinosaur and the Globetrotters take off celebrating - they got U-Turned and are still in the Race. Margie & Luke check in with Phil in third. Kynt & Vyxsin find out they’re the 4th team, but have to sit for 30 minutes before they can be checked in. They see Kisha & Jen get to the Mat, who are checked in 4th by Phil. Flight Time & Big Easy show up at the park as Kynt & Vyxsin’s penalty is up and Kynt & Vyxsin get 5th, with the Globetrotters 6th.

Christina finishes her dinosaur leaving Justin and Jaime as the last two at the Stone Forest. Justin gets a “no” from the paleontologist, and so does Jaime. Justin fixes his dinosaur and gets their clue, as Jaime realizes the wrong piece will make her take apart most of her dinosaur and is thinking she doesn’t have the strength to do it. Cara is thinking that their time on the Race is done.

Ron & Christina beat Zev & Justin to the Mat by a step, getting them 7th and 8th respectively. Back at the Stone Forest, Jaime is getting the dinosaur reconstructed with sore shoulders and total exhaustion, not willing to quit. They end up at the Mat where Phil tells them they’ve been eliminated. Sorry, Chris, and I’m not happy about it either!

Next week the teams are in Calcutta, India - which Zev calls “Cal-Crazy.” Tune in for our next elimination (or not)!

1 - Jet & Cord
2 - Gary & Mallory
3 - Margie & Luke
4 - Kisha & Jen
5 - Kynt & Vyxsin
6 - Flight Time & Big Easy
7 - Ron & Christina
8 - Zev & Justin
9 - Jaime & Cara - eliminated

A Race Through Japan Leaves the Father-Son Team Out in the Cold (Mud)

Our teams ended the last leg in the Australian Outback in the mining town of Broken Hill. Not much of a Pit Stop, because they immediately board a train for an overnight trip to Sydney. The teams will leave the station as they would the Pit Stop, with first-place Zev & Justin finding out they are to fly to Tokyo, Japan. They must then find a parking garage with a clue box. Justin remembers his last Amazing Race trip to Japan, having to eat a Wasabi roll. The Globetrotters and Cowboys are on the next train, although Jen & Kisha should have made that train too (tsk, tsk, can’t lollygag around, ladies!) Margie & Luke decide to go to a travel agency at the train station, and Mel & Mike join them. Mel says that every hour he gets to stay in one place makes him stronger. “I’m old, but we can make it.” Kynt is wearing a cowboy hat today, to show that Jet & Cord “aren’t the only ones that can rock a cowboy hat.” They’ll be checking Travelocity (how nice to mention one of the sponsors!) Jaime & Cara hit the travel agency, and Gary & Mallory take off for the airport. Ron & Christina are excited to be going to Tokyo, with Christina telling us that she’s engaged to Azaria, who she met on Season 12 (he raced with his sister and they placed 6th). In the taxi, Zev & Justin discuss that the Globetrotters and Cowboys are right behind them, and Zev says they need “a cool name. We’re the special kids.”

Mel & Mike find a flight that lands 15 minutes earlier than the one Margie & Luke are looking at, but it stops in Hong Kong. The teams will have 3 hours to make the connection in Hong Kong. At the airport, Flight Time & Big Easy catch up with Zev & Justin at a free internet kiosk and find out the same thing. Mel is a little apprehensive about booking the flight through Hong Kong, as is Justin, who says “what’s 15 minutes in the grand scheme of things?” Jet & Cord grab the direct flight, as do Jen & Kisha. It seems none of the teams are willing to take the flight that stops in Hong Kong - until we see Kynt & Vyxsin and Jaime & Cara doing exactly that. After some debate at the travel agency, Margie & Luke and Mel & Mike decide to try it as well, with Mel saying he’s thinking it’s a bad idea. The “Special Kids” and Globetrotters check with a travel agent to research the earlier-landing flight a little more, and find out there are only two seats left on it. Big Easy tells them to take it, because “we owe you one, remember?” Justin is still not sure it’s the best idea.

Landing in Hong Kong, the pilot announces that there will be a delay because there’s a problem with the engine that needs fixing. (I thought they were going to change planes - obviously not). They have a 3-hour window, so hopefully that’s enough time....

The straight-through flight lands first (so much for 15 minutes!) The clue at the parking garage tells them to drive themselves to Kamakura, locate the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, and go to the Yabusame Dojo for the next clue. The cars in the garage are on some kind of conveyor belts and they press a button to get their car to their level. Big Easy & Flight Time press their button for their car, and Jen & Kisha press theirs right after, and it ended up that the conveyor stopped at the girls’ car first. It’s a pretty small car, and Big Easy is scrunched in the driver’s seat. We find out the “first” flight landed an hour and a half after the one that landed at 6:15 a.m.

Kisha & Jen, Gary & Mallory and the Globetrotters are driving and have to stop because everyone is lost. Despite his snarky attitude and slow driving, Ron & Christina get to the Shrine - and the clue box - first. The clue is a Roadblock. The team member will have to find out if they are truly “arrow-dynamic.” They must dress as Samurai and learn to perform a Yabusame ritual and techniques for shooting an arrow from atop a wooden horse. They will learn the ritual (which looks like a karate kata, or form) and then will sit on a wooden horse and have to shoot arrows at a target as they are being spun in a circle. They get a clue once they hit a target.

Ron is going to attempt the task, but he’s already complaining that “I don’t have great eyesight. My daughter has better eyesight.” Gary will also attempt the task of doing a thousand-year-old ritual, because “I was born a thousand years ago.” Flight Time and Jen will try it as well.

The other 5 teams are driving through town and seem to be lost, too, and pull over to discuss their location and route. Back at the Dojo, Ron is having major problems with his form, saying the judges were being too strict, and none of the other folks are getting it either. Jen mentions that they are very “detail-oriented.” Zev & Justin show up and Justin will attempt the task.

Jen tells us she’s into detail also, and not only performs the form correctly, but hits her target on the first arrow. Their next clue tells the sisters to drive to Minami-Ashigara and look for the Diutsan Railway Station and locate the Kintaro Statue (a child riding on a bear) for their next clue. Justin and then Gary get through the task next and take off, and we see Kynt & Vyxsin, Mel & Mike and Margie & Luke arrive at the Dojo. Kynt, Luke and Mike will do the task. Kynt loves the Samurai outfit. Ron finally manages to get his form right and sounds like a wounded loon as he shoots his arrow and hits the target. Jet & Cord finally find the Shrine and Jet volunteers to try this task (especially after how wonderfully Cord did the last one). We see Jaime & Cara driving through town and Cara tells driver Jaime to move over a little, she seems to be hugging the left side of the road a bit too much. Next thing we know, their car smacks into something which turns out to be someone’s mirror. They offer to pay for the mirror (which only has a little chip out of the bottom and no mirrow) but the man wants to call the police - plus, the language barrier doesn’t help any either. The police show up and there’s no mention that anyone got a ticket, and after a “long time” Jaime & Cara finally get back on the road.

Zev & Justin and Gary & Mallory find the railway station (and it looks to be by accident) and get to the clue, which is a Detour. Phil tells us that the Japanese have many traditional rituals, with some having religious significance and others are “just for fun.” The two choices are Prayer of Purity or Frog of Life. For Purity, they will take part in a Shinto religious cleansing ritual by putting on proper clothing (which looks like a karate gi, or uniform) and learn not only the verbal prayer, but the physical part of it too. They will then have to stand underneath a waterfall that comes from the melting snow of Mt. Fuji - in 45-degree water - for one minute. In Frog, teams will have to strip down and go into a huge mud pit and search for a frog (not a real one) as onlookers pelt them with mud.

Zev & Justin and Gary & Mallory are off to the mud pits, while the Globetrotters and Ron & Christina will attempt the Prayer of Purity. Kisha & Jen finally get there and decide to search for the frog also. Jaime & Cara make it to the Shrine and Cara will attempt the Yabusame ritual and apologizes to the woman dressing her, saying “sorry if I smell.” Luke and Cord finish their task, and Kynt and Mike finish shortly after.

At the mud pit, Zev & Justin and Gary & Mallory hit the tents to change into their outfits. They’re laughing about wearing their underwear “with a diaper and a headband.” Zev says they look like “very skinny sumo wrestlers.” (I just love Zev. He’s got a quick wit and funny self-effacing humor. The autism he’s stuck with is obviously liveable...) Zev says “let’s find this frog and then eat its legs for good luck.” It does look like fun slopping around in the mud!

At the Shinto ceremony, the Globetrotters seem to get the wording right (I guess, none of them are making a whole lot of sense to me) and are allowed to attempt the physical part. They have to do what looks like another type of form with a bo, which is a stick about 6 feet long and maybe an inch or two in diameter, and kiai (yell) while doing it. (I studied martial arts for 8 years and the kiai is the best part. It’s called “spirit-letting” and is a great way to release frustration and get you moving again). Ron asks Christina if she has their backpack, meaning there will be something about that later.....

