Topic: TAR Dream Team

[georgiapeach]

Suppose you had the chance to create a new, never before seen team for TAR 17, what would you most like to see?

And what kind of teams work for you?? What doesn't? What makes you fall in love with a team?

What makes you watch more? A team you love? Or a team you hate?

What about "stunt" casting?

Y'all are so creative, I know you have thoughts about this! 

[michael]

Um, Me.

[Slowhatch]

The Times had an casting article today.

Veteran producer Mark Burnett said many producers may not be able to afford the rigorous screening process he uses for shows like "Survivor," considered the granddaddy of reality in the United States. Applicants are not only subjected to extensive background checks, in which their friends and family are interviewed, but must take the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, a sophisticated personality test, and then meet with a team of top-flight psychologists.

But how seriously should we take this? He still uses Spillman, right? Because also making the rounds is this story:

They got an offer to appear on the CBS reality show "The Amazing Race," which her husband nixed.

Anyway, my two cents: civilians (any 10 teams will do).


It's hard to distinguish links with this new theme 

[theschnauzers]

Slowhatch, which Times, New York? Los Angeles? London? Somewhere else?

Better yet, is there a link>

[Slowhatch]

This new theme doesn't do links very well; mouse over "casting" and "story."

[Hooky]

This new theme doesn't do links very well; mouse over "casting" and "story."

I'm sure Rob will fix it. He's probably experimenting.

Nice thread, peach! But I must say that while I have a very good idea of what a "bad" team is, I don't really know how to define a "perfect" one.

I'd say that a dream team would be a team that is made up of average Americans who are able to succeed in extraordinary things, while showing an incredible depth of character and a strong relationship. I don't want to see "mactors" and "celebs." They seem too "shallow," and besides, we have other ways of watching them already.

[Evan_Weinstein]

It will be good to see this few teams:

Elise and Bertram
Phil and his wife
Jerry Bruckheimer and his wife

all racing in TAR 17, with no host present, like Jeff Probst isn't present in one of the Survivor seasons

[Jobby]

It will be good to see this few teams:

Elise and Bertram
Phil and his wife
Jerry Bruckheimer and his wife

all racing in TAR 17, with no host present, like Jeff Probst isn't present in one of the Survivor seasons

Huh? Jeff wasn't present in one of the CHALLENGE. A season without Phil hosting?

[ImANewUser]

It will be good to see this few teams:

Elise and Bertram
Phil and his wife
Jerry Bruckheimer and his wife

all racing in TAR 17, with no host present, like Jeff Probst isn't present in one of the Survivor seasons

Huh? Jeff wasn't present in one of the CHALLENGE. A season without Phil hosting?

We'll probably have something like Season 1 where the people greeting are locals, except Phil doesn't show up for the last place team. I do wonder who'll do the stills in that case.

[georgiapeach]

I would like to see an Internet team...someone who "knows" each other but perhaps have never met...I think it would be fun to see a team actually getting to know the real person vs the virtual person...could be a hoot!

What else have we not seen? I know I have heard you say step-parent, step-child before.

What else??

[ImANewUser]

^^Bob & Joyce were so close to being the internet team you want, peach. And if Cher/Stassi raced on their own, we'd have the step-parent/step-child team too.

[Coutzy]

I would like to see an Internet team...someone who "knows" each other but perhaps have never met...I think it would be fun to see a team actually getting to know the real person vs the virtual person...could be a hoot!

What else have we not seen? I know I have heard you say step-parent, step-child before.

What else??

I love the idea of an internet team, but it remains really doubtful given that TAR is a show about relationships, and teams need to be able to discuss their relationships openly on camera.

I'd like to see a mentor and protege team. The power and decision dynamics would certainly cause some interesting moments for us to tune in to.

[Hooky]

How about a fortune-teller and her minion, like in Smiley's Create Your Own Race 6?

