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Essence
| Monday, May 12, 2003 - 9:56 am
I found this Q&A on Lennnnnny. Remember him? link TV Interviews: Where Are They Now: Lenny From The Amazing Race Posted on Tuesday, May 06 @ 17:51:29 PDT by admin tvrdan writes: " TVRules.net Catches Up With Lenny From The Amazing Race As The Amazing Race gears up for another installment at the end if this month, we catch up with one of the original racers, Lenny Hudson. Lenny gives us an inside look at how the race is run from the contestant's perspective. Karyn & Lenny might not have won the race, but they gave us hours of entertainment that true die-hard TAR fans will never forget. Why did you two originally decide to apply for The Amazing Race? Originally, Karyn decided to surf the web when she was at work. She was a big Survivor fan and saw a new website for a new reality show called The Amazing Race. She called me at work and asked if I would be interested in trying out for the show. How did you get all the passports/visas needed to travel between the countries? We were only responsible for our own passports, the visa’s the show were responsible for those to the countries we went to on the race. Did you think, coming from NY, the opening leg was an advantage for you? I definitely thought we were at an advantage starting the race and as a kid coming from New York City. I knew how to maneuver in and around Central Park (Where we started the Race) so it wasn’t something I was completely worried about. But, we handled the first leg of the race very well and we were able to make the best of the circumstances. What was the best personal moment during the Race? My best personal moment during the Race was the trip to Africa and doing the Bungee Swing, seeing the animals in their natural habitat. What was the worst personal moment? I guess the worst would have to be being eliminated in India. What was your favorite country you visited? My favorite country I visited was Africa, after reading so much about Africa. Being able to see, meet the people of Africa and to get a chance to see the Motherland is something I will never forget. I will also mention I like Paris because it reminds me of New York a lot. Who were some of your favorite teams during the Race? Some of my favorite teams were Emily and Nancy, Matt and Ana, Paul and Amie and of course Kevin and Drew. What was the best and worst Roadblock you had to do? The best Roadblock was in Africa and we had to do the Bungee Swing. The worst had to be when I was in Paris and could not make out the flag a top of the Arc de Triumphe’ after going up and down the Eiffel Tower 3 times. What do you think was your greatest achievement during the Race? I think my greatest achievement during the race was being able to patiently wait out all the competition and get on a direct flight to Rome, Italy after everyone else had to wait and get on flights to other stops before going to Italy. Therefore, the direct flight helped us become the first team to Italy and moving on to the next challenge of the race. What did you do during your pitstops? Depending, when your team or the other teams reached the pitstop, you would talk about the last leg or the most interesting part of the latest casualty of the race. You would get a chance to get some fresh food and some rest. Most of the other teams get a chance talk about what they’ll do in regards to the next leg of the race between themselves. Are you given provisions (food and water) or does that have to come from your money on that leg? Usually, between the food that you eat at the pitstop and trying to concentrate on the rest of the race you wouldn’t really need any more food. Water is usually a different story because you can always pick up something to drink either on the way to a flight or a cab or before you get on a train. Are there certain flights you are allowed to take, or can you fly whichever flight you find? The only flights you were not allowed on were 1st Class Flights and the flights that didn’t have enough seats for you and your video person and sound person. Do you think your relationship with Karyn was accurately portrayed? I DO NOT THINK OUR RELATIONSHIP was portrayed accurately. There were a lot of things that were not shown due to conflicts with our characters on the show. It seems that the producers of the show had already established a set characterization for each of the people on the show. In the second episode, one of the things that put you way behind the 8-ball was failing to see the flag at the Eiffel Tower until Emily pointed it out to you and Karyn. Could you explain what went wrong? After Karyn and I, went to the Eiffel Tower it had just finished raining in Paris before I did the roadblock. Karyn, read the clue and I think it said something like “The one person to do this task must have Keen Eyes and Strong Legs”. So automatically I said I will do it and grab the clue, race up the Eiffel Tower not knowing what to expect. There was some cloud cover over a lot of the buildings and monuments so I couldn’t make out what where the flag was. Whether it was a top of the Arc de Triumphe’ or what I thought what I saw was a flag near Norte Dame. So, I guess the wrong landmark and I went back up again. When I came down the first time to tell Karyn that I couldn’t see where the flag was the only thing she could say is try again because everyone else seemed to get the flag. Another thing, that wasn’t mention on the show, was that Emily may have seen the flag but she wouldn’t have been able to look out of the periscope unless I had given her some money and that’s how we teamed up. Emily and I, compromised our situations and came to a conclusion quite naturally I might add (there were no real agreements but it just seemed we both had to do what we needed to do in order to stay in the game. When and how did the "underdog alliance" form? Do you think you ever benefited from it? I don’t actually know when we formed the “Underdog Alliance”; I would have to guess between France and Italy. I vaguely remember when we were on the train either in route to The Castle in south of France. Karin and I, Paul and Amie, and Nancy & Emily were together on the train and we all made it to the next pitstop together. I don’t necessarily agree that we’ve benefited from being together in the Alliance due getting together. Which teams were you rooting for after you were eliminated? After we were eliminated, I was rooting for Margarita and Frank to win it all. Do you have any regrets about the race? Yes, I have just one regret in Italy, Karyn and I should have gone for the Fast Forward at The Vatican. We both thought the teams that used the Fast Forward during the race before us didn’t really benefit any big margins in the lead due to the Fast Forward. Why didn't you and Karyn ever try going for the Fast Forward? Once, again we felt that we wouldn’t have benefited from a significant lead by using the fast forward. I regret not using the fast forward at The Vatican in Italy. Even the teams that used the fast forward didn’t get a chance to get way ahead of everyone. We also caught up to everyone who used the fast forwards at all the airports, trains or buses. Would you run the race again? I would love to race again but of course I would rather pick another partner. One who knew my best attributes as oppose to being involved romantically, I think that was one of the things that hinder us from doing better then we should have in the race. Another, would be not knowing the best attributes each of us could give during the race and sticking to them. For example, if I was doing all of the athletic stuff then she should be doing the organizing of what and where we should go next. How long were you away? We were away for a month and half for the race. Did you watch TAR3 or TAR2? I watched some of each of the following races but it took me back to our race even though they were in different places in the world. Some of the teams reacted just as we did when we were on the race. If so, did you relate to any teams in any way? Yes, I related to all of the teams in some way or another but I had a lot of great talks with some of the guys on the other teams. I had a lot of great talks with some of the women too, just not my woman at the time because we weren’t getting along. I related a lot to Will & Tara because of the arguing that they were doing on the race. One wanted to do this or that way. The other wanted to do it another way instead of compromising for the sake of the race. What advice would you give to people thinking of trying out for The Amazing Race? First, I would be very patient because the process actually takes a while before the producer’s evaluate the rest of the field of competitors/Teams. Another piece of advice that I would tell anyone would be to just be your self. Don’t try and over do it because you don’t want to do too much. I’m pretty sure the producer’s will think your just trying to be on the show. Remember you’re a representing yourself and once they consider you a contestant your representing the show too. So be serious about it and be sincere “To Thy Own Self Be True”. Do you watch other reality shows? If so, which ones? Yes, I do I watch The Mole (I have a friend of mine who was on Season 2 of the The Mole- Darwin) from time to time, I watch Fear Factor, Real World, Survivor and Big Brother. How has life changed for you since being on TAR? Life really hasn’t changed much for me. Maybe, right after the show aired but it has been a nice ride with being semi-famous for a little while but I would rather be just ole’ Lenny from Brooklyn. I’ve been modeling a few things in a couple of minor ads. I have a clothing line called ParkFlava. The ParkFlava Clothing Line is a education to all of the new ballplayers who would like to know who was the first black basketball player on a NBA Team or the first black basketball team which is the New York Renaissance (also known as The NY Rens). The ParkFlava Line relates to the new ballplayer, the old ballplayer and the present ballplayer with transfers of all the current & old school ballplayers. It gives you the statistics of your greats (i.e. Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant and the rest of your top players.) What is your relationship with Karyn these days? Karyn and I have gone our separate ways and remain friends from a distance. I haven’t seen her since our lasted appearance at the ending of the last Amazing Race Finale. I have gone on with my life and continue to find my suitable companion. Seeing anyone new? I’m seeing someone new but I would rather remain quiet about at this present time. But, when things get truly serious I will definitely let everyone know who’s going to be Mrs. Lenny Hudson Jr. Has TAR helped you in anyways career wise? TAR has not helped me in any way career wise and that wasn’t there job to help any of us in getting any benefits after the show. If it happen then so be it but otherwise the chips fell where they may. How has it been since you left the show? Still getting recognized? It been pretty good since I was out of the limelight but every so often I get recognize by fans from all over the country. It’s still kind of shocking to think that many people watch your every move on television for 6 or 7 weeks. It was a great ride while it lasted but it’s now time to either get back to living your normal lives or trying to pursue other things whether it’s acting or modeling etc. Are the fans normally positive or negative? I have found that the fans that I come into contact with are usually positive but there have been a few who think they know you. But, the average fan just really wants to know what was it like to bungee swing off of a 