I hate, hate, hate when sports over-runs cause delays in the primetime schedule. This week, delays forced The Amazing Race to start almost an hour late. An hour! Really annoying CBS! And after waiting an hour, we got to watch the teams jump rope for a minute? That first challenge was hardly gripping TV, and as this leg of the race progressed things didn’t seem to get much more difficult, but some of the teams are already showing signs of breaking down.
The good news is that Jonathan and Connor smoked everyone this leg, conquering both the physical and mental challenges along the way and checking in first at the Pit Stop long before anyone else. Congrats also to Gary and Mallory who went from last to second place. Both teams seem to have a comfortable lead over the rest of the pack for the next leg. I was really surprised by Nick’s behavior this week. In the beginning, it seemed like Chad was going to be the abusive lunkhead to his partner, but Nick went above and beyond when he and Vicki first couldn’t figure out the word challenge and then had trouble rolling a wheel across a field using only a stick. Lucky for Vicki, her asthma kicked in (not that asthma is good in general) and Nick realized what a jerk he’d been.
This leg of the race also demonstrated just how important it is to read the clues … thoroughly! So many teams breezed over what seemed to be a simple task — using two wheelbarrows to transport specific items — and ended up having to redo the task (this is actually what set Nick off in the first place). Some teams only brought one wheelbarrow, apparently not understanding the meaning of the word “pair.” Some couldn’t count and brought too many of one item or not enough. Then at the Road Block, several teams chose what should have been the easier of the two tasks: assigning the proper symbols to various sentences and then finding the correct pattern on a giant word search puzzle. Again, half of them didn’t read or comprehend the clue — use a decryption key. Okay, it was kind of hidden on the side of the building that had the larger puzzle, but Jonathan & Connor and Gary & Mallory both managed to find it. Four teams walked right past the key on their way to the alternate task! I’d love to see their reactions when they saw this episode. So remember, if you ever plan to be on The Amazing Race, say it with me, “Read the clue.”
It was a night of heartbreak for one of the favorite teams, father and son Michael and Kevin. They also couldn’t find the decryption key and attempted the wheel rolling challenge but the sweltering heat was too much for Michael, who required medical attention. It was heart-wrenching to see him so upset, blaming himself for putting him and his son in last place but he bounced back and completed the challenge. For a minute, I thought they had a chance of getting to the mat before Nat and Kat, who couldn’t find the marked path to the Pit Stop. But it was not to be as Michael and Kevin checked in last and … found out it was a non-elimination leg! So, my two favorite teams are in first and last place, and I hope the Speed Bump next week doesn’t completely derail Michael and Kevin. At least they’ll be someplace cool for the next leg!
Clacked by Chuck Duncan 
on Oct 10, 2010 @ 23:03 EST5EDT
Chad is still in the running for “biggest douche” on the show, I think. During the jump rope competition, the trainer held out his hand for the rope when Chad was done, and the guy just throws it on the ground, completely oblivious. The other teams were shown handing it to the trainer.
It’s a small thing, but it showed a lack of consideration for someone else.
The volleyball teammates showed their class once again for calling the doctors idiots because their taxi driver was lost. It’s not like teams can control taxi drivers or know their way around Ghana, so it’s all about luck. The doctors were just unlucky.
I didn’t notice Chad’s behavior, but I did jot down in my notes while watching the show that the volleyball girls were extremely rude. They snapped at someone to give them their clue at one point. They’re not making an impression as far as the game, but the little we’ve seen of them they have either been cursing like sailors (according to some friends of mine who watch with their five-year-old) or just plain rude. Hopefully they’ll be gone soon.