New at BOP: Review: Matrix Resurrections Movie Review: Moonfall Movie Reviews: Scream The #1 Movie in America November Forecast The Many Saints of Newark October Forecast New Trivia Question All site updates Share & Save   Tweet Print this column

For the Detour, the teams must chose between Movers or Shakers. For Movers, they must learn and perform a Russian soldier dance (which looks pretty tough - more or less like the Russian dance from The Nutcracker). Shakers requires teams to identify seven historic Russian leader lookalikes at a cocktail party. When they finish the task, Alexander Pushkin lookalike will give them their clue.

James & Jaymes bitch that their cabbie wants to have a cigarette and coffee instead of heading out, but they're like 12 hours ahead. Let the guy have his fun. Even better, they're already ahead of Trey & Lexi, who are standing out in the rain being ignored by every taxi that drives by. James & Jaymes get out and help them, saying that they owe the Longhorns one. They might be goofy as hell, but they're really decent guys. Frankly, after their bad behavior with James & Abba's money, Trey & Lexi don't really deserve this.

Natalie & Nadiya are in their taxi for only ten minutes, but the cabbie is already wanting to drive them off a cliff. He wants to drive them to McDonalds, but they say no.

Both the Longhorns and the Chippendales choose to dance, a decision that James & Jaymes instantly regret due to an ankle injury for Ja(y)mes. They decide to just give it a shot rather than keep trying to learn it. They do so-so on their first shot, but still get the thumbs down. (Keep in mind that they learn choreography for their day jobs.)

Over at the geography/time zone test, Natalie & Nadiya have of course decided to turn in their Express Pass. Hopefully this means we won't see much of them today.

Despite the ankle injury, James & Jaymes complete the Detour and are headed to the Pitstop, which is located at Sokolniki Park. It's a very pretty location, including roller coasters and a public performance pavilion. Trey & Lexi are right behind them, and the guys try to help them with their taxi again. The Longhorns have disappeared, though.

Natalie & Nadiya have arrived at the Detour, and have also chosen the dancing challenge. Immediately upon beginning, one of the twins rips out the seat of her pants...twice. We enjoy this a lot more than we should, but unfortunately, it does mean that we have to hear more from them before they check in at the Pitstop.

Hey, remember James & Abba, Josh & Brent and Abbie & Ryan? They're still in the race, apparently. James & Abba are continuing on their quest to come up with passports, while Abbie & Ryan are off for their first clue. Remember that Josh & Brent have to sit and serve their four-hour penalty before they can proceed.

First place goes to James & Jaymes today, which is pretty fantastic since they displayed such great gamesmanship. They win a trip to Costa Rica. Trey & Lexi are next to the mat. The twins get through the Detour without a lot of commentary, which we appreciate.

Ryan takes the time zone test for his team, and he loves puzzles and brain teasers, so he thinks he'll be done in two minutes - NYET! He's up to eight tries before we move over to Natalie & Nadiya arriving at the Pitstop for third place.

Josh & Brent and James & Abba pretty much depart at the same time, but Josh & Brent have the advantage of, you know, having their passports.

Over with the evil professor, Ryan is now up to 22 tries and getting pissed off. We're pretty certain he's making the same mistakes that Lexi and Ja(y)mes were earlier. He's petulant and embarrassed, but on the 25th try, he figures out his mistake, and is able to laugh at himself. He and Abbie head off to go dance.

James & Abba go to a "police station" (which actually looks like a shed) to find out if their passports have been turned in. A local goes to help them by translating. Honestly, it just feels like The Amazing Race is torturing them for a day before kicking them out.

While the rockers waste precious time, Josh & Brent arrive at the professor's lair. Brent takes the task for his team, and he immediately figures out the proper way to proceed through this task. He gets it on the first try, and the professor is duly impressed.

The headbangers have done everything they could to get their passports, but it's looking grim. They move ahead to do their tasks for the day, hoping that they'll get lucky.

Abbie & Ryan have no problem getting through the dance challenge, because Abbie patiently helps Ryan figure out all the steps. Team Beakman chooses the cocktail party instead, and it's a breeze for them. They say they chose this task because it was relaxing, but honestly, we think they got through this task faster than they would have completed the dance anyway.

We head to the Pitstop, where Abbie & Ryan and Josh & Brent finish in fourth and fifth place. That means we hear a bunch of sad music while we view a montage of James & Abba's moments in the race. In a stunning upset, they are not given a chance to survive for another day. The headbangers are eliminated from The Amazing Race.

Abba quotes the old boxing mantra as he says, "We was robbed." In fact, they were. Twice!

Continued:       1       2       3       4