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Offline puddin

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Offline Kogs

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« Reply #1 on: February 05, 2006, 05:58:08 PM »
ok how did i miss that in the paper? i get the post  :lol:


Offline puddin

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« Reply #2 on: February 06, 2006, 08:20:24 PM »
Forget families, ‘Amazing Race’ returns to roots

( from msnbc )

By Gael Fashingbauer Cooper and Andy Dehnart
MSNBC
Updated: 7:19 p.m. ET Feb. 6, 2006
Everyone's asking about "The Amazing Race." And here we thought it was almost impossible to miss the commercials CBS is firehosing onto the air. We've got that show's next premiere date, along with information about "Iron Chef America" and a third season of "Blow Out."

Q: When will the Amazing Race come back and will we have to suffer through another family edition that doesn't actually go anywhere?    —Chris

When will there be a new season of “Amazing Race?” This is the only quality reality show.    —Anthony

Did anyone ever get the pink slip for coming up with the format of the last "Amazing Race" — Family Edition" and how do the execs plan on recovering all the fans who decided to turn away?    —Jason

A: "The Amazing Race 9" will premiere on Feb. 28 at 9 p.m. ET. The show will return to its usual format, featuring 11 teams of two people, each with some pre-existing relationship. Teams this time around include married couples, dating couples, friends, sisters, a mom-daughter duo, and a pair of "bohemian best buds." You can read more about the teams at CBS's Web site.

The show also promises that it will return to the international travel and flavor that earned it such loyal fans. It's obvious from your mail to us and must also be obvious to CBS that the family edition of the show, featuring four-person family teams, lamer challenges and a more domestic agenda, wasn't sitting well with viewers who craved a more global challenge.

As to Jason's question, we haven't heard that anyone was actually fired for coming up with the "Family Edition" concept, but host Phil Keoghan and CBS were blunt about saying they weren't thrilled with the season. The Edmonton Sun reported that Keoghan told TV critics “starting the show by saying, ‘Teams must now travel 8,000 miles to South Africa,’ is always going to beat saying, ‘Teams must now travel eight blocks.’ ” And CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler told the Toledo Blade "I don’t think we were particularly successful with [the family edition] ... Our producers wanted to try something different, and we supported that. ”    —G.F.C

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Offline puddin

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« Reply #3 on: February 09, 2006, 01:37:54 PM »
Race heads Down Under
It's good news for fans of The Amazing Race - the incredible journey with a $US1 million prize at the finish line is returning to Australian screens.

Race devotees were left in the dark when the Seven network held off on airing the eighth season of the reality show, which featured families of four zipping around the US - a twist on the usual format, in which teams of two journey to every corner of the world.

The series will make a welcome return when Seven begins broadcasting the ninth season - which returns to the classic teams-of-two set-up - on Thursday, 2 March, just days after it premieres in the United States.

Australian fans have an extra reason to look forward to the new season after Race contestants were spotted at Western Australia's Rottnest Island in November.

Kiwi Phil Keoghan, The Amazing Race's well-travelled host, will make another trip Down Under when he travels to Melbourne later this year to compete in the Grand Prix's celebrity race.

http://www.yourtv.com.au/news/?i=79279

Offline puddin

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« Reply #4 on: February 13, 2006, 03:29:59 PM »
Keoghan Glad 'The Amazing Race' Counters Negative World View

By Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith
Feb 13, 2006   

"The Amazing Race" host Phil Keoghan has been to all parts of the world, so it's interesting to learn that the place he felt the most danger is "probably JFK Airport. I'm not even kidding. Immediately after 9/11, major airports in the U.S. felt dangerous.
 
"But you see," he adds quickly, "people's perception is that the world is dangerous -- and that's not necessarily a reality. What we see in the news is war, disasters, and civil unrest. The more news strives to look for controversy and conflict to get the big headlines, the more Americans view the world as negative and dangerous. The perception is that America is the safest place in the world, but statistics show that just isn't true. Think about it: When was the last time you saw a positive image of another country on television?"
 
Why, that would probably have been on "The Amazing Race," Phil.
 
The top-rated, three-time Emmy-winning CBS show returns Feb. 29, with 11 pairs of contestants on a world trek with stops in Africa and The Middle East. Keoghan says that after past "Amazing Race" installments gave viewers a look at everyday folks in other lands helping travelers, "I was asked by people in e-mails and on the street, 'Were those Muslim people really like that?'

This is where our show has become more than just an entertainment show," he says, adding that none of the team anticipated the program would become so huge -- it's a hit in some 80 countries -- and have such an impact. "If we show a Muslim person giving money and help and showing concern for the racers that is very genuine, we're letting viewers see a reality they're not usually seeing."
 
