The Amazing Race 33: Season Premiere Blog Party

Good evening! I hope you're ready for two hours of whirlwind world travel! I am. I have a few adult beverages and plenty of snacks on hand. I will be doing my best to update this blog with the major events as they air on the show here on the East Coast. I say "doing my best" as it takes a few weeks to get used to what team is whom. Or, within a team, which one is whom if they're same sex!

Before we get into the show, let's talk blog pool. Because there was a low turnout, we did add in some stragglers who climbed the fence after the cut-off time. Now, I can't guarantee that we will always do that. PLEASE, when you know I cover a show you watch, check in on the blog in the days leading up to the season premiere! Another pool-related thing -- as we know that Covid caused a break in filming this season and two teams were unable to return once it picked up again, anyone having either of those teams will be reassigned. Unlike some previous seasons, the first Philiminated will be out of the pool but, of course, welcome to hang out on the pool deck in the lawn chairs.

Without further ado, here are the random pool picks compliments from our beloved Lifeguard SueGee:

Kim & Penn - chrob61, Donna in AL
Akbar & Sheridan - Indiana Jane, Nickelpeed
Mike & Moe - Michelle C, Jackie
Raquel & Cayla - Brenda, Skyriverblue
Lulu & Lala - Debbie, Judi Sweeney
Dusty & Ryan - Mike Barer, Willie J
Taylor & Isaiah - Jennifer, Krysta
Arun & Natalia - Glenn Allen, Jennasmom
Caro & Ray - Marlo L
Connie & Sam - SueGee, PDX Granny 
Spencer & Anthony - Sharon N 

Are you READY? Let's GO!

Phil tells us they had to suspend the filming at the end of the third leg due to Covid. But then they picked it up again.

We see new people packing and Phil tells them their first clue is in London. The teams leave from their homes to the nearest airports. Penn and Kim try to sing the theme song. Yes, it does sound like "oatmeal."

Now we're getting team introductions -- I covered the same or similar intros on earlier posts in the blog.

Teams must head to Trafalgar Square and search for a red box phone booth walking around. Each box has only a few clues. They have to go on foot to Buckingham Palace. There they will find their next clue next to Canada Gate.

Raquel and Cayla make it first to the Detour clue. They have to post a piece of original street artwork. Or ... they have to find a bobby by Big Ben, Little Ben (?) and lastly DigiBen. We break for commercial with Connie and Sam in last place, still a bit lost looking for the red box clue. So far, I'm finding all the teams likable.

Heh. The flight attendants don't know what a "bobby" is. I might be misspelling it. It could be Bobbie. But I know it's a cop. Ah, it is bobby. 

Some teams are working together but it seems more of a matter of on the spur of the moment rather than any strong bonding at this point. Akbar and Sheridan are dragging. Apparently, she rests too much according to him. Oh my, I'm not pleased with how critical he's being to her.

Spencer and Anthony are now in the lead followed closely by Dusty and Ryan.

From Digiben, their next clue has to do with Boris Johnson having a gnosh with the Queen. (Obviously imposters!) From there they have to head to London's Natural History Museum for the pitstop. Phil says the last team "will" be eliminated.

Pit Stop

1. Anthony and Spencer - won a trip to Turks and Calcos
2. Ryan and Dusty
3. Raquel and Cayla

4. Kim and Penn

5. Caro and Ray

6. Akbar and Sheri

7. Connie and Sam

8. Taylor and Isiaih

9. Arun and Natalia

10. Lulu and Lala

11. Mike and Moe - Philiminated.

Oh noes! They were my blog pool team! Plus, I wanted them to do well.

Teams are remaining in London, albeit this leg is in the daylight. They are heading to Royal Mail in West London (?) for the next clue. Clarkwell? Teams are having problems catching taxis.

Mail Rail is snail mail and it's a Roadblock. The teams must ride the rail to the loading dock then search mail for the "perfect envelope." It's an Amazing Race envelope. Ryan found it first. He and Dusty are the first ones through with the Roadblock. Raquel and Cayla next. Heh. Penn and Ray don't trust Anthony that they had the correct clue. He goes on and they continue searching. They waste a half-hour before deciding the clue was the clue.

Lester *misspelled!* Leicester or something like that Square Detour. Dart players. Club Victoria -- hit a specific target. Each team member throws three darts, if both hit a bullseye, clue. The other part is decorating a cake depicting a flag with fruit toppings. It must be a flag from the EU. Cayla and Raquel forget that England dropped out of the European Union. Anthony and Spencer know but don't tell them.

Dusty and Ryan finish the dart Detour and are heading to the Pitstop on a double-decker bus.

Pitstop

1. Dusty and Ryan - won nothing? Hmm
2. Connie and Sam

3. Arun and Natalia

4. Cayla and Raquel

5. Anthony and Spencer ?

6. Kim and Penn

7. Caro and Ray

8. Akbar and Sheri

9. Taylor and Isaiah

10. Lulu and Lala - non-Philimination

I might have the order a bit off as I somehow missed Anthony and Spencer arriving.

