The Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan admits he wasn't so keen on the idea of having an all-star edition: "The big question was, 'Who would we pick?' Because after 10 seasons we just had such a great range of teams," Keoghan told TVGuide.com. "You can only imagine how difficult it was to leave out teams like the bowling moms, the clowns and the gutsy grannies, Lynn and Alex... there are so many great teams."
After last night's new season debut, fans are wishing Phil had picked the clowns, the bowling moms and Lynn and Alex to return... as John Vito and Jill (pictured) were the first team eliminated.
“This time, a whole new bag of tricks!” reality show star Rob promised us with his trademark smirk as the 11 teams set off from Miami on route to Equador.
Meanwhile Eric got to show off his nipple rings, Drew and Kevin have managed to find wives in the past two years, Joyce's hair is growing back though very sloooowly and she and Uchenna don't seem to be mentally there on this race, Dustin and Kandice are still annoyingly perky, while Team Guido ("we're two gay grandpas") are less annoying. At least Mary and her coalminer husband David have come back to the new race in better shape - she's lost weight and had her hair done, proving that last year's trip around the world away from Kentucky has opened her eyes some.
There's still too much footage of teams standing around at airport counters and not enough of the detour tasks - not that the task of watching cowboys wrangle a horse down while the racers cut a bit of hair off the mane and tail and trim the hooves was all that exciting. I thought Phil said the new season would be more challenging and have more curves thrown at the racers?
Bestest contestant ever and most adorable and quotable is Oswald, who is back with his husband Danny. Oswald showed off his usual wit: “Right now, my hands are clammy, and my face is going through menopause.” Observing the other competitors in the race, Oswald quipped, "Of course I've heard of Rob and Amber ... I live on this planet."
Drew took a dive in the street like some Italian soccer player and rolled around wimpering like a drama queen. He tells his buddy Kevin that he thinks he's dislocated his shoulder - all while moving this arm around in circles. Turns out he's okay, just a big fat out-of-shape baby. Jeez, these guys knew they were racing for $1 MILLION so you'd think with a rare second chance at a jackpot like this they would have prepared better for the physical challenge. If it's any indication of any early eliminating, even the dwarf Charla managed to out run Drew at the start. "Did you see everyone pass me?" Drew asked Kevin on the way to the Miami airport. "I look like such an idiot."
Still they did come up with one of the funnier lines of the night when Drew says in the car, “Peru is nice. It’s beautiful out,” and Kevin's come back is “Yeah, I’m sure it’s nice in Peru... [but] we’re in ECUADOR.”
And yet iI was Drew's decision to drive the car with a flat tire and keep on going (and destroying the tire and the rim) rather than take the time to stop and put on the spare. The decision landed them safely in 10th place, beating out John and Jill.
Rob and Amber came in first without breaking a sweat, and winning a trip to Whistler, Canada. Charla and Mirna took a wrong road but managed to finish eight ahead of David and Mary, leaving John Vito and Jill stunned - STUNNED!! - at the mat they they were in last place and eliminated.
Later, Jill said, "This is not how we wanted to come back. We had high expectations. And considering we were broken up and everything, we got along so great. We had so much fun. I think we unified our relationship to each other. Maybe this [experience] will put us on a new path that's definitely more than just friends."
