Pop Culture Kitty

The Amazing Race 15 – Episode Seven

Aired 11-01-09

We opened at the second Pit Stop in Dubai as Meghan & Cheyne departed first at 1:13PM.  The teams had to fly over 3000 miles to Amsterdam.  Once there, they would drive themselves to a 19 mile causeway called Afsluitdijk and locate the Lely Monument and the next clue.  The dating couple knew they had a target on their backs but their plan was to just stay in first place.  Unfortunately for them, they discovered that the first flight to Amsterdam wasn’t until midnight so their lead was gone.  They had a pretty good one too because team two, poker players Maria & Tiffany, didn’t leave until 3:09PM.  Right behind them were brothers Sam & Dan who left at 3:10PM

Husband and wife team, Brian & Ericka, were in 4th place and left at 3:25PM.  Ericka displayed some self-awareness when she said she knew she was yelling at Brian a lot and she hated that she’s doing that.  Her hope was that, in recognizing it, she could get some control over it.

Father and son team, Gary & Matt, were 5th departing at 3:34PM and Harlem Globetrotters teammates, Flight Time & Big Easy left last at 4:20PM.

Indeed, all the teams got booked for the midnight flight and they had some down time together at the airport.  The first thing the group wanted was the real story of what happened with Mika & Canaan at the giant waterslide.  Big Easy gave them the scoop and, humorously, conveyed the little mind game he played with Mika.  Sam & Dan, who were in an alliance with Maria & Tiffany and had done a lot of flirting with the girls, decided to come out as gay to the whole group.  Brian responded that now their matching red swimsuits made sense.  Tiffany said she and Maria might be a little disappointed that they aren’t available but they are still the most gentlemanly guys in the race.

In Amsterdam, things got off to a rough start when Brian couldn’t figure out how to put the car in drive.  The other five teams arrived at the statue together.  The next clue instructed the teams to drive to the city of Groningen and locate the highest building named Martinitoren.  Brian & Ericka arrived shortly after and Ericka was already in full scream mode.

Meghan & Cheyne got to Martinitoren first and discovered a Roadblock.

Roadblock

One team member had to climb to the top of the building while counting the number of bells in the carillon.  If they got the correct count of 62 they’d be presented with the next clue.  Meghan took the challenge and she teamed up with Sam so they could get it done quickly.  Flight Time and Matt started soon after.  Tiffany and Ericka also joined in the search before any other team had finished.

Matt got the correct count first and he and Gary got the next clue taking them to the town of Vierhuizen de Marne.  Sam and Meghan quickly followed and, on the way out of the bell tower, Sam gave the answer to Tiffany.  Meghan & Cheyne weren’t crazy about that move but continued working with the brothers.  The two teams pitched in to hire a cab driver to lead them to Vierhuizen de Marne.  This put them ahead of Gary & Matt who were looking for directions.

Flight Time got the correct number next leaving just Ericka counting the bells and, wow, did she have a tough time of it.  She went up and down the stairs repeatedly counting and getting more and more emotional.

Sam & Dan got to the windmill in Vierhuizen de Marne first and found a Detour.

Detour

The choice was between “Farmer’s Game” and “Farmer’s Dance”.  In both cases the teams had to first don traditional Dutch costumes (including wooden shoes) and ride a bike to the task.  For the sake of comedy, one person would wear a male costume and one would wear a female costume regardless of the makeup of their team.  In “Game”, the teams would first have to find a creek, strip down to their traditional Dutch underwear, and swim across.  Then they would have to play a game that looked like golf with giant balls.  They would have to play three holes using 8 or fewer strokes for each.  If they went over 8 they would have to go back to the beginning.  In “Dance”, the teams would first have to ring the bell at the top of a high striker.  Then they would have to learn and perform a Dutch folk dance.  Finally, they’d have to cap it all off by eating some salted herring and onions.  Sam & Dan and Meghan & Cheyne opted for the game.  Gary & Matt and Maria & Tiffany went for the dance.

Back at the bell tower, Ericka dissolved into tears and sought out Brian.  He calmed her down and sent her back in.  He actually was remarkably sweet and patient with her.  It must be their yin and yang.  Meanwhile, Sam & Dan effortlessly moved through the golf game while Meghan & Cheyne (mostly Meghan) struggled.  The brothers quickly got the final clue instructing them to bike to the Pit Stop at Zoutkamp Harbor.

Gary & Matt were in the midst of learning the dance when Matt suddenly realized they’d have to eat herring.  Matt apparently has some major fish issues so they high-tailed it over to the golf game.

Meghan finally got the hang of the golf game and she and Cheyne were on their way to the Pit Stop.  Maria & Tiffany made it to the dance challenge but hit a wall at the high striker.  Tiffany could only hit hard enough to get the ringer about 3/4 of the way up.  Maria, on the other hand, seemed to barely be able to pick up the sledgehammer.

Flight & Easy finally got to the Detour.  I’m not sure how they managed to fall so far behind.  They decided to do some dancing.

Ericka got the right number and was greeted with a big hug by Brian who told her how proud he was that she hadn’t given up.

Sam & Dan checked in first.  Host Phil Keoghan informed them they’d won a sand buggy. 

Maria & Tiffany gave up on the striker and headed to the golf game.  Meanwhile, Flight and Easy delighted the Dutch folk dancers.  They were adorable – even when eating the herring.

Meghan & Cheyne were 2nd.

The wheels continued to come off for Brian & Ericka.  They didn’t fully read the Detour and headed off to the dance challenge on foot instead of using the bikes.  It was a long walk in wooden shoes and Ericka did a lot of carrying on about it.

After a few tries, Gary & Matt figured out the golf game and finished.  Maria & Tiffany, however, were having a terrible time.  Finally they decided to head back to the dance.  They still couldn’t get the high striker to work and they ended up hugging each other while the tears flowed.

Flight Time & Big Easy checked in 3rd.
Gary & Matt were team number 4.

It was now a battle between the meltdown teams.  The girls headed back to the golf game and Brian & Ericka finally made it to the dance.

Brian, like all the male racers, had no trouble with the high striker.  Ericka found her center as the dancing began.  She described it as the moment she fell in love with Brian all over again.  I was a little concerned how Miss America would handle the herring but, by then, her sense of humor had returned and she ate it like a trooper.

Meanwhile, poor Maria & Tiffany were in the midst of a disaster.  They still couldn’t figure out the golf game and were exhausted from all the running around and from all the swings of the sledgehammer.

Brian & Ericka borrowed a couple of bikes and headed to the Pit Stop.  They checked in 5th but had to wait out a 30 minute penalty for not using the correct bikes.  The girls were still stuck at the golf game so the 30 minutes came and went and Brian & Ericka were officially team 5.

Phil ended up going to the golf field to meet with the girls.  They told him they could not foresee being able to finish the challenge.  They knew that would mean their elimination.  They held on to each other through the whole thing.  I felt bad for them because they didn’t lose by making a mistake.  They just weren’t physically strong enough to pull off either Detour.

Next Week:  The racers blow stuff up in Stockholm and it’s Meghan’s turn to have the mandatory meltdown.

Full episodes and bonus clips of TAR are available at CBS’ website here:

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race/video/