The Amazing Race All Stars Recap
By Daron Aldridge
March 1, 2011
BoxOfficeProphets.com
1. Best friends Zev & Justin (Season 15) – They exhibited the strengths from their previous seasons and also wisely have solidified their alliance with a strong team in the Globetrotters. When it comes down to it, I feel they could outpace Flight & Easy by keeping a far enough distance between them as the Pitstops near.
2. Globetrotters Flight Time & Big Easy (Season 15) – I still go with them being the team that works the best together and they took a chance on not even solving the puzzle but asking Zev & Justin for an assist. This tandem should go all the way to the end.
3. Father/Daughter Ron & Christina (Season 12) – The way they worked together this first leg was solid and Ron kept his criticism in check. Christina is playing smart by helping other teams on her terms. This is better than aligning yourself too closely to another team unless you have an existing relationship (i.e. Globetrotters/Zev& Justin).
4. Sisters Kisha & Jen (Season 14) – I think the sisters did better than I expected and capitalized on their good fortune. But they will need to rely upon more than luck.
5. Former NFL cheerleaders Jaime & Cara (Season 14) – The strength I remember of these ladies was not displayed on the first leg. They seemed to rely too heavily on the alliance with a weaker team in Margie & Luke. Their collective mistake dropped them behind three other teams. I think they still have it in them to make it far but they need to be more independent to get better or they will just be carrying…
6. Mother/son Margie & Luke (Season 14) – I was not thoroughly impressed with them originally or in this first episode. They reaped the benefits of help from Jaime & Cara last time but I think that Jaime & Cara will suffer from their alliance this time around.
7. Engaged Amanda & Kris (Season 14) – The newly engaged pair surprised me with how well they did once they got to Australia, but their placement is thanks to a little ol’ heart attack that turned their second flight into the first flight. Also, they still have the mandatory U-Turn this leg that will not do them any favors.
8. Father/daughter Gary & Mallory (Season 17) – It seems a bit off placing them so far down in the rankings because they did get first this leg and are armed with an Express Pass. But they seem to be too easily frazzled and like Kisha & Jen and Amanda & Kris, their high positioning in the race was a lucky circumstance for them. I don’t think they will be able to translate that into a long run here.
9. Cowboys Jet & Cord (Season 16) – The most dramatic drop (and justifiably so) belongs to the cowboys. While some teams positively picked up where they left off as a team, these brothers seem to being doing the opposite. They don’t appear to have the fire (or even the fun) this time around. They carelessly missed the ferry and Jet basically phoned in the decoding task.
10. Goth couple Kent & Vyxsin (Season 12) – Here’s a team that is not competitively relevant. Unlike the Globetrotters who did it on purpose, the Goths relied upon others for help with the message after they screwed it up, which was only given strategically because they aren’t viewed as a threat - an assessment I agree with.
11. Father/son Mel & Mike (Season 14) – If the previews are to be believed (which is probably a mistake), Mel will be medically eliminated from the race. That would be a first, I believe. While he will likely still be racing, I think that this race is just too much for Mel and they will not quit but also will not win.
The show wastes no time in jumping right back into the race, which is good because that’s why we’re here, right? With the teams heading back to Sydney, the clue at the “faux Pitstop” (thanks for that term, Mike of Mel & Mike) only had the cryptic message to find “From Sail to Stop.” This is an inscription on a giant anchor sculpture at Town Hall. Once there, they sign up for one of two flights – 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. the next morning. So, for all the exhaustion and drama of them "still racing," the teams will easily get a nice long rest before showing up at the airport for their flight.
In the age of the Internet being accessible from any number of wireless devices, let alone any computer at a business office, it surprises me that anyone would flounder at trying to decipher the message but that’s what two teams in particular did – former first and second place teams Gary & Mallory and Amanda & Kris.
Sisters Kisha & Jen’s cab takes them to the wrong location but it works out for them because they use a little thing called Google to find the answer. The pseudo-Globetrotters Zev & Justin have also ended up at the same location, so they decide to find Town Hall together. Voila…they take the first slots on flight number one.
