The Amazing Race: All-Stars, Episode 1 - Déjà Vu by Jenn Brasler -- 02/19/2006 The faces are familiar. The format is familiar. The host is VERY familiar. Plenty of things about The Amazing Race’s first-ever all-star season might give you a sense of déjà vu. Are all the racers the same as they used to be? Will Romber be the most devious of the competitors? Or is there another team that might give them another kind of run for their money? My favorite reality-TV host Phil Keoghan greets us from Miami, telling us that 11 memorable teams from past Amazing Race seasons are about to compete in the first-ever all-star Amazing Race competition. Some of the teams’ relationships have changed since their races, but they’re all in it for another chance at a million dollars. For more details on the teams, you can read my preview article, but here’s a scaled-down version. Kevin & Drew are lifelong friends who raced in season 1. Kevin says they’ve been through a lot of changes since their season. Drew tells us they’re both married now and are five years older and more out of shape. Kevin says he was a circle five years ago, and now he’s an oval. I can’t tell you how happy I am that they’re back. Rob & Amber, AKA Romber, from season 7, are married, and if you don’t know who they are, you are new to reality TV and I welcome you. How was it under that rock you were lucky enough to inhabit for so long? Amber says they’ve been married for over 18 months and have a great relationship. Rob promises they have a whole new bag of tricks this time around. Amber thinks the other racers will be trying their old tricks, but she and Rob will have new ones. Uchenna & Joyce are married and also raced in season 7. Joyce has kept her hair short, so maybe she’s anticipating another head-shaving Roadblock. Uchenna admits that they’re growing apart, and not having a child has put a lot of stress on them. Joyce says they’re still trying to find the secret to a happy, lasting marriage. From season 10 we have Dustin & Kandice, best friends/beauty queens. Kandice says that they’re up against people who have all done this before. Dustin says it’s like racing against your teacher. I still can’t tell their voices apart and have to rely on seeing them to figure out who’s speaking. Yeah, that won’t get old fast. Speaking of people I can’t identify from voice, here are the show’s first unofficial villains, Joe & Bill, AKA Team Guido from season 1. Joe says they’re not alpha males at all. Bill laughs and notes that they’re two gay grandpas. Charla & Mirna are cousins from season 5, and so far Charla is the race’s only little person. She says that she’s always gotten attention because of her size, but that she and Mirna have been on TV, she’s getting positive attention. Mirna promises that they’ll be tough. David & Mary from season 10 are a married couple and the race’s unofficial sweethearts. Mary says the race opened a new door for them. David says she’s more confident in herself now. Mary says this time around she has a different strategy and doesn’t need an alliance. Teri & Ian, one of my least-favorite pairs from any season, are a married couple who competed in season 3. They note that they came in second by less than two minutes. They disagreed and bickered, but that’s who they are. Teri says this time they’ll race harder and stronger, and they’ll win. Ian says they’re back. Is that a promise or a threat? One of my favorite teams, Oswald & Danny (AKA Team Cha Cha Cha, who I’ll call Cha3 because it’s faster), are friends from season 2. Oswald tells us they had a fight and didn’t speak for about a year, but they happily overcame it, probably because they both respect each other. They joke that they’re husband and husband. John Vito & Jill, another great team, are here from season 3. They were dating during their season, but they’ve since split up. Jill tells us how they met through her brother, who died on September 11th, and helped each other through the grieving process. The next step in their relationship would have been getting engaged, but they stopped working as a couple, so they broke up. However, now Jill is open to whatever happens, and John Vito wants them to grow closer. Eric & Danielle, the season’s only mixed-team pair, are from season 9. He raced with his best friend Jeremy, and she raced with her best friend Dani, but now Eric & Danielle are dating. Eric likes Danielle’s attitude. Danielle says she thought Eric was a Casanova, but he’s actually a gentleman. Eric admits that he’s more anxious this time because while he competed with his best friend last time, the race could make or break his relationship with Danielle. Phil asks us to ponder which team will be the best of the all-stars. We’ll get our answer soon. Phil greets the 11 teams and tells them to look at their competition. “No one should take anyone else for granted,” he warns. A couple teams have raced each other before; some are friends and some are enemies. Phil says that eight Pit Stops will be elimination points, so get to them as quickly as possible. He’s starting the eyebrow up early. Me likey. When he says go, the teams need to grab their bags and jump in a car. Everyone’s ready, and the world is waiting, so they hit the road. The first destination is Quito, Ecuador. Drew and Charla are the slowest runners, by the way, while Oswald & Danny and Jill & John Vito are the fastest. Danny says he and Oswald have the edge because Danny lives in Miami and often goes to the airport. Romber is in third place with Guido and Kandice & Dustin behind them. Uchenna & Joyce are close behind, happy about their “chance of a lifetime twice.” Oswald tries to catch his breath and Danny teases that they should have had less martinis and done more cardio. Jill interviews that she and John Vito really loved each other and still care for each other. She hopes that works to their advantage. Everyone is congratulatory of each other for getting into the cars so quickly. Joe paraphrases his and Bill’s old line about living in Paris for two years by joking that it’s a good thing they come to Miami every seven years. I love that they can make fun of themselves like this. Kandice & Dustin still want to be the first all-girl team to win the race. Someone should tell them that in the first season of Asia’s version of The Amazing Race, two women won. Eric notes that everyone here has done the race together except him and Danielle. He jokes that he hopes she realizes he’s in charge. At least I think he’s joking… Uchenna notes that Eric grew up in Miami, so they’ll follow his car. Ian says running to the car felt like he was chasing drug dealers on the Miami vice. If you’re not picturing Ian in one of those big ‘80s suits, you are a far more normal person than I am. He and Teri pass Uchenna & Joyce, then “Pink” and Eric. David & Mary pass them, too, wanting to follow Ian & Teri, who are from Florida. Uchenna & Joyce follow Eric & Danielle instead of taking the exit Ian & Teri take. Charla can’t believe she outran Drew. No offense to Drew, but I can. He blames his backpack. Cha3 are on right track to the airport and happy, but not quite as happy when Romber and Jill & John Vito pass them. Rob interviews that they didn’t drag themselves back here to finish second again: “Mark my words.” At the airport, there is a search for the rental-car place, which Cha3 find first. Jill calls John Vito JV, so thanks for that, Jill! It’s much easier to type. JV & Jill are first on a shuttle and tell the driver not to pick anyone else up. Romber get on another and try to drive off but agree to let Cha3 on since they followed them to the airport. Rob jokes that the kind gesture killed him. Oswald teases that Romber have their own cable channel. I adore Oswald & Danny. Charla & Mirna pass Mary & David and Ian & Teri. Teri calls them Mirna & Schmirna, saying it’s nice that everyone has a nickname and wondering if she and Ian have one. As long as she and Ian keep from yelling at each other this time around, I’ll keep my nicknames for them to myself. Phil informs us that there are two flights to choose from; one leaves earlier than the other but arrives later. Amber is quick to realize that the flight that leaves first might not land first. At the airport, there’s running and research, and Jill & JV, Romber, and Cha3 all get on the flight that lands first. Teri & Ian and Charla & Mirna are running for a shuttle as David & Mary arrive, and Mary & David aren’t in time to catch up. Dustin & Kandice and Guido arrive around the same time and get on a shuttle with David & Mary. The teams try to decide which flight they should take, and Mary & David are bickering already. Charla & Mirna meet Cha3 and learn which flight is faster. Uchenna & Joyce are lost and trying to keep it together. Drew feels like he and Kevin are driving around in circles. At the airport, David & Mary get on the slower flight, then learn that they shouldn’t have. Oops! Too late; they can’t do anything about it. Kandice & Dustin arrive and are surprised that Mary & David seem happy to see them. That is, until Mary lies to their faces that the flight they’ve just booked themselves on is faster. Ooooh. I didn’t think Mary had that in her. Kandice & Dustin are skeptical that they’re telling the truth. David says that this season is about the best of the best, so they have to do what they have to do. David tells Teri & Ian the truth about the flight, and Guido, who seem to overhear, head off with Teri & Ian to get on the flight that lands earlier. Kandice & Dustin ask about the better flight and head off to get on the earlier one. Mary is upset about this. Elsewhere, Oswald promises to protect Charla & Mirna if anyone tries to push them out of line. Romber, Jill & JV, and Oswald & Danny get on the flight that lands first, but Kandice & Dustin and Guido might be out of luck. Mary & David meet Rob & Amber, whom David accidentally calls Kim. David & Mary are happy about this because they’re big Romber fans. Eric & Danielle meet Guido and Kandice & Dustin, who are nervous about not making the earlier flight. Charla & Mirna and Teri & Ian get on the faster flight, but there are no seats left after that and everyone else is out of luck. All of the teams fly to Ecuador, where they’ll have to go to the Plaza San Francisco via taxi to get their next clue. Oswald & Danny again get on the road first, followed by Charla & Mirna and Jill & JV. Teri isn’t happy to be the last team in the pack, but there are six other teams who aren’t even in the country yet, so it’s not that big of a deal. Mirna makes up her own Spanish, which, if you remember from season 5, is her specialty. Romber get to the plaza first and Rob calls Amber “Kim.” Heh. Their clue sends them to Pim’s Restaurant, where they’ll pull a number for a departure time in the morning. The three times are 7:00, 7:15, and 7:30. Cha3 are second, followed by Jill & JV and Charla & Mirna. Jill & JV aren’t sure how Romber got to the plaza first. Teri & Ian are still lagging. Romber stay in front and get to the restaurant first, grabbing a 7:00 departure time. Jill & JV are second, followed by Charla & Mirna and Oswald & Danny, all of whom get 7:00 times. The teams are camping out on cots tonight. Amber says that there’s no team she and Rob would really like to race against, but everyone would probably name Romber as the team they want to race against. Oswald & Danny say that they’ve heard of Romber because, well, they live on planet Earth. Exactly! Rob says it’s been two years, but they’ve still got it. Teri & Ian get a 7:15 departure time and aren’t too thrilled. At least Ian remembers there’s a flight behind them. Speaking of that flight, Dustin & Kandice continue their tradition from last season by getting off the plane first. Joe &Bill say that the racers from season 10 aren’t tired yet - there are no Gutsy Grannies here. Heh. (The Gutsy Grannies were a self-named team from season 2 containing two older women who… well, they didn’t have much energy, let’s say. The teams already at the campsite eat dinner together. Rob jokes that his heart is bleeding for the teams that aren’t there yet. Kandice & Dustin get to the clue box next, followed by Guido, Eric & Danielle, and David & Mary, who pass Eric & Danielle. Kevin & Drew head to box but Drew totally takes a header and looks to have hurt something. Yikes! Kevin helps Drew into a van, where Drew says he thinks he dislocated his shoulder. In the meantime, everyone else races to the restaurant. Uchenna & Joyce grab a 7:15 departure time, but David & Mary are stuck with a 7:30 time. They wish they’d gotten on the first plane. Drew’s knee is bleeding, so Kevin tends to him. Fortunately, Drew’s shoulder is feeling better. They spot Eric & Danielle and narrowly beat them to get a departure time. In the morning, the 7:00 a.m. group gets their next clue, which sends them to Cotopaxi National Park. They have maps and cars and are advised to enter through the north entrance. Cha3 are first on the road with Jill & JV and Romber behind them. Charla & Mirna cross themselves before Mirna attempts to drive stick. The 7:15 group leaves. Ian & Teri pass Guido and Joe says that people underestimate them because Ian looks old and crotchety. There is driving and asking for directions. Romber find someone to follow, because we didn’t get enough of that last season. The 7:30 stragglers leave and David and Drew tussle over a car. Girls, girls, you’re both pretty. Elsewhere, Mirna introduces her local guide to Charla with a baby voice and bad Spanish accent. What’s with her? Romber get to the park first but aren’t sure if they’re ahead of everyone else. Jill & JV appear to be at the wrong entrance and are told they’re an hour away. Ouch! Cha3 are at the park and singing happily to some pigs. Jill & JV wonder if they went to the wrong entrance. Speaking of the wrong entrance, Charla & Mirna are at it. Charla wonders if they should just try and see if they can use that entrance. Well, sure, you can, but it’s not recommended. Bill pets Joe’s hair (no, I’m serious) as Joe says it’s nice to be away from the other teams. Romber reach the next clue, a Detour. The choices are Wrangle It and Recover It. In Wrangle, the teams help cowboys lasso, tie, and groom a wild horse with huge hooves. They have to clip the horse’s hooves and trim its tail, then set it free. In Recover, one team member puts on a historical uniform and both partners look for three things missing from it (an epaulet, a sword, and a button). Romber go for that one and Rob gets to wear the uniform. They quickly find the sword but worry about finding the button, since it’s small and they’re in a big field. A horse whinnies and Rob thinks it’s trying to tell them something. After some wandering, Romber decide to switch tasks. Cha3 are approaching and enjoying driving through some water. Romber start the other