Robbed in Russia

The Amazing Race, Episode Eight, Season 21

Someone, I think it was Nate Silver, had written that there was a 97 percent chance that the Rockers, James and Abba, would not find the passport lost (or stolen) in last week’s uncompleted leg in time to avoid elimination from the Amazing Race.

Turns out that someone was right. 

In an episode full of good deeds this Sunday, no one stepped forward to hand Abba the passport he had left behind in a Moscow cab.

Consequently, he and his partner eventually threw in the towel and Phil, sadly, told them they were eliminated. (As was their sponsor, NPR's Mark Memmott.)

Thus, five teams remain, perhaps most surprisingly the Beekman boys, Josh and Brent. They incurred a four-hour penalty because they didn’t complete the synchronized swimming contest held over from last week. Still, they survived. Go figure.

Jaymes and James

Jaymes and James, the Chippendale dancers, finished first. Trey and Lexi came in second.  Along the way, each team helped the other. Lexi figured out the time-zone challenge, sharing the solution with Jaymes. Then the Chips made sure that Lexi and Trey got a cab.

Ryan and Abbie earned points by waiting for the Beekmans when they didn’t have to. Then the Beeks returned that favor and showed Abbie how to do the key and lock challenge.

So, there you have it Race watchers. Go forward and be nice. Good things will then happen.

But remember, pride comes before a fall.

Case in point:

“Nailed, I’ve got it nailed,” Ryan gloated before the time-zone challenge. By his 24^th attempt, he was a broken man.  Finally, the light bulb went on and he realized his error. Life lesson learned. Don’t brag.

Then again, maybe pride doesn’t come before a fall.

Lenin

Brent declared that he had “always been a good student,” and he was, cracking the time-zone code in about five seconds. Later, he and Josh were right at home working a cocktail party filled with famous Russians. Hello Stalin, hello Pushkin, have you met Catherine the Great?

And speaking of falls that didn’t occur, James of the Chippendales, successfully played through pain on the Russian dance challenge, ignoring his bum ankle as best he could. Good going James.

Lost in the shuffle were the twins, Nadiya and Natalie, who played it safe on the night, using their express pass to dodge the time-zone challenge. Good move? Who knows? They seemed happy to finish third.

Overheard:

Phil:  I’m telling you that your race is not over ‘til its over.

Russian judge:  I’m really sorry, but you win.

Cabbie: I taxi 37 years.

Ryan: The taste of victory is getting closer and in our mouth.

Abbie (of Ryan): I feel like he’s overthinking it.

Ryan: Oh, I’m so stupid.

Josh:  We’re very good at cocktail parties

James (rock star): We was robbed. Literally.

Order of Finish

Jaymes and James

Trey and Lexi

Natalie and Nadiya

Abbie and Ryan

Josh and Brent

James and Abba

That’s it,

Jim

P.S. Sent on by Mark, here's Abba and James' elimination interview.