Amazing Race 12

[sweeps]

Hey, anyone else a fan of Amazing Race? Season 12 starts Sunday! (Note: If you're adding it to your DVR, you may want to set the recording to end an hour late. Based on past experience it can start late on Sundays because of football.)

[momof1in150]

Thanks for the reminder. I set up the DVR but forgot about the football factor. My son would be so made if he had to watch 60 minutes and only get 15 minutes of the Amazing Race.

[My English Castle]

I'm so excited!

Thanks for telling me! This is my favorite show!!!!
I normally don't watch much TV--no time with grading papers and class prep, but I love this show. It's a cheapo armchair vacation!

[gackle]

The wife and I love this show also. I love and work in aviation and love to travel so it's a natural fit to me. My wife gets annoyed when I point out that American Airlines doesn't fly the MD-80 into Singapore (or some other overseas airport). The producers are not very detail-oriented when it comes to showing the actual plane that flew the participants into an airport.

I'd like to see the participants told that they have to get from point A to point B and let them decide what the best way to get there would be instead of being told you have to take 1 of these 3 flights. I think it'd introduce another element of choice and strategy in the game and thus make it even more interesting. I'll watch the one from last Sunday right after the Cowboys beat the Packers.

[sweeps]

I'd like to see the participants told that they have to get from point A to point B and let them decide what the best way to get there would be instead of being told you have to take 1 of these 3 flights. I think it'd introduce another element of choice and strategy in the game and thus make it even more interesting.

I've wondered about this as well. One guess as to why they don't make it a complete free-for-all is they don't want teams to get too spread apart. For example, if a few teams went their own way and then ended up 2 or 3 days behind the leading team it would mess up the show. (In fact this happened on a recent season if I recall where a flight was delayed which in turn delayed a connecting flight and some teams where a full day or two behind.)

Also I think there are logistical issues with the camera man that's tagging along with each team. I'm sure there are special arrangements that have to made for transporting the camera equipment, and the camera man probably needs to make regular contact with the rest of the crew (so he can eat, sleep, swap out tapes and equipment, etc.)

[gackle]

For example, if a few teams went their own way and then ended up 2 or 3 days behind the leading team it would mess up the show.

Not to mention Phil and the "Welcome to ____" dignitary would get pretty tired of standing at the finish mat for so long!