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