Keoghan's writing a book called "52 Reasons to Own a Passport."
 

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« Reply #5 on: February 14, 2006, 12:24:22 PM »
 New 'Amazing Race' Board Game | February 14, 2006 10:49:40
Ringling Brothers circus clowns Jon Weiss and Al Rios join Dave Price to play in a round of the new "Amazing Race" board game, which will be introduced at the International Toy Fair.

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thanks kogs


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« Reply #6 on: February 17, 2006, 01:32:35 PM »
I cannot wait to get the game when I can :bliss:

Offline Jeffrey Scott

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« Reply #7 on: February 17, 2006, 01:40:01 PM »
I'm always looking for a new game to acquire. I wouldn't be called the 'game-master' otherwise. I even picked up a few Survivor related games. One was a single deck - multiplayer card game where you play for immunity then everyone votes someone out of the game. We've played this many times in my large family. Once a month my parents, four sisters and all our spouses and children get together for games. We play the Survivor game but use a camcorder to record who we are voting out. Then when it comes to the final two, we have our jury vote for a winner. We then watch everything taped and wait to see who actually wins the game. It's lots of fun. I'm looking forward to playing the Amaizng Race game, though I'm not sure a camcorder would be used.
When all is said and done, there is nothing more to say.

Offline puddin

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« Reply #8 on: February 22, 2006, 09:27:15 PM »
thanks to banzai's link ~
Phil Keoghan just completd a conference call with reporters about
TAR9, and I was crazy enough to try and transcribe it while cradling a
phone on my shoulder. OK, so it's not bungee jumping off a high
bridge, but still. Anyway -- enjoy! I'll mail it in two parts so it
won't be so big.

--Sue T.
 



Q: Criticism for the family edition. What was your reaction?
PK: There's a great quote that I like which is, anything new and
different is most susceptible to criticism. We tried something, I'm
really proud of the fact that we tried something. If we hadn't tried
to change, people might have criticized us for not being adventurous.
While the idea of bringing in teams of four and having less
international locations is not as successful as the original format,
we also picked up a new group of people watching the show. I'm proud
of what we managed to pull together but there is no denying the fact
that the race is most successful when it has less faces, more places,
and teams of two racing around the world.


Q: Tyler seems like quite a character.
PK: I really warmed to him. I think that people's first reaction to
him is going to be, what is going on with this guy? There's something
extremely endearing about him. He's clearly very smart, very well
traveled. He's done some incredible adventures in his life. He walked
the length of Japan once, backpacked. He actually is one of these
people that I feel has a lot to offer. He's only 25 and I somehow feel
that he's somebody that we're going to hear a lot more about, not
because he's craving the limelight, but he's going to make some
statement in his life, I don't know what it is yet. I really enjoyed
meeting him and enjoyed having him on the race. I think he's a great
addition. He could perhaps look at a haircut more frequently and maybe
having a shave, but he's a really warm individual and added a great
mix to the show.


Q: 60K miles in 40 days?
PK: It's 60K in 29 days. Very dense schedule. It's the second most
number of miles in any race ever. It does have a dramatic impact on
the teams. It obviously is more taxing. With the reaction I think that
we got from the family version where people clearly made a statement
where they wanted that international element to the show, they miss
it. It shows that the places are as much a star in the show as the
people themselves. I think that's illustrated in season 8. We had more
characters, but people were missing that exotic element, that fish out
of water element. I think that is a huge hook for us. We have what
other shows do not have, the ability to every season make the playing
field fresh. We don't go back to the same studio, the same location or
the same set. We have the ability to mix it up and make it new and
original every single season. That is something that we have got in
abundance in this season. It's really exotic, we get to really cool
places. I think people want that and they certainly get it in this
season.


Q: A reporter from TAR9 contestant Joni's home town asks about her.
PK: I would say that there's no denying that the sisters get a hell of
a shock in the first leg of this race. Every single season, every team
without fail will say something to the effect of, "I've been watching
the show but I had no idea what it was really like until I ran this
leg myself." I think it shocked people and certainly with Joni, she
was completely and utterly shocked by what she went through, and what
was required to be in this race. These sisters are definitely sisters
who have enjoyed luxury in their life and prefer that over roughing
it, being in a tent and going three days without a shower.


Q: Question about how the production schedule affects Phil.
PK: It was certainly one of the tougher races for us productionwise.
In my memory from a personal standpoint, the toughest was season
three, we were driving through the middle of the night, it seemed like
we could never get sleep. [Season 9] was definitely tougher on the
teams than a lot of the other seasons. A lot of that had to do with
the fact that we got the message from people that they wanted an
international route, they wanted the race to go back to the teams of
two and they wanted more exotic, more adventure, push the people more.
As a result of that we paid the price in how it affected us making it.


Q: Any standout locations?
PK: There's definitely some… I love to see the teams go to places that
are places that we never normally get to see in mainstream media. A
big thing for me is that we have the ability to show international
locations in a way that other media just doesn't take the time to do
because good news or positive aspects of international travel don't
necessarily make mainstream media. When you see most international
locations there's a war, natural disaster, somebody burning a flag.
It's always a big eye opener for these teams to go someplace that is
very different from their local community. There's one location that
we get to in the middle east where the teams are immersed in a daily
task that a lot of people have to go through. It's great to see teams
used to going down to the 7-11 living life in a completely different
way and certainly a way that people overseas have to cope with every
day.


Q: Jet lag can't be visually shown but that's the secret ingredient to
a lot of people's reactions.
PK: There's no denying that jet lag, culture shock, a huge range of
emotions that come from pushing people to the edge of their ability
outside their comfort zone when they're perched on the edge of a very
steep cliff, when they're faced with a mindblowing challenge, that
that does stimulate and get reactions from people that are so needed
for creating drama. These teams are experiencing jet lag and a range
of emotions in a way they've never experienced before. They're going
in a new place mentally. It's one ingredient and obviously different
people cope with it in different ways. That is an element, and when
you add it to getting people to take these mental leaps, the reactions
that we obviously would like to get from people, we are trying to push
them. We want them to earn the right to be the winners of The Amazing
Race. We're not sending them on a comfort vacation. They're not in the
lap of luxury drinking pina coladas on a tropical beach.


Q: Any contestants express fear that locations might not be safe?
PK: We prepare all the teams for their visits to anyplace around the
world. You're right in saying that people's assumptions and their
beliefs about what the rest of the world is like or how the rest of
the world perceives us is sometimes skewed by what they see in
mainstream media. We have to let them know that we are visitors to
these countries and we have to be respectful of their customs. The
only polite thing to do, it's like walking into somebody's house where
they ask you to take off your shoes, you oblige, and if you don't,
you're going to get an adverse reaction from your host. We make it
very clear they must be respectful. That doesn't always happen. Some
teams have been blatantly rude and could easily be defined in the
terms ugtly American. We have seen teams go into the same situation
and behave in a manner that is much more reflective of what we would
want a good American ambassador to be. It's good for international
people and other cultures to see Americans in a different light than
the stereotypes that they build from the media that they get, and
conversely for Americans to travel internationally to see that
although all they see in mainstream media is war, natural disaster,
civil unrest and occasionally a group of people burning an American
flag, there are places to travel to that are in the middle east that
we read about in the paper or see flashes of in the news, that it is
safe to travel there, and inherently, people want the same things. We
all want shelter, we all want to do the right thing by our kids and
have a quality of life. We really are not that much different in
wanting those things. People are people, and good people are good
people. We can find good and bad everywhere… the show gives people an
incredible insight into what the world is really like as opposed to
the world that we see everyday when we turn on the news.


Q: A reporter asks about Uchenna and Joyce and whether there will be
any teams like them on the new race.
PK: Let me say that of any team we've ever had on TAR, I don't know if
there has ever been a more popular winning team. The energy when they
came into the finish line and won that race was absolutely
extraordinary. People were willing them over the line. They are very
special people. I think that they epitomize good American ambassadors,
the way that they were respectful to people, respectful to each other,
respectful to the other teams. They were driven and competitive and
still took time out to enjoy the travel experience. We cannot make a
show with 11 teams of couples like that. There would be no way to
create story arcs and contrast. With any good story you need the
adversary.  You need a good mixture to make it dramatic and make it
work. Yes, we definitely have teams that have that strength of
character, and conversely we have some other teams who come from a
different place, perhaps a more selfish place. That's why we love the
contrast of old and young, some that are traveled and some that are
not so traveled, some that are smart and some that are more practical.
It's a little bit like cooking, you need the right ingredients. We
have in this season I think a fantastic mix.

Q: What do you think has been the biggest challenge for you?
PK: It's easy for me. I feel like I'm in a very lucky position to
continue to be associated with the show. It really hasn't been
challenging. Obviously it can be challenging on the road but I kind of
like it. I get myself ready for the race, I look forward to it. It's
like having a front row seat to a major championship. I love looking
over the teams and seeing them go through various changes. It's very
reflective of my whole philosophy of getting people to step outside
their comfort zone, something I've written about in my book. I love
this role that I have and I love that the teams are stretching
themselves and doing things that they never imagined doing.