Zev & Justin find the frog and Justin does a muddy chest bump on the nice, clean Grand Master after they get their clue. (If I’m the Grand Master Justin is lucky to leave without broken legs!) The clue tells them to drive to Kurihama and find the landmark commemorating the landing of Commander Matthew Perry, which is the Pit Stop. Gary finds the frog and gets their clue from the now cleaned up Grand Master. As Mallory races off, she tells the locals “you’re gonna see a couple of redheads in these outfits and they’re gonna look good, don’t worry.” Zev & Justin spray each other off with hoses, and Justin didn’t want to take the time to put on pants. Zev tells us in an interview “he was wearing underwear. I’m not wearing any underwear.” Justin asks him “now?” Zev says “yeah.” Justin: “that’s hot.” (Okay, best buddies or ... what?) Kisha & Jen run out complaining that it’s freezing, and Jen tells us “it’s 30 degrees outside and I’m wearing a diaper.” Crawling through the mud, Kisha remarks “I guess I’ll remember to keep my mouth shut.”

Mel & Mike and Kynt & Vyxsin will try the Frog as well, and Jaime finally manages to shoot her arrow. Flight Time & Big Easy are in the cold water finishing their ritual, and as they try and leave the water, Big Easy falls down, and starts yelling “I want my mama! I want my mama now!” As they leave, they grab their “backpack,” which looks like Ron & Christina’s fanny pack. (Better that than losing it I suppose). Ron & Christina finish with the waterfall and go to get the fanny pack, and finding it gone, start asking the locals if they’d seen it. As Flight Time & Big Easy take off in the car, they talk about leaving the fanny pack inside the changing room, saying “that would not have been great if we’d have grabbed the wrong bag.” (I hope Ron & Christina find it - I’m not fond of Ron, but I’d hate for them to go out because of this). Ron asks if the Globetrotters took it by accident and wants to know why they would make such a stupid mistake.

Back at the mud pit, Kisha is telling us that “I’ve got dirt in places dirt shouldn’t be right now.” She finds the frog and hugs the Grand Master (I’m wondering if this guy is sorry he signed up for this now!) At the changing huts, Ron finds the fanny pack in the room.

Justin & Zev stop for directions and Justin still has no pants on. He says that he’s never talked to strangers in his underwear before. Jet & Cord fly into the mud pit thinking they’re looking for a real frog and want to spot it jumping and were bummed they weren’t live frogs.

Zev & Justin make it to Phil at the Mat in first place and win a trip to Costa Rica. The interview after has them telling us “we’re in it to win it this time” as Justin puts his arm around Zev and Zev says “don’t touch me.”

At the mud pit, Vyxsin finds the frog and Kynt gives the Grand Master “a big muddy hug.” (That poor guy!) As they leave Kynt mentions that his makeup still held up (sounds like a good opportunity for a commercial for whatever makeup he uses). Margie finds the frog as Gary & Mallory get to the Mat in second place, followed by Flight Time & Big Easy.

Jaime & Cara are racing to the mud pit where Mel & Mike are still looking for the frog and freezing. Mike wants to quit but Mel is pushing on. Ron & Christina get to the Mat in fourth and she tells Phil that the Globetrotters took their fanny pack, and had they taken it by mistake they should have returned it to the original spot, because it caused them a big delay. Phil tells them because the Globetrotters took their fanny pack, he would give them a 30-minute penalty and Ron & Christina were now in third place. Kisha & Jen then end up in fourth place, moving the Globetrotters to fifth. Jet & Cord get sixth.

At the mud pit, Mike is shaking and Mel is still going at it, and they end up in a medical van to warm up. Jamie & Cara show up and start sloshing around in the mud. Kynt & Vyxsin make it to the Mat (Kynt says “I’m still freezing”) and Margie & Luke are happy to find out they’re in eighth place. Jaime & Cara find their frog as Mel & Mike sit in the van, and Mike is till shaking uncontrollably. Jaime & Cara are sure they’re in last place, getting to the Mat and announcing for Phil that “you are the last team to arrive and you have been eliminated.” He tells them they are incorrect and in ninth place.

Mel & Mike make it to the mat and are eliminated, and Mike tells Phil he loved the experience of being able to run the Race twice. Mel says it’s brought them closer together and that’s the best part.

So here’s our order of finish:

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

So what will the Globetrotters’ reaction be when they find out about their penalty? Previews tell us that next week “Ron comes unglued.” That was just a matter of time

"Unfinished Business" - Let the Race Begin!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Final Six Teams Race Around Mountains and Markets in Oman

It's another Leg of The Amazing Race - let's get moving!

Nat & Kat leave first from St. Petersburg Russia, at the Peter and Paul Fortress. The clue tells them to fly to Muscat, Oman, and go to Burj Al Mubkharah. Once there, a man will give them an ingot with a time on it, which is when they can climb a multitude of stairs in a fortress to get their next clue. The Doctors will stop at a travel agency for tickets before going to the airport, and so will Brook & Claire, who leave second. Nick & Vicki leave third and Nick tells us that he’s always stressed out of his mind. (I’ll go along with the out of his mind part, anyway). We get to hear Mallory scream once again as she and Gary open their clue - she screams a LOT!

Brook & Claire and Nick & Vicki show up at the travel agency as Nat & Kat are booking their flight. The earliest arrival time is 8:55 p.m. on a flight through Amsterdam. Gary & Mallory are soon at the travel agent followed by Thomas & Jill. Chad & Stephanie are supposed to leave the Pit Stop at 2:45 a.m., but all we see is a hotel room door and hear major snoring (which I hope is Chad!) Brook & Claire get the same flight at the Docs, but as Nick & Vicki sit down to book the flight, they’re told it’s full. The remaining teams won’t make it to Oman until 10:35 p.m. Again we hear snoring and see that they’re 1 hour and 52 minutes late to the starting Mat. They wake up in a panic and finally get their clue open at 4:45 a.m. We see “highlights” of their various arguments and Stephanie tells us that the Race is taking a toll on their relationship. When they get to the travel agent, they find out there are no seats on the second flight. Chad tells us that they haven’t been beaten in a Leg so far, but they’ve beaten themselves. They manage to find a flight that lands at 10:45 p.m., only ten minutes behind the second flight.

Landing in Oman, the first two teams get a weather shock - it’s nighttime and Kat tells us “it’s 90 degrees and very humid. Just think of what it will be like during the daytime.” The other teams land and feel the heat too - and Chad & Stephanie find luck of the Race gods and their flight lands early, catching them up with the other teams from the second flight.

The Docs and the Shopping Hosts get to the guy with the ingots, and he gives them both one that says 7:30 - so they get to spend the night outside in Oman! Thomas & Jill get 7:45 as to Chad & Stephanie. Gary & Mallory and Nick & Vicki’s time is 8:00.

We see the teams in the morning - the Docs are stretching, Nick looks like ten miles of bad road, and Brook & Claire are doing their beauty routine with hair and makeup. Chad tells Stephanie to take a walk with him, and at 6:00 a.m. they wander off. Chad tells us that his mom passed away while he was in college and his stepfather gave him his mother’s ring, which he’s been dragging around this whole Race. He’s very sweet, telling her how he can’t spend his life with anyone but Stephanie, and gets down on one knee and asks Stephanie to marry him. The other teams see what’s going on and cheer them as they come back and congrats abound. I’ll admit, I got a little snuffly myself, it was very nice. Especially remembering what an ass Chad can be at times!!!!

The next clue tells the teams to drive to Jebel Shams, which is the tallest mountain in Oman. A safety driver will take them to the top because of the treacherous drive, and the clue box will be waiting. Chad & Stephanie stop and ask directions, and after sniping at each other, so do Thomas & Jill. They both seem to get the same directions. Thomas comments how nice the people are even though “we’re up in their face.” Nick makes one of his few-and-far-between smart comments that “it takes just as long to look at a map and try and figure it out as it does to ask a local who for sure knows where it is.” They stop at a gas station and Brook & Claire pull in behind to ask directions, and Vicki tells the Shopping Hosts that “it’s this way, we’re going in the right direction.” Nick then proceeds to tell her to shut up and that she has no common sense in her whole body.

Chad & Stephanie find the mountain first and the driver climbs in the car to take them up the road. Gary & Mallory are driving around and Gary is thinking they’re lost, and Mallory insists it’s right. The clue asks “Who wants to add a little magic to their life?” They’re 10,000 feet above the ocean floor, and the Roadblock has a team member rappel down the side 500 feet onto a narrow ledge, and search among hundreds of lamps to find one with Aladdin’s magic ring. Once they deliver it they will get their next clue. Stephanie tells Chad she wants no part of this one, and he walks off to do it. He tells us he has no problem with heights, but they’re “in the freaking Grand Canyon of Oman.” Thomas & Jill show up and Jill will attempt this task. Chad’s loving the scenery and Jill is almost hyperventilating as she goes down.

Nat & Kat are thinking they’re lost, as do Gary & Mallory. As Jill shows up to look through the lamps, Chad finds his and gets their next clue, which tells them to go to Nizwa and find a giant Stack of Books, which is a monument in the middle of a roundabout. Jill finds the ring shortly after, and they take off as Nick & Vicki show up. As they read their clue, a goat comes by and rips part of their clue folder off and eats it. Nick is petrified of heights (add that to the list with clowns) and Vicki tells us she’s not scared of anything but bugs, so off she goes. Brook & Claire read the clue and Brook is amazed that Claire wants to do it.

Nat & Kat stop for directions, and we see Gary asking locals while Mallory prays in the car. We see Vicki making short work of the rappelling, saying she feels like Spiderman - “or Spider woman, whatever.”

