Changes to The Amazing Race
 

From MSNBC :

I like the elimination of non-elimination legs...but why do they have to get rid of older contestants? I like the variety of ages and backgrounds. I DON'T want this to become Big Brother on Amazing Race. :)

Great. More "bartenders" and "waitresses" from Los Angeles populating "reality" shows.

Don't you mean "aspiring actresses"?

Honestly though, I'm not that bothered. As long as they don't change the most important characters--Phil, and the locales.

I wish they'd put the fast forward back on every leg.

More like "barely aspiring actresses". They'd probably be focusing on the acting if it's what they really wanted to do.

aspiring actors/actresses, bartenders, waitresses... in LA, what's the difference? :p

:thumbsup: Brings so much more strategy into it. Now with the FF, if you're in 1st, you almost have to take it given its rarity.

Plus I'd like to see them eliminate that Merge (2 teams work together) thing.

Some of the geezers have performed pretty well, and usually are easy to root for, so I'm a bit perplexed by this move.

Unless they cut down on episodes, I suppose we'll get more "To Be Continueds...."

Logistically, I think that's pretty hard to set up, but certainly they could have five or six to increase the strategy. Also I'd like more Yields. With only two, if you get the chance you really need to do it since there isn't any repercussions to it (oops, except for "yield karma"). If you had a lot, it might even things out a lot more. And like everyone else in the world, I'd like less of those bullshit catch-up tasks that totally punish the quick teams and keep the turtles in the race.

Here's a question, the show is only 11 or 12 episodes with the Non-Elimination legs. So, does that decrease the number of episodes?

Still love the show, but I'm so sick of these producers always casting actors and models.

CBS should just go back and make it a summer show. I remember it did quite well during the summer and obviously wasn't facing any stiff competition.

Question for all of you: Do you think the All-Star edition was regarded as a failure which is why CBS is scaling back on the show?

I am fine with cutting off some of the geezers. I think that the max age should be the in the 50's, since some of the older contestants just don't have the physical ability to compete.

I agree with this. The most successful older couple were Teri and Ian and they were in their early 50's.

I think is great that they are getting rid of the non-elimination legs.

If they want a spark, they should have some better challenges. Stop giving them so much guidance and force them to use their brains a little more.

And get rid of the stupid Merge.

Ding Ding Ding! We have a winner here! Definitely stop holding their hands and up the challenges some. I swear half of last year the only challenge was when then got into the car to drive to next destination.

As far as the changes go it depends on what they mean. If its that they rather even the playing field and have folks more equally fit from 18-50s that is fine. But if its a dumbing down mainstream move with everyone being some fake buxom between 18-24 that is going totally change what this show was about and reminds me of when Real World and Road Rules sold out. I know folks here like the eye candy but not that much, otherwise you may as well go all out and do Amazing Race: The Nude Edition where they can all race in the nude and have weekly jumping jack challenges as biggest highlight.

It would also suck to see eps cut in half if its going to be streamlined that much but maybe as someone said they will add a few too be continued double challenges. Since its not coming back this year I don't even need turn on TV I guess, AR always been one of my favorites so I hope it keeps going.

I agree that the last TAR may have been the lamest (not including family) when it came to the challenges.

Like I alluded to before, it has to mean less episodes unless they have more "To Be Continued" episodes (in other words, longer legs).

The older people make the show feel a little more realistic. I could give a sh*t about young people, damn hooligans!

For long-time TAR fans I'm not sure the change to younger contestants is a good thing. I actually think it might be better if they didn't have anyone under 30 - maybe ages 30-55 or something like that. You might be inclined to get more 'real' people that way with some interesting life experiences. On second thought, just a good variety of ages is still probably the best.

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Amazing Race 10 didn't have an "old folks" team (IIRC the oldest person was in his 40's), and it was boring as hell, so just making the teams younger without decent casting (and the casting has sucked hard the past few seasons) is pointless.

And take it off of of Sunday nights where it gets delayed by sports all the damn time.

Not to mention it follows 60 Minutes, which has to have the oldest average viewing audience of any show in history. If they get rid of the team geezers, there goes their lead-in in that time slot.

You won't have to worry about this as much since it isn't airing in the Fall.

I could have used a fix of this show this summer.

I can't wait for it to come back.

I always wanted TAR (as well as survivor) to do theme type seasons. Maybe all young people, all old people, all soldiers, and my fave, all Migets. That would rule.

Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick.