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TAR 8 - On-line Articles
puddin:
Amazing Race can't finish fast enough
By STEVE TILLEY, TORONTO SUN
Next time, leave the kids at home.
On paper, a version of The Amazing Race featuring families of four tearing around the globe sounded perfect. Imagine the agony of driving cross-country with squealing offspring crammed in the back of the station wagon, and multiply the time, distance and drama by a factor of 100.
But The Amazing Race: Family Edition, which reaches the finish line in tonight's two-hour season finale (9 p.m. on CTV and CBS), couldn't deliver on its promise.
WHINING
With the exception of Florida's God-lovin' Weaver clan, made up of widowed mom Linda and kids aged 14 to 19, all the families with younger children were culled from the herd relatively early. To be fair, though, the adults have held up their end of the bickering, whining and fit-throwing nicely.
And the show's tradition of taking contestants to far-flung lands was severely clipped by the presence of kids. So instead, we were treated to what amounted to a travelogue of the United States, with only the briefest sojourns to Panama, Costa Rica and Canada.
Still in the running for the $1-million US prize are the Weavers, the Linz family (three brothers and one long-suffering sister) and the Bransen family (dad and three twentysomething daughters.)
Frankly, tonight's ending won't be a moment too soon. Why? Well, there was the aforementioned lack of country-hopping and the large number of players didn't help either.
CBS has confirmed the next season of The Amazing Race, already filmed and due to air early next year, will revert back to traditional teams of two. So at least there's that.
http://www.ottawasun.com/Showbiz/Television/2005/12/13/1350385-sun.html
puddin:
Tonight will tell if Linz siblings win 'Race'
By Rick Bird
Post staff reporter
The Linz siblings -- Megan, Alex, Nick and Tommy. Channel 12's viewership for "The Amazing Race" has been more than double the national average.
Well, at least they haven't embarrassed mom.
Terri Linz, a part-time nurse from Anderson Township, whose four kids are in the running to be the first tri-state contestants to hit a reality show jackpot, said there have been only a few moments in CBS's "The Amazing Race: Family Edition" that required her to cringe.
"Outside of some choice words and passing flatulence - as the nurse mom would say - no, they've been good," Terri said. "All in all I've gotten nothing but great comments. And that's what's been so cool from friends. Even random people have just called and said it's so much fun watching your family and how heart warming they are. That's music to my ears."
Going into tonight's two-hour finale, at 9 p.m. on WKRC-TV (Channel 12), the three bothers and sister team are easily the most athletic and robust of the three remaining teams. The other finalist families are Linda Weaver, a Florida widow and her three children, and Walter Bransen from Illinois with his three daughters.
The four Linzes are the middle four of seven kids raised by Terri and her husband, Tom, a partner in a packaging company. The Linz team:
Nick, 24, a sales rep for his dad's company based in Buffalo, N.Y.
Alex, 23, an emergency room technician now living at home awaiting medical school applications.
Megan, 21, a junior at Miami University.
Tommy (aka "Bone"), 19, a sophomore at Miami.
The four have come across as a fun-loving bunch - yes, flashing some college-age, bathroom humor and a prankster attitude toward other players. They have done the challenges - including rappelling, building wagon wheels, bailing out boats, assembling railroad tracks, piloted a stunt plane and a hot air balloon - with an infectious good humor.
"My children, by nature, take life in a very good-humored way. They went into this knowing they would have fun, regardless. And it has been a ride of a lifetime," Terri said.
While careful to praise all his teams, the show's executive producer and co-creator, Bertram van Munster, who is personally involved with the casting, also seemed high on the Linzes in an interview last Friday.
"They had a fantastic dynamic, a really terrific group of people," said van Munster. "Most of them had a good sports background, so they had a good sense of fairness. They have a real solid all-American background."
"Amazing Race" producers took a chance this season by messing with the formula of the series, which has won three Emmys in a row for best reality show. The game has always featured up to 16 teams with two people each. This season, all 10 teams comprised four members who were related somehow to each other. Further, the race was mostly in the United States, unlike the usual around-the-world sprint.
Van Munster acknowledged ratings were down at first this season. "It is not easy to tell the story of 40 people, but as we went on, our ratings kept going up. I have gotten a lot of compliments."
However, van Munster said he has no plans for another family edition. The next "Race" will be back to the duo teams, but CBS has not made a decision yet when it will air.
