On Television

And crazy as it may seem, I also opted out of getting cable TV. Yeah, I know … this means no more America’s Next Top Model, Amazing Race, Project Runway and all the myriad of other crappy tv shows that are near and dear to my heart.

CBS has announced the cast list for this fall’s The Amazing Race; it includes an amputee, some pageant queens, and a couple of male models (including this guy). I’m rooting for the models, if only because I love orange mocha FRAPPUCINOS! (Earth to Brint, I was making a joke.)

The Amazing Race - One of only two reality shows I’ll watch. I love the premise of the show and this season it really got back to where it belonged. Count me in for more seasons.

If you’re not one of the 12 people that watch The Amazing Race you just don’t know what you’re missing. This is a reality TV show where teams of two race around the world following clues and accomplishing various tasks that are relative to the local culture. You get to see the teams bickering with each other and with other teams not unlike what you and I would do. Sure the producers take some liberties and make it look how they want it to look, but still, it’s more real than any other reality shows that I’ve watched. Just think of how touchy you can get on vacation under normal circumstances. Now add the stress of not sleeping a lot, having a camera crew following you, a language barrier and the end goal being a chance to win $1 million. (Wish I could get that at the end of my vacations!)

This past weekend San Francisco Hosted it’s annual Bay to Breakers race, which besides being an actual race is a huge party in the streets of San Francisco. It’s a 7.25 mile race that starts at the bay and ends at the Pacific Ocean, and other than those competing there are many locals partying in costume and drinking while they walk the length of San Francisco. It’s a real blast as everyone is having a good time and partying. Those who were there included Tyler, recently of Amazing Race fame where he and his buddy BJ (”the hippies”) won.

- Amazing Race and Grey's Anatomy finales on my DVR. (Haven't seen it but just so you know, I already know who won Amazing Race so the excitement is gone. Pbbllltt!) I'm surprised I haven't gotten an email from Aunt Mary or Teena. They usually follow all the shows with their opinion on what happened.

I know I can stay up all the way through The Amazing Race tonight and blog about it!

The great state of Connecticut is looking to TV to combat TV. Their Department of Environmental Protect (which is responsbile for state parks from what I gathered) is using an Amazing Race-style contest this summer to lure families into the state parks and off of the couch. The state is placing clues throughout the state’s parks system which can earn families prizes. This is a very cool initiative with a very cool name: Leave No Child Inside.

I made the critical error of choosing to record Law & Order: Sport Utility Vehicle because…silly, silly me…I naively thought I could stay awake until 10 p.m. and wouldn’t need the added benefit of recording The Amazing Race. Silly, silly me. I was out like a light at 9:30 p.m. What can I say, I’m up at 5:30 every morning.

Until politicians see themselves being held accountable by the people, we're going to keep being sick. Now, it may not be acute--it may be more of a dull languor than a sharp pain, but you'll still feel it: the vague fever of uninvolvement, the chills of regret, the queasy feeling that someone else is in charge of your life. We--the voters, the voices, the people--because of new technology, emerging political paradigms and coalitions, and the unaccustomed weirdness of the current political arena, we have the chance, more than ever before in the history of this nation or any other, to demand the kind of government we want, to influence it, to make it. But that doesn't happen by sitting around watching The Amazing Race.

Finally, Amazing Race was on last night. Excellent show once again for anyone who missed it. I am putting my bets (metaphorical, not $$ bets) on the hippies.

All the reality tv shows are coming back, Survivor..Amazing Race is coming up in March and others such as the latest Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy are showing. All I’m waiting for is Season 2 of Lost. I can’t wait..although I’ve seen 10 episodes of the latest season and downloading (at the moment) the 11th. Shhh.

