TAR 31, Recap Leg 1, 4/17/19

Welcome to Leg 1 of The Amazing Race 31! I was ready for the premiere at the end of May, so I was surprised when the first episode happened during Holy Week. Anyway, the Amazing Camera twists and turns through LA, and makes its way to the beaches. We end up in Hermosa Beach and as usual, to Phil, who is just hanging out. Phil wanders to Hermosa Beach Pier, the Starting Line for The Amazing Race 31. However, the teams are making their way to the beach, and these teams are here for a special Reality Television Showdown. It’s Big Brother vs. The Amazing Race vs. Survivor! (click for more)

So the eleven Reality Show Teams for The Amazing Race 31 are:

Rupert and Laura, Team Blood Vs. Water. They are, well, four time Survivor Rupert and his wife, Laura. (Toyouke: “Oh of course they allowed Rupert's team color to be tie dye. Fucking Rupert.”)

Janelle and Britney, The Friendly Houseguests. Between the two of them they have appeared on Big Brother five times. However, Big Brother is nowhere near as strenuous as either of the other two shows, so buckle up girls.

Leo and Jamal, The Afghanimals. Back for their third race, the cousins have never placed lower than fourth. They’ve survived three U-Turns, but always seem to eliminate themselves. (Toyouke: “Stupid Leo.”)

Nicole and Victor, The Engaged Houseguests. They met on Big Brother, and Nicole actually voted to get rid of Victor three times before she actually won. Whatever.

Colin and Christie, Team My Ox Is Broken!. I’ve been waiting for their return! Last seen on TAR5 as the runner ups to Chip and Kim, Colin is well known around here for his various catchphrases, such as “My Ox Is Broken”, “I’m Packing It!” and many more. They were part of our third most memorable season ever, and from his ox being broken, to him packing it in cement molds to almost getting arrested by Tanzanian police, this one was for the record books. But they are back, two kids later, and way calmer.

Tyler and Korey, Team Hot Gay YouTube Celebrities. Well, so 11 million views on YouTube can’t be wrong. And they have five leg wins from their previous season. They are also extremely giggly.

Rachel and Elissa, The Houseguest Sisters. Yes, that Rachel. She’s raced twice with her husband Brandon, but this time she’s racing with her sister, who has also been on Big Brother. (Toyouke: “I want to know why Brandon isn't here. Did he refuse to race again with Rachel? I hope so.”) Elissa promises to keep her sister under control. We’ll see about that.

Becca and Floyd, Team Nerdgasm. I love them! They met on the starting line of the season in which 22 strangers were paired up and became very fast friends. Their physicality was their downfall, but they’ve been working on it.

Art and JJ, Team Patrulla Fronteriza. The border patrol is back! They were runners up in their season because they couldn’t sled down a hill. But they are back to prove that they still can do it!

Chris and Bret, Team Millennials Vs. Gen X. They are from Survivor, and were good friends on the show. Everyone was caught off guard when Bret came out as gay. But they are from different worlds.

Corinne and Eliza, Team Fans Vs. Favorites. They describe themselves as the classic Survivor villains. We’ll see. (Toyouke: "I mean sure, but how does that help you here exactly?")

Teams run into Washington Square Park with smoke machines and fanfare. Phil decides to chat up the teams before getting down to business. (Toyouke: “Is Rachel wearing a dress? What is happening.”) Phil also comments on Tyler’s big guns. (Toyouke: “Phil, please continue flirting with Tyler forever.”) Teams are instructed to head to the giant sand sculpture of an octopus, where their first clues are hidden. Oh, and the first team to finish will win ONE MILLION DOLLARS (US$1000000)! Then oh so sexy Phil does his standard patter: “Ready? The world is waiting for you. Good luck, travel safe. Cue Phil's eyebrow pop. (Toyouke: “Hmm. I don't think there was an eyebrow pop.“) GO!” Who will be eliminated . . . tonight? (Toyouke: “I did miss this show.”)