Q: Tough being away from family?
PK: Yes it is. It's getting harder and harder because my daughter is
getting older [she's 10]. We're getting closer and closer. My wife and
I have always, my wife is Australian and I'm a New Zealander, we've
been together for about 18 years now. The whole time we've known each
other I've always traveled, and we've traveled together. We've found
ways to make that work. With my daughter, when she was younger and I
was away, she didn't notice as much. But I'm only away for each race
for 29 days, and of course I call in every day and I use, sometimes, I
have a lot of technology around me to be able to get on the internet
with her. When I'm home it's very intense. I have a lot of time with
her.


Q: Will the contestants in TAR 9 be heading to Australia?
PK: You never know. [Phil isn't allowed to spill the beans but an
Australian reporter says she's heard the race went to Adelaide.]
Australia is a fantastic race destination that's got a lot to offer.


Q: Do people on the street ever interfere with game?
PK: The show is moving so quickly that people tend to just, it's
almost like watching a race, a car race. People are turning their
heads. We move so quickly, it's very rare that we're stationary. Then
in the areas where the challenges are, we own those locations. It's
not easy for the public to just walk in when we've got an event set up
on a football field or something. There's occasions where the public
does have some interaction with the teams and if it's interesting
interaction, it makes the show. We've seen people help teams, or where
the teams have asked people on the street for help. I think it's all
happening so fast that people don't have time to react. People who do
recognize it and are fans on the show, the last thing on their minds
is wanting to interfere. They're fascinated and want to see what's
going to happen.


Q: Favorite characters this year?
PK: I love the contrast. We've got BJ and Tyler, they're a really
fascinating team. They're long haired hippie looking guys, they get
nicknamed the hippies very quickly after the start of the race. It's
going to be interesting to see how the audience reacts to them. They
might annoy some people. It took me a while to get where they were
coming from. It's like they're acting out in their own movie. Fran and
Barry have been married 40 years, they have an incredible amount of
energy for 60 year olds and should not be underestimated by anybody.
[Wanda & Desiree] The mother daughter relationship, the daughter seems
to be the more conservative, level headed one, and the mother is just
out to have a great time. You have all of these teams contrasted. The
nerdy dating couple [I think this is David & Lori] are so in love,
kissing all the way through the first leg and more concerned with each
other than making their way through the first leg. They met at a bar,
I think. They're both people who are an online, geeky kind of couple.
They feel like they found the right one. They're really adorable.


Q: Importance of casting a villain?
PK: I don't know if we've had that many teams we hate, have we?
Perhaps the adversary, I guess, the worthy adversary, the competitive,
driven type A personality character who, like [Boston] Rob—[The
reporter mentions Jonathan.] Jonathan was different from any other
person that we've ever had before. I think it's quite different from
Rob or Colin in season 5, who was extremely focused. You definitely
have to have a real contrast in characters. You can't have a whole
selection of teams that would all fit into the perfect mold of the
American traveling ambassador. You've got to have people that are more
type A and people that are more laid back. At the end of the day
they're giving us our material, and you have to have differences of
opinion and sexual orientation, some that are voting Democratic and
more right wing conservatives. People will go either way, you know
what I mean? It's certainly not our intention to cast people that the
audience is going to hate, but you definitely want the audience to
pick sides. To have somebody that the audience hates is not
necessarily a good thing. I don't think that is what makes the show
work. You want to polarize people, but there have to be some endearing
qualities.


Q: Do you suppress your accent on the show?
PK: I was asked in the very beginning in season one to make it more
American than my natural accent. Then people have said that they've
actually liked—any comments I get about the accent, people like the
fact that it sounds slightly international so it lends itself to the
show. I've tried to keep it consistent based on what I started off
with. When I'm doing the show I'm definitely aware of Americanizing
the words, saying "been" [he pronounces it "bin"] instead of "bean."


Q: You explain every week what a roadblock is.
PK: I have to do it again and again and again. It's always done in
different locations. It's like, I find I'm saying the same thing in
different locations all over the world. We keep picking up  more and
more new viewers. The show has not plateaued out. I guess the idea is
that if you're picking up 3 million new viewers you have to get them
up to speed with the format of the show. I have people who stop me and
recite the definitions. I was at a book signing in Chicago, there were
about 200 people, and this 5-year-old kid was in the audience. He
comes up and says, "Do you mind if I do a detour?" I picked this kid
up and put him on the table in front of the audience, he grabbed the
microphone out of my hand and began reciting a detour, and then he
added in the words for where we were. We were in a Borders bookstore
and he said, teams must choose between "buy Phil's book" or "not buy
Phil's book." Obviously we've implanted this into people's heads. If
we change it, people might miss the comfort of hearing it every week.


