Send in the Clowns: An Interview with The Amazing Race 4’s Jon & Al

Circus clowns, best friends, and viewer favorites Jon & Al were one of the most well-rounded teams on this season of The Amazing Race. In this interview, they inform us how far they were behind the other teams, what future racers need to know, and how they feel about having the support of so many fans. - not to mention knowing the answer to “Why did the chicken cross the road?”

RNO: I have to admit - I didn’t expect to be doing this interview. You were my pick to make the final three. How far behind was your plane from the other three teams?

Jon: I didn’t expect to be doing this interview either! Our first plane was due to get in a half hour before the other teams, but due to the fog and delays and then not being allowed to board the other teams’ plane, we were forced to board a plane that arrived 1 hour and 40 minutes later then the other teams.

Al: When we arrived in Australia, we were 1 hour and 42 minutes behind; at the pit stop with the penalty, we were 30 minutes behind.

RNO: When Phil told you that another team had a time penalty, did you think that you were still in the Race, or did you just know that you were too far behind to catch up?

Jon: We totally thought we made it; we never lost hope.

Al: I definitely thought we had a chance. At that point I was overcome with emotion and thought, “Wow - this is finally our break!”

RNO: At the beginning of the Race, by the looks of the other teams, did you think you would have problems because you were a little older than some of the couples, or was that not an issue?

Jon: That never even crossed my mind. Age is an attitude!

Al: Nah… never thought about the age difference at all.

RNO: I think one of the best things about the two of you was that not one of the other teams said anything bad about you. Not even once! What do you attribute that to?

Jon: I don’t know; maybe because the way we treated each other, them, and other people around us.

Al: I think one of the most important things that Jon and I did was to keep a positive attitude and have fun and laugh. When chips were down, we held our heads up high and just ran a positive race.

RNO: Compared to other seasons of The Amazing Race, it seemed like the challenges this time were tougher. Which Roadblock and Detour did you feel were the hardest to complete?

Jon: The Detour in Cortina, Italy - running up and down the Alps - was grueling due to the length of the mountain and the altitude; the toughest Roadblock was the ice diving, which Al did.

Al: The ice dive was definitely the scariest for me. I couldn’t believe I had to do that. My whole body felt like it was going into shock. I just said, “Do it… don’t think about it.”

RNO: Were you more disappointed that you didn’t make the final three or that you didn’t win the Race? Believe it or not, there is a difference here because at least if you make the final three, you can cross the finish line.

Jon: I was disappointed we didn’t cross the finish line and win!

Al: Of course we would have loved to cross the finish line, but I can’t say I was disappointed because I felt Jon and I ran a fantastic race and were positive all along the way… sure, we would’ve loved the money, but there are some things in this world money can’t buy and I think Jon and I achieved that.

RNO: During the tenth leg of the Race, you shared a cab with the Goats in South Korea. Did you feel that may have been a bigger mistake than you originally thought, or was it a good way to save money?

Jon: Money was the reason why we shared the cab, but we knew the second we all piled in the cab that it was a huge mistake, but made the best of it.

Al: It was definitely a good way to save money but it made traveling difficult and cumbersome… I am so glad they did not leave without us.