Monday, February 21, 2011

The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business - Premiere Episode Recap - Feb 20, 2011

Head Down & Hold On (Australia)

The returning 11 teams of favourites embarked on their second chance to win the Amazing Race from a wind farm in Palm Springs, Ca.  The teams are:
-Jet & Cord - Brothers who were cut in front of by the eventual winners at the Shanghai airport - Jet says, I don't think we should have to cheat to win the race and I don't think nice guys should always finish last. (I love these two - and I'm not just saying that because I have them in the pool ;)
-Margie & Luke - mother and deaf son - they were on the brink of winning it all only to be tripped up on the last task.  Luke felt so bad for letting his mom down - he wants to make up for his past mistakes. (As I recall, he got frustrated and gave up.)
-Amanda & Kris - recently engaged - U-Turned by Margie & Luke in Siberia (still only a vague recollection of these two.)
-Flight Time & Big Easy - Flight Time says, Last time we were on the race, Big Easy got us eliminated. (Ha! true dat.) As Harlem Globetrotters they're used to winning and are ready to carry on the winning tradition... and Big Easy says, We're easy on the eyes too, I'd watch me for an hour. (Humble too, I see.)
-Mel & Mike - Father & son - broke off from the pack in Thailand and that was their undoing.  Mel is 70 now so watch out - he's coming on strong (Let's hope he doesn't break a hip.)
-Kent & Vyxsin - dating goth couple who self-destructed in Italy - they are looking forward to redemption - The Pink & Black Attack is Back! (I like these two, I'm glad to see them back again.)
-Gary & Mallory - father and daughter - lost their way last season in Oman.  Mallory said she's almost more excited about running the race again than she was about Miss America. (But she's SO EXCITED about everything.)
-Kisha & Jen - Sisters - took an untimely potty break steps from the Pit Stop in Beijing and were eliminated. Jen learned not to drink 4 bottles of water ont he way to the Pit Stop. (I hope they learned to be better sports as well.)
-Zev & Justin - Best friends - conquered by their own carelessness in Cambodia when they lost one of their passports - No way is Justin losing his passport again! (I liked these two, too - hopefully they can keep it together this time.)
- Ron & Christina - Father & daughter - were eliminated in Alaska when Christina got stuck on a task - they still have the goal to be the first parent/child team to win - (We'll see if he blames everything on her again.)
- Jaime & Cara - Former NFL Cheerleaders - Jaime says, you either hated us or you loved us (I hated them) but they made it to the final 3 last time around. (I read that Jaime, the one with the super brassy red hair this time, is now a Playboy Playmate - somehow I doubt that will improve her horrible attitude.)

Phil welcomed them all back and let them know there would be some changes this time around - first - the winner of the first leg of the race will win an Express Pass - which will allow that team to skip any task they don't want to complete.  Second, there is no clue waiting on their bags for them - Phil has the clue.  They will have to search through a field of paper planes on stakes to find what he needs.  The first 8 teams to bring him what he needs will be on the first flight out, the remaining teams will be on the 2nd flight which lands 90 minutes later - Also, the last team to complete this first challenge will receive an automatic U-Turn - they will have to complete both tasks in the first Detour.  Obviously, 2nd chances don't come free.
-Phil tells them what he needs: Queensland & Northern Territories Aerial Services (and I think they're told it starts with Q and ends with S) - It's Quantas.
-They all run out to the search field and it seems like a lot of them have no idea what they're looking for - you'd think Gary would know, he's a pilot isn't he? - Kris & Amanda and Ron & Christina grab the first flags planes they find and run back - but they're both wrong.
-Mel & Mike, Zev & Justin, Jet & Cord are the first 3 back with the correct answer - Quantas - they get the clue to fly to Sydney, Australia.
-There are a couple more wrong guesses but Kent & Vyxsin, Ron & Christina, Flight Time & Big Easy, Margie & Luke and Jaime & Cara are the next 5 that make it on the first flight.
-Kisha & Jen are the first team on the 2nd flight - Kris & Amanda and Gary & Mallory still seem like they have no idea what they're looking for... Finally they all figure it out - grab the Quantas planes and run for Phil - Gary & Mallory get there first which means Amanda & Kris are the last team and they are U-Turned again! (That's what eliminated them last time.) 

The first flight heads out - and the first 8 teams are all saying how glad they are they'll have a lead - when there is a medical emergency on the flight and they have to divert and land in Honolulu.  Justin & Zev think it sucks, now instead of racing for first they're trying not to be last - Big Easy has his heart in the right place - the most important thing is the man's okay.

Once the teams arrive in Sydney, they'll make their way by train to Sydney Harbour where they'll catch the ferry to Oceanworld to get the next clue.
-The second flight arrives at 10:20am - all three teams get on the train and Mallory tells them that the stewardess guy told her the other flight had to land again - that makes them the top 3 - Aren't you excited? (She squeals at Jen) who says, No, I think you're a liar (she jokes back.)  Mallory is shocked at first - then says, You've been to Kentucky before, you know we don't lie there.
-The frist 3 teams get on the ferry for Oceanworld.

-The first flight lands at 10:47am - the 8 teams race for the trains and 5 make the first train - leaving Ron & Christina, Mel & Mike and Jet & Cord how the bottom 3 teams. (Oh come on, cowboys, put some pick up in your giddyup!)

-The first 3 teams get to Oceanworld and get the clue - Who's Ready to get Tanked?
-Roadblock - one team member will scuba dive in a million and a half gallon tank of sharks and sting rays looking for a compass at the bottom.  Once they get the compass (which is quite large, almost hubcab sized), they have to get out of the tank and find a string of nautical flags outside and use the compass to decifer a message spelled out in the flags (they correspond to letters & numbers on the compass.)  The message is really long - tells them where to go, who to see and a phrase to say to him (I'm between the devil and the deep blue sea.) I predict this is going to mess some people up.  (So far, it seems like they are stepping up the difficulty this season - should be interesting.) 
-Mallory's going into the tank. 
-Kisha says she's going to do it - and they recap the sister's poor showing in water before - Jen says - Not to fulfill any stereo-types because we're African American, but, no, we can't swim. (Still? I would have thought they'd take some lessons before coming back on the race.)
-Oh yeah, and Amanda & Kris are there - already forgetting about them.  She is going in the tank.
-The non-diving team members get to walk through a glass tunnel and can see them in the tank - it looks so cool.  Kisha is not enjoying the diving but she does okay.

-The next 5 teams are on the ferry heading to Manly - Vyxsin says Kent will fit right in. (Hahaha - yeah, manly is the last way I'd describe Kent.)

-Mallory is the first to find a compass, Amanda is right behind her.

-Mel & Mike and Ron & Christina get to the ferry terminal but the Cowboys head off in a totally different direction (what the...?) The cowboys end up missing the ferry so they are now all alone, in last place. (I bet everyone who was hoping got this team in the pool is glad they didn't get them right about now.)

-Mallory is now outside deciphering the flags, Amanda joins her.

-The next 5 teams from the ferry get there and they start choosing who's going in the tank - Margie, Flight Time, Vyxsin, Cara & Justin.  Kent says it was a visual delight seeing vyxsin in the tank - she's like a pink little mermaid in there (but she's starting to struggle with the diving.)

-The next 2 teams get there - Christina and Mel are going to do the diving.

-Mallory finishes deciphering the message and they head out - Amanda is still there and Kisha comes out and starts working on it too.  (I just gotta say, the first flag was a red diamond on a white background and they all called it a triangle - it has 4 sides - not a TRI-angle...)

-Justin, Margie, Flight Time, Cara - all get a compass.

-Cowboys finally show up and Jet's heading in.  He says he's from Oklahoma, he doesn't do water - doesn't even take baths. (but he does well.)

-Mallory & Gary get to the sailing club and get the next clue - to join the crew of a 16ft skiff and help sail across the water of Manly Bay.  They have to find a buoy with clues attached and grab one while harnessed to, but leaning off, the side of the boat. (That looks awesome!)

-Other teams are finished in the tank and Kisha & Amanda are still there.  Cara & Margie are teaming up again(?) (I don't remember them being friendly before but apparently they have a bond from the last time they were on the race and Jaime tells us she really does care about them - Uh huh, we'll see if that lasts.)

-Big Easy can't find the flags (luckily he's not the one that has to do this word puzzle task) and they are right behind you.

-Gary & Mallory are the first to the clue buoy and he hangs out and grabs one.  They both get to ride on the outside on the way back - Whooo!
-Kisha & Jen and Amanda & Kris get the clue from the sailor guy to join the crew - the clue says you may not swim to the clue and Jen says Hallelujah! (Oh, you know they're going to make her swim at some point.)
-Amanda & Kris get the clue and she says the race is so much better than last time. (I think she's liking the amped up location and tasks so far - we'll see if she's still feeling that way after the first leg.)

-Everyone has now got a compass in the tank - but Vyxsin is the last one in there - she's terrified and having problems breathing properly with the scuba tank.  She said she had to make herself think of family - Kent's father recently passed away and thinking of doing it for him allowed her to focus enough to get out of the tank. (Methinks Kent will be doing any future diving tasks.)