Q: Do you know Jeff Probst?
PK: I know him going back to 1994 when we first met. We've stayed in
contact, and have found ourselves sitting outside of Les Moonves'
office as the two final people being considered for "Survivor." We
know what happened there. At the time I was really disappointed that I
couldn't be a part of that show, and it's been tremendously
successful. Now I can't imagine the show without him. It's sort of
weird. You go from that situation, to then cut to now when we're going
into 10 seasons. We're going to shoot the 10th season of TAR. We
think, what happened?


Q: Who has the tougher job? You, Phil or Ryan Seacrest?
PK: I think each job has got different challenges. I think that both
Ryan and Jeff are very good at what they do. I can't imagine either
one of those shows without them. Their faces become synonymous with
the show. There are aspects to their job and certain challenges that
they have that I wouldn't have a clue.


Q: I think you have the toughest job.
PK: I think what's interesting is that perhaps the logistics of my
job, perhaps they're the toughest, but again. I'm guessing. People's
perception of what I do and what my situation is like does always, it
continues to fascinate me. People are not aware of just how short a
time we shoot the shows, that I'm going to every single location they
go through. I have to travel the same number of miles. This is the
thing that people forget to consider. If the spread of the teams is
close to 12 hours at the pit stop, I'm there for the first team and
I'm there for the last. The first team is getting to leave for the
next leg while I'm still there wrapping up. There are times when I
don't have any major lead over the first team, and I cannot get to the
locations before I get to the pit stop ahead of them. We're on the
phone a lot and we can never predict how long the spread's going to
be. There have been odd occasions where I have been running up to the
mat and the first team is coming up from the opposite location. As we
get further and further into the race, the logistics of the spread
become easier for us. The more competitive teams are tighter, so the
pack is tighter. I have two passports, one is always out getting
visas.


Q: I would think you wouldn't want to travel when you're not filming TAR.
PK: I don't like to go too long without traveling. I love it. I ended
up getting the gig that is most suited to my skill.


Q: How are locations chosen?
PK: They come from collective ideas from people about certain things
they've heard about in different places. It's a matter of looking at
the world and marking out where we've been before and trying to get a
nice balance of different cultures and different challenges. It'll
either come from looking at the big picture and trying to balance a
route around the world that makes sense for the season, or specific
ideas that people read about, research, that we're alerted to. Then
it's a matter of producers going out and scouting and making sure
everything is what you expect it to be. Then we find people on the
ground to research those pieces and facilitate us in the local
countries.


Q: Reception from locals? [Asked by an Australian reporter]
PK: Australia, every time we've visited, we've always had a positive
reaction. Australians are huge fans of the show. I get probably a
dozen e-mails a day when the show's going out, and a lot from
Australia. They  love the show. The most common question I get from
international fans is always, when are you going to let international
people take part in TAR. I just wish I had a dollar for every time
I've answered this question. The show is funded by a US network, and
so first and foremost it is for the US market. The fact that it does
well internationally is a bonus. You have to look at the US open
finals here in America, the ratings drop when there aren't Americans
competing. Most people like to watch themselves rather than watching
people from different countries. That said, TAR, with just an American
cast, has been a #1 show in many international markets. Add that to
the fact that there's a lot of legal ramifications to having different
cultures and different people. The best way for Australians to get
involved would be if there's an Australian format.


Q: Top five dream destinations that you've never visited, personally or on TAR?
PK: For me, on a personal level, I've always wanted to go to Mongolia.
I've never been to Bhutan or Nepal or into the heart of Africa. I grew
up in the Caribbean so I would love to have the show go there as well.
I'm hoping that if the show keeps going eventually we'll get to some
of these locations. Some of it has to do with logistics. Getting to
some of these more remote locations with all the people that we have
is very, very challenging. I hope that we can get to some more of
these places. If I don't do it on the race I'll do it personally.


Q: Will there ever be an all star edition of TAR?
PK: I don't know. I don't know how successful that type of format is.
From my understanding the all star version of Survivor was not as
successful as new, fresh faces coming in. I don't know if it's
necessarily a ratings winner. I think that you change the dynamic when
you bring back people, because people are different once they've been
shot and they've been produced into a tv show and it's gone out into
the world, and they have a chance to reflect on the way that they're
depicted and the way they react to them. One of the things that works
on the race is we are trying to pick people who are so-called ordinary
people in an extraordinary situation, and that keeps the show fresh.
When you know how somebody is and how they're going to play the game,
that's not as fascinating.

[part1
part2
« Last Edit: February 22, 2006, 10:53:04 PM by puddin »

Offline Chateau d If

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« Reply #9 on: February 22, 2006, 10:41:22 PM »
This spells first elimination doom for David and Lori:

Quote
The nerdy dating couple [I think this is David & Lori] are so in love,
kissing all the way through the first leg and more concerned with each
other than making their way through the first leg. They met at a bar,
I think. They're both people who are an online, geeky kind of couple.
They feel like they found the right one. They're really adorable.


