Category: amazing race 28

The alliance may have been targeting and whining about Brendon & Rachel in The Amazing Race 24 Episode 10, but Leo & Jamal wanted to get rid of the bigger threats, U-turning and eliminating Jet & Cord instead.

Teams depart in the order in which they arrived.

First: Dave & Connor – 10:39AM
Second: Brendon & Rachel – 11:16AM
Third: Leo & Jamal – 11:25AM
Fourth: Caroline & Jennifer – 11:36AM

Teams must now travel by train and plane to London, England. Everybody is on the same flight.

Upon arrival at Anfield Stadium, each contestant must kick two penalty goals against a professional goalie. This is simpler for some teams than others but does not seem to take a long time regardless.

The road block requires teams to learn and perform a verse of traditional Welsh poetry. They will have to repeat the 15 minute learning process until they get it correct.

Road block (in order of arrival): Caroline, Brendon, Jamal, Connor

Brendon gets it on his second attempt. So does Caroline. It takes Jamal five attempts, while Connor takes four.

The detour is a choice between boot it or shoot it. In shoot it, teams must shoot down clay pigeons with a shotgun. In boot it, teams must fill boots with water and toss them through the course until reaching the finish line.

Boot it: Brendon & Rachel
Shoot it: Caroline & Jennifer, Dave & Connor, Leo & Jamal

Brendon & Rachel perform the weird wet boot tossing sport with the locals, but they neglect to read the clue correctly, choosing size 10 boots rather than 9 or 11 as instructed. On the other side of the detour, Caroline proves to be the sharpshooter of the lot in a detour that seems to take a lot less time. By the time Brendon & Rachel read their clue, they have been passed by the two trailing teams who chose the quicker detour, and Leo & Jamal have gained time after getting lost.

The pit stop for this leg of the race is Peckforton Castle.

First: Dave & Connor (win a trip to Fiji)
Second: Caroline & Jennifer
Third: Brendon & Rachel
Eliminated: Leo & Jamal

Having stumbled on the road block and then getting lost, Leo & Jamal have been eliminated in fourth place for the second season in a row. Yet another team I thought would be in the final three is now gone.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Amazing Race 24 Episode 12, where we will find out who The Amazing Race 24 winner is, which airs Sunday at 8/7c on CBS.

Caroline & Jennifer finished last in The Amazing Race 24 Episode 9 but were again saved by non-elimination.

Teams depart in the order in which they arrived.

First: Dave & Connor – 2:35PM
Second: Jet & Cord – 2:36PM
Third: Leo & Jamal – 2:38PM
Fourth: Brendon & Rachel – 2:42PM
Fifth: Caroline & Jennifer – 2:58PM

Dave & Connor continue to whine about the U-turn from two legs ago, but they make a valid point. With the U-turn coming up, Brendon & Rachel not only can no longer use it but are also the main targets to have it used on them.

Teams will now fly to Seville, Spain.

First flight: Leo & Jamal, Dave & Connor
Second flight: Brendon & Rachel, Jet & Cord, Caroline & Jennifer

Despite the teams only being separated by minutes, somehow they end up on different flights. The hours of operation puts them closer together but does not fully equalize them. This is enough to virtually guarantee that the lead teams will U-turn Brendon & Rachel.

The road block requires them to shave a balloon in 60 seconds without popping it.

Road block (in order of arrival): Connor, Jamal, Jennifer, Jet, Rachel

There does not seem to be a lot to this road block. Even having to try multiple times just takes a few minutes.

Prior to the detour, Caroline & Jennifer must complete their speed bump, which requires them to deliver ham to a cafe, a task as simple as every other speed bump always is.

The detour is a choice between Spanish steps or run with the ballz. Spanish steps requires teams to learn a flamenco dance routine. Run with the ballz requires them to wear ball suits while avoiding the other bulls.

