Episode 1: Beijing, China (9/17)
MODEL BEHAVIOR: TYLER & JAMES CLIMB INTO FIRST At the starting line in Seattle, Washington, Phil warned the Teams of new surprises in this season of the Race. After landing in Beijing, China, the 12 Teams quickly learned what Phil meant when best friends Bilal & Sa'eed arrived last at an overnight hold to become the first Team eliminated from the Race. The next morning, models and friends Tyler & James cruised into first at the Detour and never looked back as they scaled the Great Wall of China, while married couple Vipul & Arti couldn't recover from poor navigation and became the second eliminated Team. COME FLY WITH ME Flying through the saltwater mists above the Pacific Ocean, seaplanes transported the 12 Teams embarking on a race around the world to the starting line in the "Emerald City" of Seattle, Washington, the largest city in the Pacific Northwest. As the Teams lined up in the rain, they received the usual introduction from Phil along with a warning of new surprises they would never expect. After proclaiming, "The world is waiting," Phil lowered his hand to signal the beginning of THE AMAZING RACE. In a mad dash to the backpacks and the first clue, model Tyler took a spill courtesy of cheerleader Jamie as the 12 Teams learned they would be flying to Beijing, China on one of two flights: United Flight 875 departing at 1:22 pm or Korean Air Flight 26 leaving at 2 pm. With seats to Beijing on a first come, first serve basis, efficient navigation to the Sea-Tac International Airport made all the difference. Models Tyler & James took an early lead out of the parking lot, but quickly relinquished it after stopping for directions allowing best friends Bilal & Sa'eed to pull ahead. On Interstate 5, however, all Teams encountered gridlock traffic due to an accident. Quick thinking helped recently dating couple Peter & Sarah, who took a gamble by exiting the freeway to use side roads, a choice that propelled them into first. After a slow start out of the parking lot, coal miner and wife David & Mary also took an alternate route to move ahead while beauty queens Dustin & Kandice weaved through the crowded interstate to save some time. At the airport, Peter & Sarah secured tickets on the United Flight scheduled to land in Beijing at 8:05 pm, nearly an hour ahead of the Korean Air Flight. With Dustin & Kandice and David & Mary also nabbing tickets on United, only three spots remained on the flight. Bilal & Sa'eed and cheerleaders Kellie & Jamie would have laid claim to those tickets, but made a critical error in not locating the proper car rental return area. This allowed Tyler & James, father and daughter Duke & Lauren, and single moms Lyn & Karlyn to secure the earlier flight with Vipul & Arti just missing out. Joining the disappointed married couple on the second flight were Kellie & Jamie, brothers Erwin & Godwin, boyfriends Tom & Terry, dating couple Rob & Kimberly and Bilal & Sa'eed. SOMETHING FISHY GOING ON After a delay tightened up the difference between the two planes, Teams on the United flight landed at 8:22 pm in Beijing, China and jumped into taxis heading to the Gold House Restaurant. Marveling over the bright lights in the big city, Mary remarked, "Being in China is very overwhelming. I've never been anywhere outside of Kentucky. It's like dropping a 30-year-old baby into the world and telling them, 'Just go!'" As Teams on the second flight ran out of the airport into taxis, Duke & Lauren excitedly arrived at the Gold House in first place to find a Roadblock, a task that only one Team member can perform. In this Roadblock, that person had to indulge in the delicacy of fish eyes, a common food in China. To receive the next clue, the Team member had to eat all of the eyes out of a bowl of fish heads. Like all protective fathers, Duke shielded his daughter from the potentially queasy task and sat at the table for his serving of fish eyes. After watching her dad choke one eyeball down, Lauren smiled, saying, "I love you. Welcome to China." Soon Duke had company, as Lyn and Peter each began picking at their delicious dinner of fish heads. While she gagged and grimaced, Lyn managed to beat the men and finish first. Opening their next clue, single moms Lyn & Karlyn discovered they had to travel to the Forbidden City, once the seat of China's imperial government. Once there, they had to find the Meridian Gate entrance and locate a kiosk where they had to pull one of three departure times, 7 am, 7:15 am and 7:30 am, for the next morning. Teams would find the first big surprise of the Race here as well. Fourth place beauty queens Dustin & Kandice suffered a huge setback when their driver took them to the wrong restaurant. The mistake dropped them to eighth place as they arrived at the Gold House with dating couple Rob & Kimberly from the second flight. Instead of claiming the 7 am departure like Peter & Sarah, Duke & Lauren, Lyn & Karlyn and Tyler & James, Kandice now needed to show her competitive skills just to keep her Team in the middle of the pack. She came through with flying colors as she beat Rob in a fish eye showdown to secure the final 7:15 am departure with David & Mary, boyfriends Tom & Terry and cheerleaders Kellie & Jamie. THE BIG TWIST The Gold House Restaurant cleared out as Rob & Kimberly, Vipul & Arti and Bilal & Sa'eed all completed the Roadblock before brothers Erwin & Godwin arrived after being lost. While Erwin ate as fast as he could, the brothers' fortunes began changing on the streets of Beijing when the taxi drivers for Vipul & Arti and Bilal & Sa'eed couldn't find the Meridian Gate. In a stunning comeback, Erwin & Godwin caught up to Vipul & Arti as the two Teams claimed the last 7:30 am departures forcing Bilal & Sa'eed to take the Last Team placard. Confusion turned to shock for the Teams as Phil and the familiar mat appeared. In a stunning twist, Phil informed best friends Bilal & Sa'eed that they had been eliminated from the Race. A flabbergasted Bilal told Phil, "This just goes to show you don't have control over anything. The Creator does." A BRAND NEW DAY The following morning at 7 am, the lead Teams of Peter & Sarah, Tyler & James, Lyn & Karlyn and Duke & Lauren opened their clues to learn they had to travel by sidecar in a World War II motorbike to the junction at 14 Hou Hai on North Bank Road where a pedicab manager would hand them their next clue. After basking in the satisfaction of arriving first to the Forbidden City the night before, recently dating couple Peter & Sarah were less happy departing because the knee of her prosthetic leg was leaking hydraulic fluid, a problem that Peter couldn't fix. While not damaging to the Team's prospects, it would make the day ahead more difficult for Sarah. BRICK BY BRICK At the pedicabs, the lead four Teams opened their clue to encounter the Race's first Detour having to choose between Labor and Leisure. In Labor, Teams chose a pedicab and traveled one mile to the Run De Li Market where they needed to use traditional Chinese bricks and methods to pave a 45 square foot section of side walk in a specific pattern. In Leisure, Teams chose a pedicab and traveled two miles to Beihai Park to take part in a new Chinese relaxation exercise known as Taiji Bailong. They needed to successfully perform the routine of balancing a ball on a paddle in unison to earn their next clue. The four lead Teams decided to do Labor as they began to lay brick at the Run De Li Market. Initially, the Teams didn't realize they needed to place larger grey bricks around the border before laying the smaller red ones in the herringbone design. Models Tyler & James figured this out first, allowing them to take the lead and complete the task first after arriving in fourth, Opening their clue, the models excitedly learned they were heading to the Pit Stop at Juyongguan, a gateway to the Great Wall of China. However, to gain access to the Pit Stop, Teams would have to use a rope to scale up and over the wall. Their excitement was short lived as they had trouble