[Jobby]

I love the idea of an internet team, but it remains really doubtful given that TAR is a show about relationships, and teams need to be able to discuss their relationships openly on camera.

Well, Ruth and I decided we'll take part in The Amazing Race Asia together and that will be our status. (No kidding there) Internet Friends. But we've met each other before, just that we're not really friends, but friends at the same time. And we already knew each other for around 6 years on the internet, so that could be like totally cool.

[Jobby]

Pardon me, but i'll love the idea of two FAMOUS celebrities, but not two not-so-famous celebrities trying to use the show to become famous.

People like Sarah Jessica Parker who really loves the race and even saved it from being cancelled after TAR 4. It'll be fun to see REAL celebrities who LOVE the race, RUN the race. That's my humble opinion.

Can i say i also want to see our TAR Detectives running the race?

Phil: "*** and ***, TAR addicts, detectives who used to chase the race around the world when we're filming, but now they are doing it on their own to fulfill their TAR dream".

Will be really cool!

And can we have more twins team? We have Kami and Karli and Derek and Drew... so now we need a co-ed twins team to complete the set.

Okay, this is crazy.

But i wanna see Russell (Survivor Samoa) run the race. I just want to see how evil he can get on TAR.

LOL.

Some crazy ideas there.

[georgiapeach]

I always thought I hated celebrities on our race, but Mike and Mel made me think twice about that.

The only "celebrity" I honestly wouldn't mind right now?

Would be Bonnie Hunt.

No Russell please. Two Survivors are already more than his share.

[ImANewUser]

No Russell please. Two Survivors are already more than his share.

I'd agree, especially if the teammate is a Cyndi/Cindy.

And I'm okay with celebrities, as long as they are well-renowned ones that love the show.

ETA: I would love to see an uncle/nephew or aunt/niece team.

[Dånooky]

I'd love to see a team whose description is "It's Complicated"

[redskevin88]

God Sibling team (not the Ari and Stella type), boy/girl cousins and another fun team like the globetrotters

[ImANewUser]

God Sibling team (not the Ari and Stella type), boy/girl cousins and another fun team like the globetrotters

Ari & Staella were just friends. Funny thing is, I <333333333 them & </3333333333333333 the globetrotters.

[theschnauzers]

People like Sarah Jessica Parker who really loves the race and even saved it from being cancelled after TAR 4.

I think she is being given too much credit for this.  And I am in a position to know, although I can't give all the details.

I will point out though, that in the spring and summer of 2003, there was an internet-organized but snail mail-executed letter-writing campaign directed specifically at Les Moonves, other senior executives at CBS at the time, and to TAR's advertisers. This was in the months immediately preceding TAR's first competitive reality nomination and win, and had far more to do with TAR's renewal than any celebrity. And it was in a time where network executives still gave snail mail far more weight than internet petitions and e-mails.

As to the topic, the earliest celebrity-to-be who wanted to be on TAR (got talked into applying for American Idol when he was planning to apply for TAR) is Clay Aiken. I would have no problem if he's applied with someone he knows and were to make it on -- if for no other reason than he was then a true fan of the show. This is why I suspect Jeff was able to make it onto TAR 16 since I suspect he was in the casting files already, and the casting folks have been known to ask an applicant on another CBS show if there is someone else that they could team with for more serious consideration in the application process. I believe there was a team on TAR 2 or 3 that was recommended by Tina Wesson.

[Mandoli]

If TAR's going to cast any team in their 20s, I'd like them to cast a couple of average-looking 20-somethings.

[Jobby]

People like Sarah Jessica Parker who really loves the race and even saved it from being cancelled after TAR 4.

I think she is being given too much credit for this.  And I am in a position to know, although I can't give all the details.

I will point out though, that in the spring and summer of 2003, there was an internet-organized but snail mail-executed letter-writing campaign directed specifically at Les Moonves, other senior executives at CBS at the time, and to TAR's advertisers. This was in the months immediately preceding TAR's first competitive reality nomination and win, and had far more to do with TAR's renewal than any celebrity. And it was in a time where network executives still gave snail mail far more weight than internet petitions and e-mails.

