They Don't Call It the Amazing Race for Nothin'
The 17th season of the Race around the world started out last night with the eleven teams coming into shore on lobster boats in Gloucester, Massachusets, America's oldest seaport - and the teams are:
Brook & Claire - home shopping hosts from Reno, Nevada. They think they'll do well because they're great communicators, manipulators and they could sell ice to eskimos.
Chad & Stephanie - They've known each other for 8 months and have recently bought a house together - (wow) they say their whole relationship has been moving quickly - Chad tells us he's going to ask her to marry him on the Race.
Katie & Rachel - Beach Volleyball partners from New Jersey - they've been teammates for 5 years, they're smart, tough, athletic and don't have a problem being bitches.
Connor & Jonathan - Ivy League a capella singers - they say tenors are known to be manly, bad-asses (smart asses is more like it - but they seem to have good sense of humor, I think they'll be fun.)
Nat & Kat - Doctors/friends - they're used to stress and sleep deprivation, they are a team of nerds and proud of it.
Michael & Kevin - Father & Son and internet sensations - Michael's an immigrant and Kevin is first generation American so he documents their culture clash and puts it on YouTube.
Nick & Vicki - Tattooed bikers from Las Vegas, want to show people not to judge a book by its cover.
Ron & Tony - best friends, actors, met doing The Wiz - the race has been Tony's dream and Ron wants to help him achieve it.
Jill & Thomas - Dating couple from California, he's competitive and outspoken and she want to prove to him that she can do this.
Gary & Mallory - Father & Daughter - she's Miss Kentucky, he's raised her as the son he never had, hunting and fishing - she says she's used to getting what she wants.
Andie & Jenna - Recently re-united biological mom & daughter - they're getting to know each other on the race, this is their time together.
Phil tells them there will be a new element on the race this year - the first team to check in at the first Pit Stop will receive an Express Pass - it can be used at any time before or during a task they don't want to complete and they can bypass the task and go on to the next clue. The other thing he tells them is that there are two flights heading out for their first destination but there are only 3 spots on the first flight and it is scheduled to arrive 1/2 hour before the second. GO!
They run to their packs and the first clue tells them they are heading to London, England then on to Stonehenge to get the next clue. They are all off in their Smart cars.
-Ron & Tony say one of their strengths in navigation, they have a compass and head south.
-Thomas seems like a jerk - he tells us what college he went to and thinks his education will help him and I get the impression he's held that over his girlfriend's head because she didn't go to college she wants to prove to him she can do this. (See, seems like a jerk.)
-Andie & Jenna - Bio-mom and daughter- this is the first time they've been in a car together - I'm sure we're going to be hearing a lot of that - This is the first time we've ___ together. We get it. Jenna gets to see if bio-mom can drive.
-Connor & Jonathan - end up on the wrong side of town - Jonathan says he hopes they make it out of the States.
-Brooke & Claire miss parking lot turn off or they would have been first to the airport. Ron & Tony make it first followed by my team - Chad & Stephanie. Jill & Thomas are the next in the lot, she says they're third and he's Negative Nelly, "I wouldn't bet on that." (Grr, he bugs me.) Volleyball team is next, they decide to try for the first flight anyway, eventhough already 3 cars there (2nd flight is another airline).
-Mallory & Dad get there - she is just way too chipper - Brook & Claire (shopping girls) get on same shuttle and all the girls are shrieking for the driver to take off before Nat & Kat (the doctors) get on - They're all so Excited!
-Ron & Tony are the first on the first flight.
-Chad & Stephanie (my team) get in the regular line to check in (Nooo!)
-Jill & Thomas are second on the first flight.
-Someone who works at the airport tells Chad & Stephanie they're at the wrong counter - they start running.
-The volleyball girls get there and are also running... but Chad & Stephanie make it to the counter and are 3rd on the first flight (Phew!)
-All the other teams are getting to know each other as they're getting their tickets. The volleyball girls tell Mallory (Miss Kentucky) that they've been calling her Sunshine - she loves that (she's so smiley and giggly - it fits.) They all realize the green team - the singers - aren't there yet - someone says Jonathan looks like Harry Potter (kinda) and they've been calling them Team Glee (haha - cause of the singing - I like it.)
-Of the first three teams in the other lounge, Ron & Tony and Chad & Stephanie are talking and friendly - Thomas & Jill are off by themselves shooting dirty looks already - did I say I think Thomas is a jerk?
-Team Glee finally shows up and while everyone's glad to see them they have now been discounted as a threat by everyone and the shopping girls say they know not to follow them.
-First flight takes off and they're all gunning for the Express Pass - the second flight takes off and they are all hoping the first 3 mess up so they'll get ahead.
-First flight lands and Jill & Thomas are the first out - Thomas tries to get in the wrong side of the car - Ah, they may speak English but you have to drive on the wrong side of the road.
-Tony & Ron say their first stop will be to buy a map. Chad & Stephanie, she's driving, also tried to get in the wrong side of the car - then the driving a stickshift with the left hand is really weird.