Run with the ballz: Dave & Connor, Leo & Jamal, Brendon & Rachel, Jet & Cord
Spanish steps: Caroline & Jennifer

Most teams choose to run with the ballz, which is simple enough, but dangerous. The guys who are knocking them around are not playing. During the task, Jamal injures his leg. Rachel does not suffer a similar fate, though she does insist they go easy on her because she’s a girl, a request that falls on deaf ears.

Next up is a double U-turn. This is bad news for the two best teams, Brendon & Rachel and Jet & Cord. Dave & Connor are not going to use the U-turn because they already did, but they wish they could. Though they promised their alliance otherwise, Leo & Jamal decide instead to U-turn the biggest threats, Jet & Cord. Their hope is that the cowboys will do their dirty work for them, not knowing that Brendon & Rachel have completed the detour quicker. A shocked Caroline & Jennifer U-turn Brendon & Rachel, but it’s way too late.

Plaza de Espana is the pit stop for this leg of the race.

First: Dave & Connor (win a trip to St. Croix)
Second: Brendon & Rachel
Third: Leo & Jamal
Fourth: Caroline & Jennifer
Eliminated: Jet & Cord

Their alliance probably won’t like it, but Leo & Jamal did take out the strongest team.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Amazing Race 24 Episode 11, which airs Sunday at 8/7c on CBS.

While the lead teams whined about how unfair it was that Brendon & Rachel had the nerve to use a U-turn in The Amazing Race 24 Episode 8, none of it was relevant because Flight Time & Big Easy were lost and ended up being eliminated.

Teams depart in the order in which they arrived.

First: Brendon & Rachel – 6:13AM
Second: Jet & Cord – 7:23AM
Third: Leo & Jamal – 7:34AM
Fourth: Dave & Connor – 7:44AM
Fifth: Caroline & Jennifer – 7:45AM

Teams must now travel nearly 400 miles by train to Chiasso, Switzerland.

Brendon & Rachel merely wanted to ensure they would win first place with their choice, and in that sense they made the right move, even if an argument could be made that they did not need to U-turn anybody at all (or could have U-turned somebody else).

Jet & Cord, who somehow escaped both parts of the double U-turn despite being the biggest threats, are happy as long as they can escape everybody else’s drama.

Leo & Jamal, meanwhile, are looking forward to working with Dave & Connor and Caroline & Jennifer toward the final three. They would prefer to go to the end with the two weakest teams, and this is the perfect excuse to do that.

Though the cowboys somehow end up on a later train than everybody else, it does not matter because William Tell does not show up until sunrise.

Their first task is to properly clean a room in Schweizerhof Hotel in Lucerne, and these rooms have been sufficiently trashed. By trying to outsmart the others, Brendon & Rachel end up going to the wrong place and are behind the pack. Even one simple mistake with their rooms means a rejection by Helga, but this task ultimately seems pretty simple.

When they arrive at the Swiss Museum of Transport, they must identify that the artifact was used to drill a tunnel. Jet saw this on TV. Dave was an engineer, so he knows it as well, and he tells the other two teams who are following each other everywhere. Brendon & Rachel just ask the locals.

Then their task is to use street signs at the Ford Mustang exhibit to figure out the model year of their cars. Most of the teams seem to think this is pretty simple, except for Caroline & Jennifer, but Leo & Jamal come back to help them.

The road block will have them transporting milk via gondola and dogs/carts.

Road block (in order of arrival): Cord, Connor, Leo, Brendon, Caroline

This is a physical challenge but otherwise does not seem particularly difficult. That said, it’s obvious what is going to happen here. The female team is going to struggle with these full milk jugs.

Mount Titlis is the pit stop for this leg of the race.

First: Dave & Connor (win a Ford Mustang each)
Second: Jet & Cord
Third: Leo & Jamal
Fourth: Brendon & Rachel
Non-eliminated: Caroline & Jennifer

Caroline & Jennifer do come in last place as expected, but for the second time, they are saved by non-elimination.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Amazing Race 24 Episode 10, which airs Sunday at 8/7c on CBS.