At the Stack of Books, Chad & Stephanie run for the clue with Thomas & Jill right behind. It’s a Detour - Water Table or Wedding Table. For Water Table, they’ll have to pump water from an ancient well. When their truck is full they’ll drive through Muscat to find the house to deliver it to and once delivered, they’ll get their next clue. In Wedding Table, they’ll go to a market to purchase 25 frozen chickens and other ingredients for a traditional wedding soup which symbolizes health and virility. Once they’ve made the soup and presented it to the wedding couple, they get their next clue. (Sorry, after a little internet searching, couldn’t find the name of it, which Phil pronounced as “maklouf.”) Chad & Stephanie will try Water Table, and Thomas & Jill will try and follow them.

Vicki has found the ring, and Claire is right behind her. Nick realizes that they have a leaking tire which really ticks him off, having to change it. Chad & Stephanie and Jill & Thomas get to the water trucks and Chad & Stephanie are just ahead of Thomas & Jill, filling their truck and taking off. They have a driver, and Chad asks if he’s going to help them but he says no. Thomas & Jill overfill their truck (way to waste water in a desert, folks!)

Brook & Claire get to the clue and decide cooking isn’t their thing either. Nat & Kat get to the Roadblock and Kat takes off to rappel down the side of the mountain, because they had a deal that Nat wouldn’t be involved in any heights-challenges. Gary & Mallory are still really lost.

Thomas & Jill stop to ask a local for directions and he offers to let them follow him to the location. Nick & Vicki find the Stack of Books and decide to try Water Table as well. Kat rappels down the mountain and says “I’m trying not to look down” as she looks down. Chad & Stephanie drive through a neighborhood and stop to ask a local, asking him to lead them to the location. The local that is helping Thomas & Jill tells them that their delivery house is that of his cousin. They hook up to the house and get their clue as Chad & Stephanie drive by and see them. The clue tells them to drive to Muttrah Souq, which is a large market, and search for a vendor who gives them Frankincense. They must take it to “the famed” Ali Baba and exchange it for their next clue.

Nick & Vicki get to the water pumping station and get their truck full as Brook & Claire start filling theirs. Gary & Mallory finally get to the base of the mountain and tell their driver they’ve been driving for almost 9 hours! As Thomas & Jill are driving away from the water pumping station, Chad & Stephanie show up and Thomas is amazed that they got done so quickly. Kat is having major problems finding the ring in the lamp as Gary & Mallory get up the mountain. Gary mentions he’d like to see just one team having problems with the challenge, and it looks like he’ll get his wish as Kat looks through the hundreds of lamps. She finds the ring, though and they pass Gary & Mallory on their way down, giving Gary some hope that they’re still in the Race.

Thomas & Jill get to the market with Chad & Stephanie right behind, and manage to find the correct vendor and then Ali Baba pretty quickly. We see Mallory start looking in lamps and Brook & Claire asking a local for directions to deliver their water. Nick & Vicki also get a local’s help as Nat & Kat get to the Stack of Books and decide to do Water Table. Mallory finds her ring as we see Thomas & Jill getting their clue from Ali Baba, which tells them to drive to the next Pit Stop. It’s the Al Alam Palace. Thomas & Jill tell a cabbie that he’ll pay to follow him and it seems Chad & Stephanie are not far behind - alas, they won’t get to the Mat first. But they may still make it in first place, as Phil tells Thomas & Jill they’ve incurred a 30-minute penalty. They broke a rule by paying a taxi driver to lead them to a location (I guess it must be a fairly new rule, because teams in Races past have done it without problem). And they do check in first, and hop around screaming when Phil tells them they’re first. They’ve won a trip to Belize - sounds like a good honeymoon!

Brook & Claire are driving around looking for Muttrah Souq market when they turn the wrong way down a one-way street. As they try and turn around a cop hits the lights and siren to pull them over. Nick & Vicki use this mistake to get ahead of them to the market, and get their Frankincense and go looking for “Ali Baba in a suit.” Somehow they find the correct shop and Brook & Claire are right behind. It’s a race to the Mat, and Nick & Vicki make it to the Mat in third place.

Gary & Mallory fill their truck with water as we see Nat & Kat get their clue after delivering theirs. Kat is soaked and says “that’s the best shower I’ve had in a couple of days.” Gary & Mallory see Nat a& Kat driving back and Gary is pretty happy that they’re not far behind. The Docs get their Frankincense and deliver it to Ali Baba as Gary & Mallory get theirs. It seems like the teams are really close together, but it could all be the magic of editing.....Nat & Kat are having problems finding the Palace and Gary & Mallory see it and drive right by the Docs. Nat & Kat make it to the Mat in fifth place, and Gary & Mallory are eliminated. Mallory says it’s been a very special experience because she did it with her dad. Hey, 6th place isn’t much to sneeze at (although it’s not a million bucks!)


1 - Chad & Stephanie
2 - Thomas & Jill
3 - Nick & Vicki
4 - Brook & Claire
5 - Nat & Kat
6 - Gary & Mallory - eliminated

With the teams all taking turns making the Mat first, they all seem pretty able to win this thing. Nick & Vicki may just stumble their way at least into the final three and have a great shot at the money. The previews show a “Double U-Turn” in the next Leg, and that should be interesting!

A Non-Elimination Leg Saves the Rocket Scientists - Music and Cinema in Russia Give the Teams Fits

Narvik, Norway is the beginning point for this leg of the Race. Staying in the cold part of the world, the teams must go by car (to the train station), train (to Stockholm, Sweden) and plane to Saint Petersburg, Russia. Once there, they must find Vasilesvsky Ostrov Island and on the island, the Rostral Columns, and there they will find the clue box. Nat & Kat leave first, and it turns out that leaving first or last won’t be a big deal, because the train they need won’t leave until 10:26 the next morning. Time to even the playing field! We don’t get any pre-leg interviews with the teams, but we see them all boarding the train. Jill asks Thomas “have you ever slept on a train before?” and he answers “of course.” After all, the great Notre Dame University not only has gondolas but trains the students can sleep on as they travel about campus! This guy is really starting to get on my nerves with his pompous attitude. Nat & Kat share a train car with Brook & Claire, and for some reason they all start smelling each other’s dirty socks and shoes. They’s some sick puppies! Blech!

Once in Stockholm (which is absolutely beautiful from the few shots of the city we got) everyone jumps in a cab except Gary & Mallory and Chad & Stephanie, who for some reason can’t find one. Maybe it’s because they’re screaming at each other - Chad says Stephanie wasn’t ready to go when Chad said they should and all the cabs disappeared. Stephanie isn’t going to take it and yells right back. All that yelling means nothing, because all the teams are on the same flight.

In Saint Petersburg, all the teams remark on the beautiful architecture in the city. Nick & Vicki talk about how the Russians keep all their old buildings instead of “blowing them up” like they do in Las Vegas. Brook & Claire are first to the clue box, which is a Detour: Classical Music or Classic Cinema. For Classical Music, teams must go to a historic palace, find a maestro with three gramaphones and listen to three different compositions being played. They must then go into a ballroom where there are multiple people playing piano, and figure out which three are playing the same music as they heard on the gramaphones. Taking the sheet music from the top of the piano, they have to put it in a proper folder to match the gramaphone and they’ll get their clue from the Maestro. For Classic Cinema, the teams go to a film studio and the first place a movie was screened in Russia. They will have to go through mounds of film strips to find one that matches the movie playing on the screen - Sergei Eisenstein’s silent montage, “October.” If their choice matches, they will get their next clue from the director.

Brook & Claire and Michael & Kevin decide to try the Cinema, and Chad & Stephanie and Gary & Mallory will attempt Music. Thomas & Jill will go to Cinema, and Nick & Vicki and Nat & Kat (who are now in last place) will try Music. Brook & Claire’s cabbie has no idea where the studio is, and Michael & Kevin beat them there followed soon by Thomas & Jill. The teams are thinking it will be tough looking through all the film strips. Chad & Stephanie get to the Music palace and are a bit overwhelmed by all the pianos in one room and trying to pick out the music of just one. All the Music teams soon get there and rush around the room trying to find the music they need.

Brook & Claire are still in the cab, with their driver asking directions. Chad & Stephanie take their music and find out they’re wrong. Thomas manages to find some large Russian writing on a film strip and they get their clue, which is a large film reel container. There is a photo on it, which is the Palace Square (the Music teams get a record with the photo on it), and that’s where the next clue box is.

Vicki tells us that the Music task was mentally challenging (although I think putting on her socks would be mentally challenging to her!) All the teams take their music to the maestro and are told “nyet” over and over again. Brook & Claire find a piece of film strip with the Russian writing on it also, and Michael & Kevin watch yet another team leave before them. They finally find the Russian writing and are off.

Thomas & Jill get to the clue box at the Palace Square which tells them to go to the town of Alexandrovskaya. They will follow a marked road to a neighborhood store for their next clue. Gary & Mallory are the first Music team to give up and go to the Cinema, followed soon by Nick & Vicki and Nat & Kat. Chad sees everyone leaving and asks Stephanie what she wants to do, and she wants to stay and finish this task. Gary & Mallory get to the film studio and Mallory tells her dad to say a prayer (because of course, God has nothing better to do than worry about some Amazing Race teams). Nat & Kat laugh at the studio that this could be the faster task as they sift through the mounds of film strips. Chad is getting frustrated and Stephanie isn’t putting up with it, saying “I’m trying to be positive.” Thomas & Jill are stopping at what they think might be a store, and end up playing charades while asking some locals where some marked signs might be to drive to. Brook & Claire catch the red and yellow arrows and get to the store to see some little old ladies and get a Roadblock: “Who’s ready for a Russian drag race?” Phil tells us that Russian women known as Babushkas do the farmwork. One team member will have to work in the field. They’ll have to dress as a Babushka and plant a row of 50 potatoes - but! They’ll have to fertilize with a “generous helping” of cow manure.