As to the topic, the earliest celebrity-to-be who wanted to be on TAR (got talked into applying for American Idol when he was planning to apply for TAR) is Clay Aiken. I would have no problem if he's applied with someone he knows and were to make it on -- if for no other reason than he was then a true fan of the show. This is why I suspect Jeff was able to make it onto TAR 16 since I suspect he was in the casting files already, and the casting folks have been known to ask an applicant on another CBS show if there is someone else that they could team with for more serious consideration in the application process. I believe there was a team on TAR 2 or 3 that was recommended by Tina Wesson.

Thanks for telling more. 

[TARAsia Fan]

How about a team of real gypsies? Or Pirates? That would be interesting. Well, unless the pirates were in the ocean, they wouldn't be all that interesting.  

[walkingpneumonia]

Suppose you had the chance to create a new, never before seen team for TAR 17, what would you most like to see?

And what kind of teams work for you?? What doesn't? What makes you fall in love with a team?

What makes you watch more? A team you love? Or a team you hate?

What about "stunt" casting?

Y'all are so creative, I know you have thoughts about this! 

This isn't necessarily my Dream Team but more the types of teams that I think would increase ratings.

I think TPTB do a pretty good job of casting already - you can't argue with success - the ratings keep going up.

The Sacrificial Lambs - these are teams like the beekeepers, hillbillys. They are in awe of tall buildings and traffic jams. Probably never travelled outside of their own state. Their reactions as a couple when they experience things in the big world is refreshing and humorous. Typically eliminated early because they are unprepared for the TAR travel experience.

The Squeaky Cleans. Virgins. Wholesome. Wouldn't dream of cussing. We smack ourselves in the forehead when they help other teams and take sadistic pleasure when they are betrayed by those they assisted.

The Alt.Squeaky Cleans. Same as "The Squeaky Cleans" except they are driven by some sort of  post-adolescent angst to adopt an alternative lifestyle that for some reason American youth admire and aspire to. Think Kynt and Vixen.

The Bickersons. Everybody knows them - the couple that is constantly at each others throats. But somehow they stay together through it all and come out stronger on the other side.

The Rat and Mouse. The Rat is an officious, annoying, intransigent, aggressive know-it-all who dominates his mouse partner. Somewhere in the race Rat gets his comeuppance and the mouse comes out on top. Viewers get a sense of schadenfreude when the Rat despairs and fails.

The Foreign American  They have such a distinct regional accent that they seem foreign to the rest of America. Examples would be a Brooklyner, New Orleanian, Bostonian, Atlantanite ;-).  They would have to be subtitled.

Military Couple - Recently returned from serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. Getting to know each other again after being apart for an extended period. It would be unpatriotic not to watch TAR when they were racing. Phil would likely be deported if he eliminated them.

Athletic Couple  Figure skating pairs team, tennis mixed pairs, mixed beach volleyball team.

Canadians  Middle aged Canadian metrosexual couple - preferably bilingual. Huge fans of TAR ;-) Everyone loves Canadians. Right?

I'd also like to see more interaction with camera/sound guys - sort of like The Office/Trailer Park Boys - where the presence of the camera is acknowledged by the talent. Right now we only hear from the teams at mat chats and post leg interviews.

[Dånooky]

Ferna & Fran would be an example of my dream team

They were smart, funny, cheerful, lucky and were a non-bitchy FF team

[georgiapeach]

The Foreign American  They have such a distinct regional accent that they seem foreign to the rest of America. Examples would be a Brooklyner, New Orleanian, Bostonian, Atlantanite ;-).  They would have to be subtitled.

I heard that. y'all. 

[Glamazon Racer]

One of the teams that I would love to see above all is a "Teacher/Pupil" pair. That would be extremely entertaining to watch! I would even consider racing with one of my own teachers!

