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Back in the big top, Chad asserts that he is not gentle enough for the task (my condolences, Stephanie) and they switch to the accordion, to which Chad offers the logical comparison to Guitar Hero. Meanwhile, Gary & Mallory and Jill & Thomas are slowly learning the song, which each one unhappily groans about when they learn it has three different parts.

From last to third, Nick & Vicki overcome their many-a-plate crashing to the floor technique and are recovering from starting the leg in last place.

The slow and methodical accordion skills of Gary finally pay off as he and Mallory are the fourth team done at the Detour, followed by the other parenting pair Michael & Kevin who conquer the Clown task. This leaves the two teams who switched their tasks bringing up the rear.

Team HSN pulls up to the Bank Bridge for the next clue and gets a full set of instructions. The producers have decided to make the task a bit more difficult. The clue directs them to go on foot to the Prospekt Tower and while they can ask locals for directions, they are prohibited from paying a taxi to show them the way. At the tower, only two teams at a time can go up to the top and must figure out that the figurine on the ledge is pointing them to the “Church on Spilled Blood,” which they also have to walk to. Given that Phil specifically explains to the no-paying-a-cab rule, I think we will be looking at our first time penalty this season, which is an improvement over the wealth of them last season. Also, I have to say that I am impressed that the producers have stepped it up on the tasks this season. They are possibly some of the most difficult they have put their teams through ever.

The doctors and the tattooed team both get to the bridge and use the heel-toe express to find the tower as instructed. As Michael & Kevin open the clue, dad wisely advises to read the entire clue and don’t miss a word. Of course, that isn’t what happens and Kevin asks the cabbie to show them as they walk behind the car. Oops. I don’t like being right but…okay…I love being right but I wish that it had been another team to make this kind of error.

Gary & Mallory don’t suffer the same foolishness as they begin running to the tower.

Lest you forget who else is on this race, Chad & Stephanie successfully work out a system to play the accordion song and Jill & Thomas are trying to avoid being the anti-Jet & Cord because the dating couple are close to falling from first to last in a single leg.

As Thomas explains, they spend “way too much time at the accordion,” and decided to switch again. Clearly, they aren’t aware of how well this strategy worked from Nick & Vicki last leg with the piano and the film and then piano again. In a touch of surprising sweetness, Thomas encourages Jill that they can do this despite everyone else being done. It makes me feel a little bad for painting him completely with an angry red brush but only a little because I suspect that he’ll lose his cool again before the hour is up.

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