'The Amazing Race' recap: The Pies Have It

While the other teams were still struggling through the Detour, Tammy and Victor finished with what seemed like a major lead, winning hybrid go-karts and earning a double Browsie from Phil when Tammy refused to hug a cake-covered Victor, saying, "Oh, okay, you're gross." Germany must bring out the best in Browsie, because he made a third appearance when Mel and Mike arrived second and couldn't get through the simplest of gates, until a local showed them the secret: Pulling.

Four teams were battling it out for last place. Kisha and Jen were stymied because bossy big sis Kisha was determined to always give driver Jen the wrong directions. As the episode progressed, Jen set about trying, with scientific precision, to formulate the perfect icy glare. In fact, the only thing Jen was allowed to say every time she popped up on camera was some variation on, ''I hate my sister.'' Perhaps the look of abject weariness on her face by episode's end was not due to her sister, but due to producers constantly making her repeat the same soundbite.

Equally one-note were Kris and Amanda, but their one note was ''Let's listen to what words Amanda can mangle.'' It started with her calling the city ''Moonich,'' and ended in a flurry of: Her misreading the Detour clue as having to accomplish an ''Australian'' folly (''That's 'Austrian,''' whispered Kris); and saying, ''This is the first task I've gotten to done'' (''Gotten to do?'' suggested Kris). Ironically, it's taking a trip around the world for Amanda to finally learn English.

But as usual, the blondes were doing all they could to get eliminated. This time, when they finished with the pies, they couldn't find the quaint lumberjack machine that sawed off their Pit Stop disc. Looking for cut wood, they wandered off to a stable and picked up a dirty 2x4. I enjoyed it when they brought it to the finish line, hoping for bells and whistles, only to have the clue dispensers ignore them. They should have known: Sure, CBS won't spring for HD cameras for The Amazing Race, but they're not so cheap yet that they're using discarded lumber for clues.

But as slow and confused as the Blondes were, the hillbillies were slightly more so. Once you've run the wrong way down a mountain, it's pretty damn hard to bounce back. But their elimination made for a tearful ending, and it wasn't just Linda: Steve too broke down into tears, and they exchanged pledges of love. It was touching and moving and made my heart sing. Unfortunately, my heart was singing along with a jug band, which took away from the moment, but still: best of luck to these two.

Will you miss the hillbillies, or did you think it was inevitable that they got the boot early? Will the sibling squabbles undermine Tammy/Victor and Jen/Kisha, or will they bounce back? And whose race is it to lose? Make sure to check out Phil's blog, as he gives a behind the scenes look at Mel's wind miracle, and tells how Steve and Linda's weeping didn't end when the cameras turned off. In fact, they may still be crying right now....

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