this is the thread where we talk breathlessly about the best TV show on North American television: THE AMAZING RACE!

You are a genius, Mr. Perry.

TORONTO (CP) — The province of Alberta was ready for its TV close-up and while it was only minutes of airtime on the hit reality show The Amazing Race, those involved are pleased with the results of their behind-the-scenes efforts.
Tuesday night’s finale of the fifth instalment of the Emmy-winning series — which aired on CBS and CTV — saw the three remaining teams of globe-trotting contestants land in Calgary to dash through two days of gruelling contests on mountains and snow runs before flying out again and off to Dallas for the $1-million finish.
The Canadian leg of the reality adventure was contracted to Alberta-based The Producers, Ltd., a company that has experience dealing with celebrities who like to sneak out the back door. But helping to arrange the hectic 48 hours in Calgary was their most ambitious assignment yet.
Producer Nives Lever says the Amazing Race officials laid the groundwork for the Canadian leg in November and December. Then the contestants arrived in Canada one morning last February with about 50 crew members who then joined 100 crew hired locally. And somehow, in collaboration with Canada Customs, tourism officials and broadcast unions like ACTRA and IATSE, they managed to ensure not only a smooth operation but kept the whole thing secret via scores of non-disclosure agreements.
“We’re certainly used to productions of a large size,” says Lever. “I think what made this so different or unique for us was that it was live.”
For two days, cameras rolled live on tape with no chance for retakes and no backup as the teams followed their clues and jumped through the appropriate hoops.
“After watching the program and seeing what happened at the airport in Calgary and how the flights were delayed and how fog changed the whole thing, we couldn’t have scripted it better for the dramatic,” says Lever. “It was amazing.”
In a world sensitized to security issues in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, extra precautions had to be taken with contestants speeding through airport terminals. Co-producer Eda Lischman says one person spent three months just handling immigration issues.
“And we couldn’t tell them what we were doing. . .we certainly couldn’t tell them that we were having Amazing Race contestants and crews coming across the border.”
Lever says that because of their considerable advance work, there were no foul-ups and in fact Producers, Ltd. was told by the Amazing Race people that Canada proved to be one of the best experiences they had had, bar none.
“They felt it was handled well, organized. We had to do a lot of diplomatic work. I did nothing but diplomacy between Tourism Canada, Travel Alberta, Parks Canada, U.S. Customs.”
Lever says similar companies are hired locally in each country seen on The Amazing Race and that means some 2,000 people around the world contribute to the show.
“The most important thing for us is that we could show off a corner of Alberta,” says Lever. “That we could somehow tell millions of people around the world through the vehicle of this show, what a fabulous location we live and thrive in.”

It was reported on another site that C&C's shoulder-riding cab got a flat and another car had to be sent.

Finally got to watch this last night, and even though I accidently found out ahead of time who won (DAMN YOU CHICAGO SUN-TIMES AND YOUR HUGE SPOILER HEADLINES!) it was still very satisfying. Chip & Kim seem like genuinely nice people, they were the only team who actually appreciated all that they were getting to see, and I was so proud of Chip when he finally was slightly conniving by telling the Bible models that it wasn't the right card by the flag. Yeah, sure, they basically only won through sheer luck, but it was still awesome.

I still think that Brandon and Nichole were the most compelling team, because of the contrast between the two. Colin and Christie are both assholes and deserve each other, but while Nichole seems shallow, bitchy, motivated solely by money, and made Brandon do every single roadblock by himself, Brandon actually seems like a really nice, caring guy (despite his dimness). I felt really bad for him a number of times, but especially when Nichole broke down over the lame bike thing and he was trying so hard not to get mad.

Whatever, Brandon's a moron. Did you get the feeling that Nichole was into God because Brandon's into God?

MY TOWNCAR IS BROKEN!

How could they not show that?! Well, I guess it makes sense. They wanted to string you along and make you think it was close. But still...

Of course, if you do drive your car on the shoulder, you run the risk of running over some of the crap that you always see on the side of a highway.

