The Amazing Race returns...

[Guest bravesfan]

Additional recaps for the upcoming episodes you may miss can be found at the Amazing Race homepage (found at the top of this thread):

 

Also, going through the recaps, you will find streaming videos and pictures of the episode in question:

 

Episode One

 

THE AMAZING RACE began in Los Angeles, California as stretch Hummers transported the 12 Teams of two, each pair having an existing relationship, to world famous Dodger Stadium. In the first Hummer were Tian & Jaree, friends and models from Florida, who recognize that their good looks will be a real asset in the Race. Steve & Dave, friends and air traffic controllers from Chicago, climbed out next, followed by Beverly Hills married couple Reichen & Chip, who hope to prove that just because they are gay, they not "inadequate." Millie & Chuck, from Chattanooga, Tennessee, view the Race as an opportunity to test their compatibility: Millie wants marriage; Chuck is on the fence.

 

Next out of the Humvee were Steve & Josh, father and son from California, who have had a rocky past and hope to use the Race as a way of exploring their newfound friendship. Close friends Russell & Cindy walked out next. Cindy is hoping for more in their relationship, and the Race will test whether Russell can give her what she needs.

 

In the second Hummer were Monica & Sheree, friends, NFL wives and mothers from Atlanta. Next out were David & Jeff, bachelors and best friends from Southern California. Amanda & Chris, dating for five years, from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, know that because they're from a small town, the other Teams might perceive them as being weak or pushovers. But they have a style all their own that they know may cause some real surprises. Next emerged recently engaged couple Kelly & Jon from Southern California. Kelly is hoping to use the Race as a way of seeing her future husband in a unique light under the stress and strain of traveling 40,000 miles, and hopes the results are positive! Finally came Debra & Steve, married parents from Indiana, and Jon & Al, best friends and circus clowns from Long Island, New York.

 

Host Phil Keoghan greeted the Teams on the infield, informing them that there would be thirteen legs in the race around the world, with nine of the thirteen Pit Stops having elimination points. Phil wished the Teams good luck, adding, "The world is waiting for you."

 

When Phil signaled the start of the Race, Teams ran to their bags. Russell & Cindy reached theirs first, ripping open the clue instructing them to fly to Milan, Italy. As Millie told Chuck to grab his bag, Teams ran through the opened center field wall to the stadium parking lot, where marked vehicles waited. As Reichen & Chip grabbed an early lead out of the stadium, Chip remarked, "There's going to be a lot of people following us. They don't know where they're going, but if we can try to lose some of those people, that would be great." In the vehicle behind Reichen & Chip, Kelly wisely told Jon, "Follow the California-looking boys. I'm telling you, those guys are from California. They got the look.

 

While most Teams got started in the right direction quickly, a few lagged behind. Although from Southern California, best friends David & Jeff inexplicably chose Sunset Boulevard out of the stadium, a much slower route than the 110 Freeway the other Teams chose. Jeff commented, "It's ironic that we would actually get lost in L.A. going to an airport that we've each been to maybe fifty times." Tian & Jaree remained in the parking lot, because the latch on their vehicle would not close. The pair had to wait for a replacement vehicle, which put them squarely in last place. According to the rules, no time credit would be given for the unlucky circumstance. Once they got the new vehicle, Tian remarked, "Let's just get out of here!"

 

On the way to the airport, Steve & Dave discussed flight options. "Because we are air traffic controllers," Dave remarked, "I think we will have an advantage." The pair, somewhat lost on the freeway, oriented themselves by spotting planes heading for a landing in the distance. Monica & Sheree, also lost, caught a huge break. After passing Amanda & Chris and Kelly & Jon, a California Highway Patrol officer pulled alongside the NFL wives' vehicle. When Sheree asked for directions, the officer gave them an escort to the airport.

 

At the airport, teams had three flight choices. Swiss Air, scheduled to arrive first in Milan, had room for four Teams. Lufthansa, leaving the same time as Swiss Air, but arriving forty minutes later, had room for three Teams. The remaining five Teams had to take the KLM flight, which departed an hour later.

