(S13E11) It's down to the finish line for The Amazing Race. Which team will win the million dollars? Could it be Team Dandrew, the Bumbling Dunderheads? They have the dubious honor of being the most inept team ever in the final three. Or, will it be Nick and Starr, the siblings with the record for first place finishes at the Pit Stops? Maybe it will be Ken and Tina, the ex-NFL player and his um ... loving wife. Well, not so loving all the time, mind you. Will they find true love back together? Read on past the jump.
The final leg and its challenges
The teams were all on the same flight from Moscow to the final destination of Portland, Oregon. So we started off on a level playing field once more. How long would it take for Team Dandrew to fall behind? Now, we're talking about just off the plane this time. However, not to give the Bumbling Dunderheads credit, but it was the luck of the draw with a bad taxi driver while the other two teams had drivers who knew the area.
Even though Nick and Starr thought to look up the address of the adventure park they were heading to, Ken and Tina beat them there. So the bickering begins. Tina's scared of heights and Ken has no patience for it. Maybe if Tina had taken off that silly baseball cap, her helmet would have stayed in place. I don't know. But they had me worried that they might win it all. But then Nick and Starr passed them! Woohoo!
I'll admit that Nick and Starr haven't been my favorites throughout the season. As the teams narrowed down, they became my favorite team in the final three. But there wasn't much competition. With them pulling ahead in the Detour at the adventure park, I literally stood and cheered. My cat just stared at me, but she's not into the show. It was clear by the time that Team Dandrew was out of the running for the million. No way would they be able to make up the time.
Although the heights scared Tina, she sure had a quick recovery on the zip-line from the Bridge of the Gods. She's been really quirky throughout the show -- going from good to evil, from loving to nasty, from scared of heights to loving an adrenalin-pumping zip trip high above water.
If Dandrew hadn't already lost the race with the bad taxi, the task with all of the clue boxes would have done them in. 150 clue boxes, remembering each leg in chronological order, and finding the right clue? Yikes! I thought Tina was going to internally combust or something. It was definitely a nail-biter until Nick and Starr got the final clue in place!
I'm not sure I could find a green dinosaur in downtown Portland. Perhaps a pink elephant, yes. Dinosaur, no. But they did it. What with with that woman who told Nick and Starr to look in the phone book for the "magic in the hole" clue then telling Ken and Tina that it's the Voodoo Doughnut Shop and giving them a short cut? I'm not prone to violence, but I would have liked it if a strong wind came along and knocked her over! Sheesh!
The finish line
Phew. The best team won! Nick and Starr, consistent first place finishers throughout the season, won the million dollars. Perhaps if Tina hadn't freaked out as much as she did and Ken didn't condescend as much as he did, I would have liked them more for the finish. But I've never supported the teams who bicker so much and they fit that category. What can I say about Team Dandrew? I wonder if they ever finished the 150 clue boxes task or whether they were just called in so they wouldn't be out there for days.
So Nick and Starr have grown closer as brother and sisters. And, they can take off that silly camouflage matching clothing. Ken and Tina decided to make another try at their marriage and, in a teary move, he put a ring back on her finger. Call me a cynic, but I'm not sure how long that will last! Then again, I think they deserve each other. Andrew didn't give Dan a ring. And another season of The Amazing Race is done. When does the next one start?
- THE AMAZING RACE 13 The 11 Teams competing in this Race around the world, will travel over 30,000 miles, spanning five continents, with stops in Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Moscow to name a few. THE AMAZING RACE 13 premieres Sunday, Sept. 28 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Standing from Left: Ken and Tina, Mark and Bill, Aja and Ty, Anthony and Stephanie, Anita and Arthur, Dan and Andrew, Toni and Dallas, Marisa and Brooke; Sitting from Left: Terence and Sarah, Kelly, and Christy, and Nick and Starr. CBS THE AMAZING RACE 13 Friends from Columbia, SC, Marisa Axelrod, left, a 22 year-old student and Brooke Jackson, a 24 year-old graphic designer, are one of the teams competing in this Race around the world, traveling over 30,000 miles, spanning five continents, with stops in Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Moscow to name a few. Premieres Sunday, September 28, 2008. CBS THE AMAZING RACE 13 Phil Keoghan hosts The Amazing Race, a race around the world spanning five continents, with stops in Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Moscow to name a few. Premieres Sunday, September 28, 2008. CBS THE AMAZING RACE 13 Married, but separated couple, Ken Greene, a 51 year-old home-builder/ex-NFL, and Tina Greene, a 48 year-old President, BioPharmMed, are one of the teams competing in this Race around the world, traveling over 30,000 miles, spanning five continents, with stops in Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Moscow to name a few. Premieres Sunday, September 28, 2008. CBS THE AMAZING RACE 13 Best friends from Texas, Kelly Crabb, left, a 26 year-old pharmaceutical representative and Christy Cook, a 26 year-old business development, are one of the teams competing in this Race around the world, traveling over 30,000 miles, spanning five continents, with stops in Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Moscow to name a few. Premieres Sunday, September 28, 2008. CBS THE AMAZING RACE 13 Mother and son from Woodside, CA, Dallas Imbimbo, left, a 22 year-old student and Toni Imbimbo, a 51 year-old accounting consultant, are one of the teams competing in this Race around the world, traveling over 30,000 miles, spanning five continents, with stops in Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Moscow to name a few. Premieres Sunday, September 28, 2008. CBS THE AMAZING RACE 13 Friends from San Diego, CA, Mark Yturralde, left, a 41 year-old CFO of Comic Con, and Bill Kahler, a 42 year-old aid administrator, are one of the teams competing in this Race around the world, traveling over 30,000 miles, spanning five continents, with stops in Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Moscow to name a few. Premieres Sunday, September 28, 2008. CBS THE AMAZING RACE 13 Married couple from Eugene, OR, Anita Jones, a 63 year-old retired paralegal and Arthur Jones, a 60 year-old in playground maintenance, are one of the teams competing in this Race around the world, traveling over 30,000 miles, spanning five continents, with stops in Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Moscow to name a few. Premieres Sunday, September 28, 2008. CBS THE AMAZING RACE 13 Dating couple from Los Angeles, CA, Stephanie Kacandes, left, a 32 year-old financial saleswoman, and Anthony Marotta, a 32 year-old mortgage broker, are one of the teams competing in this Race around the world, traveling over 30,000 miles, spanning five continents, with stops in Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Moscow to name a few. Premieres Sunday, September 28, 2008. CBS THE AMAZING RACE 13 Long distance dating couple, Aja Benton, left, a 25 year-old makeup artist of Los Angeles, CA and Ty White, a 25 year-old banker of Southfield, MI, are one of the teams competing in this Race around the world, traveling over 30,000 miles, spanning five continents, with stops in Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Moscow to name a few. Premieres Sunday, September 28, 2008. CBS
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
12-07-2008 @ 11:37PM
Val said...
What happened to the Mom and Son team that lost their Passports? they weren't at the finish line like all the other eliminated teams.. OMG! They left them in Russia! Damn you Phil Keoghan Damn you!
Starr is hot.. i goggled her did she really change her name to Starr Spangler? hilarious..
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12-08-2008 @ 12:23AM
Tostie14 said...
Yeah, I noticed that Dallas and Toni were missing because I was expecting an interview with Dallas and Starr talking about the future of their relationship, especially now that she's won her half of a million dollars!
It would have been hilarious if they ran a small note on the bottom of the screen that said Toni and Dallas are now living illegally in Russia as of the airing of this show.
12-07-2008 @ 11:55PM
VP said...
Didn't notice that Toni & Dallas were missing. If anybody knew what happened an update would be nice. Since it takes a little while to replace your passports i am sure it took them a while and the production moved along to Portland.
As for TAR 14 it will premiere on Sunday February 15, 2009.
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12-07-2008 @ 11:56PM
Ryan said...
Yes! The right team won and I still can't believe that it was a team I picked out from the very first episode to root for the win. Just a phoenomenal race from both of them throughout the season including holding their composure and staying focused on this last leg.
But credit to Ken/Tina. They deserved to be the second best this season since they got the second most #1 finishes to Nick/Starr AND they definitely ran neck and neck with them in the last leg. I gotta tell you, the last 30 minutes was really something. Again credit to Ken/Tina for keeping it very close.
As for Dandrew, well they lasted longer than most of us expected or even wanted. But I was pretty happy that they were out of it pretty early this episode. I don't know what my nerves would've been doing if they even had a chance to win.
And a very satisfying end to a very good season of Amazing Race. Whew.
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12-08-2008 @ 12:28AM
Crispy7896 said...
I also noticed that Dallas and Toni weren't at the finish line, hopefully it was just because they had to get their passports replaced!
It was great to see my hometown as the final destination city! Thanks Amazing Race for using different cities for the final, seems like it's NYC a lot of the time! We Northwesterners appriciate it!
Very happy it was Nick and Star that won!
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12-08-2008 @ 1:24AM
Michael said...
According to Reality Blurred, Toni and Dallas had their passports found and returned to the US Embassy in Moscow, but didn't make it back to the States in time for the finish. That's why they weren't there.
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12-08-2008 @ 1:59AM
Irene said...
Well again I have no fingernails left at the end of a race.
At the beginning I was rooting for either the mother and son team or the brother and sister team to win, so I am so glad that the brother and sister won. I am worried though about the mother and son team, I hope everything is O.K.
Even though the frat boys came in third and I'm sure nobody thought they would, I think that most of the people that watched the show would have to agree that when they had to march with the Russian troops, that they gave us a good laugh. My husband thinks that he has two left feet, but after watching that episode, I think that he is feeling about that.
