Because Comcast scrambled my DVR signal, this will be the first time I’m trying to live recap this show without one. I know it tends to be a bit of a fast paced show with far too many contestants, many of whom have similar (or the same) names, but I’ll see how it goes.
Following the traditional formula, The Amazing Race 23 cast consists of 11 teams of two each with a preexisting relationship. Included in this group is the usual smattering of people who used to be famous or who know somebody famous. And of course I see meatheads, cute blondes, hippies, and gay guys.
Ally & Ashley (Ice Crew Girls)
Brandon & Adam (Childhood Friends)
Chester & Ephraim (Former NFL Teammates)
Hoskote & Naina (Father/Daughter)
Jason & Amy (Dating)
Leo & Jamal (Cousins)
Nicky & Kim (Baseball Wives)
Nicole & Travis (Married ER Doctors)
Rowan & Shane (Theater Performers)
Tim & Danny (Best Friends)
Tim & Marie (Exes)
The pit start for the race is the old wild west (or a movie set resembling it), and their first destination is the coastline of South America (Iquique, Chile). At least there when they say “rapido”, it will be correct. The winners of this first leg will win two express passes, one to keep and one to give away.
Tim & Marie are already arguing on the drive to the airport. They used to date but don’t any more because they hate each other. They should be fun.
Jason & Amy, Hoskote & Naina, Brandon & Adam, and Tim & Danny get on the second flight 3 hours behind the first 7 teams, so they will be battling for last.
Their first road block is a paragliding task in which the second teammate must follow the paraglider by taxi cab to meet them at their final destination. It’s also the first trick of the race because the person who volunteers to do the road block is not the person who’s paragliding. The way some of these people are freaking out, they’re in for a rude awakening later because this is probably the least scary heights task they will encounter.
The second road block requires them to choose a rowboat and search the harbor for 5 fish from any of 3 fishing boats, each of which has a limited number of fish. The paraglider is required to do this road block because technically they did not do the last one. Leo & Jamal neglect this detail, and Jamal does the road block anyway before someone points out the mistake.
Each of these tasks is largely moot for most of the show since the end result comes down to who was on the second plane. Following the first road block, things are looking bleak for Hoskote & Naina. Then after they arrive and she stumbles around on the boat for a while, she actually reads the clue and realizes he should be doing the task instead of her.
The clue for the pit stop (half an hour into the show?) is an early test of reading comprehension. Let’s see how many teams fail it. Nicole & Travis receive a 30 minute penalty for taking a cab rather than making their way on foot, which costs them the win.
First: Tim & Marie (win two express passes)
Second: Nicole & Travis
Third: Rowan & Shane
Fourth: Chester & Ephraim
Fifth: Nicky & Kim
Sixth: Ally & Ashley
Seventh: Leo & Jamal
Eighth: Jason & Amy
Ninth: Tim & Danny
Tenth: Brandon & Adam
Eliminated: Hoskote & Naina
Sometimes you get a surprise first elimination, but this is not one of them. Hoskote & Naina seemed to be one of the weakest teams and have been eliminated from the race.
Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Amazing Race 23 Episode 2, which airs Sunday at 8/7c on CBS.