The Amazing Race 18 Cast – A Huge Disappointment

The Amazing Race 18 Cast – A Huge Disappointment

When I first heard that season 18 of The Amazing Race could possibly be a 2nd All-Stars season, I was cautiously excited.

I was excited for the possibility of seeing some of the best, most memorable teams back on the Race.  I was looking forward to seeing a few of my favorites back for another shot.  But I was also worried that Bert(ram van Munster) and Co. would mess up completely on the casting.

And when the first team spoilers were posted back in November, my heart dropped.  I was surprised… no, I was absolutely shocked at the odd and seemingly random and totally annoying list of teams participating on TAR18.  The list was practically confirmed, missing only that official press release from CBS.  But until it arrived, I held out hope that maybe this is all some hilarious mix up we could all laugh about later.  I still didn’t get my hopes up though.

After the TAR17 finale and seeing the horribly misleading and cruel teaser for TAR18 revealing the “Unfinished Business” tag, it made me even more upset about the list of teams.  At the very least, they didn’t call this group of teams “All-Stars” because most of them on the list shouldn’t even be in consideration.

But the “Unfinished Business” tag carried even more weight than “All-Stars.”  After compiling my own list of teams with real “Unfinished Business”, I just annoyed myself even more seeing how many more deserving teams there were worthy of a spot on TAR18 than half of these people that were cast.

Then you have the illogical self-imposed rule of limiting the pool of teams to only ones that competed TAR12 onwards.  What in the world for?

In the USA Today article revealing the teams, they have two mind-boggling quotes, one each from executive producer Bertram van Munster and host Phil Keoghan.

First, from Bert referring to the TAR12 cut off…

What? That makes absolutely no sense.  And it goes back to Bert’s proclamation back with TARAS that they only wanted teams with relationships that have changed since their original seasons.  But then, some of the best, most All-Star worthy teams were still friends, still married, still siblings, stilldating… why limit yourself for no reason?  Especially when those so-called “new relationships” ended up having no impact on the storylines they had carved out for the season anyway.

First of all, The Amazing Race is admittedly not Survivor.  There are no Richard Hatchs or Colbys or Ethans or Russels.  Though TAR shares a certain Boston Rob with Survivor and TAR2 3rd placer Blake Mycoskie is busy dating Maggie Grace and starting his own charitable organization, TAR viewers are either long-time fans or casual viewers.

Casual viewers could care less if these people Raced before.  So they wouldn’t have to know who any of these people are.

Long-time fans however will certainly remember the likes of the Bowling Moms or Colin & Christie or Tara & Wil and especially Charla & Mirna.

And really, All-Star or “Unfinished Business” seasons are for the long-time fans anyway.  So why limit yourself to the point that you have half the cast of one previous season back again?  Five teams from TAR14.  TAR14 wasn’t even all that memorable (a common theme for all post TAR12 seasons).  TARUB could’ve easily pulled teams from pre-TARAS and have been better and guaranteed more entertaining teams then the ones that were chosen. 

The article also includes this blurb, most likely from the CBS PR department…

Couple that quote with this from Phil…

A lost passport?  So give a 2nd chance to Zev & Justin, but not to Toni & Dallas who also lost their passport? But unlike Zev & Justin, Toni & Dallas’ lost passport was through no fault of their own?

Taxi ride from hell?  You could say that about any countless number of teams.  Taxis have always been hell, so how about other legitimate bad luck scenarios like, oh, say… TAR production malfunctions perhaps?

And a penalty for failing a task involving dozens of ringing phones?  So now we’re blaming Franz Kafka for the Globetrotters quitting the Road Block instead of their own lack of common sense?

Come on TAR! Come on Bert and Phil!

Well, for all this whining and bitching, we’ll just have to wait and see how the actual season turns out.  But for many TAR fans, the casting is getting TARUB off on the wrong foot.   And that is unfortunate because TARUB actually wouldn’t be such a bad idea.  If only they had casted better…

  My Subjective Pre-Race Team Rankings
1. RON & CHRISTINA
Probably one of the few truly deserving spots on this cast list.  The season will be a bust if they don’t win the million.
*GAP* —————————–
2. GARY & MALLORY
If Brook & Claire couldn’t be TAR18’s representative, Gary & Mallory are a fine choice.
3. KYNT & VYXSIN
One of the few truly memorable teams on this list.  They Raced well and could make a great run.
*GAP* —————————–
4. JAMIE & CARA
They definitely stepped up their Race leg after leg, but there were plenty of all-female teams before them that are more deserving of a spot.
4. MEL & MIKE
Mel’s strength and character were surprising and refreshing and were big positives during their season, but so were many other “older” contestants before them.
4. KRIS & AMANDA
They were hailed as the next Kris & Jon (TAR6) but circumstances dealt them an unlucky card.  Still, why not just ask the real Kris & Jon in the first place?
4. ZEV & JUSTIN
Very likeable team, but then why not ask Toni & Dallas back too?  And leaving your own passport somewhere is more your own fault than getting stuck with unreasonable tasks, horrible taxi drivers, and production errors.
*GAP* —————————–
8. JEN & KISHA
Though not easily forgettable, you could easily name ten teams more deserving of another shot than them.
9. HERB & NATE
*see Jen & Kisha*
10. MARGIE & LUKE
*see Herb & Nate* – Plus, we don’t need more holier-than-thou attitude from either of them.
*GAP* —————————–
11. JET & CORD
*see Margie & Luke* – Plus, TAR needs to stop portraying them as these heroes because they are from it.  They aren’t the good guys they are being made out to be (and really, TAR did show their true colors a couple of times on the Race).  Probably the thing that irks me the most is a quote from an article I do not have handy at the moment proclaiming them the “most beloved team of all-time.”  WHAT. THE. FRACK?  No.  Just no.