Hermosa Beach Pier, Los Angeles, California, USA

Teams run across the pier to the nearby beach and start digging in the sand for their clue. Teams find their clues in the following order:

1- Rachel/Elissa

2- Rupert/Laura

3- Nicole/Victor

4- Becca/Floyd

5- Janelle/Britney

6- Leo/Jamal

7- Chris/Bret

8- Colin/Christie

9- Tyler/Korey – Tyler: “Why are the cutest teams still here?”

10- Corinne/Eliza

11- Art/JJ – Art: “Thank you Jesus!” Jesus: “Sorry, I was on the phone, we’re racing again?”

Clue: Fly to Tokyo, Japan! Once there, take the charted bus to Shibuya where you will be dropped off. From there, find your next clue at either ACB Lock & Security or Tokyo Tokyo Restaurant. There are a limited number of clues at each location.

So, teams make their ways to LAX to catch their flight (Toyouke: “Not even fighting over two flights!? SIGH”), and depart in the following order:

1- Rachel/Elissa

2- Rupert/Laura

3- Nicole/Victor

4- Becca/Floyd - who reminds us that they are Team Funstoppable.

5- Janelle/Britney

6- Leo/Jamal – who have extremely bad Tokyo memories from a previous race.

7- Chris/Bret – who have never been to Japan, apparently.

8- Colin/Christie

9- Tyler/Korey

10- Corinne/Eliza

11- Art/JJ

Teams arrive at JFK in the following order:

1- Tyler/Korey

2- Corinne/Eliza – who begin to make their assessment of the teams. (Toyouke: “Corinne and Eliza are pretty bitchy. I don't know yet if they can back this up.”)

3- Leo/Jamal

4- Nicole/Victor

5- Rupert/Laura

6- Rachel/Elissa

7- Art/JJ

8- Becca/Floyd

9- Janelle/Britney

10- Colin/Christie

11- Chris/Bret

So, teams board the one flight to Tokyo. The Amazing Orange Line take us to Narita International Airport in Tokyo. Teams land, get on the bus, and arrive at Shibuya in the following order:

1- Leo/Jamal

2- Rupert/Laura

3- Corinne/Eliza

4- Nicole/Victor

5- Chris/Bret

6- Art/JJ

7- Tyler/Korey

8- Rachel/Elissa

9- Janelle/Britney

10- Colin/Christie

11- Becca/Floyd

Teams are now travelling on foot to either ACB Lock and Security or Tokyo Tokyo Restaurant. (Toyouke: “I wanna say most Japanese people have some English knowledge? They might not be fluent, but they might be able to give a tourist directions.“) The teams arrive at the various locations and get their clues in the following order:

Tokyo Tokyo Restaurant, 5 clues

1- Rupert/Laura – (Toyouke: “BOO I especially did not miss Rupert's speaking cadence, where he speaks slowly and deliberately like you would to a very small child.”)

2- Chris/Bret

4- Janelle/Britney

5- Colin/Christie

7- Nicole/Victor

ACB Lock & Security, 6 clues

3- Leo/Jamal – who get their clue and then pretend to fight to distract other teams from finding the clue. (Toyouke: “Is this strategery really necessary?”)

6- Becca/Floyd

8- Rachel/Elissa

9- Tyler/Korey

10- Corinne/Eliza

11- Art/JJ

Teams are now instructed to travel on foot to the EDGE of Shibuya Building and make their ways to the fifth floor. Teams arrive at the building in the following order:

1- Leo/Jamal

2- Colin/Christie

3- Janelle/Britney

4- Nicole/Victor

5- Rachel/Elissa

6- Tyler/Korey

7- Becca/Floyd

8- Chris/Bret

9- Rupert/Laura

10- Corinne/Eliza

11- Art/JJ

Once they arrive, teams get the first roadblock clue.

ROADBLOCK:

Who wants a sweet new pair of shoes?

In this roadblock, one team member must take part in a game inspired by the Japanese game show Candy or Not Candy. In the room of traditional geta sandals, roadblockers pick one at a time and bite into it to determine if it is one of the twelve made of chocolate. Once the roadblocker finds a chocolate geta, they join their partner in eating the chocolate to a line, and then get their next clue.