"The Amazing Race" has almost quietly become one of America's most famous pop culture exports. Even the current edition is seen in dozens of countries and van Munster says it has become an international phenomenon that defines the country as much as Condoleezza Rice's globetrotting.
"The show is a fantastic business card for the United States of America," he said. "This is a beautiful country, and we get nothing but criticism from all the other stuff."
Van Munster says when "Amazing Race" crews show up to film in other countries, the show is almost instantly recognized and warmly greeted no matter how remote the locale.
The show is a logistical nightmare to produce with a crew of 2,000 almost constantly on the move. When suggested to van Munster that fans would probably watch a behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of "Race," he said, "Call CBS."
"In this business, and particularly CBS, they would never do it," he said. "I don't think they want to show how we do this stuff. They are opposed to 'making-ofs.' "
As for tonight's outcome, Terri Linz insists her kids have kept it a secret, which at times prompted her to call her kids midway through episodes asking, "C'mon I can't stand it."
"Repeatedly, their classic line is, 'Mom watch the show.' I can't believe these kids are doing this to me. Over and over. We are a pretty close-knit family and sometimes a mom can read between the lines. This time they are keeping it really secret."
There was a suggestion somebody may have leaked something last September when an Internet betting site halted wagering on the series because of an unusual number of bets coming from Ohio. Both Terri and the show's producer shrug off the controversy.
"We just had to laugh," Terri said. "My husband said he wouldn't bet on his kids so why would anyone else."
"We have investigated it and it's come to an end," van Munster said without offering any details.
He said he often dispatches decoy camera crews and uses other tricks to help diffuse and even spread rumors during a filming of the series to muddy the waters for "Race" pundits.
http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051213/LIFE/512130303/1005
puddin:
Family promises that they’ll win ‘Amazing Race’ in tonight’s finale
By The Cincinnati Enquirer
Like Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Johnson, Megan Linz is promising victory — the $1 million prize on “The Amazing Race: Family Edition.”
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Click comment to go to story“It’s ours, unless someone takes it from us — and that’s not going to happen,” the Cincinnati resident told the national TV audience as last week’s show ended.
Tonight, we’ll find out if Megan, and her brothers — Nick, Alex, and Tommy (aka “Bone”) — are America’s newest millionaires.
Their “Team Who-Dey” in Bengals’ orange shirts is one of three families competing in the two-hour season finale (8-10 p.m., CBS). In a new twist, the families finishing second and third will compete for a new GMC Yukon XL in a challenge available only at www.CBS.com after 1 a.m. Wednesday.
“We’re on a mission to win $1 million,” Tommy told viewers on last week’s show.
And they might. The online betting service, www.Sportsbook.com, suspended wagering on “The Amazing Race” before the September premiere, because of a large number of bets being placed on the Linzes from Ohio. The same thing happened in March, with heavy betting on a Houston couple that won “The Amazing Race” two months later.
Terri Linz, their mother, says her kids haven’t told her a thing about the finale — or any episode — since coming home from the July taping. Ten families began the race in New York City and traveled across the U.S. to Central America and back to the far West.
When the Linzes were knocked from first to last place by a dead car battery in an Utah episode two weeks ago, mom frantically called Nick at his home in Buffalo. He gave her the answer she has heard for weeks from her kids: “Just watch the show.”
“I know people look at me strange when I say it, but I don’t know what’s going to happen,” says Terri, 52, a part-time nurse. “But that’s the way it should be. It makes it more fun for everyone that way.”
Terri and her husband, Tom, have watched the weekly exploits at a downtown Cincinnati restaurant with more than 150 family members or friends. The kids have flown an airplane, piloted a hot-air balloon, ridden an astronaut’s centrifugal force machine, and assembled railroad tracks and a covered wagon.
“My kids have done more things and seen more places than I ever thought,” their mom says. “Nick says he’s made notes and wants to visit every place he’s seen.”
During a September visit to Cincinnati, host Phil Keoghan praised the Linzes’ strength, positive attitude and willingness to try new things. While the Linzes laughed their way through adversity, other teams argued and imploded.
“I love the Linzes. They’re naive in a good way, meaning they’re receptive to change,” he said.
“One of the best things going for them is they have a sense of humor. It will get you through anything. A sense of humor is absolutely imperative if you’re going to travel these days,” Keoghan said.
