PMB

The new Amazing Race will start Tuesday September 27. It will feature families of 4 competing. They previewed it on Tuesday morning on the Early Show.

Meredith

Can't wait!

I read somewhere that because of the complications of having larger teams and younger participants, they would be traveling fewer miles than previous seasons and focusing on a lot of historical spots in the U.S.

Marilyn

COOL!
We got hooked just a few seasons ago, so we've been watching all the old seasons on the Game Network (one of our 12 trillion cable channels). It's fascinating to see how the game has changed from the beginning. They run an episode almost every night, so we're used to having our daily fix now.

JJ5

So glad to hear that they are including a lot of historical USA spots as maybe it will give us some up to date ideas for taking my grandkids.

I sure hope that they don't feature mostly dysfunctional screamers, because that ruins the program for me.

spartangirl

PMB that is my absolute favorite show. I never miss it and if I do we tape it! How fun. I acutally looked into auditioning for this one until I found out it was families of 4. Oh well maybe another time.

sandi_travelnut

Marilyn, me too! I've been watching almost every night, getting caught up on some of the earlier seasons that I missed completely. Tonight (show #2 of season 4) they go to Venice.

ncgrrl

yea!

I don't get game show network, so I can't watch it there, but I think the earlier editions are coming to dvd soon.

I like the idea of focusing on USA sites. How fast can you run to the Phantom Ranch from El Tovar?

Marilyn

sandi, have you figured the schedule out yet? I think they run a new episode M-Sat, but not on Sunday. The Game Network doesn't appear in our newspaper tv schedule and I haven't taken the trouble to google it yet.

Barbara

I think they're doing more in the US because, even though there are two fewer teams than usual, there are still 40 contestants and it will be much trickier getting six seats than four on planes, not to mention the cost. Also, there will be fewer non-elimination legs. I'm not really looking forward to this as much as the regular two-person team style.

I'm also watching on GSN. I began watching at season 4, so now there are familiar things and people. I liked season 3 best though, even though I couldn't stand Flo.

spartangirl, I think they're looking for contestants for season 9 now. Check the CBS web site.

Barbara

Marilyn, it's gsntv.com.

chepar

I think it's the family dynamics that will make this show really interesting.

I was reading a short breakdown on each of the teams - the ones that I recall thinking that would seem really interesting are:

a man traveling with his 3 son in laws

a husband and wife, with the wife being stepmom to his 2 teenage daughters

a group of 4 sisters

dad and 3 daughters

spartangirl

Thanks for the info on auditioning. I'll have to check it out! Only issue is my husband an daughter who I would miss but I don't think I could pass up the chance to do the amazing race if choosen truely.

Marilyn

Thanks, Barbara. I'll check it out.
Flo: what a spoiled brat! I hated that she won, but Zack had the patience of a saint and it was nice to see him rewarded.

spartangirl, who would be your partner?

spartangirl

Marilyn, my partner would be one of my best friends. We actually just went to her wedding in Moab in Arches National Park. We have done several big trips together and the camera would LOVE her. Fiery red head with the personality to match =)

sandi_travelnut

That was the whiniest, most self-centered person I have ever seen. What a cry baby. She did not deserve to even be friends with her partner, much less win the money. She gave up so often. Too bad they lucked out in the non-elimination leg. The "Oh Brothers" should have won.

lyb

GSN runs it every night, monday through Sunday. I've been watching it since they started running season 1. Only a couple of nights have they run the same episode 2 nights in a row, and it was just for this past season 3.

I have a DVR/Tivo and have it set up to tape each episode. The best show ever! However, I have noticed that what some people complained about during the last season, such as getting help from people, happened in the first episode, but not as much as it does now.

Also, what I wish they still did was show the other teams waiting for teams to come into the pit stop and showing them socialize during the pit stop.

Unfortunately, what I've also noticed is that teams have gotten more obnoxious..though for anyone who just watched Season 3, Flo of Flo & Zach was one of the most annoying woman..I wanted Zach to yell at her at least once to "Shut the Hell up!" and it killed me that she won, though I think he did deserve it, if only for putting up with her.

I'm looking forward to the new season, though it will start just one week before my own Amazing Race through France, Belgium & Amsterdam starts. Thank goodness for a DVR.

Mathieu

I remember watching the first season of TAR and I was hooked. I've watched every season since then, but that first one is still one of my favourites.

Maybe that was because it was such a new concept at the time; maybe because the teams at that time had more freedom of choice as far as flights and modes of transportation were involved; maybe because it heartwarming to see the player's awestruck reaction to some of the sites and cities that they found themselves in (Rob and Brennan running across a bridge in front of Voctoria Falls, Lenny and Karen in Paris, " LEEEEEENNNNY !!!!, LEEEEENNNNNNY !!!) instead of just going for the money; maybe it was because of the genuine concern and camaraderie amongst some of the players, such as when the older couple (Margaretta and Don ?) were eliminated, all the others were around them at the pit-stop shedding tears. Maybe it was because there really is something to be said about arriving at a new destination with no other team members around, and not knowing where you stood in the rankings, if there were others ahead or behind you.

I can see now how some of the very things that made that season fun (the apparent randomness of it all) probably gave the producers nightmares and huge costs, though I liked it when teams were still on the course in another country while others were already at the finish line, instead of all being bunched up like they are now.

The race has become too structured nowadays, though I'll still keep watching.

sandi_travelnut

Seems the earlier seasons were far more physically demanding.

lyb

LEEENNNYYY! LEEENNNYYY! Oh,yes, she was a classic!!

Barbara

I agree that the race seems to be much more structured now. Clearly, there are valid reasons for having the racers arrive at the pit stop within a reasonable time-frame, rather than one team being a day behind(season 2?). But, I did like the clues that told them to "get yourselves to x" without designating the flights they could use. There was more focus on ability to get yourself around. I also prefer "clues" as opposed to "instructions".