9 p.m. Eastern/Pacific Posted on 02/24/2005 8:35:27 AM PST by 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.
I agree with you. All the crap from Ron demeaning her, and comparing her to his unemotional soldier buddies, and coming to the conclusion that she is wrong for having feelings. I think she's the one better off. People seem to forget the mean things he said to her.
The Amazing Race broke all ratings records last night. TAR's success came thanks in large part to Romber's presence and the endless PR opportunities that gave producers at CBS. (And Phil was rude and churlish to Rob and Amber at the end. I'm truly ticked at him as he's the host-producer who'll pocket millions thanks to the show's success.)
Here's the article about ratings:
CBS's 'The Amazing Race 7' finishes big, sets series ratings records
By Steve Rogers, RealityTVWorld 05/11/2005
http://www.realitytvworld.com/index/articles/story.php?s=3488
Putting to rest any remaining doubts that CBS's The Amazing Race has become a bonfide hit, last night's finale of the show's seventh edition crossed the finish line in amazing fashion, delivering the long-running reality series' best ever ratings performance among overall viewers, households, and all three of the key Adults 18-49, Adults 25-54, and Adults 18-34 demographics.
Airing from 9-11PM ET/PT, The Amazing Race 7's Tuesday, May 10 finale broadcast averaged 16.01 million overall viewers, a 9.6/15 rating/share in households, a 6.8/17 rating/share in Adults 18-49, a 7.7/17 rating/share in Adults 25-54, and a 6.0/16 rating/share among Adults 18-34. In addition to ranking as best ratings performance of any episode in The Amazing Race's previous seven seasons, the figures also led the two-hour time period in all five measurements.
Dominating the two-hour time block among the three key demographics, The Amazing Race 7 finale outperformed NBC and ABC's combined performance in the period (6.8/17 vs. 6.3/15 in Adults 18-49, 7.7/17 vs. 7.6/17 in Adults 25-54, and 6.0/16 vs. 5.0/14 in Adults 18-34).
The Amazing Race 7 finale also lifted CBS to Tuesday night ratings highs that it had not seen in some time, delivering the network's best performance in households and viewers since last fall's Country Music Awards telecast and its best Adults 18-49, Adults 25-54, and Adults 18-34 figures since the network's November 13, 2001 broadcast of Michael Jackson's 30th Anniversary Special.
The Amazing Race 7 also concluded its run with the best averages of any edition of the reality franchise, averaging 13.03 million viewers, a 8.0/12 rating/share in households, a 5.3/13 rating/share in Adults 18-49, a 6.1/14 rating/share in Adults 25-54, and a 4.6/13 rating/share among Adults 18-34 during its season.
Well, after the "TAR family season 8" tanks I bet we see an "All Survivor" Amazing Race. Then an "All Star" Amazing Race.
Ugh.
I want Romber to race until they win...LOL
From a Blog:
He thinks like us:
=======
The Amazing Race 7
The Final 20 Minutes
Commentary by Evan D. Baltz
May 4, 2005
Since its very first season, I have been a huge fan of The Amazing Race. I think it has consistently been the best reality TV program, if not one of the best TV programs period. The production and editing always make it exciting and interesting and new.
This season was no exception. It was a great season and very exciting.
Love them or hate them, Rob and Amber were fun to watch. Watching old people make it as far as they did through the difficulties they had was inspiring.
There were plenty of great stories. Teams to love and teams to hate. And, as always, great locations.
Last night's show was great too. That is until the final 20 minutes.
There had been times in the past where it seemed the producers may have been working behind the scenes to make sure the racers staid close. After the first season, we all realized that they could do this at any time by making them take a flight that didn't leave until late in a day. It ensured that most of the teams would stay bunched up and make for exciting racing. I don't have a problem with that. Each team faced the same things.
However last night, on the final flight, both the final two teams were told that the earliest flight was an 11:15am flight. But Rob and Amber didn't want to settle for that. They begged and pleaded to get on an earlier flight, to no avail. But then they went to another counter and an agent there told them they could make an earlier flight that had been delayed if they ran. So they did and they made it just as the door was closing. Having made this flight, the race was over. A two hour lead with only a few last tasks made it pretty much a foregone conclusion.