finding a taxi allowing Peter & Sarah and Duke & Lauren to pass them. With most Teams opting to lay bricks, cheerleaders Kellie & Jamie and boyfriends Tom & Terry chose an afternoon of Leisure, which proved to involve some labor as well. Both Teams had difficulties balancing the yellow ball on their paddles as they made movements under their legs and side to side. After many failed attempted, both Teams finally got the right moves to earn their clue, but fell down a few spots after being passed by coal miner and wife David & Mary and dating couple Rob & Kimberly who laid bricks faster. After being lost in their sidecar, married couple Vipul & Arti arrived last to lay bricks, becoming even more concerned when brothers Erwin & Godwin finished the task leaving the couple there alone. HITTING THE WALL At the Great Wall of China, a three-way race for first place heated up between Tyler & James, Duke & Lauren, and Peter & Sarah, who had to deal with her damaged prosthetic. While Tyler scaled the wall with catlike agility, Duke struggled to gain footing, and Sarah panicked unable to pull herself higher than a few feet above ground. With Peter's coaching and encouragement, Sarah slowly and methodically began her ascent up the wall with only one good leg. After James joined his partner at the top of the wall, the models and friends stepped onto the mat in first place. Phil informed the happy pair they had just won $20,000 for their strong showing. Before claming second place, a teary-eyed Lauren said this of her experience with her dad, "I never thought we'd do anything like this together." Still on the wall, a determined Sarah talked to herself, saying, "You need to stay strong and stay focused. You'll find your power." Peter cheered as Sarah finally reached the top and then joined her as the pair happily took third place. With the athletic beauty queens Dustin & Kandice easily scaling the wall into fourth place, single moms Lyn & Karlyn, after a strong showing up to this point, began to slow as the physical demands of the climb took their toll on the women. Karlyn didn't even know how to begin the task as she became tangled in the ropes barely above the ground. The pressure mounted for Karlyn as David and Tom joined her on the wall, each having problems of their own. Her struggles compounded further as Godwin, Kimberly, and Kellie all arrived and tackled the wall with the enthusiasm and athleticism needed to complete the task. At the top of the wall, David and Karlyn each cheered for their respective partners, Mary and Lyn, who needed all the encouragement they could get. While the pair toiled on the ropes, dating couple Rob & Kimberly completed the task for a fifth place finish and cheerleaders Kellie & Jamie came in right behind in sixth place. SECOND ELIMINATION With Vipul & Arti in a taxi barreling towards the Great Wall, only Lyn and Mary remained on the wall. A frustrated Mary didn't want to hear words of advice from her husband, shouting, "Just shut up!" While Mary didn't think she could finish, Lyn took her partner's advice to do it for her kids and inched to the top for a ninth place finish. When Mary apologized to David for not being able to perform better on the climb, he responded, "I love you honey. You got it, Mary. Do it. You're going to have the proudest kids in the world." That motivation helped Mary, who eventually did climb the wall. At the mat, David & Mary were stunned to discover they came in tenth place. "You told me we were last!" Mary screamed at David. In tears, Mary hugged a surprised Phil as well as the greeter. After giving each other tremendous support scaling the wall, married couple Vipul & Arti stepped onto the mat in last place to become the second Team eliminated from THE AMAZING RACE. On their relationship, the couple remarked, "We love each other. We support each other. We complete each other and that's what's important in a relationship is having that confidence in each other. This race has shown us that that's definitely possible."

Here's what I thought watching LATE last night. 1 - Crushed that Virpul and Arti are gone. I liked their attitude, would have loved to see them in more situations, and they were just nice, friendly people. *sigh* (I wanted them to win) :sad: 2 - Bilal and Sa'eed didn't annoy me since I understand the Islamic mindset. I wanted to get to know them...but it wasn't to be. Goodbye chubby, bearded, bald, football-loving dads...who just happen to be Muslim. (I Totally identified with them somehow) :shock: :wink: 3 - Peter and Sarah are this season's Mirna and Charla. I want to like them. I want to respect them. But don't talk about how you are showing people that this isn't a handicap that you are the same as everybody else...and then play the "poor me, I'm a cripple" card to FURTHER the damn sterotype for your own selfish gain. I HATE THAT CRAP! Hypocrites. SHUT UP SARAH! :evil: 4 - Lyn & Karlyn, aka Team Alabama. I want to like them. At times I do like them. But I HATE whining. I understand hard. Say it's hard. Say that its kicking your ass. But DON'T say you can't do it, that you'll never get it done, etc. You DO it or you keep trying until Phil comes over and eliminates your still-trying, beat-down ass...and you go down in TAR history like Lena and Kristy (of the infamous hay bales incident) as warriors for whom "Death" is not an option. Watch the attitude ladies. It is SUPPOSED to be a tough competition. :!: 5 - Cheerleaders and Miss NY/CAL...are totally surprising me. You go girls! (Yea for eye-candy that does well!) :lol: 6 - Duke and Lauren. Shocking heck out of me that they haven't had a meltdown yet. Great work...but I still see storms in their future. Yes...I predict gloom and doom for them. :shock: :razz: 7 - Coal-miner & wife. Please remove the rednecks from my television screeen. NEXT! :roll: 8 - Rob and Kimberly. They are at that point where "you either get married or you don't", says Rob. Genius, Rob, genius. Might as well just say, "I'm not sure I want to spend the rest of my life with her, but she's a great lay." Why couldn't these losers go and the nice couple stay! Go away, Bickersons, go away! :roll: 9 - Tom & Terry. They are flamboyant...without being fabulous (unlike Oswald and Danny in TAR 2 who were both). I don't think they will take the punishment of the Race stress well. 10 - Erwin and Godwin. Would have snickered if they'd gotten arrested at the first airport. And...WHAT FREAKIN' SECURITY PERSON LET THEM PAST AN X-RAY MACHINE WITH GUN-FREAKIN'-SHAPED OBJECTS IN THEIR CARRY-ON BAGS?!?!?!?!?!?!?! (If I was in Seattle Airport Admin and I saw this episode, I would comend the cop who took the squirt guns away but diplomatically let the production keep on, and ream the x-ray team that missed finding them). I hope the brothers can get it together and get out of the rear of the group, though. Dude! :shock: 11 - Team Rehab. Not annoying, really. But...I am tired of pretty boy teams that crank on everybody. I WANT to dislike them. I really, really, really do. Somebody needs to take them down a notch for my peace of mind. :mrgreen: All in all...a good episode. But I think they should have made it 2 hours instead of making it as choppy as it was. But as gripes go...begging for more is a minor one. :wink: YEA! TAR IS BACK! :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:

What were Edwin and Godwin thinking squirting everyone with water guns??? Don't they watch the news??? Don't they know there are terrorists out there still trying to blow the United States off the face of the map?? Shame on them!! But I'm glad they weren't eliminated. I so wish Tom and Terry were gone and not Vipul and Arti. I wanted them to go far. Heck, I wanted them to win! :sad: I agree with you Jay on what you said about Sarah and her "handicap." But she'll most likely use it to her advantage whenever she can in the game. Hypocrite!

I think it was a great first show and although two good teams were eliminated but a way to shake things up throwing a twist like that in there right away YAY TAR!!!!

