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General thoughts on the show and enti...

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: Amazing Race ARCHIVES: Amazing Race III ~ 2: Amazing Race III: General thoughts on the show and entire season users admin

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Hereiam

Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 9:53 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hereiam a private message Print Post    
Didn't know where to put this, so I started my own spot.

While watching the show last night I found myself getting very annoyed - and not just with Flo and Ian. The way this entire season has gone just bugs me. There was no chance for any kind of break away moves by teams since they always seemed to get bunched up again waiting for things to open. I am sure it was planned this way but I HATE it.

With this kind of game a lot more comes down to luck than actually planning. The fact that Flo & Zach won over the other three was only due to the fact that they got lucky to find a taxi.

I miss the planning and thinking to the game. Remember when the two lawyer guys got the lady to give them her cell phone-- and who can forget the Cha Chas and their fine use of 5 star hotels.

I miss the old game and hope AR4 is more like those and not so "bunchy" as this one has been. That's my what do others think?

Guinevere

Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 10:05 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Guinevere a private message Print Post    
Well, I am of the opinion that the biggest factor in any reality game (TAR, BB, Survivor) is always luck. It doesn't bother me. Flo and Zach had to get themselves to the final three (well, Zach had to get himself and Flo to the final three) in order to be there to have luck getting the first taxi.

I really love TAR, and I would say I've liked all three seasons about equally. In each season, I've had people I was rooting strongly for and against, and that is what really makes a show for me. Survivor isn't that interesting this year because I don't feel that strongly about any of the contestants (except for loathing Clay).

I know some people complain about bunching, but without bunching, one team could be days ahead halfway through the show. It's what the teams do each time there is an opportunity to unbunch that makes it for them, I think.

I'm just happy that there will be a TAR 4. I always worry that each TAR and BB will be the last, since they never seem to get great ratings like Survivor does. Survivor is actually my least favorite, of the three.

Wilsonatmd

Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 10:31 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wilsonatmd a private message Print Post    
Well, bunching is a fact of the Race as a whole. Every place can't be open 24 hours, and the Racers can't go 24 hours a day all the time. The 12-hour rest periods at the Pitstops are there for the safety of the players, and the camerapeople as well (and, if there'a problem, they can lengthen them....I've read of several times where the pitstops were legnthened because of techincal problems and such)...the bunching is a neccessary evil, because in most cases, it tightens things up. If a team got a 12+ hour lead on another team, it would be impossible for them to catch up, which makes for a boring Race.

The Detours seem to be ok, but most of them seem to be Daring/Chicken.....there's a Daring way to do things (skydiving, the zipline, the bungee diving), and a Chicken Way (The Donkey Carts, walking to the clue, etc.), which is OK, but I want to see a little more variety...The Roadblocks seem to be fair, but I would like more like the final one last night, where you have to remember things that happened before (the animal totem pole.

I also would like to see money become more of a factor. Some Detours could be like Minds/Money. You give them a difficult puzzle or task to do. If they don't want to do that, they can buy their way out of it, but it might cost them later on in the Race. Or doing a certain part of a Detour gives them extra cash, or something....money doesn't usually seem to be a problem, but it should be.

Babyruth

Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 11:06 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Babyruth a private message Print Post    
Check out this site for some TAR 3 photos and some funny captions sent in by fans:

Photo Captions

Hereiam

Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 11:42 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hereiam a private message Print Post    
I guess you guys are right that some bunching is fine and certainly is needed at times. But, I just would like to see those teams that do figure out some way to get a little ahead not to have to sit around and wait while everyone catches up. It just seems to happen every time, so there was no real point to be a lead team until the very end.

I also like the idea of money playing a part. I think it would be interesting if the teams actually had to budget and plan this better. It seems they are given money but only end up using it on taxis and the occassional entrance fee.

It would be neat if the contestants needed to interact with local populations more, other than those in the the travel/tourist busineses. I liked the challenge back in AR 2 where they had to go through a village in Africa I think that really gave them a different view, or some of the places in India.

What places would you like to see them go to? I am still thinking on that one.

Csnog

Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 11:59 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Csnog a private message Print Post    
Who could forget the guys in the igloo in Alaska getting the telegram that the race was over.

I dont think they want that happening again. They want us on the edge of our seats.