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12-08-2008 @ 6:13AM
MCW said...
I guess I am completely different than all of you. I pulled for the underdogs the entire race, and desperately wanted Dan and Andrew to somehow win the race. They certainly overcame a lot of problems, and made this race the funniest one I have ever seen (That trumpet player laughing while they attempted to march kills me every time).
I certainly didn't want Ken and Tina to win, after hearing them yell at each other for a few months straight. And Nick and Starr I did not want to win because they never had a problem in any of their challenges... I hesitate to call it luck, but what else can you call it when everyone else ran into big problems along the way.
I can understand why you all think they are "the best team", but they also looked like they didn't need the money AT ALL. So it's hard for me to cheer that on. It also pained me to see the cowboy-hatted guys standing there... really hoped they'd made it further.
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12-09-2008 @ 3:21AM
ditroia said...
At the end of the Day Nick & Starr, [mostly Nick], were the smartest team in this competition. They knew how to use the internet, they knew their Russian leaders, compared to other seasons most of the other teams weren't that bright.
Not to say that they weren't lucky.
Glad they one.
Cheers
Dave
12-08-2008 @ 10:52AM
willy the impeached said...
Dude what is wrong with you? This is a contest. NEED is irrelevant. This isn't some government program, some handout. its a fricking CONTEST.
12-08-2008 @ 11:21AM
Ryan said...
"they never had a problem with any of the challenges."
Exactly. That's why I wanted them to win. They worked hard, stayed focus and calm (mostly due to Nick), and were smart about most everything including making temporary alliances along the way. The best team won.
12-09-2008 @ 12:40AM
Nattie03 said...
actually they did have a problem a couple times such as with taxis, however they were able to overcome their challenges. even in the second last race they came in third, just one away from last place.
it's too bad Toni and Dallas got eliminated but anything happens in the amazing race
12-08-2008 @ 8:09AM
David said...
I think that something could have been said to explain Toni and Dallas' absence and that they were all right, especially to Starr at the finish line. Not saying anything was conspicuous.
Having said that, I thought this was a thrilling, nerve-wracking finale, and why I love this show. The memory quizzes are brutally fun, and it was great that they kept the teams going, even when you thought the next clue they were sent to was the last one. And I was happy that Nick and Starr won -- I thought they were one of the most clear-headed teams the show has ever had, and even if they weren't the most "entertaining," it was very satisfying to see them finish first.
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12-08-2008 @ 8:13AM
Drex said...
I cant stand Nick and Black Hole.. I hope the money ruins their lives.. YAY, TV!!
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12-08-2008 @ 11:08AM
RobynS8971 said...
I pulled for Nick and Starr, luck (and good taxi drivers) aside, they prepared every leg, doing Internet research on their destinations was the norm for each leg. They approached this game like a college course, and they aced it!
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12-08-2008 @ 11:13AM
jayr2345 said...
pretty good finale, I didnt feel that alot of the challenges were too hard though, compared to the rest of the season. It was definintly wierd not to see toni and dallas there and even wierder that they didnt explain the absence on the show. It would have been nice to have like a tv screen lined along with the other teams with Toni and Dallas via sattelite from Russia (lol). I bet CBS was kicking themselves that they could not take advantage of the budding relationship between Dallas and Starr at the finish line.
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12-08-2008 @ 11:36AM
JoyceN said...
I am so pleased that Nick and Starr won. They played a great game from day 1 and deserved it. It would have been nice to see Dallas and Toni, or at least a mention of them, but Reality TV World had an interview with them and Dallas stated that he and Starr have been dating for 6 months now.
Dan and Andrew must have been pretty far behind the other teams as their shadows were so much longer when they arrived at the pit stop.
That lady that wouldn't help Nick and Starr but did give helpful info to Tina and Ken is definitely on my s**t list.
All in all, a great season. Can't wait until February rolls around.
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12-08-2008 @ 12:40PM
jag said...
The lady that helped Ken and Tina probably overheard that guy tell Nick and Starr where it was located.
I too am glad Nick and Starr won. Ken and Tina won't last long. She's such a *itch.
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12-08-2008 @ 5:08PM
djbuhhda said...
Rofl "My cat just stared at me, but she's not into the show"
and hooray for nick and star and the lady told them to look in the phonebook but then she heard that guy tell them voodoo donut and told ken and tina. she musta known the area and the way and pointed them towards it. that or it was tina's sister.
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12-09-2008 @ 10:47PM
Arc|Angel said...
Anyone notice that when Ken and Tina arrived only moments after Dallas and Starr at the donut shop that it had since rained (the ground was dry when Dallas/Star were there). It looks like they were actually quite some time behind them (from the amount of water I'd say probably half an hour or more).
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