SEASON 20: EPISODE ONE: SO MANY RACHELS

We’re off and picking.
The Amazing Race, the first episode of Season 20, started in California and ended in Argentina. It was hard to keep the teams straight, confusion caused in part by the presence of two Rachels (not on the same team) and two teams of federal agents.

Rachel and Dave

For the record, the first leg of an episode that featured skydiving and empanada making was won by Rachel and Dave Brown. They’re married; he’s in the Army, she’s a project manager. Their win got them an express pass that they can use to skip a later challenge.

Misa and Maiya

The Tanaka sisters, Misa and Maiya, were eliminated. Phil showed no mercy as he made it clear to them that never in Race history had any team so dramatically snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, as they couldn’t find a finish line that was within sight.

The cast includes some of the usual combinations, married couples, dating couples, friends, brothers, sisters. Missing this time around are any parent/child combinations.

Missing, too, are any contestants who might be considered old, or, for that matter, even middle-aged.

Mark of Team Twang (Mark and Bopper) is the geezer of the group at 45, though he played a little older, vomiting twice.

Maiya Tanaka, a professional golfer, was the youngest at 25. The youngest remaining contestants are the 28-year-old twins, Andrew and Elliot Weber.

Because there are only 10 teams left, the Valentine’s Day miracle has occurred and yours truly and Cindy will combine to form a single team, selecting fifth.

We also have another merger.

Julia Walker and Louise and Will Wadsworth, have joined forces to form Team Walker-Worth. They will pick in the No. 8 slot.

For the full order of selection, see below. Team Showers starts things off. Email me and the rest of us will follow in order.

Are there any favorites? Not sure.

The first episode is always misleading. Last season, the married grandparents, Bill and Cathi, finished dead last in the first episode and only survived because it was a non-elimination. They went on to do well in several more episodes, earning respect for all retirees.

But there were some worrisome signs last night. Cherie, of Dave and Cherie, the married clowns (or should I say “ambassadors of laughter,” as they do in their bios) was reduced to tears surprisingly early in the race.

Bopper and Mark

And Mark of Mark and Bopper has that vomiting thing going for him.


Then, too, the team of Joey “Fitness” and Danny seems clueless.

I admired Stacy, teamed with her cousin Kerri, for overcoming her fears and jumping out of the plane. But I don’t know if that is a predictor of anything. And Rachel of Brendon and Rachel, a team forged in the crucible of Big Brother, seems sufficiently ruthless to cheat her way to a cool million.

Whatever, you’re on your own, so pick away.

Overheard:

Bopper: Any time my partner is in the back seat there better be a barf bag around.

J.J.: (Before skydiving) I don’t like heights at all, I think you’re playing with death.

Vanessa: (While skydiving) My uterus is in my throat.

Joey: I mean, like, they’re freaking clowns

Phil: (Of Maiya) I think she needs a hug.

Order of finish

1) Rachel and Dave

2) Brendon and Rachel

3) Art and J.J.

4) Nary and Jamie

5) Vanessa and Ralph

6) Elliot and Andrew

7) Kerry and Stacy

8) Dave and Cherie

9) Bopper and Mark

10) Joey “Fitness” and Danny

11) Misa and Maiya

Order of Selection:

1) Team Showers

2) Mark Memmott

3) Allison Chanler

4) Team Bushnell

5) Cindy and Jim

6) Bob Wilcox

7) Team Boston

8) Team Walker-Worth

9) Drew and Emily

10) Dennis Doell