I have to say that watching AR is the fastest hour of TV. I want 2 hours every show.

Meggieprice

Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 12:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Meggieprice a private message Print Post    
I understand bunching through most of the show but not the way it was last night. Last night it looked like total manipulation to me- engineered to make them even for the last 20 minutes. When it comes right down to it, they can control the availability of taxis if they like.

Still, I love the show and can't wait for the next. I just wouldn't call it total reality tv- it is manipulated just as Survivor is.

Tabbyking

Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 12:26 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tabbyking a private message Print Post    
there did seem to be more bunching this time, but a lot of it seemed to be places that didn't open til a certain time, whereas we had a lot of couples leaving the pit stops only a few hours after midnight. maybe they completed the challenges quicker this TAR, which gave them more middle-of-the-night departures. had they left at 7:00 or later, they would have hit a lot of the places without having to wait for hours for them to open up. i think it was a great show again, but i do wish there had been a few less 'equalizers'. i was amazed at how many airports are closed all night!
see how teams are learning more each TAR season from the earlier TAR games? a lot more use of cell phones and calling ahead for reservations, etc. less sleeping in doorways, though! remember the first TAR? i think some of them never slept inside except for the pit stops!
i was surprised a few things weren't 'penalty deserving', this time. i would have thought having someone paddle them in the reed boats wasn't allowed or that you had to ride the bikes, not push them, etc.
i do love this show, so i hope it continues for many more years. there will always be someone to dislike and someone to cheer on, new places and challenges...

Neko

Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 12:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Neko a private message Print Post    
Man, I even felt bad for the Guido's then when the got the telegram.

And that was a hard thing to make me do.

I'm not sure why, but at the end of this race, after I was p!ssed off at Flo all show (The Chat Roomer's can vouche!! Trust me!!), I was like "Good job Zach, hope you enjoy your money."
I thought I'd be like "Nooo!! Not Flo!! Oh Gosh not Flo!!!"
But, I guess, I just gave up.

Wasn't a fun feeling.
I hope I'll be able to get into AR4.

Ark

Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 1:09 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ark a private message Print Post    
The bunching bothers me too but I don't really see a way around it. I enjoyed this season as much as the past seasons. I enjoyed the Guido telegram though. Maybe I'm just evil.

Tabbyking, A friend flew from Detroit to Chicago's O'Hare one night. Her flight was late and she missed her connecting flight and the airport was closed. Not ticket agents or personnel or people of any kind. A Flight Attendant from her flight wrote her a voucher for a hotel and food for the night, even though she wasn't supposed to do that. She called a cab and went outside to wait. When it didn't come she tried to go back in to call again and the doors were locked. A security guard finally came and let her in to use the phone. I was shocked that O'Hare closes.

Kitt

Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 1:30 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kitt a private message Print Post    
The bunching was my major complaint too, particularly in the last episode, which had them bunched at every point. The luck in choice of taxi was the only factor which determined the winners, as far as I can tell. A bit sad as we put so much energy into supporting teams. I think there was more bunching this season than in the earlier two, or maybe it's just my perception as the bunching always seemed to benefit my least favourite teams.

I also think the penalties should be increased. The help they had with the bikes yesterday seemed ok, as they still took most of the burden, even if they chose to walk with the bikes like Teri. But when Flo and Zach both got a "driver" for the boat, I think that was a bit too much, and should have incurred them a penalty. It must be hard for the producers etc. to work such things out though - imagine what would happen if they had arrived first but were given a 30min time penalty allowing Ian and Teri to win; but I think they (the producers) do need to work on it, otherwise the next season of teams will buy their way out of every situation.

Realfan

Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 1:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Realfan a private message Print Post    
I also enjoyed the Guido telegram. I have no problem with one of the final three teams getting left way behind. It's still interesting, because the winner is still to be determined.

I am confused about the rules, too. If there's no penalty to hiring someone to steer your boat, the contestants could hire people to do a lot of the difficult things. What is the requirement, just that the person physically be there?

Also, what is the requirement when they open a clue? Flo just sat in the boat. Didn't even get out to stand on the land. And in another instance, a woman (Jill?) held the boat at the base of the climb up to the clue box. I thought the rule might be that both have to be standing within five feet of the box when the clue is opened, since most teams open and read the clues that way. But apparently not.

