Amazingly, the Pit Stop placement on this leg was exactly opposite what it was on the last leg: Jet & Cord went from last to first, Steve & Allie went from first to last, and all the teams in-between swapped places. That’s interesting, but also makes it difficult to write the:
Taxi Assessment:
Stuck in the Desert and Officially Detained - or, Philiminated with extreme prejudice.
Dana & Adrian and Jody & Shannon and Monique & Shawne and Joe & Heidi and Jordan & Jeff - Still eliminated.
Steve & Allie (down from “Passing”) - Steve & Allie drew a bad cabbie, which is unfortunate, but they compounded their bad luck by getting out of their cab to run, and by switching Detours to something they couldn’t do. Both of those decisions were spurred by bad cab luck, but it was ultimately those decisions, and not the cabs, that landed Steve & Allie in last place. That’s too bad: this was a strong and likeable team, and I’m sorry to see them go.
Flat Tire - or, not likely to get anywhere soon.
Brent & Caite (holding steady) - Caite was wearing her “tiara” again, which she does to prove to Carol & Brandy that she’s proud of her past and who she is. On the one hand, that’s admirable, coming from someone who’s no doubt had more than her share of snide comments directed her way in the last few years. On the other, and more to the point, obsessing over another team isn’t good Race strategy: the point is to worry about your performance, not over how well another team is doing. Particularly when, save last week, that other team has always finished ahead of you. Brent & Caite have survived longer than their skill and attitude accounts for; from here on out they’ve got to rely on the bad luck of other teams.
Stopping for Gas - or, not broken-down, exactly, but not a good sign.
Dan & Jordan (holding steady) - A good cabbie drove Dan & Jordan to a brief lead, but then their natural inclination to hemmorhage time took over, and Dan & Jordan wind up finishing just ahead of the hapless Steve & Allie. Dan & Jordan are better than Brent & Caite, but that’s a pretty low bar to set, and they’ll need some help to get to the final three.
"Rapido! Por Favor?" - or, making meaningless ineffectual comments from the back seat, but in no immediate danger.
Carol & Brandy (holding steady) - Carol & Brandy made it through this week, and as of now have a pretty decent shot of making it to the final three, what with two of the other four remaining teams clearly weaker than they are. However, there was some pretty heavy foreshadowing this week, with both Brent & Caite and Louie & Michael promising to U-Turn Carol & Brandy if either had the chance. I don’t expect the Amazing Editors put too many empty threats on the screen, and there’s a fair chance that at least one of those two teams will hit the U-Turn before Carol & Brandy. If Carol & Brandy survive the second U-Turn, they’re in the final three.
In the Passing Lane - or, ahead of the pack, but not quite comfortably.
Louie & Michael (holding steady) - Another decent leg by Louie & Michael, punctured only by a spot of traffic trouble and, worryingly, Louie’s hacking and wheezing. I’m convinced this team is a shoo-in for the final three, but they’re never going to win a footrace. And the last leg usually includes a footrace.
Jet & Cord (up from “Stopping”) - The Jet & Cord that took two first-place positions re-emerged this episode. The bunching at the beginning helped them, surely, and some bad cab luck slowed them down, but the brilliant Detour choice catapulted them to the front. They didn’t make any more errors, and cruised to an easy first. If they stay focused like they did in this episode, they should walk away with the million dollars.
Cruisin’ with Earl - or, drivin’ on the shoulder, takin’ shortcuts, and generally kickin’ butt.
No one.
[sub]Props to Mullinator and his Raj Rating[/sub]