TAR 20 Episode 7: Everybody Hates Brenchel

The leg begins with some great airport drama, as Brendon shoves Ralph and gives him the finger in a race to the desk. Vanessa gets into an argument with Rachel, making a crack about her nose. Art/JJ decide to stir the pot further by telling Nary/Jamie they know they're not really teachers. The federal agents stick to their story and refuse to be bullied.

The teams land in Africa and sign up in pairs for a flight to the crater. Art/JJ end up on the first flight with their enemies Brendon/Rachel. Bopper/Mark are o the second flight with Rachel/Dave. Nary/Jamie and Vanessa/Ralph are on the last flight, and Nary falls asleep.

The first two teams get their clue from a Masai warrior, which gives the a detour to do. Brendon/Rachel choose the first one, which is taking part in a tribal dance, and Art/JJ decide to choose the marksmanship task. It looks to me like the only reason to choose the target practice is to show off your skills, as the dancing task only takes one minute. Brendon/Rachel finish first and Art/JJ are second, although they lose more time when they drive the wrong way.

Rachel/Dave also choose marksmanship, and finish behind Bopper/Mark doing the other task. Nary/Jamie also go off to do marksmanship, whereas Vanessa struggles with staying on the bike and not falling over. Bopper/Mark also stumbles and injures his foot.

When Art/JJ and Brendon/Rachel end up driving the wrong direction, Rachel/Dave are first to arrive at the next task. The teams have to build a tent. Ralph/Vanessa are last to arrive, but have hope when they see the friction the task is causing. Rachel/Dave get into a major argument during the construction, causing Art to remark "this is why we're not here with our wives".

Nary/Jamie find that being the only team without a male is a major hindrance and they fall miles behind. Rachel/Dave are the first to finish, obviously their arguments not holding them back too much. Bopper/Mark and Art/JJ.

Knowing they're last, Nary/Jamie decide to check out some elephants on their way to the pit stop. But when they get there, they learn their journey is not over...they are still in the race, and have another chance to catch back up.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Rachel/Dave
2. Bopper/Mark
3. Art/JJ
4. Brendon/Rachel
5. Vanessa/Ralph
6. Nary/Jamie

TAR 20 Episode 6: Going For Broke

The teams travel to Azerbaijan, and find themselves dancing at a fiery temple as they wait for sunrise. When they get their clue, the teams have the choice between a roadblock and a Fast Forward. Most of the teams play it safe, but Rachel/Dave and Joey/Danny decide to go for the Fast Forward.

The task is a drowning simulation. It looks terrifying, but it's simple enough for the teams to complete. Though Mark faces a challenge of his own, in battling his travel sickness. Mark lets Nary know that Bopper has a crush on her teammate.

Rachel/Dave go head-to-head with Joey/Danny in a race to stack hay bales. It's a tense match with a lot at stake. Once Rachel/Dave get the hang of it, they end up narrowly coming out on top in a close matchup. Joey/Danny race to the roadblock knowing they're miles behind now, whereas Rachel/Dave get to the pit stop in 1st.

Their next clue is in a carpet shop, and a trailing Vanessa/Ralph waste even more time when they fail to find the clue in first place. One of the tasks is to scrape oil of a man's body, which Art/JJ are very weirded out by. The border patrol guys complete it first, which Brendon/Rachel right behind them. Bopper/Mark complete a great comeback to finish 3rd, their highest spot so far.

Nary/Jamie and Vanessa/Ralph decide to do the other task, which is to hunt for the special apple in the car. It turns out to be a true needle in a haystack contest. Both of them finish before Joey/Danny arrive, but Vanessa/Ralph stall when they can't find their taxi driver.

