The New Amazing Race starts tonight

[lazarus]

should be fun.

For anyone who doesn't like reality TV, try this one out. It's totally different.

[Enraged_Ape]

1. Can't wait. Best "reality show" on TV.

For various reasons:

1) You actually learn something about countries all over the world, and about the real challenges you would have getting around in them or interacting with the locals.

2) The pace is very fast, and the action never seems to let up. You could probably skip 30 minutes of most other reality shows and not miss a thing.

3) The contestants actually have to apply a bit of strategy in the kinds of tasks they choose. It's interesting to see the choices they make and how they help/hurt them.

4) The host, in my opinion, is the least offensive / obtrusive / obnoxious host of any of the reality shows. I can't stand the rest of the Monte Hall wannabees.

[ernstbass]

2. I always have a trouble sleeping after this show

It 's because I get so involved in all of the travelling - I love this show. The host, Phil, says this is the best one thus far. It will be interesting to see how Rob and Amber fare - he seems to have street smarts.

[Patiod]

19. Me too!

Every week I say to the SO "why do I watch this - it gets my adrenaline going right before bedtime."

[Orangepeel]

3. according to the PR, this one is supposed to "go back to the roots"

of what made it popular originally.

Woo-hoo! I hope that's true!

[lazarus]

4. Well, I enjoyed it, a lot

Although I'm sad the country boys got booted, they were fun.

I can't believe how much that mom/son team hates Rob, especially the son. It's just vicious.

That boy's going to learn a few things about backstabbing if he tries to throw down with Rob, though. Heh, heh, heh.....

[Enraged_Ape]

5. This really does look like it will be a great season

Much better than the last one, where I only had about two teams out of the eleven to root for, and where several of the couples were so loathsome I almost couldn't stand to watch. I was pleasantly surprised to see how polite most of the couples were to everyone, and to see people at least trying to speak the local language.

So sad that the Hillbilly Boys got eliminated. They were already my favorites!! :(

[qanda]

8. They were great

I was sorry to see the Hillbilly Boys go also. Although, I don't think I can stomach Amber and Rob, they were sickening on Survivor and I don't think AR will be much different.

[soleft]

6. I watched most of it, pretty exciting

I'm rooting for the mother and son team, on account of I'm a mother and I have a son

[Chovexani]

7. I already hate Rob & Amber

And I never watched Survivor. Their tagline should be "Engaged Famewhores". They have such an entitlement thing it's not even funny, and they have no business being on this show. It's not like CBS hasn't done something like this before (Alison from Big Brother), but these famewhores already won a million dollars. They took the spot of people who were more deserving, and probably actual fans of the show.

That having been said, I loved last night! I've already got the bad taste of last season (aka Evil on Parade) out of my mouth. It's a shame the hillbillies got kicked off, because I really warmed up to them quickly. But unlike last season, most of the people don't seem like tools (yet). I have so many favorites this time it's not even funny, and that's a good thing.

BTW...Debbie & Bianca? So gay. "Lifelong friends" my ass. They're friends like Clark and Lex were "friends" on Smallville. :P

[lazarus]

10. "more deserving"

You don't think everyone else who goes on a reality show is a fame whore?

As for their "entitlement thing", I didn't see it. I saw the same confidence they displayed on Survivor, but that's it. Oh, and the same competitiveness. Didn't see any of Rob's bad traits, though. You know, like bitching about other people, or insulting them behind their backs.

Saw that a lot of that from the other teams about him, though, which was hilariously hypocritical.

[Orangepeel]

14. I know that everyone on AR (who does well) uses everything they can...

pretty women use sex, charming men use charm, Myrna used her size to try to win sympathy, people who speak languages have a natural advantage, etc.

but I HATED that some guy recognized Rob and Amber in the airport and helped them talk the bus driver into not stopping, etc. That didn't seem fair to me because they aren't ordinary people using their skills, abilities and other talents. I hope it doesn't happen again.

[lazarus]

15. we don't know how that happened, btw

I got the impression that they met him on the plane. So they likely had a chance to talk with him some, and he offered to help.

Not a lot different from "native guides" that teams have been using forever.

[Orangepeel]

17. Rob SAID they met him at customs and he recognized them from survivor

I know that just because Rob said it doesn't make it true! :-) Rob probably likes to pretend that people recognize him even when they don't.

Like I said, they all use whatever they have, but the rest of them use skills and talents that seem more natural to me -- prior knowledge, language skills, charm.

Something about the fame bothers me, though. (why don't we just have celebrity amazing race and be done with it?) It just feels unfair -- kind of like it would if they let someone who was a millionaire in real life spend their own money.

Anyway, it won't ruin the show for me, but I hope they kicked off soon!

[lazarus]

18. Oh, in customs

I misunderstood, thought it happened on the plane.

Still, those lines in Customs can take forever.

Here's something, though: Would you ever just hand your cell phone to someone in an airport and let them make a call? Because Racers get that a lot (even this episode).

Maybe it has something to do with all the camera crews around, etc.

But since the other teams are all gunning for them, I think their "fame" may be as much a hindrance as a help.

Patrick seems obsessed, doesn't he?

[soleft]

11. I missed the beginning - what do Rob and Amber do, why so hated?

[lazarus]

13. They're from Survivor

Didn't do well in their first seasons (Season 2 for her, Season 4 for him) but finished 1-2 in All Star Survivor.

Rob was rather snotty during his first season, but he was, to my mind, quite fun in A.S.S. (yeah, funny joke). He played the game quite well, viciously backstabbing people right and left.

For some reason, people hate him. :shrug:

What I found hilarious was the way people acted exactly like he did while talking about how bad he was. Others were doing the lying, backstabbing, and badmouthing, not him.

[ernstbass]

9. So sad to see the hillbillies go so soon

they were a hoot! The former POW seems to be quite naive. I was glad to see the older couple hang in there. I don't like Rob but he's going to be a contender in this.

[Lisa0825]

12. I'm surprised everyone likes the hillbillies!

I thought they were really annoying!! But I live in redneck country, so I get enough of it in reality!

[ernstbass]

16. I live in redneck country too

and that's what endeared me to them. Hillbillies get a bad rap around here and I know some hillbillies who are staunch dems!!!

[Patiod]

20. I liked them because they kind of defied the stereotype

the one guy spoke Portugese, the other seemed to have a decent grasp of Spanish - hell, that's two more languages than this "sophisticated Northeasterner" knows.

Plus they were really FUNNY, not in a laughing-at-them way, but in a laughing-with-them way.

Very bummed they came in last.