http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-ca-monitor11nov11,1,5207535.story...

From the Los Angeles Times
THE MONITOR
On 'The Amazing Race,' it's run, don't gawk

Contestants in the CBS series, now in its 12th season, must all but ignore
scenery and cultures if they want to win the $1-million prize.

By Jon Caramanica
Special to The Times

November 11, 2007

ASTONISHINGLY resilient and successful, "The Amazing Race" has won the Emmy
for outstanding reality competition for five years running, beating out
sometimes better competition such as "Project Runway" and "American Idol."
What it has that its rivals lack is a sense of wonder, an almost naive
ambition to widen the perspectives of its participants and its viewers too.
Its scope is far broader than that of any other reality competition or, for
that matter, most scripted shows. Like much great art, it feels bigger than
it actually is.

"edonline" comcast.net> wrote:

I think that cost is the issue for the other TAR's locale limitations.

This is one of the few articles about TAR that has admitted to the stunt
casting and the draw of the show for its trainwreck, bickering, personal
conflict themes. Most TAR fans (at least here) seem to focus on claims that
the show is about world travel and people working together rather than about
weird/petty people fighting with eachother.

On Nov 9, 8:57 am, "edonline" comcast.net> wrote:

On Nov 9, 6:57 am, "edonline" comcast.net> wrote:

No! And all this time I thought I was watching the Travel Channel.

Maybe the word "race" in the title mean something.

Still there were moments of culture and scenic beauty in the show.
Who can forget that in Africa the teams went through the door of no
return and it made at least one racer cried.

In article registered.motzarella.org>,
"Obveeus" aol.com> wrote:

Many if not most European and Asian countries are more expensive to
travel in than the US now.

"robert underhill" mail.sdsu.edu> wrote:

Obveeus wrote:

I think there is an unfortunate political aspect to it too.

Just this week I read a news story that said that despite the sinking
dollar, foreign tourism to the U.S. has actually declined sharply even
though such tourism would be a bargain. Foreigners have said they just
don't feel welcome in the U.S. right now. It may be the negative
perception of the U.S. in some parts of the world that would make a
foreign Amazing Race through America get lower ratings in the countries
it's aired.

PeterL wrote:

"Steven L." earthlink.net> wrote:

Foreign tourism to the US isn't being hurt by the average American making
anyone feel unwelcome, IMO. It isn't even being hurt by the US
war-mongering in the Middle East.

Jeri Jo Thomas wrote: