Double the Stakes, Double the Eliminations is the season premiere of The Amazing Race 37.
Story[]
Host Phil Keoghan introduces the audience to the 37th season of the Amazing Race, where each leg will have a twist, featuring returning and new game mechanics. The starting line is at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, California, where all fourteen teams excitedly arrive to begin their adventure. The first team to introduce themselves are friends Bernie & Carrigain. Bernie expects Carrigain to keep them on track even when her brain is in hyperdrive mode. The next team introduced is married Vegas performers Brett & Mark, who describe themselves as a competitive couple that has fun while they're competing. Third up are sister and brother Han & Holden, who have a typical sibling rivalry and don't usually work well together.
The fourteen teams meet up with Phil clapping and cheering. He mentions its the first time they've had fourteen teams compete in a race and has them introduce themselves to each other. Brothers Nick & Mike mention how they've been applying for the race for the last seven years and are surprised they finally made it. Best friends Carson & Jack introduce themselves as Dungeons and Dragons streamers ready for their biggest adventure yet. Father and son Pops & Jeff mention how they're lumberjacks from St. Louis, MO, and that Pops is one of the oldest competitors there at 64, but both Phil and Jeff wish they would look as good as Pops when they reach 64. Parents Scott & Lori discuss how they've been married for 25 years and are parents of eight, surprising everyone. Phil jokes how they came out to have one more child, but Lori laughs on how she's done.
Phil then discusses how this season will have more surprises than most, including the new twist in the first leg, the Fork in the Road, and that this leg will have two eliminations at the Pit Stop, putting extra pressure on the cast. He tells them the first clue is by their luggage at the bottom of the stairs and sends the teams off on the 37th race around the world. The teams rush down the stairs and find their first Route Info, instructing them to fly to Hong Kong and race to Tian Tan Buddha to find their next clue. They then find marked cars on the side of the road and begin making their way to L.A. airport. Carson mentioned how he and Jack may be able to get there without directions since Jack lived in L.A. for a couple of years. The teams excitedly drive to the airport just before the intro starts.
The teams arrive at LAX airport for one of two Cathay Pacific flights to Hong Kong scheduled to arrive an hour apart, where they rush to get on the first flight. Married parents Jonathan & Ana are the first team to book on the first flight, prompting an excited Jonathan to run and dance. Carson & Jack book their tickets on the first flight alongside the mother-daughter duo Melinda & Erika. Joining alongside them are dating nurses Courtney & Jasmin. Han & Holden just miss out on getting on the first flight, so they book on the second one instead. The remaining teams are baffled and disappointed the first flight sold out so quickly and join the siblings on the second flight, which include Brett & Mark, Nick & Mike, Scott & Lori, Bernie & Carrigan, Pops & Jeff, father and daughter Ernest & Bridget, married nurses Alyssa & Josiah, older sisters Jackye & Lauren, and retired firefighters Mark & Larry.
Scott & Lori discuss how all eight of their children are sons, ranging from nine to 24 years old, and Scott praises Lori for being able to take care of so many boys while he works out of state. Melinda mentions how she's recently become a grandmother. Mark & Larry introduce themselves as retired firefighters that met in 1987 and have been close friends ever since. They don't have a lot of money to go places and Larry has never been out of the country before, but they are seasoned motorcyclists who have driven around the country with their club.
The two flights depart from Los Angeles to Hong Kong, with the first flight being an hour ahead. The teams are worried about the upcoming Fork in the Road and the double elimination. The first flight arrives at 6:03 A.M., 18 minutes later than their predicted time. The first four teams get taxis from the airport and instruct them to head to the Tian Tan Buddha. They excitedly take in the sites on the way to the Buddha and appreciate having some time between them and the next flight. Carson & Jack and Jonathan & Ana are the first to arrive at the Buddha and run up the long staircase to receive their next clue. They must take the Sun Ferry to Cheung Chau Island and find their next clue among the promenade. Melinda & Erika and Courtney & Jasmin take their time and arrive shortly afterwards. Jonathan uses the cab driver's phone to look up ferry times, finding that the next one leaves in 28 minutes while the next one would leave over an hour later before having 30 minute intervals. They encourage their driver to get there quickly to get the immediate booking and get them a substantial lead over the rest. Carson & Jack get nervous when they see Jonathan & Ana's taxi go a different direction.
