I've been a fan of this show ever since happening upon the second or third episode of the first show, when they were in Paris. I love all the different locations and challenges. Does anyone recall the name of the small Italian town they stopped in during the first show? (I think it was somewhere near Bolzano)

On the last show, I was very surprised when the final episode took place where I live, in Seattle, with the finish line at Gasworks Park.

The host, Phil Keoghan (sp?), was on a talk show recently and he said that he had been one of the two finalists, along with Jeff Probst, to host Survivor. I'm glad he lost out as I think he's a good fit for this show.

I'm looking forward to tonight's episode in Venice.

I love this show too. I've never missed one episode. We have great discussions about it at work!! I was so surprised to see the last episode end in Seattle too Capo .. I'm from Bellingham. Hope they keep it on.

AR1 was the best because travel was more important than drama for the cameras. Now it seems that conflict is the main ingredient and travel is incidental. Unfortunately the couple I liked best have already lost. The remaining contestants leave a lot to be desired, but only time will tell if a new favorite emerges. Maybe it's me, but don't they all seem to be a little more annoying this time around.

Well, maybe we're not normal... We get along really well. I think I might have a better chance trying to apply with my brother.

Tonight's fast forward was in a piazza that we sat in for a while last year on our trip to Italy, so that was cool. It's a canal over from the Hotel Galleria.

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Now I wanna go snow rafting in Cortina! That looked like bunches of fun.

I was glad to see someone make mention of where they were and how beautiful Venice was as they were on the gondolas. Since they were eliminated, I hope they at least get to linger for a couple of days before flying home.

Clifton...the booted contestants actually get sequestered somewhere cool until the end of the race. In the past they've been in resorts in Mexico, Portugal and France; and they are allowed to sightsee there as well. So in a sense, their real vacation has just begun!

Thanks for the alert about this show. We don't watch much tv so I'd never heard of it, but for one of those reality things, this is about as good as it gets. I'll be back for more next week.

Good episode last night (missed the first episodes). We watched the last one weekly and enjoyed it a lot. Just signed up for the newsletter (thanks for the info).

Last night they were in Venice. It looked so cold and wet! Guess because it was filmed in winter, but I certainly hope it's hot and sunny when we go!

I have to admit, I hated this show. I'd not seen it before, but happened upon it last night while channel surfing and realized that it was the subject of this thread. Great footage of places you've seen (last night was Venice) or want to see, ruined by whining cretins. Or maybe they're just portrayed as whining cretins to up the commercial appeal...no, I'm pretty certain most of them were whining cretins, handpicked by the producers.

"Idiots Abroad"

Actually Theresa, the 'whining cretins' were all in AR2 and AR3. By comparison, this bunch seems much better - so far anyway. At least they seem to be taking the time when possible to enjoy their surroundings and show some appreciation for where ever they are and seem polite to the people they meet. Again, so far.

I think that a major appeal of this show is that it is a combination of so many things of related interest : part travel, part scavenger hunt (puzzles and clues), part cultural (food, dress, dance), part fun activities, etc. All the things we like to enjoy when travelling to foreign places. I think the road blocks are a hoot. Does anyone remember the first series when they were in China and they had to go shopping in a local market for raw food ingredients armed only with local cash and a list written entirely in Chinese ? Even though the shop/stall keepers were filling their baskets with live snails, a snake, wriggling worms, veggies, noodles etc. none of them uttered a word of protest. Then they had to take the ingredients to a cook who whipped it up into a delectable platter while they waited, which they dutifully ate before they were allowed to proceed to the next stage. I think there were 4 teams left at that stage and not one of them whined or cringed at that task. Heroic adventurous travellers they were. I think I'd be OK with the food challenges but the high wire stuff (all the bungee jumping over gorges and canyons) would probably be my undoing.

I love the show but there are some things about it that they need to ditch. That background music is too distracting and fake. Also, there are too many tasks, performed by too many teams at too many different times. Which makes it hard to follow. They should spend more time on just one task per episode, and spend more time on individual problems that pop up.

Wow, this bunch is better? So far it sounds as if the first series would have been the best based on your first post. My impression was based on last night's Venice episode only. I can't stomach any of the reality shows, so that part of AR is very off-putting.

I finally bowed to the Reality Show gods last night and watched The Amazing Race. I loved it! I'm hooked!

Mathieu, yes, I remember that episode in the first show when they had to shop for those raw food ingredients in a Chinese market. Another roadblock I remember very well was when -- not sure if it was AR2 or AR3 -- they had to walk through that temple in India filled with rats scurrying around everywhere. I liked last night's roadblock in Venice where they had to find a particular mask at that "ball."

One of my favorite things about this show, besides the locations, is watching people overcome their fears. I remember the two older ladies who were terrified of hanggliding in South America (Brazil?) but did it anyway, and there was a young girl on another show who was terrified of skydiving, but did it and ended up loving it.

Another thing that's fascinating is seeing how differently couples react to coming in last and having to leave the race. Some tend to blame each other and seem very angry whereas others are very gracious and seem very thankful for the opportunity just to be a part of the race. I especially recall the pastor from Minnesota and his wife from AR2 or AR3 who, when they came in last, were so sweet with each other.

Clifton, ditto on the snow rafting in Cortina! And it was wonderful to see all those scenes of Venice.

I try to learn a little something from ,well, everythingNow I know how to hijack a door!!

i love this show! my favorite contestants so far are from AR3 - the brothers, Ken & Gerard (the spoke a bunch of different languages - one was a gay, single, liberal, the other a straight, married conservative...) THEY WERE HILARIOUS! i'll never forget the episode where they're rappelling down the side of a mountain and the one brother yells "hey, there's a dozen crispy cremes waiting for you once you get down here..." just to speed his partner up. good stuff. this show is great. they just need more couples like the sweet couple that got voted off first this season (from indiana?) and less people like the dumb blonde models who just yell at each other all the time. well, they'll get eliminated soon enough...can't wait for the next episode!

Capo, you're right. The adventure part of the show sure challenges everyone to confront their fears and overcome them. And unlike other reallity shows, no one is compeled to do anything they don't want to. It could cost them the race, but thats their choice.(Remember that visual of them running across the swing bridge right in front of Victoria Falls ?) I too notice the reaction of eliminated teams and find it quite telling. However, one moment sticks in my mind. Do you remember the grandparents in the first series - Margaretta and Dave, I think ? They were older and much less fitter that the recent older couples we've seen but they were real troopers and travelled with style.They used their wits every step of the way and always helped other teams when they could. They made it to 7 teams remaining and were eliminated in Morocco (or Tunisia) when they had difficulty finding a hidden knife. When they stepped on the mat and Phil told them the bad news, all the other teams showed up to greet them with a round of applause and hugs. Many were in tears. Their final words were also of gratitude. Interestingly enough in AR1, Phil never greeted any of the teams (as he does now) except the last team to arrive, which is why they used to dread seeing him waiting at the mat. The others were met only by the other local person thats now there with Phil.

BeachBoi , right on !! Too funny.

I think Ken & Gerard were my all time favorites...they just cracked me up with their comments about the Zoolanders. I'm drawing a complete blank about who won last time (and fear it's because that horrible whinny trampy shrew who was so mean to her boyfriend might have done it). Agree this bunch looks like at least 1/2 way decent people so far.

Flo and Zach won and YES she was a weenie/whiney broad!I lost interest after the blustery twins blew it becuz they were too busy telling each other how much better the 2 of them were than the rest of the pack that they missed the last route marker.Snooze yah lose and they were snoozing!! Flo/Zach beat out Ian and Teri and brothers Ken and Gerard.