As I mentioned yesterday, one of the few shows I'm watching is The Amazing Race. People slam reality t.v. all the time...with just cause. The Amazing Race is an exception to the reality t.v. equals trash t.v. formula. The viewer gets to live vicariously through the contestants as they race to exotic sites around the world and do cool stuff like bungee jumping or feeding sharks. Many of the tasks are culturally related to the racer's location. The Amazing Race's website tracks the locations and provides a bit of history for each locale. Great stuff for geography students. Plus, it's one of the few shows on television that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Phil Keoghan, the host, usually stays out of the way and isn't the smarmy weasel seen on most reality shows. The drama doesn't seem forced or contrived. I'm sure they'll be replaying last night's premiere...if you have a chance, I would recommend it. Not all of us get a chance ride a zipline in Vietnam.UPDATE: Watched the premiere last night. The race is off to a great start. As one racer put it, "have you ever done anything so James Bond in your life?" Usually they replay the premiere on Saturday nights...so check those local listings if you missed it and want to catch it.