And if not, why didn't Ian run ahead, get the clue, then run back to meet the slower jogging Teri? Did he realize he could do that and still qualify? If that would disqualify them, why did the two women get away with sitting on their butts while their men went to get the clues?

I want the rules explained better. There seem to be some real inconsistencies here.

And I agree about the bunching. WAY too much for the final two legs of the race. I didn't care for the winner being decided solely on the luck of getting a taxi first, though I recognize a lot of the game is about luck.

Calamity

Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 2:04 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Calamity a private message Print Post    
Part of the bunching last night was due to Z/F & K/G's flight being delayed. I know the TV gods are mighty but I doubt they had a hand in that. (Although I do believe the government is messing around with the weather but that's another topic entirely :) .)

The producers have to be more careful now, what with increased security concerns, so there really isn't any responsible way to duplicate the wild and unpredictable nature of TAR's first season. And as others have noted, the players are more travel savvy with booking tickets so I'm no longer amazed when people finagle great flights.

I agree that they should be a bit more stingy with the stipends so people won't try to buy their way out of every task or problem. And at least some of the detours should be of comparable difficulty/duration so luck & skill play more of a role.

With the exception of A/D's unnerving field trip, most teams didn't encounter the taxi driver difficulties that past seasons' teams did. I don't know how, but I suspect that's not a coincidence.

I still love the final dash for the finish line with the eliminated teams cheering on the winners & runners-up.

Ariasmum

Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 2:05 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ariasmum a private message Print Post    
I think they should have reversed the final 2 destinations to check into. Let them get a cab to get the clue and make them find and then go on foot to the finish line.

Kellsma

Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 4:21 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kellsma a private message Print Post    
I was thinking the same thing about them bunching up so much and I was also wondering how they always end up on the same flight. I know in Hawaii from Kauai to Honolulu there is more than just Aloha Airlines, there is also Hawaiian Airlines and then from Honolulu to Seattle, again all the same flight when there is Aloha, Unite, American, Hawaiian and I know they all now fly direct to Seattle. Just seems wierd this year that most teams were on the same flights. I noticed that more this season than the past two.

Here is an idea, for the Roadblocks, they must alternate who does the each roadblock. If you the first roadblock, your teammate must do the next and so on. That way Flo would actually have had to do something. Wouldn't it have been great, Roadblock and it was Flo's turn. You must bungee jump 150', no other option! We might have lost her then! Also, I would love to have seem the times as each time crossed the finish line last night to see just how close they really were. The editing made it seem like they were all real close, but were they? Any I also agree, the final part should have been finding the fountain by foot, that was great. Just my thoughts!

Tabbyking

Thursday, December 19, 2002 - 5:19 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tabbyking a private message Print Post    
the hawaii airport must close at night, too...i was wondering why everyone booked a nonstop morning flight to seattle. i was thinking i would have maybe tried a flight to san fran or los angeles and then another flight up to seattle. if there had been something that night, that is...

Bastable

Friday, December 20, 2002 - 10:30 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bastable a private message Print Post    
They did a good job casting. There weren't too many hardbodies. I like the show much more when I can relate to the players. "Survivor" and "Big Brother" should take casting tips from TAR.

Csnog

Friday, December 20, 2002 - 1:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Csnog a private message Print Post    
Found out that they were all penalized 1 hour in Vietnam for NOT riding the bikes and not rowing themselves.

Neko

Friday, December 20, 2002 - 2:51 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Neko a private message Print Post    
Really Csnog??
Yeah that'd make sense.

They all got the hour so it really amde no difference...

