Just as Survivor: All-Stars and Big Brother: All-Stars failed to find a repeat winner, Amazing Race: All-Stars isn't going to yield a two-time champ.

[Yes, that was already a big spoiler. There'll be more. Deal with it.]

Joyce and Uchenna learned a difficult lesson about international flights and mandatory connection times during Sunday (April 8) night's Amazing Race: All-Stars. In an effort to gain an advantage of less than an hour over their fellow competitors, the former champs and original Romber vanquishers took the chance on an earlier flight from Krakow to Malaysia, a flight that required a spectacularly tight one-hour turn-around in Frankfurt. They knew that they had a maximum of 15 minutes worth of wiggle room, but they took the chance anyway. As a result, they missed their connection and by the time they arrived in Kuala Lumpur, the first clue instructed them to head straight to the pit stop for elimination.

Really, the entire lesson of Sunday's episode revolved around the inefficacy of shaving minutes on The Amazing Race. All of the other teams knew that the risk of missing that Frankfurt flight wasn't worth the reward of a 45 minute lead, but Joyce and Uchenna went with it anyway and they paid the price. Want to know how worthless an hour is? I'm not sure how they did it, but Charla and Mirna got a flight to Kuala Lumper that arrived nearly two hours ahead of the pack, but their advantage was negated almost immediately thanks to an incorrect Detour choice involving cookie biting.

Meanwhile, the Beauty Queens earned enmity and future mockery by using a Yield on Eric and Danielle, a Yield that served no purpose at all, a Yield that they used without any awareness of the positions of any of the teams (specifically Joyce and Uchenna).  I love those adorable shiksas, but it was easy to understand the frustration felt by Eric and Danielle, who had to stand around in the sun for nothing. That still doesn't excuse the knee-jerk (emphasis on "jerk") misogyny of Eric's response of "Those dirty, dirty hookers," nor does it lessen the bizarre humor of Danielle asking why the Beauty Queens would Yield them and Eric's reaction, "Because they're dirty pirate hookers."

Arrgh.

Other highlights from the episode:

Most disgusting Charla/Mirna moment of the week: Mirna's observation, "Beauty Queens, that is one ultra-phony team," followed quickly by Mirna reading the Roadblock clue in her ultra-phony uber-ethnic accent. Oh and Mirna's enthusiasm about the cookie-searching challenge --"We are going to eat a cookie. Cookie, cookie monster." -- was stomach curning even before they eventually quit.

Most oddly endearing Charla/Mirna moment of the week: First Mirna announces "We don't resort to dirty game playing like that." Then, two seconds later, Charla and Mirna monopolize both computers at the Krakow hotel and refuse to make way for Eric and Danielle. So that was bad, but when Eric and Danielle refused to let Charla and Mirna cut in line at the airport, even Mirna had to nod and admit, "Touche. He has a point."

Why I still like the Beauty Queens best of all: Either their excitment about the free-range monkeys at the Batu Caves or whichever of them giddily announced "I smell Phil!" as they approached the pit stop.

What'd you think of the episode? Did the Yield fiasco cause bad feelings for the Beauty Queens? Will you miss Joyce and Uchenna?

Comments

Yeah, I liked the "I smell Phill!" comment as well, and laughed when the BQ's said it! Although they didn't need to use the yield, they still are my favorites!

Doug | Apr 8, 2007 6:53:30 PM | #

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As far as the BQs knew, they were behind running neck and neck with Danny/Oswald and Eric/Dani and were behind the other two teams. Had Mirna and Charla not screwed up the Detour and had Uchenna and Joyce not missed their connection, that Yield would have kept the girls out of the back of the pack. (Plus it was just fun to watch Eric and Dani stew!)

Tom | Apr 8, 2007 11:15:31 PM | #

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I can understand why Eric and Danielle were upset, but that is the way the game is played. It's like the BQ's said: It's nothing personal. They want to win, nothing wrong with that.

The BQ's are tied for my favorite along with Danny & Oswald.

Natalie | Apr 9, 2007 3:31:05 AM | #

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Now I thought Eric's "Dirty Pirate Hookers" response was absolutely brilliant. What else is he going to say?

I will miss Uchenna & Joyce. Classy people, great competitors with good heads on their shoulders. (Well, taking that risk wasn't their finest moment...but they will be missed.)

I agree with Natalie. I am pulling for D&O, but I believe the BQ's will take it.

*Dirty Pirate Hookers!*

Maura | Apr 9, 2007 7:58:28 AM | #

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There is an easy way to make up with those you yield. We've seen it numerous times before. You just tell them you had to yield them, because they are so obviously your biggest competition. Flattery will get you everywhere!

