“The Amazing Race 33” continues with seven teams in the running for a $1 million prize. Racers gather in Switzerland to restart the race nearly 20 months after production was suspended by the COVID-19 pandemic. Which teams showed up in “Ready to Restart the Race”? And were any of them quickly eliminated shortly after beginning again? The fourth episode airs Wednesday at 9/8c on CBS.
The cast still competing for the $1 million prize in order of how they finished last week: Kim & Penn Holderness (married internet personalities), Ryan Ferguson & Dusty Harris (best friends), Raquel Moore & Cayla Platt (flight attendants), Lulu & Lala Gonzalez (twins and radio hosts) and Akbar Cook Sr. & Sheridan Cook (married educators). Rejoining the race after previous elimination will be Arun & Natalia Kumar (father/daughter) and Michael Norwood & Moe Badger (singing police officers).
Teams unable to return are Sam & Connie Greiner (married), Caro Viehwag & Ray Gantt (dating), Anthony Sadler & Spencer Stone (childhood friends) and Taylor & Isaiah Green-Jones (married YouTube sensations).
Below, check out our minute-by-minute blog of the season premiere.
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9:00 p.m. — Previously, on “The Amazing Race!” At the end of Episode 3, father/daughter duo Arun & Natalia were eliminated after Arun failed to master a Scottish song and dance. The nine remaining teams were told the race was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. What will happen tonight when the contestants learn who won’t be returning and which two teams get a second chance?
9:05 p.m. — After 19 months and with a safe plan in place, teams start the race again in Switzerland. Phil makes note that only five teams are there and welcomes back Arun & Natalia and Michael & Moe. Not everyone looks incredibly thrilled to see them. Come on guys, be good sports! Ryan jokes that the lockdown hasn’t been too hard on him since he lived in prison for quite a while. Natalia got married, while Lala & Lulu’s grandmother passed away. Lots of life events can happen in 19 months!
9:07 p.m. — When moving from one country to the next, the teams will be on charters. There will be no public transportation, so there will be more self-driving. Those are a couple of the adjustments made to keep everyone safe. Phil sends everyone off to find some buses at a museum and the race has started! Teams will make their way to Schwagalp and take a cable car 8,000 feet above sea level to find their next clue.
9:15 p.m. — The first bus arrives with Ryan & Dusty leading the way. Why do I feel like this duo is just going to demolish the competition all season? The second bus has the previously eliminated teams on it, so they’re used to being behind. They vow to each other that neither team will be the first eliminated this time. Trailing in the way back are Akbar & Sheri. Despite the buses having distance between them, all the teams ride up to the cable car together. It’s officially a tie, except Sheri is starting to freak out because she’s afraid of heights. Ryan and Dusty race to the clue box first and it’s a Road Block. One team member will stand in one spot and see six countries, but there’s more to it than that. They’ll have to scale down a mountain to reach their next clue.
9:20 p.m. — Ryan looks like he does this every weekend and he’s flying down the mountain. Meanwhile, Sheri is inching her way down slowly, trying not to have a panic attack. Akbar says they made a “rookie mistake” by having her do this Road Block. Ryan snags his clue and heads back up the mountain. Penn is making up ground by passing up Arun and Lulu so it was smart for him to take this Road Block for his team. Sheri is getting further and further behind.
9:25 p.m. — Ryan finishes and he and Dusty open their next clue. Teams will drive themselves to Gasthuas Sonne to find their next clue. Unfortunately, he best buds barely missed the tram so they’ll have to wait 10 minutes for the next one. That allows Kim & Penn, Arun & Natalia, Lulu & Lala, Raquel & Cayla and Michael & Moe to all catch up. Wow! Akbar & Sheri are the only team to miss this tram so they’re WAY behind and everyone else is even.
9:32 p.m. — All the teams (except Akbar & Sheri) disperse to their cars and Michael & Moe take the early lead followed by Kim & Penn. They arrive at the next clue box and it’s a Detour: “Punch It” or “Toss It.” One option will have teams attach ornaments in the correct order on a belt. The other has them tossing flags in highly choreographed maneuvers. Michael & Moe and Arun & Natalia choose “Punch It” while everyone else chooses “Toss It.” Michael & Moe’s lead didn’t last long because now they’re completely lost. Natalia reminds her dad that helping other teams got them eliminated last time, so they’re keeping their mouths shut.
9:40 p.m. — Michael & Moe and Arun & Natalia have found their belt-building stations and this looks easier than the flag twirling. Could it be more time consuming, though? Ryan & Dusty consider changing Detours while Kim & Penn take their first run at performing for the judge. After their fail, Ryan & Dusty “smell blood in the water,” according to Dusty, and they want to complete this flag-twirling challenge.
9:50 p.m. — After their first performance for the judge, Ryan & Dusty succeed and get their next clue. They will now head to Alstatten and find Phil at the next pit stop. These two are unstoppable! Kim & Penn aren’t far behind and secure second place while Lulu & Lala finish the Detour in third and Raquel & Cayla in fourth. As those teams leave, Akbar & Sheri arrive and they now have a glimmer of hope. Ryan & Dusty reach the pit stop in first place and they’ve won $2,500 each. Back at the belt detour, Arun & Natalia are given the green light, which discourages Michael & Moe.
9:59 p.m. — Akbar & Sheri finish their Detour and they are certain they’re in last place, but they’re not. They’re in sixth place with Michael & Moe slightly behind them at the other Detour. Everyone has now finished the Detour and three teams are racing for the pit stop, but none of them have any idea what other teams are still in the race. Arun & Natalia lose a lot of time by going in the wrong direction. Akbar & Sheri reach the pit stop and Phil totally toys with them and makes them think they’re going home before revealing they finished in fifth place. It’s interesting that the last two teams are the teams that have already been eliminated once before. Arun & Natalia arrive in sixth place and Michael & Moe have to deal with the fact that they’re the worst team in the race…again. They had two chances to race and they were eliminated both times. It wasn’t meant to be.
Official order of finishers for Leg 4: 1. Ryan & Dusty 2. Kim & Penn 3. Raquel & Cayla 4. Lulu & Lala 5. Akbar & Sheri 6. Arun & Natalia 7. Michael & Moe (eliminated)
