If you’re a regular reader of this site, you know that my wife and I have seen every episode of “The Amazing Race” and look forward to each new season. The host, Phil Keoghan, tweeted yesterday that they’ve just started recording Season 31, which will include teams made up of contestants who’ve already been on “TAR” as well as CBS’ other reality shows, “Survivor” and “Big Brother.”
I hate this.
On “The Amazing Race,” it’s the adventure that’s the star, and there must be thousands of people who would like to race around the world, yet the show keeps going back to the pool of people who’ve proven reliably camera-ready. The worst of those in this case is Rupert Boneham, the 53-year old teen counselor from Indianapolis who first appeared on “Survivor” in 2003. I liked him at the time, even had a good time interviewing him, but he’s since done three more seasons of that show. Now he’s back for more.
Yes, the producers get someone they know will give them a good show on camera, but “The Amazing Race” should be about how contestants (and producers) handle people and experiences they encounter for the first time, not regulars who are merely trying to extend their reality show life expectancy. It smells of desperation on the part of the racers and the showrunners.