Amazing Race All-Stars - March 30/14 Episode Recap

Down and Dirty

Last week the teams travelled to Sri Lanka, and we bid farewell to Margie & Luke when they couldn't get on the same flights as the rest and ended up hours behind.

This leg, Dave & Connor started out at 2:59am - they get the clue to make their way to the Dutch museum in Colombo and search the hall of headstones for their next clue.  They flash the sign and I didn't see the hours, but I have a feeling they'll have to wait for it to open.
-Jen & Caroline are the 2nd team out at 3:27am - they are fighting for their lives in this Race.  It's nice to finally be at the front of the pack.
-Cowboys - 3:35am - They are competitors, whether it's the way they were brought up or just born that way - they have to step up their game every leg.
-Afghanimals - 3:50am - they feel they are the only team that has performed at the highest level and still not come in first. (Whatever, these two have a very high opinion of themselves... but they have also improved their attitudes this time around - we'll see if it makes a difference in the end.)

-Dave & Connor get to the museum and there is a sign telling them it doesn't open until 8:30am.  (Yup, they'll all be together in the morning.)

8:30am - they open the doors and everyone starts running in; John trips on a step, the Cowboys are calm and cool walking in behind.
-They all get the clue which tells them to make their way to the railway station, they will now take the train to the city of Alawa and once there find a certain fuel station where they'll get the next clue.
-They all take off on foot for the train station and they all get on the same train to Alawa.  They all enjoy the train ride, it's a chance to relax for a little bit.

-Once they get to Alawa though, it's game ON!  Brenchel are the first team to find the fuel station and they read the clue for the ROADBLOCK - Who wants to fill 'er up?  There are 500K tuk-tuks in Sri Lanka and in this task they will have to choose a coloured marker then go out among the huge line/jumble of three wheeled vehicles and find four that have the same coloured marker on their windshield - then they'll have to lead them to the fuel station and fill 'em up.  Once they've topped up the tanks (3L) on their four marked vehicles, they'll get their next clue.
-Rachel is going to do this one for them and she chooses the colour green (of course.)
The rest of the teams start showing up and we have:
-Jamal - Yellow
-Dave (who worked in a gas station at the age of 16) - Brown
-John - Red
-Big Easy - Blue
-Cord - Purple
-Caroline - Grey
Once they had their colours they had to run out on the street where the tuk-tuks were lined up on both sides - hundreds of them (oof) and find their tuk-tuks.
-Jamal heads out looking for his yellow markers - Rachel, on the other hand, assumes she just has to find green cars and starts by pulling a green painted cab that has a red marker on it (oh, come on lady, what's the first rule of the Amazing Race? READ THE CLUE!  She's not a rocket surgeon that one.)
-It's chaos! And there are only two pumps... Dave was pushing his way in, Cord just had his guy go around the line and back in from the front (genius, but Leo was not impressed) Rachel was still filling the wrong cabs and poor Caroline was getting pumped and squished - but she held her own.
-Rachel filled four green cabs but they won't give her the clue... she doesn't understand what she did wrong and started whining... (Oh sweet jebus woman, look around, what are the other teams doing? Are they filling yellow and blue cars? No.)  She's still trying to fill another "green" cab when John finally tells her, that one's not green, it's red. (Ding, ding, ding, ding... she finally sees he light.  I was glad John shut her up by pointing out her mistake because her screeching was giving me a headache but I was surprised he helped her... then I realized, she was trying to fill his red cab - ahhh, it all makes sense.)
-Big Easy is the first one finished - at one point he physically pushed Dave's cab out of the way and picked up the back end of his to get it close enough to the pump! (Haha, way to make your size work for you!)  They read the clue that tells them to take the train to Rambukkana, then take a tuk-tuk to the Millenium Elephant Foundation (how cool! It's an elephant sanctuary - of course if you watched the Walking Dead finale you know there is no Sanctuary...) but I digress, once at the elephant sanctuary they must search the river for their next clue.

-Jamal & Leo are next done, then Jess & John... they have 12 minutes until the next train.
-Cord & Jet, Dave & Connor and Caroline & Jen also make that train... leaving Brenchel as the last team pumping gas... they all hope they'll miss the train... but they make it by the skin of their teeth and they know how lucky they were.

-Train arrives in Rambukkan and they run for the tuk-tuks - again it's crazy racing through the wild traffic and the guys are encouraging their cabs to pass each other - looks like they were having some fun.
-At the elephant reserve they see the clues down by the river and start flinging themselves down the steep banks (yikes, watch out!)
Jamal, Cord and Connor read the clues for the DETOUR: Trunk or Sheets.
In Trunk - they must choose a marked log and attach a chain the elephants use to move timber - then working together, the elephant and the human team must move three logs each and fill a truck.  Once they have 6 logs in the truck, they'll get their next clue.
In Sheets - they'll have to load a wheelbarrow with elephant waste (yup, it's the poop task - making environmentally friendly paper - with elephant poop) then take the wheelbarrow to the paper making shed where they'll have to mix the poop with water and scraps of paper to make a pulp - then spread the pulp on the paper-making screens.  Once they've successfully made 5 sheets of the paper and spread a stack out in the sun to dry - they'll get their next clue.

The Cowboys, Afghanimals, John & Jess and Dave & Connor decide on Trunk - the Globetrotters want to do Trunk too but only 4 teams can do it at a time so they miss out and head over to the Sheets.
-Caroline & Jen want to do Trunk as well but there are no chains left - they head over to Sheets... and Brenchel decided on Sheets so these three teams are shovelling elephant dung. 
-None of them had a problem with it - they were in there with their hands - yum.

-Over at Trunk, the Cowboys could wrap chains around a log in their sleep, this is what they do around the ranch and they were very impressed with the elephant's strength when he picked the chain up in it's mouth and carried the log away.
-Afghanimals got theirs chained up okay but Dave & Connor and John & Jessica didn't set the chain right so, "no elephant for you!"

-At Sheets they have their pulp mixture and are moving on to pressing out the sheets - well, watching it being done, we'll see if they can do it themselves.

-The Cowboys are in awe of the elephant.  He gets the log to the truck then uses it's trunk and foot to push it up onto the deck... I think Jet wants one for his ranch.
-Leo & Jamal are hoping to beat the Cowboys at this... right now they're neck and neck but this is in the Cowboys wheelhouse - I don't know if they can do it.

-Back at the paper making - no one is getting a pass on their paper - too much mush, too many bubbles in it, not enough mush... yeah, this one is going to be harder than they thought.
-The Globetrotters take a minute and watch them making it again and realize they have to press the paper out to get rid of the bubbles before taking the screen off - (Ohhhh!) They finally get a pass, now four more sheets.

-Back at Trunk - Cowboys want to beat the Afghanimals too so those two are battling and Jet actually says, "got to get me one of those elephants," (Ha! I called it.)
-Jess is the only girl on the elephant task and she's holding her own, it's Dave & Connor having the most trouble with setting the chain correctly.

-Paper makers - Globetrotters have the system down and the other teams finally notice - Oh yeah, we have to press it! 

-Trunk - Cowboys are the first team done, they have to feed the elephant some palm leaves and then they get the clue to take a cab to the Ambepussa Rest House and let your ears guide you to the wise man.
-As they take off the Afghanimals are complaining that the Cowboys can't be allowed to dominate this whole Race (well, you better try and stop them then.)  They finish next and also take off for the Rest House.
-John & Jessica are the 3rd team finished and Dave & Connor are last - they found this a very tough task and are just hoping the paper took longer.

-Speaking of which, Flight Time is working the judge lady, shaking his booty as they press out the paper - she may giggle at his antics but she still rejects a bubbly sheet of paper.  Still, the Globetrotters are the first team done laying out sheets of paper and they head for the Rest House.

-On the way to the Rest House, Leo & Jamal are able to egg their cab driver on to dangerously cut off the Cowboys and get in front of them (really? Back to the dirty pool I see.)  They all jump out of their taxis and head into the rest house but it's the Cowboys who take their time and listen... and they find the wise man first.  He makes them sit and listen to him play his flute for a minute, then he gives them their next clue - to head to the PIT STOP, The Mount Lavinia Beach Hotel.

-Back in their cabs, it's Cowboys vs Indians again with their cab drivers jockeying back and forth...
-John & Jessica get to the Rest House and get the clue to the Pit Stop.

-Rachel & Brendan get their fifth sheet of paper okayed and set out sheets to dry - making the Country Singers the last team to finish but they are right behind them.

-Dave & Connor get the clue to the Pit Stop.
-Globetrotters get the clue right behind them and catch up in traffic.  The Globetrotters are razzing Dave, making sure his Achilles is up to a foot race, Big Easy tells him, "Don't do it Dave."
-As Dave & Connor's cab driver pulls away he tells them that the driver of the Globetrotter's cab is his brother... alright! Sibling rivalry will keep this cab race interesting.

-Rachel & Brendan get the clue to the Pit Stop and the Country Singers are right behind them... the traffic is so crazy though, they have no idea how far behind they may be.

-Speaking of traffic, Jamal is asking a tuk-tuk driver beside them in traffic to stop in front of the Cowboys cab to slow them down... and he does it!  Oh, dirty pool.  But the Cowboys get in front again and it's a foot race at the hotel.

-The Globetrotters and Dave & Connor are having fun, or their cab driver/brothers are having fun racing - one of them doesn't know the right way and the other tells him to go straight, then turns... and the Globetrotters are not laughing anymore when they realize they are going the wrong way.

-Caroline & Jen are still in the cab hoping another team is having troubles so they have a chance...

 Here's How They Finished:
1) Leo & Jamal - Won a trip to Berlin, Germany.  But more excited to have beat the Cowboys in a foot race across the beach to the mat.
2) Jet & Cord - (It's hard to run through sand in cowboy boots.) It stings coming in second but come the next leg, it's a whole new ball game.
3) John & Jessica - beat Dave in a foot race - and they're excited since this is the first time they've been in front of Dave & Connor in the Race
4) Dave & Connor - Dave was playing the age card, "So you'll beat an old man." (Yeah, like they'll let you win just because you're older - I don't think so.)
5) Brendan & Rachel - They'll take it! They're still determined to win, Rachel so she can have a baby and Brenden wants to buy a house.
6) Flight Time & Big Easy - What a relief!  Their motto is never come in last.
7) Caroline & Jennifer - Phil asks, "Good place to end your Race?  Thing is... this is a NON-ELIMINATION leg and they are still in the Race! (You know when Phil doesn't straight out say you're eliminated that something is up.)  They say this season is so much harder than when they raced before because these teams don't make mistakes.  But they are not going to give up, they're going to win or die trying.