(Toyouke: “OK Phil do not come to me with "inspired by Japanese game shows" and that guy isn't here. And we're going to start with Swedish Roulette this season. I don't think I like this.”)

The following teammates take the Roadblock:

1- Jamal

2- Christie

3- Janelle

4- Victor – (Toyouke: “I know Victor is really failing, but it worries me that they were there for that long and no one else has come through.”)

5- Elissa

6- Tyler

7- Floyd

8- Chris

9- Laura

10- Eliza

11- JJ

(Toyouke: “I missed the Failure Rattle too.”) After much fake sandal eating, teams complete the roadblock in the following order:

1- Leo/Jamal

2- Janelle/Britney

3- Colin/Christie

4- Nicole/Victor

5- Tyler/Korey

6- Rachel/Elissa

7- Becca/Floyd

8- Chris/Bret

9- Rupert/Laura

10- Corinne/Eliza

11- Art/JJ

Teams are now instructed to travel by taxi to Onarimon Station. Once there, teams make their way across the street to Shiba Koen. Teams arrive at the station and make their way to the park in the following order:

1- Leo/Jamal

2- Colin/Christie

3- Tyler/Korey

4- Nicole/Victor

5- Rachel/Elissa

6- Becca/Floyd

7- Chris/Bret

8- Janelle/Britney

9- Corinne/Eliza

10- Art/JJ

11- Rupert/Laura – who wandered through Shiba Koen for more than two hours to find the clue box. (Toyouke: “I missed you too, Amazing Cameraman.”)

Once they arrive, teams get the second roadblock clue.

ROADBLOCK:

Who wants to climb Mt. Fuji?

In this roadblock, one team member must don a blue unitard and wig and climb a 20 foot inflatable Mt. Fuji to get their next clue. The team member that did not perform the first Roadblock must perform this Roadblock.

The following teammates take the Roadblock:

1- Leo

2- Colin

3- Korey

4- Nicole

5- Rachel

6- Becca

7- Bret – who gets to the top and didn’t grab the clue. (Toyouke: “Bret. Come on.“) So he has to climb again.

8- Britney

9- Corinne

10- Art – who cramps up and decides it would be best to take the four hour quitting penalty. (Toyouke: “You're already too hurt to finish. On the first leg. “)

11- Rupert

After much mountain climbing, teams complete the roadblock in the following order:

1- Leo/Jamal

2- Colin/Christie

3- Tyler/Korey

4- Nicole/Victor

5- Rachel/Elissa

6- Becca/Floyd

7- Chris/Bret

8- Janelle/Britney

9- Corinne/Eliza

10- Rupert/Laura

11- Art/JJ

Teams are now instructed to travel by foot to the PIT STOP, Atago Jinja at the top of the tallest hill in Tokyo. This is the first pit stop in a racearoundtheworld. The last team to arrive WILL be eliminated!

1- Leo/Jamal – who win a trip for two from Travelocity on a 7 Day Cruise of Tahiti

2- Colin/Christie

3- Tyler/Korey

4- Rachel/Elissa

5- Becca/Floyd

6- Nicole/Victor

7- Chris/Bret

8- Janelle/Britney

9- Corinne/Eliza – Phil: “I’m sorry I have to tell you this, but you’re not last.” (Toyouke: “OK at least Corinne and Eliza can admit they were cocky.“)

10- Rupert/Laura

11- Art/JJ

And because of the four hour Roadblock penalty, Art and JJ are eliminated. JJ was frustrated that they were so out of sync, but Art loves doing this, and would do it again!

ORDER NOW:

1^st – Leo/Jamal

2^nd – Colin/Christie

3^rd – Tyler/Korey

4^th – Rachel/Elissa

5^th – Becca/Floyd

6^th – Nicole/Victor

7^th – Chris/Bret

8^th – Janelle/Britney

9^th – Corinne/Eliza

10^th – Rupert/Laura

Next week: (Toyouke: “Why did it take so long to put Phil in an actual Travelocity commercial I love it.”) We visit Laos for the first time! There are elephants! And the first U-Turn of the Race! Until next time!