The Amazing Race 9 Finale: Crazy Foreigners Coming Through!

Previously on No Shoes, No Pants, No Problem: The whole season. Remember Scott & John? I don’t. If you want more details, go read the recaps. No, it’s okay. We’ll wait. Are you ready? Good. Tonight, one team will win a million dollars. There are three teams left:

BJ & Tyler - Friends/Sentimental favorites/Probably a lock for second place

Eric & Jeremy - Friends/Does anyone think they won’t win?

Ray & Yolanda - Dating/Sentimental favorites/I want them to win so badly

Phil sends us a lovely postcard from Bangkok, which is full of gorgeous buildings. He reminds us that Ray & Yolanda won a trip to Sydney, which they’ll apparently get to enjoy on New Year’s Eve. We see them planning their trip and enjoying a night in a nice hotel. Will they continue to work well together, or will their bickering start up again? Speaking of that, I’m not happy that during Survivor, the ads for this episode described Yolanda & Ray as a fighting couple. They haven’t fought that much! False advertising! Anyway, will BJ & Tyler stay ahead? Will the frats keep their focus?

The hippies are the first team to leave at 11:18 p.m. Their clue tells them to take a taxi 75 miles to the Royal Kraal, where they get to hang out with elephants. Sadly, the elephants aren’t quite as cute as last week’s monkeys. A little less greedy, though, it appears. These elephants will give each team member a T-Mobile Sidekick. Sidekicks make me think of Veronica Mars (which just got renewed for a third season - yay!), which always makes me happy, so I’ll overlook the blatant product placement. As the hippies leave, Tyler says that he wants to return with the million dollars and buy the temple they’re at. BJ interviews that they thought they’d be in first on every leg, but they learned that they were susceptible to the same mistakes as the other teams. Tyler interviews that the game has changed - they no longer fear elimination.

As the frats leave, Eric interviews that it’s about them now and Jeremy adds that they’re ready to win. In their car, Eric says that he’s never seen an elephant up close, but he’s watched When Elephants Attack on TV. His joke falls flatter than it could have if an elephant had stepped on it. The hippies reach the Royal Kraal and greet the elephants. They’re not happy that the hours of operation are 4 a.m. to 6 p.m. They try to entice the elephants with peanuts.

Ray & Yolanda leave, noting that they need to get back to business. Ray interviews that they’ve had some navigation problems (ya don’t say). A discussion about a turn can quickly become about a relationship. There are two races going on, The Amazing Race and The Amazing Relationship. Ray says they needed some rejuvenation. All of the teams arrive at the Royal Kraal and wait around for it to open. Ray calls the hippies “cricket boys.” Hee. At 4 a.m., the teams get their Sidekicks. Said Sidekicks tell them to fly to Tokyo, then drive to Shibuya, which is basically the Japanese Times Square. There, they’ll have to look for their next clue on one of the many video screens.

The hippies are glad to be going to Japan, and we’ll be hearing a lot more about that. They’ve been there, and Tyler speaks Japanese, which is a huge advantage. In fact, Tyler once walked across Japan for a woman - he made a film called Kintaro Walks Japan, which you can see here. The frats head to their car, noting that the elephants are following them. Ray is glad to go to Tokyo, too. Tyler tells us that his girlfriend is Japanese and he understands Japan. Eric & Jeremy are worried about his language advantage.

Yolanda & Ray are first to the airport and check out a flight that will get them to Tokyo at 2:15 p.m. Tyler & BJ arrive as well, followed by the frats. Both of them check out the same flight as Ray & Yolanda. However, they’re told that the flight might be full. Ray notes that the hippies always seem to get what they need. Yolanda & Ray and the frats book seats on the flight, but, alas, this time the hippies might not be able to get their way. The flight is full.

The flight boards as the hippies keep begging to be allowed on. Surprisingly, there is no last-minute reprieve for them - the flight leaves. The hippies head to Thai Airlines instead and get a flight that arrives an hour and a half after the first one. It’s a tough break, but Tyler says they haven’t given up yet. Plus, they have the language advantage. Phil tells us that once the teams arrive in Tokyo, they’ll get cars at a hotel and drive to Shibuya. The teams are there now and Yolanda & Ray get a map, then get on a bus with the frats. They all arrive at the hotel and Yolanda & Ray get their car. Ray says theirs isn’t a Benz, but it’s okay. I guess once you get to drive a luxury car, anything else pales in comparison. Eric & Jeremy get directions and a map at the hotel, which is very smart. Yolanda & Ray seem to be heading in the right direction even without help.

The hippies land and look at a map while on a bus. Eric & Jeremy note that there are a lot of lights in Tokyo. They’re happy to have a map. Yolanda & Ray aren’t sure where to go. The hippies get their car while the frats look for parking, thinking they might be in first place. Ray & Yolanda finally decide to get directions. Ray says he’s Driving Miss Crazy. The hippies hope the other teams got lost. Yolanda & Ray kind of are. The frats look up at the video screens, also looking for Ray & Yolanda. They spot the clue, which reads, “Find Hachiko.” Hachiko is a statue of a dog, and near it is a man in a red and yellow scarf who will give the teams the next clue. The frats find both quickly but think the guy is Hachiko.

The clue is a detour: Maiden or Messenger. In Maiden, teams go to a tea garden and carry a maiden to a ceremony. In Messenger, teams ride folding bikes and deliver two parcels to two different buildings. The frats choose Maiden, probably not least because there’s a pretty woman involved. The hippies are now in Shibuya, which means Ray & Yolanda are REALLY lost. They see the clue and quickly get the clue from the guy in the scarf. They choose Messenger because Tyler will be able to ask people for directions. Jeremy & Eric think Maiden will be hard, and they soon learn that it’s a very physical task. They hope the maiden is hot, of course. BJ & Tyler get their bikes and assemble them, then take off. Ray & Yolanda are stuck in traffic. Ray thinks everyone is having problems, but Yolanda thinks the others are ahead of them.