I don't think Phil was ever in Arequipa:   ???

Quote
People are not aware of just how short a
time we shoot the shows, that I'm going to every single location they
go through. I have to travel the same number of miles. This is the
thing that people forget to consider.


Offline puddin

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« Reply #10 on: February 24, 2006, 10:08:49 AM »
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
« Last Edit: February 28, 2006, 01:06:03 PM by puddin »

Offline puddin

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« Reply #11 on: February 24, 2006, 10:23:07 AM »
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

Offline Slowhatch

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« Reply #12 on: February 24, 2006, 10:39:49 AM »
I get most of the nicknames. Who would Scott Peterson be? Lake?

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« Reply #13 on: February 24, 2006, 10:49:01 AM »
one could only guess , yeah it fits Lake 's personality from what I've seen  :lol:

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« Reply #14 on: February 24, 2006, 10:51:16 AM »
Take a pick:
« Last Edit: February 24, 2006, 10:59:29 AM by Chateau d If »

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« Reply #15 on: February 24, 2006, 11:09:35 AM »

the picture in the middle looks just like Lake

Offline supsandalee

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« Reply #16 on: February 24, 2006, 01:27:47 PM »
"The Ho's" :rotf:
I mean that was my first thought but I wouldn't call them that where they could hear me or find out.

Offline never0102

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« Reply #17 on: February 24, 2006, 04:50:47 PM »
gosh i would have never thought of them as Ho's.  double D is a much much better nickname, i think its by far the best nickname ever given to a team.

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« Reply #18 on: February 26, 2006, 10:20:01 AM »
'Amazing Race' going back to basics

By TARA MERRIN -- Calgary Sun

Less faces, more places.

That's the motto for The Amazing Race 9, says host Phil Keoghan, after last season's family edition, focusing on teams of four and set mostly in the U.S., fell flat with fans.

"It is certainly clear that the idea of bringing in teams of four and having less international locations was not as successful ...," says Keoghan.

"I'm proud of what we managed to pull together, but there is no denying the Race is most successful when it has less faces, more places."

On Tuesday, the reality adventure series returns with its original international format in which teams of two travel to exotic locations in a race around the world for a $1-million US prize.

This time around they will span five continents and stop in places such as the Middle East, Moscow and Sicily. "The reaction we got from the family version ... people clearly made a statement they wanted that international element of the show -- they missed it," says Keoghan
'FISH OUT OF WATER'

This season, the 11 teams, which include a Pizza Hut manager, a science teacher, a dentist, a valet and a retired physician, race across 97,000 km in just 29 days.

That is the longest distance travelled in the shortest amount of time throughout the show's eight cycle history, says Keoghan.

"(Last season) viewers were missing that fish-out-of-water element where people were completely and utterly dumfounded because of culture shock and language barriers.

"They missed that so that is something we have got in abundance this season. It is very exotic."

While the locations may draw fans back to the CBS series, the large range of colourful characters will keep them tuned in.

Among Keoghan's favourites are BJ and Tyler, a pair of well-travelled, long-haired hippies from California who speak several languages including Spanish and Japanese.

"It's going to be interesting to see how the audience reacts to them because they're a little goofy. It's like they are in their own movie -- they are a very fascinating team."

Older couple Fran and Barry, who have been married for 40 years and travelled to 45 countries together, also made an impression on the show's host. "Fran and Barry I love. They have an incredible amount of energy for 60-year-olds and should not be underestimated by anybody."

And then there's Lake and Michelle -- the racers most likely to be compared to dysfunctional couple Jonathan and Victoria from The Amazing Race 6.

"Lake and Michelle have a very interesting relationship. He's a dentist and she's a dental assistant," says Keoghan. "He's very much a type A personality. Very, very focused. Very, very driven and very keen to win this race."

But the strangest of the teams is definitely nerdy dating couple David and Lori, he says.

"They are both people, you'd imagine, who are an on-line geeky kind of couple," he says.

"And they are just so in love. They are kissing all the way through the first leg -- they're adorable."

After nine seasons of chasing teams around the world from pit-stop to pit-stop, Keoghan, who was CBS' second pick for host of Survivor behind Jeff Probst, says he still loves his job.

"Obviously it can be very challenging on the road, but I kind of like it," he says.

"I get myself ready, physically fit, and... I look forward to it.

"It's like I have a front row seat to a major championship."

But, while Keoghan still gets a thrill from welcoming teams to the finish mat, there is one part of his job he is less enthusiastic about -- constantly having to explain what a detour and a road block are.

"Maybe we'll put out a press release just to clarify, this is what a road block is and Phil will not be saying it any more," he laughs, adding people are constantly reciting the definitions to him.

