The Amazing Race has been going strong now for an impressive 31 seasons. The reality competition show premiered on CBS in 2001 and usually sees 11 pairs compete against one another in a literal race around the world. They fly by plane to various locations, follow a treasure hunt of sorts, complete challenges as quickly as they can, and race to a finish in each leg. The last person to arrive is, in most cases, eliminated from the race. And the final pair to arrive to the finish line first wins.
The series is exhilarating and has remained popular throughout its entire run. A 32nd season has already been filmed and is supposed to premiere sometime this year while season 33 has been given the green light but production was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.
There are so many things we love about the show but many others that suggest it should probably end soon.
Keep Going: It's a Great Physical Competition
The show is a great physical competition that shows viewers what you can accomplish if you work hard and stay in shape. The contestants do everything from run through foreign streets to plant trees, load up supplies, climb up and down stairs, and more.
It's a great motivator to get in shape when you see how hard these people work and what they can accomplish, including contestants who are both young and old.
End Soon: Every Season Seems The Same
Every season is pretty formulaic: you have the same typecast characters and the host Phil Keoghan says the same terms every time, including when a team is the last to arrive and "has been eliminated" or that it was a non-elimination round. There has never really been any major twists to the way the show works.
While the destinations are often different, it's the same idea as we see the players fight to reach the airport first or start a rivalry with another team. There is only so many times we can see the same thing over and over again.
Keep Going: It Educates Viewers On Places Around The World
Viewers get to learn about different countries from around the world as well as cultures. They see what common foods are, how different things are made, and how people live as players perform challenges that relate to local culture.
It's reality TV but there is also an educational component to the show that makes it worth keeping on the air.
End Soon: Players Are Often Typecast
As noted, we see a lot of the same types of players every season, including the married or dating couples who always fight, the close siblings, the person with a different ability, the mother and son or father and daughter, the BFFs, and so on.
And when it isn't random people playing, it's people from other reality shows who pop up on The Amazing Race to get more screen time. We have seen people play who were also on shows like Survivor and Big Brother.
Keep Going: It Demonstrates The Importance Of Teamwork
If there was ever any question about the importance of teamwork, this show demonstrates the answer. It's hugely important. You see that when the couples who constantly argue are always in the back of the pack while the teams who communicate well with one another do well. Or at least they are less stressed.
It's a great show to watch with your significant other and ask yourself which type of pair you would be on the show.
End Soon: They Might Run Out Of Unique Locations
The world is only so big and soon enough, the show will be revisiting the same locations and engaging in the same local customs. While this is still great and there is enough to learn about every culture to make things interesting for many seasons to come, viewers might get bored.
For example, the show has already been back to Russia 10 times, to Thailand 12 times, and India 17 times.
Keep Going: It's A Great Opportunity For Contestants Of Other Reality Shows
As noted, contestants from other reality shows have frequently appeared on the show. This includes shows like Big Brother and contestants like Rachel Reilly and Brendan Villegas. Rachel also returned a second time with her sister. Janelle Pierzina and Brittany Haynes from Big Brother also teamed up to go on the show.
And people have also played who were previously on Survivor, like Boston Rob Mariano and his wife Amber, and Rupert Boneham and his wife. It's a great way for fans of those shows to see more of their favorite players.
End Soon: Quit While It's Still Hot
At some point, every popular show has a decision to make: quit while you're still hot and go out on top or keep going until viewership dwindles enough to tell you it's time to pull the plug. Some shows, like American Idol, decided to quit while they were ahead then ended up coming back years later.
For The Amazing Race, it might be nice to end things while he show is still at the top of its game and make room for some exciting new reality shows to be made.
Keep Going: Viewers Live Vicariously Through The Adventures
Viewers love to live vicariously through the players who, while competing in a grueling race, still get to experience so many great places around the world and totally immerse themselves in the culture. Anyone who watches likely starts to get the travel bug by the end of an episode, wanting to visit a place they just saw.
Especially in our current age of social distancing and the urging to stay at home, we could use the virtual escape of this show more than ever.
End Soon: Leave Room (And Budget) For Something New
The Amazing Race is probably a pretty expensive show to shoot, what with having to fly contestants as well as crew members all over the world to film as well as set up the various challenges. It's a big-budget show and that budget could be used for something else.
The show has been around for a long, long time. Isn't it time that we get to see a new type of reality show become available? The Amazing Race and Survivor have dominated things for so long that while great, we'd love to see some new blood enter the category.