(S14E01) Tonight's season premiere of The Amazing Race shows how to do a reality show the right way. Exciting, entertaining, teams to both hate and love, plus a whole lot of stunning scenery. I've long contended that this show is the best reality show on television. It consistently wins Emmy Awards. Hey, American Idol ... what have you done for us lately? What? Eliminated Jamar and kept Tatiana and Nathaniel? Feh. Give me The Amazing Race any day instead! I mean ... we're talking adrenalin rushes, excitement, flying wheels of cheese, and bungee jumping in the Alps! It beats drama queens no holds barred.
As with any season start, it takes me a few weeks to get a handle on all of the teams. I had already checked out the show's website, so I had a few preconceived notions before tonight's show. Lo and behold, my notions came to play (almost) live before my very eyes tonight. I so enjoy it when a team which I don't care for in promotional clips turns out to be a "nasty to each other" team in the race ... and then gets Philiminated on the first leg! Buh-bye, Jennifer and Preston. I'm glad I won't have to watch you bicker all season!
A team I liked on the promotional clips became not-so-much in tonight's premiere. While I didn't think they had any chance to get past the first leg, I sort of liked Steve and Linda. Um, that was until I realized that Steve tends to be impatient and mean to Linda. She, might I add, is nowhere near in the physical condition needed to do this race. Steve redeemed himself a bit with me by actually thinking and creating a little sled to haul the cheese down the mountain in that task. I don't think they're going to get too far. I give 'em a shot to make it to the third leg tops.
My favorite teams so far (mind you, it's way early) are Margie and Luke, Brad and Victoria, and Mark and Michael. I'm really admiring Luke for wanting to show everyone that deaf people stand a shot in the race. He seems like a smart and determined kid. As long as his mother can keep up with him, I think they have the chance to go far. But, if nothing else, they came in first place and won a nifty trip to Mexico.
I found it odd that they had a Roadblock tonight, yet no Detour. The Roadblock was one of those things that the show is famous for -- a bungee jump, second highest in the world -- in Switzerland. What can I say other than ... amazing? I would so love to do that! Alas, my orthopedic surgeon would have a fit when he has to redo my knee. So, I guess I'll just live vicariously through the show.
In lieu of a Detour, we had one of the funniest tasks I've ever seen on the show -- hauling cheese down a slippery mountain with racks which last a minute, then fall apart! I think I was chuckling as much as the locals as the teams slipped, slid, fell, and often accidentally rolled their cheese down the hill. It was a hoot!
For the record, the Pit Stop order was:
1. Margie and Luke
2. Tammy and Victor
3. Mark and Michael
4. Mel and Mike
5. Amanda and Kris
6. Brad and Victoria
7. Jaime and Cara
8. Kisha and Jen
9. Steve and Linda
10. Christine and Jodi
11. Preston and Jennifer -- Philiminated
All in all, this was a rewarding start to the season. I think we're going to have teams which are entertaining and possibly even refreshing. And, but of course, we're in for a new season of breathtaking scenery, various cultures, exotic locales, and local architecture. I envy the teams the trip through the Alps on the train. It's so much different than my train trips on New Jersey Transit!
The Amazing Race' Photos
- THE AMAZING RACE 13 The 11 Teams competing in this Race around the world, will travel over 30,000 miles, spanning five continents, with stops in Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Moscow to name a few. THE AMAZING RACE 13 premieres Sunday, Sept. 28 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Standing from Left: Ken and Tina, Mark and Bill, Aja and Ty, Anthony and Stephanie, Anita and Arthur, Dan and Andrew, Toni and Dallas, Marisa and Brooke; Sitting from Left: Terence and Sarah, Kelly, and Christy, and Nick and Starr. CBS THE AMAZING RACE 13 Friends from Columbia, SC, Marisa Axelrod, left, a 22 year-old student and Brooke Jackson, a 24 year-old graphic designer, are one of the teams competing in this Race around the world, traveling over 30,000 miles, spanning five continents, with stops in Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Moscow to name a few. Premieres Sunday, September 28, 2008. CBS THE AMAZING RACE 13 Phil Keoghan hosts The Amazing Race, a race around the world spanning five continents, with stops in Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Moscow to name a few. Premieres Sunday, September 28, 2008. CBS THE AMAZING RACE 13 Married, but separated couple, Ken Greene, a 51 year-old home-builder/ex-NFL, and Tina Greene, a 48 year-old President, BioPharmMed, are one of the teams competing in this Race around the world, traveling over 30,000 miles, spanning five continents, with stops in Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Moscow to name a few. Premieres Sunday, September 28, 2008. CBS THE AMAZING RACE 13 Best friends from Texas, Kelly Crabb, left, a 26 year-old pharmaceutical representative and Christy Cook, a 26 year-old business development, are one of the teams competing in this Race around the world, traveling over 30,000 miles, spanning five continents, with stops in Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Moscow to name a few. Premieres Sunday, September 28, 2008. CBS THE AMAZING RACE 13 Mother and son from Woodside, CA, Dallas Imbimbo, left, a 22 year-old student and Toni Imbimbo, a 51 year-old accounting consultant, are one of the teams competing in this Race around the world, traveling over 30,000 miles, spanning five continents, with stops in Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Moscow to name a few. Premieres Sunday, September 28, 2008. CBS THE AMAZING RACE 13 Friends from San Diego, CA, Mark Yturralde, left, a 41 year-old CFO of Comic Con, and Bill Kahler, a 42 year-old aid administrator, are one of the teams competing in this Race around the world, traveling over 30,000 miles, spanning five continents, with stops in Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Moscow to name a few. Premieres Sunday, September 28, 2008. CBS THE AMAZING RACE 13 Married couple from Eugene, OR, Anita Jones, a 63 year-old retired paralegal and Arthur Jones, a 60 year-old in playground maintenance, are one of the teams competing in this Race around the world, traveling over 30,000 miles, spanning five continents, with stops in Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Moscow to name a few. Premieres Sunday, September 28, 2008. CBS THE AMAZING RACE 13 Dating couple from Los Angeles, CA, Stephanie Kacandes, left, a 32 year-old financial saleswoman, and Anthony Marotta, a 32 year-old mortgage broker, are one of the teams competing in this Race around the world, traveling over 30,000 miles, spanning five continents, with stops in Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Moscow to name a few. Premieres Sunday, September 28, 2008. CBS THE AMAZING RACE 13 Long distance dating couple, Aja Benton, left, a 25 year-old makeup artist of Los Angeles, CA and Ty White, a 25 year-old banker of Southfield, MI, are one of the teams competing in this Race around the world, traveling over 30,000 miles, spanning five continents, with stops in Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Moscow to name a few. Premieres Sunday, September 28, 2008. CBS
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-16-2009 @ 4:13AM
Val said...