 

While Steve & Josh took a long hike from the parking lot to the terminal, Monica & Sheree ran to catch a shuttle carrying Kelly & Jon and Reichen. & Chip. Jon pointedly told the driver not to open the door. A disappointed Monica & Sheree watched the shuttle speed away. Kelly then turned to Jon and warned him about karma. Cindy & Russell reached the terminal first and promptly chose the Lufthansa flight, unaware of the difference in arrival time in Milan. They were soon joined by Amanda & Chris and Millie & Chuck, completely filling the Lufthansa flight. Jon & Al thought to ask about arrival times and became the first Team on the faster Swiss Air flight.

 

Teams raced to Swiss Air for the remaining three openings. Kelly & Jon arrived first, securing their spot on the flight. Steve & Josh stood in line behind the engaged couple from Miami, hoping to get on the flight. Behind them were Monica & Sheree, Reichen & Chip and a discouraged Steve & Dave in the rear. The air traffic controllers said, "There's just too many people in this line. We've got to be prepared to move on."

 

Steve & Dave caught a break when Steve & Josh walked to the counter to buy tickets. The father and son noticed the air traffic controller caps that Steve & Dave wore and invited the duo to join them at the counter. These two Teams took the remaining two spots on Swiss Air, joining Jon & Al and Kelly & Jon. Bumped off the flight by Steve & Josh, Monica & Sheree stormed off, while Josh explained that he and his dad had formed a "superteam" with Steve & Dave. As they walked out of the terminal, Monica warned, "We're going to see them again." Sheree agreed, exclaiming, "Cheaters never win, and they cheated!"

 

Debra & Steve, David & Jeff and Reichen & Chip joined Monica & Sheree on the walk to KLM after their unsuccessful bids for earlier flights. After their early mishap, Tian & Jaree finally arrived, bickering, at the airport. Jaree snapped, "Don't even irritate me right now." While waiting to board their flight, Reichen & Chip approached David & Jeff about forming an alliance, and the pair agreed. Departing 55 minutes behind the other Teams, Monica said, "We need some luck. We need some planes to be delayed on the other two flights."

 

Monica got her wish, but it did her no good. The Swiss Air flight was delayed thirty minutes, arriving only ten minutes ahead of the Lufthansa flight. Once off the planes, Teams had to get to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II to find their next clue. Kelly & Jon caught the first cab out of the airport and arrived at the Galleria in the lead. Opening the clue, they learned they were to search the mile of storefronts in the Galleria for hidden bus tickets leaving at 2:00 am, 4:00 am, and 6:00 am, with each bus holding four Teams. Once Teams claimed a ticket, they would be unable to exchange it for another. Soon, Cindy & Russell and Amanda & Chris joined the engaged couple in searching for the tickets. Not realizing they had a choice, Kelly & Jon and Russell & Cindy both grabbed tickets to the 4:00 am bus. After seeing the 4:00 am tickets, Amanda & Chris decided to search for a better option. Meanwhile, Jon & Al also settled for the 4:00 am

 

Millie & Chuck arrived at the Galleria and quickly found the 2:00 am tickets and alerted Amanda & Chris to this. Chris then told Steve & Josh and Steve & Dave, which rounded out the first bus.

 

As the seven Teams in front got their bus tickets, the other five landed in Milan and made their way to the Galleria, hoping to catch up. Trying to gain an advantage, Reichen & Chip and David & Jeff, now working together, took the train to the Galleria on the advice of locals. Unfortunately, this information proved incorrect, as Monica & Sheree, Debra & Steve and Tian & Jaree, all in taxis, beat the guys to the Route Marker. Seeing a chance to make amends for his action at LAX, Josh showed Monica & Sheree where the sole remaining 4:00 am bus ticket was located, leaving the other four Teams on the last-place 6:00 am bus. The NFL wives thanked Josh and said they were even. Josh commented, "It's not going to hurt us, and I felt like they needed the help, and I don't really want those two blond chicks with the fake tits [Tian & Jaree] up in there."

 

With plenty of time on their hands until their bus departure the following morning, married parents Debra & Steve toyed with the idea of getting a hotel room for the night, but didn't like the price they were quoted. After walking around, they came back intending to get the room. By this time, other Teams had arrived and taken all the available rooms. Reichen & Chip decided to let Debra & Steve share their room, saying, "Our good friends were going to be out in the cold tonight, and that was not going to happen." When Reichen & Chip left for dinner, Steve broke down crying, feeling he had let Debra down. Debra comforted him, saying "I love you so much." Meanwhile, Russell & Cindy decided to brave the elements and camp outside, but argued over where to sleep. On their fighting, Russell commented, "I think we need to work on communication."

