Cold Phil, that was cold.

AWWWWWWWWWWWW Yeah it's Amazing Race night! Just to get this out of the way, I am a huge AR fan, it's right after The Mole on my list. It's very classy, inspirational, and has Phil. Anyways, lets move on to the analysis.

This race looked hot from the start. The teams were awesome, including a Muslim team of friends, a pair of recovered drug addicts, Miss USA-ers, a triathlete short one leg, and a LESBIAN! They -never- put lesbians on reality shows! Ok, one season of BB I think there was a lesbian. Anyways, she's young and racing with her dad, but let me get organized.

THE TEAMS

Bilal & Sa'eed
Friends from Cleveland who are both Muslim and have opposing personalities. Bilal is the extrovert, Sa'eed is the introvert. Besides the handicap of having to turn to Mecca five times to pray a day, this team seems at about average standing.

David & Mary
Married parents from Kentucky that met first working at McDonald's. David is a coal miner and Mary is a housewife who hasn't been outside the Kentucky/Tennessee area much which may cause them to slow down when either being confused by international travel, or busy marvelling wonders. They get positive points for David working in coal mines, a physical plus. Once again an average rating.

Duke & Lauren
A father and daughter team (the first of it's kind, preceeded only by a mother/son team a few seasons back) with a twist, Lauren's gay and Duke is having a hard time with it. In fact Duke had ignored Lauren for the good part of a year before they began making amends. Be on the look for breakdowns, but both team mates are physically adept. I give them a slight above average standing, merely due to Lauren's youth and the fact that I like this team already.

Dustin & Kandice
Miss USA Pagaent contestants, they became friends after rooming during the competition. Kandice is supposed to be the impulsive one, and Dustin the conservative one, but they both are highly competitive. With only that to go on, I give them a slightly lower than average rating, even though team Miss USA on treasure hunt outdid many all-guy teams.

Erwin & Godwin
Harvard and NYU grads, these brothers think they got this race down. Not only do they have an impressive educational resume, they are built very well. I give them a high standing for determination (Harvard) bond (brothers) and physical strength (just look at'em).

Kellie & Jamie
Co-Captains of their southern College's cheering squad, these two are apparently full of determination and competitiveness, also known as spunk. I give them just above average standing, they're fit and cheerleaders, to generalize, know how to socialize properly.

Lyn & Karlyn
Friends since 9th grade, these two single moms have no major unique qualities. Sorry. They get a little below average standing for not having much travel experience nor physical strength.

Peter & Sarah
This team is AR gold. Sarah is handicapped, but only technically since her missing leg has not stopped her and her beau Pete from attending Iron Man Triathlons. They're in the beginnings of their relationship, but their huge physical advantage gives them an above average standing.

Rob & Kimberley
The dating couple. Stock L.A. reality show filler. Average standing.

Tom & Terry
Boyfriends that have been dating for two years. That's pretty much all you can gather from the previews and website. Average standing for being slightly older, but will get along with other teams somewhat well.

Tyler & James
Unlike the nipple-pierced frat-boys of last season, this year's young attractive best male friends actually seem deserving of a win. After coping with drug addictions, the two became friends again after rehab and now model together. They're fit, fun, and have the guts to fight drugs. Above average standing.

Vipul & Arti
Married Indian-American couple who are well travelled. Another situation of a slightly over-active male and a loyal female, and I give them a slightly above average standing.

Wow, that took a while.

Onto the first episode!

During Phil's opening speech to the teams, he warns of twists and turns and surprises, which I got giddy like a schoolgirl over. Anyways, his hand drops and the teams manage once again not to kill Phil. This first leg sent the teams into the heart of China.

After two flights arrive in the people's republic, a roadblock of eating fish eyes is awaiting the teams. I think they were required to use the chopsticks, because most of them goofed around using them. I would've gone in with my fingers and ripped them out like a low-budget Quentin Tarantino movie.

Anyways, some mild indigestion later and teams are ordered to pick a departure time for next morning from a podium. There were four 7 am, four 7:15 am, three 7:30 am, and one labeled "LAST TEAM". That's pretty ominous. Bilal and Sa'eed were unlucky number twelve to arrive, and grabbed the tile. It said to find Phil and headed to the mat map we all love. (CBS should sell it online, think of the awesomeness of coming home to the finish mat everyday!)

Phil then warned of the surprises, and informed the Muslim team that although this is not a pit stop, they are eliminated from the race.

Ouch. Really Jerry Bruckheimer, there could've been nicer ways to shake up the race. (Like bringing back more fast forwards. Grumble mutter...) C'est la vie. The teams get misty eyed, half due to some nice guys getting the axe, half out of pure fear of elimination at all times now.

The race goes on and a detour with a sneak brick pattern or tricky ball/pattern dance is provided. (I want to learn that ball paddle dance art so bad now.) Teams then took a quick climb of the Great Wall of China and Vipul and Arti showed up 11th.

Phil once again cut the team from the race, leaving only 10 left to start the next leg. I suppose the quick thinning of the crowd may have been utilized to help increase familiarity with the contestants. Most reality shows average 12 starting contestants, and AR starts with 12 teams of two, 24 faces that may or may not entertain the audience. So by quickly weeding out teams they increase fan devotion and interest in certain teams.
My faves are probably already apparent, Duke/Lauren, Erwin/Godwin, and Tyler/James. Plus, with three favorites out of ten, I've got a good chance and having a winner I like! And a 27% chance of at least one team I like landing in the final three. (that math was slightly BSed)

Ok, that was one loooong post. See ya later!