Yeah, I'd like to see a show about "the making of an Amazing Race episode"... show us the logistics, how the routes are planned, meeting w/ local officials, what are the game rules, how does the whole money thing work, etc. That would be very interesting.

Has CBS made DVD's of past seasons available? It would be a great selling point to include the "behind the scenes" type footage.

It would also be interesting to see how the teams spend some of their "pitstop" time. And how and where the eliminated teams spend their time.

I checked on Amazon.com and no DVDs for AR, but there is the 1st season of The Mole, which was a favorite of mine. They also traveled to some great spots and I am considering buying it, I would definitely buy the AR DVDs if they were available, except for AR6, the screaming couples really ruined it for me.

In season 5 of TAR, one of the contestants appeared on "Big Brother" previously. She raced with her boyfriend, and they were elimated early on.

So having other CBS reality show stars wasn't a first time event this season. Also, in TAR 6, Harry Smith and Dave Price from the Early Show, sort-of raced the first leg. They did the challenges, but were never in the way of the contestants. Their 'fun' race was shown on the Early Show.

If TAR ever shows up in Durham (well, I can dream) I'd love to be the person saying "Welcome to Durham" while wearing my Durham Bulls cap. However, I think the mayor or Mike Krzyzewski would get the honor.

" Keep in mind that AA gave away a lot of the major prizes during the entire race"

Although American was a sponsor and provided prizes in previous seasons. AA did not provide prizes in AR7.

Keith

Keith - American Airlines just gave the million dollars to Ucchenda and Joyce.

I hope someone does some investigating over this. I still say since when do airplanes turn around on the runway come back, open up the hatch door to let people on the plane? And no I am not obsessed with the show, I am obsessed with what is right and what is wrong. It was very unethical of AA to do what they did and even more so if they were coaxed by the AR to do so.

I had to stay away from this post and CBS all last week b/c I couldn't watch the finale 'til yesterday.

I am glad U&J won the race (as I predicted earlier). Overall AR7 was very entertaining. I'll love to travel to Africa in the near future.

Madison-- honey, get a life. The whole show, from the selections of the couples, the order of the destinations, the strategic sequence of the challenges, is all manipulated. Should the investigation include the driver in Peru who did not open the rear exit door at Rob's request? Or the miraculously placed local guides, who "apparently" were doing nothing that minute and could waste the whole day assisting R&A? The best couple won, I am so happy for them.

What is The Amazing Race?

Thought at first it was connected to The Aryan Brotherhood.

Now appears to be a TV program.

I am too busy on Fodors -- or travelling -- to watch TV

Viajero - Who are you kidding? The best team was the one that could depart from the scheduled flights and transportation set up by TAR employees and find the quickest, most efficient ways to get to their destinations. Like it or not, Rob and Amber were by far the best at this. But CBS wouldn't allow the most clever team to run away from the competition so they continually evened the field whenever Team Romber built up a huge lead. I know it's politically correct to root for Uchenna and Joyce, especially since she cut off her hair, but they were only the second best team. They certainly didn't have the travel savvy of Rob and Amber.

A friend said he heard Uchenna and Joyce local radio in Florida in Florida last week. The rest is his post:

"It turns out that the cabbie forgave the rest of the debt with fifteen dollars still on the tab, and that after reaching the finish line they sent the camera crew out with the rest of the money plus a sizeable tip.

They didn't find him.

He called in to the radio show, asking about his fifteen dollars. Delighted, they told him they had been hoping to look him up...and gave him a two thousand dollar tip."

Very nice of them, but really, wouldn't you do the same? After all, his command of the Spanish language and his luck in asking the right person where the cigar shop was, really won them the race. They were nice people, and I'm happy that they won, but I'm in the camp that says they really weren't the best racers.

Uchenna and Joyce won the race, so apparently they were the best racers in the end. And that's what matters.

Travelatte -- Would you say the same thing if the leading car in the Indy 500 were forced to stop on the last lap so that the others could catch up?

I do think, at this point, we are pushing the indulgence of the fodors editors in allowing us to continue this marginally travel-related thread. Surely we're not going to debate who <i>should</i> have won until TAR8 begins?

A friend sent me the following link from a radio station interview with Joyce and Uchenna. Click on the audio file to hear what they say happened with the cab driver and the situation with the pilot allowing them to board the American Airlines flight at the end.

http://www.96x.ca/cgi-bin/more?categ...&amp;id=101128

After being forced to watch Rob and Amba's tacky wedding on TV Tuesday, I'm glad Joyce and Uchenna won, even if their victory was contrived by Amazing Race's producers.

Oh poor Shane! Did someone hold a gun to your head? :-D

ally67--great link! Thanks for posting it :-)