Next week: They head to Rome, the Afghanimals become gladiators, and a challenging task sets up a sprint for the finish.

Everyone survived another week in the pool as well, Congrats ;)
And have a great week everyone,

Coleen

Survivor Brawn vs Brains vs Beauty - March 26th Episode Recap

We Found Our Zombies

Last week they shuffled the tribes, resulting in two new tribes - Solana which ended up with five Brawn and two Beauties and Aparri which had the three Brains, three Beauties and one Brawn - cop Sarah.
The three beauties instantly started scrambling giving the remaining Brains the upper hand, but it was the Brawn-heavy Solana that ended up at Tribal Council where the older and (arguably) wiser members used the underdog Beauty votes to their advantage and took out the big man, Cliff. (In an epic blindside - I clapped.)

Solana - Night 14
-Returning from Tribal Council, Trish immediately starts in on Lindsey who gives back as good as she gets - they let it all out.
Trish: I will respect you because we're a team going forward but I don't like you.
Lindsey: You know what, you disgust me - everything about you is annoying.  I can't stand your face, your laugh, your teeth - How bout you just back off me for a little bit.
Trish: So you're saying you're not on this team.
Lindsey: I'm saying I'm not on your team, I'll never be on your team. (Lots of hand waving and get out my face gestures.)
Trish: Now ask me if I care.
Then Lindsey goes off on her own and tells the camera she has no interest in being on a team with Trisha, she's not sure what she's going to do with the rest of her time there (well, with an attitude like that, your time will be brief.  Sheesh, it's a game for a million dollars, you suck it up and roll with the punches or you go home.)

-Next thing you know, Lindsey is huddled off by herself down the beach and Jeff Probst comes strolling out of the trees (huh?) "I got a call you wanted to talk."
-She tells Jeff she can't have someone antagonizing her like Trish did, she's afraid she's going to flip out on her - and that's why she separated herself.  She'd rather have it cost her a million dollars then have her daughter see her behave like that.
-Jeff asks if it's just between her and Trish, is it just a personality conflict? She says it's just so extreme and she knows she's cold and wet and tired and hungry but she doesn't want to do something she will regret.
-Jeff, So are you quitting?
-Trish - "I don't know what else to do - but I really can't take it anymore." (I guess that means yes.) 
She also can't face telling the tribe herself so Jeff goes and breaks the news to the rest of her tribe.  After losing Cliff in that epic blindside, Lindsey has pulled herself from the game.
-Trish feels a little bad, she didn't like her but she didn't wish her ill.
-Tony loves it - two for the price of one. "Took off the head of the snake (Cliff) and the body (Lindsey) followed."
-Woo is really worried now, his whole alliance was wiped out. He is saying all the right things being in with the solid five left but he knows if they went back to Tribal Council he could be the one to go.
So with Trish quitting, that takes Kim B., Andria S., and Gillian H. out of the pool. (Quitters suck.)

REWARD CHALLENGE
First things first - the reaction to seeing Cliff AND Lindsey gone - Sarah is amazed and elated - they were the two people she wanted gone the most.
Alexis is excited to see the two Beauties still standing... and Trish is pumping her fist like she did it all herself.
Spencer is also happy that his chances have now increased and he didn't do anything but he hates to hear someone quit.

On to the challenge: They will square off one on one, each person balancing an idol on a small tray with a handle - the goal is to make the other person drop their idol.  First team to four points wins reward: Two members of the winning tribe will follow the losing tribe back to their camp and RAID!
-Aparri sits Alexis and Kass.

-First match-up: Spencer vs Woo - Spencer is the aggressor, he backs Woo up, throws his idol high in the air and makes Woo drop his and, as it hits the ground first - Aparri gets first point.
-Trish vs Tasha - Tasha makes the move but hers drops first - Tie
-Sarah vs Jefra - Sarah gets the 2-1 point.
-Jeremiah vs LJ - Jeremiah drops his and tries to juggle it - but no luck - tied up 2-2.
-B. McGee vs Tony - they just bump into each other and she loses - 3-2.
-Rematch of Spencer vs Woo - Woo holds solid and knocks Spencer's idol off - Solana wins the Reward and they send Tony and Woo to raid the other camp.  Jeff gives Tony a note that they are to read away from Aparri that will tell them what they need to do (or are allowed to do, more like it.)

Aparri - Day 15
-Tasha is not too happy about losing the luxury items she just got the use of when the tribes switched up... (but you lost, so hug that pillow good-bye.)
-Tony and Woo read the instructions and it tells them they can take two of the listed three items: 1)Comfort items (blanket/pillows/hammock), 2) Tarp & rope or 3)Fishing Kit.  Tony decides they are leaving them the tarp but taking the rest.
-Then they also have a clue to a hidden immunity idol at the Solana beach but Tony decides (after they read it) that they are going to set up Jeremiah and stir up the pot a little.

-When they go back to the camp Tony announces what they are taking and that they have a clue to a hidden immunity idol to give to someone... and they have chosen Jeremiah.
-Immediately Tasha is looking daggers at Jeremiah and Tony as they go off to get the fishing gear and hand over the clue.  She sees this as the guys signalling that they want to work with Jeremiah... and Tony's plan has worked like a charm (he may actually be an evil genius... okay, genius is a little strong, but he's got a knack for mayhem anyway.)
-When Jeremiah reads the clue he recognizes that it's the same clue they had at the other beach so he knows it was a ruse to stir up suspicion among the tribe. (So tell them that.)

-As they're leaving Tony realizes he's got to snag that clue back from Jeremiah so the rest don't see it wasn't for them and he can use it to look for the idol at their camp.

Solana - Day 15
-Tony and Woo return and Tony is so jacked about his brilliant plan that he tells the tribe everything - not only the trick with the clue but also that he's a police officer and he lied to his old tribe about that...

-LJ says to the camera - "To prove he's trust worthy, Tony admits he lied.  That's a new one."
-Jefra says Tony is playing this game balls to the wall and she's just glad he's on her side.

-Tony is still pumped, he says he came clean on the cop thing because he feels like he just clicked with this tribe once Cliff and Lindsey were gone... and he's still running his mouth.  He says they could say he's a liar but he told them the truth now to show he's in it with these five until the end.

-LJ says by revealing his game play, Tony has proven he's no dummy and he realizes he's got to stay on his toes around him all the time. (He's drunk on power and underestimating the rest of his tribe... that is never a good sign in Survivor.)

Aparri - Day 15
- The seeds that Tony hath sewn continue to bear fruit as Alexis, who already doesn't trust Jeremiah, scrambles to solidify her place in this new tribe. She goes and gets water with Spencer and tries to make him more suspicious of Jeremiah.  But it backfires, Spencer says she comes off as phony to him - he thinks she's smarter than she likes to put on and he doesn't trust her - at all.

-Next scene is Spencer and Alexis asking Jeremiah about the clue and he tells them it wasn't a new clue, it was the same clue they had at the other camp.  But he gave it back to Tony before they left so he doesn't have the proof to show them and Spencer and Alexis are not buying his story one bit.  (Oh yeah, that worked exactly as Tony wanted it to - too bad he wasn't so smart over on his own tribe.)

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
-They have to use wooden poles to build a staircase then go up the staircase into and through a wooden/bamboo maze, then down a slide to their mat.  Then one person will maneuver a key through a rope obstacle, use the key to unlock a machete, and cut through a piece of wood to release puzzle pieces.  Then two tribe members will use those pieces to solve a puzzle which will reveal three numbers which will unlock a combination lock - first tribe to open the combination lock and raise their flag wins Immunity. (Huh, that's a lot of stuff.)
-Aparri sits Tasha and B. McGee.

-Off they go and Solana has trouble getting the staircase together (shortest to tallest... shouldn't be that hard) but they catch up through the maze).
-Tony and Jeremiah are the two working the keys - but Jeremiah is the first to release the machete and his puzzle pieces.  Tony falls way behind on that.
-Aparri has a bit of a head start on the puzzle but not a lot... Solana passes them when LJ realize they have one of the numbers upside down... and SOLANA wins Immunity!

-With Tony yelling that they are top five, Sarah realizes that she's not included in their future plans over there - time for her to move on. (Ya think?)

Aparri - Day 16
Returning from the Immunity Challenge - they are all making a big deal about Tony's declaration that Solana is Top Five. 
-Alexis runs with it when talking to Morgan, Sarah, Spencer and Kass in the water - that Tony couldn't think they would be top 5 unless they had the numbers, with a sixth person on the Aparri tribe.. and that must be Jeremiah because he's the only one that they talked to over here (What about Sarah? She was on the Brawn tribe with them...) but nope, Alexis is on a mission to discredit Jeremiah and get them to vote him out tonight.  They all agree...
-But then Spencer tells the camera the Brains tribe could go either way, they'll tell Alexis they're on board with her plan but then they'll decide which vote really makes sense for them, Jeremiah or Alexis.
-They show Tasha, Kass & Spencer contemplating life.  Kass tells us they are in a great position, everyone knows they are a tight three and will vote as a block, so they'll follow their lead - "the Brains needed a body, we've found our zombies and now we're in."