Tabbyking

Friday, December 27, 2002 - 12:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tabbyking a private message Print Post    
bastable, you are so right about the casting--for BB, especially. i don't feel most of the houseguests were a truly random selection (cross-section) of americans. how many bikinis are those gals told to bring? they didn't seem to have that big of suitcases! all those young bodies reminds of the jerk who decides which people are to be called up on stage on 'the price is right' (not rod roddy, the creepy guy who 'interviews' you while you are in line and actually makes the decision. this creep is not a hardbody in anyone's imagination, save perhaps his own!) anyway, it got to where my sis and i could pick out who would be called. 6 girls, young--and most with large hooters, 1 or 2 college guys, and one 'token-overweight', or 'token -minority', or 'token-over-45 person'. sometimes he would cover all the bases by picking one heavy, 60-year-old african-american...sometimes they might subsitute someone in a military uniform for one of the boob-chicks. it was infuriating to see it really is a 'college' group, preferrably with great bodies, that gets picked. it took us years to get to the show and we went 2 days and both times it was exactly the same. i started watching the line-up on each show to see if it was always the same, and mostly--it is... (i do the 'dreadmill' while watching TPIR, so i have seen roughly 300 shows in the last couple of years.) we knew, immediately, that being in our early 40's was going to give us a 1/300 chance of getting on, while if we had been in our late teens or early 20's, we would have had a 1/50 chance.

speaking of survivor, did you see the commercial for a computer (?) with ethan sitting next to penn and teller? and abe vigoda is on it, and hulk hogan, too. ethan is only shown for one second and has no lines. probably got a pretty penny for it, too! which is fine by me. i understand he gave a hefty amount of his survivor winnings to start a soccer program for kids.

Car54

Friday, December 27, 2002 - 12:52 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Car54 a private message Print Post    
That's good because I read where Ethan said he has a "little bit" of his million left. Sounds like he needs the work.

Seamonkey

Friday, December 27, 2002 - 10:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
Ethan said the other night when doing Survivor predictions, that he formed a foundation, so he may be making more money for that group.

Neko

Saturday, December 28, 2002 - 12:16 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Neko a private message Print Post    
*Pops in*

Ethan?? Did you say Ethan??...again??

*Looks around*

Lancecrossfire

Saturday, December 28, 2002 - 4:10 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lancecrossfire a private message Print Post    
I think bunching has to be a part of the game. First with flying around the world, it can't be helped. Next, since it's TV, they can't let anyone get far enough ahead (a day) that the flying wouldn't catch everyone up. They have to make it so we never know who will win.

Next, it's more exciting TV wise to have the pit stop to pit stop races close.

I like the idea of the road blocks having to be performed by both team members--not just one, so that folks such as Flo don't have to contribute--or so that weaknesses in one team member can't be hidden all the way though.

Something like changing every other time makes it more a team effort--the adventures being shared equally.

I'd also like to see them explain rules as they go along. They explain what a road block and a detour is each and every time. How about if the first time something comes up, it's explained. For instance, when the instructions say to walk, it's explained to us that walking means travel by foot for the duration of the task at any speed you wish. Or when they say you must ride a bike, it means ride or walk with at least one hand touching it at all times while moving.

I like the rule that they can keep any extra money and use it later if wished--it brings a new element of strategy into the game. It brings figuring out trade offs in both the short and long term of the game.

I also like when they have tasks that involve something about the area or the meaning of a certain location. It gives better connection to the places the racers are at--kind of like having to ice skate to music and making the motions match the music.

I'd like them to show at the beginning just a bit more of clips from the 12 hour pit stop--so we can see how they interact (if the do at all), what they eat, what there accommodations are like, and how they relax.

I like that Phil for the most part stays out of the game--it isn't about personalities, so it's more of announcing what happens--a play by play if you wish. I like the way Ken and Gerard tried to egg him on this past game though--it was part of their charm, and even though Phil didn't really bite into anything, they still showed it to us.

I'd like to see the nonelimination rounds happen sooner in the game. The reason for this is because at the beginning, a team can be getting a slow start, but still have the potential of being a strong team. Think back to the twins, and how they make a couple goofy mistakes, but once they caught on were tough as hell. The nonelimination rounds might help to show us this type of team.

Gina8642

Saturday, January 25, 2003 - 8:08 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Gina8642 a private message Print Post    
I watched my first full episode of TAR when I watched the final episode. I also watched bits a pieces of a few others this season. I think it is interesting television, just because it is interesting to watch real people under stress.

However, I didn't see much true skill determine any outcome. It all seems to come down to your Taxi driver (and once in a while the skill of your travel agent). Even with the Taxis, there is always a camera in the car, and in a chase car. Which means the contestants have to wait around while a camera persons and maybe a few Production assistants get situated. So, I think most of it is luck.

By the way, I didn't dislike Flo. I thought she was a very real person under a lot of stress. Her partner was wonderful. I would hope she could do the same for someone else one day.