THE AMAZING RACE VII --TAR7-- Official Show Thread & photo preview

CBS ^ | Feb 24, 2005 | Veto! with a little help from CBS.com

[Veto!]

Begins March 1 on CBS, 9 p.m. Eastern/Pacific

Here we go again, race fans, for the Seventh Season of The Amazing Race (TAR7). We'll vicariously travel with eleven teams as they fly, drive, climb, crawl, leap, slide, and boogie around the world to compete for one million dollars. They'll never know where they're going next or what they'll have to do once there. The last team to arrive at the "designated pit stop" at the end of each week's episode will be eliminated from the race -- unless it is not. So pull up your favorite armchair and travel along with the Freeper Amazing Race contingent every Tuesday night for the next few months as we root for favorites, throw tomatoes at the others, and wish we were the ones living dangerously. BON VOYAGE!

A Thumbnail Photo Guide To This Season's Possibly Amazing Racers

Brian, 27 & Greg, 24 are brothers from Santa Monica, California. Brian is an actor/bartender and Greg is a bouncer. Their primary motivation for participating in the Race is to travel the world with each other and meet new people. Veto!s opinion: Team Bro wants face time on tv. They are big, strong, in shape, and they think they're action stars. But are they wily? Could be they'll be eating other teams' dust.

Debbie & Bianca are best friends from Los Angeles, California and Woodbridge, Virginia, respectively. Bianca is a high school teacher and Debbie works as a photographer. Both are highly educated, experienced travelers, and have lived abroad. Veto!s opinion: Keep an eye on these two. Unless they scratch each other’s eyes out, they’ll probably do just fine.

Lynn & Alex are (would you believe?) a gay couple from West Hollywood, California. They both work as executive assistants. With their four-year anniversary on the horizon, they possibly hope to get married in Amsterdam—if indeed they race through Amsterdam. Veto!s opinion: Need I say?

Megan & Heidi, a make-up artist and fashion designer, are roommates from Oak Park, California. Both are allegedly extremely competitive and not afraid to take risks. They decided to sign up for the Race “just for the challenge and competition.” Veto!s opinion:. Can the Hair Queens keep up the pace when their tresses get tangled? I see hissy fits on the horizon.

Meredith, 69, & Gretchen, 66, are a husband/wife team from Easton, Maryland. Meredith is a retired executive and Gretchen is a retired nurse/flight attendant. He holds seven National Masters Swimming Championship titles, she admits to being quite loud, particularly when upset. . Veto!s opinion: If Gretch doesn’t turn into Nurse Ratched, they may go far and win Freeper kudos for their efforts.

Ray, 44, & Deana, 27, are a dating-on-and-off team from Canfield, Ohio and Youngstown, Ohio respectively. Ray, a former semi-pro football player, is a stockbroker and Deana is a marketing and promotions executive. Both enjoy weight lifting and karate. Veto!s opinion:This season’s “will their relationship last?” team. Ray will overdo it trying to beat younger guys. Ho-hum.

Rob, 29, & Amber, 26, AKA Boston Rob and Ambuh, are an engaged couple from Canton, Massachusetts and Beaver, Pennsylvania, respectively. They formed an alliance and fell in love when they competed with each other on “Survivor: All Stars.” Amber won the one million dollar prize. Rob finished as the $100k runner-up, but proposed to Amber before they knew which had won the big bucks. Veto!s opinion: Two Thumbs Up! Highly athletic and competitive, these two know how to work together. But will their “take-over-the-‘hood” skills that won them Survivor translate to racing’s Hall of Fame? Why, indeed, not?

Ron, 28, & Kelly, 26, are a dating Team from Villa Rica, Georgia and Greenville, South Carolina, respectively. Ron is a former Iraq War POW who is currently a student at the University of Georgia and works as a motivational speaker. Kelly was crowned Miss South Carolina in 2002 and works as a Legislative Correspondent…(for whom?) Ron was an Apache helicopter pilot in Iraq. When shot down, he was captured, interrogated, held captive and later rescued by the United States Marines. Following his rescue, Ron returned home and was introduced to the reigning Miss South Carolina. The two have been an item ever since. Ron is very competitive and admits he’s a thrill seeker. . Veto!s opinion: Two more thumbs 'way up. They’ll be Freepers’ favorites, and they have what it takes to win.

Ryan, 31, & Chuck, 32, are lifelong friends from Landrum, South Carolina and Inman, South Carolina, respectively. Ryan is a general contractor, and Chuck works in boiler tube replacement sales. Both are motorcycle nuts and very religious. . Veto!s opinion: Definitely wily Southern boys. Up against tough competition, but I hope they make a good showing.

Uchenna, 40, & Joyce, 44, a childless married couple from Houston. Uchenna worked for Enron as an energy trader and Joyce worked in sales for WorldCom, have different jobs since their companies went bankrupt. If they win, they say they’ll use the money for in-vitro fertilization. Veto!s opinion:A tough, scrappy pair, but too much tension here, methinks, for them to get much traction. They’re hardly Kim and Chip, the wonderful black couple who won Amazing Race two seasons back.

Susan, 54, & Patrick, 26, are mother and gay son. She is the Director for Judicial Affairs for Miami University in Ohio and Patrick is a writer now living in Hollywood. Susan, married to Patrick’s father for 34 years, earned her college degree as a “non-traditional” student. Patrick says his family has always been very supportive of him,even —surprise, surprise-- when he told them he was gay. Veto!s opinion: They’re looking for love in all the wrong places; hopefully, their elimination from the show will be swift and merciful.

That’s it for the Preview.

[BlackRazor]

If you've never seen this show - it's one definitely worth watching

The most-recently concluded season was the first one I had ever watched, and I was disappointed. They kept bunching everyone up, so it didn't really matter all that much whether you finished first or next-to-last in a given week. And a lot of the competition seemed like pure luck -- how many bales of hay do you have to unroll before you find your next clue? How many locks do you have to try with your key before you find the one that opens? Will you get a cab driver who knows where he's going? I'd like the competition to be more skill-based and less chance-based. And less bunching.

[Republican Red]

I LOVE this show. I can't wait for the new season. I am pulling for fellow Georgian Ron. His military training background should make him a natural at this race.

Last year was a bit disappointing with all the models and all the yelling. This installment seems to be heavy on the gay side. I hope the show sticks to the race and doesn't comment on social and political issues.

If there is a ping list please add me to it!

[moonpie57]

Re: Rob on Survivor

I think every episode of that particular Survivor started and ended with me ranting at Rob about something. He was a total jerk. You don't know how many times I wanted to kick his butt...or maybe you do :)

[Veto!]

Clearly, you're going to be a great participant on this thread. Happy to trade insults with you re Boston Rob, my hero! LOL

[Mixer]

And I'll hear the details from my kid as she tries to convince me of all the reasons "we" should do this. Ha!


You should do it. You should watch it too : )

[Mixer]

Don't count on a celeb edition. According to an article on JAM! out of Canada, season 8 of TAR will be a family edition, with 4 members per team.

---

That will certainly change things if it happens.


How about a FReeper edition : )

[Wneighbor]

You should do it. You should watch it too : )

Well, I've got about 11 more weeks of working this job I've got now. At the end of this job - I am trying diligently to move from Texas to Alabama to be nearer my daughter, her hubby and kids. I'll be looking for a day job there and since I'll be living close to my kid I expect I'll finally watch the show with her. :-)

I've been asking around occasionally on FR threads - since I'm probably moving to Huntsville, Alabama I'm kinda searching for any freepers in that area. Any of ya'll Amazing Race fans from that part of Alabama?

[Veto!]

A reminder that TAR7 begins tomorrow night, Tuesday March 1. Set your vcr or tivo, clear the decks, and get ready to race

If you want on or off ping list, please Freemail me.

[kingu]

Thanks for the ping - with everything going on, I had forgotten this was starting tomorrow. Hopefully we'll be back from my father-in-law's funeral by then, otherwise I'll hunt for it on the net.

[JenB]

Whoo-hoo!

For those of you who manage to miss an episode this season - freepmail me and I'll tell you how to find it...

[4mycountry]

Hopefully we'll be back from my father-in-law's funeral by then

Tacky. ;)

[Prolifeconservative]

Thanks for the ping!