TRIBAL COUNCIL
Kass, looking from the outside, is it safe to assume the three Beauty are together, the three Brains are together and Sarah's by herself?
-That's a pretty safe assumption Jeff. (Wrong, but safe from the outside.)
Morgan, Beauty tribe tight?
-I mean, Jeremiah and I have had some bumps in the road.
-Jeremiah?  Yeah, I told a lie to Morgan, I decided to vote out Brice which put a huge void between us so I just backed off, gave her space. (Yeah, I don't think Jeremiah is so smart.)
-Kass says the division in the Beauty tribe was a breath of fresh air for them.  What the Brains tribe has been through has drawn them together where it seems whatever Beauty has gone through has driven them apart.
-Spencer says he thinks they have to concentrate of fixing the fractures so they can go forward with a unified tribe.
-Sarah says when she heard Tony say Top 5 and she counted five over there - she realized they've moved on without her and she's ready to cut ties with the other tribe.
-Alexis says that sounds good in theory but there is always room for them to reconnect later.
-Jeff asks who's in trouble tonight and Tasha says the Beauties are because they are so fractured.
-Jeff asks Alexis about the camp raid and she says the most interesting part was when they pulled Jeremiah aside, they're not sure what was said, if he got a clue to an idol or if he talked - but it stirred stuff up.
-Jeff asks Jeremiah his version and he bungles it - he says they gave him a hidden immunity idol clue but he "seen right through that and I hope they believe me." (Meaning they targeted him - but still no one is buying it.)
-Tasha's happy to see the dissention among the Beauties but she's still not sure who to trust.
-Sarah doesn't care as long as it's keeping the heat off of her.
-Spencer sees this as one of the most important votes so far - if they choose wrong they could be vying for 6th to 10th place in a merge.

Time to Vote:
Alexis votes for Jeremiah - says he's lied, like, a hundred times. (Exaggerate much?)
Jeremiah votes Alexis - says she's the one that's gonna flip.
Morgan says whoever she voted for is the person that will flip...

Tallying the votes:
No one plays a hidden immunity idol.
Jeremiah - 1
Alexis - 1, 2, 3 (Oh her eyes are bugging out of her head!)...4 and that's enough.  ALEXIS is the next person voted out and she's Shocked!  Shocked and snivelling as she shuffles off.

And with Alexis leaving, that takes Sue & Hannelore, Carol-Anne D. and Shane B. out of the pool.

Next week: They Merge! Which gives Sarah all the power in this game - she sees a solid five, a solid five and her. (Don't mess it up.)

Alexis is just crying - she can't believe she couldn't even make it to the merge - she's really disappointed... then it just dissolved into blubbering. (Are you crying? There's no crying in Survivor!)
Have a great rest of your week everyone,

Coleen
 

Amazing Race All-Stars - March 23/14 Episode Recap

Mission Impossible

Last week was a non-elimination leg so the impossible pour task at the Sky Bar in Kuala Lumpur didn't take anyone out - the Cowboys proved they are still the task-masters (in a good way) and Rachel & Brendan (who they are calling Brenchel... I don't like it, but it is shorter for me to type :)) came in a very distant last place... meaning they'll be facing a Speed Bump at some point in this leg.

The fifth leg started at 2:26pm with the Cowboys reading the clue to fly to Colombo, Sri Lanka and make their way to Gangaramaya Temple where they must be blessed to receive their next clue.  They head off to a travel agency and know they have to keep their game faces on, just look at Brenchel, you can go from first to last in just one leg.
-Dave & Connor are the next team out at 3:13pm.  This is the fifth leg and the leg they had to "self-eliminate" (I guess that sounds better than "quit") last time they ran due to Dave's ruptured Achilles - but no plans to quit this time - they are healthy and going strong (that's right, mama needs a new pair of shoes.)
-Afghanimals are the next team - 3:40pm - heading to the Twinnies motherland.  They ask the cab drivers opinion if they should buy tickets first or go to the airport and he tells them to go to airport... so they do. (Never mind he wants the fare of taking them the 90kms to the airport not to a local travel agent.)

At the travel agency the Cowboys find out there is a direct flight that leaves tonight and will get them to Sri Lanka by midnight.  The other option is a connecting flight through Singapore that will also get them there by midnight.  They book, "two cowboys - Direct."

-Country Singers head out 4:10pm - they are carrying the spirit of the Twinnies for this leg and representing for the girl-girl teams.
-Jessica & John head out 4:12pm and the Globetrotters 4:40pm.
-All of the teams to this point, be it from the airport ticket agent or the travel agency, booked the direct flight leaving 11pm and arriving in Sri Lanka at midnight.

-Margie & Luke head out 5:12pm - They are hoping to manage their stress better this leg (we'll see how that goes.)  Their cab driver gets lost looking for the travel agency so they just head to the airport.
-And Brendan & Rachel are the last team at 6:08pm - they get to the travel agency and find out the bookings are closed for the 11pm flight that all the other teams are on, so Rachel decides they should gamble on the connecting flight through Singapore - it's only 30 minutes and the guy at the agency tells them they can't do it - but Rachel is desperate, they're going to take whatever risk is necessary to stay with the group and hopefully stay in the Race.

-At the airport, it's now 10:15pm and Margie is told the flight is full - she asks to be put on stand-by... that is also risky.  They do some scrambling as well, they could book Singapore but need to see if they can book a connection... If they can't get the flight with the rest of the teams, the next option will put them 10 hours behind everyone (ouch!)

-At the airport now, Brendan & Rachel run past the Globetrotters on their way to their gate - much to the Globetrotters surprise - making them realize the last leg was a non-elimination.  The Globetrotters spread the word like wildfire among the rest of the teams - Brendan & Rachel are still in it. (No one knew it was a non-elimination - I wonder if they keep them all separated between legs on purpose.)

-Brenchel are the first team to leave the airport at 10:35pm on their flight to Singapore - Margie & Luke were not on it - they are still begging the ticket counter to get on the 11pm direct flight.
-Next we see Brenchel running through the Singapore airport as they are making the last boarding call... and Brendan drops something he has to stop for... Arghhh!...  But they made it!
-Margie & Luke however, did not.  They did not go to Singapore and they did not get standby seats - so they will have to take the morning flight.

Colombo, Sri Lanka - Brenchel are the first team to arrive and they hop in a cab for the temple.  The rest of the teams are not far behind however (and I have a feeling they will have to wait for the temple to open in the morning, giving Margie & Luke a chance to catch up.) Do I know this show or what? When Brendan & Rachel reach the temple, it doesn't open until 5:45am, so they have about 4 hours to wait. (Margie & Luke still won't catch up but it will cut the lead in half.)
-Brendan & Rachel are mad, they were hoping having a small lead would counteract the Speed Bump they'll have to face - no such luck.

5:45am - the temple opens and they have to slowly walk in, dress in white clothes and get blessed by Buddhist monks - it's a forced respite in the craziness of the race that most of them appreciated... the clue the monk handed them tells them to make their way by train to Galle and find the marked coconut stand to get their next clue.  Everyone is on the same train (except Margie & Luke of course, who are still in Kuala Lumpur.)
-On the train the Country Singers are sticking by the Cowboys because they are magical (see, I'm not the only one that thinks so) they are hoping some of their magic rubs off on them.  Caroline is a super stalker fan of theirs, she thinks they are the coolest guys ever and tells them as much... the Cowboys  just look uncomfortable.

-Margie & Luke's flight is just now leaving Kuala Lumpur and the rest of the teams are arriving in Galle... and it's a mad scramble to the pedi-cabs... Oh my gosh! I swear they all almost crash in the crazy traffic - I would have to keep my eyes closed - stop hanging out of the cabs! Watch out for that bus!  (OMG, I almost had a heart attack just watching that.)

-Dave & Connor are the first team to the coconut stand and they get the clue for the DETOUR: Fishing Pole or Spin Control
-In Fishing Pole: they have to wade into the surf, climb up on 'fishing stilts' and perch there until they have both caught one fish.  Once they deliver the fishes, they'll get the next clue.
-In Spin Control: they must learn and perform a traditional folk dance while spinning a plate-like drum call a raban.  Once they've turned in a passable performance, they'll get the next clue.

Dave & Connor: Fishing pole
Globetrotters: Spin Control (of course!)
Cowboys : Fishing
Afghanimals: Spin Control
Jessica & John : Fishing
Brenchel: Spin Control - or as she says, "Let's go dance." (if only that easy.)
Country Singers: Spin Control - "We're gonna dance."

Spin Control: Flight Time and Big Easy come out in their costumes - tank top and long skirts - (Awesome!)  The steps of the dance weren't that hard but the drum spinning, as Jenn understated, "Was really quite difficult."

Fishing Pole:
-Everyone wades out, then they have to climb up the pole and perch on a triangle of sticks... Jessica can't get on the stupid chair - and that does not look comfortable.  But Connor said it looks like the fish are going for the bait... so hopefully some fish catching can be done.

Spin Control:
-Country singers are the first to go - but Jenn has the stick with three plates - and they fall off almost immediately.
-Brenchel do a little better - but he also drops his plates.

Fishing Pole:
-Connor is the first one to catch a fish - John is second but as he's going to put the little fishy in his bag it flicks out of his hand and sploosh back in the water (BURN!)
-Dave is the next to catch a fish and they are the first team to get the next clue - Route Info: Head to Trendy Connections garment factory to get the next clue.

Spin Control:
-The Globetrotters show everyone how it's done with Sweet Georgia Brown edited in over top... it truly was child's play, probably easier than keeping a basketball spinning on their fingers.  They head for Trendy Connections.
-Caroline drops hers, Brendan drops his... and the Afghanimals have some steady hands - they also get the clue to move on.

Fishing Pole:
-Cord finally catches a fish and Jet catches a minnow... but it counts - they head out.  Leaving Jessica and John still out there fishing... she's starting to lose hope and he suggests switches tasks but she doesn't want to because the other teams were able to do it, they should be able to catch some fish.

Spin Control:
-Country Singers finally get through the routine, leaving Brenchel the last team on their 12th attempt and Brendan keeps dropping his plates (Why he insists on being the guy with the 3 pronger I don't understand)... but she is so patient and encouraging... and he just can't get it together.)

-Margie & Luke have finally landed in Sri Lanka and are heading for the temple for their blessing.

-Brendan & Rachel finally get through the routine on their 14th attempt or so - just leaving John & Jessica seemingly fishing in vain... but they don't want to switch because they last time they switched Detours on the race they were eliminated... But, finally, they pull the trigger and switch Detours.

Trendy Connections - ROADBLOCK: Who wants to put the treadle to the metal?  One team member must correctly stitch together a shirt on the factory floor - once it's done correctly, they'll have their next clue heat pressed onto the front. (Looks like a country club logo or something.)
-Big Easy, Connor and Jennifer are going to be sewing... as they head in they see the Speed Bump is there for Brenchel.  Upon watching the demonstration, Big Easy says, "This is Mission Impossible... but I'm Tom Cruise."  (Oh, I hope so.)

