And we're off! Last night kicked off the new edition of "The Amazing Race," the first all-star season for the race around the world. Producers did a good job bringing some popular teams --- Ozzy and Danny, Kevin and Drew, Rob and Amber, Charla and Mirna, Team Guido --- but also selected a couple quizzical choices. The first leg took our racers from Miami, Florida, to Quito, Ecuador. Like most first episodes, too much was going on to get a really good sense of what was happening. But there were a couple notable developments:

-Rob & Amber shot out ahead fast and kept everyone else in their dust. Love them or hate them (and I love them), these "Survivor" alums are serious competitors. It'd be easy to dismiss Amber as merely Rob's tagalong, but when you watch them you can see these are equals who legitimately love and respect one another. They are undoubtedly the team to beat.

-Danny & Oswald had a surprisingly awesome leg, coming in second. Team Cha-Cha-Cha is back! Danny's delightful sense of humor is already starting to surface again, and they seem a lot more mature than the last go around. Here's hoping they can keep the energy level up, as they have a tendency to get self-defeated.

-Strong showings from "villain" teams Teri & Ian and Team Guido. These are the oldest racers out there but only a fool would discount them. These four people have a LOT of drive and I expect them to steamroll a good deal of the younger competitors.

-Season 10's David & Mary and Season 5's Charla & Mirna have apparently learned nothing since the first time they raced, as both teams made boneheaded moves. They don't think, they just ACT. That could cost them later.

-Jon Vito & Jill, the adorable couple from Season 3, got the boot first. They started out strong but got bad directions in Ecuador, and ended up hours behind any other team, even the visibly struggling Kevin & Drew (the Bald Snark might not be long for this world). It's sad, because I like these two. I was really pulling for Eric & Danielle, the amalgam from Season 9, to go first as I have no interest in either of them. But them's the breaks.

 One thing: The rumor mill had it all but locked down that Colin & Christie would be in this race. Where are they? Colin & Christie v. Rob & Amber would have been amazing. As it stands, I don't know who among these teams have any real hope of taking Rob & Amber down. Maybe the BQs?