-Gary & Mallory open the clue to the Pit Stop - Shelly Beach - one of the hottest surfing spots in Sydney.  Phil is wearing a spiffy outback hat... Nice.

-Gary & Mallory and Kris & Amanda are running for the beach but Gary & Mallory are the first team - they win the Express Pass... BUT... Phil tells them they are not done yet - they are still racing and he hands them their next clue.  WHAT??  They rip it open and find out they are headed for the Outback.
-Amanda & Kris are second - here is your next clue and remember you are still U-Turned (I don't think they've forgotten that Phil.)

-The other teams are getting to the sailing club - Margie & Cara got the phrase wrong - They say "I am the devil and the deep blue sea." (Huh, how do you miss a word as long as between? I guess they don't know that expression either.)  But instead of taking off back to the flags they hang around to try and overhear the next team (and cheat - that leaves a bad taste in my mouth.)
-Flight Time didn't finish deciphering the message but they didn't want to be left behind so they took off after the other teams. (Huh?)  They get to the sail club and see Zev & Justin suiting up to go on the boat - Big Easy yells over to them asking what the phrase is and Justin tells him -(Really?)  Justin says they're the Globetrotters, they're my boys.. and now they owe us. (I don't think I would have done that - I'm too competitive and why should they get to proceed without doing the work.)

-Margie & Cara are lurking but Flight Time whispers the phrase to the guy to get the clue - they can't hear it so they decide they better go back to the flags.  (I'm a little disgusted with all of them right now.)
-As they head back Margie and the Redheads try to get Justin & Zev to tell them the phrase too - Justin says no, I've already helped one team.  Justin tells us he doesn't know those teams from a hole in the wall, pretty easy to say no to them.

-Zev sails every Thursday morning at 8am so he's got no problems on the boat.
-Big Easy on the other hand is a very big man - 16ft is not a big enough skiff for him - luckily the Globetrotters found their balance and they didn't 'need a bigger boat.' ;)

-Back at the flags, Ron & Christina and Mel & Mike head off with the phrase and run into Margie & Luke coming back - Margie's trying to get the phrase from them - Mel is not giving it up but Christina says, you show us where it is and we'll all say it together. (I still think they should have to find it themselves but I guess they're kind of bartering for it.)

-Vyxsin & Jet are the last 2 working on the puzzle - Kent is telling her to hurry up so they just go (again, what?)  Jet doesn't finish it either, gets the first line telling them where to go so they take off (Really? The pressure of being at the back of the pack is scrambling all their brains I think.)

-The Cowboys get to the right place but have no phrase to tell the guy so he won't give them the clue.  They head back to the flags.

-Kent & Vyxsin see Margie & Luke getting ready to get on the boat and they ask her the phrase and she tells them - She says she's willing to help teams they think they can beat at the finish line.

THEY'RE ALL JUST A BUNCH OF CHEATERS!

-Cara & Jaime's boat flips over - Oh, the first example of Race Karma maybe? - Jaime is her usual sweet self and starts demanding they make up time - then when she gets the clue one of the crew sits on her foot and she yells at him - off my foot - off my foot.  (She needs to learn you catch  more flies with honey than vinegar... but then she's a playboy playmate - I don't think catching flies is a problem.)

-Everyone gets the clue from the buoy on the first pass and they're all heading for the Pit Stop.

-Kent & Vyxsin get the clue to join the crew.
-Jet & Cord are back at the flags and he's still trying to figure out the whole message.

Zev & Justin are team #4 - but keep racing - Justin says, Phil, you dirty dog.
Flight Time & Big Easy #5 - but you're still racing - Big Easy - Oh Lord.
Jaime & Cara #6 -
Margie & Luke #7
Ron & Christine #8
Mel & Mike #9
(They are all exhausted and can't quite believe they don't get to rest yet...)

-Kent & Vyxsin get the clue off the buoy.

-Jet & Cord head back to the sailing club but he still doesn't have the phrase to tell the guy (ARGHH!)

Kent & Vyxsin are #10 - and you're still racing - get going....

-Jet still has no idea what he's going - I don't get it.  (I am so Screwed!) TO BE CONTINUED...

Next week: As 10 teams keep racing, will the Cowboys crack the code?  Ron revisits old habits (barking at Christina to stop nagging him) and Mel starts physically breaking down (Already? Oh no, Mike is crying about his dad - that doesn't bode well.)

So, no one is gone yet - but Fred & Gary Moderow, Jeff Thomson, Shane Boutillier, Esther Bennett and yours truly are all in last place with the Cowboys.  - Say it together now: "Oh My Gravy!"

Coleen








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