The Amazing 10, Episode 1: The China Syndrome by Jenn Brasler -- 09/18/2006 The tenth season of The Amazing Race starts off in the normal way, but this is in no way a typical race. Not only is it the most diverse season yet, but there are some major surprises in store for the racers. Why is everyone imitating ducks? Why do Kellie & Jamie need to take World Religions 101? And what huge surprise awaits one team in the Forbidden City? Phil kicks us off in Seattle, the largest city in the Pacific Northwest. I’ve already learned something! Phil doesn’t mention that they’re in Gasworks Park, which incidentally was the finish line for the race in season 3. Look, there’s Flo, throwing a hissyfit (and a helmet)! This year we have 12 teams, and they’re arriving in seaplanes. If you want details on the teams, you can read my preview article, but for now I’ll just go with the show’s intros. Peter & Sarah are triathletes from California and are both one of my sentimental favorite teams and my pick to win. They have been upgraded from “friends” to “newly dating.” Interesting. Sarah explains that they’ve been friends for seven years. They’re also training partners and trained for the Hawaii Ironman together. Sarah was born with one leg shorter than the other and has worn an artificial leg her whole life. She admits to having had a longtime crush on Peter, who builds artificial limbs. She finds him attractive because he can take care of her in a way most men can’t. Peter says that Sarah is the first woman he trusts with his heart. Bilal & Sa’eed are best friends from Cleveland. Bilil says they’re Muslim, Americans, fathers, and friends. We see them praying together as he says that their religion comes first. There’s no question that when it’s time to pray, they’ll pull over and take five minutes to do so. Rob & Kimberly, from L.A., are dating. Rob says they’re at that point where they either move forward and get married or they don’t. Oh, they’re one of those couples. Why do so many couples come on this race to see where they stand? Kimberly wants to see how they handle pressure and make decisions. Rob says Kimberly is controlling but he can’t be controlled. Sheesh, there’s already trouble there. Dustin & Kandice are “beauty queens” from New York. Please do not ask me which one is which. Right now I have a vague idea, but I’m not sure I can hold on to it. Kandice says they met this year at the Miss America pageant, where she was crowned Miss New York and Dustin was crowned Miss California. Dustin says Kandice is one of the most competitive people she’s ever met, and for some reason that’s the glue of their friendship. David & Mary, my second sentimental favorite team, are a husband and wife from Stone, Kentucky. David feels that they’re tougher than most people because he’s a coalminer. His job causes him to fear for his life. Mary tells us that they’ve been married for nine years as we see them jump on a trampoline with their two adorable kids. She says that she wasn’t sure he’d want to have anything to do with her since he’s so cute and she’s just “normal.” David continues that he actually had to “just about beg her” to talk to him. “And it was really cool,” she finishes. They are so sweet. Erwin & Godwin are brothers from the San Francisco Bay area. Wow, I didn’t realize how long Erwin’s hair is. Godwin tells us that when people look at them, they probably just see meatheads. We see them working out at the gym, and it’s the first time I notice how muscular they are. Godwin says that he actually studied at NYU for his master’s. Edwin went to UC Berkeley and Harvard. Dude. He doesn’t think there will be a problem that they can’t solve. Duke & Lauren, our first father/daughter team since season 6’s Gus & Hera, are from Rhode Island. Duke (who at 52 happens to be the oldest competitor this season, though he doesn’t look anywhere near 52) says that they haven’t spent quality time together in a while. He loves her, but he’s a little disappointed in her. He can’t even finish the interview because he’s crying. I’m sure Lauren loves sitting there and hearing her father is disappointed in her. She clarifies that she’s gay and came out shortly after college. They didn’t speak for months, and now they’re trying to work on their relationship. In some home clips, we see Duke hanging out with both Lauren and her partner. Vipul & Arti are a married couple from Orlando. Vipul says they’ve been married about two-and-a-half years and are looking towards building a family. Arti says that they follow a lot of Indian cultures and also try to live an American life. Being on the race would let them get the adventure out of their systems before having kids. I hope they don’t let it all out because you need some adventure when you have kids. Also, I’m completely straight, but Arti is HOT. Kellie & Jamie are best friends (and cheerleaders) from South Carolina. Kellie (the blond) says that she and Jamie probably entertain each other more than anyone else. You could put them in a cardboard box and they could have fun. Jamie adds that they could probably have a conversation with a doorknob. I don’t know if that’s good or bad. Tyler & James are models/recovering drug addicts (there’s a combo we haven’t seen!) from Hollywood. James says they met in recovery and became friends. They started modeling together and did a 180. Tyler says addiction has taught them they have a fight inside them and won’t give up. If they had to put more models on the show, I’m glad they at least have other background that makes them interesting. Lyn & Karlyn are lifelong friends and single mothers from Birmingham, Alabama. Faithful reader Joanne (thanks, Joanne!) has provided me with my first nickname of the season, which I will gratefully give to this team: Team Dublyn. Karlyn says they’re both very independent; it’s easier to be a single mom when you don’t need other people so much. However, it would be nice to have a spider-killer around the house. Hee! Last but not least are Tom & Terry (no, not Tom and Jerry), boyfriends from New York. Tom (the one with the higher hairline) becomes the first racer to state that they’re not there to make friends. That was quick. He says they’ll be friendly, but at the end of the day, it’s a competition and everyone wants to win. The other racers shouldn’t expect Christmas cards. “It’ll be, ‘Bye-bye, see ya later,” Terry adds. At least they understand that it’s a race, though. Phil wonders, as he does every season, if these teams will be able to handle traveling across almost 40,000 miles. Who will combine brains, brawn, and teamwork in the right way to win a million dollars? I don’t know, but Phil looks quite nice in that jacket he’s wearing. The racers gather in a semi-circle to get their sendoff. Kandice, bless her heart, has pulled her hair back into a ponytail, so at least I have a point of reference now. The teams all smile as Phil gives his usual spiel. Eight Pit Stops will be elimination points, so we can all do the math. Phil warns that the racers might think they know the game and the race, but they’ll face some unexpected surprises. Isn’t that redundant? As usual, the race will begin on foot, then lead the racers to cars. They all cheer for the million-dollar prize and assure Phil they’re ready. “The world is waiting for you,” he says, wishing them luck and safety. “Go!” And they’re off! It’s drizzling and the ground is squishy, but there are no falls, which is good, though Peter has to help Sarah down a slippery hill. Vipul is especially excited to learn that the first destination is Beijing, China. There are only two flights available, one leaving at 1:22 p.m. and one leaving at 2 p.m. They only have $66 for this leg. Everyone takes off for the cars. Bilal is surprisingly fast. Tyler & James pull out in front, followed by Bilal & Sa’eed, who are already thanking God. Kellie has problems with the car. She, Jamie, and Terry are all thrilled about going to China. Godwin says they’re heading to their homeland… although they’re not Chinese. “What’s the matter with you?” Edwin teases. Kandice, David, and Duke can’t start their cars. Lauren’s helpful advice is to put the car in D and go. Maybe Duke should let her drive. Dustin finally takes Kandice’s place and they drive off. David finally gets it. Lauren does Duke’s job for him, noting that they’re the last ones to leave. Tyler & James stop to ask for directions, leaving Bilal & Sa’eed to pull into first place. Bilal interviews that he’s somewhat aggressive while Sa’eed is more passive; it’s good because you need that blend. Driving montage. Erwin & Godwin notice Kandice & Dustin taking a turn and wonder if they missed something. Rob admires his car. Lyn is excited to go to China. Karlyn tells her that people in China like people from Alabama because of Forrest