Back on the ferries, all the remaining teams are aboard one of two boats and Mel’s 70-year-old body is not adapting to Phil’s extended race. Mike’s dad nearly collapses multiple times that we are shown and finally does lay down on the ferry for a breather. Based upon the guilt on Mike’s face, it’s safe to assume that Mel is only doing this again because his son wanted him to. Since Mike is struggling with whether to drop out or not, Mel says that he will make the decision if he needs to do so. Good call, dad.
The dynamic duo duos of Margie & Luke and cheerleaders Jaime & Cara luck upon a ferry passenger who has a laptop are were willing to lend them. So, they know exactly where to go before even docking. They dash off the boat together, of course, because as Luke says, Jaime & Cara are his "Race Girlfriends" - because let’s be honest, there is no way that former NFL cheerleaders (one of whom is also a Playboy Playmate) would be "non-race girlfriends" with a mama’s boy like Luke. Anyway, they make it to Town Hall and take the next two spots on the first flight.
Where are the cowboys, you may be wondering? They are finally on the skiff from last week’s task after Jet’s inept flag message decoding display. The great equalizer of a guaranteed flight at 6:30 a.m. is waiting for them, but they are still sweating the presence of executioner Phil on the mat. Our host gets to psych out another team and one has to think that Phil enjoys the defeated look on their faces a bit too much before giving them hope.
By now, Mel & Mike have managed to secure the fifth spot on flight one with Kent & Vyxsin taking the last spot. Teams Clueless and Aimless of Gary & Mallory and Amanda & Kris (you can decide which is which) find hope in running into father/daughter Ron & Christina, who for the second time in as many episodes, have helped other teams out. This trio gets to Town Hall and each writes their names down for the second flight, which the Globetrotters are also on.
Everyone seems to be pondering the obvious question: “Where in the world are Jet & Cord?” Well, they're wandering the streets of Sydney in the dark, both literally and figuratively. As the other teams start showing up at the airport, I wonder if the producers have a magical third flight up their sleeve because these guys may need it.
Following some important words from their sponsors, Jet & Cord finally get a break in the form of a cabbie who knows exactly where to go. The boys are relieved they will be back with the group. This has easily been the worst leg Jet & Cord have ever raced. They really need to step it up and also bring back some of the fun that made me like them last time.
Both flights leave and land without incident and only 30 minutes separating them. It is still very much anyone’s race. Predictably, as soon as they get in their cars, Jaime & Cara and Margie & Luke decide to follow each other to a gas station for full directions. Their twosome turns into a threesome as Kent & Vyxsin have become unofficial members of this co-dependent alliance.
The second flight has landed and everyone is on their way to the Living Desert for their next clue, which is a Detour. Zev & Justin, Kisha & Jen and a re-energized Mel (who is now criticizing Kisha’s slow driving) & Mike all seem to find it easily. The choices are Spirit World, which involves creating a large mosaic on the ground and then performing a dance, or Natural World, which has the teams create four symbols using only natural materials as paint and their mouths to spray it. Justin rationalizes their choice of doing the mosaic by saying, “Zev is very artistic.” “And autistic,” Zev jokingly adds. These guys crack each other up. For my money, I would be following all the teams to Spirit World, except Amanda & Kris, who will be doing both.
With everyone working feverishly or dancing and cheering on the local singers like Big Easy is, Kent & Vyxsin are shockingly the first ones done with the mosaic but he is convinced they need the kids to dance with them. I am a bit unnerved by the number of times the producers play the clip of Kent saying, “Vyxsin, I need you to get me children. Children…CHILDREN!!” I await the nightmares. Instead of dancing on top of it, the Goths and their “CHILDREN” are playing ring-around-the-rosey. This is not the right way and their scowling aborigine Simon Cowell-wannabe judge gives them a thumbs down.
On the other hand, Zev & Justin prance on top of their mosaic to their aboriginal Paula Abdul’s approval and get their clue. Shortly behind them are Margie & Luke, sans their prettier counterparts. The clue takes them back to the town of Broken Hill where they flew into to find the Central Football Club.