It probably should be hard to be the producer of Survivor. Every season it seems as though you have to come up with a new gimmick or two to keep viewers interested. You've done men versus women. You've done pick teams. You've done switch teams halfway through. You've brought back people who were eliminated already in a season. You've brought back people who were eliminated the previous season. You've done an All Star Season and split the players up into four teams for that. You've even done a season where one team was voted to near extinction. You've played with all sorts of gimmicks. Then you look over at the people at The Amazing Race - you know the show that's cleaned your clock three times at the Emmys - and you see that the one and only time they tried a gimmick, in the form of The Amazing Race: Family Edition not only did their ratings go down rather than up but they were roundly criticized by fans and professional TV critics who wanted the show to go back to the way it was.

To the poll. I asked what the big TV "moment" of 2005 was. Voter turnout was less than in the past two polls with 6 voters this time around. I think we can blame the nature of the question for that one. The final episode of The Amazing Race 7 and ABC's memorial to Peter Jennings finished in a tie for fifth with no votes. Randal telling Trump not to hire Rebecca on The Apprentice and Tom Cruise's behviour on Oprah and The Today Show tied for third place with one vote (16% of the total) each. In a tie for first place was the episode of CSI directed by Quentin Tarantino and Kanye West's statement that "George Bush doesn't care about black people." on the NBC Katrina benefit show with two votes (33%) each.

Well Amazing Race fans, this season has come to an end and a big congrats goes out to Jocelyn for winning the pot! $160 right before Christmas never really hurt anyone, now she can go out and buy the really big Toblerone and have a merry ole hazlenut/honey time. Her magic selection was near perfect as she amassed a multitude of points and rose to the top. She was last reported running to the nearest Shoppers’ Drug Mart to pick up the previously mentioned Toblerone. In a side note, Stephanie Lapointe is eating a measely little tin-foiled wrapped chocolate Easter egg and is non-too-pleased with her lackluster performance, or the taste of stale chocolate for that matter.

Don’t even bother watching The Amazing Race Family Edition - it’s a crashing bore. First of all, they won’t be leaving North America, so basically one of the major draws goes right there. Second of all, the casting is hideous. I don’t know who came up with this idea at CBS (Phil intimates in his video diaries it was a CBS idea, and not a producers’ idea - and I don’t believe it for a second when he says “I think it’s great”), but whoever it was should be fired on the spot.

Yes fans, it’s a week off from the Amazing Race - I for one am feeling the pain of being cut off cold turkey… I mean they could give us at least three weeks warning to prepare - I just can’t take it. Regardless - you get the bonus of reading my all-time favourite Amazing Racers. They are in no particular order (unless you count #10 being the lowest and #1 the highest…):

I wondered: Have any of you watched Amazing race families? I just wondered whether it was a world race or just through America (seeing as they didn’t go out of the country on the first episode). Take note that we are at the beginning not the ending (in other words don’t answer any more than that question or give me teasers please!)!

Finally, as promised, the Amazing Race ended up leaving the USA. Teams embarked on planes and headed to sunny Panama. Something about the teams in another country really made it feel like the ‘ole Amazing Race again - thank you for giving back my show. The language barriers and the strange sights are really what make this show. I love hearing the teams yell “Vomanos! Vomanos!”, “Senor!”, and “Yo Queiro Taco Bell!” - just to have the cab driver reply in perfectly fine English “Yes, sounds good…”. Regardless, it made for an exciting show and one which made me know that there’s still hope for this season’s Amazing Race.

Something was up with Team Schroeder this go around with the daughter freaking out at every turn possible… and I mean every turn possible. She went from being a cool-headed laid back girl, to a high-stressed, freaked-out, panic-button-broken teenage nightmare. Nothing really catastrophic happened to the team to cause young miss Schroeder go off the wall, but just seemed grumpy - it did not help their cause. Regardless, (and I love how I cheer on my sofa when someone starts crying…), they racked up a ton of points with their fighting, whining, and crying. Their antics proved to be a profitable point pursuit, but alas, they finished last, and good ole’ Phil let them know they were eliminated.