Gump. Hee. (Apparently this is something she heard or read somewhere, not something she’s just pulling out of thin air.) Peter tells Sarah that people are underestimating her right now. They are, for the record, now in fourth place. Sarah interviews that a lot of times people with disabilities are looked at differently. However, she knows she can be tougher than the others. Vipul & Arti are both still a little in shock that they’re actually doing this. Vipul interviews that Arti is loving, caring, and friendly, plus beautiful. She’s his best friend. They’re sweet, too. David asks Mary for directions, but she doesn’t have a map. They pull over to get some help. Duke & Lauren, who have uncreatively dubbed them Kentucky, notice. Come on, guys, you can do better than that! Bilal is hungry for Chinese food. To quote Friends, “You know, over there, they just call it ‘food.’” There’s a lot of traffic, so the teams are trying to figure out if there are accidents and whether or not they should get off the road they’re on. It’s a yea for Peter & Sarah, who head for a side road. Sarah trusts that Peter is doing the right thing - and he is, because now they’re in first place. It looks like Mary & David are taking a different road, too, though David doesn’t care for Mary’s input. She interviews that where they come from, the man makes all the decisions and the woman takes care of the kids. Uh oh. I have family in and from Kentucky and that’s a huge generalization. Mary says that on this race, though, they have to be 50/50. She tells David that if he wants to win, he needs to listen to her. Good for her. Kandice & Dustin try to find the fastest lane and Dustin says her mom would love her for this. Peter & Sarah are the first to make it to the airport. David & Mary are second, followed by Dustin & Kandice. Sa’eed is praying in the backseat of his and Bilal’s car. The traffic starts moving and he says it’s the will of God. Oh, dear. Are we doing this again? Phil tells us that only six teams can board the 1:22 flight, which is supposed to land an hour before the second one. Kandice & Dustin meet Mary & David. Mary says they’re beautiful. Peter & Sarah get their tickets, clarifying that the earlier flight does indeed land first. Kandice & Dustin and Mary & David also get on the first flight. Bilal & Sa’eed and Jamie & Kellie are next to the airport with Vipul & Arti, Team Dublyn, and Tyler & James behind them. Bilal & Sa’eed and Kellie & and Jamie drive around a parking garage for a little while but finally get on the right track. Erwin & Godwin make the same mistake. Rob spots a sign for rental car return and Kimberly questions driving that way, unaware that Thrifty, where they’re supposed to take the car, is a rental car company. Rob is incredulous. “I don’t rent cars,” Kimberly reasons. I’d probably make fun of her for that, but a) it kind of makes sense, and b) other racers have said dumber things. Duke is still excited about going to China. Erwin & Godwin follow another team. Rob & Kimberly are lost and Rob says the airport’s killing him. They haven’t even gone anywhere yet, remember - they’re still in Seattle. This doesn’t bode well. “Where do you want me to go?” Rob exclaims. Don’t leave yourself open like that, honey. Kimberly warns that if he yells at her again… I don’t know; he doesn’t let her finish her sentence. Tom & Terry find the right spot and get on a shuttle bus. Kimberly & Rob and Erwin & Godwin are all stuck somewhere. Tyler & James get tickets on the first flight. Kellie & Jamie meet Arti & “Vipul of the people.” Hee. It’s no “Lake like the ocean” or “Ray like the sun,” but it’ll do. Duke & Lauren get tickets for the first flight, asking how many are left (not many). The lucky sixth and final team on the first flight are Dublyn. Duke & Lauren meet Vipul & Arti and Jamie & Kellie, who wonder if they’re brother and sister or dating. Told you he looked young. Jamie cracks up at the news that they’re father and daughter. “I’ve been trying to ask her out for years,” Duke cracks. I kind of wish Lauren had replied, “But I kept saying no because I like girls.” Arti & Vipul receive the unfortunate news that the first flight is full. They and Jamie & Kellie head to the second counter, where they’re joined by Tom & Terry and Bilal & Sa’eed. Kellie tries to shake Sa’eed’s hand but he explains that in his religion, they don’t do that. I learned something else! I did some research and came up with the explanation: Muslim men don’t shake hands with women they’re not related to, and vice versa for Muslim women. It has to do with modesty and not being tempted. Orthodox Jews do the same. Kellie teases, “What if I shake your hand and you don’t know it?” Hee. Bilal tells her that’s okay. Tom & Terry are the first team on the second flight. At the counter, Kellie wonders, “Do Muslims believe in Buddha?” Jamie doesn’t know. Let’s hope I’m not going to be the only one learning things this season. Also, wait till they hear about Hinduism from Arti & Vipul. They’ll be so confused. Erwin & Godwin finally make it to the airport and get tickets on the second flight. Kimberly & Rob are the last team on that flight. In the bathroom, Erwin & Godwin fill up water guns, then meet and squirt Mary & David. After they squirt Dustin & Kandice, the guns get confiscated by a security guard. Whose idea was it to bring those? And squirt them in an airport? Tyler & James laugh about them getting taken. They seem to think Erwin & Godwin are being immature, but one of the models is wearing a shirt that says, “I may grow older but I’ll never grow up.” Ironic, no? Sarah gets to preboard because of her prosthetic leg. Dang, if she gets to get off the plane before everyone else because of that, she and Peter are in so much luck. The other teams don’t seem happy. The first flight carries Peter & Sarah, Dustin & Kandice, Tyler & James, Duke & Lauren, David & Mary, and Dublyn. Bilal & Sa’eed pray in the airport. I’m sure that freaked a few people out. They’re on the second flight with Tom & Terry, Kellie & Jamie, Erwin & Godwin, Vipul & Arti, and Rob & Kimberly. Suddenly we’re in China. It’s 8:22 p.m. and the first flight has been delayed. Sarah & Peter take off through the airport. “She can run the Ironman but she can’t stand in line?” Karlyn wonders. Duke & Lauren get a taxi first and take in China. They’re heading to the Gold House Restaurant for their next clue. “Quack quack,” Dublyn tell their driver. Yeah, I’m guessing the Chinese word for “fast” is not actually “quack.” Mary says Beijing is gorgeous and David says it’s huge. Mary has never been anywhere outside of Kentucky and Tennessee. “It’s like dropping a 30-year-old baby into the world and telling ‘em, ‘Just go.’” Hee. Kandice & Dustin are a little slow getting away from the airport. People are apparently staring and they feel like tourists. The second flight was late, too, and Tyler & James are the first team from that group to get a taxi. Peter & Sarah hope their taxi ride won’t be too long because their driver isn’t going too quickly. Maybe if they said “quack quack” to him… Peter spots Dublyn and notes that they don’t like him and Sarah because they outran them. Over in Dublyn’s cab, Lyn & Karlyn say they’re sick of Peter & Sarah using her disability to their advantage. They’ve done it, like, once. Kimberly tells Rob she’s not tired; her adrenaline kicked in when they got off the plane. Vipul & Arti have fallen to 11th place and hope they can catch up with everyone. Godwin says that China is a lot like Korea, “just more Chinese characters.” Ha… ha? Duke & Lauren reach the Gold House Restaurant first and cheer their driver. Their first clue is a Roadblock. Wow, they don’t usually do Roadblocks on the first leg. Oh, crap, we’re back to the eating challenges. This Roadblock requires one teammate to eat fish eyes, a Chinese delicacy. Duke decides he’ll “be hungry” and takes the Roadblock. Dublyn are second to arrive and Karlyn takes the task as Lyn notes that at least she eats Chinese food. Lauren laughs as Duke skips the chopsticks and basically drinks an eye. Karlyn is not having an easy time. “Delicious,” Duke says as Lauren says she loves him. If they hadn’t mentioned that they haven’t been close for a while, I never would have known it. They’re a great pair. Sarah & Peter arrive and Peter takes the task. Sarah can barely even look at him while he eats. Thanks to Karlyn’s technique of using the chopsticks to scoop the eyes into her mouth, she pulls out ahead and finishes first. I’m impressed. I never thought I’d say this, but I’m impressed by the tiny woman from Alabama’s ability to eat fish eyes. The next clue sends the teams on a taxi ride to the Meridian Gate in the Forbidden City. There, they’ll have to find a kiosk to get a departure time. They’ll also find their first surprise