For the first time in seven seasons of The Amazing Race, the team that I wanted to win, won! What an incredible ending it was, too. I'll leave the play by play "update" to others, like Viking, but I want to throw in a few comments on this one.
I have admired Uchenna and Joyce for their ability to work together and not tear each other to pieces for a while now. When Joyce had her head shaved I decided then and there that they deserved to win, but I almost hated to even think it since the team I pull for NEVER wins.
The last leg of the race could not have been any more perfect if it had been scripted. For Uchenna and Joyce to have to start the final leg of the race in last place, with no money or possessions and have to beg their way through only made the win sweeter. Ron and Kelly's fatal mistake at the end of the race pretty much summed up the problems with their relationship that plagued them the entire race. A miscommunication between the two (bad directions) put them behind the others and made it impossible for them to make the first flight to the final destination. A similar thing could be said for the mistake that put Rob and Amber in second place. Rob's arrogance and lack of appreciation for other cultures played a part in he and Amber falling behind when they were looking for the English spelling of the cigar shop.
One question that I hope to find the answer to: Was it required that Uchenna and Joyce's cab driver be paid before they could proceed to the finish line or was Uchenna just being a stand up guy? I wondered if Rob and Amber's cab had pulled up, would Uchenna and Joyce have started running for the finish line or did something in the rules require that he be paid? I just couldn't understand why Uchenna didn't say, "Dude, as soon as we run through this gate to the finish line we will be millionaires and we will come back here and pay you ten times your fare." Anyone have the answer to that one?
Update: I neglected to link to the excellent live blogging that Pat Curley did of the race. I am sorry to be so late, but it is still worth a read.
Lorie - I was wondering the same exact thing. Let's face it, the "rules" during the race are pretty loose with cabbies but I guess if they demand to be paid, they *must* be paid (remember Colin?). I also wonder if Uchenna was not allowed to tell the cabbie they'd be millionaires in about 30 seconds.
I need to dig into the Internet for this answer. Maybe they'll reveal on the CBS morning show this morning.
Posted by: Eric Lindholm | Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at 08:28 AM
Hey Lorie -- re: the cab fare: if you look on the CBS website, there's an article about the interview the Agus gave The Early Show. Here's the relevant quote: "It was all about honor," said Uchenna. "That cab driver was going to get his money."
Like you, I was thrilled with the outcome and wish the Agus all the best for the future.
Posted by: Stacie | Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at 01:16 PM
I loved the show and rooted for them as well. But now that it's over I can't help wondering how much of it was production. It seemed like every time we saw Uchenna and Joyce they were upbeat and cheerful, whereas with Ron & Kelly it was always the Bickersons. It's easy after the fact for the producers to seed into our minds that the winners deserve to win just by what they choose to show us.
There were several highly suspicious incidents. Although I didn't catch it in my review, I agree that Uchenna & Joyce making that plane was certainly great for maintaining the drama, as were Rob & Ambuh's brief police stop and U&J's flat tire.
Posted by: Brainster | Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at 02:37 PM
Oh come on Lorie!!
I never rooted for Rob and Amber on any Survivor, but it would have been pretty cool if they had won. Purely from an entertainment perspective. Though, I wasn't sad that the two that won, did. They seemed a nice couple. My next choice would have been the old folks though. That would have been as good as Rob and Amber.
I have to thank Rob and Amber for getting me into Amazing Race. I never watched it before, but because I'm such a huge Survivor fan, I was sucked into it. Which is good, because Survivor was the only show I watched regularly. Now I have two!
Posted by: Jay Lison | Friday, May 13, 2005 at 04:42 PM
PS, the post above (my post) is probably the lamest blog posting I've ever done. I apologize to all. ;)
Posted by: Jay Lison | Friday, May 13, 2005 at 04:43 PM
I think Rob and Amber made the race a lot of fun, but I have watched every Amazing Race since season one and I've enjoyed all of them.
I am just thrilled that the show is now getting so much attention and good ratings.
Posted by: Lorie Byrd | Friday, May 13, 2005 at 10:14 PM
I am happy that U & J won, I would like to see them use the $ to adopt some of the kids from the orphanage. J getting her head shaved was a great moment and I really admired her courage - what a woman!
Having said that, I think that CBS helped U & J get on that last flight to keep the race dramatic and that R & A should have won. Not a Survivor watcher so I thought the way the other teams treated R & A was wrong.
There were numerous moments during the race that I thought it would be appropriate to let someone know a team was in a race and no one said it, so seems like that might be a new rule. I've been a fan of AR since season two.
Posted by: Julie | Thursday, June 16, 2005 at 04:18 PM