All the Linzes — mom, dad, their seven children and only daughter-in-law — are flying to New York for CBS’ finale party. Everyone is going because they were all on a Christmas vacation last year in the Cancun airport when a casting director asked if they would consider auditioning for a reality show.
Now they’re reality TV stars. Internet chat boards have been buzzing about the Linzes, which likely will translate into national celebrity. Even if they don’t win the cash.
“I love All-American, Midwest prime beef and these boys totally fit the bill,” wrote one fan on the Television Without Pity (www.Televisionwithoutpity.com) Web site. Wrote another: “I really like the Linzes, especially Megan who seems really cool and is pretty to boot.”
Since August, CBS has banned the Linzes from making any public appearances. They’ve turned down requests to be honored by the Bengals at a half-time ceremony (though they signed autographs when recognized at the Bengals-Ravens game).
It all changes Tuesday night.
“We’ll just see what happens,” their mom says. “I’m not prepared at all, and neither do I think they are. Given opportunities, they’re not stupid.”
Including doing more TV?
“I could see any of them doing it,” she says. “They’re not shy.”
http://www.qctimes.net/articles/2005/12/13/features/arts_leisure/doc439e6b1539bbd443827478.txt
puddin:
Buffalo salesman's mother is the only one talking about 'Amazing Race' finish
12/13/2005
By ALAN PERGAMENT
I just love the media rules of reality TV. I can't talk to the Buffalo salesman, Nick Linz, whose Cincinnati family is among the three finalists in the two-hour finale of CBS' "Amazing Race" (9 tonight, Channel 4).
He's being silenced until Wednesday morning after the $1 million check is presented on the American side of Niagara Falls in tonight's finale.
But CBS did allow me to talk with Nick's mom, Terri.
It's a good thing, too. I expected a ton of e-mails from Nick's co-workers as "Amazing" went on, but they never materialized. All I knew about him came from a Cincinnati newspaper story that said he "was the bruising fullback on the 1998 runner-up high school team in Ohio, St. Xavier."
After talking to Nick's mom, I understand why my e-mail box wasn't overloaded. Mrs. Linz said Nick works for two companies in Amherst that specialize in packaging and shrink labeling, Tri Pack Sleevers and Packstar. They are co-owned by Nick's father, Tom, who lives in Cincinnati, and has two partners, Andy Sharp and Helen Ma, in Buffalo.
Mrs. Linz added that the multimillion dollar companies are expanding, and Nick will soon be moving to the West Coast. That suggests the family doesn't need the prize money.
Wrong.
"Of course, he does, everybody could," said Mrs. Linz, noting Nick is one of seven children. "They all have college loans."
The Linz family was approached by a representative of "Amazing Race" while they were on a family vacation in Cancun.
"We were all sitting around and someone said, "You look like a nice family' and asked if they wanted to do it," said Mrs. Linz. Nick, 24, Alex, 22, Megan, 21 and Tommy, 19, eventually went online along with thousands of others and applied.
"They did it right at the deadline," said Mrs. Linz. "That's typical of my family - procrastination."
Oh, mom.
They were chosen to appear and immediately took the colors (orange and black) and cheer of the Cincinnati Bengals and dubbed themselves the Who Dey Team.
"It's "Who dey think is going to beat those Bengals,' " said Mrs. Linz, explaining the cheer.
So far, the Linz family is having as good a year as the Bengals.
To be honest, I haven't watched much of the eighth edition of the Emmy-winning series. The buzz on this edition was worse than the buzz on the marriage between another Cincinnati native, Nick Lachey, and Jessica Simpson. It's been called, uh, dull.
"Not by everyone," said Mrs. Linz. She is proud of the weekly cheers she gets from friends and viewers who tell her how much they have enjoyed watching such a nice family.
"I find myself a little humbled," she said. "They all say how wonderful it is that they are kind to each other and are having fun together. They consider it a lifetime experience."
After watching last Tuesday's semifinal, I understand some of the criticism. The final four may have been the least diverse group on any TV show since the early years of "Friends."
It consisted of four white families. The Linz Family is composed of Nick, his two brothers and their only sister. The Bransens (dad and three daughters), the Weavers (a widowed mother and her children) and the Godlewskis (four sisters) rounded out the final four.
They built teepees or put four wheels on a covered wagon they took for a short ride, had their pictures taken at a saloon named after Buffalo Bill's daughter (Irma) and looked for colored golf balls on a course.