After the fifth place team gave the road block answer to the trailing two teams in The Amazing Race 24 Episode 7, Jessica & John lost a footrace to the mat and were eliminated.

Teams depart in the order in which they arrived.

First: Brendon & Rachel – 7:48AM
Second: Caroline & Jennifer – 8:26AM
Third: Dave & Connor – 8:27AM
Fourth: Jet & Cord – 8:40AM
Fifth: Leo & Jamal – 9:38AM
Sixth: Flight Time & Big Easy – 9:39AM

From here, teams must drive 80 miles to Civita di Bagnoregio. Rather than try to figure things out for themselves, Caroline & Jennifer decide to follow Dave & Connor. This backfires when a truck separates the two teams.

The detour is a choice between donkey run or donkey building. Donkey run requires teams to take part in the town’s famous donkey race and complete three laps before the band finishes playing. Donkey building requires them to assemble a wooden donkey.

Donkey run: Brendon & Rachel, Dave & Connor, Flight Time & Big Easy (switched from donkey run to donkey building back to donkey run)
Donkey building: Leo & Jamal, Caroline & Jennifer, Flight Time & Big Easy

Working with animals is unpredictable, and donkeys are pretty far down the list. Meanwhile, the other detour has the trick of reading the clue fully, which none of the teams does.

The double U-turn is right after the detour, giving a huge advantage to teams that left earlier in the morning. I really don’t see much use for any of the first few teams to use it. Regardless, Brendon & Rachel insist on using it. They argue about it, but Rachel gives in to Brendon and they U-turn Dave & Connor (who they know are right behind them) rather than Jet & Cord (the biggest threats).

Speaking of Jet & Cord, they must use their express pass on this leg. Figuring they are going ot be U-turned, they use it now. Still, they arrive at the board right behind them Dave & Connor, who now realize they must return the favor to someone. They know every team (other than Brendon & Rachel) is behind them, so they pretty much have their pick of anyone they want. They choose to U-turn Leo & Jamal, who are close to last place.

The irony of this situation is that Dave & Connor pout about how they are ticked off that Brendon & Rachel are playing the game this way. Then they do exactly the same thing to somebody else. Why is it okay for them to U-turn but not for someone else? Dave keeps talking about how he’s 60 years old, as if that should require some special treatment. He’s made it a lot further than some other teams, most of whom are a lot younger.

The road block is to copy a page from an ancient manuscript like the monks did for centuries.

Road block (in order of arrival): Rachel, Jet, Connor, Caroline, Leo, Flight Time

Piazza del Duomo is the pit stop for this leg of the race.

First: Brendon & Rachel (win $7,500 each)
Second: Jet & Cord
Third: Leo & Jamal
Fourth: Dave & Connor
Fifth: Caroline & Jennifer
Eliminated: Flight Time & Big Easy

For all the drama over the U-turn, none of it ended up mattering. Flight Time & Big Easy got lost at the start of the leg, which is what determined that they would place last, and they have been eliminated from the race.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Amazing Race 24 Episode 9, which airs Sunday at 8/7c on CBS.

Caroline & Jennifer finished last in The Amazing Race 24 Episode 6 but were saved by non-elimination.

Teams depart in the order in which they arrived.

First: Leo & Jamal – 2:41PM
Second: Jet & Cord – 2:42PM
Third: Jessica & John – 3:01PM
Fourth: Dave & Connor – 3:02PM
Fifth: Brendon & Rachel
Sixth: Flight Time & Big Easy – 3:09PM
Seventh: Caroline & Jennifer – 3:26PM

Teams will now fly to the eternal city (Rome, Italy.) If they pick the wrong city, they’re screwed. That doesn’t happen to anybody, despite Rachel’s original guess that it’s probably in Ethiopia, and all teams get on the same flight. However, a few of the teams (Dave & Connor, Flight Time & Big Easy, and Jet & Cord) are at the back of the plane, which gives the other teams a 10 minute head start.

