Reality shows make for inherently disposable TV. You squeeze the value out during the season, then discard them like week-old leftovers. Are people really going to be talking about bad behaviour on The Bachelor a year after the show screened? No, the conversation will have moved on to the next crop of wannabe Instagram influencers. So why is it I’m still fully invested in The Amazing Race, a reality show that’s been going since 2001, happily rewatching old seasons with full knowledge of the result? The fourth season of the Australian series is starting on Monday night, and I can’t wait.
I enjoyed watching the earlier seasons particularly the sense of travel: it gives you a snapshot of places you normally wouldn’t visit. But around season 20 or so, I really started watching the show – discussing it on Reddit, rewatching older seasons I’d missed, and waiting for the next season to start. And I can’t really explain why I did.
Unlike other reality shows, The Amazing Race tends to fly under the radar a bit. Its profile isn’t helped by the Seven Network relegating the US seasons to 10.30pm on Tuesdays, but hurdles are part and parcel of being a fan. I may or may not have finagled a Hulu subscription (geoblocked in Australia) as they have the whole back catalogue available for streaming. Now, Network Ten has launched a new series of The Amazing Race Australia, and it’s been given a prime slot of 7.30pm on Monday.
The premise hasn’t changed much in 31 seasons: 11 teams of two compete in a race around the world, each vying to finish first and win the big money. The race is broken up into stages, with teams completing various challenges before reaching the end of the leg. The last team to arrive is usually eliminated from the competition. Teams are progressively whittled down to a final three for the last leg, who all have a chance to take home the prize.
The genius of the show is that it throws together a bunch of teams who are both competing but potentially working together: in many ways it’s a Contiki tour sans booze. Although not condoned by producers, hook-ups do happen. Eric and Danielle were on competing teams in season nine, and returned as a couple in season 11. The relationships of each team are the heart of the show: the relentless travel and pressure inevitably causes stress, arguments and the occasional tantrum, a goldmine for any reality show editor. Teams often form alliances to knock stronger teams out – alliances that can be broken at the drop of a hat. There’s usually a good story arc throughout the season too. Who could forget superfans Justin and Diana from season 27, who dominated the race, winning seven legs only to come up short in the final leg and miss out on the prize?
The host of the US version, Phil Keoghan, was born for this role: with his New Zealand-meets-US accent (listen to how he pronounces the word “spa”), he’s equally able to congratulate winning teams, commiserate the eliminated, and coolly dole out penalties to those ignoring the rules, all while outlining the next challenge or destination, narrating the race as though we viewers were travelling alongside.
Logistically this is a mammoth undertaking. Imagine ferrying at least 23 people, 11 cameramen, an editing team and countless support staff and fixers around the world. And they’re not sticking to the road more travelled: Burkina Faso, Bangladesh, Colombia, Ethiopia and Kazakhstan have all featured in the past.
The Australian version has followed similar themes – same number of teams, Phil-esque host Grant Bowler for the first three seasons, now rebooted for a fourth season with Beau Ryan. Expect similar kinds of challenges, testing racers’ fear of heights, puzzle-solving and occasionally weird food.
I feel nostalgia for the older seasons, which were more ramshackle in nature, with flights equally important as challenges. In some ways it’s become a sanitised version of itself – although if I’m honest, it’s always been a simulacrum more than it lets on: we don’t see the interminable hours sleeping in airports or hotels. Or the body odour for that matter: Phil has mentioned in interviews that showers are not high on the agenda of racers.
I’d heard a few months ago that I might need to clear my schedule for late October. And then I thought about maybe not bothering this time around. But come Monday night, I’ll most likely be front and centre for the first episode, even if just to hear the classic opening line: “The world is waiting for you. Good luck. Travel safe. Go!”
• Andrew James lives in Melbourne and works in the tech industry
