The Amazing Race 5, Episode 2 – Moving Down the Ranks

Previously on The Amazing Race, 11 teams of two began a race around the world for a million dollars. Injuries began early as a group of racers bottlenecked at the starting line, making Jim gash his knee and require stitches. The teams headed to Uruguay, carried a slab of beef to a butcher, and some even used a zip-line to travel down 18 stories of a building! The “little person,” Charla, felt snubbed by the other teams, and made up for it later. Alison & Donny ended up coming in first, while Chip & Kim, along with twins Kami & Karli made a huge mistake but still managed to stay in the race. Previously engaged couple, Dennis & Erika couldn’t make up time after taking a late taxi, and were the first team eliminated. There are 10 teams left, so let me quickly list them in the order they will leave the Pit Stop this week:

• Alison & Donny:Dating couple (off and on)
• Marshall & Lance:Brothers
• Linda & Karen:Bowling moms
• Bob & Joyce:Internet dating couple aka team “Cyber Love”
• Charla & Mirna:Cousins, Sentimental favorites
• Brandon & Nicole:Dating, Models/Adult porn stars/I have no clue
• Colin & Christie:Might get engaged, but just dating for now/Sentimental favorites
• Kim & Chip:Married parents
• Kami & Karli:Twins
• Jim & Marsha:Father/Daughter aka team “Wounded Knee”

We begin in Uruguay, where the first Pit Stop was. Teams arrived her after the last leg, and have 12 hours in order to eat, sleep, mingle, etc. Will Jim’s knee knock team Wounded Knee out of the competition? Will Alison & Donny manage to get along during this leg? Even more importantly, can they remain in first? I guess we’ll see!

Since Ali & Donny were the first to arrive at 12:48 p.m., they are the first to depart at 12:48 a.m. Their clue tells them to shake it at the “Mega Disco” and find the inflated balls that will be on the dance floor, which is covered with foam. Only some of the balls have clues in them. The Disco is 75 miles away, and they must use a marked car. Off they go! Oddly enough, Ali is already confused and Donny is yelling at her. They tell the camera that’s how their relationship works. Yeah, that seems healthy. Several minutes later, Marshall & Lance leave the Pit Stop as well. They say they are in good shape after they read the clue, then walk into a dead end. This should be good. I’m thinking I didn’t give them a chance during the last episode. Hopefully I’ll have a better opinion of them after this episode.

At 12:54, Linda & Karen leave the Pit Stop. Linda notes that they have known each other for 15 years, so they work well as a team. Ten minutes later, Bob & Joyce, who I’m now calling team “Cyber Love,” are off. Bob says they are stronger than they look, then instructs Joyce to “show the camera her guns.” My friend Tom, who was watching the show with me, made the comment “She’s pretty buff for an old woman.” I could only cringe. At 1:08, Charla & Mirna hit the streets. Charla says that they love to surprise people. Nobody ever expects them to be ahead. Let me say something really quick. I love Charla – it’s no lie. However, she keeps saying that she’s there to show people she can do things on her own, yet thrives on people helping her, and using her height as a pity tool to make people help her. I love it, yet don’t understand. Maybe that’s why they are Sentimental Favorites!

It’s now 1:13 and Brandon & Nicole are off, saying that they aren’t sure about where they are in their lives. This team bugs the crap out of me. Speak English! I mean, seriously – what the crap are the two of you talking about? Meanwhile, Charla & Mirna hit a dead end and are confused. Over at Montevideo, Ali & Donny finally find the Disco. Ugh, but back at the Pit Stop, its 1:27 and my favorites, Colin & Christie are hitting the streets. They both say they want to win, and I want them to win as well! They better hurry, though because a minute later, Chip & Kim leave the Pit Stop and a minute after that, Karli & Kami leave it as well! Once Chip & Kim see they are going to the Disco, they dance. Chip says that the race is making them stronger, and they are still in it by the grace of God. The twins think that Chip & Kim are good people and decide to team up to find the Disco, but lose each other within minutes. Well, c’mon, I mean, it’s not even like these four brains make a whole one.

Finally, at 1:39 a.m., Jim & Marsha (team Wounded Knee) leave the Pit Stop in last place. Marsha says they are ready to show that the gimps can win the game. Okay, I’m really starting to like this team. At the Disco, Linda & Karen begin to hunt for a ball on the dance floor, along with Ali & Donny. The moms find their clue and have to head to the public ferry and take it to Buenos Aries, Argentina. Ali & Donny find their clue too, and both teams head to the ferry. In the car, Linda & Karen can’t grasp the concept of why people need a foam party, but decide they should bring the idea back to the States. Umm, we have them here already, ladies. However, I love them 10 times more for being naïve. I’m apparently in a good mood.