Apologies to anyone who expected my recap of last week's episode of The Amazing Race to show up, uh, last week. I dutifully watched the show, made copious notes, and then found myself without a sufficiently long block of time in which to write the friggin' thing.

Who would’ve thought that the Aiello family will be the one to be eliminated in the Leg 3 of The Amazing Race 8: Family Edition. Not me. I had rooted for the Paolo family to be eliminated since day 1. Wrong decision and lack of will to win cost the Aiello family this race.

In a perfect world someone may be able to pick the best possible three racers and come away with the most amazing stretch of points. It’s extremely unlikely - but possible nonetheless. It were to happen I would be shocked, and surprised. Needless to say, when the REVERSE happens, when someone picks the WORST possible three picks, I am equally surprised, and in this specific instance - just outright shocked! Yes my Amazing Race friends, yours truly, after only three episodes, has no picks left. My combo of Black, Rogers, and Aiello seemed to be a winning formula… but alas, I am proven wrong. Black dropped out the first episode after looking weaker than a grocery bag full of lead, Rogers took a wrong turn and were never heard from again, and Aiello were knee deep in mud - literally - and sunk from existence. What I am happy to demonstrate is that I am not a cheater! I did not construct this pool simply so that I could win it all - it is purely for the love the Race - ya right, I wanted the $155!

I seldom watch TV, although a little more since the convenience of the PVR. I’m not big on reality shows (I think they should fire Martha Stewart instead of the other way around), but I have enjoyed The Amazing Race from time to time. Oh boy did they butcher it this season though.

Karl and I have come to the horrible realization that we will NOT be on THE AMAZING RACE 9. The first call backs are held in Sept. in ones respected city. If we don't get a call this week (which we won't) we will have to give up our RACE dream. Dear Amazing Race producers, You are a bunch of F*ing idiots . . . . pure morons for not putting us on your presious Emmy winning show!!!!

Late last night I watched and enjoyed mucho..a movie titled "Around the Bend," dug the mu-zack out of the soundtrack too. Of course I got my close to od-ing fill of televison this week what with the new fall line-up and all. Watched the end of Big Brother 6 (what a frigging disappoinment that win was.. the new show Invasion..Lost..Survivor Guatemala..both Apprentices..the new season of House..(loved it)…and looking ahead the The Amazing Race 8 (family version) this coming Tuesday. Shame on me filling my nights with all that gar-bage..but I must say it numbs the mind quite well when all other invasive thoughts a try and bombard…plus I’ve always rather enjoyed ‘mind-numbing.’

** Survivor starts tonight!!! Yippee! my reality tv craving will be quenched through out the fall television season now too, lol. Amazing race I believe starts next week too… Double Yippee!!

Summer is officially over. Forget about the temperatures. Most of North America has been sweltering under temperatures that pose a danger to the elderly and small animals if they don't have air conditioning. I wouldn't really know about that - Saskatoon hasn't had a really hot day yet in August and the past few days the night time temperature has been dipping to around 5 Celsius (that's 41 for those of you who still think in Fahrenheit). The networks have been running ads for their "new Fall programs" practically since the end of May Sweeps, so that isn't exactly an indicator either. I suppose we could talk about "Back To School" ads - I'm waiting for the Alice Cooper ad from last year, probably in vain - but the school supply companies and the office stores have been sending those out to battle since the beginning of August. No for me the true indicator has been the posting of the new players for Survivor and The Amazing Race. That's the true sign that it's time to start worrying about when to put on a jacket when you're going out.

CBS has revealed the lineup of contestants for The Amazing Race: Family Edition, the latest incarnation of the two-time Emmy winning reality competition. This year, 10 four-member clans will trek around the world in a battle for $1 million. In the past, friends, lovers, spouses and/or coworkers have paired up, for better or worse, on two-person teams.