350 foot drop of a cliff in Africa. Or What did I see when I made the mistake of going to the wrong place (Norte Dame) when we were in Paris. Finally, the all-time question I STILL GET is Are you still with Karyn? But, I take that as people who are interested in getting to know who you are and you can’t take everything so serious unless the person is getting a little out of hand with the questions and acting a little bizarre. But, other than that I don’t have a problem answering any questions a fan might want to ask…. Do you have a website? I do have a website but it’s under construction and I haven’t had time to put up any new things with what I’m doing lately. I’ve just been a little to busy promoting parties and coaching basketball but I will have some time coming up very soon. If any one wants to contact me they can email me at zeke205@hotmail.com Are you still in touch with any of the other teams? Yes, I see Kevin from Kevin & Drew a lot and I speak to Pat from Pat & Brenda, we try to see each other or talk to everyone sometime during the course of the year. But, for the most part I stay in contact with every from the First Season. What do you see in your future? I’m in the process of modeling and I hope to land a contract with a company modeling their clothes hopefully in the very near future. I still work in the Television Industry and I just received a promotion so that’s going well. I still coach and mentor youths in basketball and give them advice in their life’s challenges from day to day. Anything you want to say to your fans? First and foremost, I would like to say thank for the bottom of my heart all of your good, bad or indifferent have expressed nothing but your honest feelings about the show and asked questions regarding the show and it shows that you were interested in what we were doing. I appreciate all of the support and hope to meet or speak to you guys via email or maybe meet your one day. Thanks, again for all of your support Lenny Hudson, From Season 1 of The Amazing Race Written By Dan For TVRules.net I want to personally thank Lenny for taking the time out of "real" life to let his fans know how he is doing.
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Crazydog
| Monday, May 12, 2003 - 10:58 am
"Remember him?" is right. Why all the rehash now about what happened on his race? It's been a year and a half and he still seems stuck on it. He seems so keen on defending himself and the infamous "Eiffel Tower" incident. And he gave Emily money? I thought Emily asked for money from the French boys and they rained coins on her. Interesting that he thinks Africa is a country, and that it's his favorite, no less.
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Ladytex
| Monday, May 12, 2003 - 11:06 am
Thanks, Essence, good find. I thought the article was interesting and wish him the best of luck.
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Squaredsc
| Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 9:08 am
thanks essence. loved the article. i can really remember leeennnnyyyyyy. crazydog i didn't get that at all about him being stuck on it. in fact i don't understand what the problem is about africa being his favorite.
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Crazydog
| Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 9:14 am
Because Africa is not a country, it's a continent.
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Squaredsc
| Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 10:28 am
i got that, i thought you were questioning why its his favorite.
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Wilsonatmd
Member
01-23-2001
| Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - 3:21 pm
according to next weeks TV guide, Keven and Drew- the frats- are going to be doing a three episode show for Discovery Channel in July, doing things across the country like alligator wrestling, teaching water aerobics, and cattle branding.
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Theowl
Member
09-28-2000
| Thursday, July 08, 2004 - 12:50 pm
ATTENTION!!! "Drew and Kevin Unleashed" starts tonight at 10/9 on Discovey channel!!! I read a review of it today, and it's HILARIOUS!! It repeats at 1AM/12 tonight (tomorrow morning)!! HOOO HOOOO!!!!
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Jan
Member
08-01-2000
| Thursday, July 08, 2004 - 1:07 pm
I guess this is only in the USA "eh"  
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Theowl
Member
09-28-2000
| Thursday, July 08, 2004 - 1:12 pm
Jan, I'm not sure, but if you'd like a tape of it, I'd be more than happy to send you one. 
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Jan
Member
08-01-2000
| Thursday, July 08, 2004 - 1:22 pm
Thanks Owl..you are so sweet with that tape thing..I rarely watch anything on tape though. I watch it on TV or forget about it (which is why I pay for west coast feeds  ) but I certainly appreciate your generosity 
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Calamity
Member
10-18-2001
| Thursday, July 08, 2004 - 1:48 pm
Thanks for the head's-up, Theowl! TAR's first season is still my favorite ever. Jan: You're like me, I rarely record shows because I know I most likely won't watch the tapes.
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Hippyt
Member
06-15-2001
| Thursday, July 08, 2004 - 9:50 pm
Ugh,it's awful.
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Staxwax
Member
08-06-2004
| Tuesday, November 09, 2004 - 2:22 pm
Does anyone know where I can copy of TAR1 of tape?
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Ladytex
Member
09-27-2001
| Sunday, November 02, 2008 - 8:10 pm
Margaretta from the "Grandparents" team of season 1 lost her battle with cancer on Oct 26th. Here is the Reality Blurred article and here is the newspaper, with her obit on page 6.
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