Last night I blogged about what is probably the best show on television - period - MI-5 (or Spooks as it is called in Britain). Well, tonight, the best reality show was on in The Amazing Race. Being the reality obsessed person I am, I try and watch as many as I can and for the most part, I like most reality shows, but as seasons go by, every time, The Amazing Race (TAR) stands above the rest. Relying on pretty much the same premise year after year (rather than altering it every time like Survivor), TAR is always new and exciting, though at times, it does have its faults.
For example, on tonight's episode, once the teams were let go from their resting place (each team must rest 12 hours between legs), they had to head to a winery where their next clue awaited. Usually, the clue requires some sort of action before the teams can advance. However, this clue just told them where to go next. But why have the clue then? But to get them all bunched up together of course. The winery didn't open until 10am and all the teams departed between midnight and 1am, so any lead was instantly lost. Then, once they all got bunched up again, they were separated onto two flights, which, after landing less than an hour apart, all the teams raced to their next clue which, surprise, surprise, bunched them all up again as they waited for Napoleon's birthplace to open. Every week, it seems as if the producers go through extra lengths to make sure the teams are bunched - which, of course, is a necessity, but don't make it so damn obvious. Let a team get ahead for a while. Hell, let them get a day's lead and then force them back to the pack, but don't go out of your way two or three times an episode to bunch them up.
Ranting aside, TAR is by far the best reality show still on television (The Mole (the original - not one of those stupid celebrity mole shows)) is still my favorite reality show - but alas, it couldn't pull in the ratings needed to keep it going. Whereas you need smarts and common sense on TAR to advance, you also need a lot of luck - but The Mole was different - it required you to be thinking at all times, observing those around you, watching every little thing that happened and the stupid got weeded out. Unfortunately, the same doesn't always happen on TAR. Tonight, Jonathan and Victoria should have been eliminated (had it been an elimination leg - which it wasn't), because they made a lot of stupid decisions, but they got lucky and they advanced to the next leg (though they are next to last right now). We'll see what happens next week as it looks like Victoria has some problems and the other teams finally step up to berate Jonathan like he deserves.
Either way, TAR is the best reality show on television, and even if you haven't been watching this season, you can pick it up any Tuesday at 9pm and jump right in. As for MI-5...buy Volumes 1 & 2 on DVD and watch them. You will not be disappointed. Before TAR tonight, I re-watched the first two episodes from Season 1 and loved every second even though I've already seen them a few times. I've not got my mom hooked and episode three is a doozy.
URL: CBS - The Amazing Race
For example, on tonight's episode, once the teams were let go from their resting place (each team must rest 12 hours between legs), they had to head to a winery where their next clue awaited. Usually, the clue requires some sort of action before the teams can advance. However, this clue just told them where to go next. But why have the clue then? But to get them all bunched up together of course. The winery didn't open until 10am and all the teams departed between midnight and 1am, so any lead was instantly lost. Then, once they all got bunched up again, they were separated onto two flights, which, after landing less than an hour apart, all the teams raced to their next clue which, surprise, surprise, bunched them all up again as they waited for Napoleon's birthplace to open. Every week, it seems as if the producers go through extra lengths to make sure the teams are bunched - which, of course, is a necessity, but don't make it so damn obvious. Let a team get ahead for a while. Hell, let them get a day's lead and then force them back to the pack, but don't go out of your way two or three times an episode to bunch them up.
Ranting aside, TAR is by far the best reality show still on television (The Mole (the original - not one of those stupid celebrity mole shows)) is still my favorite reality show - but alas, it couldn't pull in the ratings needed to keep it going. Whereas you need smarts and common sense on TAR to advance, you also need a lot of luck - but The Mole was different - it required you to be thinking at all times, observing those around you, watching every little thing that happened and the stupid got weeded out. Unfortunately, the same doesn't always happen on TAR. Tonight, Jonathan and Victoria should have been eliminated (had it been an elimination leg - which it wasn't), because they made a lot of stupid decisions, but they got lucky and they advanced to the next leg (though they are next to last right now). We'll see what happens next week as it looks like Victoria has some problems and the other teams finally step up to berate Jonathan like he deserves.
Either way, TAR is the best reality show on television, and even if you haven't been watching this season, you can pick it up any Tuesday at 9pm and jump right in. As for MI-5...buy Volumes 1 & 2 on DVD and watch them. You will not be disappointed. Before TAR tonight, I re-watched the first two episodes from Season 1 and loved every second even though I've already seen them a few times. I've not got my mom hooked and episode three is a doozy.
URL: CBS - The Amazing Race
posted by Blake | 22:31
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