of the race. Lauren isn’t happy that “Alabama” has passed them. Duke finishes second and they head out. Lauren jokes that maybe the last person to get a departure time will be eliminated. Peter is shaking as he finishes eating. In Dustin & Kandice’s cab, Dustin notes that she’s getting hungry. Darn it! She has a ponytail, too! I’ll just have to go on the fact that Kandice’s hair is wavier. They’re at the wrong place, though, so no fish eyes yet. Mary & David get to the restaurant and Mary takes the Roadblock. Kandice & Dustin are still not at the right place. Tyler & James are fifth to the Roadblock, which James takes. Tyler asks how Mary is doing; David says she’s already eaten four or five. She’s having trouble with the chopsticks, which makes me think Duke had the right idea. Anyway, she finishes fairly quickly and she and David leave as Kellie & Jamie are arriving. Jamie decides to take the Roadblock as Tyler & James leave. Kellie & Jamie note that this means the second flight wasn’t too far behind the first, so everyone is catching up. Tyler & James head off in their cab, but Mary & David have let theirs go because their driver didn’t know where the Forbidden City was. They get another cab and Mary tells the driver, “Real fast. Quack quack.” Is Frommer’s just having fun with people now? Tom & Terry get to the Roadblock, which Terry takes because he’s hungry. “Tasty!” he proclaims. Dustin & Kandice? Still lost. Jamie’s done already. Dustin & Kandice can’t find any help. Terry is done, and he and Tom are in seventh place. Kandice & Dustin are frustrated and worried about how far they’ve fallen behind. Dustin & Kandice finally find someone who knows where the Gold House Restaurant is and they get him to accompany them. Rob promises to tip his driver if he goes faster. Bilal is jittery. Vipul & Arti and Erwin & Godwin aren’t happy that they have slow drivers. Kandice & Dustin make it to the Gold House Restaurant at last, followed quickly by Rob & Kimberly, who are happy to have caught up with a team from the first flight. Dustin & Kandice, however, are less than thrilled that other teams have gained time on them. Kandice and Rob take the Roadblock. Duke & Lauren and Dublyn reach the Forbidden City but aren’t at the Meridian Gate yet. Peter & Sarah get there first and grab a 7 a.m. departure time from the kiosk. Duke & Lauren, Dublyn, and Tyler & James get the same time. Vipul & Arti are at the Roadblock, which Vipul takes. Kandice says the fish eyes aren’t that bad. Arti is looking like Sarah, unable to even watch Vipul while he eats. Mary & David play Spot the Team. Tom & Terry and Jamie & Kellie get to Meridian Gate and pull 7:15 departure times, then share a group hug, jumping up and down. Erwin & Godwin are in the wrong place. Kandice is done eating. David & Mary get a 7:15 departure time. Erwin & Godwin look for someone who can speak English. Bilal & Sa’eed reach the restaurant; Arti calls them “the beards.” Eh, more creative than Kentucky or Alabama, but still not that great. Bilal takes the Roadblock. Rob finishes eating. Godwin & Erwin are who knows where. Vipul shovels in some eyes and barely keeps them down. Bilal gets distracted by him and Arti leaving and Sa’eed has to remind him to eat. Kandice & Dustin get a 7:15 departure time and lament that teams behind them passed them. Bilal is done. In the cab he says, “I’m from Cleveland, Ohio! What do I know about chopsticks?” Erwin & Godwin finally get to the Gold House Restaurant and Erwin eats the eyes. Rob & Kimberly get a 7:30 departure time. They note that instead of four 7:30 departure times, there are three and a plaque that reads “last team.” That doesn’t sound good. Arti & Vipul are disheartened to learn that their driver doesn’t speak English. Bilal & Sa’eed’s doesn’t know where he’s going. Erwin finishes and hopes that he and Godwin will catch a break. Arti & Vipul pull over to ask for directions. They, Bilal & Sa’eed, and Erwin & Godwin all arrive at the gate around the same time. Vipul & Arti get their first, followed by Erwin & Godwin, so Bilal & Sa’eed get the mysterious “last team” plaque. Everyone gathers as Phil approaches a mat and Bilal & Sa’eed head over to meet with him. That really can’t be good. When Phil is around, bad things happen. (And that’s too bad, really.) Phil informs Sa’eed and Bilal are the last team to arrive at this point in the race. He warned everyone that there would be surprises along the way. Even though this isn’t a Pit Stop, Bilal & Sa’eed have been eliminated. Wow. I mean… wow. Bilal looks at Phil like, “What did you just say?” The other teams are shocked and sad. Bilal says that this goes to show that you have no control over anything - only God does. James & Tyler say that it’s hard not to feel sad for Sa’eed and Bilal, since they seem like nice guys. David says you can’t take anything for granted. “Expect the unexpected,” Mary adds. Erwin says they won’t take anything for granted; they’ll just take it challenge by challenge. A choked-up Sarah says that she’d be heartbroken if she had to cut the race short like that. Tom & Terry feel bad for Sa’eed and Bilal but note that it’s a game. Dustin & Kandice will miss them; they seemed like cool guys. Kellie & Jamie are just grateful that they get to stick around. But now who will teach them the difference between Muhammad and Buddha? It’s 7 a.m. but everyone is lined up and ready to leave. The clue tells the teams to travel by motorbike to the junction of 14 Hou Hai and North Bank Road. They’ll actually be riding in sidecars of WWII bikes and will have to direct the drivers. They’ll get the next clue from a pedicab driver. Sarah interviews that when she put on her leg this morning, she noticed that the knee was leaking hydraulic fluid. It’s not painful to run on, it’s just harder. Peter compares it to having a slow leak in a bike tire. Unfortunately, this is something he can’t fix here. Sarah just has to be tougher. Lauren is amazed that she and Duke are communicating well. Lyn thinks she and Karlyn are surprising some of the other teams. The editors replay the Tyler & James interview about being fighters and not giving up. Or maybe they just said it again at another time. Who knows? The teams get in the sidecars and give the junction address to the drivers. Duke hilariously pronounces Hou Hai like Al Pacino saying “hoo-ah” in Scent of a Woman. The second group leaves at 7:15. Peter & Sarah are first to the junction. The next clue is a Detour: Labor or Leisure. Labor requires teams to take a pedicab to a market a mile away and pave a 45-square-foot section of sidewalk with bricks. In Leisure, teams take a pedicab to a park two miles away and participate in Taiji Bailong, an exercise ritual. Peter & Sarah, Duke & Lauren, Dublyn, and Tyler & James all pick Labor and head off in a pedicab convoy. As the third departure group heads out, Kimberly interviews that last night was a wake-up call for her and Rob. They’re breaking up? Oh, she means in the race. They need to catch up. Arti says it’s scary not knowing what to expect. Erwin & Godwin want to make sure they catch up to people. They’ve nicknamed Arti & Vipul Team Karma. Hmmm… that might be catchy. Dublyn and Peter & Sarah are the first two teams to the market and start Labor. Sarah is the first to note that they need to follow the pattern already created. Phil tells us that they need to figure out that they have to put the larger gray bricks down first as the border, then put the smaller red bricks in the middle. Otherwise, the bricks won’t fit the way they’re supposed to. As Sarah & Peter start, Sarah interviews that Peter is more hyper than her and gets more excited. She’s not that competitive with him because she knows her own limits. Peter is doing all the bricklaying and getting Sarah to bring him the bricks. Karlyn asks Lyn to tell her the pattern while she does the organizing. Lyn interviews that Karlyn is quick-tempered and has to be in control. Didn’t Rob say that about Kimberly? Maybe Rob and Lyn should be a team and Kimberly and Karlyn should be a team. That could get really interesting. Duke & Lauren and Tyler & James are a little late to the market, but they get right to it. Lauren takes charge, trying to figure out the pattern, but Duke disagrees with her. Tyler & James quickly figure out what they need to do. Peter gets a little frustrated when Sarah tries to help out. The teams get into a pattern, if you will, and start moving faster. Tom & Terry, Kandice & Dustin, and Kellie & Jamie get to the pedicab driver for the Detour clue. Kandice & Dustin take Labor while Kellie & Jamie and Tom & Terry take Leisure. Good move for Jamie & Kellie, who note that since they’re cheerleaders, they can do something that requires balance. Unfortunately, the two Leisure teams promptly get stuck in