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puddin:
Race down under
From: AAP By Erin McWhirter
February 24, 2006
AUSTRALIA will feature on US reality show The Amazing Race for the second time in its nine-series history.
Competitive Americans, vying for the $US1 million ($1.36 million) cash prize, visited Australia last year to tape the new season.
The visit was confirmed by Channel 7, which airs the show, in which 11 teams of two travel 96,540km in 29 days around the world.
There have been rumours since November that a couple was filmed at Adelaide airport as part of the show but long-time host Phil Keoghan is keeping mum about the Australian leg, ahead of the show's March 2 premiere here.
"I can't say anything about Australia," he said coyly from the US.
"I will say that Australia as a Race destination is good. In the early days of the show we filmed in Coober Pedy (South Australia) and I have a lot of family there because my wife is Australian ... so you just never know."
Keoghan says the distance of 96,540km is the secondest-longest Race in the history of the show, which throws a huge array of challenges at the competitors.
"It has a dramatic impact on the teams and we have an abundance of fresh locations this season, everywhere from Russia to the Middle East."
A seasoned traveller, Keoghan says culture shock and jetlag all lead to friction and tension during the race.
"There is no denying there are a huge range of emotions that come from pushing people outside their comfort zone ... when they are perched on the edge of a cliff or faced with a mind blowing challenge," the 38-year-old New Zealander said.
"Jetlag and culture shock does stimulate reactions from people that are obviously needed for creating drama.
"Many of them have never experienced these emotions before.
"They are going to a new place mentally and it does have an effect. They are not in a lap of luxury sipping pina coladas on the beach, they are working hard."
Teams compete in 13 legs around the globe. At the end each leg, the last team to arrive at the pit stop is usually eliminated.
When only three teams remain, they compete the final leg and the first team over the line wins.
Keoghan, who lives in Los Angeles with his wife Louise and 10-year-old daughter Elle, says his toughest challenge while away is missing his family.
"Yes, it is hard (to be away)," he says.
"It's getting harder and harder because my daughter is getting older and we are getting closer and closer.
"My wife and I worked and travelled together for 18 years so that has been part of our relationship and we found ways to make it work.
"When my daughter was younger and I was away she didn't notice so much. Now that she is older she does.
"When I am home it's very intense and I have a lot of time with her and we go for long trips. But, yeah, it's hard to be away."
Keoghan's star began to rise after he completed a cinematography apprenticeship.
At 19, he began presenting the New Zealand children's show Spot On.
An accomplished author and television host, Keoghan also has many other feats under his belt. He's broken a world bungee jumping record, dived in the world's longest underwater cave, eaten a meal atop an erupting volcano and renewed his wedding vows underwater.
His life is hectic, but that's how it likes it.
And losing out on hosting rival reality show Survivor to Jeff Probst was a blessing in disguise, he says.
"We were the final two people considered for Survivor and we know what happened there.
"At the time, I was really disappointed I couldn't be part of that show. Now, I can't imagine it without him (Probst).
"It's the beauty of hindsight. I believe I ended up getting the gig that is most suited to my skills.
"Prior to the Race, I had shot in 60 countries and I love being on location.
"For something like this to come along was great synergy."
The star, who has two passports – one to obtain visas for the show and the other for personal use – says travelling is still his passion.
"I don't like to go too long without travelling," he said.
Viewers can expect many colourful characters this season, including a couple of long-haired best mates, a guy who's scared of flying and a couple who have been married for more than 40 years.
Keoghan says it's the mix of personalities that make a good show, but they never look to cast a "villain".
"I love the contrast this season," he said.
"You have people who are extremely focussed and we need that.
"We need people who are giving us our material and they need a difference of opinion, some that are voting Democratic and (some who are) right-wing conservatives.
"You want an audience to pick sides, but to have somebody the audience hates is not a good thing.
"There has to be some endearing qualities (about the characters)."
The Amazing Race will screen on Seven, on Thursday March 2 at 9.30pm (AEDT).
http://entertainment.news.com.au/story/0,10221,18258207-10229,00.html
puddin:
Tuned In: 9th running of 'Amazing Race' returns show to familiar format
Friday, February 24, 2006
By Rob Owen, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Forgive CBS's "The Amazing Race," for it has sinned. It deviated from formula in its last outing, a U.S.-based family edition that didn't get much love from fans.
"Race" host Phil Keoghan knew penitence is what reporters and fans wanted to hear, so he came to a teleconference Wednesday with a willingness to acknowledge the show's past missteps and a mantra for the future.
"There's no denying the race is most successful when it has less faces, more places, and teams of two racing around the world," Keoghan said. And, hearing it, no doubt "Race" fans breathed a collective sigh of relief.
The ninth "Race" (9 to 11 p.m. Tuesday, KDKA) begins in the foothills overlooking Denver and will take the winning team 60,000 miles in 29 days.
"It's the most number of miles we've done in that short an amount of time," Keoghan said. "People clearly wanted the international element. They missed it. The places are as much the stars of the show as the people themselves. That was illustrated when you look at season eight. People were missing that exotic element, the fish-out-of-water element. That is a huge hook."
The 11 teams racing for the $1 million prize immediately head for foreign soil, flying out of Denver to Sao Paulo, Brazil, and along the way, nicknames for contestants quickly emerge: "Ken and Barbie," "the Frat boys," "the Hos," "Scott Peterson," "the hippies," and "the Frosties" for a team of prone-to-screaming sisters with frosted hair (they're hilarious).
Exceedingly well cast as always, some early favorites (including the Frosties) emerge in this "Race," most notably two twentysomething hippie guys from San Francisco and a sweet nerdy couple from Kansas.
"With any good story, you need the adversary, the heroes and villains," Keoghan said. "You need a good mixture to make it work."
One "Race" villain of the past, Rob Mariano, continues in the employ of CBS, hosting "Rob to the Rescue" segments for "The Early Show." Wednesday he's joined by wife Amber, formerly of Brighton, Beaver County, and the pair will "rescue" Lisa and Jason Zezza of Plum, who are in need of a baby sitter. Rob and Amber will baby-sit the kids while Lisa and Jason get a night out.
Given the antipathy so many "Race" fans felt toward Rob and Amber, it's doubtful there will be much clamoring for this next act. But those who tune in for the new "Race" next week will be gratified by the show's return to its familiar, best format.
source~
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06055/660292.stm
Slowhatch:
I get most of the nicknames. Who would Scott Peterson be? Lake?
puddin:
one could only guess , yeah it fits Lake 's personality from what I've seen :lol:
Chateau d If:
Take a pick:
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