The Amazing Race 10, Episode 10 First Class and Cargo Class Awards: Model, and Not-So-Model, Behavior

What an interesting week it was on The Amazing Race! Driving tanks, rapping, and cars breaking down all provided for great television. By now you’ve sureloy read Jenn’s recap, so let’s move on to the awards, shall we?

I’m awarding First Class to Tyler & James (aka Team Zoolander) for another clean leg, and smart decisions along the way. Teams by now have learned that, even when provided with their own transportation, they can make excellent use of cab drivers. The models took that knowledge one step further.

James & Tyler were on the first flight to Kiev with the beauty queens, and arrived at the marked cars at the airport only a few steps behind them. They quickly realized that the ladies had hired a cab driver to lead them to the tank school, and although it meant they would be running together, they wisely offered to split the cost with the ladies. By doing so, they didn’t have to spend even a minute looking for their own cab driver to lead them to the school, and they saved some money, which is always a smart thing to do on the race.

Once again, Tyler & James are keeping the ultimate goal of the race in mind while still having fun along the way. Although they are in direct competition with Dustin & Kandice at virtually every point on the race, they are not getting nasty with them. There is no reason to make the race an unpleasant experience, and James & Tyler are racing hard without resorting to personal attacks or dirty tactics.

They do tease the beauty queens but it is all good-natured and fun. And they take their share of teasing back. As I said last time, their race is being run much more effectively by avoiding petty arguments along the way.

Although I wondered about James & Tyler’s choice of Detour tasks, their choice did not end up hurting them, and it even seemed that searching for the music took less time than writing/performing the rap did. And the formal attire—wow!

The models were efficient, set out with a strategy for how to search for the sheet music, and never allowed the task to overwhelm them. Even when they had no idea how many stacks of music they would have to look through to find the right piece, they got right down to it and showed no doubt about their selection.

Finally, even when they were not racing neck and neck with the beauty queens, Tyler & James were efficient in getting directions and making their way to the next route marker—in this case the Pit Stop. They took the time to get good directions, and then trusted those directions to get them where they needed to be without delay.

I feel I should mention something I’ve heard discussed several times since this week’s episode aired, and that’s the running of the red light by both Dustin & Kandice and Tyler & James. I’m not at all condoning breaking the law during the race, but I’m going to give both teams the benefit of the doubt that they sized up the possible danger before hitting the gas pedal.

Overall, yes it’s much smarter to stop for the red light and make up the minute or so that was lost on the task itself, but it didn’t end up harming the teams or anyone else. And really, let she (or he) who is without sin cast the first stone. I know I’ve blown through my share of stop signs, and even run a few yellow/pretty much red lights when I knew I should have stopped. And I’ve never in my life been racing for a sure million dollars.

So, Zoolander, head on in to First Class and read up on that wonderful vacation you’ve both won. Cozy up with a blanket and a nice warm towel, and get some much-needed rest and relaxation as you gear up for the run for the million dollars that will shortly be upon you.

Once again, Cargo Class is going to Lyn & Karlyn (aka Team Dublyn). Like almost everyone I’ve talked to this week, these two had me screaming at my television on numerous occasions. So much so that I scared my doggie and she ran into the living room until the episode was over and she detected that I had calmed down.

Dublyn declared that their alliance with Erwin & Godwin was over at the start of this leg, yet continued to follow them—and complain about it. Every. Step. Of. The. Way. At the airport, they did not attempt to get a cab to lead them to the tank school, instead choosing to follow the Cho brothers, who had a map.

Which begs the question, what did Karlyn & Lyn do overnight in the airport in Helsinki? They knew they were going to Kiev; they should have been looking through the airport for a map of their own. I’ve flown into and out of many airports both late at night and early in the morning, and there is always at least one newsstand open where you can find maps at all hours of the day.

Their choice is even more puzzling because Karlyn & Lyn have been racing with the Cho brothers throughout the race, so they should have been well aware of their indecisiveness when it came to directions. It’s their own fault for allowing themselves to be stuck without a map. It appeared that they never even tried to get their own directions at the airport, and simply decided to follow their alliancemates. And all of this occurred AFTER they had declared that they were racing for themselves!

What was even worse than Lyn & Karlyn’s choice to follow the brothers, however, was how they continued to follow them even as they said it was time for the brothers to race their own race. They knew the brothers were stopping for directions too many times, because they KEPT TELLING US. Yet they continued to follow them for far longer than was reasonable. Nothing that has happened to Dublyn during the whole race has been their own fault, and this week was no exception. Along with my RNO colleagues, and just about everyone I talk to about the race, I’m sick of it.

I of course considered seating the Cho brothers in Cargo Class this week, but decided that Dublyn showed even worse behavior by following those they knew to be clueless. So, Lyn & Karlyn, head down to Cargo Class. You’ve made it to the final four but I don’t know anyone who is glad about that. At least you can keep yourselves warm by running your mouths incessantly, just as you have on the whole race.

Next week, chariots and the much-anticipated return of the Yield! Afterwards, First and Cargo Class awards will be handed out as always, so make sure you check back, and stick with Reality News Online for full coverage of The Amazing Race 10!

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Sandy Lamparello is an Assistant Editor for Reality News Online a Legal Editor for a publishing company in Washington, DC. You may reach her at realitytvjunkie@gmail.com. She doesn’t care if you agree or disagree, she just wants to hear from you. Happy Thanksgiving!

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