I'm happy we didn't have to wait 6 months for TAR to return for another season.

I always get a kick out of how the contestants sprint from the starting line when given the word "go" as if that extra second getting to their clue is the difference between winning and losing in such a long and arduous race. Remember the guy who gashed his leg........???

[silent_jonny]

Please add me to the Amazing Race ping list. Thanks :)

[Veto!]

sprint from the starting line when given the word "go" as if that extra second getting to their clue is the difference between winning and losing

Yes, it's clearly done for effect. It would make the race more interesting if every second really did count....which would mean cutting back on bunching. All in favor of that say Aye! (Answered by a resounding Freeper chorus.)

But I can understand the excitement of starting the race. Heck, I'm all excited just looking forward to watching.

[Chani]

Aye! I definitely didn't like the bunching.

I got the vcr set......it's a 2 hour beginner episode, right?

[Veto!]

Thanks for noticing, Chani. I didn't realize it was a two-hour opener tonight. My bad.

[jriemer]

Veto!, I've done a little statistical study of the results of the previous six seasons of TAR broke the teams down into demographic categories to see if there's one or more demographic characteristic that makes a team more likely to complet TAR. I found the following:

Most Postitive indicators - Teams that are "unrelated" (dating or friends), from an urban / metropolitan area and in the younger half of the teams competing that season are significantly more likely to complete TAR. In fact, no season has seen a finish without one or more of the final three teams fitting into some combination of these categories.

Most Negative indicators - Teams that are all female team or have the largest age difference between teammates (for that season) have never completed the TAR regardless of season. In fact, the largest age difference is such a kiss of death that most of these teams are out before the 4-5th leg.

Here's the breakdown of this TAR7 by leading indicators:
Brian / Greg = + Younger than average
Debby / Bianca = + Unrelated + Younger than average - All Female
Lynn / Alex = + Unreleated + Urban + Younger than average
Megan / Heidi = + Unrelated + Younger than average - All Female
Meridith / Gretchen = Minor factors apply
Ray / Deana = + Unrleated
Rob / Amber = + Unrelated + Younger than average
Ron / Kelly = + Unrelated + Younger than average
Ryan / Chuck = + Unrelated + Younger than average
Susan / Patrick = - Largest Age Difference
Uchenna / Joyce = + Urban

Based on past performance, there is presedence for the following teams to be in the final three: Lynn / Alex, Ron / Amber, and Ron / Kelly.

Also based on past performance, there is presedence for the following teams to be the first three teams eliminated will be: Meridith / Gretchen, Susan / Patric, and Debby / Bianca

[Chani]

the final three: Lynn / Alex, Ron / Amber, and Ron / Kelly.

Wow, jr, I'm impressed. But I find myself wanting the negative on all female teams to be overcome. Hmmm, wonder if I'm biased. lol We shall see if your analysis holds water. ;)

[Veto!]

I enjoy your statistical approach, jriemer. Mine is pure gutwork.

I don't see Debby & Bianca exiting very soon, as they are both extremely well-traveled and should know how to get around. Gut factor, +1

Megan and Heidi, with the same stat factors, look like an accident waiting to happen. Gut factor, -2

And please, please be wrong about Team Frilly2, as pbear8 nicked the W. Ho-Wood duo, because how can we sit through drama queens again? Gut factor: -2453

So we'll see how stats stand up to guts and vice versa.

Rob & Amber AKA Romber AKA Ramber look good no matter how you look at them, also Ron & Kelly (Relly?)

What a boon it would be to the producers to have Ramber, Relly and Frilly2 making it to the end, however, as it would probably spawn THREE made-for-tv weddings. (Which definitely supports your theory. Maybe they use the same factors for selecting teams.) Gut factor, barfola. This isn't The Bachelorette, after all.

[jriemer]

Most Postitive indicators - Teams that are "unrelated" (dating or friends), from an urban / metropolitan area and in the younger half of the teams competing that season are significantly more likely to complete TAR. In fact, no season has seen a finish without one or more of the final three teams fitting into some combination of these categories.

One thing I forgot to mention: Don't be shocked that the "most positive indicators" of sucess on TAR also happen to be the most valuable target demographics for television - young, single, urban people.