Love the BQs | Apr 9, 2007 8:02:34 AM | #

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Bottom line is it's a competition for a million dollars, and the Beauty Queens never lose sight of that, even if it irks the other teams. That's what I love about them, they're in it to win it, and they use every opportunity to gain an advantage. D&K are awesome players, and even though Eric and Danielle are somewhat justified in being steamed at them, they have to realize that they would have done the same thing in their position, so they shouldn't take it personally. Go Team Pretty!

Siansonea | Apr 9, 2007 9:22:42 AM | #

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Schmirna & Mirrna ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mozo | Apr 9, 2007 9:40:24 AM | #

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I can't believe these All Stars didn't know better than going for a "needle in the haystack" challenge--when they had a choice. Those are the worst. They are a total crapshoot. You could get it in five minutes or it could take hours like it did for one team a couple seasons ago that spent like half a day going through hay bales and finally were told to quit and go to the pit stop.

Sad to see Uchenna & Joyce go on such a stupid mistake. Eric even pointed out the risk they were taking. Dustin & Kandice did the right thing with the Yield. They have come a long ways with me since the beginning of their first race. They are now my favorite to win, followed by Eric and Dani.

You gotta give Eric this--at least the pirate hooker line was original. If it were that blasted Mirna and Schmirna they would have whined about how RUDE the other teams were.

Oh man, I can't stand those two, but they sure make for some hilarious television.

Jason | Apr 9, 2007 10:50:57 AM | #

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A friend with more emotion investment in Will Farrell movies than I have reminds me that the "pirate hooker" line is actually from Anchorman and that the actual line of dialogue is "You are a smelly pirate hooker."

That means that rather than being misogynistic and out-of-left-field bizarrely funny, Eric's comment was just misogynistic and a misquote of a frat boy favorite movie.

Thus, I would like to retroactively rescind my amusement, if nobody minds...

-Daniel

Daniel Fienberg | Apr 9, 2007 10:56:52 AM | #

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What is the deal with One Tree Hill. I really like the show! I think it's great! If you are wondering why the ratings dropped it's because you guys never show it. So people give up on watching it. I would like to see it play.

Jessica | Apr 9, 2007 12:06:19 PM | #

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Who are you talking to, Jessica?

And what are you talking *about*?

Gavin | Apr 9, 2007 12:56:57 PM | #

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I confess, I cheered when the BQs got the boot last season. I'm also ashamed to admit I referred to them as, "Hookers" at the time. This time around, the gals have earned my respect. They've been cheerfull and gracious to the residents of the countries they visit. Go BQs!

Leslie | Apr 9, 2007 1:54:00 PM | #

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This show can be filed in the rat's behind category.

Scott | Apr 9, 2007 7:43:44 PM | #

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WHAT?????

Jason | Apr 9, 2007 10:29:47 PM | #

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Now that Uchenna and Joyce are gone (boo-hoo), I guess I'm pulling for the beauty queens. Not wild about them, but they are good competitors and they play a good game. Oswald and Denny would be my next choice to win. And when the heck are Mirna and Charla going to be eliminated?! Come on!

margaret | Apr 10, 2007 5:15:16 AM | #

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LOL to Jessica: you had me going there for a while. If I hear another "Coookiiiie!" out of Mirna I'm gonna lose it. There's never a worse fate than getting to the first clue box and being told to go directly to the next pitstop. Oh well, Uchenna and Joyce won before, so I'm okay with it. I guess I'm rooting for the BQ's because all of my fav teams are gone and they're the best of the rest. :\

Justin | Apr 10, 2007 7:12:24 AM | #

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Call me crazy, but these are *not* the four teams I expected to still be in the race at this point (except the Cha Chas). I'll admit, though, that the BQs have grown on me immensely, they remind me of Rob & Brennan from TAR1 (in that they're no nonsense about the tasks, and that they're pretty but capable).

Still, Eric & Dani? Too Hot To Handle *vomits*? This all-stars race is throwing me for one big ol' loop!

I personally won't miss Uchenna & Joyce though, I found him boring and kinda patronising to the other competitors (Joyce is still awesome though). Plus, they had won TAR7 so it's no big loss for them. Cha Chas for the win!

Patrick | Apr 10, 2007 11:58:03 AM | #

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I liked U&J. Sure, they already won a race, but I wish they could have stuck around until the final three.

Of the existing teams, I have no favorite whatsoever. As much as I have hated the Mirna team I almost find myself hoping they stick around now. Just axe the accents and the childish "cookie monster" remarks and I think I'll be able to stomach them until the end. They're intriguing for sure...

Dali Atra | Apr 15, 2007 7:53:14 AM | #

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I really hope that the BQ take it all I like D & O but I would have to say BQ all the way in another note I cant stand Mirna team they are so annoying it makes me want to throw up. I hope they dont make the last 3 teams.

carol | Apr 16, 2007 9:28:51 AM | #

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