'The Amazing Race: All-Stars' "Newlyweds" team Brendon Villegas and Rachel Reilly survive non-elimination leg

The Amazing Race: All-Stars teammates Brendon Villegas and Rachel Reilly survived to compete in the 24th season's next leg despite a last-place finish during Sunday night's broadcast of the CBS reality competition's fourth leg.
 
The "Newlyweds" arrived at the Race's fourth Pit Stop at the base of a large golden statue in Batu Caves in last place but were told by The Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan it was a non-elimination leg.


"I think I've matured since the last race and also in my relationship with Brendon. I realized that no matter what challenge in life throws at us, we're always partners and we're teammates and we work together. That's what's important," Rachel said after hearing the news.

Rachel and Brendon, former Big Brother participants, finished in third place on The Amazing Race's twentieth season. 

The fourth broadcast of The Amazing Race: All-Stars began with "Father and Son Cancer Survivors" David O'Leary and Connor O'Leary leaving the third Pit Stop at Tanjun Aru Water Village in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, in first place at 9:06AM.

"The Cowboy Brothers" Cord McCoy and Jet McCoy left in second place at 9:08AM, and "The Afghanimals" Leo Temory and Jamal Zadran departed the Pit Stop in third place at 9:14AM.


The departure times for the seven other teams are as follows: "Mother and Son" Margie O'Donnell and Luke Adams at 9:58AM, "The Globetrotters" Herbert "Flight Time" Lang and Nate "Big Easy" Lofton at 11:04AM, "The Country Singers" Jennifer Wayne and Caroline Cutbirth at 11:17AM, "Engaged Couple" John Erck and Jessica Hoel at 12:13PM, and finally Brendon and Rachel at 12:45PM.

The teams' first set of clues instructed them to make their way to the Prince Phillip Park and search for the nearest longhouse, where they'd find their next clue.

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

Once inside the longhouse, it became time for one member of each team to complete a Roadblock task.

For the Roadblock, the participating Racers were required to jump on a bamboo trampoline in order to grab the flag above them, which was adjusted according to each person's height, and receive their next clue.


Cord opted to do the challenge on behalf of his team, and he was soon joined by Connor, Leo, Luke, Big Easy, Caroline, Jess, and Rachel.

Cord and Jess really struggled with the task, and it actually became painful for Jess because she had bleeding blisters all over one foot. Cord finally grabbed his flag on his 47th attempt, and it seemingly took Jess 20 attempts to succeed.

Dave and Connor finished the Roadblock before any of the other teams, as Connor nailed the jump on his first try. They were soon followed by Leo and Jamal, Jet and Cord, Margie and Luke, Flight Time and Big Easy, Caroline and Jennifer, Jessica and John, and Brendon and Rachel.

The teams then learned they must fly to the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, and search for their next clue at an intersection at Petronas Twin Towers.

Only three teams would be able to book and travel on the first flight. Those three teams ended up being Dave and Connor, Leo and Jamal, and Jet and Cord.


The second flight was an hour-and-a-half behind the first. Margie and Luke as well as Flight Time and Big Easy got tickets for that flight.

The third flight, which was 45 minutes behind the second, featured Caroline and Jennifer, Jessica and John, and Brendon and Rachel.

However, the second flight got delayed 50 minutes, so it actually became the third flight technically.

The first flight arrived in Kuala Lumpur at 9:42PM, the second landed at 10:58PM and the third flight came in at 10:59PM. All the teams immediately tried to secure taxis at the airport.

Leo and Jamal got to the intersection in first place. They were then followed by Dave and Connor, Jet and Cord, Brendon and Rachel, Jessica and John, Caroline and Jennifer, Flight Time and Big Easy, and finally Margie and Luke.


Once at the twin towers, each team was instructed to join the party at Sky Bar and then select one of two possible Detour tasks: "Mix Master" or "Master Mix."

"Mix Master" required the teams to choose a scratch code, learn how to deejay, and then after practicing, put on a deejay performance for the crowd to show off their new skills. If the teams failed to scratch rhythmically and timely, they'd be forced to wait in line and try again.

"Master Mix" required the teams to properly pour a pyramid of cocktails without mixing the red and yellow colors.

Leo and Jamal, Dave and Connor, Jet and Cord, and Brendon and Rachel all tried the drinks task. Flight Time and Big Easy, Jessica and John, and Caroline and Jennifer wanted to try the deejaying task.

About halfway through, Leo and Jamal decided to switch tasks because they just couldn't complete the drinks pyramid. Likewise, Dave and Connor were attempting the drinks pyramid for two hours, however, they opted to stick with it.


When Leo and Jamal headed into the DJ booth, they saw the rest of the teams pile in, which made them worry and realize they had to act quickly.

Flight Time and Big Easy put on their DJ performance twice in front of the crowd but failed both times. They appeared to get it right on their third try. 

Meanwhile, Margie, Luke and Brendon just couldn't pour their mixtures correctly. Rachel had finished hers early on because she had prior experience as a cocktail waitress. Luke got so frustrated he slammed all of his glasses to the ground and broke them. After Margie scolded him, Luke ran into the bathroom and cried.

Margie told the cameras her son has a very low frustration level and he doesn't handle stress well. Once Luke reappeared, Brendon and Rachel tried to calm him down.

Margie and Luke asked Brendon and Rachel whether they wanted to just both take the time penalty at the Pit Stop, but Rachel said, "No." She didn't want to give up even though Brendon was also fuming. Margie admitted she originally thought Rachel was crybaby but her opinion changed drastically after seeing how sweet she had been to Luke.

After 26 attempts, Margie succeeded. After 41 attempts and a teary-eyed prayer with his wife, Brendon finally finished the task.


Jet and Cord were the first team to finish the Detour task, and they were then followed by Dave and Connor, Leo and Jamal, Caroline and Jennifer, Jessica and John, Flight Time and Big Easy, Margie and Luke, and finally Brendon and Rachel.

Brendon and Rachel were annoyed and devastated that Margie and Luke completed the Detour before them, especially since they helped Luke calm down.

The teams' next set of clues instructed them to make their way to Batu Caves and run to the base of a statue, which would serve as the Race's fourth Pit Stop.

Jet and Cord met Phil on the Pit Stop mat in first place. For finishing the leg before any of the other teams, the cowboys received a trip for two to London.

Dave and Connor finished as the runner-up team, and Leo and Jamal were behind them in third place.

Caroline and Jennifer then arrived at the Pit Stop in fourth place, and they were then followed by Jessica and John in fifth, Flight Time and Big Easy in sixth, and Margie and Luke in seventh.


Once Brendon and Rachel arrived at the Pit Stop, they discovered they had finished the leg in eighth -- and last -- place but would get to continue racing because it was a non-elimination leg.

However, in the next leg, Brendon and Rachel will encounter an additional Speed Bump task which they must finish before moving on with the rest of the teams.

"I can't believe we're still in the Race!" Rachel told Brendon.






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski