So the latest installment of the Amazing Race kicked off.  I’m not too sure on this one.  This time around, the show has departed from it’s typical 2 person teams and now has 4 player family teams.  Upon learning this beforehand I was instantly leery of the idea, given most times when a show has to add twists and whatnot, it’s probably not too far from going down the crapper.  Last time around the gimmick was having Rob and Amber from Survivor as a team, and now this.  After watching the first episode I was instantly disoriented by the sheer volume of players.  When following the teams in different vehicles it became tough discerning who was who until part way through the show.  This will obviously clear up as a couple teams get eliminated.  So far I’m not sold on the team concept.

Now the show itself was okay, though I think I’ll have a beef with it if it keeps on this American theme that seems to have prevailed so far, and will continue into next episode.  One of the major charms of this show in the past has been the globetrotting, seeing other cultures and having teams run up against cultural hurdles in their travels.  I’ve heard they will be sticking around North America this time, so it should be interesting to see if they can produce something new and interesting without filling the show with tripe Americanism. 

I think the most amusing part of the first episode was the token black team, the Black Family.  There really isn’t anyone of any ethnicity or colour in the show aside from them.  It brought me much amusement that they were the black Black Family, as they even had a family cheer.  Unfortunately they were the last team to arrive, so the only team of any diversity in the show is gone.  They were also at a disadvantage given they were one of the 2 teams that had younger children on the team.  I was really rooting for the stupid family from Brooklyn to be eliminated, but there always seems to be a team in this show that skirts by for weeks, defying all logic and not getting eliminated.  I suppose it’s alot better that way, it feels more rewarding when their stupidity is vanquished, a la Gretchen and Meredith last go around.

[[tt:Amazing Race]][[tt:Rob and Amber]][[tt:family edition]]