[Hooky]

Also BJ & Tyler. Fun, interesting, never bickering, enthusiastic about the race. Enough said.

[Benedicto]

Lolz.... @ Russell getting to the race....  .... do it with Melanie Hantz ....then if they would lose then LOL....I think he's going to be very very bitter about it. 

Well, my dream team:

Single Moms acts as Villains but weak physically - ala Lyn/Karlyn
Man-like Sister & Girly-like Sister - new dynamics =D, prolly bickering.
Even Dumber blondes - awesomeness!
Athletic & Flirty Cheerleaders - ala Jaime/Cara
Un-athletic F/F Team - ala Meredith/Maria
Trainwreck-ish and really entertaining team - ala Chala/Mirna

Religious Girl & Not religious Guy (Couple) - love this! prolly epic!
ANNOYING Bickering Couple - just so Jonathan will have a successor
ENTERTAINING Bickering Couple - ala Nate/Jenn
Calm and Cool and Boring Couple - ala TK/Rachel

Villain-ous Old Guy Team - ala Steve/Dave
Frat Guys with really good humor - love it.

---
Gut Bootlist:
1st Calm and Cool and Boring Couple
2nd Trainwreck-ish and really entertaining team
3rd Frat Guys with really good humor
4th Religious Girl & Not religious Guy (Couple)
5th ANNOYING Bickering Couple
6th Villain-ous Old Guy Team
7th ENTERTAINING Bickering Couple
8th Athletic & Flirty Cheerleaders [U-turnED Out]
9th Single Moms acts as Villains but weak physically
10th Even Dumber blondes
11th Man-like Sister & Girly-like Sister
12th Un-athletic F/F Team

^^lol worst season ever with the bootlist....

[smiley]

Eleven teams right?

Team 1: "The Office" Fanatics! (F/F)
Team 2: Ex Football Players (M/M)
Team 3: Bickering Mothers/Friends (F/F)
Team 4: Nerd Friends (F/F)
Team 5: Axe Murderers D: (M/F)
Team 6: Brothers/Bumbeling Idiots (M/M)
Team 7: Smart Brainy Couple (M/F)
Team 8: Parents of 15 Children (M/F) "Oh, we're used to being on the run all day"
Team 9: People who met 5 minutes before the race (M/F)
Team 10: Father/Daughter - Daughter used to be a male (M/F)
Team 11: Yodelers! (M/F)

[Glamazon Racer]

Here's my 'dream' cast (in preferred order of finishing):

1. Beauty Queens (F/F)
2. Teacher/Student Pair (M/M)
3. Employer/Employee Pair (F/M)
4. Dating Couple that come 2nd every time and never wins a leg, and gets eliminated fourth, like Nate & Jenn or MoJo (M/F)
5. The 'old' couple (M/F)
6. The 'religious' pair (M/F)
7. Business 'rivals' (M/M)
8. Female sportspeople (F/F)
9. The extreme bickering couple, who loses on a luck challenge and the male screams on the female (M/F)
10. Single-dads/friends (M/M)
11. Dating couple (M/F)

[redwings8831]

Eleven teams right?

Team 1: "The Office" Fanatics! (F/F)
Team 2: Ex Football Players (M/M)
Team 3: Bickering Mothers/Friends (F/F)
Team 4: Nerd Friends (F/F)
Team 5: Axe Murderers D: (M/F)
Team 6: Brothers/Bumbeling Idiots (M/M)
Team 7: Smart Brainy Couple (M/F)
Team 8: Parents of 15 Children (M/F) "Oh, we're used to being on the run all day"
Team 9: People who met 5 minutes before the race (M/F)
Team 10: Father/Daughter - Daughter used to be a male (M/F)
Team 11: Yodelers! (M/F)

Or you can just take 22 random people and pair them up at the starting line. Don't know if it would actually work but would be interesting for sure.