Spin Control: John & Jessica are making their first attempt at the folk dance/plate spinning - they are able to keep all the plates spinning but John wasn't really do any of the steps.  Their teacher was so polite, "Shall we try again?" (Hahaha, John apparently cannot dance - at all.)

Roadblock: Jet and Leo are joining the others trying to sew a shirt and no one is having much success - the machines are super fast and the fabric pieces are slippery devils.

Spin Control: John & Jessica get the steps done - and get the clue to head to the shirt factory.

Margie & Luke are on the train to Galle.

Brendan & Rachel get their Speed Bump: they have to silk screen the final colour on the Sri Lankan flag perfectly on 15 t-shirts... the key is perfectly.

Sewing: Jenn & Connor decide to team up to figure out the puzzle that is the sewing of the shirt... but they are both lost.
-There are lots of sounds of frustration from the sewers.  Leo tries to pay someone to do it - no takers.
-Brendan & Rachel finish the Speed Bump and she's making Brendan do the sewing (really?)
-Conner gets his shirt inspected, and he's got to fix the seam on the collar.
-Jenn gets hers inspected and she's got to add a hem on the bottom.
-Jessica & John show up and Jessica, also a non-sewer, jumps in to try and catch up to the rest... no one is done yet.

Margie & Luke are enjoying the train ride through Sri Lanka - why not?  It's almost like the pressure if off because they know they are so far behind, might as well just enjoy it.

-Connor is the first one to get his shirt approved and they get the clue to head to the Colombo Rowing Club, the PIT STOP for this leg of the race.
-Jenn is the next one to get her shirt done and stamped - they head for the Pit Stop.

-Brendan & Jessica decide they are going to team up to figure out the sewing, her seam is a super tangled mess (my home-ec teacher would have been appalled!)
-Jet pulls out the Cowboy magic and he's the next one finished his shirt.
-Leo, who has been entertaining the crowd, finally finishes his shirt and they take off.
-Which leaves: Big Easy, Jessica and Brendan - all very frustrated sewers... and Rachel is getting worried that Margie may show up and just breeze through this (not likely since they haven't even gotten to the Detour yet.)

Roadblock: Flight Time decides he's going to work on some of his moves and pulls out a basketball to entertain some of the workers, seeing that and the joy it was bringing, worked to re-energize Big Easy - just focus on the shirt!
-Jessica gets her shirt checked and it's good.  They are so happy to get out of there.

They didn't even show Margie & Luke do the Detour but they must have caught fish - they get the clue to head to garment factory.

-Brendan finally gets his shirt checked and approved!  They head for the Pit Stop.
-Big Easy gets his shirt checked and approved... and he tried to put it on (NO! Don't ruin all that hard work) They were just laughing... have to laugh to keep from crying y'all.

 Here's How They Finished:
1) Dave & Connor - they won $5K each!  This time they are staying and they are winning.
2) Caroline & Jennifer
3) Jet & Cord
4) Leo & Jamal - YES!
5) Jessica & John
6) Flight Time & Big Easy
7) Brendan & Rachel - Wahoo! We're not out!
8) Margie & Luke - ** ELIMINATED ** They weren't too sad, they had all day to make peace with it - but they are very appreciative of being one of three teams that has been able to run the Race three times and they are grateful for how the experience has enriched their relationship and made them appreciate each other more. (Aww)

So, with Luke and Margie's elimination, that also takes Karen S., Jeff T., Miranne D. and Karen F. out of the pool.

Next week: there looks to be some pedicab racing and Rachel's zen starts to crack. (I knew it was too good to last.)

Have a great week everybody,

Coleen

 

Survivor Brawn vs Brains vs Beauty - March 19, 2014 Episode Recap

Odd One Out

Last week the girls on the Brawn tribe tried to throw the Immunity Challenge but they still beat Brains, who finally proved they had some, by voting out J'Tia over Spencer (It really was about time.)

Brains - Night 11
-Returning from Tribal Council, Spencer is beyond relieved to still be in the game.
-Kass gives the best description of their tribe ever, "We're not the Brains tribe, we're the Crap-for-Brains Tribe.  A rolling, log-jam mess with a couple nerds on top." (Hahaha! She made me love her just a little.)
Day 12
-They get tree mail that sounds like a food challenge.  They are ready to put their vote to the test and see if they made the right decision in keeping Spencer (come on, that really should have been a no-brainer for the Brains tribe.)

Challenge
As soon as all three tribes get to their mats, Jeff says, "Alright everybody, drop your buffs.  Brains, Brawn and Beauty is no more!" (And with those words he threw a wrench into everyone's strategy up to this point.  The always-winning Brawn tribe is not too happy, Brains looks a little more chipper.)

They form two new tribes with Jeff passing out covered buffs randomly - when they reveal the new tribes are:
Orange/Aparri: Sarah (girl-cop), Spencer (Boy-brain), Morgan (Boobs McGee), Kass (funny brain), Tasha (bossy brain), Jeremiah (Male model) and Alexis (brunette beauty) (I think Sarah got screwed in that pick - all the other Brawn members are now on the purple tribe.)
Purple/Solana: LJ (smart Beauty), Jefra (beauty queen), Woo (zen brawn-master), Cliff (basketball brawn), Trish (skinny brawn), Tony (man-cop) and Lindsey (dreadlock-brawn.) (Two beauty and the rest are brawn - this looks like a stacked team now - these "random" picks rarely work out fairly.)

Jeff asks Sarah how it feels being the only former Brawn member still on her tribe.  She says she feels like the odd one out, her whole tribe just literally walked away from her.  Meanwhile Tasha is so excited, a fresh start is exactly what she'd been praying for and she thinks this tribe will do well in challenges (we shall see.)

Jeff asks Jefra how she feels being one of the two beauties among the Brawn.  She says it stinks being on the bottom in numbers but she's happy to be with the best and strongest, hopefully there will be some cracks that she and LJ can fit into.  Cliff says it certainly shifts their thought processes. They'll have to see if people stick with their alliances or try to create new ones.

REWARD CHALLENGE
-One person from each tribe will sit with their arms and legs wrapped around a pole while two members from the other tribe try to drag them off the pole and across the finish line to score a point.  First tribe to two points wins reward which is... Donuts, cookies, coffee, brownies...(Oh yeah, sugar fix!)
First round: Lindsey on the pole - Sarah and Morgan attacking, and Trish and Jefra attempting to remove Tasha on the other side.
Off they go - and Tasha proves stronger than the smaller blond ladies.  Sarah and Morgan get Lindsey off the pole easier but Lindsey does not make it easy for them - regardless Aparri/Orange gets the first point.
Second round: Spencer and Jeremiah are going to be attacking Cliff (I think he could wrap his limbs around the pole twice he's so tall) and LJ and Trish are attacking Alexis (hmm, that hardly seems even.) And it's not- LJ just plucks her off the pole and drags her kicking across the line - easy peasy.  Solana ties it 1-1
Final round: Spencer and Jeremiah attacking Cliff again (we'll see if he budges at all this time) and Lindsey and Tony will be attacking Sarah on the pole for Aparri (the new orange tribe only has two guys on it - Sarah is their best bet on the pole in this round.)
Off they go: And Sarah puts up a great fight, but the boys were not able to get Cliff off the pole - Solana wins the reward.
And Spencer says, while he's happy to upgrade from the Moms to the hot chicks (really?) he's still with the Brains and they are still losing.

Solana - Day 12
-They return to camp and scarf down the sugar... then have a little awkward getting-to-know you session.  LJ isn't happy about being outnumbered among the Brawn members but when Trish finds out he's from Massachusetts he may have found his in.  She thinks he's cute and starts the flirting - which just disgusts Lindsay and Cliff (they still don't like Trish, that hasn't changed, so LJ might not have found his entree to the tribe after all.)
-Cliff tells the camera, overall he's pretty happy with how the tribal split went down today - the only downer for him was when he saw Trish was still on his tribe.  He's going to have to keep on eye on her and LJ.

Aparri - Day 12
They return to camp and Sarah is the only person that's been there before - right away, to try and feel out who she can trust, she asks them what happened on the first day, did they have two bags of rice or did the first person go for the idol?  Sarah tells them that Trish chose the rice for them - Brains says Garrett must have chosen the idol but he didn't tell them about the rice and Beauty also had no idea about that choice - Morgan however, being the one that made the decision to look for the idol, was effectively "outed" in a lie, but she tells them she didn't find it (which she didn't but are they really going to believe her?) 
-Alexis' eyes nearly bug right out of her head when she hears about this - she tells the camera it just re-enforces her opinion of Morgan, she knows she can't trust her and plans to jump ship right away from the Beauties.
-And she's not alone - all the former beauty members start scrambling.  Alexis approaches the former Brains first and throws the other two under the bus.  Then they show Morgan talking trash about Alexis to them.  Then it's Jeremiah telling them he's on the outs and willing to be the fourth for them. 
-Tasha said originally she thought they'd have to battle the Beauties for the numbers but it seems like they're in the best position possible - they've gone from tragedy to triumph it seems.

Solana - Day 12
Jefra goes and gets water with Trish who gives her the heads up on the alliance front with the Brawn tribe.  Trish lets her know that Lindsey and her are not friendly (to say the least) and Lindsey is in really tight with Cliff. 
Jefra says she gets a shady feeling from Cliff (huh, everyone else seems to like him) but then they show Cliff skulking around like he's trying to spy on them (hmm, maybe Jefra does have some good instincts.) Jefra is seeing some hope for her and LJ to get in through this obvious crack in the former Brawn tribe.
And Trish is also starting to feel like she may not be on the bottom anymore.

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
-Each tribe will use one log as a battering ram to smash through two walls and get to their table where they have to then maneuver the log along the table through the maze carved into it, to bang their gong.  First tribe to sound their gong wins the first single Immunity, other tribe will be going to Tribal Council.  Each tribe has to sit one person, Solana sits Trish and Alexis and Morgan Rock-Paper-Scissors to play - rock crushes scissors - B. McGee is sitting.

Off they go - And those walls are not so simple to get through.  Aparri had to switch positions on the log and get the guys up front to keep the log out of the dirt.  Solana, with more man-power, gets through the first wall faster but they are neck and neck to the table and working on the maze - where the Brains finally helped out... though still very close, it was Aparri! (Brains/Beauty/Brawn) tribe winning immunity.
That means it's the first time for a lot of the former Brawn tribe to visit Tribal Council.  Tony can't believe they lost that challenge - but they have the numbers and in his mind LJ is a threat, he'll be the first to go.

Solana - Day 14
They return to camp still a little shell shocked that they lost. LJ knows this puts him and Jefra on the block and he goes to Cliff/Lindsey/Tony and just asks them to consider that he can still help them in challenges. 
But later Woo says he's just as good as LJ, they don't need him for challenges - Cliff agrees, they are looking to take out the strength threat, plus he's been talking to Trish and they want to break that up.  It looks like they are all thinking LJ first.

-Trish tells LJ not to worry about it, he's in.  They (being her and Tony) have wanted to get Cliff out so if LJ and Jefra vote Cliff with her and Tony, they'll have the numbers.
-It doesn't make sense to LJ why any of the Brawn tribe would be looking to flip but if it'll keep him there and not having to play his idol - he's in.
-Trish is sure they'll be able to blind-side Cliff and she loves it.

-But Lindsey has her number, she's 100% sure that Trish will flip on them.  Cliff and Woo try to reassure her that won't happen.

-Trish then talks to Tony and pitches they stay the course and take out Cliff like they had been trying to do before but Tony thinks that's crazy now that the tribes have been switched up.  They need to get rid of LJ, he's got drive and he's strategic.  To Trish, this is their chance to get rid of Cliff before a merge where he'll win every immunity challenge.  Tony says he trusts Trish to her face - but he tells the camera he's not sure what he's going to do. (Bye LJ.)

-Cliff takes Tony aside and asks him what Trish was saying to him.  Tony tries to lie but Cliff knows, and standing over Tony he decrees that Tony let Trish try and make her move, it's still three against four and then they'll vote her ass right out.  Tonight it's LJ. (Cliff just bullied Tony, I don't think that was a very smart move.)

TRIBAL COUNCIL
LJ said arriving back at camp with two Beauty and five Brawn made him feel like he and Jefra were a couple selling their home, just waiting for the word and they'll get out of their way.
-Cliff says you'd think we'd keep moving forward with the numbers but there is always that person who's not happy with where they're at, who can't put their emotions aside.
-Woo agrees, you have to trust in what you are a part of...(but you've made it clear to Trish she's not a part of your alliance, so she should be happy to be on the bottom?  This is where Brawn lacks the finesse to keep everyone happy - they are trying to strong-arm her into doing what they want.)
-Trish agrees with Jeff that it's kind of a test of loyalty and she does agree that numbers are important but only if they work for you - if they don't then you might have to make other arrangements for yourself. (Oh yeah, Lindsey and Cliff look like their heads are going to explode at that comment.)
-Jefra agrees this is good news for them - she gets that numbers are important but someone is the bottom man in that five and the bottom man is not going to get to the top on their own.
-Lindsey is having trouble with the rain on her face (it's pouring on them) but after squeegeeing off she says they have to stick together so they can move forward without LJ and Jefra (nice.)
-Cliff likens finally going to Tribal Council to an NBA playoff game (which makes everyone "Say what?") - but he says it never starts until you lose a game, then you can regroup, make adjustments and go forward.
-Tony says this vote will definitely shift things, either we'll go forward as a team or we'll step back and go forward with a different team, it all depends on how the vote goes down.

Time to Vote:
Woo votes for LJ - says he doesn't want him to make the merge and reconnect with his beauty tribe (Ha! what Beauty tribe?)
Jefra votes for Cliff - "You can't call the shots forever."
Tony says, "Nothing personal, just strategical." (They don't show us his vote.)

Tallying the Votes:
Anyone have a hidden immunity idol... And LJ doesn't play it (What?)
LJ - 1
Cliff - 1
LJ - 2
Cliff - 2
LJ - 3
Cliff - 3
Final vote is for... CLIFF! (HA! I can't believe they actually did it!) Woo looked like he was going to cry and Lindsey almost swallowed her tongue - WOW, that was a magnificent blind-side!  So fun to watch, I actually cheered ;)
And with Cliff's ignoble departure, that also takes Drew C, Karen S. and Katie L. out of the pool.

Next week: Lindsey and Trish's animosity comes to a head and it looks like LJ tries to play peacemaker.

Cliff's final thoughts - he got too comfortable in his four alliance and thought he was keeping up with everything that was going on around camp but it just goes to show, you never know. (I think his undoing was trying to bully Tony, he didn't give the littler man the respect he thought he deserved and it bit the big man in he butt.)

Well, that was fun!

Have a great rest of your week everyone.

Coleen.

The Amazing Race All Stars - March 16th Episode Recap

Smarter, Not Harder

Last week we said good-bye to Meghan & Joey before he got too annoying - they really have had the worst cab luck - not having their taxi wait for them on the Roadblock cost them the game.

This week, the leg started with Dave & Connor reading the clue at 9:06am to make their way to Prince Phillip Park (so they are staying in Malaysian Borneo.)  Dave & Connor are just happy to still be healthy and running the Race past leg three (where they had to quit last time.)
-Cowboys second out at 9:08am
-Leo & Jamal - 9:14am

-The Cowboys are the first team to get to the clue box in the park - it's a ROADBLOCK: Who has a spring in their step?
-They have to jump on a bamboo trampoline until they get high enough to grab their flag that is suspended from the ceiling of the long house (adjusted for height.)
-Ginger Cord is doing this one (Jet tends to make him do the more physical stuff - that's what little brothers are for.)
-Dave & Connor get there and Connor is doing this (that's what having kids is for ;))
-Leo & Jamal get there and Leo is going to do this one.

-Cord starts his jumps and... this is not going to be easy.  He falls pretty short of reaching the flag.  And they only have three tries before the next team gets a shot, so he has to step out and let Connor have a go... and he gets it on the first try (apparently cowboys can't jump.)
-Dave & Connor get the next clue which tells them to fly to Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia - only three flights available and seating is limited.  Off they go.
-Cord is jumping again and still can't reach the flag - he has to step out this time to let Leo have his go.
-Leo doesn't make it on his first set of three, but he does on the second go around.  Cord still cannot jump high enough.  The Afghanimals take their leave.

-Dave & Connor are first to the airport, first on first flight.

-Margie & Luke are the next team to start the leg at 9:58am... and we learn that Luke is gay (did we know that?) The story of him coming out to his Mom was touching - she already knew and it didn't change their relationship, just as strong as ever. (Awww.)

-Leo & Jamal are the second team on the first flight - and we find out there are only three spots available on that flight.

-Back at the long house, Cord still hasn't been able to reach that darn flag (they finally found a challenge the cowboys can't do... huh, that makes me a little sad.)  Finally, he makes it on the 47th!! attempt (oof.  But I gotta say one thing, there is no whining and no giving up with those boys, he would have kept at it all day if he needed to - I love that about them.)

-Margie & Luke get to the Roadblock and he's going to do it, she's a little leery that he won't be able to hear the music/beat but too bad, he's doing it.  On his first attempt, he was watching the guy counting down so hard he couldn't look up at the flag and he fell on his butt... (hmm, this could also take a while.)

-Jet and a very sweaty Cord get to the airport and are the third team on the first flight.  That flight will be 1 1/2 hours ahead of the second flight (that is quite a lead.)

-The Globetrotters are the next team starting the leg at 11:04am... and you have to love these guys, they take the time to play with the local kids a bit, giving one kid a Globetrotters head band - so cute.

-We flash back to the long house and see Luke grab the flag (way to go!)
-The Globetrotters get to the Roadblock and Big Easy is finally doing the task -  they had to set the flag right up in the rafters for him... and it's going to take some momentum to get him up that high.

-At the airport - Margie & Luke find out they are the first team on the second flight.  And we find out the distribution - there will be three teams on the first flight, two on the second and three on the third.

-Big Easy gets his flag and falls on the trampoline - then hobbles away rubbing his back - a bamboo trampoline is like concrete, it doesn't give. (Ouch, don't break the Big Man!) They are the 2nd team on the second flight.

-Caroline & Jennifer are the next team heading out at 11:17am and they are surrounded by the kids the Globetrotters had attracted... or they could just love the blond hair.
-At the Roadblock, Caroline is excited to be doing the trampoline until she finds out it's a wooden trampoline... and she's having trouble finding the coordination to even get in the air. (Uh oh.)
-Once she concentrates on the beat, she finally gets in the air and grabs that flag.  They are first on the third flight which is only 25 minutes behind the second flight.

-John & Jessica next team out at 12:13pm - They have adjusted their mindset from the last time they ran the Race - they are not trying to be first on every leg, they want to run it smarter. (Hope that works out - cause you can't win if you're not first at least once - at the end.)
-They get to the Roadblock and Jessica says she'll do this one... and she proves rhythmically challenged as well.  Not much airtime happening.
-15th attempt, she couldn't get the rhythm, she was slipping on the wood and kept falling on her butt.  Looks like her discouragement may be their undoing.

-Brendan & Rachel are the last team to depart at 12:45pm - they say their outlook on the race has changed this time as well - last time he just wanted to make it to the end, which they did - but this time they want to win - Rachel says it's because she wants babies and he said if they win, they can have babies. (Ho boy, watch out for the lady on the baby train - that could get ugly.)

-And speaking of ugly... Jessica's feet were just destroyed by the bamboo trampoline - she still hasn't reached the flag but because they have to do this in bare feet, she's got huge blisters and her feet
start bleeding.  She has to stop to have medical take a look and wrap her feet.  Once that's done - she gets that flag and they head out.

-Brendan & Rachel get to the Roadblock and she's jumping... maybe.  He yells at her, "Smarter not harder!" and she says (my favourite line so far) "I'm trying my smartest!" (Hahaha) And then we find out she was trying to do this in pantyhose and that's why she kept falling down - once the hose came off - she got the flag right away. (Just shaking my head... that was her smartest?)

