Debra & Steve
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TV ClubHouse: ARCHIVES: The Amazing Race IV (ARCHIVE): The Racers: Debra & Steve

Ryn

Monday, May 05, 2003 - 09:11 am EditMoveDeleteIP
debrasteve

"Married Parents"

BIO

"We come across as a sweet, loving couple, but we're not!" Debra, 49, has two grown kids from a previous marriage. They've been married 8½ years, after meeting on a coed softball team Debra "started in order to meet single men." She holds a BA from Northeastern University, an MA from the University of Oklahoma, and is currently director of an artist's colony. Debra considers herself "bawdy, outgoing and driven," and enjoys walking, painting and traveling. She has struggled with depression after the recent and untimely deaths of her parents, aunts and uncles, best man and maid of honor, who "drove off the I-40 bridge to their deaths." She's afraid of "heights and dark waters," and sometimes has trouble with her husband/teammate's devotion to his work: she gets jealous. Debra blows off steam by cleaning the house, and admits that she can be a "controlling and dominating know-it-all." She speaks no foreign languages, but has traveled to France, Mexico and Canada. She refuses to eat fish, according to Steve. She's outgoing and pushes boundaries, while Steve is more cautious and reserved, and "always follows the rules." Says Debra, "I raised money for opera in Oklahoma. I think I can do anything."

"We can be sneaky, snide and devious," says Steve, 40, a radio news director. He jokingly claims that he met Debra through "The Great Softball Conspiracy" perpetrated by his wife, but considers their wedding the most exciting moment of his life. His wife/teammate reminds him of Bonnie Hunt. Steve holds a BA from the University of Scranton. He describes himself as "fun, smart and deceptive," but regrets that "sometimes I let opportunities slip through my hands." Steve speaks no foreign languages and has traveled to Canada, Mexico, France, Germany and Belgium. He counts "people skills" among his finer traits.

Jasper

Monday, May 05, 2003 - 09:29 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I'd like to see them do well.

Crazydog

Monday, May 05, 2003 - 09:53 am EditMoveDeleteIP
So would I, but unfortunately they look a little out of shape.

Tabbyking

Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 09:20 am EditMoveDeleteIP
she likes to clean house? that scares me! i hope they do well, too...

Awareinva

Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 09:15 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
OMG..... this is scary! I tried to get my hubby and then my brother to apply to TAR4.... I mean seriously wanted to do it. But we all figured we looked too much like this couple to make it onto the show!

I am so going to be rooting for them...... I hope they do so well, that it will convince either hubby or bro to apply with me for TAR5!!!!!!

Heyltslori

Friday, May 16, 2003 - 09:31 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Am I misunderstanding or does it say that her parents, aunts and uncles, best man and maid of honor all drove off a bridge to their deaths????

Tabbyking

Friday, May 16, 2003 - 09:42 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
i was wondering that, too. did they all die right after the wedding?! or did she mean several of them have died over the last few years and the best man and maid of honor died going off the bridge at some point?....there must be a story somewhere.

Spear

Saturday, May 17, 2003 - 12:44 am EditMoveDeleteIP
It's probably a reference to the collapse of a bridge on I-40 in Oklahoma. It collapsed on May 26, 2002 after being hit by a barge. Fourteen people died.

Spear

Saturday, May 17, 2003 - 12:57 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Oh. Well maybe not. There doesn't seem to be any indication that a lot of the victims of the bridge collapse knew each other.

Tabbyking

Saturday, May 17, 2003 - 10:26 am EditMoveDeleteIP
i thought it was a pretty horrendous statement about losing all those people and then to leave us worrying about it! that poor gal...

Hippyt

Saturday, May 17, 2003 - 01:32 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I'm sure the show is saving that info for an on-air interview. That is horrible,no matter how it happened!

Tabbyking

Saturday, May 17, 2003 - 02:08 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
i can understand her 'jealousy' even if it's over her husband's job! man, i'd be clinging to whoever was left and close to me, too.
i hope they do really well!

GO STEVRA!!!

Ryn

Thursday, May 29, 2003 - 07:48 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Bleh..... oh well - good try guys :)

Whoami

Thursday, May 29, 2003 - 07:53 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
bow to this gutsy couple, especially Debra.