But the, Uchenna and Joyce showed up. They also had been told the 11:15am flight was the only one. But then they saw on the board that another flight for Miami was in boarding status. They ran to that gate only to find the doors closed and the flight officially closed. The begged and pleaded to get on and were told the flight was closed. Race over, right?
At that point there was a commercial. I told my wife, if somehow they end up making it on to a closed flight, we will know this thing is fixed and that the producers stepped in and worked with a sponsor (American Airlines) to re-open a flight to allow Uchenna and Joyce to get on so that the final leg would be interesting.
When the show came back from a commercial, that is exactly what happened, suddenly for some reason now the agents who told them the flight was closed were singing a different tune. Now they said, well it is up to the pilots. So the agents called to the pilots (supposedly) and the flight was re-opened. Now how many times have you begged to get on a closed flight and the plane has re-opened the doors so you could get on? Never? Probably. So it smelled very, very fishy to me. I had a feeling that the producers were hoping that Uchenna and Joyce would win. I think they really wanted to give the money to them, knowing that Rob and Amber didn't need it. But, this isn't supposed to be a show about who needs the money the most. It is a show about who is the best racing team, and who can work the rules the best and win without the help of the producers.
For the record, I didn't necessarily want Rob and Amber to win. I think Uchenna and Joyce were great. But I wanted them to win fair and square. I didn't want them to win this way. Rob and Amber deserved to win that final leg and they were robbed. Yeah, yeah, I know they will survive and be just fine, but again, that isn't the point.
I think the producers then again intervened at the very end instructing the cab driver not to let them get by without paying. Do you mean to tell me that with $1 million dollars just a few feet away you would really worry about paying a cabby? I don't think so. You would have said to him, we are going to win $1 million dollars in about 2 minutes, if you sit right here for a few minutes we will give you a thousand dollars. It was just unrealistic. The producers wanted Rob and Amber to catch up a bit. The fact remains though; Uchenna and Joyce should not have made that last flight and should not have won.
I am pretty disappointed with that last 20 minutes. It ruined for me what was a great season. It tainted the victory and left a sour taste in my mouth. I will certainly continue to watch upcoming shows, but this is a memo to the producers: Don't mess with the show. Just let it be real. Don't over produce it and don't help people along. Once the show looses its integrity, it will no longer be the Emmy worthy programming it has always been.
Do you share these same thoughts?
Evan is a Web Designer and Corporate Training Specialist by day, and a Reality TV junky, author, and movie reviewer by night. You can write to Evan at realitytv@view2az.com
This link will answer almost any question you ever had about TAR:
http://www.realitytvcalendar.com/recaps/tar7/cc-tar7-how-it-works-p1.html
I just watched some of the Insider Videos. If you want some proof that Kelly is not the evil person she was portrayed as check out some of them.
Look at "Unsure" - the final Mat Chat with Phil. Ron talks about what a good person Kelly is and what a good teammate she was. When he is done, the entire group gives her a great big round of applause with lots of cheers. I believe they all truly liked her. (By the way, when Rob was talking about Amber, there was no cheering.)
Also check out "Dancing Queen". This is shortly after their big discussion about marriage. You can see her having some fun, and I think it is quite charming really. I admire her ability to stay in the race, focus on enjoying herself and the race while she was feeling heartbroken.
In some of the other videos she talks about facing reality, and how she and Ron will just be good friends. She is not the whiny silly girl she was portrayed as at all. She sheds a few tears (who wouldn't) but is clearly ready to move on with her life and accept what is.
OK, I am done trying to restore her reputation. ;-) I hope if she ever runs for office, you will all support her. :-) She was working for Sen. DeMint and has considered politics in the future.
I don't altogether agree with that particular rant about TAR. Viewers need to realize the TAR is a travelling roadshow, a spectacle of camera men trying to capture every unique visual moment and all important audio. Imagine if we were at an airport and these teams were running around checking in at ticket counters, etc,,,,,and imagine camera men following their every move and microphones were pulling alongside to record conversation. It would garner the attention of any bystander. Now imagine if you had the chance to be a part of the show, much like that particular pilot on that particular flight. If you are that pilot you know full well a TAR team is racing to the finish and is aboard your flight. It would be hard NOT to know being the public spectacle The Amazing Race has become. You also become aware another team is standing outside the plane waiting for a huge break. At that point, you realize you (the pilot) can effect the outcome and/or become part of TAR history. Hey, why not? I don't think TAR officials or powers that be interfered at all - I really believe that pilot made his own decision to get his 5 minutes of fame, or something to tell his grandkids about, etc.
