The Amazing Race 4 has begun !
 

Anyone watch this show ? It is one of my favourites and it was great to see the contestants yesterday racing to Milan and then to Cortina d'Ampezzo. (How familiar must this have been to other Italy-loving Fodorites, I ask !). Pity that they didn't seem to have much time to smell the roses (though a couple seemed to have had the time for an espresso). Wonder where the 13 weeks ahead will have them travelling to. Can't wait. And I hope that they are better behaved in foreign countries than their predecessors were in AR2 and AR3. My favourite series was AR1. The contestants in that series seemed to be true travellers (as opposed to game players) and the countries and sites they visited were wonderful. They genuinely seemed to enjoy their travels between countries and less focused on winning and strategy and foul play to each other. I guess that's what a million dollars can do.

Mathieu, I enjoy this show also. The scenery is often beautiful, and some of the things the contestants are required to do are things I don't think I would ever see (since they sometimes involve danger which I avoid at all costs.) I will never forget seeing that temple in India that is dedicated to and overrun with rats. In that particular place, they (the rats) were worshipped. I also really enjoyed the Viet Nam segment in last year's version of AR.

I too enjoy watching this show, more for the travel part of it then the contestants and what they are required to do. I feel like saying "show me more scenery and less of these weird people" :-) I guess the contestants are picked for their appeal but so far none seemed that appealing :-) Hopefully it will get better, otherwise I am going to find myself hoping none of them win. I agree with Mathieu and also think R1 was the best (it was also new to all of us so I suppose that made it more enjoyable,sort of like the first Survivor).

I have never, ever missed an episode of "The Amazing Race", all seasons; I swear. In one ocassion, I was in Italy and have my husband taped the episodes on TiVo. WOW! Wouldn't it be great to have two fodorites apply as a team for AR5?

I enjoyed the prior Amazing Race series, but I found the current teams pretty bland so far. It's only one episode, so maybe things will perk up when people start to get worn out.

just wait, RTF, the sniping and backbiting will start soon enough.

We missed the first TWO seasons of Amazing Race. I guess we were both overloaded with ads for yet more reality TV shows. Sorry we did miss any of this show though. Love watching the scenery go by.

Rufus, I think I'm always like that when one of these things start. Can't tell who from who... except for the models of course, who stopped for expresso and a flirt with the Italian waiters - and almost lose on the first show. Smart, that pair!

Previews for next week were a gondola race through Venice.

I absolutely love this show because of the travel aspect. And so far this one is starting out just great for me. I am going to Italy at the end of June for the 1st time. So I was watching like a hawk when they were in Milan and can't wait for next week when they are in Venice.

I know they'll be in Vancouver, Canada at some point because a friend of mine saw some of the teams near where she worked. Can't wait to see my town on TV (but it will probably be raining...).

Heard a rumour that they may let people from countries other than the US participate in future series. I hope that's true because I'd love to apply!

This show rocks! My former boss and I are planning to apply for the next one if it happens, we just missed the deadline for this one. I find that they have to eliminate (or "Phil-liminate") a few teams before it gets more intense and less confusing. There is talk that CBS doesn't want to do another season though because the ratings haven't been what they had hoped...so everyone be sure to watch!

I too am hooked on this show for the travel aspect! It was great to see the teams start off at Dodger Stadium this time (my home town), then head off to Milan. I was thinking, wow, I took both those flights (Swiss Air and KLM), and I know they don't go directly to Milan, so they must have been doing some heavy editing.

Better than Survivor any which way. Have watched from the beginning and yes do believe the first teams were the best. Of late, while they try to include different ages, sex, gay, parent/child - there are lots of very immature "couples", and whining bitches (hey, they are).

Funniest incident in AR1 was the two best friends from NJ, kind of on the chubby-side, but a hoot - one is running over the bridge at Victoria Falls and says to his buddy "have no idea where I am, but this is the most amazing thing (the falls at hi-flow) that I've ever seen" Though they didn't win, they held out till last third of the race.

But the bickering that goes on between the pairs is no different than on Survivor. But the adventure is way greater and the things they've got to do! WOW!

Like the two "grandmothers" in Brazil who had to paraglide off the mountain!
I just couldn't deal with heights or water or creepy crawlies - so good for all of them.

It's a shame, if true, that CBS might not do another episode - maybe someone else will pick them up. It's sure better than any of the other "reality" shows which are actually a waste of time (certainly not money 'cause they don't put much money into them).

I was so happy when they announced AR 4, I sent CBS an email telling them I missed the show when it wasn't on this past spring. So all of you fellow fans, drop CBS a line and let them know how happy you are that the Race is on again. Go to www.cbs.com and click on feedback at the bottom of the page, a form will pop up so you can tell them how much you love the race. I used to watch Phil on the Travel Channel a few years back on his show called Adventure Crazy. He looked great wearing North Face clothes on that show!

My husband and I sent a tape in a year ago to apply for the race. We never got called, big surprise... It seems like they have one normal hetero couple per season so our odds were pretty slim. There definitely seems to be the type cast teams each season.

Season 1 inspired us to travel to Thailand. We went rock climbing on Railay beach if anyone remembers that episode. It's fun watching them travel to places you've been to or to give you ideas on places to go. We were excited to see them go to Vietnam in AR3 as we had a trip in the works (we visited Vietnam this past January).

As for AR4, I can't believe the NFL wives took the fast forward so soon in the race, duh, there were still four teams that were 2 hours behind them on the last bus. I'm not sure how long they'll last after doing that.

sandi--- you reminded me of my favorite AR team ever! Did you watched the episode when the Fraternity Guys (that was their ID) were in Paris and one said to the other while looking around -"I don't get it, what's the big deal with Paris?-". We were roaring laughing.

I wonder why they have never been to the Caribbean?

Just a reminder: Tonight is the Amazing Race4 in Venice. I missed most of the AR1. Wish there was a way to track it down. I also really enjoy this show and plan to e-mail CBS. If we all do that, they might get the hint to keep it coming back!!!

yes tonight is Venice. I cant wait!!!

Maira - yes, "what's the big deal with Paris". Don't know whether your laughs were for "how can they not know what the big deal is" or "what's the big deal".

Yes, I've been to the Cote d'Azur and Provence and Languedoc and enjoyed them all tremendously - but while I've been thru CDG often, never stepped off into Paris. After someone was trying to convince me just how wonderful Paris is, my response was "you can have Paris, I'll take the rest of the world"

Hey, it's a big world and Paris will be there for me "someday", right now I have more exciting places to discover.

You know where I'll be at 8pm tonight.

I love the show. anna_k, please broaden your definition of normal.

Does anyone know what happened with the law suit that the team of two female lawyers filed against the producers? They arrived at a location by not following the rules and claimed that the camera man told them it was OK to do what they did.

Count me in as another AR fan . . . by far the funnest thing to watch on TV.

My friends keep trying to get me to try out but I will NEVER . . . it would frazzle me to no end to have to race everywhere and not get to actually see the sites . . . plus, I would have to stop every few seconds and take a photo of something.

Nope, I would be no good on AR, would be eliminated first round!

Another Sandy

My fiancee and I waited forever for this season to start! Do you know that it was held off because star search was doing so well? Groan!!

We watch it together and never miss an episode. We leave for Spain next month and already have set reminders for the VCR!!

We love pointing out where we have been (I was jabbering about Milan and the Duomo!) and where we want to go (put that area of Italy on the list honey!) and how bad of team mates we would probably be (I would never let you drive! haha!)