The Amazing Race 21 cast of 11 new teams competing for the grand prize of $1 million includes:
Abbie & Ryan (dating divorcees)
Amy & Daniel (dating on and off)
Caitlin & Brittany (best friends)
Gary & Will (best friends/substitute teachers)
James & Abba (rock and roll friends)
Jaymes & James (Chippendales dancers/best friends)
Josh & Brent (goat farmers/life partners)
Nadiya & Natalie (twin sisters)
Rob & Kelley (married monster truckers)
Rob & Sheila (engaged lumberjacks)
Trey & Lexi (dating)
This should be fun. Three contestants named James, including one whose parents decided the name has a y in it and who also happens to be partnered with another person named James, two people named Rob, and Abba and Abbie. I’m sure we’ll be able to differentiate between them in no time. Once half a dozen teams have been eliminated.
The twist this season is that the prize will potentially double to $2 million in the event that the team that wins the first leg also wins the last leg. Not great odds, but it could happen. In each of the last two seasons, the team that won the first leg also won the last leg. In the last 8 seasons, the team that won the first leg has made it to the finals 7 times (4 of which concluded with them being winners) with the lone exception being Jordan & Jeff. I don’t know how much difference it may have made, but the last 4 seasons have involved the express pass as a prize for winning the first leg. Over all 20 seasons, the total number of teams making it to the finals after a first leg victory is 12 (including 6 winning teams). Historically, the odds are in the favor of the team that wins tonight’s leg to at least be competitive until the end, even if they don’t win it all. Perhaps now the Big Brother producers will stop being so cheap and increase their prize money.
This also marks the first season in which CBS will be rescheduling certain episodes to begin at 8:30 rather than 8:00 on the east coast. I’m not sure if that will make the scheduling easier to follow or just more confusing, but it should lead to fewer football overruns.
Trey & Lexi won’t be living together until they’re married. She hopes to win the race so he will put a ring on it. Twins Nadiya & Natalie did things like take each other’s exams and break up with the other one’s boyfriend. James was in White Lion and Megadeath, while Abba is his lawyer. After losing their jobs in the city, Josh & Brent bought a goat farm. As a result of bacterial menengitis, Amy had both her legs removed, but she is now a gold medal snowboarder. Caitlin & Brittany were college athletes who claim their blonde hair shouldn’t fool you. Sheila admits that Rob is the boss of her. Gary & Will have applied for the race 7 times. Abbie & Ryan think they are both physically strong, though they don’t mention their mental capabilities. Jaymes & James say their work with Chippendales is respectable. Rob says he’s an arrogant ass.
The starting line for the race is the Colorado Street Bridge in Pasadena, CA. But they’re not just dashing to their bags. Their first task is a 10 story rapel off the bridge. Gary’s already telling Will to shut up.
Teams will travel by plane to Shanghai, China. There are two flights 1 hour and 15 minutes apart. The first 7 teams get on the first flight, which means Josh will be left behind after letting another team cut in front of him.
First flight: James & Jaymes, Caitlin & Brittany, James & Abba, Amy & Daniel, Abbie & Ryan, Natalie & Nadiya, Rob & Kelly
Second flight: Josh & Brent, Trey & Lexi, Rob & Sheila, Gary & Will
The road block is to play table tennis against a Chinese junior champion. Their task is to score a single point. If they mess up, they have to wait for the player to go through all the other teams before returning to give them another shot. In order to handicap the champion further, he’ll swap out for items such as a clipboard and frying pan rather than a paddle.
Road block (in order of arrival): James, Caitlin, Natalie, Abbie, James, Daniel, Kelley, Trey, Rob, Gary, Josh
As easy as this may seem, ping pong in China is no joke. The good news is they only have to get lucky one time.
It’s a double road block, and the person who just got off easy is now stuck eating hasma (frog fallopian tubes) with chopsticks.
Road block (in order of arrival): Abba, Ryan, Brittany, Amy, Jaymes, Nadiya, Rob, Lexi, Sheila, Will, Brent
Unlike most gross eating challenges, this one does not seem too bad. As gross as the food may sound, nobody’s throwing up.
Of course, you have to actually follow the rules, which Rob fails to do, opting to pick it up and eat it, so he’ll need to do it again. A relatively easy way to learn an important lesson that you need to pay attention to the clues.
The pit stop for this leg of the race is the Bund Observatory, a 100 year old signal tower.
Amy & Daniel have made what could potentially be a $1 million mistake. They just told the team behind them where to look for the clue leading to the pit stop, and this team can run faster than they can. Should have told them to get lost. Harsh lesson learned, but they still seem to indicate they’d make the same mistake again given the chance. Natalie & Nadiya are smarter, and they just pretend that they haven’t seen the woman with the abacus when Rob & Kelley ask them. Gary & Will do the same when they see Jaymes & James
First: Abbie & Ryan
Second: Amy & Daniel
Third: Caitlin & Brittany
Fourth: Natalie & Nadiya
Fifth: Rob & Kelley
Sixth: James & Abba
Seventh: Josh & Brent
Eighth: Gary & Will
Ninth: Trey & Lexi
Tenth: Jaymes & James
Eliminated: Rob & Sheila
Their physical condition bails them out, as the Chippendales squeak out a tenth place finish. As the last team to arrive, Rob & Sheila have been eliminated.
Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Amazing Race 21 Episode 2, which airs Sunday at 8/7c on CBS.