Didn't Brandon make Nichole do the caviar roadblock and maybe the one just before (the Egyptian cave descent)? I was thinking he was a wimp then for making her do the hard stuff.

And I heard about the cab getting a flat on another discussion board, but the poster said it was noted on Television Without Pity.

So, no one knows what was up with the spoiler upthread, that I believe Leeee pointed out? I'm surprised they would have extra competitions and not try to put them in the show somewhere.

They would do well to have a special behind the scenes episode.

Or better yet, a dvd.

are we gonna keep this thread alive until the next season starts?

New season starts tomorrow! They start in Chicago! WHO IS PUMPED?

ME!

YES.

WHO WILL BE THE NEW COLIN???

Spencer and I forgot to try out, sorry.

Finally, my life has meaning!

I will let you know when they start accepting audition tapes again, Ned. I would try out with Mr. Leon but we would be worse than Colin and Christie.

TOMORROW!!!!!! JOY

anyone know about the new cast?

The website just says that Chip & Kim won. I guess they're keeping a lid on the new cast.

I bet there's at least one couple featuring high cheek bones and short tempers though.

wow, it seems so soon. the body of the last season is still warm. but who cares: WAHOOO!! Take that, old man winter!

see ya, grandparents! in yer face, sisters!

i just might have to root for the pro-wrestlers. of course, they could be horrible.

I have high hopes for this season:

- MARRIED WRESTLER COUPLE!
- FITNESS COUPLE WITH FUCKED-UP HAIRDO!
- NERD FRIENDS!
- MARRIED "ENTREPRENEURS"! (aka HOME-RUN PR0N SITE)

Early favourite: http://wwwimage.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race6/images/teams/gus/passport.jpg

WAIT: http://wwwimage.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race6/images/teams/lori/passport.jpg

I will spend at least one episode chanting "GO BOLO GO!"

it's also nice to see that Phil has a new self-help book. he knows a little something about gumption and sticktoitiveness.

Potential new Colin & Christie: http://wwwimage.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race6/images/teams/kris/passport.jpg

Oooh, I can't wait!

[aside to scott: I'll be home soon. Should I bring you a sandwich?]

and hold on here, "dad" is an adventure pilot! I smell a ringer. and daughter is a special-ed teacher so she knows how to talk really slow to people!

No, you don't have to bring a sandwich, but we should really go shopping when you get home. we can race to the store.

Let's create a weird mission to accomplish at the store. Or we can go to two separate stores and try to locate someone with an AR flag. Or how about one of us takes a slow safe way to the store (driving) while one of us takes a fast challenging way (hang-gliding)?

woo-hoo! i just found out that the show is on for 2 hours tonight!!! only ten hours to go til then!

What's the exact all-around dynamic of this show again? Do odd stunts and then argue about it?

Ned, do you even own a t.v.? if you don't, you should get one. and a remote-control. and cable. and some snacks. and an easy chair.

The stunts aren't usually that wacky, they usually just involve trying to get to a certain place, but at least one team inevitably has horrible luck and gets a flat tire or a slow driver or something and has an emotional breakdown and yell at each other. It's great!

You'd be surprised. Basically, the whole reason the show is good is because it's well-edited, put together for the maximum amount of ridiculousness and excitment. Reality TV is all about the editing, and Amazing Race has the best.

For this reason, descriptions of what happens don't really do it justice.

Hm, that makes for a good explanation! I'd be up for watching some sort of highlight DVD, I think I've mentioned. But I'm still extremely against the committing of time to a regular schedule of TV watching (even in a 'have it on the TiVo but must watch it at some point to avoid falling behind'), as I've muttered on other threads. Work schedules take up enough time, let the rest be flexible!

(The 'no fun' observation also is because it would be extremely unfun to argue with Spencer! Now if the two of us were venting our contempt on someone else, a different story.)

seeya, brooklyn nerds.

that blue haired guy is a nice Colin substitute AND he's really funny!! (in an obnoxious wanna kill him kinda way.)

Models? Hand models, maybe!