The Amazing Race 24 cast consists of 11 teams who have competed on at least one prior season. A couple of these teams have earned the right to be called all stars, but most of them are just here because of their big (annoying) personalities.
The UCLA Bruin marching band kicks things off.
Jet & Cord say things will be easier this time because their lives have settled down. Caroline & Jennifer claim they won’t be as boy crazy. Natalie & Nadiya acknowledge they can be obnoxious. Brendon & Rachel are married now, so they plan to fight just as much as before. Jessica & John are recently engaged and realize they were dumb last time. The Harlem Globetrotters win every game… but they lost this game twice. Dave & Connor are favorites to go home early, but they get credit for giving it another go. Being annoying has not prevented Joey & Meghan from explosive Youtube subscriber growth. Leo & Jamal were liars last time, and they seem intent on being just as “creative” this time. Margie’s worried that she is 5 years older, but Luke hopes to make up for his mistake last time. Bopper & Mark hope to make money the old fashioned way… by winning a reality TV show.
The night before the race even starts, Bopper had a pancreas attack. The doctor determined he is not healthy enough to race around the world. They offer to find Mark a new partner: Mallory. She is also from Kentucky and previously raced with her father Gary in seasons 17 and 18.
Before heading to their first destination of Guangzhou, China, they start with a searching task of Chinese symbols to determine who will get on the earliest flight.
First flight: Leo & Jamal, Jet & Cord, Dave & Connor, Natalie & Nadiya
Their first task upon landing in China is to search through a street full of wedding dresses, where three shops contain clues. Natalie & Nadiya and Leo & Jamal decide to team work with each other, and the twins end up deciding that the guys are stupid and even worse than they are.
This takes them to Canton Tower, the highest tower in China and home to the world’s highest ferris wheel, where they must select random seats and hope they are not told to try again. Either that, or they can just watch the people in front of them who got it right and then just go in the same bubbles they were in.
Within the final flight, three teams get stuck on the second train: John & Jessica, Joey & Meghan, and Caroline & Jennifer. Luckily for them, the twins and Afghanimals are pathetic and join them at the back of the pack. The twins bail on them and start searching with the equally clueless singers.
The road block requires teams to perform five high wire flips 300 feet in the air. It’s actually an extremely quick and simple road block for those who can overcome the fear.
Road block (in order of arrival): Cord, Brendon, Connor, Margie, Leo, Mallory, Flight Time, two teams they don’t show, Joey, Natalie
The pit stop for this leg of the race is Guangzhou Opera House. There is no detour, and the pit stop is within walking distance, so it all comes down to the dumb luck of the ferris wheel.
First: Jet & Cord (win an express pass plus another to give away)
Second: Brendon & Rachel
Third: Dave & Connor
Fourth: Margie & Luke
Fifth: Leo & Jamal
Sixth: Mark & Mallory
Seventh: Flight Time & Big Easy
Eighth: Jessica & John
Ninth: Caroline & Jennifer
Tenth: Joey & Meghan
Eliminated: Natalie & Nadiya
Following a day of arguing and going the wrong way with terrible partners, Natalie & Nadiya have been eliminated. They will not be missed.
Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Amazing Race 24 Episode 2, which airs Sunday at 8/7c on CBS.