What happened to the “Amazing”?


This season, The Amazing Race is taking on a different look. Instead of teams of 2 linked by some kind of pre-existing relationship (married couples, dating models, friends, co-workers, clowns, virgins, etc.), this is the Family Race, with teams of 4 related people. The team dynamics are, obviously, different. The logistics of traveling with six people (four team members plus camera and sound operators) are more difficult than traveling with four. But this race looks like it doesn’t even plan to be amazing.
Brooklyn (yay!) to Lancaster, PA? That’s not very amazing. That’s pretty boring. Without the travel, language barriers, culture clash and multiple forms of transportation, this isn’t an Amazing race. And multiple tasks in NYC but no subway navigation? At least the cameo was appreciated here.
TAR9 will go back to the classic formula. I’ll check back in then and hope the show has a long run without having to hold off production to do another family edition.
In contrast, tonight’s Lost was very good.

Andrew Raff @andrewraff