'The Amazing Race': Meet Allan Wu

I have always been a fan of the U-Turn on "The Amazing Race." Be it blind or otherwise, I think it adds an interesting little dimension to the game.

Prior to this latest episode we had already seen it doom one team this season, and this week it appeared again. Would it have the same effect?

The teams were headed to Singapore tonight so that they could meet Allan Wu, host of "The Amazing Race Asia." While that was pretty cool, I have to say that I was disappointed that this was another non-flight leg. Save for the family edition, I can't remember a season of this show that has had this few airplane trips, and the last two flights were show mandated - there was no jockeying for tickets. Tonight, there was only one train as well, so there was no fighting for tickets there either.

Jet & Cord were magically transported from first to last as they were unable to get a cab after the train ride, but it made little difference as all the teams except the Cowboys and Dan & Jordan headed inside the Victorian Concert Hall Wu was at rather than searching for him on the outside. Dan & Jordan got to Wu first and he not only had a clue, he had a Fast Forward which they opted to do. For that, the brothers had to traverse the top of the Singapore Flyer, a massive ferris wheel, going from one cab to another. Everyone else was stuck with doing the Detour which had teams choose between learning a drum routine or selling ice cream.

Last week apparently taught all the teams that the skill task might be faster than the labor one (they would have had to carry the ice cream setup as well as sell), and everyone opted to learn the drum routine. Maybe this week we'll have taught them that sometimes the non-skill task is a better choice because the drums weren't easy.

Insanely, Michael & Louie, after trying the drum task decided to do the Fast Forward. If you're going to do the Fast Forward, that has to be an instant decision. They saw all the other teams save Jordan & Dan were at the drums, and figured that the Brothers were doing the ice cream task? It was not a bright move to head to the Flyer. They got there, realized they were going to have to wait, and then opted to move to the ice cream. At least that was a good decision - Jordan & Dan completed the Fast Forward and came in first for the leg.

The Cowboys tried the drum routine on stage first, but failed, leaving the way open for Brent & Caite to pass them - which they did. That meant that Brent & Caite could U-Turn Brandy & Carol, which they did and proudly.

Michael & Louie seemed to have a pretty easy time with the ice cream, but that was mostly because their cabbie bought 10 of the 25 they had to sell. Even so, they arrived at the Road Block third because, despite Brandy & Carol finishing their drums before the Detectives sold their ice cream, the women had to turn around and do the other Detour.

The Road Block this week required teams to count all the links in a massive chain. You weren't surprised that Caite begged off and had Brent do it, were you? You couldn't have been. I loved that during the task, as he was complaining about all the noise, Caite was shouting words of encouragement. Brent got it on the first try though; I was impressed.

The Detectives apparently brought a pitch counter on the Race, which Michael used on the Road Block. Genius! In fact, no one had any issue with the Road Block at all.

There was a quick zip line ride after the Road Block and then a little trip over to the Pit Stop. As no one made any serious mistakes throughout the leg (the Detectives lost one spot as Michael didn't have a clipboard to write his answer down on for the Road Block), Carol & Brandy never had a chance to catch up and were sent home this week. There was a momentary bit of drama where the Detectives lost their cabbie, but it didn't actually make any difference.

Honestly, up until this week I only found Carol & Brandy slightly annoying, but they proved to be ridiculously obnoxious this week. Apparently they're really, really poor losers. It turns out I won't miss them, they were incredibly poor sports tonight. The U-Turn is part of the game, Brent & Caite can't be chastised for using it (and you know that if they could I would be the first to do it).

Bits and pieces:

• Jordan & Dan were dead on, Brent & Caite just didn't like Brandy & Carol. I'm okay with that, but they should at least have been honest throughout and not made up some story about the women being a strong team.
• Carol & Brandy were definitely right to switch to the drummer who was counting the beat.
• I so want to try ice cream wrapped in bread.
• "The closest thing we play to a musical instrument is the radio." I love those guys.
• Why didn't the Cowboys wear their hats on the zip line?

The TV and Film Guy's Reviews - We'll U-Turn anyone.

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