-Hours later, the first flight finally heads out - it's way later in the day, they had a long wait at the airport.
-Second flight was delayed which allowed the third flight to leave at about the same time - so that means Margie & Luke and the Globetrotters are possibly now in the rear and Margie & Luke were eliminated in leg four by the Globetrotters the last time they were on the show... hoping this is not a case of deja vu.

First flight lands and they jump in cabs to the intersection where the clue box awaits - Leo & Jamal are the first team there and they get the clue to the DETOUR: Mixmaster or Master mix? both tasks require the teams to join the nightlife at Sky Bar.
Mix Master: they have to choose a scratch coach and learn how to DJ. (Hear a scratch pattern, copy it - seven different patterns of increasing difficulty.) If they fail they have to go to the back of the line to try again.
Master Mix: they have to properly pour a pyramid of cocktails without mixing the colours. (Oh, how do I describe this?) they have seven martini glasses set up, row of four on the bottom and row of three offset on the top - then they have seven shakers one inside the other and they have to pour from one end of the shaker snake to the other, getting the contents of the different shakers in the different glasses...all red on the bottom row, all yellow on the top (OMG! No thanks.)
-Leo bar-tends for a living so they choose Master Mix.
-Dave & Connor and the Cowboys choose Master Mix as well - they all have zero rhythm, no DJ-ing for these boys.
-Afghanimals get to the Sky Bar and they want to join the party ... but when it comes to mixing the drinks, it's all business - (Am I the only one that thinks this looks impossible for a lay person to pull off?)
-Cowboys and Dave & Connor get up to the bar and none of them drink (Dave & Connor are Mormons, and I remember the Cowboys drinking beer for the first time in Germany on the Race before.) This is going to be ridiculous. 
-And the Afghanimals show us, on their first attempt - everything comes up orange - there is no yellow and red.  FAIL.

-Second flight arrives one minute before the third flight so they are all scrambling for taxis - Margie & Luke end up sharing a van with the Globetrotter.  Brendan & Rachel and John & Jessica also grab a van and the Country Singers are able to beg a taxi to take them alone.

-At the bar - no one is pouring these drinks right - between the spilling and breaking of glasses - this is one expensive Detour for the show.

-Brendan & Rachel and John & Jessica are the next team to the Detour clue box and Jessica wants to learn to DJ while Rachel is sure her years of cocktail waitressing with let her pour 7 drinks at once.
-Country Singers are doing Mix Master - music should be right up their alley.
-Globetrotters are Mix Mastering with the DJ and Margie & Luke are going to try pouring the drinks.

-In the bar, the Afghanimals are cutting their losses - they decide to switch tasks.
-On their 10th attempt, the Cowboys succeed in pouring the drinks! (Right on, back to form these two.) They get the clue to the PIT STOP, Batu Caves.

-The Afghanimals are learning the DJ-ing... well, Jamal is trying to learn and Leo can't stop kicking himself for how much time they wasted on the drinks.. then he tries the scratching and he can't do it - of course not, PAY ATTENTION!

The rest of the teams arrive... just as Dave & Connor finally have a perfect pour! (It was a thing of beauty - yes, I'm biased because this is my team.)

-There are now four teams learning the scratching - much to Leo & Jamals dismay - but it's the Globetrotters that make the first attempt in the actual DJ booth.  Leo & Jamal are right behind them.
-But the Globetrotters also proved that practice is required - FAIL.
-Leo & Jamal get up there and their practice worked out for them - they Passed! and got the clue for the Pit Stop.

-Back behind the bar - Brendan & Rachel and Margie & Luke are pouring some pretty orange drinks - ho boy.
-Globetrotters are trying the DJ-ing again, followed by John & Jessica this time.
-Globetrotters fail again.
-John & Jessica - they did alright on the first scratch but then she tried to rewind the disc or something - Crash and Burn!
-Globetrotters head back up and back down.

-Brendan & Rachel are talking about switching tasks but they decide to stick it out... and they almost got it and their 14th attempt - Arghh! Except the last glass!
-Luke can't even look - on Margie's 13th attempt and she's trying to tell him to calm down, his epic frustration is not helping here.

-John & Jessica fail DJ-ing again, Globetrotters fail again... and then the Country Singers get in on the mix.  And the Blond girls proved that extra practice time paid off - they pass and get the clue to the Pit Stop.
-John & Jessica finally slow their roll and get the scratches right!

-Brendan wants to smash some glasses - and Luke is freaking out even more when he sees another team leave and they cannot get the drinks thing done.
-Brendan on his 28th attempt - Margie on 23rd attempt - Margie & Luke have to make this work too - they don't really have the option to change tasks with him being deaf.

-Globetrotters finally scratch it right and take off for the Pit Stop.
-Luke reaches his breaking point, drops the shakers on the floor and stalks off to the bathroom to cry.  Margie says he doesn't think he can do it anymore. (I'm frustrated with Luke, this is his third time around on the Race, you'd think he'd have learned how to control the emotion a little better by now.)
-Luke comes back out and Margie makes him sweep up the broken glass.  Brendan & Rachel even come over and try to bolster him (why are you all coddling him? He's a grown man, acting like a big baby!)
-But back to pouring and neither team is any closer to getting these drinks poured correctly.  Margie asks if Brendan & Rachel want to give up and take the time penalty together - but Rachel doesn't think they should. "You should never give up on the Amazing Race."
-This pep talk was just what Margie & Luke needed.  They focused, worked together and actually poured those drinks correctly.  Margie says, "Rachel turned it around for us."
-Too bad it didn't work on Brendan, cause their drinks were still muddled up messes.

And the club is now closed - the music is off - everyone is gone... except Brendan & Rachel... Then she leads them in a prayer which they scored it with inspirational music (really?) After 3 hours and 12 minutes, they finally make the perfect pour.

 Here's How They Finished:
1) Jet & Cord - they won a trip to London, England.  Cord said, "We're like butter... we're on a roll." (Ha, groan, ha.)
2) Dave & Connor - I think they got some education spending three hours in a bar.
3) Leo & Jamal - they're still hungry for a first place finish, but them cowboys are tough to beat.
4) Caroline & Jennifer
5) Jessica & John
6) Flight Time & Big Easy
7) Margie & Luke - Phil asks what is it with them and drinks (Luke had a meltdown at a tea task before.) They said Rachel was so nice and encouraging, she's probably regretting that right now.
8) Brendan & Rachel - NON-ELIMINATION Leg... they will encounter a Speed Bump next leg. (At least Rachel has matured in the Race - Luke could learn a thing or two from her lack of whining and crying this time.)

Next week - Cowboys do some fishing - the Globetrotters are spinning some plates and Brendan & Rachel go for broke on a 30 minute connecting flight (Watch them sprint through the airport!)

Have a great week everyone,
Coleen

Survivor Brawn vs Brains vs Beauty - March 12, 2014 Episode Recap

Our Time to Shine

Last week it was Beauty's turn at Tribal Council and they got rid of the fabulous Brice which leaves B.McGee without a buddy.

Beauty - Night 8
Returning from Tribal Council Morgan (B.McGee) realizes she's alone on the bottom and starts to stir things up.  She calls out Jeremiah right in front of everyone, asking him why he changed his mind about the vote when it was he and Brice that came to her... (not exactly.) He was surprised by her frontal attack and there was a lot of, "well, um, you know..." (Jeremiah, not a wordsmith that's for sure.)
-Later, they're all in the shelter except Jeremiah who was tending the fire, and Morgan seizes the opportunity to apologize to Alexis for voting for her but it was Jeremiah's idea, he was all fired up to take out LJ but thought they should go for the easier vote first...(Oh yeah, that got LJ's attention - and wow, is Morgan ever a liar - LJ had it right from the beginning, that girl is nothing but trouble.)

Brains - Day 9
They get tree mail clueing them into the fact it's going to be a blindfolded challenge to win food and, true to form, Tasha wants to practice.  J'Tia is up for that; they are hungry because she dumped out the rice so she wants to prove herself by helping them win food. (Sounds like her hearts in the right place but I wouldn't hold my breath.)

REWARD CHALLENGE
One person is the caller and will direct pairs of blindfolded tribe mates around a cordoned off area to collect five items - once they get an item they have to return to the caller, and hoist it up to them on a platform/pulley system.  Once the five items are retrieved, they will be sent out for their final item - their flag.  First team back with the flag wins reward which is LIVE CHICKENS (3 egg laying hens and a rooster.) 2nd tribe will win a dozen eggs.  3rd tribe gets nothing.
Brawn sits Woo & Sarah.  Beauty sits Morgan (because she has no friends.)
Callers are: Brains - Tasha, Beauty - Alexis, Brawn - Cliff
Since there are only 4 people per team, that means the three non-callers are split into a pair to retrieve and one person remains behind to help hoist - they have to hoist both sides of the platform at the same time or the item will fall off... just to add a wrinkle.
Off they go... and they seem to all be doing pretty well, except the callers seem to forget to tell them when they are going to nard themselves - LJ and Spencer take obstacles to their 'special places' a couple times (oof!)
-Beauty & Brains were neck and neck until the last item when J'Tia didn't pull the platform up and dropped their item - which allows the BEAUTY tribe to win the chickens.
-J'Tia screws up again getting the flag to the top and allows the BRAWN tribe to come from way behind and win the eggs.
-J'Tia couldn't even take simple directions... wow, she did not redeem herself in any way.

Beauty - Day 9
They return the victors with their chickens and Jeremiah (the Genius) sticks his hand in the bag of feed and finds a note to the hidden immunity idol, which everyone saw so he reads it out.  LJ is so glad he already found the idol because the clue was so obvious the idol would have been found and it would have been a group idol - not good. 
-Alexis seems to have no interest in looking for the idol though, she wants to know if they need the rooster for the hens to lay eggs, and if not... (winner, winner, Chicken Dinner!)  Oh, hold on, I was giving her too much credit.  She just honestly doesn't know and then they kill one of the chickens, not the rooster. (Huh?)
-LJ was laughing that they are the stereotypical Beauty tribe, as if he's smarter than the rest... but why did he let Jeremiah kill a hen?  I'm confused but, whatever they got to eat and Jeremiah hopes he made some man points by killing the chicken and feeding the tribe.
-Morgan says she'll thank him for the food but she still doesn't like Jeremiah, she thinks he's a big fat liar (takes one to know one) and she doesn't know why he's on their tribe, this is supposed to be the Beautiful tribe (she says that like being called ugly is the most horrible insult in the world - is it wrong I wish a disfiguring accident on her so she may one day become a person of substance?)

