Armchair travel hounds, rejoice
By John Deiner
Washington Post
I'll put this as plainly as possible. Watch "The Amazing Race 5."
CBS
I haven't seen the newest version of the CBS reality series, premiering tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. on KGMB, but if it's even one eighth as good as its predecessors, it'll be worth taping or scampering home early to catch. The show is that compelling, particularly for travel hounds.
Competing in the CBS reality series "The Amazing Race 5" are, back row from left, Jim and Marsha, Bob and Joyce, Chip and Kim, Lance and Marshall. In the middle row, Dennis and Erika, Brandon and Nicole, Mirna and Charla, Linda and Karen, Alison and Donnie. Seated are Colin and Christi, Kami and Karli. The 11 teams embark on a globe-trotting adventure, competing for $1 million at the finish line.
After all, why waste time experiencing other cultures and seeing world wonders when you can sit back and watch it on the tube?
"TAR" is a weekly primer on all that is good and evil about globe-trotting (emphasis on the evil). The premise is simple: Eleven teams of two (brothers and sisters, moms and dads, best friends, circus clowns) compete for $1 million, setting out from a spot in the United States before going global.
The pairs get a little bit of cash for each race leg, clues on where to head next and seemingly unlimited access to planes, trains and rickshaws. To slow them down, there's always a dopey challenge or two along the way (bungee-jumping, walking through a cave full of guano, etc.).
Whoever gets to the pit stop first wins that leg of the race; the last-place duo gets the boot. And so it goes, until the final two teams dash to the finish line back in the States.
For CBS, the show's been a middling ratings success, but among TV critics and Race-aholics, it's must-gawk TV.
Rejoice, I say. There's no better way to confirm what you already suspected about travel — for free.
• One bad flight decision can be ruinous. It's the No. 1 reason why teams fail.
• Cabbies can be scary, useless, treacherous or all three. Choose the right taxi driver (or have him thrust upon you) and you'll have no worries. Pick a bad one and you may end up like Andre and Damon from "TAR3." After the two jumped into a Marrakech cab, their driver promptly got them lost, and ultimately detained by Moroccan police.
• There's nothing worse than a bad travel companion. A promising vacation can be ruined by lugging along the wrong person.
• Travel agents can be helpful. Oddly, contestants rarely ask for professional assistance when making airline reservations. Danny and Oswald ("Team Cha-Cha-Cha"), favorites from "TAR2," did the unthinkable at the advice of a Hong Kong hotel concierge: They consulted a travel agency on the best route to Sydney, and arrived in the Australian city a half-hour before anyone else.
• Talking to the locals pays big dividends. Just about every show features some good Samaritan who directs the players.
• Knowing your limitations is a must. Sometimes you just gotta throw up your hands and say, "I don't care how far I've come, I've had enough for today."
