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TAR 18 Media
mswood:
Herc’s Seen Goths, Globetrotters, Cowboys, Cheerleaders, An Aspergers Guy, A Deaf Fellow, A Miss Kentucky and Filmmaker Mike White Return For Tonight's First HD AMAZING RACE!!
Published on: Feb 20, 2011 12:38:03 AM CST
I am – Hercules!!
Though this is the first HD edition of “The Amazing Race,” CBS only forwarded a SD screener. Ah well.
“This is Palm Springs, California!” begins Phil Keoghan at the start of what proves a compelling first hour. “Built in a rugged valley, it is the second windiest place on earth! It’s a city on the forefront of modern energy technology!”
All teams in this 18th edition, titled “Unfinished Business,” lost prior races. There are a couple of surprising omissions. Popular “Big Brother” power couple Jordan Lloyd and Jeff "It Hurts!" Schroeder aren’t aboard, nor are “Survivor” vets Rob Mariano and Amber Brkish. (Mariano, who lost twice on “Amazing Race” and three times on “Survivor,” is currently on yet another edition of “Survivor,” pursuing the sixth chance CBS has given him to win a million dollars.)
Even though actual Globetrotters Flight Time and Big Easy are in this race, both members of Team Aspergers wear licensed Harlem Globetrotter active wear.
“This race is going to be very, very different, starting right now,” Phil warns the contestants before the race has begun. “As you all know, second chances don’t come free.”
Spoilers lurk in the text invisible.
The first task takes place near the starting line in Palm Springs. It’s overcast and raining a bit and everybody, Phil included, looks like they’re freezing their hinders off.
Screenwriter-actor-director Mike White (“Freaks & Geeks,” “Chuck & Buck,” “School of Rock”) takes an early lead.
Destination one is Australia. (At one point contestants get to ride the almost-oxymoronic Manly Ferry.)
A shocking bit of real-world crisis precipitates a major reversal of fortune for several of the teams.
LaKisha and Jennifer, the non-swimmers who were undone by an water challenge in their first season (and, yes, they are quick to point out that they embody an African-American stereotype), are again forced to confront an aquatic challenge.
Alliances prove unusually critical this week.
A surprise awaits all teams at the first finish line. And a surprise awaits viewers too: the first episode denies us the knowledge of who – if anyone – is eliminated on the first leg of the race.8
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/48566
Dånooky:
--- Quote from: mswood on February 20, 2011, 05:20:08 PM ---...And a surprise awaits viewers too: the first episode denies us the knowledge of who – if anyone – is eliminated on the first leg of the race.8
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/48566
--- End quote ---
Ergo, TBC
georgiapeach:
'Egypt is off the map for us'
By MICHAEL SHAIN
The brutal attack on CBS reporter Lara Logan during what was supposed to be a celebration in the main square of Cairo has other TV shows rethinking how they operate overseas.
"Egypt is off the map for us right now," says Phil Keoghan, host of "The Amazing Race."
Not surprising certainly, given the turmoil there and in nearby Arab countries like Bahrain and Tunisia.
But it is an issue that is suddenly front burner for a number of TV shows shot overseas.
"The Amazing Race" -- one of the longest- running reality shows on prime time and which started its latest season last night -- is based on the idea of exotic travel. And the world -- post-Logan -- suddenly seems a much scarier place for Americans abroad.
Phil Keoghan, host of "The Amazing Race," says the show depends on a network of security consultants around the world.
"There are certain countries off-limits right now," Keoghan says. "We're not going to go to Afghanistan right now."
At least once before, the "Race" had to make an adjustment in the middle of production to avoid a global hot spot.
The show -- which began in 2001, 10 days after 9/11 -- is based loosely on "Around the World in 80 Days." Teams of two people race each other around the world over a set course for a $1 million prize.
"We'd been to Argentina a number of times, but there was a time we were shooting and we heard there was some political unrest there," Keoghan says.
"It ended up not amounting to much, but rather than taking any risk at all, we decided: 'Let's just not go there.'"
The competitors skipped Argentina and headed instead for South Africa.
"We were going to Africa anyway and we just diverted there a little earlier," he recalled.
"We have consultants who work with the show," says Keoghan. "They'd be the same people working with the news departments -- companies that are security-risk management consultants."
The consultants -- usually ex-military men or retired federal agents -- form a network that keeps tabs on local conditions and advise businessmen, rich travelers and Hollywood production companies on when and where it's safe to go -- and how to get out of sticky situations, if things do not go according to plan.
"They're pretty common practice today," says Keoghan. "A lot of people are working with risk management teams and we're no exception.
"We absolutely rely on them."
He pauses and raps his knuckles on a desk top.
"Touch wood, 10 years on the road and we've got it right," he says.
It is an uncomfortable spot for producers to be in.
"Race" -- and a handful of shows like it -- try to portray the world as filled with people with exotic customs but essentially the same as you and me.
"We're almost the antithesis of news in that way," Keoghan says.
And that perception, too, is now threatened.
Planning is underway for the next edition of "Amazing Race" which will start taping this summer.
Is the entire Middle East out next time?
Keoghan smiles, but doesn't answer.
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/egypt_is_off_the_map_for_us_AXg1cl2mLa1PJTzTs30ZLJ#ixzz1EepYLTOs
georgiapeach:
Love the timing on this. :groan:
I had actually heard some strong rumors that there was going to finally be another Egypt leg this time around...no surprises here.
Tunisia would be a no-go as well.
theschnauzers:
At the moment, I'd say that the only places in the Arab world that might be safe enough for TAR are Kuwait and Jordan; even Israel would be safer than the rest of the Arab world right now. Even Morocco is off the map.
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