[DavidJunior]

Eleven teams right?

Team 1: "The Office" Fanatics! (F/F)
Team 2: Ex Football Players (M/M)
Team 3: Bickering Mothers/Friends (F/F)
Team 4: Nerd Friends (F/F)
Team 5: Axe Murderers D: (M/F)
Team 6: Brothers/Bumbeling Idiots (M/M)
Team 7: Smart Brainy Couple (M/F)
Team 8: Parents of 15 Children (M/F) "Oh, we're used to being on the run all day"
Team 9: People who met 5 minutes before the race (M/F)
Team 10: Father/Daughter - Daughter used to be a male (M/F)
Team 11: Yodelers! (M/F)

Or you can just take 22 random people and pair them up at the starting line. Don't know if it would actually work but would be interesting for sure.

even better, just pull 22 random people off the street

i could see it know, "Congratulations!  You just won the opportunity to be taken away against your will for 3 weeks and spend it with absolute strangers in foreign locations!"  And then they hit them over the head with a bat and throw them in a transport vehicle

[DavidJunior]

If I were to create my own race:

Stepfather/Daughter (M/F)
Platonic Life Partners (M/M) (nothing romantic, just friends for life)
Older married couple (M/F) (always gotta have one of those)
Newly Dating Couple (M/F) (drama??)
Aunt/Niece (F/F)
Distant Cousins (M/M)  
Party Animals (M/M) (they'd be fun)
Athletic Pair (F/F) (Williams sisters?)
Long lost siblings (M/F) (interesting dynamic)
Newlyweds (M/F) (will their relationship stand up to the race?)
Dating couple from eHarmony (or something like it) (M/F)
Sorority Sisters (F/F) (nice alternative to the Frat Brothers)

if i had to make a boot list:
1st: Distant Cousins (M/M)
2nd: Athletic women (F/F) (again, a female team comes up just short...)
3rd: Long Lost Siblings (M/F) (becomes the feel good team of the race, but doesn't get lucky in the end)
4th: Newlyweds (M/F) (arguing gets the better of them in the end)
5th: Stepfather/daughter (M/F) (got outraced once the competition heated up)
6th: Platonic Life Partners (M/M) (U-turned because they were the toughest competition)
7th: Sorority Sisters (F/F) (got unlucky, probably fell victim to the India curse)
8th: Dating Couple from eHarmony (M/F) (got outraced)
9th: Older Couple (M/F) (were too slow)
10th: Aunt/Niece (F/F) (got lost in self-driving)
11th: Newly Dating Couple (M/F) (arguing got the better of them)
12th: Party Animals (M/M) (didn't take the race seriously and focused too much on having fun and taking it easy)

[georgiapeach]

even better, just pull 22 random people off the street

i could see it know, "Congratulations!  You just won the opportunity to be taken away against your will for 3 weeks and spend it with absolute strangers in foreign locations!"  And then they hit them over the head with a bat and throw them in a transport vehicle

There was a show that did this...if you answered a ringing phone on the street you were "kidnapped" to do some stunt/spy-like tasks...I think it was a Dutch show? The link is around here somewhere, looked fun.

[Cocoa]

If TAR has to take a third sex team again, why not cast TRANSGENDERS? Survivor and BB here in the Philippines has them, and they played really well!

[redwings8831]

even better, just pull 22 random people off the street

i could see it know, "Congratulations!  You just won the opportunity to be taken away against your will for 3 weeks and spend it with absolute strangers in foreign locations!"  And then they hit them over the head with a bat and throw them in a transport vehicle

There was a show that did this...if you answered a ringing phone on the street you were "kidnapped" to do some stunt/spy-like tasks...I think it was a Dutch show? The link is around here somewhere, looked fun.

