Better late than never. This week the Amazing Race was delayed an hour and fifteen minutes on the East Coast because of an NFL game that went into overtime. CBS also had an abbreviated broadcast of “60 Minutes” leaving out a couple segments including Andy Rooney.
So with eight teams remaining this leg of the race began in Cambodia with teams leaving between 12:25 and 12:55pm. Teams had to figure out the their clue meant that they would have to locate the world’s largest building in the Persian Gulf. Most teams easily figured out that they would have to fly to DUBAI which is in the Persian Gulf. All teams made the same flight out of Cambodia.
Teams arrived in Dubai at night and their first stop was to find a fountain where they would sign up for one of two groups to proceed on the next morning at 5:30 and 5:45. The fountain was near the base of the worlds tallest building and teams had to go to the top of the building to get their next clue. One racer was extremely afraid of heights but managed to get through.
The next clue had teams select automobiles to drive themselves into the desert where they would have 4 wheel drive vehicles with drivers take them across the desert to their next task. But at this the option of using the FAST FORWARD was available. The “fast forward” is an optional task that if a team completes or if multiple teams are involved the team that completes the “fast forward” first, they would be able to bypass all other tasks and proceed to the pit-stop. If a team fails to complete the “fast forward” first then they would have the setback of having to continue with the race from where they left off.
This “fast forward” really lived up to the name as a team member would drive a formula one type race car and make a lap around the track within 45 seconds to complete the task. Meghan & Cheyne were the only team to attempt the “fast forward” and then they were taken for a ride in a Maserati sports car to the pit-stop as the FIRST place team. And for being the first team at the pit-stop, they won a trip to Jamaica from show sponsor Travelocity.
If you have read my other “Amazing Race” blog entries this season then you know that a part of this broadcast I enjoyed was watching Lance & Keri get lost in an empty parking garage looking for their vehicle. All of the other teams had left the sky scraper in Dubai at this point and Lance & Keri had returned to having arguments during the race. The first we saw on this broadcast was when they attempted to book their flight reservations at an internet café they had problems with the computer. Lance insisted he knew what he was doing while his fiancée Keri kept pushing for him to give up and go to the airport to book their flight. Eventually Keri won that argument. Then Lance whined as Keri asked strangers for directions, she then closed her car window and said she was no longer asking anyone for help. One can imagine if they can’t work together on this race that their pending marriage will be a disaster.
Once teams drove themselves to the selected location in the desert they met their drivers and 4 wheel drive vehicles for an off-road ride deeper into the desert to get their next clue. This was the “roadblock” where a team member had to locate water in buried urns within the desert. After finding the water they had to fill their container and feed the water to a camel. They had to deal with the extreme heat of the desert. At the end of their desert task the only all female team (Tiffany & Marie) managed to run over a post and punctured their radiator requiring a replacement vehicle.
After completing the very hot task in the desert, teams had a great chance to cool off. Their next stop was at an indoor snow skiing arena called “Ski Dubai”. At the indoor snow skiing facility teams had their “detour” choices of “Build A Snowman” where they would have to build a traditional snowman outside under warmer conditions before their snowman melts, or “Find a Snowman” where they would have to ski down the indoor ski slope and dig through mounds of snow for miniature toy snowmen. And the racers were skiing in their “summer” attire. (shorts and t-shirts)
The father and son team Gary & Matt had a good lead entering the ski arena but many teams arrived at the same time and the lead Gary & Matt thought they had was no more. Many teams worked quickly and some teams including Gary & Matt changed tasks and decided to build snowmen instead. Eventually it was Brian & Ericka who finished their chosen snowman task first and headed off to the pit-stop followed by the Harlem Globetrotters while we watched as Lance & Keri were still trying to figure their way out of the desert. (LOL). As teams arrived at the pit stop, Lance & Keri were discussing and exploring the many directions and exits of the Dubai freeway system.
So with Meghan & Cheyne already at the pit-stop, the rest of the arrivals were:
SECOND: Brian & Ericka
THIRD: “Flight time & Big Easy”
FOURTH: Gary & Matt
FIFTH: Sam & Dan
SIXTH: Maria & Tiffany
SEVENTH: Mika & Canaan
And sweet justice for arrogant assholes! I cannot stand Lance of the team Lance & Keri and they were ELIMINATED from the race! They argued through directions, made wrong turns and lost a lot of time. But more specifically, those who think they are mighty (Lance the tough talking lawyer from BAAston) are often the ones who fall the hardest. It was truly beautiful to watch.
BUH BYE Lance & Keri. Hope you had a good “vacation”. Now go off to get married and have a good life. Hope I never see you on TV ever again.
Folks, I told you I am honest in my opinion and perhaps a little biased. I appreciate this episodes elimination despite the fact that I predicted another team for this elimination.
And speaking about my failed prediction. Maria & Tiffany are still good candidates for elimination. They damaged their vehicle on this leg of the race which caused a delay and the only other reason they are still in the race is because the two teams that placed behind them struggled with directions. Mika & Canaan were almost as bad with directions on this leg of the race as Lance & Keri.
I am going to maintain my current prediction for the next elimination on The Amazing Race and predict Maria & Tiffany for the same reasons as before. The other teams are simply stronger and capable of the harder tasks with greater speed. They are going to have to work extra hard to keep up with the top three teams, Meghan & Cheyne, Brian & Ericka and the Harlem Globetrotters. And I include those three teams along with Sam & Dan as the strong contenders to make the FINAL THREE.
We are now in a position where only the strong teams are at the top. Mika & Canaan are already in a struggle because of Mika’s fear of heights and the previews for next weeks broadcast show Mika and Canaan struggling to complete another high rise task. Mika’s fear of heights is a problem for their team and I no longer consider them as contenders to make the final three. As for Gary & Matt, they are strong but they are not as fast as the other strong teams. I actually hope they make it to the final three and possibly a win but honestly I don’t think they will surpass the current top three.
Well, sometime next Sunday evening we shall see what happens next. Until then, stay warm…summertime is OVER. Time for me to get under the covers and get some sleep for the work week ahead.
I wish all of my fellow Amazing Race fans a great and productive week.
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