And, over to my favorite couple, Ryan and Abbie. Not exactly. Ryan, unsurprisingly thinks he’s Maverick from “Top Gun” or something and is wearing Tom Cruise-like aviator glasses. These two were running pretty far behind for once, mostly because of their pact to stick with Josh and Brent while they were drowning in the pool. I can’t believe they hung around, to be honest. Extra points to those two for witnessing Brent’s dive that many times. Anyway, Ryan gets the clue about heading to the Agricultural Museum and he goes off: “I went to an agricultural school too! We’re good!” Uh, it’s just the location of the task, you dummy. You’re not going to be sitting around building things or anything. (Haha, just checking to see if you’re still awake).
Ryan rattles on about how smart he is at puzzles and brain games (Brain games? Really?) and brags about how he’s nailed it and going to be out of there in minutes. I was so glad this was just setting us up for him being shot down 12,000 times. It was great, because he was in agony. He made such a fool of himself bragging about how smart he is and how quick he was going to get out of there. By test #18, he’s ready to throw a fit. By test #21, he’s breaking pencils. By test #24, he was ready to rip the freaking desk top off and throw it across the room like Professor Turgeson in “Back to School.” (Sorry, first thought that came to mind. Here’s a link in case you’ve got no clue what I’m talking about and actually care. Good old school Sam Kinison / Rodney Dangerfield stuff).
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/mv-zF2n/back_to_school_professor_terguson_loses_it/
So Ryan’s having quite the problem with dealing with the fact that he’s not a genius on this one. He is virtually pacing, suggesting that there was a “glitch in the matrix” and that the “file was corrupt.” The teacher guy is laughing at what an *ss this guy is. Hello!? You can’t figure out that there’s a basic assumption that you’ve got wrong when you’ve gotten it wrong 24 times? This is a race for two million dollars—you’d think this guy would figure out that they would make this one a little harder than 2 + 4 or something. Finally, the literal lightbulb goes off (and by the way, Abbie was clueless too on this one). Test #25 and this moron’s finally got it. Way to go, Simple Jack. (Sorry, the Tom Cruise reference brought me right over to “Tropic Thunder”).
Natalie and Nadiya read the clue for “Who’s in the Zone?” and immediately decide to use the Express Pass. I thought that they may have wanted to at least see what the task entailed before just throwing in the towel, but whatever. Those two have felt that Express Pass burning a hole in their pockets for awhile now and clearly were ready to use it. Hope it doesn’t hurt them later.
Teams start making their way to the Detour: either “Movers” or “Shakers.” Movers is learning and performing a goofy Russian soldier dance. So much for hot guys in uniform. You start doing that Charlie Chaplin sh*t or whatever and I ain’t interested. J Anyway, Shakers was going to some stupid cocktail party and picking out these immense losers that still get off on dressing up like Lenin and stuff. And I’m not talking John Lennon. Because that would be cool. This was apparently the detour to pick because it didn’t look to be too hard to me.
I also felt the whole penalty thing was not the same as in the past. Other racers have sat off to the side before they can check in. Perhaps it was obvious those passports were not showing up so they changed the rules. I believe this was the last leg of the race to use the express pass for the girls. Use it or lose it. But in the past hasn’t the express pass let you go straight to the Pit Stop? They should not have had to do another task. Maybe I am wrong. Poor James and Abba. I liked them. They will be on the next All-Stars I hope. Love your recap as always!
I agree about the whole penalty thing. In the past, contestants had to sit and wait until their time was up before checking in.
Also, I didn’t know that contestants could not check in unless they had their passports on them. Why would they not be permitted to continue the race until they had to leave the country they’re in? That could have given James & Abba time to get a new passport, or perhaps even find the lost passport.
I don’t know. Smells fishy to me – the penalty delay and the passport requirement to complete the leg of the race.
Also … who am I going to root for now?!
I was also confused by the whole penalty situation. I have seen the last team have to wait the penalty time at the start of the next leg if they are the last ones in and it is a nonelimination round, but I would have thought that James & Abba could check in. mcords – great idea to have James & Abba in an All Star show!
I was surprised they didn’t just let Brent & Josh “complete” the water challenge also – too funny watching him dive – poor guy.
LOVED Ryan in the time zone challenge – bwahahaha! He is soooo smart, the CHALLENGE must be wrong – he couldn’t possible be wrong. His ego really got in the way of him completing that one. It only took the blond cheerleader and the Chippendales guy 12 times to realize they were doing it wrong. He was . . . was he into triple digits?? But after everyone else’s trouble, I was impressed with Brent – can’t swim, but the man can solve a math problem!
Hmmmm – who do I want to win now? I’ll admit to some preconceived ideas about James & Jaymes, but they seem to be pretty nice guys. Might be rooting for them now 🙂
You may have thought that the episode might have blown, but once again I loved your recap!