by Vin Convertito

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A million dollars is once again up for grabs as The Amazing Race begins its first of twelve legs. Tonight we learn a little bit more about the eleven teams that will compete this season before they make their way towards the first clue. As different as this season's teams seem to be, they all have their hearts set on winning. But before as million dollars can be had, tonight's leg must first be won.

 

Having gathered together at a park in downtown Los Angeles, the teams are quickly released and running back towards the backpacks they brought for their first clue. The teams soon discover that they will have to take their packs and public transportation to make their way to LAX where they will catch a flight to Santiago, Chile. Whether they travel by bus or railway, the first three teams to make it to the airport will be on an earlier flight and the other nine teams will have to take a flight that leaves an hour later!

 

Each minute matters as teams scatter and make their way across the city towards the airport. Cowboy buddies, Jet and Cord, joke that they are way out of their element as confesses, "the town I live in has one light and it's blinking yellow!" But it's anybody's race as the first few teams arrive at LAX.

 

Coming in first, second and third are Monique and Shawne, Jordan and Jeff, and Dana and Adrian. Although the three teams were rewarded with an earlier flight, a mechanical failure will postpone their departure and have them flying with the other nine teams.

 

Having safely arrived in Chile, the teams are headed for Valparaiso, which has been dubbed the San Francisco of Chile. They will have to take a bus or a taxi and will need the right currency to do so. Having the foresight gone wrong, Jet and Cord outsmart themselves when they previously exchanged all of their American dollars for Brazilian money back in LAX thinking it would be accepted in Chile. Chile wants its own money and the cowboys are slowed down again. Jordan and Jeff enjoy being in the lead the entire time, just as Brent and Caite seem to be ahead of the others. But it's any team's leg as we hit our first ROAD BLOCK!

 

Each team will have to decide who will accept the challenge as the clue reads, "Who has the balance of a cat and the courage of a lion?" And the challenge includes a cable-walk across a ravine. Caite is the first to accept as Brent roots her on. Next is Jordan who seems to be just behind the fast-moving Miss South Carolina. Although these two women make it look relatively easy, Dan and Adrian struggle immensely and ultimately fall. Dan capitalizes on his fall as he scoots his way to the end, but Adrian is not so lucky. He is returned to the start where he must begin again.

 

As the other teams arrive and decide who will go across the wire, Brent and Caite and well on their way towards the next clue. Just behind are Jeff and Jordan and eventually Dan and Jordan. Enjoyably enough, the teams are informed that they will have to take a Funicular lift or Ascensores, as they are called in Valparaiso, down the hill from which they came.

 

Caite and Brent and Jordan and Jeff lead the way as they are the first teams to arrive at the next clue. "Time to paint the town" is the order as each team is greeted with a ladder, fours cans of paint and two brushes. It seems that the colorful houses sprinkled about the hillside are periodically painted by the townspeople. The team is to match their specific color paint to the house that has an unfinished section in need of their painting skills!

 

The teams are to travel uphill with the ladder, paint cans and their packs knowing that anyone can pull ahead and leave them in the Valparaiso dust. Undercover detective Louie is one such competitor that has blurred by the other cable walkers, met up with his partner in crime, Michael, just so the two can grab their paint supplies and get back in the top five rankings.

 

Local painters are giving out the next clue as the painting concludes. First to finish painting are Jeff and Jordan and then Caite and Brent. Dan has lost his paint brush and doesn't know what to do. Meanwhile, Adrian has fallen a second time!

 

With the clues in hand, Jeff and Jordan beat everyone to the finish and have captured their first leg. In addition they win a trip for two to Vancouver where they will be treated to a whale-watching tour. Coming up next is Brent and Caite, but they incur a 30 minute penalty for not taking the Funicular down the hill; they walked and most likely it was because they knew not what Funicular meant.

 

As a result, Monique and Shawne take second place only to have Jake and Cord cowboy their way into third this week. Steve and Allie, who were sadly derailed as they incorrectly and unnecessarily began painting the interior of a home, make up for lost time and finish strong in fourth. Fifth place went to the proud parents, Joe and Heidi, as Carol and Brandy take sixth.

 

Seventh belongs then to Caite and Brent who waited out their penalty as the others teams continue to scramble towards the finish line. Dan and Jordan, issued a fifteen minute for their brush loss, wait it out and hold on to eighth. Coming in ninth were Louie and Michael, in safe and sound in tenth was 71 year old Jody and her granddaughter, Shannon.

 

Coming in last were Adrian and Dana. Adrian's difficult time with the cable-cross was enough to eliminate the couple, but they were proud of their accomplishments and know that they have much to look forward to. After all, they are conveniently located in Beautiful Chile with some new found free-time on their hands!

 

Congrats to Jordan and Jeff for being the first team to win a leg this season and to everyone for giving it their all.

 

Tune in to The Amazing Race next Sunday at 8/7c on CBS!

 

(Image courtesy of CBS)

 

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