The TV editor of the Newark Star-Ledger interprets the information he received from CBS as "Amazing Race will be returning mid-season on Saturday night."
If this is true, it is indeed "the kiss of death"! Nothing lasts for long on Saturday night.
But lets face it, "hit" reality shows are nearing the end of their run. It is a trueism of television land that all good things must come to an end. Even "Gunsmoke" bit the bullet after 22 years!
Survivor had its lowest ratings for a final show in its history; down some 6 million. Partly due, I think, to the fact that only minority members made up the final five. It may be PC, but the majority of viewers do not watch shows made for the minority.
TAR also ran into a shrinking audience. Partly due to the familiarity of the players, partly due to the familiarity with the tasks, partly due to the familarity of the locales, and partly due to the fact that audiences are getting more and more disillusioned with the contrived nature of the so-called "race". Too many times the race is brought to a screaming halt so that everyone can once again be on a even playing field. That's what happened to your girls, Michael. They had a great lead over the field in Poland, (or wherever) but it was wiped out the very next leg. That's causing a lot of people to lose interest.
Sorry to see it happen. But if TPTB do not shape up quickly, TAR will hit the road as will Survivor, Deal or No Deal, Dancing with the Stars, 1 vs 100, just as Who Wants to be a Millionaire did before them. The only show that seems to build year after year is American Idol, and that, too, will fade away in time.
But enough said, I know I sound like a pessimist, but I've worked and lived through almost 60 years of television history since 1948 and trends start, swell, and then like old generals, just fade away.
So no more worries about TAR or anything else on televison (and that includes BB, Puddin) as I leave tomorrow for a month's trip through Eastern Europe. But mind you, I will have my camera at the ready just in case I run into a yellow and red bannaer somewhere.
Ciao, everyone.
