The Amazing Race
Season 34, Episode 6
By Jim Memmott
Dordogne, France – Everyone hates a backseat driver, the critic behind you who gives directions and corrections, who just won’t sit back and enjoy the ride.
But backseat drivers are essential to The Amazing Race. One racer drives; the cameraperson (in the front passenger’s seat) films. The other racer sits in the back seat, reads a map, calls out instructions.
What could go wrong?
Well, just about everything in this episode of the Race, which featured a ditched car (Photo, CBS).
The episode unfolded in the Dordogne, a region rich in scenery and castles (1,000, according to host Phil Keoghan).
Map readers were confused and unclear. Cars headed off the wrong direction, turned around, turned around again. Sometimes the drivers gave up and just followed another team, only to be led down the wrong path.
Though the episode featured some rappelling and walnut-squeezing, it was mostly driven by driving.
One couple, Glenda and Lumumba Roberts, already saddled with a 45-minute-late starting time as a penalty for their last finish had serious car trouble.
Glenda drove the wrong road, then backed into a ditch, thus needing a tractor-tow by a handy farmer. (Really, they were rescued in five minutes. Take that AAA.)
Alas, getting stuck, getting lost and other problems did doom the newlyweds, who remained their upbeat selves even when host Phil Keoghan sent them packing.
Their departure seemed inevitable, as they had not done well in the three previous episodes, but it was hard to see them go.
One can only hope that they could use GPS to navigate their way out of France. (And, alas, the Roberts’ loss took the Wadsworths out of the pool.)
In other news, one driver, David Hernandez, even got a little
The couple’s clash made for some welcome tension, a little throwback to the nasty old days of the Race when couples quarreled.
Military brothers, Marcus and Michael Craig, finished first, perhaps due to tank-commander Marcus’ navigational skills. (A serious gaffe by Michael, running off without the car keys, didn’t seem to hurt them.)
Big Brother alums, Derek Xiao and Claire Rehfuss got third. They’re rom-com gold, as she continually undercuts whatever he says. Sometimes it’s her words; just as often it’s her mugging.
Actually, the fourth-place finishers, Michelle Burgos and Luis Colon, are also fast-talking scene stealers. He’s taken to doing Amazing Race play-by-play as he drives. Bring it on.
New Time
Last night, and reportedly for the rest of the season, Amazing Race moved to 9 p.m. Eastern Time. CBS has always shifted the Race around. This time it has to do with the 9 p.m. time slot being freed up after Real Love Boat did poorly. The new time for the Race, right after Survivor, should be better for same day watchers.
Overheard
David Hernandez: Let’s be more effective in communication.
Quinto Peron: Stay cool, stay calm, stay cute, stay collected.
Claire Rehfuss: Derek’s a little unemployed.
Derek Xaio: I’m funimployed, the ‘f’ is silent.
Michelle Burgos: All I’ve been waiting for is something like this (rappelling), and I got it.
Glenda Roberts: We’re trying for a baby as we speak.
Claire: I threw shot put; so I’m used to throwing.
David (to Aubrey): Give better directions.
Lumumba Roberts: I went head over heels for this woman twice.
Glenda: We are more in love with each other. We are more appreciative.
Order of Finish
1. Marcus and Michael Craig (Military brothers)
2. Emily Bushnell, Molly Sinert (Long-lost twins)
3. Derek Xiao, Claire Rehfuss (Big Brother graduates)
4. Luis Colon, Michelle Burgos (Married couple)
5. Quinton Peron, Mattie Lynch (Former LA Rams cheerleaders)
6. Aubrey Ares, David Hernandez (Ballroom dancers)
Eliminated:
7. Glenda Roberts, Lumumba Roberts (Newlyweds)
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