The Poop on the Amazing Race, Episode 11, Season 35

 

The Amazing Race

 

Season 35, Episode 11

 

By Jim Memmott

 

Dublin, Ireland

 

Be warned. What you are about to read may be upsetting:

 

For at least the second time on Season 35 of the Amazing Race,

longshot racer Joel Strasser (near left) reacted to his good fortune with these words: “I may poop my pants with joy.”

Good heavens what could happen in his pants if Joel and his buddy Garrett Smith win the $1 million prize next week?

They'll go against the father-son duo of Rob and Corey McArthur, who finished first in this episode, and brothers Greg and John Franklin, who took second. Joel and Garrett, survived by finishing third.

Time ran out on the father-daughter team of Texans Steve Cargile and Anna Leigh Wilson, who finished fourth and were sent home by Phil Keoghan, taking Bob Wilcox out of the pool with them .

The episode in Dublin was terrific – filled with wonderful moments.

In perhaps the best segment of all, Rob, who is deaf, got through the memory challenge in James Toner's pub by signing some tricky lines from James Joyce's "Ulysses." (And when was the last time "Ulysses" got a shout out on U.S. TV?)

Earlier, Corey showed he was born to River Dance, and his time as a youth playing baseball made him a natural for the hurling challenge.

The Franklin brothers did well throughout and seemed satisfied with second. However, they were just a little full of themselves, as they

reminded all of us viewers at home that they had four first-place finishes to their credit.

Joel and Garrett's survival was pretty much typical of their performances throughout the season. They are far from slick; they always seem on the verge of defeat, and, yet, now they are in the finals.

This time around, Joel struggled terribly with the River Dance challenge until he rescued himself by taking time out to get his feet on track. However, the guys did masterJames Joyce without that much trouble. More power to them.

Garrett was a good enough hurler, as well, though Joel, always with a wisecrack, couldn't resist reminding him that the challenge involved the sport of hurling, not hurling, as in throwing up. (Maybe Joel is just into bodily functions.)

Steve and Anna Leigh gave it a good run, but their problem in this episode was their problem for the whole season. They kept getting lost. Navigation did them in.

Prediction?

I suspect Corey and his dad are the duo most viewers want to win.

Still, I’d put my money on the Franklin brothers. They’re skilled at languages, math, music, and debugging any problem. Though right now, they do seem overconfident. Maybe, the video editors are setting them up for a fall.

 

 

Product placement, again

 

Racers used the Expedia app to book their flights out of Sweden and their lodging in Ireland. I still wish Expedia had a gnome.

 

Chilly dip

 

Race fan Cindy Schmitt noticed that the Racers had to take a swim in the ice-cold waters of the Forty Foot. That's where the sisters of the series “Bad Sisters” took several plunges. Heavens, I miss that show.

 

Overheard

 

Rob: I’m ready to haul my ass.

 

Steve: I hope it’s warm there because we are Texas people.

 

Corey: I’m no stranger to cold water. I like to take ice baths after a basketball game. But that water was cold.

 

Anna Leigh: It’s the worst feeling in the world to be dead last.

 

 

Order of finish

 

Corey and Rob McArthur, son and father

Greg and John Franklin, brothers

Joel Strasser and Garrett Smith, best friends

 

Eliminated

 

Steve Cargile and Anna Leigh Wilson, father and daughter