Sorry this took so long to get too, but I've finally had an opportunity to watch this first episode...As usual, I start of with my very first impressions of the teams when they are introduced at the beginning of the show. What's up with the biking in the beginning? Has AR ever started like that? Get the teams all tired before they even start. (Again, I type this as I watch, so it may be lengthy)

Dave and Cherie - The clowns. Not sure what to make of them. Seems like they will have a good time on the race, but if they clown around too much, won't get far.

Bopper and Mark - The Kentucky friends. Looks like they could use the money judging from the house the were eating in. Had no walls!

Misa and Maiya - The golf sisters. I was going to root for them but then one of them said she went to ucla. UGH Oh, they know what it takes to win the race, do they? DO THEY?? Stupid bRuins.
(I went to USC, and best friend is a bRuin, FYI)

Brandon and Rachel (Branchel) - Do I really need to say anything about these two? Even her voice is annoying. I'd rather listen to nails on a chalkboard. Is she really wearing a sequins top on AR??? Has she ever seen the show?? See, annoying already (guess who I'm NOT rooting for)

Joey and Danny - New Jersey Guidos. Don't like them. Don't like Jersey Shore either. Nuff said.

Nary and Jannie - Federal agents. I'm scared to NOT root for them. Seem like a force that can go far.

Rachel and Dave - Military married couple. Like them. Gotta root for people who fought for our country. Ok, it was only him, but still.

Elliot and Andrew - Twin Brothers. Like them. They just seem goofy. We'll see.

Kerri and Stacey - Daisy Duke cousins. Think they'll worry to much about how they look, then how they're going to do on the race.

Vanessa and Ralph - Dating couple. So, she stalked him, he got married, still stalked him, he got divorced, then she got married, then divorced and now they're dating each other. My head hurts. Probably not gonna be my favs, but are higher up then Branchel.

Art and JJ - Border Patrol agents. Don't think they will do well. Living in Los Angeles, they don't really do that well at their job, so....

The Balloons:
Tough first challenge. 100 balloons and only 11 clues. Need to be lucky here. First of, Man-Clown tells his wife, "Find me a balloon, honey." Cause he can't get his butt up the hill. Get your own damn balloon! And why aren't teams splitting up and have each person pull down a balloon? Did Phil say they had to stay together.

The Skydive:
That looked friggin AWESOME!!!! What a way to start the race. Plus, I liked the little twist AR put in there. Making it a Road Block, so the teams had to choose which one had the "good sense of direction" not knowing the other had to jump out of a plane!
Glad to see the Military couple and Border Patrol agents team up. Think I like them.
I loved the line "My uterus is in my throat" That made me

Ok, I think it was the cousins, that switched on who was doing what at the road block, and then the one is terrified of jumping out of a plane? I mean, yea, she did it, but... I get frustrated at teams like this for some reason.

The Empenadas (sp?):
I hate to say this, but Branchel actually played it smart. They paid attention to the way they were being made, and built on their lead over the Border Patrol who didn't pay attention. Excuse me while I go cut off my fingers after complimenting Branchel.

At least she didn't come in first. PHEW! That honor went to the Military guy and wife. Thank god!

Would anyone eat the empenadas that the Guidos made? Theirs did not look appetizing at all.

And WHY would you not bring your bags with you every where?? You don't know where you're going next. I've seen it many times on AR, teams forget their bags and it ends up costing them. Well, can't expect much from bRuins.

OMG!!!! I can't believe that ending! How did they not see Phil. I'm speechless. I feel bad for them (only cause they're women) but i gotta laugh cause, well, it's typical bRuins. LMAO!!!

Anyways, that's my wrap up for the first episode. Looks like it's going to be an exciting season.

In closing, I think my favorites are The Military guy/wife, the Twin brothers, maybe the Border Patrol guys... so far at least. It will probably change...

Until next week....

cool insight ni. I have not made up my mind yet and we differ in some opions her as stated in my post called "so far", but I like the way you analyze the show. I like Rachel allot and other than that, not sure who else I will grow to like. The 1st team out, I might have liked them if they did not loose, now I do not like them as they could not even see the check in right in front of them...DUH!!??

Hi knight! Been waiting for this and thank you! I am liking Dave and Rachel the most so far. Get a kick out of the country guys, have no use for the border patrol duo.

Well I knew it would happen I just thought (and bet my mother) that Rachel would get "Rachelised" in or by ep #3 but she did it in the second. Costing me one lunch on me....lol

Not surprised that Brandon ticked off the boarder pat. guys at the first clue. And I couldn't help but to laugh when the second bus stopped after the FBI agenst (or the other team with them on the 3rd bus) wished one of them would.

I would have done the same thing as the boarder pat. guys but I don't know if I would have gotten lost as easly as they did. Mainly because growing up I was the navigator for my dad when he drove us on vacation. The one time I couldn't do it was when I got sick. The drive he had taken (and we went to the same place every year) My dad got lost, my mom got fustrated, and my brother got more sleep. I got us on track and got to see the grand cannoyon......lol