The second flight arrives at 6:34 A.M., 11 minutes earlier than their predicted time. The remaining ten teams get taxis and make their way to the Buddha. Jonathan & Ana arrive at the pier and rush to the ticket counter, barely making the ferry and being the only team on the first one. As they make their way to Cheun Chau Island, they discuss how they've been together nearly fifteen years and married for seven, but there was a lot of tension in the house a few years prior that lead Ana to leave the house and they separated for over a year until they started talking again while watching the Amazing Race together, eventually leading them back together. The other three teams from the first flight get their ticket for the 9: 45 ferry hope the remaining teams don't catch up to them in the time, but the other ten teams make it to the Buddha and retrieve their clues in quick succession.
All teams except for Jackye & Lauren. After they are the last team to get their clue, Jackye begins to panic and cry as Lauren helps her down the stairs. Jackye reveals she had a traumatic stair accident when she was younger and has been afraid of them ever since. Lauren calmly encourages her sister as they make it down the stairs and back to their taxi. All of the teams on the second flight make it to the 9:45 ferry except for Jackye & Lauren, putting them back on par with most of the first flight teams. Jonathan & Ana's ferry arrives at Cheun Chau Island and they find their next clue, the first Roadblock of the season. One team member must climb a tall bamboo tower, normally used during the Cheung Chau Bun Festival bun-snatching competition, to retrieve their next clue at the top. Ana volunteers for the task, but it proves to be difficult to grip the bamboo with the rain coming down in the city. Jonathan pushes Ana to go quickly as she struggles to catch her breath. She manages to climb up with no other team showing up, and she snatches their next clue. They are instructed to travel to Lok Kwan Street Park, where the Fork in the Road is located.
The Fork in the Road is a new twist on the Detour formula. Only seven teams can select one of the two tasks listed, turning a fourteen team race into two seven team parallel races, which will lead to two teams getting eliminated. As Jonathan & Ana head towards the park, Jackye & Lauren take the 10:15 ferry to head to Cheun Chau Island. Jonathan & Ana have to take the ferry again, but find that it won't leave for over half an hour. Frustrated, they decide to stop by the near McDonald's to get intel to their next spot in the meantime. The second ferry arrives and the twelve teams with it make their way to the Roadblock. Bernie, Brett, Bridget, Carson, Erika, Han, Jasmin, Josiah, Lori, Mark, Mike, and Pops choose to do it. Bernie and Han get a headstart on the other teams, but Brett, having climbed a lot in his Vegas shows, completely dominates the challenge within seconds. Some of the later teams have to wait in a line for the others to get done. Bernie is the next to get her clue, with Josiah, Han, Lori, and Carson following soon after.
Scott expresses pride in his wife as Nick grabs his clue. The teams that are done head back to the ferry. Ernest roots for Bridget to climb up, and she grabs her clue the same time as Erika, who loses her shoe on the way down. Mark and Pops, despite their age, manage to get up quickly thanks to their physically demanding professions. Jasmin, having issues with heights, takes her time getting up there, and is the last one of the group to grab her clue, with Courtney cheering her on. Jonathan & Ana quickly grow disappointed as they lose their lead with all of the teams from the second ferry catching up to theirs. The only team not on the ferry, Jackye and Lauren, arrive at the Roadblock, with Lauren taking it on. Lauren has some difficulties getting on the first bar with her short height and the rain coming down. She takes a slow and steady pace up the tree with Jackye cheering her on.
All of the teams leave the ferry and hitch a nearby taxi to Lok Kwan Street Park except for Courtney & Jasmin, who have difficulty finding a cab driver that can take them there. Nick & Mike recount how they've watched every episode of the Amazing Race and showcase a montage of all of their audition tapes for the last seven years. Alyssa & Josiah introduce themselves as go-getter nurses, but Josiah believes Alyssa is brilliant at everything she does while he's the class clown to balance her talents. After minutes of climbing Lauren receives her clue, Jackye and the local staff cheer and congratulate her as she bursts into tears of joy. Carson & Jack and Nick & Mike are the first two teams to arrive at the park. The two choices are Dance and Sing. For Dance, teams would go to Jao Tsung-I Academy, where they must learn and perform a traditional Chinese lion dance and have the master approve their performance. For Sing, teams would go to the Tea House Theatre at Xiqu Centre, where they must don traditional Cantonese opera outfits and makeup, then learn and perform a Cantonese song and have a judge approve them.