Teams are heading to Scotland.

The Amazing Race 33: Meet the Teams Part 3

 

Going into this I didn't realize how many of the teams already had their 15 minutes of fame. We carry on ...

AKBAR AND SHERIDAN

First off ... shout out to more New Jersey in da house! Now, this couple live in very suburban Martinsville, near my old workplace. I didn't connect. Oh, d'oh! He's that school principal in a really bad part of Newark who was in all the papers a while ago. He's done some amazing things there and is such an advocate for the children! I hope he and his wife can indeed be amazing on the race!

Like the singing cops, he was on Ellen ...

This article is well worth the read.

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ANTHONY AND SPENCER

I searched all over and could not find the official TAR cast introduction video for this team. What that means, I do not know. However, I found a lot of other things about them. They too had their 15 minutes and heroic ones at that. I recall reading and hearing about the terrorist shooting on a train in Paris thwarted by a few heroes. There was even a movie made about the incident. Well, guess who?

They are shown in this overall cast video --

And, guess what? They were on Ellen also!

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CONNIE AND SAM

I suppose I should do a thorough search just to make sure they haven't made previous national news, eh? Oh, geez. First YouTube search comes up with a video with this caption --  "Four years ago, Sam Greiner made national news when he led Harding to its first state title in 53 years. Now he goes back as the head coach at rival West Charlotte." Okay. Now, this is one I wouldn't know at all because I don't follow football at all.

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RAQUEL AND CAYLA

Now, don't tell me two flight attendants have made national news. I guess I better go look! While there are other people with their names, they aren't them. Phew! Normal kind of people! 

Don't forget! Tonight's TWO-HOUR season premiere begins at 8PM ET/PT. The blog pool listing will be included in the blog party post. I hope to see you there!     

The Amazing Race 33: WARNING - Blog Pool Sign Up Closing Soon!

Blog pool sign-up will end at 8PM ET/5PM PT!!

If you want to be in the pool and haven't signed up yet, go do it right now!

The sign-up post is at this here link.

 

The Amazing Race 33: Meet the Teams Part 2

Not only do we have the "Internet Famous Three" teams I already spoke about in my previous post, but we do also have some other teams who might be well-known by some. Not by me, but by some!

CARO AND RAY

I don't watch Love Island, so I have/had no idea that these two were on the show. He is part of my shout-out for New Jersey in the house as he's from Toms River. No, there is no apostrophe in Toms. I didn't create the town. I'm not responsible.

RYAN AND DUSTY

Ryan has an interesting albeit kind of tragic backstory and is probably famous around Columbus, Missouri. The case was also fodder for many investigative television shows. I looked up the arrest and incarceration along with its eventual innocent outcome after ten years in jail. Eep. You can check that out here at the Wikipedia article about it.

LULU AND LALA

More Jersey in the house! That said, I don't ever listen to IHeart radio, so I have never heard of these twins. Now, this could just be me and I might be just a bit too judgmental, but I find the names Lala and Lulu just a tad cringe-worthy. They are very identical. I know right now when one is doing a Roadblock I will be stymied which one if I miss it listed on screen.

ARUN AND NATALIA

There is something about father/daughter teams which make me smile. Had life been different decades (scores!) ago, I would have loved to run the race with my own father. Due to Covid, I doubt we'll see his stickshift skills in India; hopefully he has taught her how to drive manual. She has watched the show since the age of eight with her Dad. Hopefully the Superfan sense will kick in for them!

Have you signed up for the blog pool yet?

If not, make sure you sign up at THIS HERE LINK.

The Amazing Race 33: Meet the Teams Part 1

My apologies for the delay in posting about the teams. I cut my finger quite badly and it's been limiting my ability to type! No, not life threatening or anything of the sort ... just a cross between painful and awkward. I'm going to cheat on these intros and use videos I found online.

We have three teams who are somewhat "internet famous." I was only familiar with one of them -- Kim and Penn Holderness.

Here is their show intro video -- 

Here is an example of their humor from their YouTube channel. It's usually more her than him. I find them funny for the most part although a bit of the humor is hit or miss with me. I just wonder what they will be like not "on" all the time.

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The next "internet famous" team would be the "singing cops" from Buffalo, New York. That would be Michael Norwood (tall one) and Armonde "Moe" Badger (shorter one, duh).

The video I'm including of them is from their appearance on Ellen a while back although there are many videos of them online. I am a bit worried that, due to their jobs, they could be one of the two teams who couldn't return. Police officers have been needed so much throughout the pandemic and the civil unrest. They look like they will be a fun team.

 

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The last of the "internet famous' teams would be Taylor Green-Jones and his husband Isaiah Green-Jones. No, I never heard of them, and it seems the only thing on YouTube of them is the video I'm posting below the show introduction. If TAR has a dance challenge, my money would be on them!

Have you signed up for the blog pool yet?

If not, make sure you sign up at THIS HERE LINK.