traffic. Mary & David get the Detour and choose Labor. Arti & Vipul worry that they’re driving in circles. Vipul says that everything looks the same and different, and it’s the blind leading the blind. At the junction, Rob & Kimberly choose Labor. Erwin & Godwin choose the same task and seem to enjoy their pedicab ride. Vipul & Arti have a hard time finding someone who speaks English. Arti thinks a map would probably be helpful right about now. While stuck in traffic, Arti & Vipul find someone who knows where the junction is, so they get on their way. They pick Labor as their Detour option because it’s closer. Peter now wants Sarah’s help, and he also wants Lauren to move (I think she’s blocking his view of the pattern). Dublyn are pretty far behind the other teams, but Tyler & James are already done and on their way to the Pit Stop, Juyongguan, the gateways to the Great Wall of China. Oh, and teams have to scale a wall to get to the mat. Cool. Sarah & Peter finish and head off. Sarah’s excited about the scaling. After they leave, Dublyn complain that Peter is a micromanager. Is there any pleasing these two? They’re starting to get on my nerves. Peter & Sarah spot Tyler & James, then the teams arriving in pedicabs. In an interview, Kandice & Dustin call Tyler & James attractive and dangerous. Duke & Lauren finish but Dublyn are still struggling. Peter & Sarah get themselves a taxi. Sarah says that her leg is doing well, but they need to preserve the remaining hydraulic fluid. Tyler & James are trying to get a taxi (which the clue says they have to take), but people keep telling them to take a bus. For some reason, one cab driver won’t take them. Mary & David greet Dublyn and start Labor. Tyler & James finally get a cab and tell themselves that they have this. Then they hope their driver knows where he’s going. Kimberly & Rob start Labor. Dublyn are finally done. As they leave, they nicely give David & Mary some encouragement. Dustin & Kandice finish next, making up for their poor showing earlier in the leg. David & Mary are trucking along but I think Kimberly is overwhelmed and possibly overthinking things. Rob says that 99.9 percent of the time, he loves her, but that other tiny percent of the time is when they “take tones” with each other. From watching David grab the gray bricks, they finally figure out what they need to do and get to it. Kimberly quickly learns that breaking bricks is a bad thing. As Tom & Terry and Kellie & Jamie head to Leisure, Kellie & Jamie do a cheer in their pedicab. Tom & Terry echo it from theirs. Hee. You know, other than Dublyn, who are just merely a little annoying right now, these are some great teams this seasons. They reach Leisure and get a lesson in Taiji Bailong. There are certain moves involving a ball and what looks like a racquet; plus you have to move your body and limbs in a certain way. They have to perform the moves a certain number of times. Tom has some trouble but Terry looks like a natural. Erwin & Godwin get to Labor and start working, accidentally taking some of David & Mary’s bricks. “This isn’t a community pile?” Erwin asks. Beethoven’s Fifth plays as Tom & Terry try to master Taiji Bailong. Kelli & Jamie aren’t having much more luck, but they’re having fun. Vipul & Arti finally get to Labor. Peter gives Sarah a pep talk in the cab. Sarah interviews that he could be the great love of her life. If they don’t risk their hearts a little bit, they’ll never know if there isn’t more there. Duke & Lauren are right on Peter & Sarah’s tail, so they tell their cab driver to go faster. The word they use for “faster” does not, by the way, sound like “quack.” They pass Sarah & Peter and cheer themselves and their driver on. As Duke kisses Lauren’s cheek, he interviews that he’s learning a lot more about her - she’s athletic, determined, and a great teammate. And I’m officially calling them sentimental favorites. Peter & Sarah are the first to the wall. Tyler & James and Duke & Lauren are in the vicinity as well. Peter can’t stop praising Sarah for doing so well. Too bad they’ve missed the ropes. Tyler & James are the first to the right spot. James interviews that it’s great to know he can rely on Tyler; he has so much confidence in him that he has more confidence in the team. They start climbing and are soon joined by Duke & Lauren and Sarah & Peter. Sarah has a lot of trouble finding a foothold. Tyler or James (I can’t tell them apart when they’re wearing helmets) and Duke are doing great, though. Sarah hits her stride, thanks in part to Peter’s encouragement. Tyler & James are the first team to get both members to the top of the wall, and they hit the mat first. I must share this with you, though: with the exception of season 1, no team who has come in first on the first leg has ever won. Just saying. Phil has better news - James & Tyler have won $20,000. They say that landing in first place shows character and how much drive they have inside. Duke is almost to the top of the wall. Lauren is so proud that she’s crying. She says she never thought that they’d do anything like this together. Sarah tries to give herself a pep talk. Peter warns that when she gets over the top, he’s going to cry. Instead, he just cheers. “Now I’ve got to do it. Now I’m going to look like a dingaling,” he notes. Lauren quickly makes it to the top and she and Duke are in second place. She tells Phil that this is a great opportunity for them to bond and put their differences aside. Sarah & Peter are third and very happy. David & Mary are bickering now. Uh oh. I think Mary secretly wears the pants in this relationship. They finish and take off. Kandice & Dustin are at the Great Wall and start climbing. Rob & Kimberly are done with Labor. David & Mary heap praise on some helpful locals. Dublyn arrive at the Great Wall and Lyn seems worried about climbing. Kandice seems to make the climb all right. Karlyn starts climbing but soon finds that she’s not as strong as the task requires. Vipul & Arti and Erwin & Godwin learn that they’ve done something wrong, so their bricks don’t all fit. Over at Leisure, Tom & Terry and Jamie & Kellie do the Taiji Bailong but only Tom & Terry get a clue. Dustin & Kandice make it to the mat in fourth place. I’m impressed by them. Kellie & Jamie do Leisure again and get their clue. Mary can’t believe she’s going to see the Great Wall. “See it?” David asks. “We’re gonna rappel it or zip it or something.” Karlyn is still dangling at the end of a rope. She’s not even sure how to get started. Erwin & Godwin finish up Labor and wish Vipul & Arti luck before leaving. Rob & Kimberly get a taxi and Kimberly specifies to the driver that they’re looking for the Great Wall of China. Because I’m sure he was about to take them to the airport so they could go to the Great Wall of Tallahassee. “Follow them! Follow them!” Kimberly says. “Follow us! Follow us!” Godwin yells back. Heh. He’s trying to build up good karma. Tom & Terry arrive at the Great Wall, where Karlyn is still dangling. David starts climbing as Mary notes that it’ll be even harder for her. Tom is afraid he’s going to fall. Arti & Vipul finish up and head off. Their cab driver may or may not know where they want to go. David and Tom seem to be pretty close on the wall. Lyn tries to give Karlyn a boost but it doesn’t help. Finally, Karlyn figures out what to do and starts moving. Tom is stuck, however. Once David is up, he yells down some advice to Mary, but she wants to wait for that until she’s actually climbing, since he might wind up helping other racers. Rob & Kimberly get started, as do Erwin & Godwin. Erwin is impressed with how fast Kimberly is. Kellie & Jamie arrive, determined to surge ahead. Arti & Vipul are anxious in their cab. Mary starts climbing, making it clear she doesn’t want David’s advice. Wow, don’t mess with Mary. Lyn is being very encouraging, and Karlyn makes it to the top, followed closely by Tom, Kimberly, and Godwin. Kellie slowly but surely makes it up the wall. Rob is pretty quick and he and Kimberly make it to the mat in fifth place. Kellie & Jamie are sixth. I’m really worried about Arti & Vipul now. Erwin & Godwin are seventh. Tom & Terry are eighth and just want good news. They do a crazy, hilarious dance on the mat. Mary is struggling and still frustrated with David’s help. Karlyn is yelling encouragement to Lyn. Arti & Vipul? Still in their cab. Arti says there are a lot of emotions going through her. Karlyn tells Lyn that this can’t be worse than childbirth, and she needs to do this for her kids. Aww, shades of Linda and Karen. Coincidentally, the two teams have the same initials. Lyn makes it to the top and she and Karlyn are ninth to the mat. Phil asks how they got through it. Lyn says she had to do it for herself and her children, and it was a great accomplishment. Awww, two