Both the brothers and the gamers choose Dance, with Jack encouraging them to do it given Carson's background in Broadway. Alyssa & Josiah arrive third and choose Sing since no one has chosen it yet. Ernest & Bridget choose Dance since the Sing challenge is in another language. Bernie & Carrigan also choose Dance since they believe they're strong dancers. Alyssa & Josiah arrive at the theatre and choose their instructors before they have make up and the appropriate wardrobe placed on them. As they get used to the lyrics and movements, Han & Holden also choose the Sing task since they know Vietnamese. Meanwhile, the brothers and gamers arrive at the academy and choose their instructors. They put on the costume pants and assign each partner the head and tail as they begin to practice the dance. Mark & Larry choose Dance since they know they'd have issues with pronunciation in another language. Jonathan & Ana arrive next, and while they normally would have picked Dance given their background in dancing, they go with Sing since five teams had already selected Dance. Brett & Mark pick dance since they know they can dance better than the other teams listed, while Melinda & Erika choose Sing. Pops & Jeff choose Sing because they can't dance well. Scott & Lori go with Sing as well.
Meanwhile, Courtney & Jasmin struggle for nearly an hour to get a taxi to take them to a park, but finally succeed by having a driver read the destination. The two nurses met at school ten years prior and started as friends before transitioning to dating, and eventually want their relationship to evolve, but don't want to rush. Jonathan & Ana and Han & Holden arrive at the theatre and choose their instructors. Josiah & Alyssa give their first attempt on the song, but fail when it came to the lyrics and movement, not feeling like the karaoke they're used to. The other teams slowly start making their way to the academy for dance and try to quickly adapt seeing how much competition is there. Brett & Mark then discuss how they've been together for ten years and married for four. Mark dances in a lot of different shows while Brett works with Cirque de Soleil. Carson & Jack decide to give it a shot despite their lack of practice to get a feel for what the room and music is like. They fail on their first attempt for not moving with the beat of the drum. Nick & Mike also fail their first attempt for their lack of teamwork.
Courtney & Jasmin finally make it to the clue and find they'll be the last team choosing either task. They decide to choose Dance as they believe they can beat either Nick & Mike or Mark & Larry. Scott & Lori arrive at the theatre as Alyssa & Josiah make their third attempt at singing. While they get the lyrics correct, they do the movements too quickly. Jonathan & Ana's first attempt also ends similarly, as the judge comments on Ana moving her head during the performance. As the siblings and parents of eight get their makeup on, Scott comments he was a cheerleader in college. Holden jokes how he hopes his parents putting him through Vietnamese school will help them sound great. While Jackye & Lauren are still far behind the other teams in last on the ferry, they still appear to be having a good time and want to enjoy the race as they attempt to catch up. Mark & Larry arrive at the academy and joke the last time Mark did a dance is when he had a snake underneath him. Nick & Mike's second dance attempt is rejected for not moving fluidly enough.
Carson & Jack end up being the first team to complete their Fork in the Road challenge as they get the dance correct on their third attempt. The gamers are instructed to race to the Pit Stop: The West Kowloon Cultural District Art Park Terrace. The last teams to arrive for both routes will be eliminated. The gamers keep the pants on as they rush out of the academy, while Courtney & Jasmin arrive at the same time. Pops & Jeff and Melinda & Erika enter the theatre as Scott & Lori make their first attempt at singing. They are rejected for moving too quickly. At the academy, Brett & Mark successfully complete the lion dance on their third attempt. Mike begins to get frustrated as the rest of the teams are there alongside them, while Nick calms him down. But it gets more difficult as Bernie & Carrigan and Ernest & Bridget successfully complete the dance before them. The brothers finally get the dance down on their seventh attempt, leaving Mark & Larry and Courtney & Jasmin as the last two teams at the academy.
At the theatre, Pops & Jeff joke around while getting their makeup on, and feel slightly relieved that the seventh team attempting Sing hasn't shown up yet. As the other teams struggle to get the routine down, Alyssa & Josiah finally impress the judge enough to pass, becoming the first team to get it done. They keep their makeup and hats as they leave the theatre and wave goodbye to the other performers. Jonathan & Ana's second attempt is rejected for not mimicking the actions correctly. Meanwhile, Jackye & Lauren finally arrive at the park, where they're forced to pick Sing, but are still excited to take the challenge on since they love to sing.
Carson & Jack arrive at the Pit Stop in first place and are greeted by Phil and two lion dancers. For being the first to complete the lion dance route, they win $3,000. They are proud of being able to overcome their self-doubt in the first leg and prove their abilities. Brett & Mark arrive minutes later to claim second. At the academy, Mark & Larry have trouble imitating the movements and are rejected on their third attempt. Unfortunately for them, Courtney & Jasmin complete it on their second attempt. After they leave, the firefighter successfully complete the dance on their fourth attempt. At the theatre, Jonathan & Ana complete the singing challenge on their third attempt. As Ernest & Bridget arrive at the Pit Stop in third while Bernie & Carrigan get fourth, the last three teams struggle to get a taxi in the streets of Hong Kong. All three of them manage to get one within minutes of each other.
Alyssa & Josiah are the first team to arrive for the Sing route, and are greeted by Phil and a singer. They also win a $3,000 prize. While they're grateful for the win, Alyssa knows they can't celebrate too long with how quickly the race changes. The last three teams for Dance arrive within minutes and see each other, leading to a fast scramble towards the Pit Stop. Mark & Larry lag behind the others due to Larry's bad knee. Nick & Mike arrive in fifth place with Courtney & Jasmin making it to sixth just seconds after them. Both teams sigh in relief upon hearing they'll both be competing in the next leg. A minute later, Mark & Larry arrive in last place on the Dance route and are the first team to be eliminated. Both older men had a good time, and Mark begins to tear up when describing his partner, which Larry jokes about. Despite being the first team gone, Mark & Larry were grateful to be invited to compete and run around in a beautiful region like Hong Kong, and wish the others luck as they leave, proud of what they accomplished.
At the theatre, the other teams are struggling mimicking the movements they need to make on stage. Pops & Jeff stiffen and slow their movements and manage to complete it on the second try, and advise Melinda & Erika on how to do it as they leave. Han & Holden complete it shortly after them, while Scott & Lori get it done on their sixth try. Melinda & Erika succeed on their fifth attempt and are the last team to leave the theatre as Jackye & Lauren arrive. Most of the teams get their taxis while Melinda & Erika lose time after listening to a local's advice on directions. Melinda complains while Erika encourages her not to quit. Jonathan & Ana arrive at the Pit Stop in second for the Sing route. Phil congratulates them for doing well, but Jonathan's unsatisfied with missing out on first place. Scott & Lori and Pops & Jeff arrive in third and fourth for their route respectively, with Han & Holden joining them in fifth shortly afterwards. As the three teams leave, Melinda & Erika arrive after finding their way up the stairs and are ecstatic to find out they're the sixth team and are still competing.
Jackye & Lauren successfully complete the Sing challenge and head towards the Pit Stop. As they make their way to the end, they reflect on one of the main reasons they're doing the race. Their mom wanted to travel and have adventures with them, but as soon as she retired, she developed Parkinson's and was never able to do it. The sisters arrive in last place to the Pit Stop with smiles on their faces. Phil commends them for their enthusiasm as he reveals they've been eliminated. Jackye thanks Phil for the opportunity to compete and wants her tombstone to mention she competed on the race. The sisters found the experience life-changing and hug each other as they look out at the city and ponder about the future.
Route Markers[]
The Race begins at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, California, United States.
Teams must fly to Hong Kong, China. The first flight could carry four teams and is scheduled to depart one hour ahead of the second, which would carry the remaining ten teams. Upon arrival, teams must take a taxi to the Tian Tan Buddha, where they would find their next clue.
Teams must make their way to the Central Piers, then take the Sun Ferry to Cheung Chau Island. Once there, they must make their way to the Cheung Chau Promenade, where they would find their next clue.
"Who's ready for some ups and downs?"
The team member assigned to this Roadblock must climb a tall bamboo tower, normally used during the Cheung Chau Bun Festival bun-snatching competition, to retrieve their next clue at the top.
The Roadblock performers per team are underlined:
Teams must take the Sun Ferry back to the Central Piers, them make their way to Lok Kwan Street Park, where they would find their next clue.
At Lok Kwan Street Park, teams would encounter the Fork in the Road. Only a maximum of seven teams could choose either Fork in the Road task, with the last team to arrive at the Pit Stop from each side being eliminated.
Choice A: Dance
Teams must take a taxi to Jao Tsung-I Academy, where they must learn and perform a traditional Chinese lion dance. Once the master is satisfied with their performance, he would give teams their next clue.
Bernie & Carrigain, Brett & Mark, Carson & Jack, Courtney & Jasmin, Ernest & Bridget, Mark & Larry, and Nick & Mike chose this task.
Choice B: Sing
Teams must take a taxi to the Tea House Theatre at Xiqu Centre, where they must don traditional Cantonese opera outfits and makeup, then learn and perform a Cantonese song. Once the judge is satisfied with their performance, which included the lyrics and actions, she would give teams their next clue.
Alyssa & Josiah, Han & Holden, Jackye & Lauren, Jonathan & Ana, Melinda & Erika, Pops & Jeff, and Scott & Lori chose this task. Teams must make their way to the West Kowloon Cultural District Art Park Terrace to check in.
For coming in first place, Carson & Jack and Alyssa & Josiah each won $3,000.
Leaderboard[]
First Place • Eliminated • Last placer on a Non-Elimination Leg or continue racing on a No-Rest Leg • Season winner • Season 2nd place • Season 3rd place • ► Used the Fast Forward• ϵ Used the Express Pass• ⊂ User of the first Double U-Turn slot • ⊃ Recipient of the first Double U-Turn slot • ⋐ User of the second Double U-Turn slot • ⋑ Recipient of the second Double U-Turn slot• ∇ Team that lost the Double Battle
Dance[]
Carson & Jack
Best Friends/Gamers |
Brett & Mark
Married Vegas Performers |
Ernest & Bridget
Father/Daughter |
Bernie & Carrigain
Friends |
Nick & Mike
Brothers |
Courtney & Jasmin
Dating Nurses |
Mark & Larry
Retired Firefighters |
Sing[]
Alyssa & Josiah
Married Nurses |
Jonathan & Ana
Married |
Scott & Lori
Married Parents of Eight |
Pops & Jeff
Father/Son Lumberjacks |
Han & Holden
Siblings |
Melinda & Erika
Mother/Daughter |
Jackye & Lauren
Sisters |
Trivia[]
- This episode marks the first appearance of the Fork in the Road.
- This episode marks the first time that there is a Double Elimination at a single Pit Stop since "The Sprint of Our Life" in The Amazing Race 19.
- This also marks the first leg to have two separate mats at the Pit Stop.
- The Tian Tan Buddha was previously the location of the unused Fast Forward in the eighth leg on The Amazing Race 2.
- The episode title is said by Mike Fiorito.
- On Carson & Jack's podcast, Dweeb Wars, they revealed a cut scene in the opening of the episode where Pops & Jeff accidentally left their fanny packs and passports at the starting line, which was nearly an hour away from the airport. However, they were able to get it back and make their flight.
References[]
| The Amazing Race 37 Episodes |
|---|
|
"Double the Stakes, Double the Eliminations" · "Very Strong Warrior Energy" · "Chaotic, Crazy, That's What We're Used to" · "There's No Addresses in the Jungle" · "It's Not Personal, It's Business" · "It Smells Like the Desert" · "Be One With the Hay" · "We're Letting Race Brain Win" · "The Pizza de Résistance" · "Up the River Without a Joust" · "My Knight in Shining Armor" · "We're in Miami Baby!" |