I'm as big as Debra. As soon as I saw that footbridge and zip line, I thought for sure they would do the "search" detour. I would have instantly assumed the footbridge and zipline wouldn't be stable enough to hold my mass. Not to mention the fear of heights I share with Debra.

I really have to hand it to her for giving it a go.

Tabbyking

Thursday, May 29, 2003 - 09:54 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
i was totally disappointed with this team and how they did. i loved that they were so good with each other, however.
i am 40 pounds overweight, but i can move fast. i use my treadmill every day and when i walk with people, they always have to jog to keep up or ask me to slow down.

Ocean_Islands

Friday, May 30, 2003 - 06:07 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I hope they get some exercise. If they only walked a mile a day, they would be much better off.

Csnog

Friday, May 30, 2003 - 06:25 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
This interview was originally posted on the Fans of Reality TV website. (22)

This afternoon, I had the pleasure of kicking off this season's Amazing Race interviews with Debra and Steve, who were the unfortunate victims of Philimination in the first episode. They were great to talk to, and really funny. Here's what they had to say:

Congratulations on your race! Were you bummed being eliminated first?

Steve: Not necessarily. We had a lot of fun, and we didn't go into it with a lot of expectations.

What made you apply for The Amazing Race?

Steve: We were watching TAR2, and near the end of the series, they were running pleas to apply for TAR4. We'd loved the show since the very beginning, so we thought "that would be kind of cool. Let's go for it, as a lark."

What did you tell your friends and co-workers you were doing, since you couldn't tell them you were on TAR?

Steve: As it happened, the last several years, I've been accepted to a few journalism fellowships, some of them out of the country. So it wasn't too unusual that I was leaving. It ended up I didn't have to make up a story, though. With the tensions in Iraq, my program director assumed that I was an embedded journalist, and started telling others at the station. I didn't have to create a story, my boss did it for me.

What was your strategy for the race?

Debra: We knew what we had going for us was our maturity and wisdom and creative thinking. We just wanted to have fun, enjoy the moment as much as we could. Anything can happen, and even at the end, when we knew logically we were last, we're still thinking "anything can happen - someone could get lost, or break a leg, which almost happened." We just figured we'd take it for as long as the ride lasts. It was so short, but it was so incredibly intense. If I had to do one leg of what I know, I'm glad this was what we got to do.

Steve: Our strategy was to do the "pivot moves" faster than the other teams. Finding a clue, etc.

Debra: We got to the gallery first, but we couldn't find the clue fast enough. They were well-hidden.

Steve: We knew we had to be faster at the pivotal moves, because we couldn't beat any of the other teams in a footrace - maybe the air traffic controllers.

After describing yourselves as "fat, 40, and fun", how did you plan to overcome the physicality of the race and stay competitive?

Debra: We didn't have a lot of time to prepare, but we just put on our backpacks and walked forever.

Steve: Everyone brings some shortcomings to the race, ours were just our bodies that we have.

Debra: Our bodies now are much smaller. I don't know what it was, but after the race, you feel like you can do anything.

Steve: Since the race, Debra's lost 25 pounds. You understand what your shortcomings are. In our case, it was our lack of physical strength. All you can do is focus on maximizing what you have, and try to take advantage of what you do have.

You were on the last plane, and on the last bus. Looking around, what was going through your mind at those points?

Debra: On the plane, we were okay.

Steve: We knew there were a lot more things ahead of us to do. On the bus, we knew we were screwed. There hadn't been anything physical, and we knew there had to be something physical coming up. We look around at the models who are in great shape, Chip and Reichen, and the Goat Boys, and we knew we were in trouble. So we just took it easy at that point. Unless someone screwed up, we knew we were probably out. But frankly, for a little bit there, we thought the models had really screwed up. We thought they went for the FF.

Did you discuss doing the Fast Forward at all?

Debra: We knew it was gone, somehow. We also knew that we wanted to do the challenge. It could not have been better designed, because I'm absolutely terrified of heights - I won't even go on escalators. But I love snow, and I love the mountains. We didn't even hesitate to do the Rescue task.

