Live-Blogging the Amazing RaceGood recap of the season so far. I realized that I must have come into the show a week or two late, as I don't remember the bikers.
Start in London, but the first task is to fly to Jamaica mon. No sense that anybody made a real effort to try to find an alternate to the Air Jamaica flight, although Rob did check on the internet quickly.
Lots of relationship stuff with Ron & Kelly. She's been something of an annoyance the whole race and now the tears start to flow as she tries to wheedle Ron into marrying her.
In Jamaica, the girls all do the limbo to see who will leave earliest. The cameraman gets a great angle on Ambuh's boobs. In the end, Ambuh & Kelly tie for first, with Joyce fifteen minutes behind. Fortunately, the next morning there just happen to be a couple cabs at this (apparently) deserted beach.
The roadblock is to either paddle a raft 8 miles down a slow-moving river, or to construct a raft and pole across that same river about 100 feet. Everybody makes the obvious calculation. Uchenna and Joyce catch up by constructing their raft a lot quicker than anybody else, and cross at the same time as Rob & Ambuh. After that, it's a cab race to the finish line.
Hilariously, at one point all the teams are all in one gas station nearly simultaneously. In a sequence that seems a little too perfect, Rob & Ambuh are in second place, but they get pulled over by the cops for a "random" stop. Rob remarks that this might cost them a million bucks. Then Uchenna & Joyce's cab has a flat (the other teams have both noticed the tire deflating slowly).
At the end it's not quite as much of a dash as they play it. Ron & Kelly arrive first, with Team Survivor not far behind. Joyce & Uchenna bring up the rear, but predictably this is a non-elimination leg and they live albeit with no possessions and no money.
Next day, the first task is to pick up onions and chop 50 of them at a restaurant. Joyce & Uchenna have no money to hire a cab but they manage to bum a ride to the airport where they start begging. This part is pretty embarrassing, especially since the folks turn them down. The only thing worse than begging for money is begging for money and not getting any. Fortunately they eventually get it, but by then the other two couples have finished their task and are on the way to the next one.
This time it's golfing or horse-swimming. Predictably, Rob chooses the golf. I recall an episode of Survivor All-Stars where he won a reward challenge trip to a yacht, where (among other things) they hit golf balls off the back, and Rob made some sort of comment about being on his high school golf team, just before exhibiting a horrific swing. Today, his golf game seems no better as he hooks his first shot. Still he gets one on eventually, while Kelly, who mentioned taking lessons, does the same for Team America.
Rob & Ambuh miss a flight barely at the airport to San Juan, but they still get the first flight out, while Ron & Kelly are on the next one, and Uchenna & Joyce bring up the rear. However, in San Juan it turns out there's a bottleneck, as the sugar mill they must go through is closed for the night. Team Africa, after seeming far behind is even.
In the morning the three couples race through the old mill (love to see the waivers CBS's lawyers got on that stunt). Then there's a roadblock. One member of each team must jump off a pier. Amazingly, Rob & Ambuh dash out of the mill without realizing the steps down to the pier were right next to them. Ron finishes the task, followed by Uchenna and Ambuh. Then it's off to the airport for Miami.
Hilariously, Kelly misses the turn, yelling, "Left!" when of course she meant "Right!" Worse still, she tries to deny it and won't apologize for blowing it. Rob & Ambuh somehow manage to snake their way onto an early flight, but then the door opens and Uchenna and Joyce get on. Ron & Kelly take the second flight, effectively dooming them.
Rob & Ambuh get the first clue in Miami, under a causeway, with Uchenna & Joyce close behind. However, Uchenna & Joyce's cab driver realizes that the King of the Havanas is the same as "El Roy de los Habanos" and they take the lead. Eventually Rob & Ambuh find the cigar shop. Uchenna & Joyce seem to have it wrapped up, but they don't have enough money to pay the cab driver and so they're reduced to begging only yards from the finish line, which they apparently can't cross owing money. Although the editing makes us thing Rob & Ambuh are right on their tail, they manage to bum $45 from passersby without getting caught and in the end they jog past all the teams that had been eliminated. Emotional moments ensue.
Overall, I really enjoyed the season--lots of exciting moments, lots of colorful scenery. As I indicated above, there were parts that seemed just a little too good--the cops pulling over Team Survivor, followed by the flat tire on the cab. It seemed to me as if a little drama was added that didn't affect the overall finish.
BTW, fairly early in the season I read an article that indicates that some folks knew that Uchenna and Joyce had won, and tried to make money on Tradesports, so the game was taken off the board. Interestingly, the bets supposedly came from Massachusetts and California. Gee, do we know anybody from Massachusetts?
Viking Pundit has his usual
excellent recap here, with a hilarious observation on the phrase Boston Rob used all night long.
Kris at
Dummocrats reflects on one of the best roadblocks ever (My knowledge of TAR is only from this season, but I agree, it was very unique), and plans to watch the wedding. There was an ad for the wedding that talked about all that planning and showing Rob moaning, "There's so much to do!" And wait till we see the dress! Yeah, sounds like loads of fun! ;)
