Sunday, December 4, 2011

The Amazing Race - Dec 4th Episode Recap

We Are Charlie Chaplin (Panama City, Panama)

Last week we saw the elimination of the nicest couple ever on the Race (in my opinion) with Bill & Cathi coming in last at the Atomium in Brussels, Belgium.  While the other teams got to bed down in round balls inside the Atomium, the Snowboarders, Tommy & Andy, got to go on-line and customize their prizes - two brand new Ford Mustangs.  They were also the first team to start out this leg at 3:46am... Andy has the clue and Tommy has a big box - the clue tells them to put on the costumes in the box and dress as famous comic strip characters - it's Tintin (new movie coming out soon) wow, major product/endorsement placement and we're only 5 minutes in... one of the downsides of PVR, advertisements are now just integrated into the shows (I get it, but I don't like it.)  I've never read Tintin, apparently it's Belgian.  They dress as detectives (who do look like Charlie Chaplin) known by specific names - they have to figure out what their names are, then find the mural in the picture given and tell Tin Tin (there is actually a guy dressed like Tintin) who they are, to get their next clue.
-So, 4am in the streets of Brussels and the Snowboarders are not having any luck figuring out who they are - lots of young people, not recognizing them.  One guy says they look like Charlie Chaplin and they run with that... uh oh.

-4:20am - Jeremy & Sandy are the next out - she's surprised they've made it that far after some of the horrible legs they've run - but now they want to make it to top 3.  In the costume she asks him if he likes her as a man and he says she's a damn hot man... uh, that sounded weird (yeah, it did.)

-Tommy & Andy have found an Internet cafe and are searching Charlie Chaplin (noooo!) They find Tin Tin but Tommy's stuck on the Chaplin thing.

-4:35am Ernie & Cindy have set out now - she's hung up on the fact that they often lead the whole leg but screw up and lose the lead at the end.
-They show Jeremy & Sandy get the correct info from some guys at a sidewalk cafe - they tell them they're from Tintin, where the mural is and that they are detectives named Jonson & Johnson.
-Ernie & Cindy have similar luck from a guy on the street - he at least tells them they're from Tintin and another guy says they are Dupond & Dupont.
-Andy & Tommy know where they're going, looking for Tintin but Andy is not being the brains, he's letting Tommy go with the Chaplin thing... (OH COME ON!)

-4:40am - Marcus & Amani head out - football metaphor - they are going to the Super Bowl!  They find the same guys at the sidewalk cafe and find out who they are.

-Sandy & Jeremy are the first team to Tintin - they tell him they are detectives named Jonson & Johnson and they get the next clue to fly to Panama City, Panama.  They must take the train to Amsterdam then fly 4Kmi across the Atlantic to Panama - once they land they must take a boat up the river to Parara Puru to receive their next clue.
-Cindy & Ernie are the next team to Tintin - they tell him they are detectives named Dupont & Dupond and they get the clue as well.  Tommy & Andy get there at the same time and are denied because they are stupid. (Not to put to fine a point on it.) They take off to check the Internet again to find out who they are.
-Marcus & Amani make it to Tintin and they know they are Johnson & Jonson and get the clue.
-Back at the Internet cafe - Snowboarders find out they are Thompson & Thomson and head back to Tintin - and get the clue.

-Everyone is on the same train - still dressed like the detectives - and heading to Amsterdam.  They all know that they can't make any mistakes but Marcus sees the boys screw up with the characters as a hopeful sign that they are not infallible and can be beaten (when you are on the third down and... ha, I'm just kidding - but I am surprised he didn't use a football analogy there.)

-They arrive in Panama and it's a race out of the airport.  The Snowboarders are the first team to the taxis and they get a very enthusiastic driver - Whee! Panama! Pa-na-ma!
-Sandy & Jeremy are next and there is not humour with these two - all business - Rapido!
-Ernie & Cindy are 3rd - also all business but more polite.
-Marcus & Amani are 4th and he shows her a magic rock that a guy in the airport gave him to give to Tommy & Andy for bad luck... but he forgot to give it to them... So he can't hold on to it anymore - out the window with the bad luck charm.

-Andy & Tommy are the first to arrive at the boat area but Sandy & Jeremy were right behind them and were able to get in a boat first so these two are neck and neck - riding up the river in the dark.  Luckily the boats are piloted by locals.
-Ernie & Cindy and Marcus & Amani get to the boats and they head out on the river as well.  They can't see anything in the dark and hope the captain can... then we see Jeremy & Sandy are stuck on a sandbar - and the Snowboarders pass them.  Jeremy, "Are you kidding me right now?"  He gets out to try and help get them afloat again.