There was a US series of this on MTV this summer called the Phone. Pretty good show.

http://www.mtv.com/shows/the_phone/series.jhtml

[Dånooky]

If TAR has to take a third sex team again, why not cast TRANSGENDERS? Survivor and BB here in the Philippines has them, and they played really well!

transgenders as in post-op or as in transvestites?

[Cocoa]

If TAR has to take a third sex team again, why not cast TRANSGENDERS? Survivor and BB here in the Philippines has them, and they played really well!

transgenders as in post-op or as in transvestites?

I didn't understand what you said
What I'm trying to mean and express is that A boy that had undergone some surgery to become a girl, like for adding girly parts.

[Dånooky]

Here be my dream team

[DavidJunior]

Here be my dream team

ya know, just the other day I was like, "What if Lady Gaga were to join the race?" The answer that came to my mind was, "It'd be totally awesome!"

[valor boreal]

Or you can just take 22 random people and pair them up at the starting line. Don't know if it would actually work but would be interesting for sure.

I could see that working for an All Stars series. I can think of a M/F sacrificial lamb pairing in which both contestants made the final 3 first time around.

[pyryniemi]

At first I thought this thread was about Dreamteamers (like in Survivor  )

[georgiapeach]

Nope, this is for casting to see what we REALLY want to see. So make it count.

[Glamazon Racer]

Does anyone know if TAR is ever planning for an All-Stars 2. I don't know if this is the right place to ask.

If they did, Survivor are doing a Heroes/Villains edition right? That could possibly work for TAR - Colin & Christie would be amongst the villains!

[georgiapeach]

Phil, BVM, and Lynne Spillman have all said that there are NO plans to ever have another AllStars.

[DeutschRacerFan]

I really feel that there should be younger M/F NON-dating couples. It seems like all the M/F young couples are dating. It seems like you could have more younger M/F non dating couples (like Ari/Stella who we really never got to know due to such early elimination).

What about an older (50's) dating couple also?

[georgiapeach]

What about an older (50's) dating couple also?

Marcy and Ron!!

to RFF, DeutschRacerFan !! Glad you found us!!

[retard boi]

wow I am really bored today.... here is my  list...

Team 1: Rude and domineering mother (mid to late 50's)/Passive daughter (early 20's) - F/F
Team 2: Bodybuilders (mid 20's to mid 30's) M/M
Team 3: Flamboyant Drag Queens (early 30's) - M/M
Team 4: Nice platonic Coworkers/Paramedics (early 30' to mid 40's) - M/F
Team 5: University Researchers (mid 40's to late 50's) - M/M
Team 6: Weight watchers (late 20's to mid 30's) - F/F
Team 7: Skater slackers (early 20's) -M/M
Team 8: Nice, good looking boring couple (mid to late 20's) - M/F
Team 9: Dumb trashy exotic dancers (mid 20's) - F/F
Team 10: Successful domineering husband (mid 40's)/ Stay at home trophy wife (early 30's) - M/F
Team 11: Bitchy and strong sister (mid 30's) / Bitchy (but less) passive brother (mid to late 20's) - F/M
Team 12: Aggressive successful business women (mid 40's) - F/F

[DeutschRacerFan]

What about an older (50's) dating couple also?

Marcy and Ron!!

to RFF, DeutschRacerFan !! Glad you found us!!

Haha yea ... but they lost so early!

I guess my point was it seems like there are set molds that we are falling into. I know it's a show about relationships ... but America is super diverse .... there are dating people that aren't young ... there are M/F couples that are just friends ... that was all I was saying

And I am kinda tired of the gay couples ... although I did like Dan and his bro ... but those two are just likeable

thanks for the welcome ... long time follower of the show

[cssmithvt]

I would like to see an Internet team...someone who "knows" each other but perhaps have never met...I think it would be fun to see a team actually getting to know the real person vs the virtual person...could be a hoot!

What else have we not seen? I know I have heard you say step-parent, step-child before.

What else??

