The Amazing Race

Never seen any myself. However, they do have "fake" racing teams going around too, to throw off the people who keep an eye for these things. Also, sometimes after players are eliminated, they continue racing in other locals, again, to throw off the bloggers. I did go hang gliding in Rio with the same company they used way back in Season 2, but my instructor was not on the show. Also, in Jamaica, our cab driver was used on the race in Season 7- and had the photos to prove it! As you can tell, I'm a bit obsessed with the show!

Mike, have you ever applied to be on the show? r

Rudy, I haven't encountered any AR teams so far. However, I did encounter two of Rick's tours in Europe this year (that's important too!). Regarding the Amazing Race, we're almost into the fall viewing season and I haven't heard anything at all on whether the show will be returning this year? Cheers!

Ken, season 17 premieres Sept 26. I enjoy watching it to see if they go to any places that I have been before but not much is shown of the places. I also enjoy the interaction of the couples involved. I am certain that I could not keep my cool in many situations with my wife.

Have not encountered anybody from Amazing Race, but funny thing did happen in season before last. We were watching and saw they were in Stechelberg, Switzerland - where we go every year. I contacted tourist office there where I have a friend and she knew nothing about Amazing Race having been filmed there. She checked around and found out that they had filmed at Alpenhof in Stechelberg and nobody in town of 300 people or less even knew it had occurred there. Apparently Amazing Race people keep everything very secret. So if you go to Stechelberg and go past the Hotel Stechelberg you will see the building where the Alpenhof is - it is owned by a young Australian and American couple. Very nice folk.

According to my nephew's best friend who was in the race (and won) they do not use "fake" teams. After a team is eliminated they go to one location where all the eliminated teams go and stay until the end of the race.

Rudy, great question! I haven't had any encounters with teams, but every time I go to Europe I think about it. I've "barely" missed them on 2 occasions, though - in August 2007 I was in Amsterdam and the season that started in Fall 2007 sent the teams there; and this past season they went to Hamburg, where I ended up going this summer. It's the best reality show on TV. And thanks for posting when it will start! I hadn't heard anything and even checked CBS.com but it didn't say anything about the next season.

Not Europe - but just encountered 2 teams racing in Bogoto, Colombia this May. Not sure if this was a Latin American edition or the NA one. Even came across the clue box in the square with all the Botero statues.

They don't use fake teams, but teams that are eliminated later in the season sometimes continue to "race" with the others to throw off anyone watching. There was video on YouTube a couple of seasons ago showing one such decoy team. Robin, who is your nephew's friend and what season was he on?

Not in Europe, but did encounter here in Phoenix! Sort of. My husband took his aunt to the Sheriton for lunch and he said there were signs for filming crew. I didn't believe him when he told me. When we were watching the on TV, Amazing Race was there (Firebird Raceway) during the "Family " Season. I know it was filmed on the same day, because the big smoke cloud from the Cave Creek Fire was in the background.

Nancy, he's Reichen of the team Reichen & Chip..season 4. He's called Ricky by his friends and family.

Once a team has been eliminated, they go to the "Elimination Station". There is one very year and updated a day or so after the episode. I have always watched it. Very interesting was they do after being eliminated. It is usually a 1st class estate or resort. Here is a link to last season: http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race/video/?pid=LBeh2BlLmktytJXthZQunNDFoKBFU1BU&vs=Elimination%20Station&play=true

New season and new cast link: http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race/

Survivor link: http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor/ When are eliminated off Survivor the go to the "Ponderosa" only if they are on the jury. http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor/video/?vs=Ponderosa

JB, That's last seasons cast.

I heard that they will announce the teams tomorrow Sept 1st..not sure if this is true.

Yes it is. Wanted to show what it is like.

No encounters with any of the teams, but the host was hanging around LAX waiting to board the same flight I was taking to Auckland, New Zealand. He is a Kiwi & had just finished taping a season. Nice guy, but that show must take a toll on him travelling all over the world to eliminate teams. He looked exhausted and I'm sure he was making good use of the flat beds offered to 1st class passengers on that extremely long flight.

I love watching The Amazing Race but I always have a headache at the end of each show...the editing is way too fast for me...getting old I guess :)

I have not encountered any teams, but had an encouter with Phil Koeghan, the host. Last summer, he did a Bike ride across American for MS awareness. He past through my town and spent the night. I had supper with him, his dad and his camera man. Very nice, friendly and down to earth people. The camera man filming his ride is also one of the regular camera operators used on The Amazing Race. The next day, I joined Phil on his ride. Great time!

Rudy- Yes, I have applied twice. You can only apply as the same team once, but I did one with my wife and the other with my twin brother. My wife and I were in the local newspaper because she wore her wedding veil for our casting call, we blame the papers for ruining our chance! Regarding teams racing after they are eliminated- it is true that they send the teams to the elimination spot, or "sequesterville," but the details on exactly when they arrive are sketchy, plus the fact that eye witnesses have seen eliminated/ alternate teams racing seems to imply they do indeed use them. It's interesting watching the evolution of the show and how things are done. I've watched since Season 1, and it is quite different- IE the clues are much easier than they used to be. The only thing I do not like is the predictability of the teams- (the gay couple, the ex models/ cheerleaders, etc.) but I suppose that is hard to break over the course of a series.

Oh- and in my opinion the family season (Season 8) was terrible. It was less than amazing.

The new cast has, indeed, been announced today. www.cbs.com

Yes, nice video up on Facebook too. Looks like a fun group!

Robin, Now I may apply. I would hope to get booted early so I can go to the final destination and actually enjoy the place a little. Winning wouldn't be a bad option; I would be more likely to suffer through the drastic pace of travel only to be eliminated at the end.

We did while in Paris at Gare de Lyon train station in June 2006. We saw them with backpacks etc and my daughter asked one of the camera guys and they denied it but when we watched the fall season, it was them!

No encounters yet, but seeing the teams head to the Champagne region last season made me miss France so much, 2 days later I booked my ticket.

I am a huge fan. Being a travel addict, I have watched every series. Re-runs of old series are being shown at the moment. The first Amazing Race Australia is currently in production. Looking forward to seeing the Aussies in action. In an early series the teams went to Porto and had to deliver barrels of port to the Majestic Cafe. My daughter and I were so taken in with the place we vowed to go there one day - and we did. Had a memorable dinner in the Majestic Cafe. The mix of contestants, as mentioned before, is always fairly predictable. What is also predictable is the team who keeps their head when everyone around them is losing it, and suffers the fewest meltdowns is usually successful. Another aspect I find fascinating, is the total ignorance of geography, history etc., many of the contestants have about the world they live in.

Brad, let me know if you apply, I think it would be fun.

I ran into them at LAX airport a few seasons ago. It was amusing as the film crew would not admit they were the Amazing Race and instead said they were a Canadian TV show called "Travel Travel". Being that I live in Canada, I saw right through their line! Needless to say, it looked quite anticlimatic as they were just sitting around doing nothing!

Jon, interesting point. I don't think "Travel Travel" has been in production for quite a few years, so that's somewhat of a "lame excuse"! I've seen some re-runs lately, but don't think any new shows are being produced.