By Jim Memmott
Amazing Race, Season 23, Episode 1
California/Iquique, Chili – They're off and running.
The
first episode of the new Race season was essentially a shakedown cruise that
began on a Western movie set (not quite sure why) and ended in Chile.
 |
| Movie set |
In
between there was parasailing and fish collecting and stern reminders that race
contestants should read the rules carefully.
Three
of the duos didn’t follow the rule to read the rules and one of these couples –
married ER docs Nicole and Travis – lost first place because of their goof-up.
The
win went to Tim and Marie, a formerly dating couple
whose bickering makes that
between Burton and Taylor (upcoming series, BBC America) seem absolutely lovey dovey.
 |
| Dominic West and H.B. Carter as Dick and Liz |
For
their victory, T and M got an express pass for themselves – the right to skip a
difficult task later on – and another for one of the other teams.
But
the real point of the first episode is to showcase the cast, especially the
eccentric or loveable members of the casts.
Hands
down scene-stealers first time around were Leo and Jamal, cousins whose parents
immigrated to this country from Afghanistan.
They call
themselves the Afghanimals, and they are clearly racing to bring the fun.
(Maybe too much as, in their high spirits, they, too, misread a clue, though it
didn’t really matter.)
 |
| Afghanimals |
The
Animals would also like to meet some women, and right now their eyes are on
Ally and Ashley, two members of the LA Kings Ice Crew.
Their
presence creates a rink-link to last season's winners, the fan-favorite hockey
playing Battaglia brothers.
Speaking
of sports, this season’s cast also includes the happy-go-lucky Chester Pitts II
and Ephraim Salaam, friends and former teammates on the Houston Texans of the
NFL.
And baseball
is represented by Nicky Getz and Kim DeJesus, whose husbands (Chris Getz and
David DeJesus) are major leaguers.
Other
surviving duos from the first episode are:
Brandon
and Adam, two bearded friends and refugees from the Summer of Love who claim to
be more serious than they seem to be;
Jason
and Amy, a dating couple using the race to test their relationship (sound
familiar?);
 |
| Queen of Bingo |
Tim
and Danny, two oil-field plant operators from Oklahoma who are struck that whatever they encounter on the race sure isn't like Oklahoma;
And Rowan and Shane, actors, best friends and stars of "The Queen of
Bingo," the longest-runing touring productions in the U.S.
Eliminated
before we got to know them were the father and daughter team of Hoskote and
Naina Venkatesh. They were undone by 1) not catching the first flight to Chili
and 2) not reading a clue.
Maybe
it’s just as well, as Hoskote, also an ER doctor, was already using all his airtime to argue that
he should be able to arrange his daughter’s marriage. His daughter, in turn,
was rolling her eyes and suggesting the opposite.
 |
| Hoskote and Naina |
Of
course, had she stayed, and had she gotten to know one of the Afghanimals really well, we could have had an amazing wedding on the Amazing Race. All in
all, Hoskote may see elimination as a blessing in disguise.
Overheard:
Brandon or Adam:
I’ll get naked at the drop of a hat.
Marie (to Tim): Your opinion is usually a waste of time.
Tim: Your
violence kind of turns me on.
Rowan: I dropped
like a prom dress.
Jamal: We let
girls beat us.
Naina: Daddy you
have to do it; I read it wrong.
Order of Finish
1) Tim and Marie
2) Nicole and Travis
3) Rowan and Shane
4) Chester and Ephraim
5) Nicky and Kim
6) Ally and Ashley
7) Leo and Jamal
8) Jason and Amy
9) Tim and Daniel
10) Brandon and Adam
Order of selection for the pool:
1)Dennis takes Leo and Jamal, the Afghanimals
2)Allison
3)Team Boston
4)Bob and Sandy Wilcox
5)Team WalkWorth
6)Team Showers
7)Cindy and Jim
8)Team Beltway
9)Team Bushnell
10)Emily and Drew
--Jim
Memmott