 

After leaving at 2:00 am, the first bus drove into the beautiful Dolomite Mountains to the town of Cortina d'Ampezzo, reaching the clock tower at 9:00 am. The scenery was spectacular as the Teams breathed in the sight of the quaint village nestled cozily amidst the snow-capped mountains. Opening their next clue, Teams now had to make their way to the outskirts of town and board the chairlift at the base of Cinque Torri. After taking a bus together, the four lead Teams arrived at the base and ascended the mountain on the lift.

 

At the top, Mille & Chuck, Steve & Josh and Amanda & Chris all ran along a marked path to the clue box, while the older, heavier and slower Steve & Dave lagged behind. This clue provided Teams with their first Detour. In this Detour, Teams were to choose either "Search" or "Rescue." Teams choosing to Search would use a locator beacon to find a signal emanating from beneath the snow somewhere in a 160-acre field. After digging at this spot, they would find keys to a snowmobile, which they could drive to their next clue. While not scary, finding the key in the field could take some time. Teams opting for Rescue would make their way to a pair of rock towers and walk across an alpine rescue bridge constructed of only four steel cables. Then, they would have to use a zipline to travel 250 feet across a deep ravine. While potentially frightening, Teams could complete this task quickly.

 

All four Teams immediately decided to opt for Rescue. Taking the lead, Chris said, "With my fear of heights, I did not even look down. I was focused. I wanted to get moving as fast as we could." After successfully crossing the steel bridge, the dating couple from South Dakota then sailed along the zipline, followed by Millie & Chuck. Amanda & Chris reached the clue box in first place, discovering they had to endure a grueling hike back to the chair lifts before returning to the town of Cortina and their first Pit Stop at the Hotel Lajadira. Millie & Chuck and Steve & Josh trailed behind in second and third, respectively. Having difficulty with the terrain, air traffic controllers Steve & Dave were in fourth place, still trying to finish the Detour. "Steve and I are old, untalented, and not very athletic," Dave remarked, "Falling behind for Steve & I is not a good thing."

 

As the second bus pulled into Cortina, Amanda struggled on the long hike back to the chairlifts. Chris yelled to Amanda, "Come on, Flo! You're stopped! You're not coming!" Amanda replied, "Dude, if you yell at me again, I'm going to die." Chris became irate at his partner when Millie & Chuck effortlessly passed them on the hike and took the lead. On the ride down the mountain, Amanda & Chris made up and received a surprise at the bottom. Millie & Chuck waited for them, as well as for Steve & Josh, so all the Teams could step on the mat together.

 

Meanwhile, Steve & Dave suffered a setback while hiking through the snow to the chairlifts. Dave took a step in the deep snow and his knee gave out, causing him to fall. Dave instantly knew he had hurt his right knee, and the pair rested on the mountain until Dave could continue. When they started again, Dave said, "We're okay. We're going to make this." The two used sheer willpower to get Dave up the hill, battling their physical handicap as well as the wounded knee to make it all the way to the top. Steve even dug holes in the snow so that Dave could use them as leverage, a sort of snow-ladder, in navigating his way up. Once at the top, Dave thanked his teammate profusely, claiming Steve was the only one in the world with whom he would want to do this.

 

While waiting for taxis to take them to Cinque Torri, Monica & Sheree toyed with the idea of taking the Fast Forward, which is an pass that, once earned, allows the team to bypass all remaining tasks in the leg and go directly to the Pit Stop. This award can only be won and used once by a Team during the entire run of the Race. To win this Fast Forward, Teams had to find a nearby mountain, don snowshoes, and trek to the top. After they had waited for some time for their cab to arrive, the NFL wives agreed to go for the Fast Forward to make up for lost time. Sheree said, "We're going to cross our fingers and hope we're making the right decision."

 

The duo arrived at the field and began their journey up the hill. While the course proved tougher than they expected, Monica & Sheree made it to the top and claimed the Fast Forward, allowing them to head directly to the Pit Stop at the Hotel Lajadira.