seriously.. why didn't they just roll the cheese down the hill and run after it.. Big ass game of Plinko.. sans Drew Carey.. and with cheese.. If I heard right the racks were just there for assistance and completely optional... everybody was holding on to the flimsy things like they were life rafts from the titanic...
Not feeling any of the teams but Tammy and Vic are hilarious! They are trying their hardest to be polite while maintaining their competitiveness.. anyone catch Tammy practically pile drive the lill stunt duo at the roadblock while repeatedly yelling "I'm sorry!" like she couldn't help herself.. And Vic trying to tell half truths at the train stop. I expect more devious, underhanded behavior from Harvard educated lawyers.. bet money their fake smiles fade by leg 3..
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2-16-2009 @ 7:20AM
David said...
Great first episode. I was really hoping this season would be in HD.
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2-16-2009 @ 8:34AM
brahmabull said...
Great first episode. I also wondered why they didn't just roll the cheeses down the hill. Would love this in HD too but I think the producers have previously said that the cost of having all those HD cameras and the risk of damage to the equipment was too great.
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2-16-2009 @ 8:42AM
Dave said...
Is this season/show available online? Wish CBS had a deal with hulu.
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2-16-2009 @ 9:26AM
Dorv said...
CBS's streaming quality is just as good as Hulu's. Doesn't have the UI or library that Hulu does, but the player's themselves are very similiar.
And yes, I do think that TAR is listed in their shows that are available for stream.
2-16-2009 @ 9:36AM
VP said...
Is it me or does anybody else think that the Flight Attendants are stupid for trying to lug around carry on suitcases instead of bags like, i don't know every other team in TAR history.
The mother and son team were impressive, but we need at least a couple of more episodes for final impressions.
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2-16-2009 @ 9:52AM
gillygirl said...
cheese rolling part - funniest thing i've seen in a long time. Sometimes you can tell the reaction from the locals is scripted but i think i laughed as hard at them laughing at the racers as i did at the giant slip and slide cheese run. That challenge should be a segment on WipeOut.
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2-16-2009 @ 10:50AM
puffin said...
CHEESE WHEELS OF DEATH!!!
I was cringing as the things were rolling down the hill. Can't imagine how much damage a 50 lbs cheese wheel rolling at 30+ mph will do.
Great episode though... glad TAR is back.
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2-16-2009 @ 12:42PM
Robert said...
Was it just me or did Preston flip those instrument players off after they were done with the cheese thing?
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2-16-2009 @ 5:07PM
Sassy said...
I really enjoyed this episode. The bungee jump scared me but I loved watching the folks give it a go. From the "scared to death" to the "ho hum" attitudes, it was great! I wondered why they didn't roll the cheese wheels down, too. And I agree, Steve was a jerk to his wife and she is in no shape to go the full round on this show. It is physically and emotionally demanding ... I don't see her making it in either case. Glad to see the "Bickers" go home right away and hope the ex-airline gals are next.
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2-16-2009 @ 10:10PM
deebopalula said...
I had to rewind to figure out how the flight attendants, who were counting on their travel expertise, went from 1st to 4th to 6th to last place before just barely beating out the annoying Preston & Jennifer. I don't think it showed how much additional time their choice of train travel cost them, but so much for their "insider travel tips". I initially liked Steve and Linda, but his sniping at her while she was sobbing was insensitive. Still, he was the only one who showed any ingenuity at the cheese wheel challenge. When they get eliminated - which will be soon - I hope he's gracious about it.
Margie and Luke are my early faves. Oh - and a tip to Victor - if that's the best b.s.-ing you can do, don't ever play poker. That story he tried to spin at the train station to mislead the other teams was just embarrassing.
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2-17-2009 @ 7:28PM
MarcDom7 said...
They were not allowed to simply roll the cheese down the hill and catch up with it. Those cheeses were thusly eliminated.
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