Before the detour, Caroline & Jennifer must complete a speed bump, which requires them to pick up a typewriter and bring it to a building that looks like it. Speed bumps are generally not very long or difficult, but this is long enough to put them into last place.

The detour is a choice between gladiator or charioteer. In gladiator, teams must learn the sword skills to fight a gladiator. In charioteer, teams must complete five laps with their remote controlled chariots within the time limit.

Gladiator: Jessica & John, Leo & Jamal (switched from charioteer)
Charioteer: Brendon & Rachel, Dave & Connor, Flight Time & Big Easy, Jet & Cord, Caroline & Jennifer

The teams who choose the chariot detour find that their biggest obstacle is each other. Leo & Jamal take the hint and switch right away. Brendon & Rachel decide to stick it out, and eventually this decision pays off, while Leo & Jamal end up in last place.

This gives Jessica & John an easy run to the lead, which is short-lived when their cab driver tells them that their clue telling them where to go (in Italian) is wrong. They bail on him and go in search of a hotel instead, but by this point they are well behind the leaders. Jet & Cord, Leo & Jamal, and Flight Time & Big Easy have the same problem. Now it’s a question of who had the most trouble because this road block is not likely to be the deciding factor.

The road block requires them to count the Spanish Steps, add that number to the year the obelisk was erected (written on it in Roman numerals), and combine those into a total that they must then write in Roman numerals. There is a bit of trickiness to this task, but any number of onlookers is ready and willing to help, thereby removing most of the possible work they could have to do.

Road block (in order of arrival): Brendon, Dave, Jennifer, Jet, Flight Time, Jamal, John

Leo & Jamal blow right through this task because somebody gives them the answer. Not realizing the country girls were ahead of all of them, they give the answer to both of the remaining teams, receiving a promise they will not pass them or U-turn them. Phil uses this opportunity to pretend that the reason for the close finish is that the teams this season are so great.

The pit stop for this leg of the race is Piazza del Popolo.

First: Brendon & Rachel (win a trip to Australia)
Second: Caroline & Jennifer
Third: Dave & Connor
Fourth: Jet & Cord
Fifth: Leo & Jamal
Sixth: Flight Time & Big Easy
Eliminated: Jessica & John

Losing a footrace to the pit stop, Jessica & John have been eliminated.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Amazing Race 24 Episode 8, which airs Sunday at 8/7c on CBS.

After a problem at the airport put them half a day behind everybody else in The Amazing Race 24 Episode 5, Margie & Luke were eliminated.

Teams depart in the order in which they arrived.

First: Dave & Connor – 2:59AM
Second: Caroline & Jennifer – 3:27AM
Third: Jet & Cord – 3:35AM
Fourth: Leo & Jamal
Fifth: Jessica & John
Sixth: Flight Time & Big Easy
Seventh: Brendon & Rachel

The hours of operation at the Dutch Museum equalize all the teams. From there, teams will travel by train to Alawwa, Sri Lanka.

The road block requires teams to find four tuk tuks with the same colored marker, then fill them with gas.

Road block (in order of arrival): Rachel, Jamal, Dave, John, Big Easy, Jet, Caroline

Rachel misunderstands the task. She fills up green cars, rather than cars with green markers on their windshields. Even after being rejected, she insists on filling up more green cars. In order to take one of her cars that’s really his, John tells her what she’s supposed to be doing, or otherwise she could have been there for hours.

Everybody else is stuck in the mass chaos of hundreds of vehicles but only two fuel pumps. I could see where this task might be a bit trying, but there’s nothing here that should create a significant difference between the them.

Teams will now travel by train to Rumbukkana. Despite messing up at the road block, Brendon & Rachel manage to get to the train station in time to get on the same train as everybody else.

The detour is a choice between trunk or sheets. In trunk, teams must attach a chain to logs to haul them with the assistance of elephants. Sheets will have them making paper using elephant dung.