The Linz family led for most of the hour, but blew first place when they forgot to look for a fourth golf ball in the most likely place - the hole. That was so Buffalo.
Not that the Linz family talked much about Buffalo. The Queen City they mentioned was in Ohio. That's natural since they are from Cincinnati, which also calls itself the Queen City.
The Godlewskis were way behind for most of the hour, though there was some brief suspense when the Weavers were stopped for speeding. They ended up with a warning and earned third place.
The most interesting aspect of the semifinal for Western New Yorkers probably came during the promos for tonight's episode, which revealed they take a jet boat ride in the Niagara River, and there is a curling competition.
The episode was filmed locally on July 31, with the show sending some "Amazing" fanatics off on a wild goose chase to Toronto and Boston so the secret of who won was retained.
Since Nick lives here, you might think he had some sort of home advantage in the final leg that might help his family win.
But let's face it. If his family loses after coming so close to winning, it would make him seem more like a real Buffalonian.
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20051213/1006021.asp
puddin:
Families lack buzz
Tue, December 13, 2005
The Amazing Race lost its edge with too many participants, a lack of exotic travel locations and the early loss of some of those love-to-hate-'em contestants.
By STEVE TILLEY, SPECIAL TO THE FREE PRESS
Next time, leave the kids at home.
On paper, a version of The Amazing Race featuring families of four tearing around the globe sounded perfect: Imagine the agony of driving cross-country with squealing offspring crammed in the back of the station wagon and multiply the time and distance by the drama of competition. With every last temper tantrum caught on tape.
Except The Amazing Race: Family Edition, which reaches the finish line in tonight's two-hour season finale, didn't deliver on its promise. Or at least its premise.
With the exception of Florida's God-lovin' Weaver clan, made up of widowed mom Linda and kids aged 14 to 19, all the families with younger children were culled from the herd relatively early. To be fair, though, the adults have held up their end of the bickering, whining and fit-throwing nicely.
The show's tradition of taking contestants to far-flung lands and foreign cultures was severely clipped by the presence of kids, who the producers likely feared would have trouble crossing international borders, not to mention the risk of little Rolly Weaver wandering off into the slums of Cairo.
So instead, we were treated to what amounted to a travelogue of the United States, with only the briefest sojourns to Panama, Costa Rica and Canada.
To all appearances, the race will end tonight on Canuck soil, unless the final three families quickly blast back to the U.S. after manoeuvring around Toronto and Montreal.
Still in the running for the $1 million US prize are the Weavers, the Linz family (three brothers and one long-suffering sister) and the Bransen family (dad and three twenty-something daughters.)
We know the families ride jet boats up the Niagara Gorge, race through Pearson International Airport to catch a flight, try their hands at curling and search the bleachers at Montreal's Olympic Stadium, for starters.
We were hoping for a finish line at the base of the CN Tower or some such, but given the logical order of the events shown in the preview for tonight's episode, the checkered flag looks more likely to be waved at a Quebec locale.
Frankly, it won't be a moment too soon. Although things have picked up a little in the last few episodes, thanks in no small part to the fact the wonderfully grating Weavers are still in the running, the buzz surrounding this eighth instalment of the race has been the lowest since the series began.
Why? Well, there was the aforementioned lack of country-hopping. Part of the reason we tune into this show is to see places that we'll likely never be able to afford to visit, or haven't even heard of. Old Faithful is nifty and all, but come on.
The plethora of players didn't help either. Instead of the standard 11 teams of two, we had 10 families of four. While some clans were able to make an early mark (we still miss you, Mama Paolo), others were lost in the shuffle. Can you name the members of the Rogers or Black families or even remember what they looked like? Probably not.
CBS has confirmed the next season of The Amazing Race, already filmed and due to air early next year, will revert to traditional teams of two.
Tonight's finale is likely to come down to the Linzes and Bransens, the two strongest teams. A mix of luck and hard work has seen the Weavers survive longer than anyone imagined possible, though, so they shouldn't be counted out.
They can't win, of course, because they've been painted as the kooky villains of this piece all along.
But hopefully, they'll make tonight's two-hour season capper a little more interesting.
Goodness knows we deserve it.
IF YOU WATCH
http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Today/Entertainment/2005/12/13/1350443-sun.html
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