The Standings Before Episode 2

Balil & Sa'eed eliminated Vipul & Arti eliminated Tyler and James in first place Tyler & James: (Team Number 1) As expected, these two are the team to beat. They take the top spot, and a bonus $20K prize to boot. They're physically strong, and a good team that works well together. They have confidence and trust in each other, and watch each other's backs. But what's this? There's already a little flirt going on between team Model and team Beauty Queen...! Will we get some inter-team romance this season? We can only hope! Duke & Lauren: (Team Number 2) These two are going to make me cry every episode, aren't they? They both so obviously want to mend the distance between them, that this whole experience is going to be very emotionally charged for them. They're already crying like crazy, and they're in second place! Heaven help us all if they get sent home anytime soon. I'm really pulling for them... although there was that one uncomfortable moment when Duke joked that he'd being trying to ask his daughter out for years. Hmmm... that might give us another whole layer as to why he was so upset when he found out she was gay. Peter & Sarah: (Team Number 3) Well, I didn't figure that these two Iron Man competitors would be too far from the top, but even so they had to overcome a lot this first leg! I didn't know how Sarah was going to make it up that wall, but she she did, and beat all but two teams doing it. These guys are strong, both physically, and as a unit... they have a really strong support system in each other. I don't know what impact this hydraulic fluid leak in her knee is going to have (who even knew you could have a hydraulic fluid leak in your knee?), but if she can scale a wall with a leaky knee... there isn't much these team CAN'T do physically. Dustin & Kandice: (Team Number 4) This is not a team to be taken lightly. These two ladies are strong, fit, smart, and work well together. They bounced back nicely from the less than helpful taxi driver that dropped them off at the wrong restaurant, and never lost their cool. Plus, they’ve caught the eye of the guys of Team Model. It’s never a bad thing to align with the team in first place, either strategically or romantically. Rob & Kimberly: (Team Number 5)Well, there are fireworks between this couple, but not the romantic kind. They both seem to expect the worst of each other, and that’s not helping in the teamwork area at all. They finished okay, in the middle of the pack… but they got lucky this time. Squabbling couples never make it very far in this game, and based on the glimpse in the preview things only get worse for these two. Kellie & Jamie: (Team Number 6)These two squealed and clapped their way all the way through the first leg. They are quite the cheerleaders, that’s for sure. Clapping to encourage their taxi driver, clapping to encourage the pedicab driver… they’re having the best time ever! And they are truly entertaining to watch, even if they are cringe worthy every once in a while. They paused and puzzled for a moment over whether Muslims worship Buddha… then they squealed and clapped because they got their airline tickets and were on their way. I don’t know how long they’ll be around, but it will be a lot of fun to watch them while they’re here. Erwin & Godwin: (Team Number 7)Erwin and Godwin didn’t have the best of luck this round. They got lost trying to drop off their rental car, had their squirt guns taken away at the airport, had a confused taxi driver leave them at the wrong location, and found out that none of the 14 languages they speak did them a bit of good in Beijing. They’re lucky to still be in this race. This sloppy play should be a wake up call, and hopefully they’ll be more on track starting with the next leg. Tom & Terry: (Team Number 8)Tom and Terry are having a grand time! The teamed up with the Cheerleaders in the Detour competition, and there couldn’t be two teams that could be better paired! The Cheerleaders stopped clapping for the first time all day though when Tom and Terry did a better job of repeating choreographed moves than they did. Hopefully these two keep the good times rolling, because they are going to be a lot of fun to watch. Lyn & Karlyn: (Team Number 9)Well we’ve found our snarky team of the season. These two had a lot of bad things to say about Peter and Sarah, and I figure they’ll only be one of many targets of this team. They did overcome a tough physical obstacle to get to the pit stop though, so I think they may have surprised even their selves at how capable they can be. I still don’t feel a strong drive to win from these two however… so I don’t think they’ll be around too long. David & Mary: (Team Number 10)As much as I liked this team in the beginning, they’re not as supportive and sweet as I first imagined. I mean David is fine… but I think all those years of raising kids while her husband made all the decisions for the family has been building up for Mary. Because now she’s asserting herself all over the place, and not necessarily being very nice about it. David is being pretty tolerant, but these two may not finish very well if Mary doesn’t tone it down a little bit and work with David a little better.