The Amazing Race - 12/7/08 - Grading and Discussion
- Thread starter Turbo
- Start date
They recently finished.
And Season was average, for me. While it had some of the funniest moments in race history and a few teams that I really like it also features the dumbest set of racers to date , I wasn't that impressed with most of the tasks (though I loved the subway one last week) and was terrible disappointed with the lack of teams actually driving themselves.
To me being able to navigate from one city to another (or from one country to another) using a vehicle and a map should be a big part of AR.
I love teams driving, and its one where it shouldn't matter if you are young or old, male or female, fit or out of shape.
While I don't mind taxi drama to some degree, I much rather sees teams live or die under their own ability to navigate.
And Season was average, for me. While it had some of the funniest moments in race history and a few teams that I really like it also features the dumbest set of racers to date , I wasn't that impressed with most of the tasks (though I loved the subway one last week) and was terrible disappointed with the lack of teams actually driving themselves.
To me being able to navigate from one city to another (or from one country to another) using a vehicle and a map should be a big part of AR.
I love teams driving, and its one where it shouldn't matter if you are young or old, male or female, fit or out of shape.
While I don't mind taxi drama to some degree, I much rather sees teams live or die under their own ability to navigate.
Teams have driven themselves in three episodes.
1st leg from the starting line to LAX.
4th leg throughout the coutryside of NEw Zealand.
5th leg From the Pit Stop to the airport in Aukland New Zealand.
And that is everything.
All told under 500 miles, easily (probably closer to 350 miles total).
And all in countries that are english speaking with all signs in english.
Compare that to just to seasons 9 10 and 11. All featured driving as the primary transport in at least three full legs, and with at least two legs having teams drive in countries that have no english signage.
Season 9 for example teams drove in every episode (or leg). And that included all the taxi's flights, trains, buses, and boat travel they also took.
Many seasons have had teams drive more then that in just one leg, let alone for a full season.
If it wasn't for the humor this season has had (and not just from teams being incredible stupid), and really liking two teams alot, this would be in my option one of the worst seasons of the race (outside of the Family edition).
Oh and to make a point about driving.
We have Nick & Star who very possible well make race history (for the US version) with winning 7 legs. Yet the one leg they had to drive in, the team did fairly poorly losing a lot of time in getting lost.
Makes me wonder how a team like that would have done an a typical season with much, much more driving.
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Here's hoping for:
4) one more shot Nick in his boxer briefs.
5) one more shot of Starrs boobage
Here's hoping for:
4) one more shot Nick in his boxer briefs.
5) one more shot of Starrs boobage
Touche. We've taken to calling Starr a stripper around the house.
And Nick...unbearable hotness.
Here's hoping for:
4) one more shot Nick in his boxer briefs.
5) one more shot of Starrs boobage
Touche. We've taken to calling Starr a stripper around the house.
And Nick...unbearable hotness.
I actually think of Nick as more cute then hot, but no complaints.
I am just happy to see a brother & Sister team that gets along with each other who has made it this far.
We have had several sibling teams but most either have conflict or just don't last long.
Nice to see an another Blake & Paige or o Ken & Gerard (for siblings that made it to the finals and did get along).
I think one of the reasons for a lack of driving is the compressed shooting schedule they now have. Not only do they have two less legs, but by using planes as the means between countries and keeping teams (for the most part, New Zealand was the exception) close to towns they can finish teh race quicker.
Which I am sure gets the expense of not only the full production crew, but also the teams in sequester.
I am curious so I am going to quickly go through the seasons and research the driving habits (especially on last season, the only other 11 episode season, so far. And yes the new season 14 is only 11 legs as well).
Which I am sure gets the expense of not only the full production crew, but also the teams in sequester.
I am curious so I am going to quickly go through the seasons and research the driving habits (especially on last season, the only other 11 episode season, so far. And yes the new season 14 is only 11 legs as well).
Look what I just found - http://www.nickandstarr.com/
Some pics of them traveling together on that site, I didn't know they had another brother and another sister, big family.
Some pics of them traveling together on that site, I didn't know they had another brother and another sister, big family.
No CBS in its wisdom only ordered one 11 episode cycle for the 2007-08 year. And that was knowing that there was the real possibility of a writers/directors and actors strike. So instead of greenlighting 26 episodes of AR they greenlite 11. CBS wasn't sure that AR was a viable program.
So the cut the episode order and instead of ordering two cycles in advance (which they have done since season 5), they only did one. All as a means to save money if the show didn't perform.
So what happened that cycle (12) delivered the third highest ratings in AR's history (and thats being on during the christmas and New Years breaks and against the the NFC championship game (the single most competition AR has ever faced, if it wasn't for just that episode it would have finished as the 2nd most successful season in the ratings for AR). By the time that the strike looked very likely and they started getting results for this season it was to late to approve another and get it planned and filmed (takes about 4 months total).
But they did make sure to order two cycles for this season, but they didn't bump up the episode order.
Nor will it be filmed in HD. Which kills me, the show features wonderful locations that would look breathtaking in HD (for example the temple in Angkor Wat). But they use a ton of cameras (starting with about 20) that they would have to purchase and they aren't cheap especially ones that are light enough for camera men to carry sometimes as much as 18 hours in a row.
At best, perhaps if we get two cycles for next year (and thats in question) they might upgrade to HD since almost all programming will be in HD at that point.
I don't have an HD TV anyway yet
Ok, for once it isn't being delayed due to football yay! 5 minutes to go
I love mine. I never realized how much of a difference in made. I do love the widescreen aspect ratio (as a film buff), but the quality of the image is just shocking.
Hopefully they get cheap enough to allow more people to buy them (I just didn't eat for a month to buy my first one, now I have one in my bedroom and I use it for tv and my computer moniter).
Now almost every season a strong team doesn't make the final three. But if Andrew & Dan won, I honestly think it would easily be the worst winners ever for the show.
Hell Flo annoyed the living hell out of me, but at least Zak raced is heart out. These idiots are okay guys maybe and a little funny, but they absolutely suck at racing.
Hell I think Bama (from a few seasons ago) are a better team, and I thought they sucked.....