 

After a ride back into Cortina, Millie & Chuck, Amanda & Chris and Steve & Josh all arrived at the Hotel Lajadira, stepped onto the mat together and tied for first place. Shouts of excitement broke out when Phil Keoghan informed them that they had all won a vacation to Hawaii, compliments of the American Airlines website. On her strategy, Millie commented, "I want to befriend as many Teams as we can. I think it will be a beneficial thing for us to all leave together."

 

As the three Teams finished the leg, the Teams from bus two, led by Kelly & Jon and circus clowns Jon & Al, began the Detour, all opting for the quick-but-scary Rescue. Conquering her fear of the zipline, Kelly crossed the ravine, just as Monica & Sheree stepped on to the Pit Stop mat in fourth place and Steve & Dave soon followed in fifth place.

 

As Kelly & Jon, Jon & Al and Cindy & Russell completed the Detour, the final bus arrived in Cortina. Knowing that someone on their bus would be eliminated, Reichen & Chip, David & Jeff, Tian & Jaree and Debra & Steve raced off of the bus to the Route Marker.

 

Among the final Teams, Reichen & Chip took the lead at Cinque Torri as Tian & Jaree fell into last place, having difficulties getting a taxi quickly. As Reichen & Chip began the Rescue option at the Detour, Kelly & Jon finished in sixth place, followed by Jon & Al in seventh place and Cindy & Russell in eighth.

 

After arriving at the top of Cinque Torri together, David & Jeff ran past Debra & Steve, as both Teams decided to do Rescue. At this point, Tian & Jaree reached the base of the mountain, still in last place. Soon the models caught up to the slow Debra & Steve, while David & Jeff continued through the Detour. Watching Debra traverse the bridge, Tian commented, "I can't believe we got behind the slow Team." After helping Debra across the bridge, Tian passed her, apologizing for doing so.

 

With Teams in a race to the Pit Stop, best friends David & Jeff made an error on the hike back to the chairlift. They overshot the path leading back to the mountaintop and hiked all the way down to the snowfield far below, where the Search Detour option was located. Unaware that they had actually reached an area that was of no use to them, the two saw the snowmobiles and thought they could use them to get back up. Dissuaded of the notion, the two then faced the grim prospect of an extra-long hike back up the mountain to the chairlifts. Though the two were in top physical shape, this task was daunting even for them.

 

Back on the mountain, Tian & Jaree began to gain ground, having finished the Detour. Much to Tian's chagrin, Jaree began to get winded on the way up the hill, while the athletic Tian powered through the ordeal. Tian begged, "Please, Jaree, don't give up. You can do it." As all three Teams struggled with the long hike, Reichen & Chip stepped onto the mat in ninth place.

 

With a cab ride to the Pit Stop, Debra & Steve, Tian & Jaree and David & Jeff all hoped for the best. David & Jeff finished in tenth place and Tian & Jaree excitedly arrived in eleventh.

While giving it their all, Debra & Steve arrived at the Hotel Lajadira in last place. Phil informed the married parents from Indiana that they had been eliminated. About his experience, Steve quipped, "Despite all the emotional and physical damage we've done to ourselves, we had a good time!" A little choked up, Debra added, "I did things today I didn't think I could ever do in my whole life. It's wonderful. Just wonderful." Steve also added, "What's most important to me is Debra and the fact that I'm going to get to spend every day with her for the rest of my life. That's what really matters to me."

[Guest LaParkaMarka]

Thanks for the providing the recap, bravesfan.

 

I am very suprised someone took a fast-forward in the first episode.

[Guest hardyz1]

Yeah, I don't know what the hell they were thinking. Had they been in the last group, I might understand, but that was just dumb.

[Guest CanadianChris]

My recap of the first episode is up in the Smarks Krew folder.

[Guest LaParkaMarka]

Wicked recap man...are they going to put it on the main site soon?

[Guest CanadianChris]

Thanks. I talked to Dames, and no dice...they don't do TV shows, and understandably so.

Edited June 1, 2003 by CanadianChris

[Guest starvenger]

superduper bump.

