Seriously, you can’t ask for much more. And new opening sequence! New graphics! Well, I do miss the Head Turn. Nothing to mock! Come on, show!

Some pretty likable teams up front, and only one Team Bickersons making me roll my eyes early on. (Yes, I’m looking at you, Preston and Jennifer.) Why are these two people together? And why, for the love of all that is entertainment, are they on my television set? This is not good times. It’s frustration producing. I don’t watch the show for that, show.

Otherwise, kinda liking these folks. So far.

Liked the lack of airport time, loved how the train had those huge windows so you could see out over the Swiss Alps - how cool for a first destination. Love the split screen and the digital time showing how far back teams are. I’m SO on board already!

And, so okay, maybe the self proclaimed Team Hilbilly is also going on my not-so-much list. At least Steve is, anyway. Dang. Way to be supportive, dude! Ass. (Joins Preston in the That Guy Club. And we’re only ten minutes in. Yay.) Also Linda? Pack some Kleenex. No crying on TAR!

Conversely, Team Lovebirds (Kris and Amanda) are adorable. Take notes.

Lovely views! Makes me get itchy passport fingers!

Tammy & Victor, lawyer sibs…such good ennunciators, those two! Team Flight Attendants and Team Cheerleaders seem like they’d be good…but I’m still kinda waiting. Although, while both of those teams are standard T&A casting, we didn’t get any Team Zoolander young studs who dominate the race, this year, so that is a bonus. Well, in some ways. But I’d rather see interesting teams of non-models run the race. Team Gay Son/Dad is an interesting pair. Will they bring the funny? Love Team Stuntmen. Just watching them makes me happy. No clue why. Just does. They smile a lot. I think I will call them Team Weeble. (They wobble, but they don’t fall down…)

Show of hands when you saw the second highest bungee jump in the world off that sheer dam face…how many felt their stomach drop just looking at it? Then grinned at the thought of Team Weeble, who will own this challenge. Everyone else? Hope they brought a change of underwear. Seriously, I don’t even have to do this and it makes me want to scream like the girl I am. Yikes! But what a truly awesome first Road Block. You’ve redeemed yourself, show. For now.

And very cool watching deaf son Luke take that long, silent leap, while mom was the one who needed new underwear. ME TOO, MOM!! I like them. Props Flight Attendant - much cooler than I would have been. And not a sound! As for Steve and Linda…dang Linda, I don’t approve of the complete lack of spousal support, but you seriously cannot run. At. All. Like, at all. Shuffling is your top speed. Did it not occur to you that this might be a problem while running a raaaaace? Around the world?

Interlaken - yay, bells, dogs, cheese!

Pretty damn grueling challenge - that hill, that cheese! I already have no idea how Linda will make it through this. Kill her now, Steve. Just sayin. Everyone, old and young, is seriously huffing by the time they climb that slippery steep slope….now go back down with a monster wheel of cheese on this wooden rack backpack thing apparently made out of balsa wood…and then do it again! Totally digging the drunken Swiss bell ringers, hanging at the bottom watching, laughing, swigging brewskis. Ha! This could only be improved upon by one of those bullet speed rolling blocks of cheese taking them out like bowling pins.

No one is handling this challenge smoothly so far. Could I go back and just do the bungee twice? Wow, way to step it up, show! This is intense. Leg One!

Team Lawyer Sibs - dial it down, wow. No trampling the Weebles! And don’t you love Club That Guy, telling their partners “You HAVE to do this!!” Like that’s going to suddenly make them more physically capable…like they’re purposely sucking at it. Wow. Can we eliminate Steve and Preston? Steve has been convinced they were going to be eliminated since leaving the starting line. Not without some merit, mind you, but for the love of racing, shut it, Steve! Linda…not a racer. Never will be. Just eliminate him and put us all out of our misery.

Next! Yodelers at the Pit Stop!

Margie & Luke hit the mat in my all time favorite Amazing Bathmat landing EVER. Phil is a rock star as he signs to them that they are team number one. LOVE THAT! Possibly one of the best race moments. Sigh. Very satisfying first epi, folks. Very.

Second? Team Lawyer Sibs, Tammy/Victor. Third: Team Weeble!! Fourth:Team Gay Dad/Son. Fifth: Team Lovebirds - Amander & Kris (love the Kiwi accent!) So far, all my fave teams in front! Woot! Team Six: Team Older Folks - Brad & Victoria, who had NO MUD on them after the cheese round, how in the world did they manage that?; Seventh: Team Cheerleader; Eighth - Team Jock Sibs, It should be mentioned here that Steve and Linda rocked the cheese challenge - seriously, it’s stunning, I know - and left there in fifth heading to the mat, then wander around unable to find the pit stop…and come in…ninth: And Linda wins back my heart briefly by loving the Phil Eyebrow Porn as much as I do, and telling Phil so (love!). So…last place? Wow, this is now cemented as my most favorite first leg EVAH when Team Flight Attendants beats out Team Bickersons in a footrace to the mat. YES! Taking one Club That Guy member out, straight off. Rock and roll, baby! Buh bye, Preston. And Jennifer, if you want to win a footrace for the finish line, maybe you should, oh, I don’t know, RUN, instead of making your partner carry you! Can’t help but think it’s just as well they’ve taken each other off the market and saved other singles everywhere the heartache of ever dating either of them.

All in all? You can’t do better than that to launch a race. Worth the wait, show, worth the wait.

Next week? Germany! Linda lost in the alps! Crying! Cream pies in the face! Can they top Leg One?

Dang! Now, it’s your turn! DISH!!!

And tune in tomorrow for all the details on this week’s giveaway!!

Tags: Writing //