Trunk: Jet & Cord, Leo & Jamal, Dave & Connor, Jessica & John
Sheets: Flight Time & Big Easy, Caroline & Jennifer, Brendon & Rachel

There are only enough chains for four people, meaning the other three must do sheets whether they want to or not (only Brandon & Rachel actually chose to do this task originally). They got stuck with the harder task. The elephants are doing the bulk of the work on the other task, and they are trained exactly what to do, which additionally is impressive to watch. As expected, the first four teams to finish the detour are all doing the one with the elephants.

The pit stop for this leg of the race is Mount Lavinia Hotel Beach, Sri Lanka’s first hotel.

First: Leo & Jamal (win a trip to Berlin, Germany)
Second: Jet & Cord
Third: Jessica & John
Fourth: Dave & Connor
Fifth: Brendon & Rachel
Sixth: Flight Time & Big Easy
Non-eliminated: Caroline & Jennifer

There’s a believable bit of drama when the Globetrotters get lost and are passed by Brenchel, but having placed last at the detour, Caroline & Jennifer come in last place but are saved by non-elimination.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Amazing Race 24 Episode 7, which airs Sunday at 8/7c on CBS.

Brendon & Rachel made some bad decisions in The Amazing Race 24 Episode 4 but were saved by non-elimination.

Teams depart in the order in which they arrived.

First: Jet & Cord – 2:26PM
Second: Dave & Connor – 3:13PM
Third: Leo & Jamal – 3:40PM
Fourth: Caroline & Jennifer – 4:10PM
Fifth: Jessica & John – 4:12PM
Sixth: Flight Time & Big Easy – 4:40PM
Seventh: Margie & Luke – 5:12PM
Eighth: Brendon & Rachel – 6:08PM

Teams must now fly 1500 miles to Colombo, Sri Lanka. There are two flights. The direct flight is the safer one, but there is also a connecting flight via Singapore.

By the time Brendon & Rachel arrive, they are so far behind that the flight everybody else is on is full. Margie & Luke are unable to find the travel agency, so they are in the same boat. Brendon & Rachel are told that both options are risky, but they opt for the connnection, which is only half an hour. Margie & Luke opt to get on standby on the direct flight. I’m not sure which move is smarter, but both run the risk of being half a day or more behind everybody else, though equalization would make it more like a couple hours.

Brendon & Rachel run through the airport and make it in time, which now puts them in first. Margie & Luke are not so lucky and must wait until the morning for the next flight, while everybody else arrives around midnight.

The location for the first task opens at 5:45AM, which is relatively early. Margie & Luke have made up about 6 hours, but that’s nowhere near enough. This is shaping up to be a very predictable leg.

From the temple, they take a train ride to Galle.

The detour is a choice between fishing pole or spin control. Fishing pole requires them to wade into the surf, climb on fishing stilts, and catch one fish each. Spin control requires teams to learn and perform a folk dance while spinning drum-like instruments.

Fishing pole: Jet & Cord, Dave & Connor
Spin control: Flight Time & Big Easy, Caroline & Jennifer, Leo & Jamal, Brendon & Rachel, Jessica & John (switched from fishing pole)

The dance is really simple. It’s the spinning that is the trick. Meanwhile, the fishing is just dumb luck. The luck based task has greater risk because there is no control. Jessica & John eventually decide to switch after everybody else finishes.

Brendon & Rachel have to complete a speed bump of putting the Sri Lankan flag on 15 T-shirts.

The road block requires teams to properly stitch together a shirt.

Road block (in order of arrival): Big Easy, Connor, Jennifer, Leo, Jet, Brendon, Jessica

Everybody is on even ground here. None of them have any experience with sewing. They don’t need to be perfect, though, just keep the shirts together. Not that any of this really matters because the outcome has been determined by the flights, but the placement at the mat is being determined by road block finish. Still,for the sake of creating the only drama possible, the trailing teams worry that their lead is slowly evaporating, but there are few tasks that could take long enough to make a difference.

