'The Amazing Race: All-Stars' eliminates John Erck and Jessica Hoel

The Amazing Race: All-Stars eliminated John Erck and Jessica Hoel during Sunday night's seventh episode of the CBS reality competition's 24th overall season and third all-stars edition.


The "Engaged Couple" became the fifth team eliminated from the around-the-world competition after they arrived at the Race's seventh Pit Stop at Piazza Del Popolo -- an enormous plaza surrounded by Roman architecture known as "The People's Square"  -- in last place.

The seventh broadcast of The Amazing Race: All-Stars began with "The Afghanimals" Leo Temory and Jamal Zadran leaving the sixth Pit Stop at Mount Lavinia Hotel Beach in Sri Lanka in first place at 2:41PM.

"The Cowboy Brothers" Cord McCoy and Jet McCoy left in second place at 2:42PM and were followed by Jessica and John at 3:01PM in third place.

The departure times for the four other teams were as follows: "Father and Son Cancer Survivors" David O'Leary and Connor O'Leary at 3:02PM, "Newlyweds" Brendon Villegas and Rachel Reilly at 3:05PM, "The Globetrotters" Herbert "Flight Time" Lang and Nate "Big Easy" Lofton at 3:09PM, and "The Country Singers" Jennifer Wayne and Caroline Cutbirth at 3:26PM.


The teams' first set of clues instructed them to figure out what the Eternal City is and then fly there. Once in Rome, Italy, the teams had to make their way to Hadrian Bridge, where they'd find their next clue.

All the teams were able to book the earliest available direct flight at 1:20AM, which arrived in Rome at 7:50AM the following morning.

John and Jessica got out of the airport in first place, and they were soon followed by Brendon and Rachel, Leo and Jamal, and Caroline and Jennifer. The rest of the pack got stuck in the very back of the plane, so those teams had to catch a later bus out of the airport.

John and Jessica therefore arrived at the bridge in first place. They were then followed by Rachel and Brendon, Leo and Jamal, Caroline and Jennifer, Flight Time and Big Easy, Dave and Connor, and Jet and Cord.

It then became time for the teams to complete one of two possible Detour tasks: "Gladiator" or "Charioteer."


"Gladiator" required the teams to learn sword-fighting skills in order to battle a seasoned gladiator and keep the crowd happy. Once the teams mastered a series of sword maneuvers, they'd receive their next clue.

"Charioteer" required the teams to race horses carrying an action figure and chariot by remote control. One team member would control the turns while the other would control the speed. They had to charge around a course, completing five laps before a fake flame would burn out, to receive their next clue.

John and Jessica opted to do the "Gladiator" task, while everyone else opted to do "Charioteer."

Once Caroline and Jennifer arrived at the Detour task, they learned they must complete a Speed Bump task before being able to start either Detour task. The girls had to take on an extra task as a consequence for finishing the previous non-elimination leg in last place. 

For the Speed Bump, the two girls had to make their way to the Pantheon, pick up an old-fashioned typewriter from an antique dealer, and then find the building it best resembles. That building was the Altare Della Patria, which actually means "the typewriter."


Rachel and Brendon were the first team at the "Charioteer" but really struggled to finish the course in time. Once more teams arrived, it got even more complicated because the horses would crash into one another. Leo and Jamal ended up switching tasks because it was taking them too long to get it done. Rachel also wanted to switch but Brendon convinced her not to.

Meanwhile, Caroline and Jennifer finished their Speed Bump and decided to do "Charioteer."

John and Jessica finished the Detour task in first place and they were soon followed by Brendon and Jessica, Jet and Cord, Dave and Connor, Flight Time and Big Easy, Caroline and Jennifer -- who assumed they were in last place at this point -- and Leo and Jamal.

The next clue instructed the teams to make their way to Piazza Di Spagna, which is located at the bottom of the Spanish Steps and is known to be the final dwelling place of the poet John Keats, where they'd find their next clue.

John and Jessica's taxi driver was very confused about the clue and brought them to John Keats Road, not the place. The driver didn't think such a location even existed, so John and Jessica decided to get to a hotel as quickly as possible and do the research themselves.


Similarly, Flight Time and Big Easy in addition to Jet and Cord got lost trying to find the piazza. Leo and Jamal were pretty off base as well.

Brendon and Rachel arrived at Piazza Di Spagna in first place. They were then followed by Dave and Connor, Caroline and Jennifer, Jet and Cord, Flight Time and Big Easy, Leo and Jamal, and finally Jessica and John.

It then became time for one member of each team to complete a Roadblock task.

For the Roadblock, the Racers had to count the marble steps without counting the sidewalk as the first step. Afterward, they were required to add that number of 135 to the Roman Numerals, LXXXVIIII, which were engraved on a statue at the top of the stairs. That number indicated the year Europe was erected in 1924.

Then, using a postcard, the Racers had to write the total number down in Roman Numerals. That number was MCMXXIV. Once a Racer did the calculation correctly and handed the answer to a young couple, he or she would receive their next clue.


Brendon opted to take on the Roadblock on behalf of his team. He was later joined by Dave, Jennifer, Jet, Flight Time, Jamal, and John.

Jennifer and Dave ended up working together on the task. Jennifer arrived at the answer first by finding a knowledgeable local, and then she gave the answer to Dave.

Meanwhile, Flight Time didn't understand the clue because he was just guessing the number of steps without doing any of the math or including the Roman Numerals into the equation.

When Leo and Jamal finished the task, the guys ended up sharing the correct answer with both Flight Time and John in exchange for both men promising their teams would not U-Turn them in a future leg. Both John and Flight Time agreed to the terms and were thrilled to move forward because they were both desperate in the task.

At this point, Leo and Jamal, Flight Time and Big Easy, and John and Jessica all believed Caroline and Jennifer were behind them since they had the Speed Bump task.

Brendon and Rachel finished the Roadblock task in first place. They were soon followed by Caroline and Jennifer, Dave and Connor, Jet and Cord, Leo and Jamal, Flight Time and Big Easy, and finally John and Jessica.


The teams' next set of clues instructed them to figure out they're looking for Piazza Del Popolo, which served as the Race's seventh Pit Stop.

Brendon and Rachel arrived at the Pit Stop in first place and were greeted by The Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan. For winning the leg, the couple will receive a trip for two to Australia.

Caroline and Jennifer finished the leg in second place, but only because Dave and Connor allowed the girls to step in front of them at the Pit Stop mat. Dave and Connor thought it was appropriate to let the girls finish before them since Jennifer helped Dave so much at the Roadblock. Therefore, Dave and Connor finished in third place.

Jet and Cord met Phil in fourth place, and Leo and Jamal landed in fifth place. Flight Time and Big Easy finished in sixth, and then John and Jessica finally arrived at the Pit Stop in seventh -- and last -- place.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski