The Amazing Race: 13 of my Favorite Teams

 The Amazing Race...all I knew about it was that a gay couple Chip and Reichen won it in 2004 and said they got 620k after taxes. Then came the Watermelon boomerang of Season 17 and frankly, it's just as funny as when I first saw it. Other than that, I didn't really know much of The Amazing Race until I ran across it on Pluto TV. I'd watched enough FrirendZone and thought to myself...what else can I watch? Enter The Amazing Race. What I saw was fun, drama, adventure and great teams. In fact, a strong cast really makes a season unforgettable like Season 5, of which three teams listed come from 

Since I have quite a few teams to get through, let me get to it 

#1 Kicking off our list is Bopper and Mark 

Bopper and Mark of Season 20 are the epitome of the phrase "You can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy" The two are lifelong friends that seem to have so much fun on the race and really take it in. In Tanzania, they took in the lush meadows and performed the Courtship ritual side of the Detour that leg . 

Mark: I hope it didn't mean me and him were courtin' 

I'm sure that if we were watching it with them, they'd be just the same as they were on the show. The depth of brotherhood they share and how they were just genuine people that  ran their race with dignity, the truth, and most of all the unmitigated grit it took to get through the Bollywood Roadblock after about 20 tries in the sweltering heat of India. Mark, you're a superhero in my book! I swear there should be a movie about you guys! 

The pair have an episode quote for each of them

Episode 2 "Bust Me Right in the Head With It" – Bopper. Bopper said this during the stack it detour when Mark threw a watermelon his way that hit him in the head

Uglier Than a Mud Rail Fence" – Mark In the first Detour in Germany, they had to go up a path, collect Gingerbread and make a roof of Gingerbread. A witch would inspect it and hand them their next clue. Mark " I told her how pretty she was, but she was uglier than a mud rail fence" 

The witch that judged their work

                 Bopper reacting to the Mud Rail Fence comment

I was heartbroken when they got eliminated because they got the Fast Forward (and started out last) 

"You can't stick your head out the window (for relief) because it's worse out there" Mark during their leg in India as he experiences motion sickness

As Mark experience motion sickness, Bopper seems to stifle a laugh. That's how you can tell they're best friends.

Bopper gets his head shaved to claim the Fast Forward in Episode 10, India

Though they claimed the Fast Forward, they were too far behind for it to make any difference. Seeing them eliminated was a sad moment for the viewers because their can do attitude, their brotherhood and great energy made them a fan favorites.

I was very pleased to see that Bopper and Mark would return for Season 24. I was ready for more of the one liners, zingers and laughs along the legs of the race. Those hopes were mercilessly crushed as Bopper wasn't medically cleared to run the race and Mark got paired with fellow Kentuckian Mallory. When they were eliminated in Episode 2, a dejected Mark said "I guess it wasn't meant for me to race around the world without Bopper" 

Phil, the host of the show said Bopper and Mark was easily one of his top three favorite teams 

Tyler and Korey Team #2

What can I say about Tyler and Korey? Strong team that went to the Final Three both of their appearances and were a delight! I love Tyler's laugh and how he and Korey are just like brothers. Their first appearance was Season 28 with other social media influencers. In Season 31, they formed a bond with eventual winners Colin and Christie. Also, I can't help but mention Tyler's shameless flirting with their guide Sebastian (I don't blame him at all) 

Season 31 Episode 7 Tyler and Korey pick Sebastian to be their guide 

Korey: We rounded the corner and all I saw was this 6'4" Sebastian, standing there above all the other river guys 
Tyler: He was a tall drink of water, bearded (exhales) 
Korey: We knew we had to have him 

Someone's excited 

Their near elimination after the Georgian National Ballet roadblock is the stuff that nightmares are made of. Not only was it a tough challenge, it was competing for their very own survival. The pair placed in the Top 3 both of their appearances, and gave us so many notable moments. I still think Korey's Season 28 line in Leg 10 "I hope he doesn't cockle doodle doo doo on me" should have been an episode title 

