According to racers from previous seasons, that rule doesn’t apply to the first leg – once you’re ticketed for the first flight, you’re stuck with what you bought. It’s bit other teams in the ass before. Although it didn’t make a lot of difference in the end, since navigation, as is so often the case, was a far more important factor.
Yes. Yes he does. And they didn’t dress him in tragic pants or an ugly shirt this week, which is always a good thing.
Dear Jerry Bruckheimer,
Please dress Phil in jean jackets more often.
We lurve the show!
Love, rockle.
Apparently I need to get to the thread faster. That is what I came here to say. I’m pulling for Team Chachacha to win. I cheered for them last time too. They were not only good racers, but had a great experience going around the world.
I somehow thought that I already had TAR in my Tivo Season Pass. Imagine my horror when I turned on the TV at 7:20 and found out that TAR was not being recorded. Then imagine my joy to realize that it was starting late. All is good.
(And what the hell with the teams that were unable to follow a map provided to them for the specific purpose of getting them to the national park.)
Man, Rob and Amber are just good at this racing thing. How do they always get ahead, even when teams are starting at the same time?
It’s a pact with Satan. Only explanation. But did anybody notice that Amber (who I have previously been known to refer to as a waste of skin) has developed something of a mouth since we last saw her? Last time around, you could see her roll her eyes every time Rob opened his mouth. And now, Heaven help us, she’s right there with him. This will end badly.
I’d forgotten how much I love Danny and Oswald. jayjay, you can have all boyfriend rights, as far as I’m concerned, as long as you all come over my house one Saturday night a month so we can drink daiquiris and watch chick flicks. Rockle is, of course, invited too. 
She can bring the BeDazzler.
I didn’t see JV & Jill’s season (nor Teri and Ian’s), so I wasn’t sorry to see them go. Mirna is proving just as trainwreckesquely entertaining as the first time, and I’m almost ashamed of myself for even listening to her. But I can’t look away.
And I’m glad Joyce left her hair short. She looks awesome.
Well, shoot. I’m sorry to see John Vito and Jill out so soon. As bad off physically as Drew seems to be, I kinda wish it had been him and Kevin leaving. Or David and the Banshee. Did you see how quickly she shushed him when he was trying to discuss which flight would be best?
Don’t forget the pseudo-Spanish accent. That’s the key to being understood, no matter where you are or what language the locals speak. Also, it’s her second time on the race and she’s still not very good at driving stick? At this stage, an inability to drive a standard is unforgivable in first-time racers, let alone all-stars.
I’m sorry to see John Vito and Jill gone so soon, and I’m really pulling for Danny and Oswald to win.
I’m disappointed with the Frat Boys. Yes, they had bad luck this leg, but they also seem ill-prepared and WAY out of shape. Especially Drew…how on earth do you hurt yourself that badly by tripping over your own feet?? And getting outrun by Charla was just…sad. It’s nice to see them again, but I fear they aren’t long for this race, aren’t long at all.
Teri & Ian, however, seem just as sharp as ever. Yes, they’re annoying and evil, but in such an endearing way. Go, Big Kahunas! 
John Vito & Jill…meh. Wasn’t excited that they’re on the race, not disappinted that they’re gone. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against them (certainly I would’ve preferred to see Charla/Mirna or Dave/Mary go out first!), I just don’t think they’re that interesting.
Why am I not surprised that Charla/Mirna will end up hating the Beauty Queens? They’re certain to become virulently anti-Romber as well…
I think you mean Rob and KIM.
It’s back! I just wish they would have had a two-hour first ep, like they used to. Sniff.
Taxi Assessment
Stuck in the Desert and Officially Detained - or, Philiminated with extreme prejudice.
John Vito & Jill - (Fifth Place, Season 3) - A huge fall from second place at the restaurant to last at the Mat. Navigation, navigation, navigation. Doing it poorly, even just once, will kill you in this game. Maybe that’s unfair, but that’s the way it is.
Flat Tire - or, not likely to get anywhere soon.
David & Mary - (Sixth Place, Season 10) - Oh, come on. Does anyone in the world think David and Mary have a shot in this race? They’re pokey, they have no Chos along to bamboozle the other teams, they make mistakes (asking about arrival times after checking in) and their “cleverness” (misinforming Dustin & Kandice three feet from the counter) ain’t really so clever. They might last a couple more episodes, but as soon as no other team makes a major mistake, they’re gone.
Kevin & Drew - (Fourth Place, Season 1) - Not looking so hot this episode–they’re missing the hustle a team needs to be successful, and seem really out of shape. I admire their decision to drive with a shredded tire, but they’re not showing that they can outRace many other teams.
Stopping for Gas - or, not broken-down, exactly, but not a good sign.
Uchenna & Joyce - (First Place, Season 7) - Uchenna and Joyce seem a half-step behind here. However, I remember them starting slow in season 7 (eighth place in the first leg) and they roared back from that, finishing fourth in the second ep, and then top three in every single episode afterwards. If they can improve, I’ll move them up, but the competition is stiffer this season. We’ll see.