Vanessa/Ralph cut it close one again and check in 6th. Joey/Danny arrive last and are eliminated. The boys are disappointed because they feel they were just finally hitting their stride in the race. But that's what you get when you take a gamble and lose.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Rachel/Dave
2. Art/JJ
3. Bopper/Mark
4. Brendon/Rachel
5. Nary/Jamie
6. Vanessa/Ralph
7. Joey/Danny

TAR 20 Episode 5: Weird Beards

The teams are going to Germany, after taking a train to Austria. Their choice of task is styling a beard or building a gingerbread house. The top three teams from the last leg reach it first and all decide to do the beard styling. Joey/Danny are soon complaining that their beard is much harder to do than everyone else's. Bopper/Mark are next to arrive but have to do a speed bump. It's not too difficult for the pair, as all they have to do is learn to yodel.

Team Big Brother and Team Mississippi decide to brave a blizzard to do the gingerbread detour. Bopper/Mark are doing it too, and enjoy the cold conditions and scary witch a lot more than Rachel does.

After finishing their beards, the teams now have to find the Sleepy Beauty castle. Vanessa/Ralph have a major argument on the way, as Vanessa doesn't want to walk it. Several teams end up in the wrong castle, with Nary/Jamie an Rachel/Dave taking a tour they didn't need to take. Bopper/Mark fall into the same trap and the extra time running leaves Bopper exhausted.

Art/JJ are still in the lead and now have to curl a gnome. They complete the challenge quickly and arrive at the pit stop with another first place finish. The federal agents start to lose a lot of ground on the gnome challenge, as several teams are arriving after them and leaving before them. Bopper/Mark are one of those teams, completing a great comeback and finishing 6th. Soon it's only them and Stacy/Kerri left.

Nary/Jamie are the last team to complete the gnome challenge, but still have a chance to beat Kerri/Stacy to the pit stop when the cousins get lost on their way there. The agents survive another day, and Kerri/Stacy are sent home. Stacy thinks she did her kids proud however, and lasted longer than she expected.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Art/JJ
2. Joey/Danny
3. Vanessa/Ralph
4. Rachel/Dave
5. Brendon/Rachel
6. Bopper/Mark
7. Nary/Jamie
8. Kerri/Stacy

TAR 20 Episode 4: Barolo, Sweat And Tears

The teams are travelling to Italy, and Bopper is happy to be going "somewhere exotic". Eh? That's not the only blunder the pair make though, as it turns out they went to the airport without going to the travel agency first...meaning by the time they do get there, the only tickets left are for a flight that arrives over an hour later.

The first task for the teams is to drive to the Lingotto building, and Dave pisses off Rachel so much that she pulls over so that he can drive. Art/JJ reach the top first and decide to take the Fast Forward, which is piloting a helicopter. The border agents end up disappointed however when they see it's only a model.

Dave is disappointed to not be doing the Fast Forward since he's a Pilot. Brendon/Rachel finish the roadblock first with ease. The rest of the leg does not go as smooth however, starting with the argument they get into whilst driving. They find the coin they need at the Ford Museum, but fail to realize they need to go to the building on it. Brendon is so fed up, he even asks Rachel if she wants to quit.

Dave/Rachel have figured out where to go but are still having an argument of their own over Dave not taking the directions they were given. Leading the pack along with Joey/Danny, they now have to choose between cleaning a statue or identifying salami.

Art/JJ however have finished the Fast Forward and check in first. At the back of the pack, Bopper/Mark have caught up with "the bodonkadonk girls", Kerri/Stacy, and arrive at the museum just as they leave.

Most of the teams might light work of the statue cleaning. "She's a dirty girl, but not the type of dirty girl Danny likes" claims Joey. Brendon/Rachel choose the Salami detour instead and it doesn't take long before Rachel is having a meltdown again. Losing her sense of taste, Rachel claims to be done and Brendon says "We're out of The Amazing Race". But it doesn't take long for them to refocus, get back into it and finish a respectable 6th.