Margie and Luke Seasons 14, 18 and 24

From the get go, Margie and Luke were written off as a weak team but proved that wrong winning their first ever leg of the season.  Luke also made Amazing Race History twice as being the first deaf contestant, as well as the first deaf gay contestant on the show (revealed in season 24) 

Though they were hampered in some ways, they pulled through and established themselves as competent racers. Some of the challenges they faced where Luke was concerned was his outbursts or meltdowns while taking on some of the tasks. One that is memorable as the tea challenge 

Now, let's consider that the edited version doesn't often show the duration of a challenge though they may show how many attempts. Their placements during Seasons 14 18 and 24 are as follows; 3rd in Season 14 and 8th the other seasons. 

Team #4 Jet and Cord Seasons 16 18 & 24

Episode Quotes:

S 16 E 3 "Run Like Scalded Dogs!" – Jet

S 16 E 4 "We Are No Longer in the Bible Belt" – Jet

S 18 E 7 You Don't Get Paid Unless You Win" – Cord

Jet and Cord are in the arena of guys that simply ran their race and didn't care much about the game aspect. They enjoyed the race and the fact that they got to do it again with their brother. Nicknamed "The Cowboys" they placed 2nd in their first season then 6th and 5th respectively. They were always efficient at Detours and Roadblocks but suffered a little bit when it came to strategy (such as not making alliances with other teams).  This would come into play in Season 24 when the team got U Turned by Jet and Cord 

A U Turn is when a person has to perform both sides of a Detour. They usually get to the U Turn board and realize they've got to go all the way back to the other detour  

Known for their down home charm and efficient game play, strong showings on the race made them a team I would seek to emulate if I ever got on the race. 

One memorable moment was during one of their appearances when ?Jet recalled never leaving Cord's side in the hospital when a horse kicked him in the head. 

Team #5 Trevor and Chris #TeamWellStrung

Season 30 was an interesting season but I know them more for their recaps of their episodes than what I saw on the race. After getting lost for many hours in Iceland they placed 4th in the first 4 legs until placing 5th of 7, 7th of 8 and finally being eliminated at 7th in the 5th episode, Leg 6. They were listed as violinists on the show and according to one of their Youtube videos (Team Well Strung) as of 2018 they're gay but not dating each other. 

I had to say I did enjoy watching them and they had the makings of a great team. I hope to see them again on a future season. I think they could go very far and maybe even the Top 3. After watching their aforementioned Youtube channel, I have to admit I have the googly eyes for Chris (R) he's bubbly and fun

Episode Titles 

S 30 E 2"You're the Best French Fry Ever" – Trevor 

BACKGROUND Trevor said this to Chris when they won the first ever Head to Head in Brussels Frite Race. People had to dress as frites and run a dolly loaded with about 5 bags of frites through an obstacle course. Chris won their race 

The obstacle course for Frite Race

Chris finishing his head to head victorious

S 30 E 3 "It's Gonna Be a Fragrant Day" – Trevor

Trevor said this during a challenge at a fish mart in Tangiers, Morocco where they had to put a tray of fish in a certain way to continue racing. I think the context makes it pretty self explanatory 

I truly hope this team can come back and do better than 7th place, and it would be nice to see what they've learned for the 2nd time around...and I want to see more of the Chris I saw on YouTube in their episodes

Team #6 

Natalie and Nadiya Seasons 24 & 28 

"Chill Out, Freak" – Natalie

"Get Your Sexy On" – Nadiya

"Fishy Kiss" – Natalie

If there were two words to describe Natalie and Nadiya it would be LOUD and Twinny. In one of the legs in Bangladesh I believe, they had the local kids calling the one twinny while they were at a roadblock. They were a good team, bickered a lot like sisters tend to do. In their first appearance they placed 4th, but had less luck the 2nd time around. The twins would find more success on Survivor, Natalie won on Survivor: San Juan del Sur and was runner up on Survivor: Winners at War. 

