“The Amazing Race 33” continues with six teams in the running for a $1 million prize. Racers scatter across Switzerland, where they bungee jump over 700 feet off the Verzasca Dam. Which team stumbles on “Stairway to Hell”? And who will be the first duo to reach host Phil Keoghan at the pit stop? The fifth episode airs Wednesday at 9/8c on CBS.
SEE: ‘The Amazing Race 33’ episode 4 recap: ‘Who is ready to restart the race’?
The cast still competing for the $1 million prize in order of how they finished last week: Ryan Ferguson & Dusty Harris (best friends), Kim & Penn Holderness (married internet personalities), Raquel Moore & Cayla Platt (flight attendants), Lulu & Lala Gonzalez (twins and radio hosts), Akbar Cook Sr. & Sheridan Cook (married educators) and Arun & Natalia Kumar (father/daughter).
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!” After a 19-month hiatus, seven teams returned to continue the race. Singing police officers Michael Norwood & Moe Badger were eliminated for the second time after being edged out at the pit stop by Arun & Natalia. Who will race to the front tonight? And will another team be eliminated? Let’s go!
9:05 p.m. — Teams will now be separated by groups based on the order they finished the last leg of the race. Those groups will then leave for the next leg of the race in 15-minute intervals. Group 1 consists of Ryan & Dusty and Kim & Penn. They’ll head off to the road block, where teams must bungee jump 722 feet. Kim sounds terrified to complete the highest bungee jump in Europe.
9:13 p.m. — Due to Akbar’s weight, poor Sheri will have to test her fear of heights once again as the only person on her team eligible to bungee jump. Yikes! They’re really torturing her. At this point, all of the teams are still driving to their destination and nobody seems completely lost yet. Ryan & Dusty and Kim & Penn finally arrive at the dam. Dusty will plunge off the dam first and it looks absolutely terrifying. With the road block complete, Ryan & Dusty continue on in first place with their next clue. Teams will drive themselves to Piazza Carlo Battaglini and search for their next clue.
9:20 p.m. — Kim completes her jump and Penn bursts into tears as her life flashes before his eyes. He wipes his tears and they run off to chase down Ryan & Dusty. Next up, Lulu & Lala complete the task and don’t appear too far behind. Akbar & Sheri have reached the dam and it’s the moment of truth for Sheri. She is completely mortified. I feel bad for her, but I’m so entertained by this scenario at the same time. What a feat to overcome a fear this intense! After a brief hesitation, Sheri buckles down and takes the plunge. Good for her! She’s not as proud of herself as Akbar seems to be, as she just says, “Lord, just get me up!”
9:26 p.m. — Raquel & Cayla arrive in fifth place and realize they must have taken the “scenic route” because they’ve fallen towards the back of the pack. They remain in good spirts and complete the task. Arun & Natalia are still in last place. Thankfully, they finally arrive and Natalia leaps off the dam. Up at the front of the pack, Ryan & Dusty reach the Detour clue. Teams have two choices: Bartender Race or Sausage Encase. In Bartender Race, teams will race up a massive staircase (that they don’t know about yet) to deliver chestnuts and wine. In Sausage Encase, teams will make nine feet of the local sausage. Ryan & Dusty choose Bartender Race, and when they reach the “Stairway to Heaven,” they begin to question their decision. Meanwhile, Lulu & Lala have advanced into second place and chosen to encase sausage.
9:35 p.m. — Kim & Penn reach the Detour and decide to join Ryan & Dusty in the bartender race. This could be an opportunity for Lulu & Lala to win their first leg if the sausage task is easier. Following a brief demonstration, Lulu & Lala begin to question their sausage-making skills. Meanwhile, Arun & Natalia have been driving an hour in the wrong direction. They just realized this and turned around. These two have no sense of direction! Self-navigation isn’t their friend. Back at the Detour, Ryan & Dusty are killing this stairway despite complaining about how difficult it is. If this is hard for them, the other teams are really going to struggle.
9:45 p.m. — Akbar & Sheri have reached the Detour and evened up with Kim & Penn. They have also decided to do the bartender race without knowing the staircase that awaits them. Kim & Penn look pretty solid and deliver the nuts quickly. As a kind gesture, Ryan & Dusty show Akbar & Sheri where the wine bottles are. Against her better judgment, Sheri swears they can take all 12 wine bottles in one trip. Then she changes her mind and takes some back. Akbar is getting frustrated. Meanwhile, Ryan & Dusty complete the task and will head to the next pit stop at Parco Ciani. Their clue? Only a picture. So if they can’t figure it out, other teams may catch up. Hot on their heels are Lala & Lulu who just finished their sausage task and head towards the pit stop in second place.
9:50 p.m. — Sheri is exhausted on these steps and drops a bottle of wine. Akbar is getting frustrated with her and they’re not getting along at this point. Emotions can change so fast! Just a few hours ago he couldn’t be more proud of her, lol. In their interview they’re in much better spirits and joke about how competitive they both are. Meanwhile, Kim & Penn finish the task and will search for the pit stop that nobody has been able to find yet. Dusty has completely cramped up and falls to the ground. Lulu & Lala nearly get hit by a bus. But, Ryan & Dusty do eventually finish in first place and win a trip for two to an island. Can anyone beat these two? Lulu & Lala finish in second place, followed closely by Kim & Penn in third.
9:59 p.m. — Raquel & Cayla’s first try at sausage-making is a bust so they have to try again. Akbar & Sheri finally finish their Detour and look like they’re about to collapse. Raquel & Cayla finish their sausage so it’s a race to the pit stop. Lucky for both teams, Arun & Natalia are nowhere in sight so this barely matters. For what it’s worth, Raquel & Cayla sprint past Akbar & Sheri and the teams finish in fourth and fifth place. It looks like the sun is about to set when Arun & Natalia arrive at the Detour and decide to make sausage. They complete the task and eventually meet up with Phil. He informs them that they have finished in last place, but this is a non-elimination leg. They will struggle on!
Official order of finishers for Leg 5: 1. Ryan & Dusty 2. Lulu & Lala 3. Kim & Penn 4. Raquel & Cayla 5. Akbar & Sheri 6. Arun & Natalia