-Andy & Tommy are the first team to arrive at the village of Parara Puru and the first team to sign up for a TATTOO! the next morning at 7:00am (What?  Oh, all the villagers have black line tattoos all over them, this should be fun!)  They are excited, this is so rad!
-Jeremy & Sandy are 2nd at 7:20am, Marcus & Amani 7:40am and Ernie & Cindy at 7:40am.
-They all get to sleep in hammocks under mosquito netting in the village that night.

-7:00am - Tattoo time!  Andy & Tommy weren't sure if they were going to be real or not but they were up for it anyway.  The ladies start painting... the next clue on their forearms - sending them to the San Francisco Bay towers in Panama City.   So back in the boat down the river they go.
-It's almost like the other three teams against Tommy & Andy at this point - Marcus is pep talking them all - we know what we're doing, we've got this. (Win this one for the Gipper!)

-Back in taxis they are heading for the San Francisco Bay towers.  Andy & Tommy are the first there and they get the clue to the ROADBLOCK - One team member must get up the nerve to walk a tightrope 35 storeys up from one tower to another - collect a clue then walk to tightrope back to carry on (NOT IT!)
-Andy gets to do this one.. yes, he is pumped!
-Sandy on the other hand, has to do it for them - she's scared of heights - that should be fun.
-They get geared up on a chain harness - there is no chance they are falling with that thing - and Andy basically runs across - "It's mellow" (dude)
-Sandy is having babies just watching and Andy starts messing with her as she's crossing - "Look at the view"  She makes it across no problem - but I don't think Andy won them any points with that team.

-The Snowboarders read the clue and it's a bit of a riddle - they have to figure out that they need to go to a statue of Ferdinand De Lesseps to find their next clue.  Their cab driver says he knows it.

-Cindy & Ernie get to the Roadblock and she has to do it - same goes for Marcus & Amani - both the guys have done the maximum 6 Roadblocks so Cindy & Amani have to do this one.  Neither seems enthused.

-Jeremy & Sandy read the clue on the street and ask a local if he knows where they need to go - he says he does and tells their cab driver who confers with the other team's cab drivers as well - so Ernie & Cindy and Marcus & Amani's drivers will know where to go when they get done. (Sandy was not happy about that turn of events but what can you do?)

-Cindy starts across the tightrope and she's shaking like a leaf... (Huh, and I thought Sandy was the one afraid of heights... oh wait, no Sandy just likes to complain and be the center of attention, that's it.)

-Tommy & Andy get to the statue and get the clue to the DETOUR - Filet or Sole.
-In Filet - teams must go to the largest fish market in Panama and deliver specific amounts of assorted seafoods to different stalls throughout the market - once they've completed all their deliveries correctly, the fishmonger will give them their next clue. (Sounds really smelly)
-In Sole - they must make a pair of sandals working with a single piece of leather for the sole and straps - once the cobbler feels they have made the right fit, they will get the next clue. (Shoes, hello)
-Tommy & Andy are feeling Sole and head off to make some sandals.

-Meanwhile, 35 storeys up - Cindy has completed the walk and Amani completes it behind her - they both did NOT enjoy that task.
-Sandy & Jeremy get to the statue and want to make shoes but their cab driver doesn't know where they need to go.
-Cindy & Ernie also get the clue at the statue and head off for the shoe making place, passing Jeremy & Sandy (cab drivers play such a huge part in this Race, it's amazing.)
-Marcus & Amani are the only team to choose Filet and they head off to stink-town... but their driver takes them to the shoe maker - so all the teams are there and making sandals - Marcus & Amani say, no, we're not making shoes - take off (I would just do it instead of wasting time going to the fish market.  They think it will be too hard and stick with their instincts.  The cab driver coalition hurt them there.)

-Cindy has ripped the lace through one of the holes - has to start her sandal over.
-At the fish market - Amani gets an armload of fish and finally realizes, "We going to smell fishy." So they take an armload each and deliver to the first stand - I don't see why they didn't just grab the crate... I guess it would be too heavy.  This doesn't seem like the most efficient delivery method to me.

-Tommy & Andy finish their sandals and they are okay - the clue tells them to go to the Cathedral Square and check out some dancers to get the destination for the Pit Stop.  They have to figure out that the name of the place in in the pattern on one of the dancers dresses "Panama Viejo" - and it is depicted on their necklaces as well.  Off they go.