Brawn - Day 9
While Cliff and Lindsay are clowning around, Sarah is playing the game just like Tony wanted.  She wants to take Cliff out now. Tony told her Cliff and Lindsay were talking about taking her out so they are now her enemies.  She goes to Woo (but Cliff's his idol) oh, Sarah is smart though, she says he doesn't need the money and ding, ding - Woo is on board.  Cliff's already got huge bank, "it would be nice for one of us to achieve that million dollar success, other than Cliff."
-Woo's trying to affiliate himself with the majority, he'll do what he needs to... then Tony walks over and he's gone (wow, holy ninja skills - he just disappeared.)
-Tony wants to know from Sarah what they were whispering about and she tells him that Woo is 100% with them, then we get Tony logic, "You tell me to trust him, I'll trust him... but I don't trust him." Anyway, they do the 'swear on my badge/I'm with you'-thing again, but Tony tells the camera, that means nothing to him, he's there to lie, cheat and steal everyone's dreams from them.

Brawn - Day 11
They get tree mail and it says something about sink or swim... and sinking the shot - well they have basketball star Cliff on their tribe so it's a no-brainer, he feels they'll have it in the bag.
-But Sarah has another plan, she approaches Trish about them throwing the challenge (WHAT? The only time I agreed with throwing a challenge was the one season they did it to vote Russell Hantz out because we all know he's the devil and the less time anyone is subjected to him is a good thing... but this...)  It looks like Sarah is revenge blind and playing right into Tony's hand.  She rationalizes it by saying what if they merge into two tribes, they need to get Cliff out before that happens.
-Trish says it feels wrong to throw a challenge but she'll do it.
-Then Sarah approaches Woo and he's more rational, why would they jeopardize numbers right now, they are the only tribe still with six people - but he tells the camera his true reason - he just wants to watch his basketball idol shoot hoops today - but that's not how the rest of his tribe feels, so he's torn.

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE
Oh, and it looks like I might have been right - the challenge platforms are out in the middle of the ocean - so it's water polo basketball?
-Jeff explains, first they have to dive down and release the buoys (balls) one at a time and get them to their platform.  Once they have all five buoys, they then have to throw them into the basket (from one platform to the other where the basket is.) 
-First two teams to get all their balls in the basket win immunity and last place is going to tribal council.
Brawn sits Tony & Lindsay and Beauty sits Alexis.

Off they go and Brains is as horrible as ever - J'Tia, first in the water, proves useless, cannot get a buoy.  Then Tasha gets one, but Kass also can't get the 2nd buoy... and meanwhile the girls on the Brawn tribe are trying to throw the challenge by pretending they can't get the buoys but they can't even pretend to be as bad as the Brainers.
-Beauty has all five of their buoys with Brains and Brawn only on their third buoys.
-Jeremiah proves he can shoot and they get all five baskets before the other two tribes even start shooting.  Beauty wins first Immunity.
-Spencer has to be a one man band with this one, he got the rest of the buoys for Brains and has to shoot the balls - Kass & J'Tia are in the water to return the misses but they can't even do that.
-Woo finally gets Brawn their fifth buoy and Cliff starts shooting, he makes a couple misses - Sarah & Trish are still trying to slow him down by getting his misses back to him slowly but Cliff is able to gets the five balls in the basket before the Brains tribe because, once again, J'Tia could not get the balls back to Spencer for him to shoot them... even trying to throw the challenge, the Brawn tribe beat the Brains.  (J'Tia has got to go now, right?  Come on!)  Sarah laughs to the camera, she tried to help them out but the Green tribe sucks.  They deserve to lose after that. (Amen, sister.)

Brains - Day 11
-Spencer feels jipped that he has to go to Tribal Council when he's doing well in the challenges.  The girls have succeeded in putting themselves in the power position but in doing so, they've run the tribe into the ground.  J'Tia keeps messing up in challenges but history is not in Spencer's favour - he still feels like he could be the one going home.
-So he's working it, appealing to Kass and Tasha's intellect and sense of fairness.  They have a quick pow-wow and agree that it makes no logical sense to keep J'Tia, she can't do anything and they have to try and keep the stronger player. 
-They also agree not to tell Spencer he's safe, they are still going to play it like he's the one going home to make J'Tia feel safe (they're still mad about the rice, let's not give her the chance to burn the shelter down next.) 
-But when they give J'Tia their spiel about sticking together - J'Tia gets choked up and tells them she appreciates them going to bat for her and no matter what she'll have their backs - well, now Tasha is having a change of heart (OH COME ON!) she thinks they may need a loyal person over someone that can win challenges. 
-Kass is fine being the hatchet man either way - it's a gamble no matter how they play it - she just wants Tasha to make up her mind (I KNOW! Sheesh.)

TRIBAL COUNCIL
Jeff just throws up his hands and shakes his head at them. (That would be the best Tribal Council EVER, if he just shook his head and told them to go vote. Haha ha, but that didn't happen.)

-J'Tia says some bull about her usually rising to the occasion but swimming is just not her thing.
-Tasha says that's not really true, usually in challenges they have to find a role for her so she doesn't screw things up.
-J'Tia says she knows she's weak in challenges but that doesn't make her the weakest link on the tribe. 
-Tasha says their decision today is whether to go with Spencer who is strong in challenges but kicked her out of the alliance with him and Garrett or, go with J'Tia who has nothing going for her but loyalty.
-Jeff reminds them they have to actually still be in the game for loyalty to matter... and what happens when you factor in the "Rice Incident."
-Kass says she views the "Rice Incident" not as disloyalty but an emotional response - J'Tia's a hot head and makes bad decisions - but Kass gets her.  Though Kass is scared that she, herself, may make a bad decision tonight.
-Spencer and J'Tia are blah, blah, blahing and Tasha & Kass are giving each other looks and nods... which Jeff totally catches and points out to Spencer - they're not even listening to you, how does that make you feel?
-Spencer says watching at home he'd love this but being the one in it - it feels pretty awful.  He'd be devastated to go home so soon.
-Kass says watching from home she'd be yelling at the TV, "Don't do something stupid." But she's not sure what decision is stupid. (Oh, you so do know.)
-Jeff goads Spencer into making a plea for his life but he's looking so pissed off it doesn't come off as genuine. "I'm loyal to you two. (Okay?)" (that was implied.) "I can help you win challenges and all I'm asking for is a chance."

Time To Vote:
Spencer votes J'Tia
J'Tia votes Spencer

Tallying the votes:
No hidden immunity idol
J'Tia - 1
Spencer - 1
J'Tia - 2... 3  And finally J'Tia's crazy luck has run out.
With J'Tia leaving, Roxanne S., Wendy E., and Me are out of the pool (but I'm okay with that - she really had to go.)

Next time:  They are switching up the tribes! Maybe the remaining Brainers can hold on after all.

J'Tia's final thoughts: She was not surprised they voted her out - she threw the rice out and sucked in challenges.  Part of her wishes them well and part of her hopes they starve.  She's going to learn from this and grow outside the game. (Whatever! B'bye.)

Have a great rest of the week everyone,

Coleen
 

Amazing Race All-Stars - March 9, 2014 Episode Recap

Welcome to the Jungle

Last week the Country Singers wheedled the 2nd Express Pass from the Cowboys and, forgetting Mark's backpack ended up costing the Race for team Kentucky, Mark & Mallory.

This week Brendan & Rachel are the first team to head out at 6:22pm - they read the clue to head to Malaysian Borneo, once there they must make their way to a waterfall... and there are only two flights available with limited seating.  There is only room for six teams on the first flight and there is a three hour difference between the flights.  Rachel knows being 3 hours behind can break a team.

-Margie and Luke are the next team out at 6:23 pm - they realize they have to listen to each other better (Uhh... yes, she actually said that.)
-Country Singers - 6:24pm - they know the Express Pass kept them in the game.
-Dave & Connor - 6:26pm - Dave is just happy to have made it past the second leg... still on two legs.  (Yes! Stay healthy and win mama some moola!)
-Globetrotters - 6:27pm 
-Cowboys - 6:28pm - they are really glad to have the 2nd Express Pass done and gone - they are happy to be the only team still with an Express Pass in play.

-Rachel & Brendan end up getting stuck in traffic on the way to the airport and are just hoping that everyone is in the same boat and they can still be the first team to the airport... but no such luck. -Dave & Connor are the first team on the first flight, followed by Luke & Margie.  Dave & Margie have an, "I'm too old for this" high five moment... it was cute.

Afghanimals - 6:36pm - Jamal jumps in front of a cab to get him to stop and they try to get across the fact they need to go to the airport by making airplane noises... "You don't speak Chinese, just make random noises."
John & Jessica - 6:49pm
Joey & Meghan - 6:50pm - the Internet is their life, it's their job, so to unplug completely has been an incredible outlet (doesn't sound like she's missing it, but enjoying actually getting out there and doing things - that's a good message.)

-At the airport - the Cowboys are the next team on the first flight, then the Globetrotters and the Country Singers... and they're all waiting to see who makes the final spot.
-Brendan & Rachel are still stuck in traffic - she's stressing out and he's trying to reassure her that they're not the only one's stuck... but it kind of looks like they are.
-Afghanimals are hoping that the cab luck is with them and some other teams are stuck or lost...
And it's a bit of a foot race when the Afghanimals and Brendan & Rachel get to the airport almost at the same time - the Afghanimals just make it to the counter for the sixth spot on the first flight leaving Brendan & Rachel right where they didn't want to be - first on the second flight and fighting not to be last.

-The last three teams, Brendan & Rachel, Joey & Meghan and John & Jessica have a bit of a bonding moment in the airport, wanting to try and work together to catch up to the first flight... they are all really friendly before they leave but I don't see that lasting through the leg.