"I was at a book signing in Chicago and this five year old kid ... said, 'Do you mind if I do a detour?' He grabbed the microphone out of my hand and started reciting a detour.

"He said, 'On this detour, teams must chose between buy Phil's book or not buy Phil's book.' I just laughed so hard because obviously we've implanted this into people's heads."

The premiere of The Amazing Race 9, in which teams race and complete challenges from Denver to Brazil, airs Tuesday on CTV at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on CBS.

link

Offline Slowhatch

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« Reply #19 on: February 26, 2006, 07:37:08 PM »
Quote
They are kissing all the way through the first leg -- they're adorable
Not the second or third or fourth leg? Hmmm...


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« Reply #20 on: February 27, 2006, 12:30:44 AM »
pretty much what is posted above in Phil's teleconference but with Jonathans 2 cents fwiw ~

Amazing Race All-Stars Edition, Phil Keoghan Doesn’t Think It Would Be Successful

http://www.realitytvmagazine.com/blog/2006/02/amazing_race_al.html

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« Reply #21 on: February 27, 2006, 10:53:59 AM »


Ready...Set...Amaze!
"Race 9" kicks off in Denver with hopes of revving up the international thrills missing last year
By Joanne Ostrow 
Phil Keoghan wears a makeup bib around his neck as he strolls the upper reaches of Red Rocks Amphitheatre. A stylist fusses with his perfect hair as vans carrying 11 teams approach the foothills outside of Denver for "Amazing Race 9."

It's a sunny December morning, and the 30-day shoot for the program's 13-week run is about to begin. Sporting a gray turtleneck sweater, black boots and jeans, Keoghan affects the studied-casual look.

The crew has spent a solid hour arranging 22 backpacks in a semicircle, rearranging them into a line, then at an angle, in front of the Visitor Center. A battalion of 25 cameras, including one mounted on the nose of a helicopter, stands by to document this start.

With the teams arranged before him on the steps of the renowned concert venue, Keoghan revs up the contestants. "In just a few minutes you'll be leaving on a race around the world," he says.

OK, so it's not Ike and the paratroopers on the eve of D-Day. But CBS's "Amazing Race" remains the thinking-person's reality TV show. Teams race around the world - bickering across 60,000 miles in 30 days - pursuing a $1 million prize. A Silverthorne couple is among the contestants drawing on offbeat skills to surmount oddball challenges.

The show begins a new globe-trotting season with a two-hour debut, Tuesday at 8 p.m. on KCNC-Channel 4. The show moves to what will be its regular 9 p.m. Tuesday slot on March 7. Fans hope "Amazing Race 9" will return to its former glory after last season's disappointing family edition.

As the taping begins, what impresses an onlooker most is the production's rehearsed spontaneity. Keoghan will give his "Are you ready?" speech seven times, the teams yelling excitedly on cue each time, before capturing a suitable take.

"Phil will make every time like the first time," director Evan Weinstein says admiringly.

Roundly booed for the mostly domestic travel last time, "Race" this season again embraces an international format with a cross-section of mostly unrelated couples.

"It's easier to critique than to  create," Keoghan says in defense. "I admire CBS for trying the family version."
   

Executive producer Bertram van Munster explained the family edition this way: "CBS made the decision. Les (Moonves, CBS's boss) wanted to broaden the (demographics)."

Keoghan is just back from a month snowboarding in his native New Zealand. He also toured 10 cities in two weeks promoting his book, "No Opportunity Wasted." (He also wrote the preface to "52 Reasons to Have a Passport.") His daughter is now 9. "I'll retire when she's 16 and gets a Nike golf contract," he says jokingly.

Checking himself, he rephrases: "Our show has the world to choose from - you could do 100 shows and keep it fresh every time. I could be doing this as a senior citizen."

At 60,000 miles, this route is one of the series' longest. (You can circumnavigate the globe in just shy of 25,000 miles, and that's on the equatorial route.)

"It's like turning a battleship around," van Munster says of his 200-person staff. More than 2,000 personnel are involved


 A CBS videographer captures a team embarking from DIA for "Amazing Race 9," which debuts at 8 p.m. Tuesday on Channel 4. A Silverthorne couple is among the contestants. (Post / Glenn Asakawa)   

http://www.denverpost.com/entertainment/ci_3546897#

Offline Jeffrey Scott

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« Reply #22 on: February 27, 2006, 10:54:48 AM »
Oh phew, thianks for posting that. I almost forgot the AR9 was on tomorrow night.
When all is said and done, there is nothing more to say.

