Welcome to the season 28 premiere of The Amazing Race (TAR), starring Phil’s eyebrow and a bunch of social media “celebrities”. Are we ready for another raaaace around the world with these (mostly) youngins who make their living off of the internet?
One request: this is a spoiler-free zone. I prefer not knowing what’s going to happen.
Let’s meet the cast. I added my first impressions (MFI) based off the CBS site:
Erin White Robinson and Joslyn Davis: Friends and YouTube hosts covering all-things Hollywood. MFI: cute chicks who remind me of the cheerleaders who made it far last season but did not race well (still don’t know how they made it so far).
Darius Benson and Cameron Benson: Brothers and Vine stars who parkour, unicycle and juggle. MFI: Hotties who look fit and ready.
Zach and Rachel King: Newlyweds and he’s not only a Vine star but the “Magic Viner”. MFI: Rachel looks like Hilary Swank.
Dana Borriello and Matt Steffanina: Engaged couple who are both dancers and YouTubers. MFI: Dumb hat.
Marty Cobb and Hagan Parkman: Mother and daughter whose flight attendant video went viral. So, they’re known for only one video? And the daughter’s name is Hagan? MFI: Blond, pretty and pink. Glad to see someone who looks older than 25.
Kurt Gibson and Brodie Smith: Pro Frisbee players who are famous for doing tricks on YouTube. MFI: They look kinda nerdy but might be athletic.
Tyler Oakley and Korey Kuhl: Friends and social media influencers. Tyler is one of the most well-known YouTube personalities and they co-host an award-winning podcast. MFI: Korey looks like Ryan Seacrest’s younger brother.
Seacrests Out
Jessica Versteeg and Brittany Oldehoff: Friends and Instagram models.
MFI: Pretty. Wondering why the network’s bios aren’t written very well.
Burnie Burns and Ashley Jenkins: Dating. This is their (Captain Obvious) bio: Meet Burnie Burns and Ashley Jenkins, two saavy [sic] social media personalities who also happen to be dating. MFI: You already said they were dating, just like the two ladies above are listed as two Instagram models. Also, his name is Burnie Burns? Love it.
Scott and Blair Fowler: Father and daughter. She has 1.7 million followers (on YouTube, natch). MFI: 1.7 million sounds like a lot of followers. What does she do on YouTube? And her dad adds another older cast member to this very young cast.
Sheri and Cole LaBrant: Mother and son, he’s a teen heartthrob on Vine. MFI: He isn’t “heatthrobby” to me but he and the mom look like they could be strong.
So those are the racetestants, and the above was written prior to watching the episode.
This season’s starting line will be the teams’ homes, which is interesting and possibly a show first. Phil sends a video message announcing in the next 21 days they will travel to 18 cities in 10 countries, totaling over 27,000 miles. Their first clue is with him in Mexico City, at the Monument of the Revolution. After some squealing the teams head to three different airports. Some know, or at least know of, each other from the internet. Of all the online videos they showed in the intros I’ve seen the Frisbee thrown off the bridge and a vine from the Magic Viner (those vines are really cool). I came across the link to the flight attendant video but never watched it, though apparently 22 million people have. 22 million?
Also learned in the intros is that Blair is “famous” for hair and makeup videos, and her dad Scott is an attorney and former gynecologist. Spiky-haired Tyler is gay and had role models on TV but not on the internet (he’s lucky to have had that). Models Jessica and Brittany look good in swimsuits, the adorable Burnie and Ashley work together on a gaming site, brothers Darius and Cameron’s mom went to Harvard so they respect academics, and dancers Dana and Matt who have been engaged for 3.5 years and host instructional videos online.
Let’s get things started. The world is waiting for you. Good luck, travel safe . . . GO!
Phil’s eyebrow should be on social media
The teams arrive in Mexico City at night and the Models assault Phil arrive first at the Detour: Mariachi Madness or Great Bulls of Fire.
In Mariachi Madness teams have to find a HUGE Mariachi band and determine which guy is not actually playing his instrument. About half the teams go there and everyone gets confused finding the band so they arrive at different times. Everyone yells “are you fake playing” at the men and listens to their instruments. Brodie and Kurt (Team Frisbee) find him first, followed closely by Joslyn and Erin (Team Maroon until we think of something better) and the Dancers, who are growing on me.
150 Mariachi men
For Great Bulls of Fire teams have to construct, decorate, and then light on fire a papier-mâché bull. It appears to be a straightforward challenge and none of the teams go down in flames (heh). We get this episode’s title comment “Should’ve been a Boy Scout” from Hagan, who is a woman so why not the Girl Scouts? Plus, I don’t think there is a badge for papier-mâché in the Boy Scouts.
After completing the detour the teams are headed to Cuevas de Teotihuacan, a cave that won’t be open until the morning. Four teams will enter at 7:30, four at 7:40, and three at 7:50. None of this matters as the order changes during the Roadblock: “Digging up Some Dirt”.
Wake and sage burn
One team member will dig to find 13 fragments needed to assemble a mask. Unbeknownst to them there are more than 13 fragments hidden so all teams end up going back to dig for more pieces. The assembly area is in a different part of the cave, near the drummers, and a few teams leave the cave and look for the drums outside. Model Jessica even picks up a shovel and starts digging for them! Meanwhile dad Scott drops his fragments outside and loses 30 minutes looking for them. D’oh!
Dancer Matt is the first to finish and head to the Pit Stop: Museo Soumay, the most visited museum in the country.
So cool
Three minutes later Tyler and Ryan Seacrest are done, which is impressive considering they were in the second group. Thanks to a fast taxi they almost come in first. I like them.
Super excited talking about his hair with Phil
Other teams finish until it’s down to mom Heartthrob Sheri and Maroon Erin digging while dad Scott tries to assemble. The ladies don’t know Scott is struggling or if any teams are still in the cave when Erin suggests they take the penalty together. What?!? You’re giving up on the first leg? On an easy challenge? Whichever team gets to the mat first will be checking in four hours behind the others. This is crazy talk. Sheri is unsure and suggests talking to their partners outside but when they see Scott they get back to work. Erin finishes first and offers to stay to help Sheri. She knows this is a race, right?
Mexican cave man says “get out”
All three finish semi-close to each other and have an (edited for drama) taxi race. Blair gives her dad major side-eye, thinking he lost the race for them.
Social Media Shade
Heartthrob gets to Phil before Maroon and it appears Team Shade is out – except it’s a non-elimination leg (NEL). Is this another first? I’ve never seen leg 1 be a NEL. And while this team deserved to go, I am glad they get another chance. It’s got to be tough to go out after only two days. You probably need to run a leg to figure out what the heck is happening.
Mat Order (I need help with team nicknames):
1. The Dancers (who didn’t win a prize) 7. The Models
2. Team Tyler 8. Blond and Pink
3. Magic Viner 9. Team Heartthrob
4. The Brothers 10. Team Maroon (Team Clueless?)
5. Team Frisbee 11. Team Shade
6. Burn Ash
My favorite teams so far are Team Tyler, Burn Ash, Frisbee, the Dancers, Magic Viner and the Brothers.
Did you know the race was only 21 days? Do you miss the Express Pass? Will there be any flirting this season? Is this the youngest cast ever? Will the teams post their every race move on social media? Sound off in the comments below and thanks for reading my first TAR recap.
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