Rough Roads Ahead
Just because there are kids along doesn't mean The Amazing Race: Family Edition is all child's play.
by Lisa Chambers
The Amazing Race: Family Edition
premiere Tuesday, 9/27, 9 PM/ET, CBS
When you hear that this year's edition of The Amazing Race features families, including kids as young as 9, you might expect a kinder, gentler version of the fast-moving trek around the world. A reality show in which tidy nuclear family units perform simpler challenges in fewer exotic locales. But you would be wrong.
"Families come in many forms in 2005, and we've taken full advantage of that" says excecutive producer Bertram van Munster. The eighth running of the race includes 10 teams of four people related by bloodor marriage, but there are only two teams with small kids. The rest are older teens and adults. And the show, which kicks off in New York this week, will go to more than 50 cities (including stops in two countries the race has never gone to before) over 25 days with the families spending more than 600 hours of quality time together.
Some kid-friendly concessions hae been made, however, including a safety advocate to check that the challenges are suitable for children, and van Munster admits there are some dangerous locations they will avoid. One country they plan to take more advantage of? The U.S.A. As one crew member says: "It's Amazing Race Americana." Let the game begin!
Day 1, Noon
Forty people are lining up beneath the Brooklyn Bridge for the start, and the scene looks familiar-the first season kicked off in New York in 2001, but host Phil Keoghan is struck by the differences, "When we shot Amazing Race 1, the Twin Towers were standing right there." He points to the altered skyline. "The world has changed." And so has the race.
For one thing, the casting calls drew 80,000 people, on a par with last season's turnout, but it was difficult for some auditioners to come up with the required four family members. "There was a new level of excitement," Keoghan says. "By doubling the number of people, we've certainly made it feel as challenging as Season 1." Then there are the kids. Some may fear that bringing them along will slow the race down, but van Munster isn't worried. "Kids can do a lot of things we can't," he says. "They can go throught a crowd faster; they can get away with more things."
12:31 PM
They're off! The teams race to a line of black GMC trucks, but, in a break from tradition, the first destination is a sporting goods store in downtown Manhattan to pick up camping gear. What, no mad dash to the nearest airport? "We're definitely going out of the country," van Munster insists. "I personally don't want to be just here, I want to go other places!"
Other basics of the race aren't changing, adds Elise Doganieri series cocreator, co-executive producer and van Munster's wife. "We still have our Detour, Roadblock, Fast Forward, Yield," she says. But the challenges may vary based on how many people are required to participate.
3:45 PM
The Bransen family dash into Washington Crossing Historic Park in Pennsylvania, the point along the Delaware River where George Washington made his famous crossing. For the first physical challenge, teams must row a boat across the fast-flowing river to pick up a colonial American flag on the other side. The Aiello team, Tony and his three sons-in-law arrive but take a few minutes before shoving off. Grumbles a crew member, "George Washington is giving them too much instruction," referring to a history reenactor, dressed like the father of our country, who'll ride with each team. Finally, they're paddling with the unimpressive George W. manning the bow, hollering, "Stroke! Stroke!"
Says van Munster, "We're using historical sites and moments for humor, drama and visually spectacular locations" And hey, who says TV can't be educational? Still, the challenge is not all smooth sailing: Several racers end up in the river pushing their boats along.
6 PM
As the teams set up their tents in a large field outside Phladelphia under threatening skies, van Munster explains the thought process behind the first leg: "Right now we're in the United States, country of plenty, and we give them as little as possible. The have to sleep in a tent and if they have to use the Porta Potti," he points across the field, "they're about 200 yards away in the rain."
The teams are too busy meeting each other-they're not allowed to talk to one another before the start-to worry about the devious Porta Potti placement. "Where are y'all from?" Renee Rogers, racing with her husband and grown children, asks Linda Weaver, a reent widow competing with her three kids. Weaver's daughter Rebecca groans, "Wouldn't this be lame if it's a trip around the U.S.? I'm ready to get out of here!"
Later, a matchmaking Renee tries to introduce her Brock to Lindsay and Lauren Bransen, but he mumbles and walks away. "He's the Cajun snake," predicts one crew member." He's got some Creole he'll pull out when he gets mad." The Aiello team tries to figure but how all four men will sleep in the small tent. "You can spoon each other," Doganieri suggests.
DAY 2, 10 AM
Spoiler alert!
For the first detour, on a scenic farm in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the teams must choose between hauling an Amish buggy along a 16-mile route or assembling a minibarn with a waterwheel. The Weavers arrive and go for the buggies, but later change their minds, the buggies weight 500 pounds. The Aiellos go for the buggies, "Oh, it's brutal" says Matt.
Van Munster wants to observe the buggy race more closely. "I need to know every detail" he says. "I'm going to follow them into the corn," The Gaghans, who have tow small kids, also choose the buggies. Think they can't hack it? (Hint: Even 9-year-old Carissa runs a seven-minute mile) The kids sing a victory song as they barrel past a stronger team, with mom Tammy effortlessly hauling the buggy. "She's an animal!" van Munster shouts. The teams collect their next clue: Off to the Pit Stop.
3 PM
After the teams finish the leg, Keoghan says he realizes another way this may differ from the past: "I expect it will be the most emotional Pit Stops we've ever had. I know that I'm going to be kicking kids off," Coexecutive producer Hayma "Screech" Washington adds, "You don't have to get out of the country to have a great event. That whole Washington Crossing thing? It was good. You feel like you stepped back in history. And we have a lot more of that coming up... but I can't tell you what." Be sure to bring the kids.
thanks to puddin's scan