First flight lands in Malaysian Borneo and they're running for taxis - Dan & Connor are the first team out and to the waterfall where they get the clue for the ROADBLOCK - Who will fall for this one?
-One person will have to strap the roaming gnome to their back and rappel down the 10 storey waterfall, retrieving their next clue on the way down.
-Dad/Dave is doing this one. 
-Afghanimals get there as well - Jamal does it.
-Dave gets it done pretty quickly and they read the Route Info clue to make their way to (some really long name) and follow the marked path to the river.
-Cowboys get to the waterfall and ginger Cord is doing the rappel.
-Luke is right behind them doing this one.
-Cord was so focused in trying to get down the waterfall wearing jeans that he missed the clue - it was on his left, he was looking right... he has to go again. (D'oh!) Which allows Luke & Margie to pass them.

-Globetrotters get there and once Big Easy is able to extricate himself from the cab, he finds out he's too big for the equipment so Flight Time has to do this task as well. (Poor guy, he better start being able to so some of these things or they could be in trouble.)
-Country singers are right behind them and Jennifer is going for them (hmm, I seem to remember she's not good in water...) but she does well.

2nd flight is just leaving China - or they just showed them leaving.

-Dave & Connor get to their next destination and they get the clue for the DETOUR - River Delivery or Run Through the Jungle.  No matter which task they choose, they first have to assemble a bamboo raft and ride it down the river to the task of their choice.
-In River Delivery, they have to transport goods on the river to a village, deliver the goods to the chief, then continue riding the rapids down the river.
-In Run Through the Jungle, they have to join a native hunting party, stalk through the jungle and hit a fake target with a blow pipe - then return to their raft and head down river.
Once the teams complete their journey down river, they'll get their next clue.

Dave & Connor decide on River Delivery.  First they have to build their raft which could be the hardest part in this whole thing.
-Afghanimals are right behind them and then Margie & Luke - all doing the River Delivery.
-Dave & Connor get the raft together, gather their supplies and head out on the river... and I forgot Dave is a crier.  He gets choked up talking about being healthy out on the river and being able to do this with his son. (I don't want to make fun of him, it was a nice sentiment - but suck it up!)
-Cowboys get there and they are also doing River Delivery - they seem excited to be building a raft as well. 
-Afghanimals get their stuff together and get out on the river - it makes sense for them to do a delivery instead of hunting for something (they proved last time they raced that finding things isn't their strong suit.)
-Margie & Luke try to get the raft on the river but just dragging it down there - the raft fell apart - they don't know how to tie knots. (That could be a huge issue.)
-Cowboys are their usual machine on the task and take off - Margie & Luke do get on the river but when they can't use their hands or see each other (one has to be in he front, one in the back) it's almost impossible for them to communicate - and they end up turned around and hitting shore.
-Country singers get there and decide they are going to Run Through the Jungle... (you go, ladies!)
-Globetrotters get there and take the time to interact with the locals, they miss entertaining and having fun like they do in their "jobs".  But down to raft building... will it be buoyant enough to float Big Easy?

-On the River - Dave & Connor see the marked sign for a village but Dave thought they had to go under 6 bridges and they'd only done 3 - the clue was in Connors pants... they kept going.
-Jamal & Leo come to the sign and read their clue - yup, this is the village where they have to deliver the goods - Dave & Connor must have missed it (Argghh! Coming back is going to be hell against the current, not good news for my team, Dave & Connor.)
-After delivering to the chief, Jamal & Leo come back down to the river as the Cowboys get there - they're not sure if it's the deliver or hunt place so they stop to check (smart) and they ask Leo & Jamal... who really want to lie, and last season would have lied... but they prove good guys and confirm, this is the right place for the delivery.  (OH, and they tell the camera it's because they don't want to be U-Turned again, so they're going to be nice to everyone. So, it's calculated, but smart.)
-Jet & Cord deliver their goods and get the next clue.

-Dave & Connor get to the next marked stop after the sixth bridge and they realize it's the hunting task and they've missed the delivery point. Connor, "Holy crap, Dad. We're toast."  They figure they have to keep going so they go past the hunting party, land their raft and then start walking back with their box of goods. (Huh? Are they going to try and walk back to the village?  I'm confused.)

Meanwhile - the Second flight has landed and the three remaining teams hit cabs for the waterfall.

-Jamal & Leo  hit the white water and it all goes sideways for them, literally - their raft gets stuck in some tree roots - they wrench it free but now their raft is falling apart and Jamal's in the water... when what should they see, the Cowboys enjoying their day of rafting, floating right on by. (I guess just telling the truth didn't make the Cowboys feel like they had to help them out.)
-Margie & Luke - make their delivery.
-Country Singers get caught up on a rock and have to get off their raft to free it - when Jen gets her finger caught... but after some minor drama, she's free and fine.
-Globetrotter also have trouble with the rapids and almost get caught in the same spot the Afghanimals did - but they make it through, only to hit larger rocks that dumps them off the raft but they're still holding on - no one's going to die today!

2nd group - gets to the waterfall
-John & Jessica - tell the cab to wait.
-Rachel & Brendan- also has their cab wait.
-Joey & Meghan - pay their cab driver and he leaves. (Uh oh!)

Back at the river - Dave & Connor are walking their box of goods back and finally find the chief - then they have to walk all the way back to where they left the raft way down river... well, nothing like doing it the hard way.

-Caroline & Jen and the Globetrotters get to the Run Through the Jungle task - the girls choose the girl warrior to be their guide (of course) and she shows them how to shoot with the blow gun/bamboo stick - Jen proves to be a great shot - like her grandpa John Wayne (oh yeah, she had to get that in there.) Caroline, not so good.
-Flight Time also knocks his stuffed bird out the tree - now it's Big Easy's turn.

-Dave & Connor hoof it back to the raft which is at their destination- so they just have to hand the wood they got from the chief to the raft master and they are the first team to get the clue to the
PIT STOP - it's a water village.  (Way to go!)
-Cowboys are the next team to finish, followed by the Afghanimals who look a little worse for wear after their harrowing trip down the river.

2nd group - Jessica rappels down the waterfall, Rachel right behind her (in her underwear because she didn't want to ruin her green sequined shorts) and finally Joey is the last one down the falls... and, since they didn't have their taxi wait for them, they have to head out on foot to try and find somewhere where they can get a taxi (that is unfortunate.)

1st group -Margie & Luke get pummelled in the rapids and their raft falls apart - they have to stop on shore and use her shirt to try and tie it back together to continue down the river.  It was a tough day for them.

-Meanwhile - Joey & Meghan are having flashbacks of the last time they were eliminated, not finding a taxi and having to walk three miles, in the snow, uphill (that's really what happened.) They know they're screwed, there are no taxis - they start to run.  Then they come to a village and someone is able to call them a cab! 

-Back at the Run Through the Jungle - Caroline is still trying to hit her bird - and she gets really close... but still no luck.
-Big Easy, gets it in his first try and they have a little party with the locals - do some dancing on the beach (these guys would be so much fun!) - then it's back on the river.
-And finally Caroline hits her bird - they are in sixth place at this point.

2nd group starts arriving at the Detour:
-John & Jessica are going to do the blow dart task.
-Brendan & Rachel are also choosing Run Through the Jungle.
-John & Jessica slapped together some bamboo- I wouldn't even call it a raft - that thing is not going to hold up, Brendan & Rachel's looked professional in comparison.
-But once out on the water - John & Jessica have canoeing experience and they were sailing down the river with no problems.  Brendan & Rachel, on the other hand, have a great looking raft but don't know what they're going - they get into trouble at the rapids and hit some rocks, get turned around and the raft starts falling apart.  True to form, Brendan is left to fix it while Rachel cries and loudly prays for divine intervention. (Shut up and help, sheesh!)

Joey & Meghan get to the Detour and they also choose Run Through the Jungle.  Their parents are carpenters so they are confident in constructing their raft.  (Uh, okay.)  They know they have a lot of time to make up so they better get a move on it.

-Brendan & Rachel are back on the river and he's literally trying to hold their raft together with his arms - Rachel'd like to know how the country singers did this.

-John & Jessica get to the hunt and they choose the girl guide as well (she must be the best! :)) - Jessica gets her bird on the first try and John struggles.

-Joey & Meghan get on the river and they are doing pretty well.

-Brendan & Rachel do not have smooth sailing - when they hit the actual rapids, they crunch right on some rocks, he falls off and the raft falls apart - so now they are both in the water with no raft... but they did grab the Gnome!
-True to form, Rachel's whining that they're done, he jumps in the water to find their cross piece and the rope... and he finds it - rebuilding the raft part...3?

-John finally kills his bird and they take off down the river.

-Brendan & Rachel have one more freak out "This is dangerous" moment in the rapids but they finally make it to the Hunt.  And neither proves very skilled with the blow dart.
-Brendan gets his bird... Rachel is trying and she was worried because they hadn't seen Joey & Meghan, didn't know if they'd done the other task... Rachel should just be focusing to get through this.

 Here's How They Finished:
1) Dave & Connor - Yay! "We Love the Gnome!"  They won a trip to Budapest, Hungary.
2) Jet & Cord - Heehaw guys!
3) Leo & Jamal - right behind the Cowboys on the mat.
4) Margie & Luke - communication is still and issue.
5) The Globetrotters - They're just glad they made it!
6) Caroline & Jennifer - technically last place from the first group, but they're still in it.
7) John & Jessica - Looking at these two, they should be placing better than they are- I think they need to get their confidence back.
8) Brendan & Rachel - Phil toys with them a little, "If there is one thing I can say about you, it's that you race hard... and you're still in the Race, you're team #8." That wasn't nice... but really, she was going to cry anyway.
9) Joey & Meghan - **ELIMINATED** - They thought they were a pretty tough team but this time around, playing with veterans has proven even more difficult.
-They wanted to give their fans the experience of going on the race with them again so it's kind of embarrassing to be out so soon... but what can you do. (I'm sorry to say, I don't think I'll really miss them.)
And with Joey & Meghan's elimination, Lois L, Kevin R.,Ozzy R., and Jessica C. are out of the pool.

Next week: Jessica fights through the pain (Ouch! Huge blisters on her feet) and Luke loses his cool (or has a tantrum, like usual) while trying to pour drinks (hmm, that looks interesting.)

Have a great week everyone,
Coleen