Brook takes off after putting on her dress and scarf and following the directions, finding her potatoes and wheelbarrow to fill with manure. Kevin decides to do the Roadblock since they “needed to catch up” until he found out he had to wear a dress, and then wished his dad would have done it. He looks really cute in his dress and Babushka! He manages to find the field before Brook and the ladies speak to him in Russian as they show him what to do: first dig a hole, shovel in some manure, drop in a potato, and cover it up. Kevin is repeating the words and learning Russian as he plants, although he’s stepping on his dress as he moves. Back at the Cinema, Nick hopes that Chad & Stephanie are still having problems with the pianos - and he’s right as they once again hear “nyet” from the maestro. Chad then decides that “we’re done. We’re screwed.” when Stephanie asks if he wants to switch. Sure, why not give up, that’s the best idea! Stephanie asks if that’s what he’s doing, is quitting, and Chad says “Yeah, we’re done.” Stephanie doesn’t want to (of course) and they run off to listen to another piano. Getting it wrong once again, Stephanie asks if he wants her to just do it herself, that she wants to stay and work it out together. Chad is having problems letting Stephanie take the lead and interviews later that he had to let her direct them, and whaddaya know? With her lead they get it right! Stephanie interviews that she will teach him to let her lead now and again.

Nat finds the correct film strip and she and Kat are off. Nick complains that they got there last and they’re the first to leave - “those girls have the best luck.” Thomas & Jill finally get to the store and Jill will don the babushka and farm. The Russian ladies are remarking what a good worker Kevin is and Brook finally finds the farm to start planting. We see Kevin planting away as a Babushka shouts encouragement to him, telling Kevin “come on, come on! I love you!” in Russian and Kevin is laughing and really moving - and interviews later that “I think I fell in love a little bit.” Brook is yelling that “I stepped in poo!” and wiping her hands on the ground while the Russian ladies get a good laugh.

Mallory manages to find a film strip and she and Gary run off and yell “good luck” to Nick and Vicki. Nick & Vicki decide to go back to the pianos because “we’re not quitters.” Kevin has finished his planting and with a kiss to his Babushka gets his clue which tells him to go to the next Pit Stop at St. Isaac’s Cathedral, which is the largest Russian Orthodox cathedral in the city and took 40 years to complete. Brook finishes her planting and Jill is planting away while the Russian ladies remark that “these skinny girls can do everything.” As Brook & Claire leave in the cab, Claire complains that Brook “smells ripe.” Thomas is complimenting Jill on how fast she completed the task (even though she didn’t go to college! Imagine that!) Brook & Claire’s cab has to stop for gas as Nat & Kat show up at the store and Nat will plant the potatoes. Chad & Stephanie get there and Stephanie will do the task, and as she’s looking for “Duck’s End” and the wheelbarrows, Nat sneaks by Stephanie with her wheelbarrow full of poo. Back at Music, Nick & Vicki decide to concentrate on one song at a time and find it much easier. Nick interviews that he promised himself and Vicki that he would never blow up like he did with the hoops-in-the-field challenge again. Amazing what one can do when calm and composed, because they sailed through and got their clue.

Michael & Kevin get to St. Isaac’s and can’t find Phil and the Mat and soon after Thomas & Jill show up and run around too. Michael asks Kevin a couple of times about the park across the street but Kevin nixes the idea of looking there, but of course that’s where Phil is! Thomas & Jill take off to the park and get to the Mat in first place, winning a trip to San Paolo, Brazil. After circling the whole cathedral, Michael convinces Kevin to look in the park and they see Phil, but not before Brook & Claire get to the Mat in second place.

Back at the farm, Nat is planting away, but Stephanie can’t find the wheelbarrows and the poop. Mallory catches up and spends a bunch of time looking for the wheelbarrows and Stephanie manages to see the sign to Duck’s End and gets there. Mallory asks numerous locals who don’t speak English and quacks at them to no avail. She asks a gentleman who lifts her over his fence and she thought she was in the right spot - but it turns out that he was asking her if she wanted to hang out and drink vodka with him. Kat finishes her planting and as she runs back for the clue, she passes Mallory who asks where Duck’s End is, and Kat tells her “wrong way.” Stephanie is shoveling poo and when she’s done, she tosses the shovel up onto the pile of poop so the next person (Mallory) would have to climb onto the pile to grab the shovel. She does, and as Mallory turns to leave, her shoe sticks in the pile of poop and her foot comes out of it. She runs with her wheelbarrow yelling that she has cow poop all over her.

Stephanie runs back to Chad who tells her “good job” but adds that she looks good in the getup and “we have to take home that babushka and let you clean the house in it.” (Smack him right now!) Mallory finishes and in the cab, as she looks at her poop-stained hands, she remarks that she would chew all her nails off, cow poo and all, not to get eliminated. Nat & Kat make it to the Mat in fourth place.

Nick & Vicki finally get to the store and with the clue saying “Russian drag race” Nick decides to do the task - and remarks that it was “a race with a whole lotta drag - more queen than cars.” He’s asking the locals where Duck’s End is and all they want to do is pose for pictures with the guy in the babushka.

Gary & Mallory find the cathedral and Chad & Stephanie are right behind them. After running around the cathedral, Gary decides to check the park as Chad & Stephanie drive up and decide to go to the park first. They beat Gary & Mallory to the Mat in fifth place. Nick is planting potatoes, saying he never thought he’d be “planting potatoes in Russia wearing a woman’s dress.” Nick & Vicki tell us that they’re proud of each other as they leave the farm in the cab, and are bummed that they’ll be eliminated. However! Phil tells them that this is a non-elimination leg and they’re still in the Race. Of course, with their mental capacity, that’s enough of a Speed Bump, but let’s see how they do in the next Leg!

Here is the order of finish:

1 - Thomas & Jill
2 - Brook & Claire
3 - Michael & Kevin
4 - Nat & Kat
5 - Chad & Stephanie
6 - Gary & Mallory
7 - Nick & Vicki

Next week, the teams have to join a circus for a bit and Michael has problems throwing sticks. Sounds exciting! Can Nick & Vicki get lucky and overcome their last-place finish? Or will their brains explode and hold them back? Check in next week!

A Non-Elimination Leg Saves Michael & Kevin

Leaving from the Ghana Market, Brook & Claire open the clue and find out they have to travel to Jamestown and find the Akotoku Boxing Academy for their next clue. The clue doesn’t say “boxing” but just “Akotoku Academy.” Sounds like our teams may be punching each other out!!! The clue is a Road Block: “You’ve got a rocky road ahead.” One team member must properly wrap their hands, then use the punching bag for 60 seconds and jump rope for 60 seconds. Claire says “If she has to get in the ring with one of those guys I’m afraid for the other guys.” Chad & Stephanie show up second and Stephanie tells Chad “I want you to box.” (Is she pissed at him and hopes someone knocks him out?) Katie & Rachel show up right after and Katie runs off to do the task. She and Chad try to follow the hand-wrapper (who isn’t doing it slowly or helping them at all). By this time, Brook has blasted through the challenge (she says they train at a boxing facility) and they’re off to find a Supply Depot in the Dodowa District for their next clue.

Jill & Thomas’ taxi driver has to stop for directions, and Connor & Jonathan are singing to their cabbie to “please drive faster” and “we love Sampson (the cabbie).” I imagine that would help, their singing is very good and it makes a tense situation a bit lighter - and the locals probably get a kick out of it. Nick & Vicki tell us that they are going to keep communicating because that’s the key to a good Race (sounds like they’ll be having communication problems later).

Chad and Katie are jumping rope, and Chad starts showing off and trips on his rope and has to start over, leaving Katie to get ahead of him. Chad tells us, though, that “she didn’t look as good as me doing it.” Kevin and Connor will do the boxing challenge, as will Thomas. Connor flies through the challenge and Kevin is slower because he can’t wrap his hands correctly. Mallory & Gary show up and Gary will do the challenge, as will Vicki. Where are our doctors? Nat & Kat are in the cab, after giving themselves the kiss of death by saying “a good cab driver can make up time and a bad cab driver can make you lose the Race.” They’re lost. They see Chad & Stephanie and Katie & Rachel behind them, and stop the cab to block them from going anywhere so they can ask where the boxing academy is. The teams tell them it’s behind them just to get moving again, and Nat & Kat tell their cabbie to turn around, but he refuses, saying “this way.” Again, the cabbie has to stop and ask directions. Mallory & Gary get ahead of Jill & Thomas and so do Nick & Vicki.

