Oswald Mendez and Danny Jimenez are a team of Best Friends on The Amazing Race 2 and The Amazing Race: All-Stars.
They were easily the most popular team of Season 2 due to their amicable interactions with the local cultures and their campy nature. Though their tendency to calmly and patiently deal with all obstacles often got them an advantage over the other teams, their lack of a sense of urgency would ultimately cost them in their final leg, as they fell behind and finished 4th.
However, that same attitude made them the face of the season and earned them a spot in All Stars. From the very beginning, they looked like the most improved team of the season, as they strayed far from the front of the pack, only finishing below 4th once, compared to finishing above 4th place only three times in their original season. Many of the tactics that had isolated them from the other teams the first time around played favorably into the game, and their status as fan favorites made them popular with the other teams, even with Rob & Amber. However, they would find themselves the victims of fatigue late in the season once again. Already behind the other teams, they got lost looking for the naval base in Guam, and found themselves eliminated in 4th again.
Profile
Retrieved from CBS.com
BioOswald and Danny met in 1994 and gradually became friends. When Danny's life partner died, Oswald was there to help, and in Danny's words, the two "became partners in crime." Oswald and Danny have traveled extensively together, mostly to Los Angeles and New York, but also to Paris, Milan, and Berlin. On their travels, they "had amazing new experiences and most of all, lots of fun." The pair decided to team up for THE AMAZING RACE because they expect the experience to bring them closer together. "Only someone like Oswald could be strong enough to endure the kind of life-changing experiences that a project like this may bring," said Danny. Oswald added, "We balance each other perfectly." Q & AWhat strengths and weaknesses do you bring to the Team?
What strengths and weaknesses does your teammate bring to the Team?
What is your favorite film?
What is your favorite TV show?
Who is your favorite actor?
Who is your favorite actress
What is your favorite band?
What comfort item from home will you miss the most?
These best friends from Season 2 had a falling out several years ago, but have since mended their relationship and claim to be better friends now than they've ever been during their 12 years of friendship. Even though these two don't live in the same city, they still see each other quite frequently and are ready to take another adventure of a lifetime together. Oswald describes himself as compassionate and resourceful while Danny can be described as an adventurous person who tries to keep things real and exciting at all times. Oswald claims to be the more focused of the two a trait that will surely be tested while racing against the all-stars. Their personalities are infectious and they truly enjoy their lives. Both have traveled the globe, speak several foreign languages between the two, and feel right at home on foreign soil. These two fun-loving friends are eager for the experience that the Race has to offer and are looking to be the team to beat.[2] |
The Amazing Race 2
Race History
| Oswald & Danny's Race History | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Episode | Leg | Destination(s) | Detour Choice (underlined) | Roadblock Performer | Placement | Notes |
| 1 | 1 | United States → Brazil | Mountain / Beach | No Roadblock | 8 of 11 | |
| 2 | 2 | Brazil | Freak Out / Seek Out | Danny | 7 of 10 | |
| 3 | 3 | Brazil → South Africa | Dance / Deliver | Oswald | 1 of 9 | |
| 4 | 4 | South Africa → Namibia | Used Fast Forward | 1 of 8► | ||
| 5 | 5 | Namibia → Thailand | Confusion Now / Confusion Later | Oswald | 6 of 7 | |
| 6 | 6 | Thailand | Boat / Beast | Oswald | 4 of 6 | |
| 7 | 7 | Thailand → Hong Kong | Wishing Tree / Herbal Tea | Danny | 4 of 6 | |
| 8 | 8 | Hong Kong → Australia | Dragon / Lion | Oswald | 1 of 5 | |
| 9 | Australia | Cool Down / Heat Up | Oswald | 4 of 5 | ||
| 9 | 10 | Australia → New Zealand | Quick Jump / Long Hike | Oswald | 4 of 4 | |
| 10 | 11 | New Zealand | Drop / Climb | Danny | 4 of 4 | |
| Average | 4.00 | |||||
Legend:
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The Amazing Race: All-Stars
Race History
| Oswald & Danny's Race History | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Episode | Leg | Destination(s) | Detour Choice (underlined) | Roadblock Performer | Placement | Notes |
| 1 | 1 | United States → Ecuador | Wrangle It / Recover It | No Roadblock | 2 of 11 | |
| 2 | 2 | Ecuador → Chile | By Hand / By Machine | Oswald | 2 of 10 | |
| 3 | 3 | Chile | Vertical Limit / River Wild | Danny | 5 of 9 | |
| 4 | 4 | Chile → Argentina | Navigate It / Sign It | Oswald | 1 of 8 | |
| 5 | 5 | Argentina → Mozambique | Pamper / Porter | Oswald | 4 of 7 | |
| 6 | 6 | Mozambique → Tanzania | Solve It / Schlep It | Danny | 2 of 7 | |
| 7 | 7 | Tanzania → Poland | Perfect Pitch / Perfect Angle | Unknown | 2 of 6 | [1] |
| 8 | 8 | Poland | Used Fast Forward | 1 of 6► | ||
| 9 | 9 | Poland → Malaysia | Artistic Expression / Cookie Confection | Danny | 4 of 5 | |
| 10 | 10 | Malaysia → Hong Kong | Used Fast Forward | 1 of 4► | ||
| 11 | 11 | Hong Kong → Macau | Noodle / Dragon | Danny | 4 of 4> | |
| 12 | 12 | Macau → Guam | Care Package / Engine Care | Oswald | 4 of 4 | [2] |
| Average | 2.67 | |||||
Legend:
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Notes:
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Post-Race
Trivia
- Oswald & Danny are the first Hispanic-American Team to compete on the race.
- Oswald & Danny are the first team to be eliminated in New Zealand and are the first team to be eliminated in Guam.
- In addition, they have the distinction of being the first team to be eliminated in a U.S. Territory.
- Only team to have used the Fast Forward the most times, 3.
- First team to used the Fast Forward at Intersection and came 1st in the same leg (with Uchenna & Joyce).
- First of six teams to finish in the same position twice, 4th place (with Kent & Vyxsin, 5th, Margie & Luke, 8th, Leo & Jamal, 4th, Brendon & Rachel, 3rd, and Becca & Floyd, 5th).
- CBS.com featured them for a 'National Best Friend Day' celebration slideshow in 2015.[3]
External links
Interviews
Season 2
- TARflies (06/05/2003): "Talk to the Cha" with Danny
All-Stars
- Hannah Storm on Early Show (04/30/2007): "Friends' Race Dream Dashed"
- Oscar Dahl at BuddyTV (04/30/2007): "Exclusive Interview: Oswald & Danny, 8th Team Eliminated on The Amazing Race: All-Stars"
- Eric Goldman at IGN (05/01/2007): "All-Stars Interview: Oswald & Danny"
Social Media Profiles
-
Danny's Facebook: /danny.g.jimenez
- Oswald's LinkedIn: /oswald-méndez-11532a5/
Oswald's company website: https://www.newmajorityready.com/
References
- ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20020226013444/http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race2/teams/bios/oswald.shtml
- ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20080221153653/http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race11/bios/bio2.shtml
- ↑ http://www.cbs.com/shows/amazing_race/photos/1001648/celebrating-national-best-friend-day/53750/danny-and-oswald/
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