The Amazing Race 6 has turned into a hit show, gathering more steam as each season goes by. Pretty impressive for a show many thought would not return after season 2.
Unfortunately, this season contains some of the least likable people the show has seen. The producers have opted for cookie-cutter model types for many of the couples. Several of the others have just been utterly uninteresting. Fortunately, the exotic locations and unusual tasks continue to compel me to watch. With 5 teams left, I really don't care which wins at this point.
But I must discuss one particular couple that all of America was delighted to see eliminated from the race this week. Jonathon and Victoria have got to be the most screwed up couple ever to grace prime time, giving the Osbournes a run for their money. Some say it was just the editing on the show. Others excuse Jon's incredibly abusive behavior on medication he was taking. But anyone who has completed Psychology 101 can see that these two are incredibly dysfunctional, as individuals and as a couple.
Victoria is the textbook co-dependent, allowing Jon to browbeat her and then excusing his behavior. Jon is the typical abusive man, insecure and angry as can be. I sense deeper issues in him as well, perhaps Borderline Personality Disorder. I just found out that Victoria is a Playboy Playmate centerfold model, which explains more of her emotional troubles. Basically, they are an unbelievable mess and require a great deal of therapy. Both of them have a world to learn about boundaries.
Anyhow, they are eliminated. Now they can go home and schedule therapy.
The latest news? Rob and Amber of Survivor fame will be competing as a team in The Amazing Race 7, to premier March 1. This is a huge coup for the show producers and should bring in many more viewers. I think a celebrity show would be a great idea, with the couples competing for charity.
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
January 20, 2005 05:57 PM
Quick question - are not most of these "reality" shows scripted anyway? That may explain the ridiculous behavior. On the website for the couple, Jon talks about the "storyline" that CBS went with. I personally feel that most of these "reality" shows are simply overglorified Jerry Springer episodes. None of them are really "real", they just use more regular Joes for actors. Shows like "The Bachleor" and "the Bachleorette" are ruining society's view of love and shows like "the Apprentice" make it seem to all that all you have to do to run a multi-million dollar company is hang from a cliff for a few minutes. Sad, America, sad. We need to grow up in this country and go back to cheesy sitcoms that you KNEW were not real, instead of this false pretense of "reality" TV.
January 21, 2005 08:09 AM
I enjoy the Amazing Race too. I agree that I do not like any of the teams this year. They all yell at each other way too much.
It makes me worried to see such people traveling the world, representing Americans. It make me crazy when they yell at local people like cab drivers and such. And yet...I watch.
January 23, 2005 06:19 PM
Jonathon and Victoria were screwed over with a good cut and paste job from the camera crew. They weren't actually like that. All the others were just about as bad, but they decided that "abusive love" would be thier story for the show. They're going to be on Dr. Phil if you want to know more about that...
January 23, 2005 11:32 PM
I have no doubt that the audience is manipulated by editing. But there is absolutely NO excuse for Jonathon's behavior. What we DID see was horrendous.
January 29, 2005 10:51 PM
Ya, you are right !
February 13, 2005 10:43 PM
I loove the Amazing race. It's the best and hope it goes on for many, many seasons.
The character I've loved the most is Chip from season 5.