Amazing Race, 31, Episode 10
Croatia/Amsterdam – We’ve all been there, done that.
You go to Wegmans (the second time in a row this grocery giant has been mentioned in the blog. Really, I need a sponsor).
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| Product placement |
You buy a dozen eggs. You make it through self-checkout. (See last week’s Wegmans reference.)
And then you’re home and open the egg carton and…you guessed it, one of them is cracked.
That’s exactly what happened in Amsterdam to Team Fun (Becca Droz and Floyd Pierce) sans Wegmans in Episode 10. Thus, their hopes were scrambled, fried…save me from myself.
OK, here’s how it went down. The Funsters pole-vaulted across a ditch – how many times is that going to happen on the Race?
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| Team Sad |
They liberated a dozen eggs, took them to market, but one of their eggs was damaged, and they had to tandem back to the ditch, pole vault all over again. Time was lost; they were U-turned, finished fifth of five; Phil sent them home. (And sending Team RogShow out of the pool.)
Becca took it hard. She didn’t even smile when Phil, who is a hopeless sentimentalist, noted that the Race had given her Floyd. But, in true Team Fun fashion, she and Floyd rallied to rap their goodbyes. (I wonder if that gets old at family gatherings? Pass the cranberry sauce and please no rapping.)
So, as we approach the final episode, based on past performances, which team should win?
Not that past performance counts for all that much. The Fabulous Beekman Boys came out of nowhere to win Season 21. The only time they finished first in an episode was in the final episode. Miracles can happen.
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| Korey, Victor, Nicole, Tyler |
Nonetheless, let’s crunch the numbers. Odds are that Tyler Oakley and Korey Kuhl will pocket the $1 million first prize. They had four first-place finishes before ending up second in Episode 10. Counting all their finishes, they have 29 points. (It’s like golf, low numbers are better than high numbers.)
Stats aside, the kind-hearted good friends have been the most quotable of the duos with the possible exception of the evil O’Reilly sisters. (Golly, do I miss them.)
But don’t put all your money on Tyler and Korey.
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| Colin and Christie, pedal to the metal |
Life partners Colin Guinn and Christie Woods finished first in the Amsterdam episode, tandem biking with aplomb, pulling a cow replica up a tower (what was that all about?), roping some boats together on a canal. On the season, they are at 31 points, a terrific showing.
Beyond that, C and C work well together in contrast to their last Race outing, a food fight that has been well-documented.
Farther back in the pack are Victor Arroyo and Nicole Franzel at 36 points. Survivor survivors, they survived being U-turned by the Afghanimals – more about that in a minute – and finished fourth, a step or two ahead of Team Fun.
I worry about Nicole. Usually, she doesn’t do a lot, and, because it was her birthday, she seemed to do even less in Episode 10. Victor peddled the tandem bike, hoisted the cow, pole vaulted with ease (thanks to past life experience.)
Vic doesn’t seem to mind, mostly because he’s gaga over Nic. And they are racing for reality show bragging rights, as they are the only non-Amazing alums left.
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| Leo, cow, Jamal |
The Afghanimals, Leo Temory and Jamal Zadran, are the longest of long shots.
After a good first two episodes, they’ve wavered between mediocre and awful. They’re at 47 points, far behind the rest of the field.
And, I’ll say, it, they've been jerks, especially Jamal. I liked them on Season 23, but this time around they just seem to be mean, quick to laugh at the other teams.
Jamal cooked up a strange vendetta against Nicole and Victor, gleefully U-turning them as a birthday present to Nicole. It was disturbing. (I know. I want some good old-fashioned nastiness, and when I get it I cringe.)
I suspect the finale will feature some jumps from skyscrapers and oxen driving down Fifth Avenue and a memory test, but why not dodgeball?
Just about everyone in the free world has seen the titanic dodgeball clash between Team USA led by Michelle Obama and Team UK captained by James Corden channeling Ricky Gervais. Click here for the video.
There was athleticism (at least on the part of the Yanks) and trash talking, suitable ceremony and Benedict Cumberbatch in an unfortunate brush cut.
Really, Phil, dodgeball. Its time has come.
Overheard:
Floyd: We’re learning we are very different people who get along really well.
Korey: The rhythm we finally got into was me pedaling and Tyler not pedaling.
Christie: Colin pretty much pulled that cow up by himself. … I’m just glad it wasn’t a real cow.
Nicole: Nobody better U-turn me on my birthday.
Becca: It is a complete moment of loss. I have no idea why we didn’t check those eggs. … I’m pissed.
Tyler: Oh my god, boys with beers.
Nicole: If I see Team Fun, I’m going to crap myself.
Becca: Chugga, chugga, choo choo to the lake.
Floyd: Land ho Team fun. Land ho.
Order of finish:
1) Christie and Colin
2) Tyler and Korey
3) Leo and Jamal
4) Nicole and Victor
