The Morning After: Danke Schoen, Darling

By James Poniewozik | @poniewozik | December 7, 2009 | +

CBS

The Amazing Race 15 -- The route for the 15th installment of the seven time Emmy Award-winning series, The Amazing Race, which premieres on Sunday, Sept. 27 on the CBS Television Network.

(Warning: vaguely worded spoilers for The Amazing Race follow.)

If I have been remiss in recapping The Amazing Race this season, it is because The Amazing Race has been remiss in making me want to. The show still has a great premise and is capable of drawing me in with a team like Mike and Mel White last year. But I don’t think it gives away too much to say that I had no rooting interest in the winning couple last night, nor much in the others—though at least it was a suspenseful finale, and a genuine race down to the end. If you had a rooting interest, comment away. Or was the materialization of Wayne Newton enough to win you over?

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jimatl

James – speaking of great reality shows you have turned your back on, have you been watching Survivor? It has been simply great.
http://twitter.com/poniewozik James Poniewozik

@jimatl: I’ve heard, but the last couple are still sitting on my TiVo. My Russell-phobia turned me off earlier this season, but I’d like to catch up before the finale.
loriinohio

Interesting – what AR lacked this year was drama – something we often complain about in reality tv, but apparently also crave (when it’s missing).

Still love the show, LOVED this finale episode (though missed one of the final tasks being about recalling the entire race as in the past). My fav team took the prize so I was happy. Well played, well deserved.

Will be waiting not-so-patiently for the next season – AR is my perfect Sunday nitecap.
jimatl

Somehow, Russel has – gasp – evolved and is even somewhat likable at this point. He’s clearly a smart guy and has brought a new element to the game that, let’s face it, after 20 seasons, needs new thinking like this every once in a while.
http://www.bookhopping.wordpress.com Molly

I’m an episode behind as well, but I agree with jimatl. I still wouldn’t want to see Russell win, but he’s gone from evil to merely devious and does keep the game interesting. Especially since he’s seemed to develop some loyalties at this point.
ipfletch

I enjoyed it thoroughly; I think we have differing opinions as to what constitutes ‘drama’- there were plenty of will-they or won’t-they make it moments However, I will concede that none of the final 3 really had me rooting for them (it was a given who the winner would be, really- and they earned it)…I was just happy those whiny slimes Sam & Dan didn’t win. Those 2 guys were as close to villains as the show got- but even with them, things didn’t get really silly. One of the reasons I like this show is that it very rarely has “Survivor”-type jerks involved; I consider that a blessing.