In the hotel room, you wondered about the sleeping arrangements. Reichen and Chip talked about having some conflict over whether to tell anyone they were married. Did they end up telling you?

Debra: No, but I knew. I've been in the arts my whole life, and I knew.

Steve: As soon as we noticed their matching wedding bands, we knew. And there were times on the plane, with Chip's head on Reichen's shoulder. They were close in a way that you want two people who care about each other to be.

Debra: I'll have to watch, but they never said anything to us. Except to tell me that I snored.

Debra, being terrified of heights, when you saw the rope bridge and zip line, did you talk about going back to the snowmobiles?

Debra: No, not at all. But the clue talked about the rope bridge and zip line. I wanted to do a zip line.

Steve: We talked about it before we even left - if there is ever a situation where we can do a zip line, that's what we have to do. That was something that Debra wanted to do even before we got to L.A.

Debra: My mind didn't comprehend anything other than "zip line." So we get there, and they're hooking us up and putting my helmet on, and kind of spin me around and say "go there." I closed my eyes, and just let my feet feel the cable. They kept yelling at me "walk like a duck," but my mind wasn't comprehending what the hell that meant. I had hurt my knee when I fell in the airport, and it was swollen to twice its normal size. I couldn't get off the bridge. If the girls hadn't been there, we'd still be there now. The girls were very brave - they each took one hand off the rail to help me. I liked them a lot, they were wonderful. They were desperate to get around me, of course.

Steve: We spent practically the entire first leg within inches of Tian and Jaree. People say "they were so cruel" but they weren't. They were great.

Debra: All things being the same, had we gotten to the bottom of the hill together, they still would have beaten us. Although they had problems getting taxis, and we didn't.

Steve: Exactly. When I think of The Amazing Race, and think about all the problems people have with taxis, the one thing we were golden with is we never had a problem getting taxis. If only we had one in L.A. getting to the airport.

Who did you get along with the best?

steve: Unfortunately, we're not allowed to say. But I feel comfortable telling you about Tian and Jaree because we spent the entire leg with them. Unfortunately for them, they had to spend a lot of that leg looking at our butts. But on the bright side, I got to see a lot of their butts as well.

Debra: One thing that was really funny was that Tian was in this incredible black catsuit. She looked absolutely incredible.

Steve: She was melting the snow. And Jaree's lovely, too.

In hindsight, what would you have done different?

Steve: I would have had Debra drive from Dodger Stadium to LAX. Debra would have shown those people how to drive fast.

Debra: It's not in any bio they put out, but I used to be a police officer, and have had training.

Steve: And she drives like a maniac. That would have helped us. The reason I drove is because she scares me when she drives. I thought I would have been more calm driving in city traffic. But I got us lost, so she should have driven.

Debra: There just not a lot I'd change. I don't do this often, but I lived in the moment. From the moment they called to tell us we were on, it was the best ride of my life.

Steve: I don't regret anything. We did what we did, and had a good time. This was one of the most positive experiences of my life and our marriage.

What was the best part of your race experience?

Debra: The whole mountain thing was the sundae, as we're getting back on the ski lift to go back down the hill, all of the tech crew and the skiers - they're rough "mountain men", and they started clapping and cheering. Here's these old, out of shape Americans. It must have been like finishing a marathon.

What advice would you give someone applying to the race?

Steve: Just do it. Be yourself, don't over-analyze it. The experience has been so positive for us, from the moment they called us. Last night, we were sitting in a sports bar watching the race on all of the screens, and every time we appeared on screen, the crowd cheered. Even when we were losing! You'll never have as big a thrill as that. We had people who were just there having dinner coming up and hugging us. It's a great, crazy experience.

Do you go on-line to read what people say about you?

Debra: We're careful, but we do.

Steve: It's a game. Part of the fun of being a fan is speaking your mind and sharing your opinion. People can say whatever they want. They can call us fat and stupid, or brilliant and insightful, whatever. This is all a game, and if people have fun with it, then it's all good. We've been treated more than fair by most of the people out there. And if you can say that, you're doing good.

Thank you, Debra and Steve, for taking the time to talk to us today. And thanks to CBS for giving us the opportunity!

The Link

Pamy

Friday, May 30, 2003 - 07:46 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I cried when they lost, I was totally rooting for them. I still think they are winners! What a great loving couple they are!