Charla & Mirna - (Sixth Place, Season 5) - A good start this episode, but a costly navigation error. Not so costly as John Vito & Jill’s navigation error, obviously, but not something a team can afford to make all that often. Again, this team could easily go upwards next episode, but we’ll have to see how it pans out.
"Rapido! Por Favor?" - or, making meaningless ineffectual comments from the back seat, but in no immediate danger.
Joe & Bill - (Third Place, Season 1) - A solid middle-of-the-pack effort from Joe and Bill, but not impressive enough to give them any more than middle-of-the-pack marks.
Dustin & Kandice - (Fourth Place, Season 10) - I like Dustin and Kandice for their hustle, but this was a mediocre performance. They’re in no immediate danger (thus the ranking, natch), but they need to do better to have a shot at winning. I think they might be able to, but let’s wait 'til next week.
Teri & Ian - (Second Place, Season 3) - Third place isn’t too shabby, and with another good leg they’ll move up a notch.
In the Passing Lane - or, ahead of the pack, but not quite comfortably.
as a disaster just waiting to happen, but if they can keep focused they could easily win it all.
Eric & Danielle - (Second/ Seventh Place, Season 9) - I was wondering just how this team would do, as they haven’t raced as a pair before. Their performance on the first half of this leg was less than stellar, clocking in with a tenth place at the restaurant. However, I’m more interested in what a team can do to dig itself out of a hole, and Eric & Danielle came back for a fourth place. That’s pretty impressive, and gets them highest marks for this week.
Danny & Oswald - (Fourth Place, Season 2) - Consistently out front the entire episode and obviously having fun. This team is looking pretty sharp.
Rob & Amber - (Second Place, Season 7) - Coasting into first place quite easily, even though they switched Detours. An impressive first episode from Rob and Amber. If they can keep this up and not get too clever for their britches (I’m looking at you, Rob), they’ll be in the final three once more.
Cruisin’ with Earl - or, drivin’ on the shoulder, takin’ shortcuts, and generally kickin’ butt.
No one this week. C’mon it’s All-Stars. You’ve gotta be very good, very consistently, to rise to the top here. Talk to me in a couple weeks.
Next week: Bickering, blah blah blah. Shut up and RACE!
[sub]Props to Mullinator and his Raj Ratings.[/sub]
I blame all of you for not starting this thread earlier. I didn’t know the start date so I missed the ep.
Is this a whoosh? I’m confused…
You all already know that I don’t like Rob & Amber; after last night, I actually hate them. Whatever, blahblahblah, they and everybody think they’re the awesomest ever, blahblahblah – ohmygod just shut up and raaaaaaaaace. If you have to keep reminding people about how awesome you are? It’s probably because you’re insecure.
Seriously. This season is going to be tough for me, because the teams I like are not powerful enough to counteract the virulent dislike I have for everybody else. Except the Chas, who are just so fabulous I’m hardly worthy. I actually come down on the side of wanting Eric & Danielle to win, y’all. That is some seriously messed up shit, right there.
I am so there. I’ll even cook, if you want, as long as pizza bites or microwave popcorn are suitably Cha-riffic.
She does. Right now, I am enjoying my company holiday and watching the episode of “How Do I Look?” on the Style Channel where they give Joyce a fashion makeover, and they showed the Fast Forward where she cut her hair off, and I am perpetually amazed at how much more stunning she looks with the short hair.
However … I am also seeing some serious strain in Uchenna & Joyce’s relationship, which is kind of sad. Both of them look so very unhappy. I feel awful for them that the in vitro wasn’t successful. They seem like lovely people, and I hope that their marital issues don’t wreck their racing. (Like how I turned that around and made it actually relevant? I rock.)
Maybe interface2x is still watching the last competition?
Dave (of Dave and Mary) accidentally called Amber, “Kim” when they introduced themselves.
Ah, see, I missed the first half hour. Thanks!
Uchenna/Joyce – were they the team where the man did like 90% of the roadblocks? Am I misrembering?
I agree, Joyce looks soooo much better with her new hair style.
As for winning, I’m rooting for the Beauty Queens and the Danny/Oswald.
I’m also hoping desperately that Rob/Amber will manage to lose in some incredibly bone-headed fashion which makes them be edged out by Mirna/Charla in a footrace to the mat. Yeah! Take that!
Was it just me, or has Amber turned into a really egotistical smug bitch?
No, maybe that’s not fair. Maybe she always was, it’s just she used to keep her mouth shut.
Damn, I missed that. I bet that just killed the attention whores that are Rob and Amber.
To those who observed a change in Amber, I just think she’s tipping a little more blatantly into being obviously aggressive in her passive-aggressiveness. Why, no, I don’t like Amber, why do you ask? 
That was Chip and Kim. I believe by the time Uchenna and Joyce raced, the Chip/Bowling Moms Memorial Roadblock Rule (which says one person can’t do the majority of the roadblocks) was in effect.
She used to be really quiet. And while I can’t say I’ve ever liked her, I certainly liked her better that way.