The Amazing Race Season 37 Episode 2 Recap: Ernest and Bridget Cato Eliminated
On March 12, 2025, The Amazing Race delivered its highly anticipated second episode of season 37, showcasing the dramatic journey of the remaining twelve teams. Following the elimination of two pairs in the previous episode, the teams traveled to Japan, where they faced the challenges of the Intersection and various detours, pushing their skills and endurance to the limits. Unfortunately for the father-daughter pair, Ernest and Bridget Cato, the competition proved too daunting, resulting in their departure from the race.
Ernest, a veteran police officer with over 30 years of service, entered the competition to strengthen the bond he shares with his daughter, Bridget, in the wake of her adult life. However, their adventure came to an unexpected end. Despite starting strong in this leg of the race, they faced setbacks as Ernest struggled with the Intersection challenge, ultimately falling behind their competitors.
After failing to complete the detour in time, the Catos arrived at the Pit Stop in 11th place, leading host Phil Keoghan to inform them of their elimination. In a tight race to the finish, fellow competitors Nick and Mike narrowly avoided elimination, proving their mettle.
Fan Reactions to the Catos’ Elimination
Responses on social media reflected a mixture of disappointment and critique regarding Ernest and Bridget’s exit from the race. Many fans expressed their sadness while others pointed fingers at Ernest’s performance as a key factor in their downfall. Notable reactions included:
“Welp.. I think the right team went home tonight,”a fan wrote.
“I love when family members compete on the show together. It always makes me cry when they get eliminated and they’ve grown so much closer and appreciate each other more,”another fan commented.
“I liked Ernest and Bridget,”a netizen tweeted.
Though many appreciated the duo’s dynamic, others were highly critical of Ernest’s performance:
“Ernest p*ssing me off… 15 attempts and you still can’t get it….”a user reacted.
“Bridget to Ernest ‘You did good.’ Girl, NO he didn’t. He scr*wed up the guys game because your dad is a m*ron!”a person commented.
“The daughter should’ve done this intersection challenge cause Ernest ain’t got no rhythm. All these teams are passing them up and heading for the detour cause he can’t get the rhythm right. I know the other guy he teamed with is so frustrated,”another fan wrote.
“Man I sure hate it. She was patient with her dad unlike some other people on past seasons. Oh well, you win some and you lose some,”one user posted.
Key Factors Behind Ernest and Bridget’s Elimination
In the second episode, teams were tasked with a journey to Osaka, Japan, where they encountered the Intersection twist. Ernest and Bridget stood out as one of the three teams that arrived first at a travel agency, successfully securing seats on the inaugural flight to Japan.
Upon arrival, they navigated to Tsutenkaku Tower for their next clue. Here, they teamed up with Brett and Mark to tackle the Intersection challenge—performing a traditional taiko drum routine. While Mark quickly grasped the rhythm, Ernest struggled significantly, leading to a rapid gain by other teams who soon overtook them.
After numerous attempts, Ernest finally completed the task, but the delay hindered them further. Their subsequent challenge at the Mawashi Detour, which involved donning sumo wrestler attire, was also completed under pressure and did not yield the necessary timing to reach the Pit Stop safely.
Ultimately, the father-daughter duo was eliminated from The Amazing Race, which airs weekly on Wednesdays at 9:30 PM ET exclusively on CBS.