Warning: Spoilers ahead from Episode 2 of CBS’ “The Amazing Race” season 36 that aired on Wednesday, March 20.
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Former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Rod Gardner and his wife, Leticia, are making things look easy on “The Amazing Race” through two episodes of season 36 on the CBS reality competition TV show.
Two legs in Mexico, two first-place finishes.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin firefighters Sunny Pulver and Bizzy Smith remain in the back of the pack after struggling with the finer details in the two tasks during Wednesday night’s episode as teams continued their race around steamy Puerto Vallarta.
But like with teams in March Madness this week it’s all about surviving and advancing and that’s exactly what Pulver and Smith did.
That’s especially important this season without any non-elimination legs to offer a second chance for duos who come in last place.
Here’s what to know about how the second episode went for Rod and Leticia Gardner as well as Pulver and Smith on season 36 of “The Amazing Race.”
Former NFL player Rod Gardner and wife Leticia Gardner win first two legs of Amazing Race season 36
Rod and Leticia Gardner aren’t going to want to leave Mexico, the site of the first two legs of the race.
The married couple has set the pace, avoiding any of the setbacks on foot, by vehicle or during the challenges that many of the teams have experienced so far.
They opened the episode ahead of boyfriends Ricky Rotandi and Cesar Aldrete and maintained their small lead throughout the leg that started with them having to find six sets of balloons around a village area and deliver them to a designated location. For some teams just finding the clue to this task on the La Iguana Bridge was a difficult endeavor. Not for the Gardners.
Teams had to pick between two tasks and the Gardners proved to select the more efficient one. How did they decide on the Balloon Collection? With a game of rock, paper, scissors.
“Leave it to the rock, paper, scissors Gods,” Rod, 46, said. Whatever they’re doing, it’s working.
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The next task had one person paint a Day of the Dead skull design on their partner’s face. The face paint had to match an image at their station.
Leticia, 38, painted Rod’s face and said she was “so happy it was not so physical.”
Earlier in the episode, Leticia feared that she would not be able to keep up with Rod, who played six seasons in the NFL, including briefly for the Packers in 2005. But Leticia more than kept up on their way to another first place.
“Winning the leg, it’s almost emotional,” she said at the pit stop. “It’s a big confidence boost.”
Rod said winning these two legs sets the bar for the season. The victory earned them cashback rewards for a trip to Lisbon, Portugal, to enjoy after the race.
“We’re in it to win,” Rod said in a confessional.
Firefighters Sunny Pulver and Bizzy Smith on Amazing Race take ninth place again
Pulver of Edgerton and Smith of New Berlin didn’t experience the ease of the leg that Rod and Leticia Gardner had.
They began the leg in ninth place and that’s where they finished.
However, the moms experienced some frustrations in completing the tasks this week.
“A lot of people underestimate moms,” they said before beginning the second leg. Pulver and Smith said they want to show that women can accomplish anything when working together.
Working together wasn’t the issue on this leg, but their choice of the first challenge was. Instead of choosing the balloon task that ended up being the easier of the two, Pulver and Smith selected a task that tested them mentally. They had to search among a series of papel picado — a Mexican craft — hanging above them and find a strand that had an incorrect pattern.
“We’re exhausted,” Smith said at one point, appearing mentally drained.
A few other teams came to that task as well only to leave for the balloon challenge when they couldn’t figure it out. Pulver and Smith eventually solved it, showing their never-give-up attitude. Onto the next task, Smith was painting Pulver’s face, but they again lost time when they couldn’t finish it quicker.
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Nevertheless, as they checked in with host Phil Keoghan they were smiling and dancing to the music of the guitarist who greeted them. Oh, and they donned butterfly wings they had to wear after the face painting task.
“You are at the back of the pack, and I know you’re a bunch of hard (a-),” Keoghan told them.
“Badasses, Phil,” Smith kindly corrected him.
“Putting out fires is easier than this, first of all,” Smith said, referencing her profession. “But this was rough. We’re, we’re ready for the next leg. There’s only up from here, right?”
They’ll get that chance when the race continues in Medellín, Colombia.
Who went home on Amazing Race tonight?
Father-daughter duo Chris Foster and Mary Cardona-Foster came in last and were sent home. They began this leg 11th of 12 teams before the elder Foster struggled in the heat.
They also lost time when they first chose the flag pattern challenge only to leave it later. Then on their way to the face painting task Chris needed to take a seat as he got sick.
It was difficult for them to get through but they left with a positive mindset.
Where was the pit stop on Amazing Race episode 2?
The pit stop, which several teams had trouble finding, was Casa Kimberly located under the bridge that connects the houses of actors Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, who were married twice in the 1960s and 1970s.
Amazing Race season 36 teams, cast
- Rod and Leticia Gardner (married; Rod is a former NFL wide receiver who briefly played for the Green Bay Packers) – First place after leg 2
- Ricky Rotandi and Cesar Aldrete (dating) – Second place
- Derek Williams and Shelisa Williams (married) – Third place
- Juan Villa and Shane Bilek (best friends) – Fourth place
- Yvonne Chavez and Melissa Main (dating) – Fifth place
- Angie and Danny Butler (mother, son) – Sixth place
- Amber Craven and Vinny Cagungun (dating) – Seventh place
- Anthony and Bailey Smith (twin brothers) – Eighth place
- Sunny Pulver and Bizzy Smith (best friends/firefighters from Wisconsin) – Ninth place
- Kishori Turner and Karishma Cordero (cousins) – 10th place
- Michelle and Sean Clark (married) – 11th place
- Chris Foster and Mary Cardona-Foster (father-daughter) – Eliminated in second episode
- Rohan and Maya Mody (brother, sister) – Eliminated in first episode
What time is Amazing Race on tonight? Season 36 air time
The second episode of “The Amazing Race” season 36 airs at 8:30 p.m. Central time Wednesday, March 20.
Episodes are 90 minutes.
What channel can I find Amazing Race?: TV, live streaming
“The Amazing Race” airs on CBS.
You can stream the “The Amazing Race” on the CBS app and Paramount Plus. Fubo offers a free trial.
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