I'd like to see the same and have wondered why it hasn't been done until i read the instructions. Unfortunately it appears that unless they bend the entry rules some you have to be in the application video with your partner and also send a current picture of yourself and your partner together (though this one didn't say anything about photoshop to my knowledge )

Not sure the reasoning for this rule as an internet only team would probably have one of the greatest dynamics (good or bad) of any yet.

[DeutschRacerFan]

I would like to see an Internet team...someone who "knows" each other but perhaps have never met...I think it would be fun to see a team actually getting to know the real person vs the virtual person...could be a hoot!

What else have we not seen? I know I have heard you say step-parent, step-child before.

What else??

I'd like to see the same and have wondered why it hasn't been done until i read the instructions. Unfortunately it appears that unless they bend the entry rules some you have to be in the application video with your partner and also send a current picture of yourself and your partner together (though this one didn't say anything about photoshop to my knowledge )

Not sure the reasoning for this rule as an internet only team would probably have one of the greatest dynamics (good or bad) of any yet.

There's a vid out there somewhere with Bert talking about how that will never happen because it's a relationship show and they want people who already have preexisting relationships ... i don't think they want to risk throwing two random people together and not having some idea of how they are interacting.

[cssmithvt]

I would like to see an Internet team...someone who "knows" each other but perhaps have never met...I think it would be fun to see a team actually getting to know the real person vs the virtual person...could be a hoot!

What else have we not seen? I know I have heard you say step-parent, step-child before.

What else??

I'd like to see the same and have wondered why it hasn't been done until i read the instructions. Unfortunately it appears that unless they bend the entry rules some you have to be in the application video with your partner and also send a current picture of yourself and your partner together (though this one didn't say anything about photoshop to my knowledge )

Not sure the reasoning for this rule as an internet only team would probably have one of the greatest dynamics (good or bad) of any yet.

There's a vid out there somewhere with Bert talking about how that will never happen because it's a relationship show and they want people who already have preexisting relationships ... i don't think they want to risk throwing two random people together and not having some idea of how they are interacting.

That's one side of it but the other (supporting) side is the rapid emergence of long distance relationships formed through sites like eharmony and others. There's a stat (can't remember where I saw it or what it exactly was) that some 16% (or so) of marriages are from relationships formed online. (or maybe it's 1.6%....i dunno)

[Hooky]

Haha yea ... but they lost so early!

I guess my point was it seems like there are set molds that we are falling into. I know it's a show about relationships ... but America is super diverse .... there are dating people that aren't young ... there are M/F couples that are just friends ... that was all I was saying

And I am kinda tired of the gay couples ... although I did like Dan and his bro ... but those two are just likeable

thanks for the welcome ... long time follower of the show

"Set molds"...I can believe that this is happening literally. I really do think that the reason there are certain types of teams assigned to certain backpack tag numbers is because they use the numbers to search out teams that fit in a certain "category" or fit something specific they are looking for.

Consider this:

You have 7, which is always the "evil" conniving team. (Rob & Amber, Ari & Staella)
8 is always a team that has at least one "old" member. (Marcy & Ron, Fran & Barry)
1 is usually a "driven," "competitive" team. (Peter & Sarah, Lake & Michelle)
2 is a team of girls (except for Oswald & Danny and whoever it was in TAR 10 [either Bilal & Sa'eed or Vipul & Arti, never saw it], for some reason). (Maria & Tiffany, Jaime & Cara)
3 is the "unique" team. (BJ & Tyler, Kynt & Vyxsin)
4 is always black. It sounds discriminatory but it's true. (Aja & Ty, Ray & Yolanda)

Now 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, and 12 are a little harder to classify. It appears that these are usually used for the "other" teams, although they have roles that seem to shift throughout seasons.

I repeat this theory a lot, but I want to know what others think about it.

[David]

Shopaholic friends?

It would be lovely to see them spend all of their money in Milan, NYC, Paris, London... just in clothes!

[Hooky]

Shopaholic friends?

