SEASON 21: A NEW BEGINNING

Episode One: Win at any cost

OK, Amazing poolsters, in the words of Phil Keoghan, the Amazing Race ringmaster, “Good luck, travel safe, go.”

It’s time for you to select your teams for Episode 21 of the Race, the Emmy winning reality show that rocketed out of the blocks like Usain Bolt Sunday evening. 

Rappelling from California to Shanghai, China, the 11 teams played ping-pong, ate fallopian tubes (from frogs) and consistently mispronounced the word “abacus.”

Rob and Sheila

One team was eliminated, the duo of Rob Scheer and Sbeila Castle. Basically, they couldn’t find a woman with an abacus, looking first in a bank, where, I hope, the abacus would have long been put aside.

He’s a lumberjack; she’s an executive who gave up her career to be with him in Alaska. Veteran race watchers may have realized the couple’s time on the race was going to be short as soon as she said, “Rob is definitely the boss in this relationship.”

Race rule number one: Don’t let the men lead.

Rule number two: Don’t be nice.

Abbie and Ryan dating divorcees from California, came out first largely because another team, Amy and Daniel, who are also dating, showed them the way to a clue station when they were lost.

Abbie and Ryan

That kind deed was later punished as Abbie and Ryan sprinted by the good Samaritans to get to the mat first.

That was especially cold-hearted as Amy is a double amputee who uses prosthetic legs. Though, for sure, she seems amazing fit.

By winning, Abbie and Ryan are eligible for an extra $1 million if they take the last leg. That's a new incentive for the Race. Everyone seemed pretty darned excited to learn about it.

Playing to win may be the name of the game this season. Gary and Will, tall and short substitute teachers, best friends and Amazing Race geek/buffs, made it clear that they are going to play hardball, as well. (Though Gary seemed terrified right at the start, reluctant to rappel off a 10-story bridge. What's with him?)

Goats

Not everyone was out for blood. Goat famers Josh and Brent appeared happy just to get through the ping-pong challenge, a test that involved taking a point off a young Chinese girl who did everything she could to help the racers. (Close readers of the New York Times may recall this profile of Josh and Brent, who are featured on television’s The Fabulous Beekman Boys.)

Twins Natalie and Nadiya, Jersey girls and self-proclaimed cheaters who grew up in Sri Lanka, also appeared to be fairly light-hearted about the race, perhaps especially when Nadiya worked her way through the double bowl of fallopian tubes. Win or lose, they did say “My god, oh my god,” more than any previous Race contestants.

It’s may be too early to sort out the rest of the teams.

Chippendale audition

The Chippendale performers (Jaymes and James) were, well, chipper. Rob, of the monster trucking team of Rob and Kelly, has villain potential.

Trey and Lexi, young Texans saving themselves for marriage, and Caitlin and Brittany, best friends, were like about a thousand other previous Race contestants, which could mean that they’ll be OK.

And James and Abba (AKA Mark), one’s a rock star (really?), the other’s a rock lawyer, may prove fun and/or annoying.

Overheard:

Phil: There are lots of surprises along the way. … The fact is that I will be eliminating most of you.

Jaymes: Every thing my mama told me about eating went out the window.

Josh: I won a sporting event, I have never won a sporting event and it was against a champion.

Brent: A junior champion.

Order of finish:

Abbie and Ryan

Amy and Daniel

Caitlin and Brittany

Natalie and Nadiya

Rob and Kelley

James and Abba

Josh and Brent

Gary and Will

Trey and Lexi

Jaymes and James

Rob and Sheila

Order of selection (I’ll let you know when you’re up. Then just email your choice to jim.memmott@gmail.com):

Dennis Doell

Allison Chanler

Team Boston

Bob Wilcox

Mark Memmott

Team WalkWorth

Cindy and Jim

Team Bushnell

Emily and Drew

Team Showers

Have fun,
Jim