Kisha & Jen can’t seem to get their mosaic acceptable and Kent & Vyxsin continue to do even more elaborate versions of the same wrong dance with the same non-approval from the judge. Yet, Mel & Mike have moved on and are in third place. Fortunately, the sisters get it right and the Goths finally reread their clue and see the little word “on” as in “dance on your mosaic.” Both teams aren’t far behind Mel & Mike.
As Jaime & Cara leave, Ron starts into Christina for not giving him specific directions on what materials she needs. Then, she tells him to speak in Chinese, so no one understands them. I am not sure if she doesn’t want people to hear how to make the mosaic or understand her dad belittling her. I am thinking it’s the second one.
As the teams leave the Detour (cowboys, Gary & Mallory, Globetrotters), Amanda & Kris have a glimmer of hope as they head to the other Detour task because Ron & Christina can’t get the mosaic right. As the engaged couple work through the Natural World task, it becomes painfully clear that this was the much easier task. They finish it about the same time as Ron & Christina.
Zev & Justin roll up to the next clue box first and it is a doozy. They have to dress up like kangaroos and using a periodic table of elements find the street corner of Mercury (Hg) and Bismuth (Bi). Public humiliation and a working recollection of high school chemistry…this may be the tenth circle of hell that Dante failed to write about.
Teaming with the only other ones at the task and because they can’t do anything on their own, Margie & Luke ask Zev & Justin to work together. They agree but then really don’t need the mother and son because they get the answer and directions to the streets from a local with a phone.
Meanwhile, the other seven teams seem to have clumped together and Kent’s "A" in chemistry has paid off. He knows the elements in question and appears to be their kangaroo guide. Bringing up the rear are Ron & Christina and Amanda & Kris.
Unfortunately for Margie, she loses a foot from her costume and she and Luke have to go back for it. Their disappointment is probably because they messed up and now it looks like they may have to do a task on their own. But in swoops Mel who sees the foot and picks it up. Luke proceeds to kiss and hug Mel in thanks. Now there are eight teams vying for second place as any of them could hop (sorry) in front of another.
Zev & Justin get to their elemental clue box and head for the Pitstop. Since they are instructed to remain in costume (undoubtedly because Phil wants to mock them), I suspect someone messes up that portion of the task and is penalized for it. Thankfully, it is not Zev & Justin, who get a first place finish and a trip to Cancun as a prize - but Zev just wants a nap.
The Globetrotters and the sisters get to the clue next and leave before the others show up, even though they don't have much lead time. As the remaining teams, who aren’t engaged or father/daughter teams, get their clue, the struggles to get regular shoes on to drive allow Jet & Cord to jump into fourth place for the time being. The Globetrotters get to the mine Pitstop and are team number two.
Not too far behind them, Kisha & Jen have arrived at the Pitstop location but are weighed down by their costumes and gear, which lets Jet & Cord sneak past them for a third place. This means the sisters are number four officially.
The Daddy-daughter duos join forces to not be last as Gary & Mallory have clearly fallen behind the others and are...wait for it...lost again. Ron immediately regrets the decision as Mallory is just running in the direction she thinks the others went. They locate the clue in spite of all their wandering. Now Christina is regretting joining up with them because they are too impulsive and she doesn’t believe that they actually know where they are going. Ron breaks off from following them as soon as he can.
Amanda & Kris show up as the others are pulling out, so this may prove to a quite a close finish. Speaking of finishes, Margie & Luke are team number five, Mel & Mike are team number six, Kent & Vyxsin are number seven and Jaime & Cara are number eight. Of the three bottom dwellers, the first team to arrive is Gary & Mallory in tenth place and Mallory declares she is “hoppy” to be there. Is it wrong that I really only enjoy my own puns?
Battle for "not last" comes down to Ron & Christina and Amanda & Kris, which isn’t surprising at all considering they have been at the back of the pack since Detour. As a viewer, we get the pleasure of more arguments from Ron & Christina as they are number ten. Inept racers Amanda & Kris weren’t cut out for the race the second time, either. They were done in once again by a U-Turn but this time self-imposed. Even though it didn’t take them that long for the extra task, I suspect that even an extra ten minutes or so may have been enough.
See you next week, when the tasks appear to involve Japanese rituals with water and mud and Jaime & Cara cause a car accident. Good times.