It would be lovely to see them spend all of their money in Milan, NYC, Paris, London... just in clothes!

[Glamazon Racer]

Shopaholic friends?

It would be lovely to see them spend all of their money in Milan, NYC, Paris, London... just in clothes!

Sounds great! Although we had Shana & Jennifer who made that awesome quote ("Anybody in our way of a million dollar shopping spree, we'll knock them down!"). Shopaholics would be terrific!

[David]

Shopaholic friends?

It would be lovely to see them spend all of their money in Milan, NYC, Paris, London... just in clothes!

Sounds great! Although we had Shana & Jennifer who made that awesome quote ("Anybody in our way of a million dollar shopping spree, we'll knock them down!"). Shopaholics would be terrific!

I'm hoping for the day that Paris Hilton and Victoria Beckham apply as a team for the Amazing Race.

[Dånooky]

Shopaholic friends?

It would be lovely to see them spend all of their money in Milan, NYC, Paris, London... just in clothes!

Sounds great! Although we had Shana & Jennifer who made that awesome quote ("Anybody in our way of a million dollar shopping spree, we'll knock them down!"). Shopaholics would be terrific!

I'm hoping for the day that Paris Hilton and Victoria Beckham apply as a team for the Amazing Race.

Posh, I would root for

[caper]

I would love to see Team "Canucks" - A Canadian team  on the race would be terrific! We Canadians don't have our own version so it would be nice to see a Canuck team on the American version - even if it's only a one time thing!(I know this will never happen, but it's my dream team)

[Glamazon Racer]

What we haven't ever seen before is a team of an aunt/uncle and a niece/nephew. I would like to have that to our collection! And we only have one team of cousins in race history (the lovely Charla & Mirna ) so that is quite overdue for me as well.

[DavidJunior]

I would love to see Team "Canucks" 

Made me think of the Vancouver Canucks 

and thinking about hockey, it would be awesome to have some pro Hockey players as a team

the hard part is finding 2 American (US, sorry Canada) guys with a good relationship (which could be hard...)

[DavidJunior]

actually, seeing that they now have Canadian teams on other "american" reality shows, I wouldn't be surprised if they brought at least one or two Canadian teams in eventually

[walkingpneumonia]

I would love to see Team "Canucks" 

Made me think of the Vancouver Canucks 

and thinking about hockey, it would be awesome to have some pro Hockey players as a team

the hard part is finding 2 American (US, sorry Canada) guys with a good relationship (which could be hard...)

Great idea! It would have to be outside of hockey season, so July or August (April to September for Leafs  ).
How about a hockey player and his famous girlfriend - Dion Phaneuf and Elisha Cuthbert - both canucks btw. That team would make a lot of people happy!

[Mandoli]

The thought of having one or two NHLers on TAR is making me very interested. Honestly, I would tune into the season no matter which one(s) they decided to pick.

[DavidJunior]

The Sedin twins! (even tho they are Swedish, and play on a Canadian team...)

[Mandoli]

Okay, that's it. I'd like CBS and TAR to let Canadians or people who work in the US/Canada (but not born in either country) onto the next season. I'm all for it.

[bananawind22]

What I would like to see is a version of the Fans/Favorites that Survivor had, but with a twist.  Instead of competing against a team of past Racers, each applicant would be paired with a favorite Racer of his/hers.  And let production have a say into what would be the best match-ups (throw them a bone so to speak--gotta keep them happy).

For myself, I would want to pick somebody from a team that likes to have fun, but is in it to win as well.  Kris or Jon or one of the Clowns would be one of my first picks.

Besides, I have an ulterior motive in this--I can never find somebdoy who is able to apply at the same time as I am.  At least this way, I might have a better chance of getting on.

[Slowhatch]

A recent wiki article here discusses casting with Lynne Spillman. Take it with a big bag of salt, however; for a better idea of what goes on, this 2004 article (with some Spillman quotes) seems more to the point.