Bopper/Mark are the last team to arrive, and an emotional Bopper talks about his child's health problems. Art/JJ come in and tell Bopper they want to give him some of the prize money they won. But that turns out to be only the second best piece of news they hear at the pit stop...as Phil also tells them that it's a non-elimination leg and they're still in the race.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Art/JJ
2. Rachel/Dave
3. Joey/Danny
4. Vanessa/Ralph
5. Nary/Jamie
6. Brendon/Rachel
7. Kerri/Stacy
8. Bopper/Mark

TAR 20 Episode 3: Never Give Up

The teams are off to Paraguay. Rachel/Dave are hoping to get on the earlier flight with Bopper/Mark, the border agents and the federal agents. JJ gets annoyed with Nary/Jamie for helping their competition by alerting the other teams to join the standby list. The tickets for the first teams come through, giving them a healthy lead over the other teams.

The first plane lands and the teams are given a choice between tacking watermelons and tuning a harp. All four teams choose to stack watermelons, but it proves tough, as one wrong melon collapses the whole structure. Art/JJ are the only team that are able to make any real progress, and get out way ahead of the other teams. After repeated failures, Nary/Jamie, the Kentucky boys and Rachel/Dave all decide to quit and do the other detour. Kerri/Stacy are arriving just as Bopper/Mark are leaving, and they let them have their taxi. They soon realize the boys didn't finish it and decide to switch...needing another taxi. Brendon/Rachel also decide to switch after Vanessa's catty remarks start getting to Rachel.

Art/JJ complete the roadblock, balancing a bottle on your head and doing a dance, and are eager to get a first place. They get their wish, and are the first to check in with Phil at the pit stop. Rachel/Dave decide to use the express pass to skip to the bottle task, and Dave is less successful. He works his way through the bottles very quickly, breaking them all and getting a two hour penalty. They arrive at the pit stop in 2nd, but now have to wait as several other teams overtake them.

Joey/Danny and Vanessa/Ralph are the only teams left doing the watermelons, and the Jersey boys manage to get it. Ralph wants to switch, but Vanessa feels they've put in too much time to quit now. It proves to be a mistake though, as more and more teams are tuning their harps. Only Elliot/Andrew are struggling. Despite their musical background, they end up having a major meltdown...and almost switch to the harder task.

Vanessa/Ralph are pretty sure they're abut to be eliminated, but finish the task anyway, even though it takes them well into the evening. When they reach the next task to find Elliot/Andrew still there, Vanessa is rejuvenated. Ralph makes it through the roadblock, although the twins aren't far behind. The teams race to the pit stop, and Vanessa/Ralph narrowly win out, a little disbelieving they're still in the race.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Art/JJ
2. Brendon/Rachel
3. Joey/Danny
4. Bopper/Mark
5. Nary/Jamie
6. Rachel/Dave
7. Kerri/Stacy
8. Vanessa/Ralph
9. Elliot/Andrew

TAR 20 Episode 2: Here Comes The Sun

The teams wait in the town square for a Chasqui (mounted postman) to show up, and play with a stray dog while they do. Art/JJ express their distaste with Brendon/Rachel, who they feel are coattail riders. When the Chasqui shows up, Brendon rips a clue out of JJ's hands, fueling the rivalry further.

The teams can choose between making a solar kitchen or making a fire. The fire involves transporting supplies for a mile via a donkey, so most teams choose to assemble the kitchen. Only Art/JJ opt for the fire task, and on their way there, they pass all the other teams working on their solar kitchens, realizing they're behind. But they're optimistic of being able to catch up, as the sun isn't even fully out yet.

Joey/Danny struggle with their kitchen, and one of the guidos cuts himself. They ask for help from Kerri/Stacy, who are very accommodating. Dave/Cherie are also seeking help from Rachel/Dave, and then realize what they were doing wrong - they hadn't realized the instructions were on the box!

Most of the teams are now waiting for their pots to boil, and Bopper/Mark get it first. Art/JJ slog through the donkey work and sure enough, manage to finish 2nd. Just because a task is easier, doesn't mean it's faster.

Rachel/Dave and Brendon/Rachel get it next and end up on the first bus to Buenos Aires with the top two teams. Nary/Jamie and Kerri/Stacy are left behind on the last bus to depart. "Were just gonna hope their bus breaks down" laughs Nary.

Funnily enough, Nary gets her wish as a window on the second bus breaks, giving them a major delay. The four teams on board (Vanessa/Ralph, Elliot/Andrew, Joey/Danny and the clowns) are now at the back of the pack..although the four girls on the other bus don't realize this yet.

The next task is counting cows. Rachel ends up doing it for the Big Brother team, and quickly realizes she's going to struggle. The other Rachel ends up working with JJ and leaving first. Mark helps Rachel, and despite initially forgetting to round a number, they get it fairly quickly. Brendon/Rachel however have lost their taxi and Rachel starts crying when Brendon lashes out at her.

It's a tight race to the pit stop for 1st and Rachel/Dave manage to come out on top once again. Kerri/Stacy and Nary/Jamie arrive at the roadblock with no other team there. Kerri/Stacy finish narrowly ahead of Nary/Jamie, but both teams get a shock when Phil tells them they're much higher than they thought they were.

Vanessa wins the battle between the first four teams and happily declares "I don't suck at math". Joey and Andrew team up because they know the clown is struggling. The teams check in and Elliot/Andrew joyfully have a kickabout with the Maradona impersonator. Dave/Cherie are the last team to arrive and remain in good spirits despite being eliminated, doing cartwheels on the way out.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Rachel/Dave
2. Art/JJ
3. Bopper/Mark
4. Brendon/Rachel
5. Kerri/Stacy
6. Nary/Jamie
7. Vanessa/Ralph
8. Joey/Danny
9. Elliot/Andrew
10. Dave/Cherie

TAR 20 Episode 1: Finding Phil

11 new teams arrive by bike to Wine Country in California. The first task is to find their clue among the field of balloons. Elliot/Andrew, Joey/Danny and Vanessa/Ralph are the first teams to find one, with Kerri/Stacy, Brendon/Rachel and Rachel/Dave not far behind.

The teams travel to Argentina, and the first six teams to get to LAX will get a headstart on the rest. Mark/Bopper are among the last to get their clue, and are not helped by Mark repeatedly throwing up in the back seat. Regardless, the team seems to be in good spirits and are already proving to be the loudest team.

Misa/Maiya are the last to get their clue, and end up on the second flight with Joey/Danny, Bopper/Mark, Dave/Cherie and Kerri/Stacy. Art/JJ lead the pack in Santa Barbara, and their task is sky-diving. One racer jumps out of the plane, and the other has to find them.

The second group are at the roadblock now, and Stacy is not exactly thrilled about having to jump out of a plane. Dave/Cherie, who had been in last place, end up overtaking some teams when Danny has trouble driving, and Maiya gets her car stuck in the sand, causing them to fall behind.

Art/JJ and Brendon/Rachel are now on the next task, which is making empadas. Art/JJ quickly get frustrated by it, and a few teams initially struggle when they see there are two different styles to make. Rachel/Dave complete the task first and check in to win the express pass. Brendon/Rachel end up as team number 2.

The second group have got to the cooking now. "This is the first time I've ever made a pinata" says Bopper. "They ain't pinatas my brother, they're...call them what you want" Mark replies.

Soon we're down to just two teams: the Hawaiian girls and the Jersey boys. Misa/Maiya manage to finish ahead of Joey/Danny and race to the pit stop...racing right past it, confusing the hell out of Phil. Joey/Danny get done shortly after and manage to survive. When Misa/Maiya finally arrive. Phil lets them know their blunder and the girls seem pretty distraught. But as first boots go, this is about as memorable an exit as you can get.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Rachel/Dave
2. Brendon/Rachel
3. Art/JJ
4. Nary/Jamie
5. Vanessa/Ralph
6. Elliot/Andrew
7. Kerri/Stacy
8. Dave/Cherie
9. Bopper/Mark
10. Joey/Danny
11. Misa/Maiya