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« Reply #23 on: February 27, 2006, 11:10:14 AM »


Race's edge returns with ninth season
By HEATHER SVOKOSSTAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
If you think that watching a bunch of people running to catch an airport shuttle wouldn't make for riveting TV, you've never seen The Amazing Race. And that's what's so darn amazing about it: Thanks to the show's brilliant pacing and editing, something as mundane as jockeying for airline flights can morph into a heart-thumping showdown.
That's just one reason that The Amazing Race -- which sends 11 teams of two in a breathless race around the globe for $1 million smackers -- is arguably the best reality show on TV.
Except. For. Last. Season.
But before I bludgeon the recent Amazing Race: The Family Edition, let me say this about the two-hour premiere of season nine, which airs tomorrow: The show is back to its stellar self, doing what it does best: raising our hackles and our heart rates.
That's because the show has gotten back to its tried-and-true format: teams of two people in an existing relationship -- sisters, lifelong friends, mother-daughter, husband-wife, boyfriend-girlfriend -- sent scrambling around the world.
Last season's family-of-four setup was publicly acknowledged by CBS as a failed experiment. As it turns out, it wasn't so fun watching families implode, kids cry, or a mother being verbally abused by her sons, even if she was a grating loudmouth. Because there were four people to a team -- and several children among them -- it limited the show's mobility. Barely any of the race took place outside of the United States. So instead of breathtaking panoramic views of Malaysia and Borneo, instead of bungee-jumping and gliding across Victoria Falls in South Africa, we had to trudge along with the families as they made their way to Anniston, Ala., to locate the world's largest . . . office chair.
Or take a George Washington-style trek across the Delaware, where the goal was to participate in a flag-folding ceremony. (Quick, what's the opposite of adrenaline?)
Thank goodness for season nine.
Teams start from the Red Rocks Amphitheater near Denver, Colo., and race off to their first destination: Sao Paolo, Brazil. The tension kicks in from the get-go, as they all race to catch the earliest flight. As viewers, our blood pressure rises and falls with each mini-drama. For instance, when one team walks by the clue box on a bridge, missing it approximately 19 times, we scream at them through our TV sets: "It's right there!!! You're walking past it! AGAIN!!"
Part of the fun of The Amazing Race has always been watching the dynamics of a pre-existing relationship and how it holds up (or doesn't) under the pressure of the competition..
Just as MTV's The Real World does, the Race tends to cast stock types, so you'll recognize a lot of them: the obligatory pink-clad hottie bubbleheads (childhood friends Dani and Danielle); the feisty retirees (Barry and Fran); the cool-headed African-American couple (Yolanda and Ray); the freakishly fit, would-be Abercrombie models (Jeremy and Eric).
Some of the rest of the cast don't fit the archetypes quite so neatly. Among them:
The Hippies. You'll either love or hate BJ & Tyler, two free-spirited best friends. With their beards, unkempt hair, red pants and kooky vintage shirts, they seem to have either escaped The Spin Doctors, or from a high school prom, circa 1975.
The Frosties. Joni and Lisa are sisters from Houston. They both have short shocks of frosted blond hair, upon which tiaras have occasionally sat. They know their way around a BeDazzler, and because of their 6-foot height, call themselves The Glamazonians. Their daffiness and their colorful expressions make them alternately fun and irritating to watch. Either way, I fear for their longevity: Early on, one sis says to the other: "Slow and steady wins the race." Um, reality check on Aisle 5?
The show wastes no time establishing this season's breakout villain: it's Lake Garner, a 37-year-old dentist from Hattiesburg, Miss. (think Gary Oldman with a Southern accent). His partner is his submissive wife, Michelle.
Lake is an amalgam of Amazing Race antagonists: Not only does he mistreat his wife ("Shut the [expletive] up!" he kindly offers), he's also poised to be an ugly American and has already raised a few racial red flags ("Michelle, you better run! That black girl'll outrun you!").
Just waiting for his comeuppance, our heart flutters. And when it happens -- no matter how big or small -- we lick our chops, and we thank karma, and CBS, for restoring our faith in the Race.
  :groan:

link~
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/entertainment/13972765.htm
« Last Edit: February 27, 2006, 05:48:33 PM by puddin »

Offline puddin

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« Reply #24 on: February 27, 2006, 11:37:23 AM »
OMG from tv guide  :lol: , Jeremy & Eric in Russia!!


Eric and Jeremy
 

Joseph on THE AMAZING RACE 9 ( where is this ?)



Teammates Dani and Danielle

Lake and Barry
we know this is Fran , not Barry ~
Loudmouth Lake, who is from Mississippi, and retiree Fran, of Colorado, make their way down the side of a mountain in the upcoming ninth season of The Amazing Race.




Teams of the Amazing Race




AGAIN they forget about Wanda & Desiree!!

« Last Edit: February 27, 2006, 11:49:00 AM by puddin »