The Amazing Race > The Amazing Race Discussion

Why the Amazing Race has lost its magic

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Caelestor:
I really think it's because the show's priorities changed. The show has become more focused on strategy and interteam drama. Personally, I prefer travel and intrateam relationships.

Kiwi Jay:
I miss Pre-Family-Edition. As many have stated it focused so much more on the teams of ordinary people, the comraderie, the little inter-couple tiffs (ILY Teri and Ian!), the drama, each country being showcased with it's best locales, best tasks and vibrant feel. I miss hearing the teams say "Travel to Egypt, to the Sphynx (totally spelt wrong, LOL)" and things like that where you get excited to see what each country has got to offer. I miss each team's relationship being explored. More driving, more game-talk, more strategy and wonder if 90-mins for each episode would be better (IDK). I really feel casting has changed as well...Idk, getting certain teams from TAR10-16 well they all seem wannabe's basically...Not many teams excited me much...I've being trying to tell myself I'm wrong but I'm not...

Who remembers teams from TAR3 travelling in the middle of the night (love night starts) to the Jet D'Eau, then getting a flag telling them to travel to Singapore. What about those exciting Alpine episodes in that season with the long drives, hell even the Flo/Drew romance! The whole idea of roadtrekking through Europe excited me, and the teams were great..Kenny and Gerard, the fierce Twins, Whiner and Zach, Teri and Eyen (LOL) the team you loved and hated and yet really hoped they stayed in and JV and Jill as well!

You don't get that anymore. Every leg seems like its overgone plastic surgery and all you see is quick snappy shots of 3 day time tasks (which usually are all boring), not really any suspense, too much cruelty amongst the teams ala TAR16...And sometimes I wonder if it isn't the teams at all its the way their portrayed. I sometimes wonder if TAR3 would be just as good if you put the latter casts in that season...and I think it is the race itself thats died a little. What about TAR4 Episode1 in the Alps and how exciting that was (though it was obvious Debra and Steve weren't going to make it bless them). And then Episode 2 starting with a night time taboggon down the mountain!

New seasons really feel plastic and polar to me. All you get is quick check out. Airport. All teams booked on same flight (damn production, and as people said about TAR1-7 when teams really got to chose what they wanted to do ala TAR1 with all the teams scheming to get off at Bologne and taking a taxi to the next pitstop!!). Arriving, mad dash which seems boring as well not at all exciting, Detour (kinda irrelevant to the country) Roadblock (10 mins away) All taxi's, not alot of driving! 1 stupid task and then pitstop. Its all about the stupid tasks as well. None of the airing time for stuff in between tasks like in TAR3, remember all the great moments we got when teams weren't racing? like the Europe legs with the full on self driving? When teams were booking flights, driving, on a 24 hour train, Flo whining, Teri yelling "Eeyen"! It's gone, all we get is that listed above, every leg with no real "polish". No development of characters, just full on race to this and that and not be last...

I'm starting to face the music...As so many programs...Early seasons>Late Seasons pale in comparison :( :(

TAR has lost its magic...I feel like I want to go into CBS Studios and get a really great season outta them! It has become plastic (Lynne Spillman, lol) just like Survivor as well although with the firing of Erika Shay its better...but back to TAR lol!

Sorry for my big speech but it just started and wouldn't stop lol! I hope some agree, where's all the polish gone, all the comraderie, the "real" drama not the production concocted crap and the great tasks, location-showing, team development and making the race full on like TAR1,3,5,7 and even 2,4,6 at times! 8,12,13,14,15,16 and 9,10,11 close behind them are all (watching again) paling in comparison...and I know costs are low, but damn costs, just go for it!

mswood:
Well we all have to understand part of it is simply the fact that we have had 16 seasons of what is basically the same thing.  Some erosion of freshness and novelty is going to natural diminish.

Add to that a cut back (of typically) either two legs or 2 hours of filmed material and you are going to lose precious time spent getting to know the teams (and that aspect isn't any fault of the show, but of CBS).

But I think seasons like 10 and 14 have been excellent seasons for the most part (really the main negative aspect of season 14 was the whole Luke & Margie and Kisha and Jen that soared the ending of that season.

But heck earlier seasons 5, 6 and 7 got very nasty at times between racers. 

I do agree though that while the show has always had conflict, I think the producers are really trying to bring it out that is an aspect I don't like at all).

I also think that while some tasks have been absolutely great (and there have always been crappy tasks) what I miss is the really interacting with locals on a task.  But with needing to save money, means keeping tasks a little more controlled, less driving, and a little more isolation from the general population.

Again part of that is strictly due to budget cuts from CBS, but part is also design and what type of teams the producers cast.  If I had a say I would certainly work with that.

Kiwi Jay:
Keep in mind I didn't watch TAR from the start...and I can SPOT the difference! 10-11-12 were fine but since then it has become a bit worse every season imo.

Valkyrian:
Kiwijay. I agree with absolutely everything you've said, and I've been watching from the start, but to add my opinions.

Why I believe The Amazing Race has lost it's magic.


1. Models and Beauty Queens

Firstly they're not exciting to watch, they may add the *Beauty* factor but a lot come accross as being fake and playing to the camera at times.
This bugs the heck outta me, CBS, heck even World Race Production needs to cast regular members of society, they need to get this beautiful people mindset out of their minds. Normal everyday people even the unattractive can be just as exciting and add more to the race. More people like say Linda & Karen for example, these people may not win awards for beauty but they come accross as good people, good racers and show a lot of heart.


2. Stop casting Celebs/Semi famous people

They need to like stop overloading the race with Celebs/Semi Famous people. You lose the magic of a race with *Ordinary* people in a race around the world. 11 teams of average members of society who aren't famous are more likely to be tactical and passionate about winning. Less Maria And Tiffanys, more Dan and Jordans, Louie and Michaels, Margie and Lukes etc
(Nothing against M&T, just listed them as an example)

3. Removal of teams setting their own flights
Producers need to bring back the ability for teams to gain a massive lead on the others, if a team gets to the airport first, let them board a plane and leave the country, less bunching more ACTUAL RACING. It's not a proper race if production is holding your hands.

4 Loss of Friendships and developments in that area

Seems the producers forgot that people love seeing the banter and communication between teams during and after tasks, like in Airports. Removing this you lose a lot of the *Reality* feel, and it becomes a *Teams go to task* *Teams complete task* *Teams occasionally talk* *Pitstop* They need to seriously consider the way they edit this show, seems from TAR 13 onwards the banter and excitement is gone at times. Teams cant be THAT Boring can they?

Give me a TAR season with at least 10 non beauty queens and celebs and to me that'l be a race to watch. Bring the Ordinary people into TAR, the non famous, the everyday average Joe who works from 9 till 5, has an average life and you'l have a damn good race.

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