Seamonkey

Friday, May 30, 2003 - 08:28 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Sweet and gracious people.. too bad we didn't get to see Debra drive :)

And how nice of them to tell the positives about Tian and Jaree, who I totally believe are getting editing to make us hate them more than we might.
I caught that when they WERE helping Debra off the rope bridge and did let go of the rope to do it.. I've been in that type of beached whale with a hurt knee place where I couldn't have pulled myself up and could almost FEEL how Debra was feeling at that point and while the girls were definitely desperate to get around, they were also careful with Debra.. so it is nice to hear from Scott and Debra.

And I also love the way Debra described Reichen and and Chip "They were close in a way that you want two people who care about each other to be".
I would have noticed the matching rings like Debra did :)

And.. David and Jeff are the "goat boys"????

Bobbie_552001

Saturday, May 31, 2003 - 06:55 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I watched the show first, before reading their bio followed by the interview....and my first impression was this is what is meant by unconditional love. And now after reading this thread...I'm even more impressed. I wish they could have done better....

Alaginger

Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 07:41 am EditMoveDeleteIP
First Off 'The Amazing Race' -- and That's Okay
Fri, May 30, 2003 05:46 PM PDT

by Rick Porter
Zap2it, TV News

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Steve and Debra Carmody's kids were sitting around the dinner table several months back when the discussion turned to reality TV.

They thought that it might be OK to appear on "Survivor," but were less enthusiastic about "Fear Factor." However, "The Amazing Race," they all agreed, would be great.

What they didn't know at the time was that Debra and Steve had just been accepted to compete on the fourth edition of the globe-trotting CBS series. They hadn't told anyone yet, because prior to the network's announcement of the players, those already in the know are bound by confidentiality forms to keep it to themselves.

"I swear, we almost fell through the floor," Debra says.

"We were stunned," Steve adds. "We just clammed up completely. They're all talking about how this would be so great, and we can't say anything because we'll lose it."

Soon after that, of course, they did spring the news on the kids, who were initially concerned for them but grew more and more excited as the show's air date approached.

"They know the show, and they were more concerned because they know us," says Steve, the news director for a group of public radio stations in Louisville, Ky. Both he and Debra freely admit they're not the most athletic types, and it was that fact that ultimately led to their being the first team eliminated from the show.

The Carmodys were the last to arrive at a hotel in the Italian ski resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo, site of the 1956 Winter Olympics. They arrived in town at the same time as three other teams but weren't able to finish the rope-bridge-walking, zip-line-riding, snow-hiking task ahead of any of their fellow competitors.

"When we got to the mountain, we knew Reichen and Chip were ahead of us," Steve says. "And when we got on the [chairlift], we knew [David and Jeff] were behind us by about five chairs. So we've got about a five-step lead, and they're going to make that up real fast."

At that point, they were still ahead of the eventual 11th-place team, models Tian and Jaree. "We were kind of hoping they had gone for the fast-forward" -- an element of the game that allows teams to skip a task and go straight to the destination -- "and it had already been taken," Debra says. "But obviously that didn't happen."

The outcome came as a disappointment to the Carmodys' kids, but it was also something of a relief for their younger daughter, who's 22.

"Our youngest said 'I know this sounds bad, but I'm glad you got eliminated because I couldn't take much of this every week,' " Steve says.

Since they knew they were going to finish last, Debra and Steve took their time and appreciated the scenery of the Italian Alps.

"It was a beautiful sunny day," Steve recalls. "I've got my lovely lady by my side, and that's the whole point of us being in this race -- to be in a place like that, where we never thought we'd be, to have done things we never thought we'd have the opportunity to do."

There were no regrets, then, when they faced host Phil Keoghan to get confirmation of their elimination.

"I was almost hysterically giggly," Debra says. "It was so wonderful. We finished, we didn't quit, it was fun. I think Phil was in shock that we were acting happy."

Holly11

Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 07:00 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Hello, I really liked Debra and Steve also. I was hoping they could of made it to another show. Steve and Debra were so neat when they got the news they were the last couple.

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Wednesday, June 04, 2003 - 04:53 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
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