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« Roush Dispatch
A Love Letter to an Amazing Race
Kynt and Vyxsin by Robert Voets/CBS
"The Amazing Race is a love letter to the planet," says Kate in this weekend's season premiere. This wonderful, visually spectacular series is also an ode to adventure, as well as a valentine to cultural diversity, which Kate and her life partner, Pat, exemplify. They’re lesbian Episcopal ministers from California — Kate is 49 and Pat is 65 — and according to CBS promotional information, they "dated for seven years before tying the knot three years ago." They’re good company, but as Pat says, "Kate and I are not wimps for Jesus."
No one’s a pushover on this 12th running of The Amazing Race, and as usual, there are teams that will irritate the viewer (and each other) and those you will instantly root for. Sunday’s opener, airing Sunday at 8 pm/ET (replacing the blink-and-you-missed it Viva Laughlin), is a brisk and entertaining first leg that takes the teams from Los Angeles’ Playboy Mansion to the wilds of Shannon, Ireland.
Even if we weren’t already enjoying strong seasons of Dancing with the Stars, Survivor: China, America’s Next Top Model, and Beauty and the Geek and awaiting the return next week of Bravo’s trendsetting Project Runway (the first episode is terrific), CBS’ multiple-Emmy-winning The Amazing Race would be enough to give credibility to the entire reality genre. Once again, it is produced magnificently and cast with a canny eye for diversity (including, refreshingly, of all age types), even if this season does seem awfully fond of contestants from California. (Seven of the 11 teams currently live in the state.) One team that’s definitely out of the norm: Kynt and Vyxsin (pronounced "vixen"), an upbeat "Goth" couple from Kentucky whose extreme looks would probably give Dave and Mary, our favorite coal-mining couple from past seasons, a coronary.
It takes all types to play this game, and that’s always a good thing. The extremes of the game are also fun to behold. On the first leg, that includes an exhilarating challenge involving riding a bike on a high wire across a windswept ravine. Which is directly followed by a down-and-dirty assignment featuring donkeys, which is not as easy as it sounds if the donkey isn’t willing to play. And given some of the bellowing going on among the teams (make your own "ass" joke here), you can hardly blame these beasts of burden for digging their heels in.
It’s a great start for a reliably great series. Having The Amazing Race back on Sundays feels right. In fact, you might even say amazing.
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Nov 2, 2007 3:42 PM
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Bring it on! I was ignorant of the first season, but haven't missed one since. This is STILL the best reality series to date. Love it.
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Nov 2, 2007 7:11 PM
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A reliably great series? I'd say about half of the last several were not so great -- one even unwatchable -- to the point that I thought they should have ended things a couple years ago before things really went off a cliff. Surely you remember these problems, as they were featured in your Q&A columns.
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Nov 3, 2007 1:44 AM
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While I still like the American version of The Amazing Race, it doesn't come close to the competition that is on The Amazing Race Asia where the winners only get $100,000 U.S., but they race like it is for a billion.
Also, this season they ran a behind the scenes look at how the cast was chosen called "Racers Revealed." It is an eye-opener for anyone interested in trying out for the race. The producers only give potential contestants 20-30 seconds to get their attention, and they like to see strong bonds between the two contestants. This season there is even a deaf person in the race. He and his partner might actually be at an advantage as they can communicate without the other teams knowing what they are saying.
http://amazing-race-asia.axn-asia.com/
People can download the "Racers Revealed" special with an application like BitComet or one of the many others on the web.
I'm in TV heaven, two Amazing Races airing at the same time.
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Nov 3, 2007 4:50 AM
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To answer rseiler: Even The Amazing Race isn't perfect. The family and all-star versions didn't work, but the show itself almost always has its heart in the right place. And when a new season starts off on such a right note, I'm all about accentuating the positive. There's plenty of room elsewhere for cynicism. Although perhaps not when it comes to Internet message-boarders.
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Nov 3, 2007 10:43 AM
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I have been a fan of AR for a long time, and haven't minded the couples that are "off the wall". The ones that you have described for this season have already turned my stomach so I will not waste my time watching this season.
EXCUSE ME: I don't think my statement pointed to any particular set of couples, but it is the really small minded that read what they want into what someone else says.
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Edited by sadiebug at 11/03/2007 6:54 PM
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Nov 3, 2007 11:47 AM
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I'm sorry ... what!? The season hasn't even begun and you've already decided, dear previous commenter, that you're not watching because of the couples that Matt described?
Is there something about people who look different .. or people who marry members of the same gender .. that you find so offensive you would steer away from arguably the best reality show on TV?
Wow. Sad statement about you.
I, personally, am thrilled that Viva Laughlin went down so quickly ... if only because it means an early return for The Amazing Race. CBS's decision last year to move the show to Sunday nights was a great one ... even as the weekend draws to a close and another Monday morning approaches, I know for sure that among the drama of Brothers & Sisters and the incredulity of Desperate Housewives and the tingling suspense of Dexter ... there's going to be something on Sunday night that gets my pulse racing and my heart pounding. Love, Love, Love TAR ... so glad it's finally back!!!
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Nov 3, 2007 1:20 PM
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I love the off the wall couples because I wouldn't want to watch a season filled with models. I agree that the series has had some poor seasons, but I still love it. When it is just the regular series (no family or all-star), it is highly entertaining. I love seeing all the places and culture they visit. I like it when the contestants actually learn something from the places they visit and are amazed at what they are seeing.
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Nov 3, 2007 1:21 PM
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The Amazing Race is the only reality show I truly enjoy. It has had a couple of dud seasons and a couple of couples I could live without watching. But, overall, it's a great show and a lot of that is because of Phil. He is just so normal to offset the abnormal behavior of contestants from time to time. I'm looking forward to the new season.
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Nov 3, 2007 2:28 PM
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I love TAR and I say bring on the diversity. Let the homophobes and small minded people watch the pretty people on Dancing with the Stars.
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Nov 3, 2007 3:06 PM
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Hey! As someone who loves both TAR and DWTS, I take umbrage at that last statement!
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Nov 3, 2007 3:16 PM
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My family may be the only one on the planet that actually enjoyed the Family Edition and Allstars. I'm very excited about the start of the show and I never know who I'm going to root for until it gets going. Can't tell a thing from looking at them and reading bios. It's all about the interaction and attitude for me.
Having said that, with the exception of Jonathan & Victoria (who should have been booted after the shoving incident), the pair that drove us and our friends nuts (we often have viewing parties) was the older couple, Gretchen & Meredith. Her sitting on top of that fake elephant on wheels screeching "Meredith! I think we got a bad elephant!" is still a frequent joke amongst all of us. Can't wait to see who will drive us nuts this time.
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Nov 3, 2007 3:24 PM
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I didn't bother watching any of the family season because I had zero interest in watching kids, but I did like All-Stars. I'm really looking forward to the new season.
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Nov 3, 2007 5:40 PM
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I loved the All-Star version the best I think!! I'm a huge Rob and Amber fan so seeing them twice was a treat for me!! It does sound like they have found some very controversial couples this time around.
Is there something about people who look different .. or people who marry members of the same gender
Last time I checked this is America and you can't "marry" a person of the same gender!! I think everyone has the right to their opinions and if people are uncomfortable with alternative lifestyles then that is their right (I am one of them). I will watch AR though because I love the show and most other reality tv.
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Nov 3, 2007 9:20 PM
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I've been watching since episode 1 and can't wait for Sunday. This seasons cast looks very good. Lesbian ministers, goths, father daughter, grandfather/grandson.. bring it on!
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Nov 3, 2007 11:20 PM
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