THE RIGHT STUFF
Compelling competitors bring audiences back for more of The Amazing Race, host says
The Amazing Race
CBS and CTV, Wednesdays
Reality TV host Phil Keoghan can already envision what's to come on a future edition of The Amazing Race.
“Perhaps we'll be the first show that takes contestants into space with a clue that says, `Teams must now get on the Virgin Galactic and travel into space. When they arrive, they will meet up with Richard Branson and travel to the International Space Station. Once they've cleaned the station, they can return to Earth,'” Keoghan, 56, says with a grin.
That dream challenge is still a ways off, but as Keoghan ushers in the return of the CBS/CTV reality favourite, which is back on the air with its 36th season, he says the franchise has endured because of its ability to offer viewers at home something different each time out.
The Race began this week with 13 teams in Mexico. The series will once again traverse the globe as it puts contestants through a series of challenges, including paragliding, motocross, rally car racing, Mexican wrestling, rock wall climbing and more.
The season 36 cast includes former NFL player Rod Gardner, his wife, Leticia Gardner, and a pair of firefighter moms, Sunny Pulver and Bizzy Smith, among others.
“This season we happen to have amazing contestants,” Keoghan enthuses. “Wait until you see Rod and Leticia. You can't take your eyes off of them when you see them. We have some firefighter moms who are definitely tough. We have some highly trained military pilots. We have a mother and son who are superfans. I love having big fans on the show.”
Of course, seeing new and different locations is a big part of what has made The Amazing Race a ratings hit for more than 20 years, but Keoghan says the show's enduring popularity comes down to the show casting the right contestants.
“We can go to the best places in the world and do the most amazing things, but if the people aren't interesting, nobody cares. If we don't care about them, then we're not going to get people to watch the show,” he says.
Last season, viewers watched brothers Greg and John take home the $1-million cash prize. But Keoghan predicts season 36 — which will see teams jetting to two locations never before featured on the show, Rihanna's childhood home in Barbados and the Dominican Republic — will top that one.
“There's a lot on offer. Great locations, great characters, but you're rolling the dice every single time you go out. You don't know what you're going to get. You just hope the audience goes, `Heck yeah,' and comes back every week to watch the show,” he says.
Like last season, which was supersized during the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, episodes will continue to be 90 minutes in length.
“I think the 90-minute episodes are a game changer,” Keoghan says. “We've always struggled with cutting the show for time. We had to take out massive chunks of the show. Now, with a 90-minute cut, we can give more context, show more action, and more of our destinations, which people love.”
In addition, there won't be any non-elimination episodes. Every week, one team will be sent home.
“If you speak to fans, they love both. That's not a permanent change. But no non-elimination legs definitely got people hyped and stirred up. I think any time you can throw a little wrench in the works it's good, but that was a small thing,” he says.
Keoghan, who also hosts CBS competition series Tough As Nails, has been with The Amazing Race since it launched in 2001. Initially, he thought it might last a few seasons at most. “I couldn't have foreseen this,” he says.
Does he have a favourite season? Keoghan smiles and shakes his head. “Season 1 was monumental for a myriad of reasons. Going into the unknown and doing something so audacious at that time ... Being the first of trying something new and different sticks with me. After that, it's difficult.”
After so many seasons and seeing different teams win it all, Keoghan must have some insight as to what sets the eventual champs apart from the rest of the pack. Maybe there's one trait that they all share?
“I think luck plays a big role in winning. Consistency. But look at the winners of Amazing Race over the years. What an eclectic group. It's hard to draw comparisons between them,” he says.
But it's never been about the winners. “It's about moments,” he says. “For me, what I love is that I get a front-row seat for teams seeing the world.”
There's a lot on offer. Great locations, great characters, but you're rolling the dice every single time you go out. You don't know what you're going to get.