-Tony is the big boy and he's well educated which he'll downplay in the race (uh, okay.)
-Stephanie doesn't like Chad cussing and yelling at her, she says he used to play football so he gets intense but she doesn't like it.
-2nd flight arrives - Brook & Claire (shopping girls) first out - Claire tells us Brook is one of those people who's just good at everything - has to drive a stick shift left handed - no problem, she just does it.
-Nat (doctor) is a Type 1 diabetic, she's got to prick her finger and check her blood sugar while driving - she's on an insulin pump so she'll have to make sure to take care of herself on the race.
- Everyone is having trouble with the roundabouts. Ron & Tony got a map but they've still ended up going in the wrong direction.
-Bio-Mom hasn't driven a standard in years and with the stickshift on the wrong side she's having major trouble - burning out the clutch. She kills the car in the middle of traffic. The Glee team was right behind them and Connor tries to help her get the car stared/moving but he can't - they take off - Andie realizes that she has to take her foot off the clutch... Ahhh, there they go.
-Nat & Kat (the doctors) are the first team to make it to Stonehenge (and they were on the second flight - everyone is lost) - the clue tells them to find the Castle that is the opposite of NorEaster - they need to figure out they're looking for the Eastnor Castle - where they'll find their next clue.
-Jill & Thomas are the next to arrive and he's pissed someone from the second flight beat them - then Brook & Claire get there right behind them and he's even more mad. They don't greet any of them.
-Docs ask a local what the clue means, he tells them it's probably Eastnor castle, Jill & Thomas ask to use the internet and find Eastnor Castle and the volleyball girls are there too - glad they caught up.
-The Docs and the Shopping girls team up to find Eastnor castle when they both stop at a gas station to ask for directions.
-Volleyball girls get stuck on a hill, having troubles with the standard- hill-starts are tricky - Rachel gets out to push and Katie guns it and takes off without her...
-Ron & Tony are still lost - they're finally asking directions.
-Sunshine & Dad and the Glee Team get to Stonehenge and get the clue.
-Bio-mom & Jenna and Stephanie & Chad get there - Chad, "I guess we're not third anymore." Ya think? Try 8th.
-Nick & Vicki and Kevin & Michael (father/son) get there - Ron & Tony are still lost.
Eastnor Castle - Jill & Thomas are the first there and get the clue - Storm The Castle.
-They have to climb a wall at Eastnor Castle (up a wide ladder) guarded by a mob of peasants that shout and dump buckets of dirty trough water on them. Once they get up the wall they have to retrieve a flag from the battlements then travel across the moat in a medieval round boat, on the other side they take their flag to the knight in shining armour that matches their flag and will get the next clue.
-Brook & Claire are the first up the wall, Jill & Thomas right behind then Nat & Kat - they all get their flags and head to the moat/boats.
-Mallory & Dad get a flat tire - the Glee boys were again right behind the car in trouble, they decide not to wait though and head out - Gary gets the tire changed but he's worried how far they'll be able to go on the donut.
-Back at the moat, they all jump in the boats.... and promptly sink. They all have to start over, and over, and over.
-Stephanie & Chad and the Volleyball girls get to Storm the Castle, the volleyballers are calling Stephanie Tinkerbell (pixie hair cut.)
-Ron & Tony finally get to Stonehenge - and they lose most of their confidence - can't believe this is happening to them (it's because they said their strength was navigation, they jinxed themselves.)
-First 3 teams make it across the moat by slowing down and concentrating on balance in the round boats.
-Chad & Stephanie get to the boats after the others are gone - he's all football, testosterone, "We're going to kill this." They jump in the boat and promptly sink, again and again and again - Bicker, bicker, bicker.
-Bio-mom is lost - Nick & Vicki (the tattooed duo) also lost - and of course Ron & Tony have no idea where they are - everything starting to look the same.
-Jill & Thomas get to their knight and get the clue to the Roadblock - one team member must ride out with the knight who will take them to a medieval slingshot where they'll have to launch watermelons at a suit of armour until they knock it over - once that's done they'll get the next clue from the court jester. Thomas is going to do the task for them.
- Claire grew up around horses so she's going to do this taks for the shopping girls - and if anyone has been on the internet in the past two weeks - you know this task doesn't go so well for Claire...
-And Nat is doing the shooting for the doctors. They get started and they're all having trouble finding the range.
-Team Glee is storming the castle.
-Stephanie & Chad are still sinking in the boat - its their 12th attempt (ouch.)
-Volleyball girls are b*tches, making fun of everyone.
-Thomas is the first to hit the suit of armour - they get the clue to search the grounds for the Pit Stop! Thomas sees a knight in the trees and they head over and find Phil & the Mat right away. Jill & Thomas are team #1 and they win the Express Pass.
-Nat is the next to knock over her armour. They get the clue and are 2nd to the Pit Stop.
-Volleyball girls get to the slingshots. Kevin & Michael (father/son) are storming the castle.