 

Well, half an hour in and we've had extreme windmilling (I guess) and feces flinging in Amsterdam. Probably won't be any time to visit the Red Light District and "coffee" houses, though...

[Guest fairtoflair7]

I missed it...Can someone please give me a recap of what happened? Thanks

[Guest CanadianChris]

What happened?

 

Well, the models passed all reasonable limits of reprehensible conduct, with Tian threatening to cave Jaree's face in.

 

The virgins are finding it difficult to cooperate, yet won the leg due to the Fast Forward.

 

I continue to hate Reichen and Chip.

 

I continue to LOVE the clowns.

 

And Steve and Dave finally bit it, much to my chagrin, as they were racing the models for last place.

[Guest fairtoflair7]

And Steve and Dave finally bit it, much to my chagrin, as they were racing the models for last place.

 

Damn...I liked those guys. Gotta love the backwards high five. O well...GO Clowns

[Guest fazzle]

Tian and Jaree are actually my favorite team to watch at this point. They just hate each other so damn much, it's hilarious. I don't want them to win, but I want them to make the final 3 just so they can continue to bicker, and perhaps get violent.

[Guest starvenger]

My thoughts:

 

Chillie: Millie SO wears the pants here. Doing ok, but I think they wasted the FF

 

The Clowns: LOVE these guys. They keep on pushing, and racing well. I hope they make final 3. Hell, I hope they win.

 

Jon/Kelly: Also racing very well, but the bickering may be their undoing.

 

Fudgepackers: Whiny bitches. They ain't no Danny and Oswald, that's for sure.

 

Team Supreme: Stupid mistakes could have cost them, so they lucked out there. Bonus points for not mentioning NFL husbands.

 

Dave/Jeff: They're still in the race? Could've fooled me...

 

Tian/Jaree: I hope Tian goes postal on her partner. I can't blame her, seeing as Jaree is pulling a F** (you know who I mean) here...

 

Steve/Dave: Worked hard, but the lack of mobility finally caught up to them. Pity, they were nice guys.

[Guest fazzle]

Actually, it's the other way around. Tian is the Flo...while Jaree is...uhm...well, she's not a Zach, that's for sure. She's a Will probably.

[Guest starvenger]

Actually, it's the other way around. Tian is the Flo...while Jaree is...uhm...well, she's not a Zach, that's for sure. She's a Will probably.

I still can't tell them apart, actually. I just know that one is pretty much carrying the other.

[Guest fazzle]

Jaree was the one tonight that was saying she was gonna beat up Tian. If that helps to tell them apart. She's normally the one wearing the yellow jacket.

[Guest starvenger]

Jaree was the one tonight that was saying she was gonna beat up Tian. If that helps to tell them apart. She's normally the one wearing the yellow jacket.

Eh, I still don't care. Maybe they're Itchy and Scratchy 2...

[Guest CanadianChris]

Oh, yeah, and they're going to India for the sixth leg.

 

Considering how smoothly everything went the last time this show went to India, with absolutely NO teeming masses of humanity blocking the streets begging for money from the American tourists, crooked cab drivers, or wretched excuses for public transportation anywhere to be seen (yeah, right), I predict at least one nervous breakdown on this week's show. My money's on Tian and Jaree.

Edited June 29, 2003 by CanadianChris

[Guest starvenger]

Oh, yeah, and they're going to India for the sixth leg.

 

Considering how smoothly everything went the last time this show went to India, with absolutely NO teeming masses of humanity blocking the streets begging for money from the American tourists, crooked cab drivers, or wretched excuses for public transportation anywhere to be seen (yeah, right), I predict at least one nervous breakdown on this week's show. My money's on Tian and Jaree.

Esp since one of them (I think) told a local to not touch their boobs. Well, they're an investment, who can blame them?

[Guest CanadianChris]

Just saw the promo for this week's leg. Odds on the Tian meltdown now stand at 1-4.

[Guest hardyz1]

Wasn't it last season where they went to India and some guy wouldn't sell a team any tickets? Hope that's vague enough for you.

[Guest CanadianChris]

Wasn't it last season where they went to India and some guy wouldn't sell a team any tickets? Hope that's vague enough for you.

That was three seasons ago...Nancy and Emily couldn't get the train tickets they needed because the ticket agents wouldn't sell them to women. The Guidos had to buy the tickets for them.

[Guest fazzle]

Blah. Everyone was too likable this episode. Too boring.

 

Edit: Too boring in that aspect. The episode as a whole rocked.

[Guest CanadianChris]

Yeah, that was a fantastic episode. Props to the models for shaking off the last couple of legs and getting back on the same page.

 

But WHAT was with them having to take that awful train?? Didn't they know they'd be putting the ladies in jeopardy there?

[Guest LaParkaMarka]

Wow, first episode I've seen all season. Downloaded it off of Bit Torrent (hooray!).

 

One of the gay guys is pretty ok. The other one just seems like a moron (the one who didn't want to make a decision until 5 mins before the flight left).

 

The clowns were rather amusing...kinda remind me of Ken and Gerard from last season.

 

And yeah, the train was rather brutal. Did anyone else notice that there were NO Indian females on the train? I mean, there must have been some other form of transportation they could have arranged for everyone.

 

And next week looks quite messy, what with the getting dragged around in the mud.

 

So who are the favorites right now? Anything terribly notable from the last...uh...all...episodes?

[Guest starvenger]

So who are the favorites right now? Anything terribly notable from the last...uh...all...episodes?

At the halfway point:

 

Dave and Jeff have FINALLY emerged from editing purgatory, which leads me to think that they're going final 3. The Marseilles-to-Amsterdam snafu didn't kill them, so I think they're just gonna get stronger as they go on.

 

Reichen and Chip are doing fine, but they haven't really screwed up yet, and I think that when they do, it's gonna cost them the race. I'm guessing that they go the way of the Twins from TAR3.

 

Jon and Kelly are just doing really well, and you can't really say anything else.

 

Chillie used their FF, so they're at a disadvantage. I had originally thought they'd go top 3, but they're starting to break, and I think that they're next to go.

 

The Models did a good job this leg. I can't imagine what it was like with all that groping on the train, but I can see them keeping it together for a few more legs. Like Chillie, I think the lack of a FF will hurt them in the end.

 

The Clowns got pretty lucky in their Detour. Had they not found that shirt so quickly, they'd probably be gone. Still, the fact that they're last should motivate them a bit more.

 

At this point, I'm thinking that the 4 teams that haven't used the FF are saving it for the third-last leg to ensure that they make it to the final 3. It'll be interesting to see how it'll be used in the remaining legs.

 

Also, since this coming leg is the midpoint... does anyone think it'll be non-elimination?

 

My revised final 3: Dave and Jeff, The Clowns and Jon and Kelly.

[Guest CanadianChris]

The next leg may or may not be non-elimination. They usually wait until half the teams are gone before they start the non-elims.

 

If it follows last season's pattern, the leg after this upcoming leg will be non-elimination, then the first half of the next week's episode will also be non-elimination. (That's assuming they have a two-hour episode in the middle, as in past seasons...given their timeslot this year, I'm not sure they will, as I don't think CBS would bump CSI.)

 

Interesting preview from CBS this week...

 

- One Team nicknames and mocks another Team behind their backs. Will the other Team take the abuse or formulate a harsh response?

 

- An encounter at a train station moves one of the clowns to tears.

 

- Teams face the prospect of a nightmare 26-hour train ride in filthy, boiling-hot train cars, with some wondering whether they will be able to endure.

 

- An awkward, desperate race to the Pit Stop finds two Teams opting for bizarre forms of transportation, when every move could be their undoing and any turn can and will lead to either victory or defeat!

 

So we can pretty much guess that:

 

a) the Austin Powers-esque mocking of Millie by Kelly and Jon continues,

 

b) this next leg IS an elimination leg,

 

c) they learned NOTHING from the last time they were in India. Make it a challenging race, but don't abuse the racers.

[Guest starvenger]

bump.

 

Who goes tonight, if anyone?

I think it's gonna be an elimination leg, and with that in mind I'm sticking with my prediction of Chillie going to Sequesterville...

[Guest fazzle]

Noone, non-elim.

[Guest CanadianChris]

Jon pinching Kelly's BUTT on the train was NOT funny. SERIOUSLY not funny.

[Guest CanadianChris]

Damn. Bye-bye, models.