-Marcus & Amani are now running around with handfuls of squid (I gagged a little).
-Sandy is finding the sandal making really hard.  Ernie's is all messed up (and his guy has the ugliest feet - dude, what the hell?  Have you ever seen a third toe longer than the first two?  Now I have.)  There is some re-lacing going on with both these teams.
-Marcus thinks they had an advantage going to the fish market because no other teams were there - they could take whatever they had and go to where ever it was needed with no competition.

-Ernie & Cindy are done their sandals but first the guy gives Cindy's eager puppy praddling a 'talk to the hand' and then he rejects them.  One of the laces is all twisted up - Ernie adjusts.
-Jeremy & Sandy get theirs looked at and the guy just looks disgusted - No. (Hahaha, I like the cobbler guy.)
-Marcus & Amani are finishing off with huge handfuls of runny shrimp and they get the clue to head to the Cathedral Square - now in 2nd place.  (But I would want them to shower before getting in my cab... gah!)

-Andy & Tommy get to the dancing girls and are looking at their medallions - think they need to go to Balboa (which is their local money?) - they hop in a cab (which had like 20 pine tree air fresheners hanging from the rear view - were Marcus & Amani there already?  HA.) and they take off for Balboa... (Nooo, that's not it.)

-Ernie & Cindy and Sandy & Jeremy have all fixed their sandals and finally get the clue to head to the dancing girls.  Cindy tells their cab driver not to talk to the other one and they jockey back and forth through the streets.  Chill out guys.

-Marcus & Amani are at the dancing ladies and they don't know what to look for - Amani sees the Balboa on the necklace but she's not sure if that's right.  Marcus dabs the sweat on one of the dancers faces with his hat...( and now she's going to smell of fish all day - way to go.)

-Andy & Tommy's cab driver has taken them to the Panama Canal - yeah, this is where you want (stupid Americans - I bet he was thinking.)  They ask a guy working there if there is something to do with Balboa and he tells them there is a statue - so they jump in another cab to take them to the statue.

-Ernie & Cindy and Jeremy & Sandy sprint into the square and see Marcus & Amani just standing there - oh, I guess we didn't need to run.  None of them can figure out where they need to go.  No one has spotted the words in the Red ladies dress.

-Meanwhile Andy & Tommy have arrived at the statue... and the Pit Stop it isn't.  They are going back to the dancers and hoping everyone else missed it too.

-Ernie & Cindy look over the medallions and everything says Balboa - they figure that must be it and take off. 
-Jeremy sketched the picture of the building that was etched into one of the belts (that is it) and their cab driver knows where it is - they are the first team to be heading the right way.
-Marcus & Amani are still stumped.
-Ernie & Cindy's cab driver goes to tell Jeremy & Sandy's where they're going and they stop him - too bad, they could have found out the correct place.
-Marcus & Amani figure they can't hang out there all day, they have to make a decision and head out for the statue of Balboa.
-In the cabs, all the drivers are talking to each other on their cell phones - Jeremy & Sandy's driver is the only one with the right destination and he has shared it with the others... great.

-Andy & Tommy have arrived back at the dancers and they now notice the writing on the one girls skirt - they head off the Panama Viejo.

Here's How They Finished:
1) Jeremy & Sandy - won a trip to Turks & Caicos
2) Ernie & Cindy - they are so happy they secured a place in the finals
3) Marcus & Amani - total celebration that they all beat the boys! Marcus said it was like David & Goliath, they were all Davids to the Snowboarders Goliath. (Whatever. I'm starting to feel like a jinx with this pool - yeah, guess who had the snowboarders. Me.)
4) Andy & Tommy - **ELIMINATED** They take it well.  They had a great time travelling God's great earth together. (Even Phil said he thought for sure they'd be in the final 3 - ME TOO!)
So, along with myself; Charlotte W, Hannelore/Sue and Bernice R are out of the pools. (Dang It!)

Next week is the finale - they will be racing to the final pit stop in Atlanta, Georgia - there is typing and wall climbing - and lots of stressed out people riding in cabs ;)

Here's the people in the running for the Win:
Jeremy & Sandy: Shelly P, Lynne B, Steve H, Roxanne S
Ernie & Cindy: Miranne D, Andria S, Kelvin H, Fred/Gary M
Marcus & Amani: Susan N, Jeff T, Cara L, Shane B

Have a great week everyone.

(I am off to jury duty so I have missed people off the disty list - please forward if you know anyone missing the recap.  Thanks.)

Coleen







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