Cowboys Prevail on the Amazing Race Despite "Dag Gamn" Taxi Drivers

On last night's episode of The Amazing Race, teams made their way through Malaysia where they observed Buddhist traditions, Chinese customs, and presented Hindu offerings. Numerous teams including Steve and Allie, Dan and Jordan, Louie and MIchael, and Jet and Cord struggled with taxi drivers.

Yet in the end, the Cowboys prevailed, becoming the first team in Amazing Race history to go from last, perform their roadblock, and finish first the following week.

The Amazing Race teams first boarded a 2 a.m. shuttle to Seychelles Airport where they took off for Penang, Malaysia. There, teams were given a choice of two detours: Buddhist tradition or Chinese custom. In Buddhist tradition, teams had to carry incense sticks up a steep incline and plant them in a giant burner. In Chinese custom, teams balanced flagpoles on their foreheads while walking.

Steve and Allie lost time because Allie had struggled with Chinese custom. Dan and Jordan made a tactical mistake by letting the best taxi driver go. As Louie and Michael explained, "one bad driver can cost you a million dollars."

The Cowboys appeared to be on their way to a repeat of last week when they were the only ones unable to hail taxis. "Dag damnit!" Fortunately for them, they made up plenty of time on the Chinese flagpole detour because Jet had practiced balancing brooms on his nose as a kid.

Amazing Race teams made their way to Teluk Bahang where Jet and Cord discovered their speed bump. They had to travel to a spice garden and use their sense of smell to determine which tea to bring to the meditating guru. They were successful on their second try.

Meanwhile, Louie was wheezing during the Buddhist tradition detour. "My cardio! I don't want to talk about it." You would think that cops would be in better shape given their line of work. Brent and Caitie, firmly aligned with the detectives against Carol and Brandy, delighted in passing the dating couple. However, they gloated too soon as Carol and Brandy passed them on the way to the next task.

Amazing Race teams then had to smash coconuts in search of the one with brightly colored juice, construct and present a Hindu offering. Nobody smashes coconuts faster than Jet, though the detectives prod Caitie on. "Come on, Caitie, you smashing coconut fool!"

Jet and Cord arrived to the pit stop first, winning a trip to Maui as a reward. Carol and Brandy were second followed by Louie and Michael, then Brent and Caitie. The race for fifth place came down to Dan and Jordan vs. Steve and Allie who had struggled with taxi drivers.

Steve and Allie, unfortunately, took the fall this week, surprising given that they were a strong team in the early rounds. People's Victor Jih attributes their elimination to Allie's decision not to complete the Chinese custom task. He points out that they lost crucial time having to travel to the other task. Of course, it's impossible to determine whether or not Allie would have actually been able to conquer the Chinese custom task had she persisted.

In retrospect, it looks like the detectives made the right decision to U-Turn Joe and Heidi instead of Steve and Allie, as Steve and Allie unfortunately stumbled this week on The Amazing Race. Still, they left graciously with their heads held high.

Sources:

Victor's Amazing Race Blog: Knowing When to Quit, People Magazine