The pit stop for this leg of the race is Colombo Rowing Club.

First: Dave & Connor (win $5,000 each)
Second: Caroline & Jennifer
Third: Jet & Cord
Fourth: Leo & Jamal
Fifth: Jessica & John
Sixth: Flight Time & Big Easy
Seventh: Brendon & Rachel
Eliminated: Margie & Luke

Unsurprisingly, Margie & Luke have been eliminated.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Amazing Race 24 Episode 6, which airs Sunday at 8/7c on CBS.

Having released their cab in the middle of nowhere, Joey & Meghan were eliminated in The Amazing Race 24 Episode 3.

Teams depart in the order in which they arrived.

First: Dave & Connor – 9:06AM
Second: Jet & Cord – 9:08AM
Third: Leo & Jamal – 9:14AM
Fourth: Margie & Luke – 9:58AM
Fifth: Flight Time & Big Easy – 11:04AM
Sixth: Caroline & Jennifer – 11:17AM
Seventh: Jessica & John
Eighth: Brendon & Rachel

We head right into a road block. They need to jump on a bamboo trampoline and grab a flag.

Road block (in order of arrival): Cord, Connor, Leo, Luke, Big Easy, Caroline, Jessica, Rachel

This is easier for some people than other. It takes Cord about 40 tries, but they are so far ahead of the rest of the pack that it does not matter. Jessica has much worse luck. She rips her feet up pretty bad on the trampoline, which could potentially harm them for future tasks as well.

Teams must now travel to Kuala Lampur, Malaysia on one of three flights. The first flight is 90 minutes ahead of the second flight, which is 45 minutes ahead of the last flight. The second flight ends up being delayed, which puts the last two flights neck and neck over 2 hours behind the lead teams.

First flight: Dave & Connor, Leo & Jamal, Jet & Cord
Second flight: Margie & Luke, Flight Time & Big Easy
Third flight: Caroline & Jennifer, Jessica & John, Brendon & Rachel

These flights all arrive late at night, which typically would mean an hours of operation. No such luck for the trailing teams this time. The road block has already happened, leaving only a detour, which takes place at a night club.

The detour is a choice between mix master or master mix. Mix master requires teams to learn how to DJ from a scratch coach. Master mix requires teams to properly pour a pyramid of cocktails without mixing colors.

Master mix: Jet & Cord, Dave & Connor, Brendon & Rachel, Margie & Luke
Mix master: Leo & Jamal (switched from master mix), Jessica & John, Caroline & Jennifer, Flight Time & Big Easy

The bartending task proves to be so difficult that everybody on the last two flights arrives when only Jet & Cord have left. Owning a bar is of no help to get Leo & Jamal through the task. Being a DJ proves to be far simpler. Undeterred, Rachel insists her cocktail waitress experience will help. It does not. Luckily for them, Margie & Luke are having just as much trouble. After a couple dozen failed attempts, Luke eventually loses his temper and throws the glasses on the ground. He suggests to his mom that both teams should take the penalty, but Rachel serves as the cheerleader for both teams instead. Ironically, Margie credits Rachel’s positive attitude for them turning things around, and they finish shortly after while Brendon & Rachel stick around and keep going, finishing after over 40 attempts.

The pit stop for this leg of the race is Batu Caves.

First: Jet & Cord (win a trip to London)
Second: Dave & Connor
Third: Leo & Jamal
Fourth: Caroline & Jennifer
Fifth: Jessica & John
Sixth: Flight Time & Big Easy
Seventh: Margie & Luke
Non-eliminated: Brendon & Rachel

Brendon & Rachel are last, but they are saved by non-elimination. They need to learn from this and make smarter decisions in the future because they narrowly escaped this time after some poor choices.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Amazing Race 24 Episode 5, which airs Sunday at 8/7c on CBS.