-And there is it! Claire pulls back on the slingshot and the watermelon shoots out backwards and nails her right in the face - OMG! That would hurt so much! Everyone is just shocked, Brook consoles her and they give her a little time to recover but Brook tells her she has to finish - Are you kidding me? "They don't call it the Amazing Race for nothin'."
-The Nerds (Team Glee) float right past Chad & Stephanie and it just pummeled Chad - he couldn't believe nerds could beat the big football star (I say it's karma baby.)
-The Volleyball girls are impressed with Claire getting back in there and finishing the task- she's one tough cookie, "Okay, she can hang." (Like she'd want to with you two.)
-Claire finally hits the suit of armour and Brook is a great teammate, she's so proud, gushing, telling everyone she got hit in the face - Claire, deadpan, "I can't feel my face." (Hahaha - I can't help it, I laughed out loud.)
-Connor is the next to hit the armour - Volleyball girl next - they all start running for the Pit Stop behind Brook & Claire.
-Chad & Stephanie finally made it across the moat and he is flinging the watermelons.
-Mallory & Gary just get to the castle - she's so excited to be storming the castle (She's just SO EXCITED)
-Michael & Kevin (Dad/Son)- trying to get across the moat - sinking over and over and over.
-Andie & Jenna still can't find the castle - finally get a map that has the castle on it. They say they just don't want to let each other down - this may be their only time together.
-Tattooed duo is also still lost - Vicki thinks they may be last but, nope, Ron & Tony are still out there - somewhere - they have no idea where they are still/again.
-Chad knocks down the armour and gets the clue to search the grounds for the Pit Stop - he guarantees it must be on the other side of the castle and they take off running in the totally wrong direction - (Noooo.)
-Gary & Mallory get to the moat and see Kevin & Michael still struggling with the boat. Gary says, "They looked like a couple of carnies in a dunk tank." Gary & Mallory get in the boat and off they go. They make it across, in one go, totally dry. Kevin is telling the camera, "once we figured it out" and Dad cuts in, "we didn't figure it out, the other team went by..." (at least he's honest.)
-Chad & Stephanie are still wandering around the grounds - Chad, "This is the stupid." (No, you are.)
-Andie & Jenna are storming the castle - they thought going up the ladder, this is easy, then they got hit with the cold water...
-Nick & Vicki finally get to Eastnor castle and storm up the wall - then they don't know what a battlement is so they can't find the flags... (They're not really showing us not to judge a book...)
-Gary is doing the slingshot and Mallory is enchanted with the Jester, "Oh, I wish I could juggle on a ball." (If they ever want to distract her, just show her something shiny.)
-Nick was even touching one of the flags, Is this it? YES! They finally figure it out, Vicki swears they're not that dumb.
-Chad & Stephanie are still running around the castle looking for the Pit Stop (it's not inside, dummies.)
-Nick & Vicki head down to the moat but can't find the boats now - do we have to go over to the other side and get one? (They ARE that stupid.) Finally they see the round things and realize..."We're morons."
-Jenna is doing the slingshot for her and Bio-mom.
-Nick & Vicki are sinking in the moat.
-Ron & Tony finally get to the castle and start storming up the wall.
-Chad & Stephanie are still wandering the grounds. (Grrr.)
-Gary & Mallory finish the melons and Kevin & Michael are right behind them.
-Jenna hits the suit of armour and Nick & Vicki finally make it across the moat - he's doing the slinging.
-Ron & Tony get to the moat and sink, over and over and over again.
Here's How They Finished:
1) Thomas & Jill - unfriendly jerk won the Express Pass.
2) Nat & Kat (doctors) - I really like this team, they're smart, tough and efficient.
3) Jonathan & Connor - Jonathan slips on the mat and lands on his butt - shouldn't have run past the girl that got hit in the face... instant karma.
4) Brook & Claire - They say to the camera, we were right in position to come in first - then the watermelon got us - hahaha - at least they're laughing about it.
5) Katie & Rachel - volleyball b*tches
6) Gary & Mallory - (Father/daughter) get there same time as...
7) Michael & Kevin - (Father/son) - and they said these old guys couldn't do anything.
8) Chad & Stephanie - finally find the mat - Chad had a very humbling day - realizes the arguments will affect them negatively and thinks they'll grow on the race.
9) Andie & Jenna - Bio-mom and daughter
10) Nick & Vicki - Phil asks them what country they're in - Vicki says London. Phil, "Yes, you're in the country of London." He's so dry, and a little mean... He asks them if they know what place they're in and Nick says 10th, he counted the cars. She's surprised and so happy to still be in the race.
11) Ron & Tony ***ELIMINATED*** Ron said he just wanted to help his friend live his dream of being on the Amazing Race (didn't do so hot there). They are both very appreciative of their friendship this won't change a thing.
So, with Ron & Tony leaving so soon, Sandy G, Ozzy R, Elaine & Kevin R, Laura H and Susan N. are out of the pool. At least now you get to root for whomever you'd like :)
Have a great week everyone,
Coleen
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