task, which looks to go a lot faster. Amber says this is the weirdest thing she’s ever done. Cha3 pick Wrangle and Oswald explains that it’s because he’s always wanted a career in beauty, so if he can cut a horse’s nails, he can cut a person’s hair. Love them! Romber complete their task and are sent up a nearby hill to the Pit Stop. That was quick! Phil doesn’t even sugarcoat it - the first team to arrive will be eliminated. Cha3 do well on Wrangle and finish quickly as Teri & Ian arrive. Nice work on Teri & Ian’s part. Romber are first to the Pit Stop. I can hear the collective groan from around the country. Phil tells a tired Rob he can smile because they’re first, and they’ve won a ski trip to Whistler, Canada. Rob says that when Phil said to go, it was on. Teri & Ian pick Wrangle because Teri is a horse person. Eric & Danielle, in seventh place, are happy to have caught up to the 7:15 people. Eric tells us he doesn’t like losing. Thanks, Eric. There’s some jockeying for position among them, Uchenna & Joyce, and Dustin & Kandice. In the meantime, Oswald & Danny are second to the Pit Stop and hug. Charla & Mirna are still looking for the right entrance. They’re about an hour away from where they need to be. Kevin and Drew have the exchange I saw in a commercial and having been looking forward to ever since. Kevin: “Peru is nice.” Drew: “I’m sure it’s nice in Peru. We’re in Ecuador.” David & Mary bicker. Jill & JV are still in the wrong spot. Uh oh. Jill remarks that things went downhill really quickly. Charla & Mirna are worried they’ll be driving for a long time. Teri & Ian done with their task as Eric & Danielle and Guido arrive. Both pick Wrangle. Teri & Ian are third to the Pit Stop. Now, who saw that coming? Kevin & Drew have managed to move up to eighth place, but not for long, as David & Mary soon pass them. Mary thinks David is having fun. Jill & JV are still in the wrong spot. Eric & Danielle and Guido do their Detours. Uchenna & Joyce and Kandice & Dustin arrive and both pick Wrangle. Eric & Danielle finish, followed by Guido. Charla & Mirna are still driving and don’t know where they’re going. Eric & Danielle make it to the Pit Stop in fourth place. Nice catch-up work by them, too. Guido are fifth. David & Mary come across Charla & Mirna, who are happy not to be completely alone in the middle of nowhere. “I think they think they’re lost,” Mary says. Heh. JV tries to encourage Jill by reminding her how many times they thought they were lost on their previous season. He says they need to make the best of this. Also trying to make the best of it are Kevin & Drew, who have a flat tire. In the meantime, Dustin & Kandice and Uchenna & Joyce finish their Detours. Drew doesn’t want to change the flat, so he and Kevin drive off on it. Okay, then. Dustin & Kandice are sixth to the Pit Stop, followed by Uchenna & Joyce in seventh. At the Detour, Mary & David and Charla & Mirna choose Wrangle, even if it means Charla has to hold down a wild horse. So now we have Kevin & Drew and Jill & JV, two teams I like, pulling up the rear. David & Mary and Charla & Mirna finish their Detours. Kevin thinks the Detour will have something to do with horses, which is good because Drew is a horse person. Charla & Mirna hit the Pit Stop in eighth place, with David & Mary right behind them. David & Mary tell Phil they’re happy to meet Charla & Mirna because they’re fans. The two remaining teams drive towards the Detour… and Drew & Kevin arrive first. They do Wrangle as Jill & JV finally arrive. So sad. We fast forward to Drew & Kevin on the mat, checking in tenth. Jill & JV do Wrangle and JV interviews that the two of them have felt like a team. The whole thing has been great, and it feels right to have Jill by his side. Awww! They’re last to the Pit Stop, and sadly, that’s all for them. “How is that possible?” JV wonders. Jill says this wasn’t how they wanted to come back. JV says they really wanted to win. Jill tells us they got along great and had fun. JV adds that this brought them back together. Jill says it’s reunified their relationship and will put them on a new path that’s more than just friendship. Yay! I love them together, so I can live with that, even if it means they’re out of the race so soon. Next week: skip the beginning of the Oscars and watch everyone gang up on Romber! Also, Charla faces off with Dustin & Kandice. Don’t mess with my girls, Charla! If you need your Amazing Race fix before next Sunday, CBS is launching a new series on their website called Elimination Station, where you can see scenes of the eliminated teams in their post-race sequestration together. I think it sounds like a great idea, and plus, it means we get to see more of the eliminated teams, as well as their interactions with each other. I love this all-star idea, and I’m really enjoying seeing some of my favorite racers again. Let me know how you feel about the season and the mix of teams that have been thrown together.