DVK's Amazing Race Report, Ch 1 About This Page:

[Daveykins FoxFire]

The Amazing Race Primer

Chapter 1, Overview



Phil Keoghan, the host of this show, once said that after some incident, I don't know what kind but I think it was medical correct me if I'm wrong, but he said that one should have an very eventful life, that they should have a bunch of things they must do before they die. It's the basis behind his upcoming show 'No Opportunity Wasted,' but it also applied to CBS's top Reality Show, and no, Jeff Probst, it ain't Survivor. The Planet Has Spoken. You Lost. Git.



'The Amazing Race' teams Phil with Jerry Bruckheimer--Yes, Marcie, the same one who did both Pirates of the Caribbean _and it's sequel in 2005!!_ I've got it from a reliable source, start cheering --to make this action packed show. Eleven teams of two go off in a race around the world, and while they're doing so they are crossing off about half of the list of their 'Things to do before they die' list, especially if they're in the final three. And thanks to Jerry, the presentation is as fast and furious as one of his movies. At times I expect explosions and SUVs turning over. Buckle up for safety!



The fifth season of the series will begin July 6, and the teams are already shown, which I'll show in Chapter 2. I want to give you an review of the race.



[The Race Rules in a nutshell]



(I'm omitting stuff that results in time penalties here.)



The race starts 24 Heures du Mans style with a standing start. The teams run for their bags, than an SUV, and then to the airport. Their bags will include the first of a series of Route Info Envelopes which will tell them where the next marker is which will be flagged in Yellow and Red. That Marker will have the next Route Info Envelope. The teams are given a set amount of money, plus about $3,000US that the cameras that come with you have, which can be used for all incidentals with the exception for airfare. All required economy class airfare are free. You follow the markers as you go around the world, simple as that. The first team to reach the finish the lower 48 states gets a cool Million Dollars.



Or not. In every leg of the race, one each of these come up:



DETOUR: A choice between two paths, both will lead to the next Route Info. The choice is almost always between Sane and Slow and Insane and Quick. Example: You can either go to a beach in Rio and take a Metal Detector to it, or go up a mountain and Hang Glide for the envelope.



ROAD BLOCK: Crazy Stunt that only one of the pair must do. Swim with sharks, Dive into a bat filled cave (don't look up, the guano'll take your eye out), walk through fire, etc, etc, etc. The pair must decide which of the two will do the stunt.



FAST FORWARD: There's only one of these per leg, and you can only use it once. It's a single stunt that, when completed, enables the team to skip the rest of the markers and head straight to the Pit Stop (see Below). Strategy is key in here; you shouldn't squander your use of the Fast Forward. It would also suck if you try for the Fast Forward and some schmuck has already taken it. (Keeping track of which team used it, good idea.)



PIT STOP: The rest period at the end of each leg of the race, marked by a mat, a sign, and Phil telling you where you stand in the standings. It is also where he Philiminates (He has a very unlike way of doing so, ranks up there with 'You ARE the Weakest Link, Goodbye.') the team that straggles at the end. The Pit Stop is where the teams get a 12-hour rest period. Free food, free bed, free time to chat with other teams. Maybe schmoose with other teams. Unless they hate your guts. You restart the race 12 hours after you show up there, where you're given the next Opportunity.



A note: Not all Pit Stops will result in the elimination. The Route Info Opportunity will tell you if "The Last Team arriving will be eliminated." If it doesn't appear there, it's not an Elimination point.



...Oh, by the way, and there's always a by the way...sorry, Derryl...it is an International Race. You'll end up in countries where English isn't the main language. Where Airlines aren't actually reliable or even screen for nutcases. Where Alliances can be formed--good idea in airports--as well as NASCAR-style rivalries.



Where watching it is a lot of fun

[LilMarcieMouse]

<font color="blue">Thanks David for the colorful commentary. This will be a great season. </font>

[Moley]

Thank you, David! I'm looking forward to chapter two and the introduction of the teams. This will be fun!

[MegglesMom]

Thanks David!! Nice job!