Brook & Claire’s cab gets held up by some yaks crossing the road and Connor & Jonathan urge their driver to pass them up on the road, getting to the supply depot first. The clue tells them to load up a wheelbarrow with supplies and take it to the Asebi D/A Primary School and deliver them to the foreman. If they deliver all the correct supplies listed on the clue, they’ll get their next clue. They have a ways to go down a pothole-filled road and Jonathan complains about the heat, but it seems they do the task quickly. The clue says “It’s time for a pop quiz.” Phil tells us it may be a challenge for the teams to figure out exactly where they are. They’ll have to go to a classroom and figure out African Geography. Connor makes the first guess on where Ghana is, and is wrong - and the kids laugh at him.

Brook & Claire read the clue: “Choose a pair of wheelbarrows and load them with construction supplies.” So what do they do? Grab ONE wheelbarrow and supplies. Back in class, after about 7 incorrect guesses, Connor finally gets Ghana right and gets their next clue. They tell the kids “Princeton is a good school, honest. There’s an African studies major.” Their clue is a Detour: Bicycle Parts or Language Arts. For Bicycle Parts, they must use a stick to roll a bicycle rim around the bumpy terrain down a soccer field and back without letting it fall. In Language Arts, teams choose a proverb with eight highlighted phrases. Each phrase has a symbol in a native visual alphabet. They must go to a large wall with symbols and find the proper symbols in the proper order to get their next clue. Connor & Jonathan will try Language Arts.

Brooke & Claire get to the foreman and find out they have to get two wheelbarrows - and they have to take all the stuff back and get the other one. Katie & Rachel get to the supply pile and argue about the wheelbarrows, with Katie reading the clue saying “choose a pair of wheelbarrows” and watching Michael & Kevin take off with one. “They only have one. Well, they’re idiots.” Brook & Claire are on their way back and don’t tell Michael & Kevin that they should have two wheelbarrows, just answering “yes” when asked if they forgot something.

And we see that Nat & Kat have definitely cursed themselves - their cab with a different driver is now overheating. He fiddles with the engine and they take off again.

As the teams near the Supply Depot, they see the teams already there walking with their wheelbarrows. Chad jokes “run ‘em over” but quickly tells the cabbie he’s just kidding. (Not really. But being the cause of a run-over-by-cab death on the Amazing Race would NOT be pretty). Michael & Kevin get to the foreman and find out the girls didn’t tell them what was wrong, and they too have to go back. Katie & Rachel missed the trowels, and have to go back to get them.

Connor & Jonathan are at the symbol wall and find their symbols in consecutive order. The student gives them their clue, which tells them to go to the Pit Stop which is the home of Awusa Ntso on a rural farm. Connor & Jonathan get to the Mat and are ecstatic to be first, and finding out that they won $5,000 each.

Brook & Claire get their clue from the foreman and go to the school, where Brook says we in America have beautiful schools, whereas the Ghana children just have a shack. Nick & Vicki get to the foreman and find out they brought two bags of cement instead of one. Nick tells Vicki “It’s fifth-grade reading.” He’s ticked. Mallory & Gary are correct and head off to the schoolhouse. On the way back, Nick is blasting Vicki, telling her she has no common sense. (That’s communicating, all right!) He says he’s pissed and he won’t get over it “until we see Phil and he tells us we’re not last.” Mallory tells us that seeing these kids makes her know “how good we have it.” Gary gets Ghana correct on the first try, and they decide to try Bicycle Parts. Mallory is having major problems getting her bicycle rim to move and Gary gets across the field right away. She complains that it’s hot and she’s watching the kids just run like it’s nothing. Another one, Mallory, asking Jesus for help on the Race (much more important than world hunger or war, of course!)

At the classes, Chad & Stephanie, Brook & Claire, Katie & Rachel and Jill & Thomas all get Ghana on the map correct on their first try. (Lucky those Princeton boys were far enough ahead, huh?) All four teams decide to try Language Arts. Brook & Claire see the eight highlighted phrases and also see eight schoolchildren playing, and decide to draw a circle around the kids - and all the other teams do it too. The kids aren't paying attention to the teams and Brook & Claire see the symbol wall and realize the kids have nothing to do with the paper. Jill & Thomas as checking the kids’ textbooks for the decoder key, walking right by the key map on the wall.

Kevin & Michael get Ghana correct on the first try and take off to do Language Arts. We see Gary finish his turn with the bicycle rim and Katie & Rachel show up to try it. Chad & Stephanie are frustrated and decide to switch tasks. Nick & Vicki tell us “we’re the dumbest people on earth” because the African map is full of country names - except for Ghana, which they can’t place correctly. Nat gets it on the first try.

Mallory & Gary get to the Mat in second place, and Gary is happy that “nothing broke down today.” Katie & Rachel, Nick & Vicki, and Chad & Stephanie are watching the kids to get the gist of the bicycle rims. Chad says that he loves kids - “everywhere you go in the world, children are amazing. They see the world in such an honest way, that nothing is bad out there.” He zips through the challenge without a problem, while Nick & Vicki are communicating - Nick by throwing the bicycle rim, complaining “This is so stupid” and telling Vicki to shut up. His tolerance level is a bit short today! Stephanie gets her two passes done, and they’re off to the Pit Stop, where they meet Phil in third place. Katie gets her two passes done, and Nick manages to get to one side of the field as Brook & Claire walk by the decoder map to switch tasks. Nat & Kat give up at the symbol wall and switch also. Katie & Rachel finish and get to Phil in fourth place. Nick is done, and Vicki is having major problems with her asthma between the heat and the running and the frustration. Nick then decided to calm down to help her out.

Back at the wall, Thomas & Jill both walk past the decoder key and go to the Bicycle Parts, as do Michael & Kevin. Funny, but now that Nick is being supportive and encouraging, Vicki manages to get through the challenge. He says later that he feels crappy for treating her that way - okay, Nick, brownie points, but don’t do it again! They get to the Mat in fifth place, with Brook & Clair right behind, and Phil tells them that tomorrow they will be going back to the school with the other teams to do some remodeling and give back to the community.

Nat & Kat finish ahead of Michael & Kevin, because Michael is out of breath and doesn’t think he can make it. Kevin is a good kid, telling his dad that even if it takes 30 minutes, he has to try to finish it. Michael is panting and saying he can’t go back. He’s having trouble breathing and getting dizzy from the heat and medics had to be called in. Michael is crying, saying “I didn’t do it” and apologizing, but Kevin tells him it’s okay. As Jill & Thomas get to the Mat, Michael decides that he’s going to show his son that they are a team and he’s going to finish what he started. In the meantime, we see Nat & Kat getting lost looking for the Pit Stop - I guess the editors are trying to make it look like a race to the Mat but I don’t see Michael & Kevin beating them...or will they? As they leave the task, Kevin asks “are you ready, dad? And he says “I’m ready to be eliminated.” There’s the dramatic music, and Nat & Kat make it ahead of Michael & Kevin. Phil tells them they’re the last team to arrive - but he doesn’t say they’re eliminated. Phil tells them they’re still in the Race because it’s a non-elimination Leg. They will have to do a Speed Bump in the next Leg, but they’re still racing!

So here’s the order of finish:

1 - Connor & Jonathan
2 - Mallory & Gary
3 - Chad & Stephanie
4 - Katie & Rachel
5 - Nick & Vicki
6 - Brook & Claire
7 - Jill & Thomas
8 - Nat & Kat
9 - Michael & Kevin (non-elimination leg)

We've now had a different team finish first for every Leg of the Race. Will any of them double up? Who's the next first-place team? Can Michael & Kevin get over the Speed Bump and stay in the Race? Find out next week!!!

Models, Cowboys and Brothers Will Race for the Million!

The Amazing Race is nearing its end! Four teams left before next week’s finale!

As the teams leave, we hear that Jet was hit on the side of the head by a hoof and ended up with a crushed skull - they weren’t sure he was going to make it. Cord stayed at his hospital bed the entire time. Cord says Jet is the strongest guy he knows, and that gives them a good shot at winning the Race. They take off and the clue tells them to find the Garden Bridge, which locals know only by its Chinese name (and they didn’t put it up on the screen and I have no clue what Phil said!) They ask some locals, and finally find one who directs them to the Park Bridge.

Brent & Caite leave next, and Caite says she still gets negative comments from her stupid answer in the Teen USA pageant. If she finishes in the final three it will “show the world that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to.” Except that her mind isn’t all there, so....

Jet & Cord get to the destination they were told to go to and see nothing with the Race colors, so they decide to find out from someone else. Brent & Caite get lucky and find a local to search it on her phone, and she finds out it is called Waibaidu Qiao. She writes a note and tells them to go by taxi. Jet & Cord ask a taxi driver who tells them he can get them there, then once moving tells them he doesn’t know where the address is.

Dan & Jordan are leaving and Dan says he did the Race just for Jordan’s dream (like we haven’t heard that 100 times already) but now he wants to win it for himself too. They also can’t find anyone who knows where the Garden Bridge is.

Brent & Caite reach the clue box, and their clue says they must go to the Longhua Temple for their next clue - but they cannot travel by taxi. Jet & Cord get there shortly behind. Brent & Caite get a map of the bus routes and she decides they have to take Route 3, and the bus driver confirms it. Caite says that “obviously I know how to read maps....and in China. So you people can go screw yourselves.” (I’m impressed). Jet & Cord ask their cab driver the best way to get to the Temple and he tells them by train, and the station is a kilometer away. Dan & Jordan meet a local and ask him about the Garden Bridge, and he’s Mr. Clueless. Dan has decided he hates China and will never be back because of the language barrier. Two hours after their start, they still have no idea where they’re going so they decide to go back and team up with Michael & Louie. Their strategy is never to be alone and in last place - and with Michael & Louie having a Speed Bump, this would allow Dan & Jordan to go ahead. Michael & Louie think they’ve “caught up” to Dan & Jordan after walking a bit from the Pit Stop, although they have to feel better about being close to another team. They go up to a higher point, and Michael uses his little telescope to see if he can find the Garden Bridge. Because he’s a detective, he can see things better than most people (don’t think it’s going to help you here, buddy!)

