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The Amazingly Rigged Amazing Race

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puddin:
May 16, 2005
The Amazingly Rigged Amazing Race
The Amazing Race 7 is now the latest reality TV show to come under fire from fans making accusations of the outcome being rigged.  Most of the controversy stems from an American Airlines plane being re-opened for Uchenna and Joyce.  When Uchenna and Joyce initially approached an American Airlines agent about getting on the plane, they were told quite clearly “No, I’m sorry. It’s closed.”

Then, there was a commercial break.  Somehow during the commercial break, American Airlines agents went from “No, I’m sorry. It’s closed.” to “The Pilot said yes.”  Next thing you know, the agent that had walked away from Uchenna and Joyce is now suddenly taking their ticket with a big smile on her face.  Viewers have been left wondering about what transpired to make American Airlines agents so quickly change their attitude. 

There seemed to be a gap in the segment that possibly would have explained how Uchenna and Joyce were able to pull off this miraculous feat.  Did anyone else talk to American Airlines on behalf of Uchenna and Joyce?  What did the ticket agent say to the pilot to get the plane re-opened?

A report on RealityBlurred.com   draws attention to a recent TV Guide interview.     In the interview, Uchenna says that she yelled at the ticket agent in order to get her to call the pilot but it wasn’t aired on the show.  Of course, this statement only raises the question of have you ever known a reality TV show to not air any yelling confrontations?  Especially one that greatly impacts the outcome of the show. 

If Uchenna and Joyce had not made it onto that plane, then Rob and Amber would almost certainly have coasted to victory.  CBS would not have had a dramatic, nail-biting finish to the Amazing Race 7.  Amazing Race has often been held up an example of quality reality TV programming but outstanding questions over the plane incident could tarnish its image.  Hopefully, some day CBS will release the unaired footage that will show how Uchenna and Joyce were able to get the plane re-opened.

Posted by Joe Reality
http://www.realitytvmagazine.com/blog/2005/05/the_amazingly_r.html

tanbuns:
I was amazed that they re-opened the plane after it had been closed ..... especially in this post 9/11 era that we live in. But even if the cBS muckety-mucks did somehow get Uchenna and Joyce on that plane, it still did not assure them a victory. It was only to make the race to the finish line more exciting. Uchenna and Joyce did the rest on their own.

Plus, in my eyes it sort of made up for having a freaking non-elimination leg on the next to last leg. That was stupid in my opinion, because it caused Uchenna and Joyce to have to beg for money at the start of the race, assuring that they would get off to a very slow start!!!  }}

Bathfizzy:
I was surprised that the plane was re-opened for Uchenna and Joyce also.  All I can think of is, the flight attendant called the pilot and said that they have to let this couple on the plane as it would make the "travel documentary" more interesting.  I think U/J and the tv camera crew probably told them that they were part of the Amazing Race and they were heading to the finish line and they had to get on tht plane and if they got on, they would give that flight attendant air time, so freshen up your makeup and smile and you will get your 15 seconds of fame. ^/^

Trevor:
I thought there was something to it as well.  I wrote in my reflections column that I thought the re-opening of the plane smelled like CBS attempting to ensure a dramatic finish.

They way you have to look at it, is like it is a bad call at the end of a hoops game which forces overtime.  Sure, the game probably shouldn't have gone that far.  But both teams still have a shot of winning.  While a big break went against Rob & Amber they still had every opportunity to still win that race when they touched down in Miami.   

Bluetickmaggie:
I don't think it was rigged at all because BVM and Elisa love their show to much to risk it.  If they rigged it I don't think they would show the plane thing.  I think it just happened and that the editors poorly edited it.  There seemed to be alot of that was cut. 

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