The infamous Cameron Barrett, an ex-Borders.com cohort and his twin brother Damien are trying to get on The Amazing Race. Good luck! If they succeed, I’ll definitely have to get cable teevee if the torrent sites aren’t carrying it reliably.

Well, we´re off to Munich tomorrow morning…it feels like the amazing race minus the 1 million dollar prize.

It was announced almost two months ago, and now it’s coming to pass: OLN and GSN will commence showing reruns of “Survivor” and “The Amazing Race”, in what amounts to a litmus test for the business of reality TV repeats.

I also wanted to add that we love watching the Amazing Race on the GSN channel. It plays every night so we’re not waiting around a week to see what happens. The first season is proving to be interesting compared to this past season. The rules are a little different. For example, they pace the Fast Forward now whereas in the first season, they had Fast Forwards in every leg of the race. Also, they didn’t have prizes for the 1st team arriving at the Pit Stops. I tell you, Sheldon and I are reminded every night on how we would not make a good team for the Amazing Race. Both of us would have refused to go into the underground sewer pipe in Paris like they did in the first season. We’re both chickens and couldn’t have gone into the sewers due to the hygiene issues alone! We’re wimps!

I’m so bummed that the gay couple in season one are little “Survivor-esque.” I didn’t realize they were poor sportsmen with reprehensible tactics like at the airport in Tunis as they tried to block the three other teams so they would miss their flight. I normally enjoy and support the gay couples, but I’m so disappointed that I can’t wait for them to get eliminated. I sure like the mother and daughter team. However, my favorite team is the fraternity brothers who at first annoyed me. I thought they were too rough around the edges, but I like the fact they are “gentlemen” after all. They’ve created a wonderful alliance with the mother/daughter team. It’s refreshing. I’m digging the GSN channel. I love that they play Amazing Race every day, no wait times and we can catch up on earlier seasons.

Only Sheldon would TIVO the Amazing Race on GSN. If I have the channel wrong, it’s the game show channel. Last night they started the first season of Amazing Race. I’m always shocked at how poorly people treat each other under stress and in competitive situations. I don’t know what couples are thinking when they decide to do the show while they’re evaluating if they should marry, live together, or get back together. There are three couples who are doing this. It’s crazy.

They again relied on the kindness of strangers, and then thanked the people that gave them anything. And to people who said, "Begging isn't the way to go," they said, "I understand. Thank you anyway." Meanwhile, Rob and Amber, CBS Survivor winners notorious for underhanded game playing, were getting so close that they could see Uchenna and Joyce just outside the gate. It looked as though after all they'd been though, Uchenna and Joyce would lose because they had too much integrity to break a promise. Finally, someone gave them the last $10, and the cabbie told them, "Enough! You're free to go." Uchenna and Joyce made a run through the gate. They not only won first prize, but they did so with integrity.

Ever find yourself watching “Parent-Swap” “Survivor” “Amazing Race” “The Real World” “Road Rules". Or any other of these shows of supposed reality? Overtime I have wondered, what makes TV networks put this on TV? Why do people WATCH it? What makes these shows stupid and irrelevant? If its reality then why is it stupid or irrelevant. Well over the past few couch potato sessions I have had I watched some of these shows, actually most of them. I noticed the same psychological tactics used in each show all mainly the same “tactic". Here are a few that I have noticed..

I found this great article about the behind the scenes aspect of The Amazing Race.

I love THE AMAZING RACE, and there’s a lot of stuff in this article that’s right – Team Guido were hilarious, Kevin and Drew were friendly and memorable, the ending was about as good as they come on the show, etc. But there’s a certain over the top aspect to this whole writeup that made me laugh for all the wrong unintended reasons.

GSN (Game Show Network) is in negotiations to acquire the rights to air reruns of all 7 seasons of The Amazing Race.