teams I like are in the back of the pack. Mary is still struggling to get up the wall. She apologizes but David assures her that he loves her, then tells her that they’ll have the proudest kids in the world. She makes it up and he seems very proud, telling her she did great. They’re in tenth place. Apparently David thought they were last, so Mary is both happy and upset that he told her they were further behind than she thought. She hugs Phil, who tells her to hug David. She hugs the greeter next and Phil tells her to just “hug everybody.” Vipul & Arti eventually make it to the wall. This is horrible. When they reach the mat, they receive the unfortunate news that they’ve been eliminated. I hate it when such a likeable team goes out first. I really wish we’d gotten to see more of them. Arti says this was an amazing experience, even though it was short. Vipul interviews that they fully love, respect, and support each other. Arti adds that they complete each other, and that’s what’s important in a relationship. It’s also important to have confidence in each other, and the race has shown Arti that that’s definitely possible. Vipul calls her his true love. Next week, when the show moves to its regular 8 p.m. EST time slot: Rob & Kimberly fulfill my prophecy and start screaming at each other. Racers ride horses, some falling and at least one being dragged. Yikes! Peter & Sarah might be in trouble.

The Amazing Race 10: Thinking Smart in Episode 1 by Jeffrey Clinard -- 09/21/2006 The tenth edition of The Amazing Race is here, with Phil promising us surprises along the way. Bring it on! Teams should never get too comfortable, and as the first leg showed, Philimination might take place at any time. More than ever, it’s important for teams to think smart to get to the next clue box, task, or Pit Stop as quickly as possible. Teams are starting to learn the lessons of previous races, as they were asking the right questions at the airport. Of course, getting to the parking lot was problematic for some teams. Several had a hard time finding the lot, and in some cases that trouble led to a seat on the second flight. The second flight carried both teams that were eliminated, showing once again that the flight that arrives first is a key to surviving the first leg of the race. Dustin & Kandice might have been eliminated if they hadn’t gotten seats on that aircraft. Unfortunately, the final standings of the leg were muddied as teams which were thinking smart stalled out just short of the pit stop. While thinking smart can help teams, the race sometimes has a physical aspect to it. The loss of position by Lyn & Karlyn shows this quite dramatically. It moved them from a spot in the top four to nearly the bottom of the standings. I don’t really like it, but outrunning the competition has always been a part of the race, and there is little teams can do about it. The Roadblock was largely irrelevant in determining the order of the teams reaching the finish line. The Detour offered a choice of labor or leisure, with most teams electing to do the brickwork. It was certainly a viable option, and teams did well at it once they figured out the trick. However, the leisure option was completed by two teams. Which was faster? Well, there isn’t much to go on, as the two teams that did the leisure task didn’t seem to gain or lose any ground. However, both teams did pick the option they felt was better suited to their talents. Twelve teams started the race; only ten remain after one episode. Which teams were thinking smart in episode one? Tyler & James: The first team out of the parking lot in Seattle was the winner for the leg. They stopped to ask directions to the airport, but still made it to the airport in time for the first flight. Out of the Roadblock, they were the last team to get a 7:00 departure time, but the first to figure out the secret of the labor task. Combined with their ability to scale the wall quickly, they earned a first place finish in this leg. Duke & Lauren: The father / daughter combo ran an excellent leg, making the first flight and being the second team to get to the Forbidden City. At the Detour, they worked well together and were the second team to figure out the trick to the bricklaying. Overall they did a great job. As a footnote, Duke should start listen to Lauren more - her racing instincts were dead on when she suggested the Forbidden City might eliminate a team. That kind of edge might come in very useful later. Peter & Sarah: This team has shown themselves as willing to take risks in order to get ahead. They took a chance on the side road to bypass the freeway accident, and were the first ones to the airport by far. They were the first team to the Forbidden City, and have always been at the front of the pack when racing. As a side note, while teams may not like Sarah saying she can work just as well as the rest of them with her prosthetic leg, Sarah and Peter should take advantage of it to gain any race advantage they can. It’s not much different than an older team getting senior citizen discounts. Dustin & Kandice: The beauty queens have a knack for quickly recovering from setbacks. They first had some problems operating their car, but succeeded in making the first flight by bypassing the car accident on the freeway. Then they recovered from their cab driver taking them to the wrong location in Beijing, by getting a local guide to assist them. They completed the Detour at about the same time as Lyn & Karyln (meaning they completed it in about 15 minutes less time), and raced ahead to the fourth position. Rob & Kimberly: Despite heavy bickering, the couple did a respectable job in the leg, coming out in fifth. They were seen trying to bribe a cab driver into going faster, which isn’t a bad idea. They completed the Detour fairly quickly, though Kimberly made a mistake in throwing bricks - a broken one means two trips. Overall, it was a solid leg for them. Kellie & Jamie: The cheerleaders were the first of the teams of the second flight to get to the Roadblock, and one of the few teams to select the leisure detour option. This shows they were thinking smart by playing to their strengths. They also compared the rope climb to a cheerleading drill, which gave them a good boost to the middle of the pack. Erwin & Godwin: The brothers didn’t run a stellar leg. They were one of several teams that went to the airport parking garage instead of the Thrifty return lot initially. They showed a sense of fun with the water pistols, but should have known better than to carry them into an airport. They were the last team to complete the Roadblock, and got very lucky when Bilal & Sa’eed had cab problems, otherwise they would have been eliminated. They are still in the race, but need to step up their game. Tom & Terry: The boyfriends ran a solid, if somewhat dull leg, which put them behind several other teams. They were the first to complete the leisure detour, but stalled out a bit in getting to the pit stop. They are in the back of the pack, and it is yet to be seen just how well they can race. Lyn & Karlyn: The single moms did an excellent job of racing which is not reflected in their position in the race. They were the first team to complete the Roadblock, and the third to the Forbidden City. While they were the last team of the first group to complete the Detour, they were hit hard by the physical part of the race when they tried to scale the wall. Fortunately, their excellent ability to race up to that point bought them the time needed to stay in the race. Unfortunately, this team has spent too much time worrying about Peter & Sarah. There is nothing they can do about how that team races. David & Mary: This team managed the first flight because they were able to bypass the freeway traffic, but after that things seemed to go downhill for them. They had problems with their cab driver when getting to the Forbidden City, and seemed to stall out on the Detour. They were also hampered by their ability to climb the wall, but were able to eke out a slot in the next leg. If the race continues to have physical components, they might be in trouble. Vipul & Arti: What went wrong? In short, they lost the race during the segment on the motorcycle. Their inability to find the pedicab station put them far behind the others, and the editors couldn’t even attempt to make the ending seem close. If they had done a better job at navigating, they would probably still be in the race. Bilal & Sa’eed: What went wrong? They started off with problems with getting to the Thrifty car return, which put them on the second flight. They then proceeded to have difficulties with cab drivers, both in getting to the Gold House, and to the Forbidden City. In short, this team was unlucky, and luck always has its place in the race.

