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Phil's Blog for TAR14
puddin:
Phil Keoghan blogs 'The Amazing Race': episode 5
Loved last night's episode. Talk about taking people out of their comfort zone. The racers got a firsthand taste of the frigid Russian climate we've grown to love on this show. I've never seen so many stunned locals in my life.
People always ask me what goes on while I'm waiting for the teams. Well, we never really know exactly how much time there is in between so we all stay close to the mat, at times for up to 19 hours. Back in season 2, we were in the middle of the Hong Kong harbor with people hurling over the side while waiting for Teams to arrive - that was a little rough - but being out of the cold and sharing time with these talented people was a real buzz.
At the pit-stops, I shoot the welcome to the pit-stop stand up, (explaining that teams have to come to a specific spot) then the opening for the next show. If there is a good spread between the teams then I get longer interviews with teams at the mat...sometimes up to 30 minutes each depending on what they want to share. Talking to the teams is actually the best part of everything I do. I love the energy they bring to the mat and capturing their emotions in the moment. The other thing I try and complete is a Phil's Diary segment.
No matter how much we prepare for teams arriving they still sneak up on us — like you saw in last week's Diary. Even when we think we know when and how they are going to arrive someone will come flying in out of nowhere.
Still, loads of questions being fired at me...people wonder why teams run out of money. All teams get the same amount of money each leg but some spend more wisely than others, some get taken by taxi drivers, and, of course, sometimes find themselves cut short.
It never ceases to amaze me the number of fans who write in from Canada...and the number one question, "Why can't Canadians be a part of the Race?" Australians, New Zealanders...people from all over the world ask the same thing about their eligibility. There are lots of reasons from passports, logistics, casting resources, legal coverage...it is way more complicated than you might think. The fact is there are simply so many choices for casting here in the States for a great show and of course there are now other versions being made around the world.
As far as an international race down the line...maybe, but again think of the challenges. Many people have suggested four networks get together (Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA) and each puts in say three teams and equal money. But who would be in control of the show? What happens if all three Australian teams get eliminated in the first three episodes? Fun to talk about but it didn't work for the international Idol series.
A lot of people stop me and say, "Phil, if I was on the Race I would win that thing. I can't believe some of those people." First off, trust me, this is a lot harder than it looks and secondly, we are not picking people for their extraordinary racing skills...the fittest, fastest etc. We pick people who are extraordinary people who we think are going to be the most interesting at getting from one place to another. This season I really think we ended up with a great mix.
And lastly, one of the best things about the Race is how momentum can shift on a dime for all the teams. Just when you think you're in control, one bad leg puts you at the back of the pack. Jodi and Christie were truly shocked when I told them they weren't eliminated courtesy of this season's first non-elimination leg.
http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/03/phil-keoghan--2.html?xid=rss-popwatch-Phil%20Keoghan%20blogs%20'The%20Amazing%20Race':%20episode%205
TARAsia Fan:
Best blog yet! :yess: :yess: :yess: :yess:
tory:
the philanater is awsome!!!!!
puddin:
Phil Keoghan blogs 'The Amazing Race': episode 6
Mar 23, 2009, 06:08 AM | by Phil Keoghan
Wow, who knew there could be so many questions about my underwear? Okay, for the record, here's the deal. Boxers...too much dingle dangle, briefs...too tighty whitey looking. Support is a necessity, looking like a overly tanned European tourist in a Speedo is an absolute no no. At the end of the day it's all about personal preference and what works...after spending three days at a nudist resort shooting an episode aptly named, Nude Awakenings, I am way beyond passing judgment about how or where people hang out.
Really good to know so many of you are enjoying the fresh aspects of the show. I agree that this has been one of our best seasons yet. Being able to choose fresh locations and new challenges never seen before really helps but of course this cast is really starting to heat up...and it's only going to get better. Remember that Mat meltdown I told you about? Well, it's coming soon.
What's interesting about doing a show like Race is the reaction people have to the challenges, both the racers and the viewers. Some people wrote to me and said having people run like that in the cold is way too extreme, others felt it wasn't extreme enough. Everything from — "You could have killed those people" to "Ah, when I was young we used to run backwards ten times as far, on our hands."
At the end of the day we are simply trying to push people outside their comfort zone, to challenge them. This is something I believe is an essential part of life. I really believe there are way too many people who forget to really live. Why? Because you can...because life is too short to be a spectator...because sometimes it's okay to do something just for the fun of it and you don't have to analyze everything to the point of exhaustion. Pushing someone outside their comfort zone is relative. What's extreme for one person may be quite tame for another...that's okay. And it's one of the reasons we don't pick people who would simply waltz through every challenge. As far as safety goes, as I've said before, everything we do is tested and retested, and at the end of the day the most dangerous thing we have people do is get in a taxi cab. Race is about getting people to take mental leaps not having people risk life and limb.
Look at the mental leap the teams took arriving in India. The reaction of Luke and Jamie is quite typical. It is very difficult for some people to suddenly be exposed to the realities of a world that many people simply try to ignore. Naturally there is a feeling of helplessness. One of the great things about the Race is that we are able to show real Americans the world in a way that is seldom seen on primetime television. Usually when you see the world there is a war, a natural disaster, political disruption. On Race we have been able to show the kindness of strangers, provide an insight into a different culture and capture moments of everyday life while driving down an Indian street.
I think Mel is great. I hope that when I'm 68 I have the same sense of humor and passion for life. The connection he has with Mike is very cool to watch. Mike definitely got his comedic timing from his dad.
Maybe some of you might want to be one of the next Amazing Racers ... well I'm six days away from heading out across America on a bike, and part of my tour includes casting for the new season of Race. Please check out the route and if you have time sign up to ride a few miles with me. See you soon!
http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/03/phil-keoghan--3.html?xid=rss-popwatch-Phil%20Keoghan%20blogs%20'The%20Amazing%20Race':%20episode%206
honeybee:
What a great blog. Seriously fantastic. It is so nice that he is answering as many questions as possible. Love it! :tup:
Very cool to hear about his biking adventure that starts SO SOON (I wonder if he will keep blogging?) but very sad that Portland, OR is far from his straight-shot from LA to NYC. Definitily try to see him if he's coming through your town! http://www.philridesacrossamerica.com/whereis_philnow.html
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