They are so two minutes ago. I am so sick of them I could just hurl. Not only did they get tons of money from Survivor fame, but they came in second on Amazing Race and got a nice chunk of change from that as well. And their wedding is paid for in the Bahamas. Can they just PLEASE go away? I can’t stand people who flaunt their money like that. I work my ass off for everything I have and it makes me sick to see people just toss out the dough like it’s nothing.

That’s it! Charlie picked Sarah W. on Bachelor, Uchenna and Joyce won the Amazing Race, Tom out-survived everyone on .. I can’t remember the name of the show, tomorrow we’ll find out who will be “America’s Next Top Model", and finally in a few weeks we’ll find out that (my prediction) Carrie will be the next American Idol. Bo is too niche, and Vonzell is too bland.

Rob and Amber take that! Amazing Race couple Lynn Warren and Alex Ali will have their wedding broadcast, too. The same-sex couple isn't getting married at home in West Hollywood, though.

I'm always so sad when the season finale for The Amazing Race comes because it truly is one of the few reality shows that I think are actually truly worth watching. And, the season finale for the seventh season was no exception.

Uchenna and Joyce, the winning team on "The Amazing Race," prove to me that there are really good spirits among us in these rough times. Prior winners have represented all that is bad and greedy about America. Tonight, for the first time this season, my wife and I watched "The Amazing Race." We both cried as Uchenna and Joyce won.

We have not discussed the third team, POW/beauty queen/ex-lovers Ron & Kelly. Their budding relationship shattered all over the floor at Heathrow, and an entire nation got to watch. Really, you wouldn't wish that on any couple. The parallel with more mature couples U & J and the Survivors was marked. Ron has to be the most emotionally tone-deaf guy I've ever seen. It's bad karma to make women cry; I learned this the hard way. Ron will find out. As for Kelly: you'll be all right, sweetie. It'll take some time. Do some reading while you wait. They...

At the beginning of an episode of this season's "Amazing Race," Rob Mariano, one of the contestants, spoke to the camera: "You know that thing, the American dream? Amber and I are living it." As the episode progressed, viewers saw Mr. Mariano, along with Amber Brkich, his fiancée and racing partner, steal a cab from another team, get a police car to escort them through Santiago, Chile, and successfully talk other teams into also quitting a challenge he couldn't complete, thereby ensuring that he and Ms. Brkich would stay in the game.

I’ve always heard the term “whirling dervish” before, but had absolutely no idea what it meant… until last night’s Amazing Race.

I have to admit, I'm not a fan of Amazing Race. My wife is, though, so while she watches, I browse the blogs or play a game of Civilization III or something. Tonight, I'm typing along on the PC, and The She Ogre is watching AR. The thing is, they're in Turkey tonight, and she keeps yelling, "I've BEEN THERE!"

Did you guys catch the amazing race? Phew! Rob and amber were so close to coming in last. Now that ron and kelly are without money, the cracks in their relationship will surely destroy them in the next leg of the race. That means that rob and amber will probably win it. Oh come on, the oldies are taking their own sweet time around the globe while uchenna and joyce aren’t sharp enough to beat rob and amber. But who knows, stranger things have happened…

This week's leg of The Amazing Race took place entirely in and around the Okavango Delta, an area of marshes without outlet, surrounded by desert. As the racers saw along the roads, that causes a rare density of large animals, especially in the dry season, and the area is the main tourist destination in Botswana. Maun is a small town, but it has ultra-luxury guest "lodges" nearby and international flights...

Even though Rupert and his family won't be appearing on Amazing Race 8, his family is playing an active part in his life. Rupert tells us, "My Mom is in charge of fan mail and charity requests, my brother has traveled with me to several appearances as my handler/road manager, and my sister-in-law is my Agent and Manager, handling personal appearances, television and movie deals, and other advertising/product endorsement contracts."

Just got back from TARCon West! It was so much fun watching The Amazing Race with a bar full of people who are as crazy about the show as I am. Everyone was very friendly – a bunch of people I didn’t know asked me to sit with them right away and everyone talked and mingled all night like