Basketball shmasketball, let’s get back to our regular TV schedule, shall we? TAR is back with leg 6 in a raaaace around the world. Previously the teams were in the breathtakingly gorgeous French Alps, enjoying the snow and bringing baguettes to workers on the mountain tops. I’m in (snowing in April) Chicago for work and went to a bar that was showing the bball game. During commercials they had comedy and internet clips, including our very own Zach doing his amazing vines. I felt cool knowing who he was.
Last leg Maroon Crotch tried to take Phil’s lunch so he Philiminated them (they also arrived on the mat in last place so there’s that). Leg 5’s mat order:
1. Tyler Seacrest (Tyler & Korey) 5. Magic Viner (Zach & Rachel)
2. Frisbee (Brodie & Kurt) 6. Burn Ash (Burnie & Ashley)
3. Dueling Dancers (Dana & Silent Matt) 7. Team Heartthrob (Cole & Sheri)
4. Daddy Daughter (Blair & Scott) Philiminated: Maroon Crotch (Erin & Joslyn)
I guess #Blodie is still a thing that might get explored post-race. Tyler Seacrest head out at 5:28AM but it doesn’t matter as all teams are on the same flight to Armenia, the crossroad between Europe and Asia. The team who wins this leg will receive the Express Pass, which allows them to bypass any task until the end of leg 9. Interesting to have it on leg 6, instead of the first leg as in past seasons. Teams arrive at the Yerevan Opera House, and when it opens the next morning have to search the large theater for their next clue. There are some dancers rehearsing (no opera singers) and the teams search in the many seats, in the stage floorboards and in the dancers’ clothes trying to find the clue. Kurt asks the man vacuuming the seats if he knows of the clue and he does! Instead of being stealthy he yells for Brodie and they get their clue and head out. Apparently other teams didn’t hear or see this exchange except maybe for Heartthrob and Magic. These 3 teams head to the top of The Cascade for their next clue.
Only 572 steps
Back at the theater the other teams are realizing the clue is in the vacuum man’s jacket and I kept thinking I’d have my partner search while I kept an eye on the other teams. Matt was the only smart one to quietly get the clue. When it is only Daddy Daughter and TySea left, Tyler asks the man for the clue then yells to Korey he found it which may have tipped off Blair and Scott.
Detour: Thread or Bread. Most of the teams choose the former, which has them completing a row of 200 stitches on an Armenian rug. These rugs usually take 9 months and these ladies working in the factory are very fast, it almost looks like they’re playing an instrument. The teams are given a pattern to follow and they have to use crochet hooks to loop a piece of yarn around the loom string, knot it, and then cut off the excess yarn. Tyler likens it to making a friendship bracelet and calls himself a literal “fruit of the loom”. HA – why wasn’t that the title of this episode? Blair wants to do DIY rug making video for her followers (they really aren’t mentioning their social media lives/followers much which is a good thing I guess). Anyhoo, no one seems to struggle and Heartthrob is out first, followed by Magic, who arrived way later than they should have due to bad taxi luck, but killed the challenge and pulled ahead.
“I’ll never let my dog pee on a rug again” – Sheri (another potential episode title)
Also, this photo is proof the Dancers are in the race
Only Frisbee and Burn Ash do Bread, which has the teams making 15 lavash breads. This includes rolling out the dough, spinning it a ‘la pizza dough, and then slapping it onto the sides of an underground oven. The challenge is to get the dough to stick to the oven wall and not fall into the fire. The bread cannot have holes or be torn.
Phil fail
Frisbee success
Both teams do well and the lavash ladies are SUPER friendly.
Chummy Armenian bread bakers – one was holding Kurt’s hand!
Frisbee is first to finish the detour and are instructed to take the #13 bus to a specific stop and look for their clue on the side of the road. Every team is on their own bus and the other riders are ready to party (they were either paid or very excited to be on American TV). For the Roadblock: Ready for a Change, one team member needs to change the oil on a taxi, and only 2 taxis are allowed on the ramp at a time. It is pretty interesting to have a garage out in the middle of nowhere. Armenia looks beautiful but not very modern.
Not Jiffy Lube
1st place Kurt and 2nd place Sheri put on their coveralls to drain the oil, replace the filter, and refill the oil. Sheri is struggling with getting her filter off and asks Kurt for help. He ain’t giving it because they want the Express Pass (also, because this is a race).
Adorably clueless
Kurt is out quickly and they’re headed to the Pit Stop: the Temple of Garni. Other teams are starting to arrive and form a line to wait for availability on the ramp.
After completing the rug detour, TySea and Daddy Daughter are trying to figure out if they can take a taxi to the bus station. The Dancers, who finished the rug task last, see the 2 teams pondering and quickly get into a cab, followed by Daddy, leaving TySea alone in last place. Uh oh.
At not Jiffy Lube Sheri is still struggling (but looking cute in her glasses) while the other teams change their oil and pass her. She is upset in letting her son down, but Cole is supportive and doesn’t yell at her. She’s crying by this point out of frustration. She had been asking the other teams for help getting her filter off the engine, and Burnie tells her she needs a tool, which she proceeds to use backwards. I don’t know why anyone would help another team, though Heartthrob is kind of weak so it’s better if they remain in the race as they would be easier to beat in future legs. Plus being nice may prevent a U-turn later on. Tyler’s taxi is last in line so he decides to help Scott finish, so he can have his spot on the ramp and try to finish before Sheri. We don’t know if he told Scott his plan to help but after Scott finishes he gets his car off the ramp then goes under Sheri’s car to show her how to work the tool. If I were Tyler I’d be pissed. But again, Heartthrob would be easier to beat than TySea so I guess it makes sense. And everyone seems to like Sheri. Unbelievably, Tyler finishes minutes ahead of her and both are in their freshly oil-changed taxis, heading to the Pit Stop. The cars are headed in different directions so it is unclear which team is going to check in first . . . it is TySea and I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. Their silver lining to being at the back of the pack is they appear less of a threat to their fellow racers. I was feeling a NEL (it’s been a while) but was surprised to see Phil hand last-place Heartthrob a clue and inform them that they’re still racing. Good for them, Sheri was pretty upset with herself and it was her fault they went from 2nd to 7th place. Thanks to the editors for saving that piece of info until the end.
Phil notes this structure was man-made (um, no duh)
Mat order:
1. Frisbee (won the Express Pass) 5. Daddy Daughter
2. Burn Ash 6. TySea
3. Magic 7. Heartthrob
4. Dancers
Will the Dancers get any screen time? Why does Brodie call Kurt either “boy” or “son”? Did anyone catch who said the title quote? Let me know in the comment section below. And as always, thanks for reading.
Want more TrashTalk? Follow us on Twitter for updates of recaps as they publish, like us on Facebook for a daily update, watch our TV parody vids on YouTube, or for funny TV pics, heart us on Instagram, and get the occasional gif on Tumblr!