Brent & Caite get to the Temple and the clue box. It’s a Roadblock. Phil explains that the word “Arhat” means “one who has attained enlightenment.” The teams must count all the golden statues in the Arhat Hall (523). If they’re correct, they get a clue - if not, they must wait ten minutes before guessing again. Caite will attempt the task and tells Brent to leave her alone while she counts. Brent says this is a good task to show everyone that Caite is more intelligent than everyone thinks. (I’m thinking she’s gonna do something incredibly stupid this leg of the Race...otherwise what’s all this talk about Caite not being as stupid as we know she is?) Her first guess of 520 is wrong.

Michael & Louie and Dan & Jordan spot some jackets hanging on a street sign and decide maybe the clues are in the pockets. After poking through them they find they’re wrong - and I think they’re lucky they didn’t get arrested for going through someone’s pockets (although they were hanging on a public street sign). Jet & Cord are still walking and haven’t found the train station. Ciate guesses again, this time 522. So much for showing people how smart you are!

Michael asks to borrow a cell phone and calls the translation number. The phone number is in every cab and when one has problems telling the cab driver where to go because of the language barrier, they will find out in English and tell the taxi driver in Chinese. He gives the phone to a cab driver and Dan & Jordan tell their cab to follow Michael & Louie’s cab. Dan & Jordan are having fits because their driver isn’t following the other cab close enough, and the front cab gets through a light and they’re stuck behind. Louie comments how it’s nice to have the boys with them, and Michael looks back and says “they’re not with us any more.” Dan & Jordan are practically trying to crawl in the front seat of the cab, telling the driver to follow the green cab, and not getting anywhere.

Caite says the statutes started blending together into one big gold statue after awhile. She guesses 524 this time. Jet & Cord get to the Temple and pass right by Brent as they look for the clue box. They finally find it and Cord is the one who will attempt the count.

Dan & Jordan manage to catch up to Michael & Louie’s cab at the bridge and get the clue. Back at the Temple, Cord notices that there are two statutes standing up, not of Buddha, but re-reading the clue he sees he must count “all the gold statues.” He figures he should count those too, and it turns out that he’s correct and gets his clue. Caite comes out just behind him and manages to have the right answer as well, finally. The clue tells them they must choose a motorcycle and ride it to the Yuyuan Gardens and find their next clue. One team member rides on the back of the bike and the other in the sidecar. Jet laughs that riding in a motorcycle through China was something for a country boy like him, from a town with one stop light.

The Brothers and the Detectives go to a hotel and ask how to get to the Temple and are told how to get to the bus stop. Michael says if they were going by taxi they would ditch the Brothers and go on their way. Brent & Caite and Jet & Cord are having problems finding the Gardens, and Caite is being accosted by vendors asking if they want to buy things, and being snotty about it. Jet & Cord find the clue box and it's a Detour: Pork Chops or Pork Dumplings. For Pork Chops, they must go to a store which sells elaborate carved stamps, which are called “chops.” They must find a stamp with a pig and one with their name and turn them in for their next clue. In Pork Dumpling, teams go to a restaurant and pick up ten orders of dumplings and make their way through the market to deliver them to get their clue. Jet & Cord decide on Pork Chops and find the store rather easily and start looking through the stamps as Brent & Caite find the clue and pick the same task. Brent can’t even concentrate because he has to go to the bathroom really bad. Caite tells him to “just go” and Brent says Caite can’t look while he’s in the bathroom, so Caite tells him to just hold it. He tries to convince her to go with him to the rest room and she says “I’m not going anywhere.” (Nice girlfriend. Although that’s what got the female basketball players eliminated a couple seasons ago, when one of them had to stop to pee.)

The other two teams get to the Temple and Michael & Louie get their Speed Bump. They will have to perform a local good luck ritual by tossing a coin into an incense burner. They’ll be able to continue from there “hopefully with enough good luck to make up the time.” The incense burner is right by the Temple so they don't have to go far. Louie gets his coin in pretty quickly. Dan is the one who attempts the counting and Michael & Louie make short work of the coin toss and join the Brothers at the Temple to count statues. Louie is a “mathematical genius” and he’ll kick butt, according to Michael - and Jordan asks “so you’re calling my brother stupid?” Back at the stamp store, Brent is still complaining about needing to go to the bathroom, and not looking for stamps at all, telling Caite if they went to the bathroom he would be able to help. They started arguing and finally went down the hall to the bathroom.

Dan decided the best way to do things is to take your time and it would be done right, and gets it right on the first attempt. Michael is bummed as he watches them leave. They take off on the motorcycle and Jordan says “you have these glasses, a helmet, and gloves, I had to hang onto this Chinese guy .... okay I liked that part.” Louie comes out with a guess of 521 and has to wait ten minutes. Michael says it’s “tortuous.” Louie reads the clue again and realizes he forgot to count ALL the statues.

Cord finds his name on a stamp and shoves it in his pocket, not wanting Brent & Caite to know he found one thinking they’d be more motivated. Caite found Cord’s stamp and of course, doesn’t say anything. Brent finds his and says it’s huge, “just like everything else.” Louie comes out with the correct number of statues and off they go on the motorcycles. Brent finds the pig and they get their clue, telling them to find the next Pit Stop, the Riverside Promenade, a park overlooking Shanghai’s waterfront. Jet & Cord find their next stamp and manage to get a cab before Brent & Caite, and Cord tells the driver “rapido” and then shakes his head, saying he doesn’t know any Chinese. They see Brent & Caite trying to find a cab as they take off and hope it will get them ahead.

It looks like a race to the finish as Jet & Cord and Brent & Caite look around the Promenade for Phil and the Mat, and Brent & Caite get there first, where Phil stands with the world’s tallest man. He’s a herdsman from Outer Mongolia and is 7 feet 9 inches tall. Caite decides that she’s proved she’s intelligent. (Good for you, honey!) Jet & Cord are told they’re second, and plan to get a new belt buckle if they win saying “Amazing Race Champs.” (*rolling eyes*)

Dan & Jordan decide to try the Pork Chops and Dan finds Louie’s stamp. Michael & Louie get to the clue box and decide to try Pork Chops also. Dan & Jordan had about 20 minutes on Michael & Louie and Michael is feeling pretty good. Jordan is fussing that “this is impossible” and Dan tells him to stop complaining and keep looking. He doesn’t want to hear excuses. Dan finds his stamp and we see Michael using a flashlight looking at the underside of the glass shelves. Jordan finally finds his stamp and they get their clue and take off. They ask locals for help to find the Pit Stop location and get some girls to come with them to show the way. Michael finds Louie’s stamp and Louie finally finds Michael’s as Dan & Jordan take off in a cab. The Detectives can only hope that the Brothers get a bad cab, and it seems like they do - they say that their cabbie may not know where he’s going. “He seems to lack any real motivation to help us.” It looks as if both the cabs show up very close together, and we see both teams looking for Phil all over the Promenade. It’s Dan & Jordan who make it to the Mat in third and are told that they’re in the finals. Jordan says Dan is an unbelievable brother and they’re going to win the million dollars. Phil has to tell Michael & Louie that they’re out of the Race. Michael says there’s no one he’d rather do the Race with, and Louie says there were a couple of instances when they had to share a full-sized bed.

So it’s models Brent & Caite, cowboys Jet & Cord, and brothers Dan & Jordan in the finals for the million bucks. Who’s got the best shot? Are the models smart enough? Are the cowboys tough enough? Are the brothers determined enough? We’ll find out next week!

Noodles in the Cold and Puzzles on a Windy Day

Four teams left in the Race! They all leave from Singapore for the 10th leg. Dan & Jordan leave first, flying to Shanghai, China. They will have to taxi to the town of Zhujiajiao, which is the “Venice of China.” They will take gondola boats to their next clue box. Brent & Caite leave next, and Caite is happy she’s the last girl standing. Jet has a wife and a 17-month-old child, and Cord got engaged before he left, so they’re a little homesick. All the teams meet up at the airport and get to hear Caite tell the gripping story of how she U-Turned Carol & Brandy. (It was mesmerizing, I tell you!) Dan & Jordan interviewed that it was a stupid decision and based on personal reasons, and that Jet & Cord are much stronger competitors and they should have been the ones to be U-Turned. The first flight leaves at 12:55 a.m. and they’re all on the same flight.

Everyone grabs a taxi out of the airport - Michael & Louie get one that understands no English, and they’re following Dan & Jordan, whose cab stops to confer with Michael & Louie’s driver. Jet & Cord get to Zhujiajiao and Jet leaves his backpack in the cab (Cord takes his along, seems like the smarter move. I wouldn’t leave my worldly belongings unless I was positive I was coming back!) Brent & Caite get to the gondolas first and float down the channel. Brent, rocket scientist that he is, says he feels like he’s in “Sicily.” (Really, just get yourself a lobotomy and get it over with already!) Jet interviews that it was a “tranquil” ride and Cord has to have him explain the meaning of the word. (Brent & Caite are rubbing off on him!) In the meantime, Michael & Louie and Dan & Jordan are stuck with cabbies who cannot speak English and are lost. Michael says that he spoke to someone on the plane who said that 1/3 of the people speak English “But we met the other 2/3 right away in China.”

