The Amazing Race 5, Episode 3 - God Help Us… Ditch Those That Help Us!

I'm not normally one to go off about how much people bug me, but I think I may be right when I say that this season of The Amazing Race has given us some of the most annoying people to date. You'll know what I mean by the end of this recap. I mean, all the other seasons have had their choice annoying characters - the Guidos, Wil, Flo, Ian, etc. but this season is just taking the cake when it comes to jerks. Thank goodness Scott from Big Brother isn't on this show, or I'd quit!

Anyway, last week, 10 teams left the coast of Uruguay and headed for Argentina. Charla & Mirna almost missed their boat, but played off of Charla's height in order to stop it. Alison & Donny turned on each other at the detour, while Jim & Marsha (Wounded Knee) were set up by the Moms. The Twins fought with Kim & Chip over a taxi, which left both teams with a bitter taste in their mouth over the other. In the end though, it was Alison & Donny that were eliminated. There are nine teams left, so let me quickly introduce you to them, in the order they will leave the pit stop:

• Brandon & Nicole - Dating/Models/Extras in the Paris Hilton sex tape (I heard)
• Charla & Mirna - Cousins/Sentimental Favorites
• Jim & Marsha (Wounded Knee) - Father & Daughter/Sentimental Favorites
• Linda & Karen - Moms/Bowling Partners/Semi-Annoying
• Bob & Joyce (Cyber Love) - Found true love on the internet (Like my brother)
• Colin & Christie - Dating/Might get engaged/Sentimental Favorites
• Marshall & Lance - Brothers/Jerks
• Chip & Kim - Married parents
• Kami & Karli - Twins

So we begin this week where we left off last week, at the Pit Stop in Buenos Aries, the capital of Argentina. Right outside the city limits is the 2nd Pit Stop on a race around the world. Teams have a 12 hour rest period to do as they wish. Will the twins remain enemies with Chip & Kim and climb out of last place? I guess we'll see!

Brandon & Nicole are the first team to leave at 11:50 p.m. Their clue says to fly to San Carlos from the domestic airport. Once there, they must head to a small village by the Andes Mountains, where the mayor of the town will give them their next clue. Brandon says that they are learning so much more about each other since they live so far from one another and don't have a lot of time to spend together. Maybe that's the first *ding* in your head that the relationship isn't going to work. Must be all that hair blocking the brainwaves. A minute after they leave, Charla & Mirna leave as well. Charla states that sometimes they yell at each other, but they are still working well together and love each other to death. These first two teams form an alliance which Mirna thinks is good because both teams are "God-fearing people." At that point, Nicole's car gets stuck in the mud but Charla & Mirna get through it. Wow, looks like God has it out for Brandon & Nicole. Give me a second to roll my eyes… okay, I'm back. Looks like Charla & Mirna are waiting for them to get out.

It's 12:21 and Wounded Knee leaves the Pit Stop. Marsha says they are the comeback kids because they climbed to third place all the way from last. Back at the mud pit, Brandon gets someone to pull their car out. Mirna says they waited for Brandon & Nicole because she would hope they would do the same for her, and they agreed to be allies. Charla gets electrocuted on the way back to the car because she grabbed a cattle fence. She's okay, folks! Both teams are once again on their way to the airport. However, right after all this, Brandon sees Charla & Mirna go the wrong way, and tells Nicole not to worry about them. They head off the right way without even honking to the cousins! Yeah, how "Christ-like," give me a break. Mirna is shocked when she sees they aren't behind them and realizes she is lost.

At 12:26 Linda & Karen leave, followed by Cyber Love at 12:31. These teams agree to help each other if they can as well. Linda blasts through the mud while Karen notes that Linda's great attitude is infectious. They didn't have such a great attitude when they tricked Wounded Knee last week, did they? Joyce tells the camera that she is there with Bob to prove that a team doesn't have to just be physically fit to win the race, but must be strong mentally as well. I like this team more and more each week that goes by. They are like one episode away from being Sentimental Favorites. At this point, Charla & Mirna stopped at a gas station for directions, while Brandon & Nicole just get to the airport.