(S16E04) Ah, a tough decision -- 'The Amazing Race' or the start of the Academy Awards? Nah, not tough at all. If 'The Amazing Race' is on, I'm watching! I'm such an addict. I just can't get that rush of adrenalin, that perched-on-the-edge-of-my-seat excitement and more over the Oscars. With the Academy Awards, I don't have a team to cheer on, nor anyone to mock. I don't get that quick smack of cultural knowledge watching Hollywood glitz. Give me beer-drinking, bungee-jumping, bad taxi hacks, sauerkraut-eating, polka-playing, soccer ball kicking, strange metro systems, and teamwork (or the lack thereof). That's what I want for my Sunday evening. And, anyway, the best awards come late into the evening!

The teams got away from Cowboy Country, so we had the chance to see how Super Team Jet and Cord work together out of their element. Even though they're a bit country in a world that's a bit rock-n-roll, they held onto their hats and got on amazingly well. It's so refreshing to see a team from the country life that are not outright inept bumpkins as many previous teams on the race. They're naive, inexperienced with life in the fast lane and in big cities. But they get along together well and are willing to really give their best. Kudos to them!

But the best team showing tonight was Louie and Michael, the detectives. I wanted to like them, but they were so off their game the first few episodes that I feared they'd be gone by now. Instead, they worked together using each others' strengths to get by. Perhaps tonight's challenges were easier for them to fare well. Nonetheless, they did it.

The teams jetted off to Germany this week, all starting out once again on almost an even keel. Landing in Frankfurt, they faced the first (and probably last) Intersection of the season -- a roadblock in which two teams had to work together with one member from each participating. This was a good one, a 150-foot bungee jump! About the only person who had real issues was Brandy, teamed up with Dan. Dan was tremendously supportive as she fussed and freaked. I still don't see either of those teams winning this, do you?

After the bungee in Frankfurt, it was off to Hamburg. Well, now I'm getting hungry for fast food all of a sudden. Uh-oh, detour! Sauerkraut or Soccer? I know I'd gag, but I suck at soccer, too. Most of the teams had difficulties with one or the other and a few even switched tasks. Not the detectives! Nope, Michael inhaled the sauerkraut! Jordan of Jeff and Jordan (not to be confused with Dan and male Jordan) barely ate a bite, so they switched. The soccer detour didn't look all that easy -- Joe already had a sore knee and it really looked like Caite may have blown her groin muscle or something!

Completing the detour, they headed to the red light district of Hamburg and stepped into Beatles history. Well, not immediately. They first had to drink a big boot of beer. Here's where the detectives continued to shine. Previously, Michael ate most of the sauerkraut, as Louie couldn't stomach it. This time, Louie drank most of the beer because Michael doesn't like beer. Had I drunk most of the beer ... um, I couldn't be writing this. Then came the Beatles history; the pit stop was in the club where the Beatles first played in Hamburg. A Beatles tribute band played, and Phil Keoghan was dressed appropriately Beatles-era-ish.

For those keeping track, the pit stop order:
1. Louie and Michael -- each won a $5,000 Discover gift card
2. Steve and Allie
3. Joe and Heidi
4. Jet and Cord
5. Carol and Brandy
6. Dan and Jordan
7. Caite and Brent
8. Jeff and Jordan

Thankfully, since I enjoy Jeff and Jordan, this week was a non-Philimination leg. They lucked out, but I don't know if they'll be able to overcome the speed bump they'll encounter next week. They're not the strongest team on the show. I'm still thinking Steve and Allie are dark horses in the race. They keep coming up near the top, yet we see little of them in action. Caite and Brent, originally quite strong, seem to be deteriorating.

Last minute randomness from tonight's episode
I got a kick out of the cowboy keeping his hat on for the bungee jump. "A good hat never comes off." I guess, when you think about it, the hats make it through rodeos. Maybe a bungee jump isn't such a challenge for a really good hat. Then there was the "Sauerkraut Polka." I never knew. I think I like the music better than the food! And, what's with Brent thinking Caite can figure out subways in Germany because she once lived in New York for a while? Heck, even in New York, if you go off your beaten subway path, you have to look at the maps and make sure you catch the right train!