Topic: TAR36 LIVE STREAMS AND COMMENTARY HERE! EP 9 5/8/2024 8:30-10PM CENTRAL TIME

[RachelLeVega]

HAPPY TAR DAY!  


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And you can entertain yourself with the weekly episode threads from previous seasons in our archives while you wait! **Spoilers**


Have FUN everyone and for joining us!!

[RachelLeVega]

We're almost at the end, 2 more hours until we get to our penultimate EPISODE, three more legs to go!

[RachelLeVega]

30 minutes 'til I leave the dugout!

[ghmorello]

The Amazing Race featuring MLB pitcher, Bartolo Colon.  Can you name all the teams he played for?

[RachelLeVega]

5 minutes!

[RachelLeVega]

And we are back on the air!

Previously on TAR, 6 teams raced through Barbados! Angie got into the swing of things at the RB, but breaking away from their crew lost them valuable time. Juan & Shane appeared sunk, but muscled themselves past four teams. Ricky & Cesar continued to dominate while Rod & Leticia were stumped and stuck. But in the end, Angie & Danny came up short. Coming up tonight, final 5 compete in next week's finale.

[RachelLeVega]

All teams flying charter into Dominican Republic. They arrive in Puerto Plata with establishing shots of the city life and mountainous and lush terrain. Group 1 depart from under a bridge - Juan & Shane and Ricky & Cesar. ROUTE INFO: Make your way through the jungle and search for your next clue.

Juan keeps reminding themselves they are competing for their families.

[RachelLeVega]

Juan & Shane are taking Ricky & Cesar's chances of leading more seriously. Ricky & Cesar are also in concurrence as both reach the clue box. ROADBLOCK: "Who sees the writing on the wall?"

One team member must dive into a grotto and identify 10 petroglyph symbols and find complete matches back on land to match the drawings to receive their next clue.

Cesar and Juan do the task and start trekking to the water.

[ianthebalance]

BRING ON THE BARTOLO BIG SEXY COLON GIFS

[RachelLeVega]

Group 2 of the remaining teams depart. Rod feels they are the strongest team. Another Super Bowl reference without having to pay for a name drop. Vinny focusing on collaboration and communication with Amber. She wants to not be so stubborn and stone-headed. All reach the RB. Yvonne & Melissa want to be the next all-female team to win and talk about their dynamics changing on the race. They say they are loud out and about, but are surprisingly quiet and studied on the race.

[RachelLeVega]

Juan is leading the direction while Cesar trailing right behind. Juan takes the dive into the grotto. "Let's go baby!" (Imagine Sean doing this task.)

Full intro and commercials.

[elthemagnifico]

wow rb looks like so much fun ngl 

[RachelLeVega]

We return to Juan and Cesar. Cesar dives in and says the water was so perfectly warm and cooling. We see yet another natural waterslide on this season. Really?

The two start searching for symbols in the cavern. "They could be anywhere." - Cesar

Rod smokes Melissa and Amber on the way to the grotto. Melissa reveals she worked in vice presidential security. Fascinating. Melissa ends up catching up to Rod and even Rod is shocked.

[RachelLeVega]

Amber is falling out of it and reveal she and Vinny are in a lot of debt. They want to pay off student loans with that million dollars.

Juan finally sees some petroglyphs. He has hesitations of jumping off these rocks saying it's from growing older. We see more symbols and Juan goes into a beautiful natural pool leading to the puzzle rocks. Cesar comes in from behind as well seeing a turtle symbol.

[RachelLeVega]

"Angry calamari." Cesar is also wrong as Juan goes back to relook at the glyphs. Rod and Mel are now at the petros. Juan gets another check with still a majority incorrect. "What's wrong, buddy, let's go!" - Shane. Juan is stumped and is trying to rationalize what is wrong.

Cesar is also incorrect for a big portion of it. Last three teams' racers are here!

[RachelLeVega]

Cesar decides to work with Rod to get the answers. Juan is still incorrect. "Oh, you can flip these!" - Juan realizing one of his mistakes.

"That looks like fish bones."- Amber

[RachelLeVega]

Amber says there are very subtle differences between the two rocks. She's going to do process of elimination. Melissa notices some she didn't see at all. Cesar now working with Melissa. Cesar sees this is going to be extremely tricky with all the teams there now.

Commercials.

[RachelLeVega]

The pandemic-era seasons really love their canyoning tasks don't they.

[ianthebalance]

The pandemic-era seasons really love their canyoning tasks don't they.

Though this is more interesting to me than most of the stuff done all season so I embrace the canyoning

[elthemagnifico]

The pandemic-era seasons really love their canyoning tasks don't they.

they have to rely mother nature to work with the course 

on other topic easily the best task of this season. not only it can be physically taxing, especially if you need to start over but also you have to rely on your memory to order those stones properly without getting the detail wrong. fantastic task. this could also compete with some of the best tasks on modern and classic TAR too

[RachelLeVega]

We return to the same jungle we've seen for the past 30 minutes! 

Melissa and Cesar trekking up stairs while Juan calls for another check. No good. Melissa points out some petroglyphs to Cesar and vice versa. Amber sees some are distractors, but is still incorrect. She called out for a check like she's in the middle of nowhere by herself. "I don't want to do this again." - Amber

Cesar is correct and receives his clue. He goes back to help Yvonne. Are you kidding me.

[RachelLeVega]

ROUTE INFO: Don Manuel's Finca de Cacao

Melissa is still incorrect even after help!

[RachelLeVega]

Ricky & Cesar are leaving in their chauffeured ride from a farmer to the cacao estate. "Process of elimination at this point."- Amber. She's still wrong. Melissa still asking for help from Rod...

Juan calls for a check and are all right! The pilots leave in 2nd.

[RachelLeVega]

Juan says they have to make every single step count after leaving all those other teams behind and to catch up to the boyfriends. Melissa still incorrect while she overlooks Rod's answers, in which he is correct. They leave in 3rd.

Amber calls for a check while Melissa onlooks. Amber passes! Melissa calls for a check and is still incorrect.

[RachelLeVega]

"When you get in that car, I want you to tighten up your shoelace." - Vinny. Rod & Leticia head out into their car. Leticia says Amber & Vinny were the ones that headed out around the same time they did and didn't see Yvonne & Melissa any further.

Meanwhile, Melissa flipping over rocks hoping to get a random match correct. Making her situation worse.

Commercials.

[elthemagnifico]

well someone is in last place due to too much flipping the stone over (i'm also looking at you Dusty)

[RachelLeVega]

We come back to Melissa by herself. "I'm just going to start permutation." She eventually gets it correct. "We can overcome a 10 minute deficit." Interesting.

Ricky & Cesar arrive and see the large cacao pods! Clues! "So much cacao!" - Cesar ROUTE INFO: Using a long-handled scythe, teams must harvest cacao pods and dump out the seeds onto a blue tarp, filling it and spreading them out on the sheet, to receive their next clue.

[RachelLeVega]

The boyfriends start harvesting. "Careful with the spiders!" - Cesar

Juan & Shane are hoping to close the gap. Vinny speculates it's about a farmers' market/cacao farm/beans. Rod & Leticia hoping the girlfriends are still behind. "I don't want to be chasing in 4th place. I want to be in 1st place." - Rod

Juan & Shane arrive at the cacao plantation.

[RachelLeVega]

Ricky & Cesar made an assembly line for the process. "It smells so good!"

Amber & Vinny and Rod & Leticia both arrive at the estate. "I feel like you're not good at using that tool." - Amber. Rod jumping up to get the cacao. Leticia is holding a burlap.

Cesar was emotional for some cacao momentarily.

"I was in Superman mode. I started jumping and grabbing them from the tree." - Rod

[RachelLeVega]

Yvonne & Melissa also speculating about the upcoming cacao task. Rod catches two cacao pods from a tree at once. Brilliant!

Yvonne & Mel arrive at the cacaos and start harvesting. Melissa says the tool is difficult to use.

Juan loves the aroma of the cacao while Shane was slightly disgusted by the snotty texture.

Vinny says climbing is going to be more efficient than the "tool".

[RachelLeVega]

"You can't just climb the trees all the way to the top." - Amber. We get shown a baby photo of Vinny climbing a tree as he describes being part of his childhood. Rod & Leticia spreading the cacao seeds out on the tarp.

Ricky & Cesar call for a check while Yvonne almost gets hit in the head by a cacao.

ROUTE INFO: Estadio Bartolo Colon!

[RachelLeVega]

Juan sees a tree full of fruits and Yvonne & Melissa also come over to man-handle the entire tree like a Black Friday sale. Vinny still climbing while Amber is arguing he's expending his energy without using the tool. "Come on man, you're acting crazy." - Amber. "Yeah, I didn't mean to do that." - Vinny

Commercials.

[RachelLeVega]

We return to Vinny and Amber gathering more cacao as Yvonne & Melissa realize they need to do another bag full of cacao. Rod & Leticia call for a check and are approved! They leave in 2nd.

Amber says they got it done fast. "Faster than you." - Amber to Vinny

Rod says he likes the workhorse aspect of the race. "We deserve to be here!"

Cesar asks if it's baseball or football. They arrive. ROADBLOCK: "Who wants to play ball?". Ricky wants to do the task.
One team member must join a training session. Field a throw from second base to first. Catch a flyball. Hit a bottle cap with a broomstick.

[ianthebalance]

BARTOLO COLON TIME

[RachelLeVega]

Ricky starts with the groundball, gets it. Flyball, done. He's now on the third one already.

Amber & Vinny still patting down the seeds and calls for a check. Still needs more to the edge. "We still need like four more!"

Leticia says stadiums are Rod's thing. Rod reveals he was a baseball prodigy getting scholarships to play it in high school. But football is where his heart was.

Ricky reveals he played stickball and it translated to vitilla. He finishes in lightning speed and receives his clue from Bartolo. ROUTE INFO: Paseo Dona Blanca!

[RachelLeVega]

Cesar and Ricky get into their car to find the place. Meanwhile, Juan & Shane get a check and leave in 3rd. "I don't want it! You put your mouth on it. / You're such a diva." - Juan & Shane.

Yvonne & Melissa and Amber & Vinny falling behind still on the cacao. We get Giovanni the taxi driver for the military pilots!

Rod does the task. "Well, obviously." - Leticia. "I hope he doesn't hit me with a ball over here."

Rod continues to fail the tos, throwing too overboard. "I can't even throw right! What is happening?"

Oofos footwear ad and commercials.

[RachelLeVega]

We come back to Rod finding out he peaked for baseball in high school. "How does it take me four balls to throw to first base?" That's gonna be an embarrassing reminder watching back for tonight. He gets the flyball done and has to get the vitilla done.

Juan & Shane arrive and Shane does the task. He is fanning over Bartolo for a bit.

Amber & Vinny finish the cacao and leave in 4th.

Shane gets the first drill done. "I cannot hit this thing!" - Rod. Meanwhile, Shane catches up with his flyball.

[RachelLeVega]

Rod gets the bottle cap hit on the 14th try. They move on just before Shane showed them up. Juan & Shane go in 3rd place. Shane shook Bartolo's hand before leaving the stadium.

"Oh my gosh, they're passing us." - Leticia

"Wish I could keep this shirt on, mine smells like beans." - Juan

Rod & Leticia's taxi driver doesn't know where they are going. They ask a corner shop.

[RachelLeVega]

Yvonne & Melissa get a check and are approved. They leave in last. "Every second counts." Melissa says 10 minutes now is a huge difference with such a small number of teams left.

Ricky & Cesar still trying to get to the paseo while Amber & Vinny arrive at the stadium. Amber reveals she played softball, but Vinny ends up taking on the second Roadblock.

Yvonne & Melissa trying to cheer themselves up saying they are still in.

[RachelLeVega]

Vinny finishes the task super quickly and are out to the paseo. Amber & Vinny ask their driver if they know where he is going. Nope. "Vincent, if he doesn't know, we're screwed!"

Yvonne & Melissa arrive and Yvonne does the RB. She quickly gets the throw and flyball down and has to finish the vitilla. She's struggling with the narrow margin of impact.

Rod asks for "rapido" and his driver understands! They pass Juan & Shane, dropping back to 3rd. Juan & Shane are absolutely pissed.

Ricky & Cesar arrive on the pink street to get the clue! ROUTE INFO: Pit Stop! Anfiteatro de Puerto Plata! Last team to arrive WILL be eliminated.

[RachelLeVega]

The boyfriends ask for directions from a local wearing a California tee. Melissa notices Yvonne is getting frustrated. Yvonne hits the bottle cap and succeeds!

"Where is he driving?" - Amber. Vinny tries to clarify the directions with the taxi driver to no reply. They are on the edge.

Casting bit from Phil and commercials.

[RachelLeVega]

We come back to Amber & Vinny lost with their taxi driver while Yvonne & Melissa's taxi driver is passing buses and a truck. Juan & Shane see Rod & Leticia's car and the driver points out they are right behind them. Juan & Shane end up passing them again only for Rod & Leticia to reach the clue box first right before them. It's a battle for 2nd!

Ricky & Cesar arrive at the Pit Stop among the dancers. They are again TEAM NUMBER ONE! They win OneKey Cash to Seoul, South Korea!

[RachelLeVega]

Ricky & Cesar believe they should be able to make it to the final three with their track record so far.

Juan & Shane vs. Rod & Leticia running down the street to the amphitheater. Amber & Vinny stop to asking for directions and they call them back to the taxi. The sagging pants shot. I can't. Yvonne & Melissa are coming in hot.

Juan & Shane are tired. Rod & Leticia run up onto the mat with Juan & Shane right behind. They are TEAMS NUMBER 2 and 3! They talk about what it will take to bypass Ricky & Cesar.

Amber & Vinny arrive on the pink street for the clue.

[RachelLeVega]

They pick up the clue and ask for directions. Yvonne & Mel come in right behind. Amber asks him to slow down while Yvonne & Melissa are jogging seemingly in the right direction. It's a foot race!

And... Amber & Vinny run down the concrete benches to the shell! They are TEAM NUMBER FOUR! Phil gives them motivation to keep it together.

Yvonne & Melissa come running in from behind while they are on the mat. They are the last team to arrive and have been eliminated.

[RachelLeVega]

Yvonne & Melissa wanted to work on themselves as a team and reminds us of "relationship bootcamp". They are so happy to have done the race together. We get recent photos of them with their adopted baby!

Final 4 montage!

[RachelLeVega]

Juan & Shane wanting to give it their all! Ricky & Cesar's goal is to win TAR while learning from their own and others' mistakes! Amber & Vinny have the skills, now they have to use it! Rod & Leticia have a fire lit under their bellies!

End credits and stay tuned for scenes from our season finale next week!

[RachelLeVega]

NEXT WEEK!

Show content

It all comes down to this! Water, land, a target, and beach! "You are literally ruining this for us right now." Who has what it takes? Philly Eagle jumping through a mascot training seems like. Ricky acting a bit crazy as well as Amber.

[RachelLeVega]

And that was the episode for tonight! Thanks for joining us and be sure to be with us next week as we head into the season finale! Leave your comments, critiques, and wonderments this leg and let's start the chat off!

[elthemagnifico]

Yvonne & Melissa wanted to work on themselves as a team and reminds us of "relationship bootcamp". They are so happy to have done the race together. We get recent photos of them with their adopted baby!

Final 4 montage!

i assume that was the first time we saw a team update right after being eliminated. congrats on being mothers!

honestly pretty good eps, i actually like this leg design more albeit its a double rb, with the first rb easily the best task of the season

[Maanca]

Didn't think they'd make it. They had an purple edit for most of the season.

[Pi]

Phil announced at the starting line that this season would feature two countries that the Race had never visited before. Does anyone know if it was always the plan that it would be Barbados & DR? This easily could have been the case if they were doing a westward route.

As for the first Roadblock, I don't think you should be allowed to look on as someone else is getting their answers checked. No idea how it took Melissa as long as it did to get the answer after she overlooked Rod having his judged correctly.

The racers have now had tasks involving coffee and chocolate beans in the same race. Yummy!

Rod airmailing his first throws over to first base was a good reminder that baseball is just as much about dexterity as raw power. Muscle memory can be huge when it comes to fielding.

Random thing I picked up watching this episode: why were so many racers not wearing a seat belt? You would think it would be a mandatory race rule for any long car ride, let alone in the Dominican Republic which doesn't exactly have the best traffic safety record.

Ricky & Cesar will rack up many, many more miles from taking their Expedia trips than from running the race. The RT direct flight distance from NYC to the places they won trips to is already over 55,000 miles!

[nrh2110]

Thought Yvonne & Melissa might’ve been the most bland and forgettable team I’ve ever seen on this show but maybe that was just thanks to editing (and due to having one of the most forgettable casts in the history of the show)

Leg wise, I think this was the strongest leg on this season so far. First task was fantastic! Liked that it wasn’t just Route Info-Roadblock-Detour-Pit Stop like this season (and the last few seasons minus 35) has been. Hope we get an upset in the finale!

Phil announced at the starting line that this season would feature two countries that the Race had never visited before. Does anyone know if it was always the plan that it would be Barbados & DR? This easily could have been the case if they were doing a westward route.

Was this season originally planned as a global route? I had just figured that it had always planned to be a COVID season.

[NMC]

Was this season originally planned as a global route? I had just figured that it had always planned to be a COVID season.

There was supposed to be a charter plane taking them to Europe I believe (I may be the wrong with that destination) around Leg 5/6 but it never showed, so they had to plan an alternate route last minute.

I also agree that Yvonne & Melissa are easily one of the most forgettable teams ever. I think Joey Chestnut & Tim from S30 might be the only other team that's had such little airtime.

Although I am glad we've finally seen this Season, it's definitely been one of the weaker Seasons for me.

[Maanca]

I also agree that Yvonne & Melissa are easily one of the most forgettable teams ever. I think Joey Chestnut & Tim from S30 might be the only other team that's had such little airtime.

Them or London & Logan from 29.