Brent & Caite get to the clue box first and the clue is a Roadblock. Phil tells us that noodles have been an important staple of China for 2000 years. They will have to go to a noodle house and learn how to make noodles by hand. Once they’ve made 1 kilo of noodles, the smallest man in the world, He Pingping, will give them their next clue. Caite thinks he’s “adorable” and Brent says he’s as large as Brent’s foot to knee. Caite and Jet start making noodles, and we see Dan & Jordan and Michael & Louie bemoaning their fates with the lousy cab drivers. They end up in some deserted place and find someone who speaks English and tells the drivers where to go. Jet realizes that sprinkling flour keeps the noodles from clumping and seems to be making good headway. The little guy has a cigarette in his mouth and it looks the size of a cannon. Caite is having mega problems with her noodles, and Brent says he’ll never ask to her make some homemade spaghetti. (*eyes rolling*) Jordan volunteers and Louie says he used to help his grandmother make pasta. (Kiss of death, I bet!) Jet is doing great and gets his pasta done, with “gentle hands” according to Jordan. Caite’s noodles keep clumping and she keeps getting “no, no” from the local in charge. In the cab, the Cowboys talk about the little guy’s cigarette, and say “apparently smoking will stunt your growth.” Louie gets 15 grams of good noodles and says “my Grandma is probably turning over in her grave right now.” The Cowboys luckily can go back to their cab so Jet is safe this time. Their clue tells them to go into the fashion house and work together. They will choose a model who has a sketch of a design. They will have to find all the pieces of the outfit from the many racks, and if the model is dressed correctly, they will get their next clue. They start looking through the racks...

And Caite finishes her noodles. Jordan is complaining that his hands are freezing and he’s not going quickly at all. Louie gets a big clump and Jordan asks “how did you do that?” Louie yells “it’s because I’m Italian!”

We see Cord seeing a model with a shirt that looks like his sketch and asks the model if he can have her shirt. (Had she understood English, he may have gotten clobbered). As their model gets dressed, they banter about how fashion conscious they are. Louie finishes his noodles and they yell “good luck” to Jordan as they take off. Jordan gets another clump of noodles done but he’s far from finishing and is getting upset. Dan goes over and gives his brother a hug and a pep talk, telling him “I know how hard this is, but you’re doing great.” You know Jordan’s hands are freezing, because we can see everyone’s breath. Jet & Cord find out their model is dressed incorrectly and go to pick another shirt, which is the right one so they get their next clue, which tells them to go to Hongkou Stadium for their next clue. Brent & Caite then get to the fashion house and Caite thinks it’s funny that they’re usually the ones getting dressed, not picking the fashions. Michael & Louie get their clue (which is right in front of the fashion house) and go wandering off looking for the building. Jordan finally gets done with his noodles and off the Brothers go to find the next clue box. Caite, after hating Carol & Brandy the whole Race for talking about a tiara, asks the model if she needs her tiara to help her change clothes.

Jet & Cord get to the Stadium and find another Roadblock. This is a first, having two Roadblocks on one Race - and the person who didn’t do the first Roadblock has to do this one. And Phil tells us “It won’t be easy.” They will have to take 96 cards and build a puzzle with them, working off of a little picture. They will then give the cards to people in the stands, and once the cards are flipped over, it will give a seat number where their next clue is hidden. Cord started laying the pieces out and says they all look alike. Jet says that Cord isn’t talented in everything, but he makes up for it in “try” and he’s glad Cord is his teammate. Brent & Caite get their model dressed correctly and head to the Stadium. Michael & Louie finally wander back to the correct place and laugh “what kind of detectives are we?” As they get their clothes together, Dan & Jordan walk in and Michael says “being a gay male, this is right up Jordan’s alley.” Michael & Louie are wrong and Michael yells “can we have a shooting challenge please?” They find out they’re wrong again. Dan & Jordan are wrong, also, and they realize that each model is wearing the other’s stockings. Michael & Louie’s model gets dressed first and they take off with Dan & Jordan right behind them. Michael complains that he’d like a challenge where they could “kick a door in” or “chase a crackhead.” Brent is making good headway over Cord, and the wind kicks up and starts blowing their pieces away. Cord starts taking clothes off to hold down his pieces, throwing his jacket and hat and shirt on top of them, then laying on them till the wind quits. Brent is getting pretty ticked and starts yelling to Caite “I was halfway done.” Cord interviews that “having a fit and kicking and screaming isn’t going to help.” The teams are using their backpacks to hold down the pieces as they build the puzzle. Cord gets done and passes out his pieces and they’re correct, because the readable answer is Section 20, Row 16, Seat 33 and there’s the clue! The clue tells them to go to the Shanghai Science & Technology Museum, which is the Pit Stop on this leg of the Race. Dan is building the puzzle like his Dad used to, getting the corners and border first, then the middle. Brent finally gets done and finds his clue. Michael is looking through the individual pieces trying to find them one by one, and getting fixated on finding one piece.

Jet & Cord make it to the Mat first, and poor Phil looks freezing. Speaking of which, the Cowboy brothers win a trip to Alaska. They’ve won three trips so far, and they both say they’re not going with each other. Brent & Caite are second to the Mat. The crowds at the Stadium are cheering their puzzle makers on, and Dan finishes his puzzle and runs off to get his clue. Michael is bumming and “not seeing this.” He’s not giving up, though. Dan & Jordan get to the Mat in third, and Jordan thinks the girls with Phil are cute. Michael is taking so long that the lights are on at the stadium. Louie says he’s sad, but he’s proud of his partner and gives Michael a hug after he finishes. They get to the Mat last, and Phil tells them that “you are the last team to arrive, and you are out.” (This gave me the hint that this was a non-elimination leg, or else the show just became Project Runway.) Phil smiles and says “...in the cold!” and tells them while they have a Speed Bump next leg, they’re still in the Race. He tells Louie, “don’t make me eliminate you.”

The show ends with “In memory of He Pingping.” The little guy obviously died, and after looking him up on Wikipedia, I found this:

He Pingping was, according to the Guinness World Records, the world's shortest man who was able to walk. He was admitted to a hospital on March 3,2010 in Rome, Italy after complaining of chest pains. He died on March 13, 2010 of heart complications. The Guinness World Records editor-in-chief, Craig Glenday, said that he was "an inspiration to anyone considered different or unusual." He measured 74 cm (2 ft 5 in) tall, and was the third child of a family in Huade county, in the city of Ulanqab in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. He had two sisters, one who stands at 7 feet tall. According to his father, He Yun, at birth He Pingping was small enough to fit in the palm of his parents' hands. When it became apparent the child was growing very slowly, doctors diagnosed the cause as the bone deformity osteogenesis imperfecta, which hinders normal bone growth and body height. His name "Pingping" means wine bottle. He was a chain smoker.

So here are the standings, getting pretty darn close to the end:
1 - Jet & Cord
2 - Brent & Caite
3 - Dan & Jordan
4 - Michael & Louie

So there is one more show before the finale on May 9th. Who will our last three teams be? They all seem capable (as long as there are no tasks needing brains for Brent & Caite).

Brent & Caite Don't Have to Worry About Those Mean Lesbians Any More! And the World is Right...

Many apologies for being late ... I didn't set my TiVo to tape longer and TAR started late, and the ending got chopped! Had to wait to watch the end online today....

The teams begin in Malaysia at a 100-year-old mansion. Jet & Cord leave at 10:02 a.m. They will travel by bus and train to Singapore to the Victoria Concert Hall and look for Allan Wu, who is the host of the Asian version of the Amazing Race, to get their clue. Carol & Brandy leave next, and their clue warns them that a U-Turn is on this Leg of the Race. (Uh-oh, will Caite get her wish to U-Turn Carol & Brandy?) They talk about working well together, which is a big turnaround from the way they started. Jet & Cord manage to get the first bus out of town. Dan & Jordan tell us they decided at the beginning of the Race that they wouldn’t “throw elbows” and they want people to like them. They end up on the bus with Brent & Caite and Michael & Louie, and ask who they would most want to U-Turn. Michael says “the girls, because they’re the most world-traveled.” Caite says they’re going to U-Turn the lesbians, and Dan asks if it’s because they’re lesbians (yay Dan - make her think! Oops, we’re talking about Caite, right? Sorry), and Caite says “no, it’s because they’re mean to me.”

Jet & Cord get to the train station and find out the train doesn’t leave until 9:30 p.m., and realize that all teams will be on the same train. On the train, Dan sees that it's not the cleanest, and uses a disinfectant wipe and is surprised at the filth on it. The train has no seats (at least where our teams are) but has sleeping bunks. As the train gets close to their destination, Michael & Louie and Brent & Caite are standing in the aisle as Carol & Brandy try to get through to get closer to an exit, but they stubbornly refuse to move to let them by. Brent says “ladies get through, bitches don’t.” (My, isn’t he obnoxious! Totally uncalled for. Then cosmic justice as Caite falls flat on her face outside the train station.) Jet & Cord and Brent & Caite have problems getting a cab outside of the train station, and Jet & Cord have the most trouble and end up leaving last. At the concert hall, the teams end up running inside looking for Allan Wu, but Dan & Jordan stay outside and find him relaxing and reading a paper and get their clue.

