The Amazing Race > The Amazing Race Discussion
Mactors/Recruited Teams
walkingpneumonia:
Don't forget that the only reason TAR is exists is because it generates advertising revenue dollars for CBS.
The way you attract advertisers is by having a large audience watching.
How do you increase the audience?
As BVM says, TAR is a show about relationships. The relationship between the two teammates, between the teams racing, and most importantly, the relationship between the teams and the audience.
Because the audience has a pre-existing relationship with the mactors, Americans care about what happens to them before they race around the world, which increases initial ratings. With unknown racers, the relationship between the racers and the audience starts at zero and has to be built by clever editing and direction over time. With only 11 episodes, its difficult to achieve an emotional connection between the audience and an unknown team. Maybe you could achieve it in a few episodes, but by that time your ratings could have tanked.
When casting/recruiting mactors for the show, I imagine TPTB go through an analysis of America's current relationship with the team and how that relationship could increase ratings before the race and as they encounter different situations during the race. TAR 16 is a good example when you look at Caite and Brent and Jeff and Jordan.
How did America feel about this team before the race?
Caite and Brent - America thinks Caite is an airheaded joke and maybe disliked for making the USA americans look foolish and uneducated.
Jeff and Jordan - America loves the sweethearts. Two good looking all-american, apple pie kids that you want to see more of.
How will America feel when this team encounters hardship and failure?
Caite and Brent - "See, I knew she was stupid. I'm outraged that she was allowed on the show. I can't wait to see what happens to her next week." Schadenfreude.
Jeff and Jordan - "Ah, poor kids. I hope they turn it around next week."
How will America feel when the team succeeds?
Caite and Brent - "Hey, maybe she's not so stupid. I wonder how she will surprise me next week."
Jeff and Jordan - "Yahoo. Can't wait to see my favourite team next week."
How will America feel when the team's adversaries are negative towards them?
Caite and Brent - "She deserves it. Ohh, I wonder if there will be a cat fight next week."
Jeff and Jordan - "I'm outraged. How could they be so mean to them?"
I think the real challenge is to find teams that evoke an instant emotional response in the audience - that's what provides the "stickiness factor" and increases ratings.
Because most of us here are TAR aficionados, our opinion of mactors is tainted by our secret (or not) desire to be on the race ourselves. The more mactors used, the less our chance of being on the race.
Here's a solution - do something that causes America to have an opinion of you - good or bad - then apply.
georgiapeach:
Now THAT is a really great analysis! :hearts:
I am a purist at heart, and would of course rather have 100% new fresh ordinary people on the race.
BUT I am also a realist, and am happy for TAR to do whatever it takes to keep the show alive. And some of the casting choices we originally questioned have later turned into beloved teams...look at Mel and Mike, Zev and Justin.
So a few teams who bring in a some built in fans and hopefully expand TAR to a new audience...okay. Some of the Jeff/Jordan fans fell in love with TAR and will be back, and it may happen with one of the TAR 17 teams as well.
But just don't forget the premise "ordinary people doing extraordinary things" either when you cast, please CBS? Keep hope alive for the thousands of applicants at home working out, planning videos, shooting videos. It is those people who are part of the bedrock of TAR's great fan base... and one of the big reason's TAR has lasted so long. If you take away the hope that "hey..I could do that!" by providing no applications, going with more and more recruited teams, using stunt teams or seasons, then there is no chance for viewers to dream. And this show has always been about a dream...that anyone could apply and have a chance. Take away that hope...and the show loses its primary mystique. And when that finally happens, then I believe we will finally see the end of our beloved show.
So do what you must for ratings, give us a few recruited or stunt teams if you must, we understand. But use your applicant pool as well, there is GOLD in there.
Thanks wp! :jam:
TexasLady:
--- Quote from: walkingpneumonia on August 03, 2010, 11:38:08 AM ---Don't forget that the only reason TAR is exists is because it generates advertising revenue dollars for CBS.
The way you attract advertisers is by having a large audience watching.
Here's a solution - do something that causes America to have an opinion of you - good or bad - then apply.
--- End quote ---
WP, this is a spot-on analysis of casting and motivation by a network to produce a show that people will follow, talk about with friends, invest in their favorites. Well said! :tup:
Hooky:
I'm not a fan of more recruited or celebrity teams, but I agree that the reasoning behind it is solid. Thanks, WP!
I do not, however, concede that TAR NEEDS this kind of thing to stay alive. I think it can and will thrive just as well (if not better), with teams that people will develop opinions of over time. Plus, the reality is that there are people (of which I am one) who really don't care about semi-celebrities and mactors. For example, I have absolutely no opinion on Justin Bieber (a random celebrity I don't want or need to know about). If he were cast for the race, I would only be annoyed that people even care to obsessively follow him at all. :lol:
TexasLady:
I did not really start watching TAR until the All Star season with Charla & Mirna. Charla was one of my favorites because it was physically challenging for her but she did the best she could. Who would have thought that she would even be chosen for the race. She wasn't a mactor, she wasn't a beauty pageant winner and yet she made the race interesting for me.
There is a place for "ordinary people doing extraordinary things" which also builds an audience.
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