I've come to the Conclusion that the "The Amazing Race" producers are Cheap Asses.

[BlueJazz]

Yeah..I know..if somebody thinks the prizes are chitzy, then don't participate.

I mean, this is a Prime Time show the runs for many weeks with the same couples who endure a LOT of hassle and sometimes danger.
The prize is one million for the winner...and absolutely nothing for anybody else...even if you are beat by 2 seconds (out of 8 weeks). Christ..even a lowly horse race has win, place and show.

These people run, race and jump their asses off for 8 weeks so the show will make huge advertising revenues and for all that, wind up with a trip back home. (Big f*cking Deal).

Hell, on "Deal or No Deal" you can win a million bucks by opening a damn box. :) :)

The Show should offer something like:

1st: 3 Million
2nd: 1 Million
3rd: 500,000
4th 200.000
5th >>8th: 50,0000

But I guess that would require the Shows producers from being such Cheap Fuckers. :)

[annabanana]

1. Never did understand the appeal of that show...

These people rush through the most amazing places and past all these amazing people at breakneck speed. They get all frusty when the people don't understand English and the whole point is to get out of there as fast as possible.

THEN. . .for a BREAK. .

They get stuck at airports and train stations and in traffic.. Just the kind of situations anyone I know would give their good right hand to avoid.

[BlueJazz]

3. I watch it to see the "lives" of other countries. (like when they were in Russia)..

. That was interesting and quite cool.

[pink-o]

2. Yeah, but "Deal or no Deal" has completely different participants.

The "Race" contestants get vacays if they come in first on the individual legs--some of those are pretty sweet.

Anyway, as an avid traveler, I love the show. I'd do it in a heartbeat, except I would never eat some of that hideous shit. I'd get eliminated the first round for refusing to compromise my veggie diet.

There is an event in US cities called "The Great Urban Race" based on TAR. SF's is next Saturday, and I'm doing it!!! There are no great shakes prizes in that either, but a scavenger hunt all over the city and detours and physical challenges? It's gonna be a blast!!

[BlueJazz]

4. Sounds like a Blast and great Fun.

[DS1]

5. What is the prize?

[BlueJazz]

7. IF they make it for 8 weeks AND come in first on the final week, they ...

...get 0ne million (before Taxes)
Everybody else gets Zero.

[DS1]

9. Zero for the 2nd and 3rd place finishers is defintely cheap

[wickerwoman]

12. They win trips with Travelocity if they finish first in a leg.

They gave out trips to Barbados, Cancun and some other places in this series.

Most of the final five teams also won a couple trips along the way.

[NYC_SKP]

6. WTF with the advantage for Tammy and Victor with two episodes in China???

And they speak Mandarin???

I guess I'm just pissed that Lakisha and Jennifer were knocked off the show last week. :mad:

[BlueJazz]

8. Yeah..I noticed that...that was NOT fair to the other Teams.

[Lady President]

10. Other teams win some money

The prices aren't huge, but the other teams do win some money.

Teams receive the following payments, which of course they have to split with each other:

Winner, $1,000,000
Runner-up, $25,000
3rd $10,000
4th $7,000
5th $6,000
6th $5,000
7th $4,000
8th $3,500
9th $3,000
10th $2,500
11th $1,500

This isn’t necessarily unchanging; there may have been different prizes for the family edition, for example. And Aaron said that Rob and Amber received $500,000 just to appear on the show’s seventh season.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10298817/

Personally, all the travel would be payment enough for me.

[BarenakedLady]

11. My brother tried to get on that show years ago.

They didn't choose him (and his buddy). So fuck 'em. I won't watch it anymore. LoL.

[KitchenWitch]

13. Cheap any way you slice it

They also do not have to pay writers for scripts. So they are really cheap to produce.