Episode Report Card Miss Alli: B | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Phoenix Is the New New York
By Miss Alli | Season 4 | Episode 13 | Aired on 08.20.2003
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In the airport terminal, Kelly explains that over the entire race, missing this connection was the low point. She and Jon stand and hug a little. He speculates that perhaps there will be an outbreak of diarrhea on the plane and the Chipsters will be unable to run. Well, you can always look on the bright side, I suppose. "Those damn Chippendales," Kelly says with a frustrated little fist-pump and a little smile. Jon voices over that he was trying to stay positive, because the leg is long and there are opportunities to catch up. They find another flight, which Jon says as they stand at the counter gets in at 8:05 AM, as opposed to the other flight, which gets in at 6:55 AM. They get tickets and manage to get on this flight. It takes off, with Kelly happily chattering about "here we go again" and other self-encouraging platitudes.
Unusual and incongruous electric guitars abound on the soundtrack as the Amazing Yellow Lines show you that the Chipsters and Jon and Kelly are both winging their respective ways to Hawaii, in that order. And then, here we are, looking at the lovely Kona International Airport, where the Chipsters are landing. They run to their car outside, accompanied by the lovely "Currently in 1st place" caption. With Chip in the customary driver's seat, they pull out of the parking lot, Reichen rereading the clue about making their way to the southernmost point in the United States. Of course, they should just tell them that much instead of naming the place, but in the tradition of new and non-improved "go here, dummy" clues, the point is actually named right in the clue. In the car, Reichen talks about what a relief it is to be "back home" in the United States. He explains that they know they're ahead of Kelly and Jon, but they have no idea what's become of Jeff and David. He's sure that the boys "found a way to get here." Is he new?
Hey, look. It's the boys. In the Sydney airport. Still. But at least they are finally getting on that Sydney-Hawaii flight, as Jeff voices over that when they didn't see the other teams in Sydney, they started to suspect that they probably had made their way to Honolulu a little less eventfully. He adds that he's hoping the other teams will "make a mistake that allows [Who] to catch up." Yeah, keep hope alive, there, bud.
In the Chipster car, Chip is grimacing as usual as they hit traffic. Back at the Kona airport, Kelly and Jon are landing. They run out of the airport and to their car, and they hop in. Jon drives, and Kelly gives directions. It's really funny -- you can tell that their mode has completely changed. They're not bickering, they're not teasing...they're just very focused. Up in the Chipster car, Reichen is looking out the window, undoubtedly pondering his own death in a fiery crash. "We're behind the biggest loser who's ever driven a car," he says unhappily, referring to the car in front of him and not to Chip, which is what I originally thought he was saying. Hee. Reichen complains that the guy in front of them will not let them pass. Back in Jon and Kelly's following car, Jon explains that "Chip is the intense guy of the team." Jon comments that Chip would probably cut somebody's throat to win, but then he reconsiders and realizes that he would, too, so he shrugs it off. Heh. Up ahead, Chip finally passes the biggest loser who's ever driven a car, and Reichen tells him that he doesn't care how fast Chip drives, as long as he slows down for corners. The boys make it to the bay. They spot the route marker and run to it. When they pull the clue, it's this week's Roadblock, and it asks them to decide who's "a strong swimmer and good with a hammer." You know, they used to make those a little more cryptic, too. It's not much of a "clue" if the Roadblock is, say, throwing a baseball for distance, and you make the question, "Who's better at throwing a baseball for distance?" Anyway, as Phil explains, this Roadblock involves swimming out to a tiki head marker (don't touch it! Vincent Price will be really mad!), diving underwater to retrieve a rock, and bringing the rock back to the beach. At that point, they have to smash the rock apart with a hammer to get the clue. Chip takes the clue for his team, so he and his red shorts go running out to the water. He's got some black sock things on, too, so...you know, sexy! He swims out, drives under the water, and grabs the rock. As he returns to shore, Chip hoists the rock on his shoulder and gives a hearty grunt. He is so studly. When he's not, you know, a big spaz.