The Singapore Flyer is a giant ferris wheel (although Phil says it’s the “tallest observation wheel in the world,” and will be the Fast Forward on this Race. The team who attempts it will wait until their car is at the top (541 feet up), then have to leave it and walk across to another car next to it, then they’ll get the “Fast Forward Award” which will probably say “go to the Pit Stop.” Dan & Jordan decide to go for it, and it turns out to be a great move.

Michael & Louie go outside to look for Allan Wu as Jet & Cord show up, and the two teams get their clue as Brent & Caite and Carol & Brandy look through the building inside for Mr. Wu. The clue from Mr. Wu is a Detour, which entails an ethnic challenge - Pounding the Drums, or a more modern one: Pounding the Pavement. For Pounding the Drums, teams must go to Speakers’ Corner and learn a routine on traditional drums. Their drum teacher will let them know when they are ready and they will have to perform it correctly to get their clue. (And all I can see with this challenge are young, cute kids, so this may be interesting!) For Pounding the Pavement, the teams must go to a pedestrian mall (read outdoor square) and pick up supplies and 10 boxes of ice cream. They must then sell 25 ice cream sandwiches which they will make with wafers or bread (ick! Ice cream sandwiches with white bread?) - and ice cream - and the “ice cream uncle” will give them their clue.

All the teams except for Dan & Jordan head off for Pounding the Drums. Jet & Cord have problems getting the beat down but are having fun and laughing, and Michael & Louie aren’t doing much better. Carol & Brandy get a very young man and he’s not counting, so they go off to find another drum teacher who will count. Michael & Louie realize they’re way in over their heads (Michael says “I’m white as white can be - I have no rhythm.”) and decide to go try the Fast Forward - thinking that Dan & Jordan went to sell ice cream. Jordan gets to the giant wheel and finds out he has to wear a harness, and realizes that he’s not thrilled about the challenge. As they go up, Jordan tells Dan “maybe this is a good time to tell you I’ve discovered I have an intense fear of heights.” Michael & Louie get there and ask the elevator lady if Dan & Jordan are there already, and she says “you’ll find out when you get up there.” They’re bummed they can’t find out first. They get up to the floor and see a sign saying “Fast Forward in progress” and decide to go sell ice cream. As they get back to their taxi, they can’t find their driver - he’s in the bathroom. They’re bummed again but hey, cabbies gotta pee too!

Jordan is freaking out as they get to the top and Dan, ever the great brother, says “hey if you fall and die I love you.” We see Jordan getting out of the car and shaking as he crawls across. He keeps repeating "This is for a million dollars." I don’t see why he’s that scared - he’s all harnessed up and I’m sure the release they sign at the beginning of the Race doesn’t cover death from a challenge!

Back at the drums, Brent is having problems, and Jet & Cord aren’t doing all that well either. Carol & Brandy debate whether they can “get it” or not. Back at the wheel, Jordan gets to the other car and says that is the scariest thing he’s ever done, and he’s surprised he didn’t pee himself. He says he couldn’t do the Race with anyone but his brother. They finish the task and their clue tells them to go to the Pit Stop, which they can see from their perch - and Jordan says “Phil, we’ll be right there.”

Michael & Louie get their supplies of an umbrella, chairs, and their ice cream and find their cart. Louie yells “buy some ice cream from some crazy Americans!”

Jet & Cord are allowed to go by their teacher and hit the stage, drumming by some puppet-looking things and finding out they're pretty bad. Brent & Caite see Jet & Cord trying and decide they can do it while Jet & Cord go back to practice. Brent & Caite get through the routine and get their clue, which will make them figure out they have to go to Istana Park at the intersection of Penang and Orchard Roads.

Dan & Jordan make it to the Mat and Phil tells them they are team one, each of them winning a motorbike. They tell Phil that they won’t ever get on them, their mother would never let them ride the motorbikes. (What nice boys!)

Brent & Caite get to the clue box and find the U-Turn - which is not anonymous this time, they will have to put their picture on it to let the team know they are the ones doing the U-Turning. And, as Phil says “suffer the consequences of having their identity known.” Brent & Caite will U-Turn the Lesbians, because of a couple of comments about a tiara ‘way back at the beginning of the Race. Brent says “sometimes it is personal” and something tells me they need a bit thicker skin! (I'll have to watch the Elimination Station videos if Brent & Caite get eliminated next - might be some fireworks!) Back at the mall, Michael & Louie are trying their best to sell their ice creams and they convince their cabbie to buy the last ten to get them over the top. Carol & Brandy hit the stage to try their drumming and manage to get their clue...they have a surprise coming! Michael & Louie get dropped off at the intersection and miss the signs and decide they have to go one more block. Carol & Brandy get to the clue box and see they’ve been U-Turned, and say that Caite U-Turned them because Brandy “is prettier than she is.” They say Caite is an idiot, and on U Tube to prove it - “it’s stupid, and let’s face it, she hasn’t built a career on intelligence.” They toss insults Brent & Caite’s way, and end up calling them “Brent & Caite Gump” among other things. Michael & Louie get to the box and see the Lesbians have been U-Turned and say “great job, Brent & Caite.” (Sure, it’s not their ass on the line for the dirty deed!)

Brent & Ciate get to the clue box and it’s a Roadblock. One team member has to work the docks and inspect an enormous anchor chain. They have to count all the links in a chain (521). There is noise, with people banging on iron, someone yapping on a speaker, and Brent is getting aggravated and saying “shut up!” (Like they’re gonna listen to him). Jet & Cord finally finish the drumming and get their clue, while Carol & Brandy are back to sniping at each other as they gather the materials to sell ice cream. (It doesn’t look like they have a cooler for their ice cream, hopefully it isn’t mush by the time they get set up). Michael & Louie say that they “trained their little wolf cubs” and they’re happy that Brent & Caite U-Turned Carol & Brandy, because they convinced everyone that the Lesbians were a bigger threat.

Brent manages to get the correct number of chain links and gets his clue. They have to find Mega Zip on an island for their next clue. Carol & Brandy are barking at everyone to buy their ice cream sandwiches. Michael & Louie get to the docks and Michael will do the challenge - after he gets his pitch counter out of his bag. (I guess he umpires little league games, but what on earth would give him the idea to bring a pitch counter on the Race?) Jet is counting links and Carol & Brandy finish selling ice cream sandwiches and run back to the park.

Brent & Caite get their next clue and find out they have to do a zip line “above a jungle canopy” of Mt. Enbia. Carol & Brandy are still sniping at each other, and at Caite once they get back to the clue box with the U-Turn picture on it. Brent & Caite have a great time on the zip line, and their clue tells them to find the Marina Barrage across town, which is the Pit Stop.

Michael gets the correct number of links, but since he didn’t grab the clipboard, he has to go back and get it and submit his number. Jet goes to the supervisor and gets the number right on his clipboard, and just beats out Michael for the clue. Michael & Louie’s cab had taken off and they try to steal Carol & Brandy’s, telling the driver “they said it was okay” and “they’re very mean, they’ll just be mean to you” but the driver wouldn’t budge. After searching a bit, they offer a woman $20 American money to take her cab, and she accepts.

Brent & Caite find the Mat and Phil, who mentions that they used the U-Turn. Caite gives her whine about how “mean” Carol & Brandy have been to her, and Phil says “looks like they picked on the wrong team.”

Carol & Brandy finish counting (and every team got the right number the first time...I’m surprised!) and find out from their cab driver that the Detectives tried to steal their cab. Jet & Cord are having fun going down the zip lines, and they’re not wearing their hats! I thought a cowboy never takes his hat off, boys! They make it to Phil at the Mat in third place, where Phil teases them about their drumming, saying “I heard it was pathetic.” Jet says “the closest we’ve come to playing a musical instrument is a radio.”

The editors are making it look like Carol & Brandy have a shot at getting ahead of Michael & Louie. They arrive at the park at what looks like pretty much the same time and Carol & Brandy seem to be right on their heels at the zip line. Michael tells Louie he has to step it up and hurry, and Louie, panting all the way, says he’s trying. BUT after the zip line ride, Louie sees the beautiful girl giving out the clues and beats Michael to her - I guess all Michael has to do to get Louie moving faster is to have a gorgeous woman run ahead of him!

Carol & Brandy complain some more about Brent & Caite as they ride toward the Pit Stop, and it looks like they get to the Pit Stop as Michael & Louie do - but Michael & Louie get fourth place and Carol & Brandy are eliminated. Brandy tells Phil “there’s no reason they should have U-Turned us. There were two other teams that did consistently better than us. Dumb did us in.” Carol adds that they’ll get over the bad day and "enjoy the richness of the experience - and then I’ll translate that into first grade language for Caite.”

So, after all the back-and-forth sniping from Carol & Brandy at Brent & Caite, and Brent & Caite at Carol & Brandy, and Carol at Brandy and Brandy at Carol, do you think like I do that Brent & Caite used a tool to their advantage and got rid of a good team? Or should they have U-Turned the Detectives or Cowboys? We’re down to four teams (and one girl) - who’s got the best shot? We’ll find out next week!