The Amazing Race 10, Episode 1's First Class and Cargo Class Awards by Sandy Lamparello -- 09/21/2006 The Amazing Race is back, in its familiar and much-loved format. But this season, host Phil Koeghan has promised the racers some surprises. Taking a page from Big Brother, racers are expecting the unexpected. This week, as always, we saw some First Class behavior, and some Cargo Class behavior. Let’s take a look and see which teams are worthy. Or unworthy, as the case may be. Welcome back, Amazing Race fans! It’s great to have another season underway, isn’t it? And wow what a first episode we had! One team was eliminated during a rest period, there was a Roadblock, and teams had to perform a physical challenge to get to the mat. It makes me REALLY look forward to what else we’ll see throughout the course of this race! You’ve hopefully read Jen’s always-thorough recap, so you know who was eliminated and who is still racing. Now, it’s time for some awards! This week, and every week, I will be handing out the First and Cargo Class awards for the race. What exactly does that mean, you ask? Well, the teams who perform well, have a good time, enjoy their experiences, and show some kindness or compassion will end up in First Class. A team who doesn’t finish at the top of the standings but looks like they would be fun to travel or hang out with could also end up in First Class. Think back to the classic episode. Comfy chairs, champagne, hot fudge sundaes, and warm towels. Maybe a soft robe and fuzzy slippers if it’s an overnight flight… On the flip side, teams who bicker, whine, complain, or are rude and disrespectful will end up in Cargo Class. They may finish high in the standings, but their performance, attitude, or treatment of others will drop them to the back of the pack for my purposes. Under the plane they go, to sit on top of Aunt Phyllis’s overstuffed suitcase among the luggage and other things you just don’t want to see during your trip. This week’s First Class award was pretty easy for me to give out. Peter & Sarah worked well together, were kind and encouraging to other teams, and overcame some very real obstacles to finish in a very solid third place. At this point in the race, it’s only really important to avoid elimination, but there’s no doubt that finishing near the front of the pack gives a team an advantage. Sarah & Peter were allowed to board the plane to China first because of her prosthetic leg, but they did not repeatedly make it an issue during the rest of the episode. Peter helped Sarah down a slippery hill in the rain at the start of this leg (no pun intended), showing concern for his friend and teammate instead of just yelling at her to go faster. Teamwork is such a huge part of success on The Amazing Race and Peter exhibited that perfectly right from the start. When Sarah & Peter approached the Roadblock, it was pretty obvious from the clue that it wasn’t going to be a physical challenge. While that might have pointed more towards Sarah completing the task, this team used their brains and realized that Peter was actually the stronger one for a disgusting eating challenge, and he chose to take on the fish eyes. That was clearly evidenced by Sarah’s inability to even watch Peter suck the slimy eyeballs down. The argument can be made that, as a triathlete, Sarah can take on the physical challenges as well as anyone, and I completely agree. But during a race where time is an issue, her prosthetic leg is something that should be taken into account when dividing up tasks. At the Detour, Peter took charge once Sarah figured out there was a pattern to be followed. Sarah took over bringing the bricks over and Peter concentrated on placing them. They worked very well together once again and completed the task quickly and efficiently. Finally, at the end of this leg, Sarah performed extremely well climbing the Great Wall. Her leg was leaking hydraulic fluid throughout the second part of the episode, yet she persevered and worked hard not to fall behind. When she started to have trouble getting into the rhythm of her climb, and appeared on the verge of a meltdown, Peter very calmly and efficiently encouraged her and helped her find her stride and make her way up the wall. Again, excellent teamwork made a difference for these two. They were truly excited to have finished so well, and they did so with class and dignity, only gaining an advantage for the flight to China. Their cab was so slow they quickly lost that advantage, but they didn’t let that get them down. So, Sarah & Peter, today you won’t need to preboard, because we have some lovely seats for you in the fine Corinthian leather seats. Go ahead and settle in to First Class, sip some champagne, kick back, and relax. Congratulations on a very well run first leg! Cargo Class was also fairly easy for me to award this week. Although there was no team that reached Jonathan & Victoria or Lake & Michelle status, there was one team that annoyed both recapper Jenn and me to no end. There was just no pleasing Lyn & Karlyn (a.k.a. Dublyn) in this episode. They complained about Peter & Sarah being given preference on the flight to China, when that was not their decision but is the custom of every flight I’ve ever been on. Position on the flights is always a huge determining factor on the race, teams in the front of the plane generally have an advantage in getting out of the airport, but as I mentioned above, the advantage disappeared once the teams got in their cabs. Yet Dublyn continued to complain about Sarah using her alleged disability as an advantage. That wasn’t where their whining ended though. At the Detour, Dublyn had problems working together to figure out the pattern of the bricks, and it put them far behind the other teams who chose Labor. Then, instead of focusing on getting their own task completed, they stopped to comment on Peter & Sarah as they completed their own task and headed out. When a team is completely in control of something, such as completing a task, they need to focus on that task and shut out the other teams. If Dublyn had gotten a hint from paying attention to another team that would be one thing, but taking time to notice how that other team is working together and comment on it is just not a good idea. When seconds can matter, even the least bit of time wasted can put a team at a disadvantage. So, Karlyn & Lyn, you won’t be sitting in a nice comfy seat for this flight. In fact, unless you can dig up some beach chairs or something down in Cargo Class, you won’t be sitting in seats at all! But guess what—you will be allowed to preboard this flight! Hope things aren’t too unpleasant down there for you!