by Gina Scarpa

Has it already been 20 seasons of The Amazing Race? Wasn't it just yesterday that Joyce was faced with the task of shaving her head while Uchenna proudly watched? Has it really been that long since my favorite hippies, BJ and Tyler, crossed the finish line for the million dollars? For it's 20th season, most shows would try to pull out all the stops, change it up, add a twist. No thanks. Just give me The Amazing Race straight up, the way I like it - Road Blocks, U-Turns, and all!

Things kick off in the vineyards of Santa Barbara, California. The first clue is located up in the air, in a small hot air balloon. There are 100 balloons, but only 11 clues for the 11 teams racing. Twin brothers Elliot and Andrew find one first, followed by dating couple Vanessa and Ralph. Their clue says "Fly to Santa Barbara". Wait, they're in Santa Barbara. Ohhh, Santa Barbara, ARGENTINA!

Once they land, border patrol agents Art and AJ are the first ones to arrive at Aerodromo Gilberto Lavaque, an airport, for a Road Block. One person has to jump out of a plane, while their partner has to go search for them on the ground - well, they're not wasting any time pulling out the big challenges! Best reaction came from best friends Mark and Bopper. They're so amusing that I'm praying they don't head home any time soon.

Art and AJ take off from the field after, along with Big Brother alums Brendon and Rachel, and married couple Rachel and Dave. Their next task is to make 120 empanadas. Yum! I want to eat 120 empanadas! The real challenge is to make sure to realize that there is different dough crimping styles for different empanadas, meat or cheese. Art and AJ miss this all important detail, opening the door for Dave and Rachel to take first place.

Meanwhile, back at the airport task, Stacy faces her fear of heights head on and takes a leap of faith (literally)! Maiya gets her car stuck in the sand while trying to meet up with her sister Misa and they fall to last place.

Dave and Rachel arrive at the pit stop first, winning the extremely important Express Pass, which they can use all the way until the end of the 8th leg. Next to arrive is Brendon and Rachel, and then Art and AJ. Teams finish from there in the following order: federal agents Nary and Jamie, Vanessa and Ralph, Elliot and Andrew, Kerri and Stacy, clowns Dave and Cherie, Bopper and Mark, and self proclaimed guidos Joey and Danny.

Misa and Maiya may have made the worst move I've ever seen in all the years of The Amazing Race.  Phil was right in front of them, OUT IN THE OPEN, and they completely missed him.  They turned and ran around the grounds instead looking for him, which gave Joey and Danny the opening they needed to stay in the race.

The Amazing Race airs Sundays at 8/7c on CBS.

(Image courtesy of CBS)

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