It's the same thing with these teams who are stripped of all their money and faced with the unenviable task of having to beg for money to stay alive and complete the next leg. There are so many able givers ready and willing at the literal drop of the hat because they can get on T.V. in front of millions by doing so. There are exceptions to this, especially when the teams find themselves in third world countries. But for the most part, because of the spectacle, there are plenty of donors waiting in the wings to become part of the show.
When one watches TAR, you must never forget the cameras and the spectacle and how that is influencing behaviour from those who want to become part of the show. In the end, it's just part of the overly-fantastic show called the Amazing Race. So anyway,,,,,,,,I believe in the integrity of the show and I think the rant by that person not very well thought out.
BTW, Veto, Excellent job this season. My hat is off to you! Please don't give it up - we diehards are couting on you for next season.
I might possibly believe this if the pilot was shown or his/her name mentioned...but oops! Denied!
And then there was the time slowdown between Rob seeing Uchenna in the street from the moving cab and then showing up minutes, not seconds, behind the winners. There had to be an intervention there. What they need is a clip show for the season finale the following week and show us some of the inside story.
The web clips could also be enhanced to play on something besides RealPlayer and give us an insight to what happens. Read the link posted above. It pretty much describes how things are done and why the results sometimes don't match the show.
The rant pretty much matches my suspicions.
Just wanted to say thank you very much for the excellent job you did on this thread. I know it must be hard work, and time consuming.
{{{{{{Veto!}}}}}}
LOL, liz....I'm sure she is a wonderful person. We know the producers edit it to the twisted view they want to impart. ;)
The realitytv link is interesting. But use your AdAware afterwards.
They mention that arrival times are not given on tv, just departure times from the pit stops. This allows crews to fix times, subtracting any minutes used by crews for bathroom breaks, eating stops, etc. So, really, we'll never know how much the race is fixed. Bummer! How could the swseating teams keep track of the time? I'm sure they'd try, but!
LOL...followed by an All-Amazing-Race Survivor. Survivor Apprentice, Apprentice Racers, and round and round....and Romber can win all of them! You and I may be the last viewers standing, which is worth a show in itself.
I'll go back and check tomorrow, but I'm almost positive Rob said something like "Isn't that another team" ahead. Not "I see Uchenna". It wasn't definite at all, it was that hope-beyond-hope that keeps you racing.
They could, yes, have been held back a minute when it made no difference. Once Uchenna and Joyce were on the mat, who cares whether Rob and Amber show up ten seconds or three minutes later? Uchenna and Joyce won.
And if there's a "TAR All-Stars", I hope Rob and Amber ain't on it. I was one of those fans who was sort of disgruntled about how they changed the game. If I want to watch "The Rob'n'Amber Show", I'd tape their wedding and have it to keep me company.
Good catch. The Evan Baltz comments are excellent. It is good to know that at least one other semi-professional viewer saw what we saw.
One more season and we'll make it into the pros. Our FR threads are at least as interesting and insightful as the blogs listed at sirlinksalot.
I'll vote for her! :) I don't think she was evil I just think Ron brought out the worst in her. He was not pleasant to her, was constantly telling her to shut up, etc. IMO she could do better for herself. You are right though, the editing of the show didn't do her any favors. Didn't do Ron many favors either.
Example: It's not a transatlantic flight if a plane goes halfway and turns around to return to it's point of departure.
jriemer - TAR purist
Nope, he said "There's Uchenna". And right then you start thinking it's going to be a footrace. But apparently Rob saw Uchenna from 10 miles away because they were so far behind at the end.
That's why it matters when they arrived, it disrupts the flow of the game and plays with the credibility of the show.
The editor could have taken Rob's comment out and we would be none the wiser, but as it is, there's doubt about what took place.
I thought the same thing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.