I do admit they did get to be a bit much at times, and I dind't care for their stereotypes about gay men either, yet the positives of watching their season outweighed the negative. I think the two need to play to each other's strengths and they might do better as a team

Team #7 

Josh and Brent 

While not exactly a favorite team of mine, they're more a come from behind winners of Season 21. They never won any of the previous legs making their likelihood of seeing their win very unlikely. The Fabulous Beekman Boys got another taste of reality TV on the show and stayed literally ONE step above elimination since placing last in a non elimination (Leg 5 Episode 5). These winners are a real life tortoise and the hare of The Amazing Race. In 2013, the couple tied the knot

Team #8

Team Fun Seasons 29 & 31 

Season 31 E 10 "Chugga Chugga Choo Choo!" – Becca

ONE does not simply exclude Team Fun! 

Becca and Floyd didn't even know each other at the starting line of Season 29 when Becca chose Floyd as her partner calling him Urkel. The two were fast friends #TeamFun and exhibited it every chance they could. In Season 31, they overcame a U turn in the 2nd Leg served up by Rachel and Elissa. They weren't your average competitors thinking strategy all the time, they came on the race to have fun like Mark and Bopper. Seeing them win the million would've been great, but the race definitely shows you the kind of person you already are. 

 

One of my favorite moments came in Season 31 when Becca did a roadblock where they had to freefall in a Gorge 

The pair find out the Roadblock is freefalling in a Gorge! 

One of my favorite Becca moments of Season 31

A roadblock where one team member had to load a bike with shrimp traps then give them to a local fisherman proved too much for Floyd as he had to go back three times before completing the task. After finishing, he had gotten heat stroke and Phil came out to let them know of their elimination. 

In both of their seasons, they worked cohesively and won two legs of the race, and placed 5th overall. However, in Season 31 Becca handled most of the physical challenges and Floyd played to his strengths as well becoming a strong team 

This team brings a smile to my face and seeing them get eliminated wasn't fun either. Becca and Floyd may have started off as strangers, they became great friends and a place in the hearts of many superfans 

Team Fun on Victor and Nicole's Podcast (Big Brother and Season 31 castmates)

Found out about these dolls from an old Instagram post 

Also, seeing their approavh to the race makes me want to watch Season 9 in which BJ and Tyler nicknamed "The Hippies" won with a similar free spirit 

BJ & &Tyler Season 9 winners. They made that season fun to watch

Team #9 Season 1 

Frank and Margaritta 

This season was the one I found when watching The Amazing Race on Pluto TV. They both are easy on the eyes too and while hey were strong from the jump but got even better once they unified. The last leg was in their hometown of Queens NY, but missed the train the eventual winners Rob and Brennan were on, ending up in 2nd place. They reconciled for a while before splitting up after the race 

I want to watch their season again so I could remember more about them and relive their season 

Team #10 

The Afghanimals 

The AFGHANNIMALS!, cousins Leo and Jamal were a strong team that were all about having fun on the race and didn't mind playing the game at all. 

They appeared in Seasons 23, 24 and 31. I've only seen them in Season 31 and I really enjoyed their sense of fun and how quickly they dispatched the obstacles. 

In Season 24, Episode 7 Roman Holiday they had a detour in which they had to fight a gladiator and made up a story of revenge and livened up the challenge. 

One of my favorite moments is when they both went on the Running with the bulls detour in Season 24. That was one of the toughest yet most fun looking detours I've ever seen. You got dressed in a bull bubble and run a path with a phrase "A matador" "does not think about" "his own death" three posters, and get it to the matador while getting rammed by other bulls 

Knowing the Afghanimals, they fought back but Leo hurt his knee in one of the scuffles. They competed the challenge and moved on 

In Season 31, a bank vault got the best of Leo and they placed 3rd, but broke their London leg streak (they were eliminated in Seasons 23 and 24 in London) 

Here are some of their moments from Season 23  and Season 24 

 

Teams  11 12 and 13 are a Threefer from Season 5 

Chip and Kim 

Chip and Kim made history one season after a gay couple became the first to win The Amazing Race. They became the first African American team to win and the oldest at the time being 46 and 44 at the time. They languished at the back of the pack until beasting the Caviar Roadblock that threatened to undo even Colin and Christie. It lead Chip and Kim to a first place finish and brought out their confidence as a team. They later turned on their former allies Colin and Christie Yielding them (forcing Colin and Christie to stop racing until an hour glass runs out) spelling the end of the alliance.  

While Chip carried the team in the Roadblocks, Kim really came into play in the later stages as they played the game. I think Kim was the iron will behind their win

Charla and Mirna

Charla and Mirna are cousins born a month apart in Syria and competed in Season 5. They collided with Colin and Christie continually and used their expertise in airports to get a competitive advantage. They were a strong team and were undersestimated by their fellow competitors (who soon learned it as the pair stayed in the race) When they were eliminated,  Charla spoke so passionately about what she fights to overcome that it brought tears to our eyes--and Phil's. I have to place these two in my Top 5 teams that ever played the game. This is Part 1 of a compilation of some of their best moments from Season 5. Here is Part 2. I almost forgot to mention the Phil hugs at every pit stop 

Colin and Christie Season 5 &  31

Colin and Christie had an intensity about them that were unmatched as they learned how to play the game. Colin gave Mirna a death stare when she called her cousin Charla the strongest woman in the race and made no bones about disliking both of them. One notable moment was when Christie tried to block the airport so Charla and Mirna couldn't get through. Charla just breezed through like it was nothing. 

Colin and Christie would argue and bicker as they were both headstrong and unwilling to give way when convinced they were right. There were small gains when Colin admitted he was wrong. Later, in a Detour involving an ox, Colin screamed his famous line "My ox is BROKEN" and screamed his way through until Christie found what they needed to get through the Detour. They finished overall 2nd to Chip and Kim, you could feel the love they have as they spoke of each other 

Another memorable moment is when Chip and Kim yielded Colin and Christie. Colin just stared at Chip when he was doing the Detour, Chip remarked "It was uncomfortable" 

Season 31 

Episode 7 Living Fearlessly" – Christie

Episode 11 This One is For One Million Dollars" – Christie

Colin and Christie were a lot more centered but no less competitive. After getting U turned as a result of the FIRST EVER U Turn vote in Leg 8, they overcame it to place 3rd, showing that they would not go down that easily. The narrative with the two was simple, their growth over the 15 year absence and would their centeredness stand up to the grueling, taxing, feverish pace of the race? Apparently, SPOILER it did! Colin and Christie crossed the finish line to claim the 1 million dollar prize 

Since then, they've appeared on many interviews describing their evolution to the people we saw in Season 31. One of my favorite interviews is here. It is two hours, but doesn't seem that long, and is done by people who've actually been contestants on the show. Team fun also interviewed them and it was great to hear about their common experiences on the race and first impressions of them

If I were to have a hashtag for them it would be #TeamGlowUp because they really had one in the intervening years. To see them now, without having watched Season 5 you wouldn't recognize them. In fact, I didn't even recognize either of them until I saw a flashback of them in Season 31. They are THE best team to ever play the game in both their appearances; their story arc is a great one, a full circle that is so great it's not easy to put it into words 

Honorable mention

Lady Quotable of Gretchen of Meredith and Gretchen of Season 7

Episode 3 "Do You Need Some Mouth-to-Mouth Resuscitation?" – Gretchen

Episode 4 "What a Gaucho You Are!" – Gretchen 

Episode 5 "I've Been Wanting a Face-Lift for a Long Time" – Gretchen

Episode 7 "They Saved The Eyeball" (Recap Episode) – Gretchen

Episode 9 "We Have a Bad Elephant" – Gretchen

I wonder if Gretchen may hold a record for one of the most episode titles in her season. She gave us a scare when she fell while they were spelunking for a clue, Meredith wanted to tend to his wife, but she urged him to get that clue! Me: Grandma's okay if she can worry about the clue. She completed a roadblock later that day, and if that wasn't enough...they were last in a non elimination leg and have to turn over their belongings. Phil said it was one of the meanest moments in all his 30+ seasons on the show

So these are 12 of my favorite Amazing Race Teams as of November 2021. I hope you've enjoyed the blogpost as much as I had writing it