Reality Check Up: The Amazing Race

Last month, The Amazing Race once again took home the Emmy for Best Reality Competition and after the first few eps of the new season I’m beginning to question why. I’ve always been a huge Race fan. While Survivor, The Real World, and The Apprentice tend to showcase the worst in humanity, Race has often highlighted some of the better qualities. Sure there’s always a couple of “ugly Americans” who say some horribly insulting things about other countries and their cultures, but for the most part you get to see people broaden their horizons while competing in a competition that rewards brains and brawn but not duplicity. I’ve also always complemented the show for their diversity of contestants and the limited tweaking they’ve given the format. That being said, like most great shows you get the feeling that Race has begun to fizzle out. Truthfully a big part of that is the lack of new places and challenges. There are only so many variations you can do on a needle in a haystack challenge, and only so many times Peru can seem new and wonderful. This season smells routine and while I’ve got my favorites (Ken and Tina or Nick and Starr), there just aren’t any personalities that grab you. I’m by no means advocating the show gets the ax but perhaps its time to take it off it’s pedestal. With Top Chef a few weeks from returning I don’t think there’s any doubt that it has now become the number one reality show, surpassing it’s former network brethren Project Runway. Meanwhile perhaps Race can look toward some minor tweaking. A second All Star challenge could be fun or even a strangers edition where the teams come in blind. In the end though I think its time for another show to start making room on their mantel for Emmy.