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Make It Stop

"The Amazing Race" Isn't Actually So Amazing

March 02, 2007

It is now official: the way to know when a reality series has jumped the shark is when they introduce their “All-Stars” series. Exhibit A: The Amazing Race.

There are only so many action sequences, only so many remote areas, only so many rock climbing/repelling/rope bridge crossing challenges around the world, apparently, and "The Amazing Race," once the envy of all other network reality series, has run out of steam.

We are tired of dirt road trips, endless shouting, and wind sprints across African plains. Enough already: Make It Stop.

Part Survivor, part travelogue, part treasure hunt, "The Amazing Race" used to add a dash of class to an otherwise barren reality show market. Smarter, and obviously more worldly, than some of the lesser reality prime times, The Amazing Race has won the Emmy for Outstanding Reality Series every year since the award was created, but if it expects to win again this year, they better step on it.

This season, our silly, determined, and occasionally mildly abusive couples are “favorites” from seasons’ past. The first challenge this season: drive to the airport. Can you believe it? On your mark, get set, Tivo!

Only “The Amazing Race” can manipulate a simple trip to the Miami Airport into a nailbiting action sequence. Add some dramatic music (something along the lines of “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”), cut back and forth between the teams at a dizzying rate, add a destination, no matter how uninteresting, and presto! Instant human drama.

Is it us, or is every episode starting to look exactly the same? If the concept of the show is to fling these teams to the far reaches of the planet, why does it always seem like they’re stuck in a crowded city or a puddle of mud wherever they go? There was once a time when the backdrops to the human drama of the show looked like the pages of a National Geographic. These days, however, it looks more like global bargain hunting.

And there are only so many quirky couples willing to drag each other through the mud, so it seems. The loving couple, the competitive couple, the couple you know will break up the moment the cameras stop rolling, the clueless couple, the flirty couple… it’s obvious that there are only so many combinations of people that equal ratings on the show. And the producers must have known it, too.

Which leads us to this season, full of familiar faces, some we embrace and are glad to have back. Others make us cringe, and are even happier to have them back. But ultimately, this season feels like a rehash of characters we already know, destinations we feel like we’ve already seen, and challenges that just don’t keep us glued to our seats like they used to.

The reality show race has been run, it seems, and while they were once winners, "The Amazing Race" is now lucky to even place

Comments

Gretchen wrote:

It's still a lot better than "Grease: You're the One That I Want"!

posted at March 3, 2007 01:36 PM

ICG wrote:

I really LIKE "Amazing Race"!!!

But THIS season SUX!

This season could have been much better, had they not had the reality show nightmare "Rob & Amber". I HATE THEM! I hate the fact that they are ALWAYS on some reality show or another. First "Survivor", then their wedding, then "Amazing Race". then the show where he is doing some kind of poker thing, and now "Amazing Race All*Stars"... Look, the ONLY "Rob & Amber" reality show I wanna see them on is either "America's Most Wanted" (which, btw, is NOT a good thing...) or "Divorce Court".

As for "Amazing Race", just keep it fresh with fresh faces. None of this "All*Star" crap.

posted at March 4, 2007 08:02 PM

Katrina wrote:

I used to love AR..now that Rob & Amber are back, I will not watch until they are off. He was great when he was on Survivor, before he met Amber. Now that he is a reality star, he is intolerable. He needs to remember that he got everything from reality tv. He is not a movie star, but really comes off like he is one. Rob, let the air out of your ego.

posted at March 5, 2007 09:00 PM

Haydee wrote:

I totaly agree with Katrina. I will pass on watching the Amazing Race ALL STARS show because R&B are on it.

posted at March 6, 2007 10:00 AM

Denny wrote:

I agree, Rob and Amber are the class of reality TV. They bring out the best in everyone on the show. Did you happen to notice that the first thing they did was buy a world travelguide at the Miami Airport? They study the process, consider the possible options they will encounter, and more importantly, have fun doing the challenges. The only ones to challenge them with gusto are Dustin and Kandace. With Jerry Bruckheimer doing the production and adventure music for this show, it will continue to win the Emmy because everybody who watches thinks they also can win, and that's what makes it good. Having said all that, you also have to remember that a trip around the world means you have to travel into areas that are not exactly friendly towards the United States. When you fly to South America, you can't go to Venezuela or Colombia but you can make it to Ecuador and Peru, hence we see a dirt desert instead of a rain forest. When you fly to Africa, you have to skip every other country because of the internal tribal fights. The Middle East, last year, with the puddle jump in Kuwait told you everything you needed to know about that part of the world and the impact of the US. And, considering that all of this has to be set up long before the players get there, including "reserving" the tickets for the contestants, it's amazing that they can pull it off with few problems. The reason to watch this year is to see if Rob and Amber can win the prizes on every leg...also to see who Myrna and Shmyrna piss off each week!

posted at March 7, 2007 05:53 AM

bob wrote:

I love the amazing race! Can't stand mirna and schmirna, though, or those rotten guidos!!! But its good to have villains!! Rob and amber were great; they were the only ones who truly understood that it was a race. Sure, we hated them for winning survivor, but that was the fault of the all-star idiots who allowed them to stay a team. They are fun to watch, and its a shame that they're off. Now we just have to root against the idiot teams and hope for either the blondes or terry and ian to win.

posted at March 12, 2007 09:43 AM

Nan Grondin wrote:

You really want to know? No Rob and Amber, no
Amazing race!! They play the game very well. More
exciting, I thought they would use the non- elim.
How about the last winner where they were allowed
to board the plane after it was ready to take off,
doors closed in front of millions of people wat-
ching the show? Would they really do that for any-
body. SSSOOOO NOT RIGHT!!!!!

posted at March 12, 2007 02:58 PM

John L Moore III wrote:

I like the Amazing Race a lot. Look forward to every season and show. I would hate it if they took it off the air and sorry guys, I have always liked Rob and Amber.

posted at March 12, 2007 05:44 PM

michelle wrote:

well i really like the AR but this year...its just not been the same. sure, R&B make it more intresting but they're always fun to hate :)

posted at March 14, 2007 11:02 AM

Zippy de Brain wrote:

Isn't this article and these posts more intended for not brilliant but not cancelled?

Just a question.

posted at March 15, 2007 10:48 PM

Ian Mullen wrote:

The Amazing Race is a superb show. Granted, this Season isn't so good. But it is still okay!

"It is now official: the way to know when a reality series has jumped the shark is when they introduce their “All-Stars” series. Exhibit A: The Amazing Race."

What the hell- seriously? Survivor has increasinly been better since it's All-Stars Season, and will now run up to Season 16 - twice what it had when the All-Star Season finished, and is currently airing its 14th which is twice that it had when the All-Star Season started.

Your comment is just stupid.

posted at April 10, 2007 01:26 PM

Ravenchase wrote:

Stop watching reality TV and get in the game. If you like the Amazing Race, try something even better. Check out the Great America Race - a week long adventure from DC to New Orleans using clues, ciphers, codes, gadgets, planted actors and all types of surprises along the way. Check it out at http://www.ravenchase.com/public_events/great_america.php

posted at May 20, 2007 10:26 PM

BustyBoots wrote:

I don’t want to wait till the end of Summer :( , I want it now. Who with me?
save your time and join me. ;)

posted at May 31, 2007 05:49 PM

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Make It Stop Archive

June, 2007 1 entry
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