The Amazing Race 5: A Preview of the Teams

Ahh, summer! One of my favorite times of year and not just because it’s the perfect time to sit by the pool, with a margarita in one hand and my iPod in the other. Nope, summer is the best season because my favorite show comes back to my television: The Amazing Race.

If you don’t know the concept yet, let me fill you in: There are 11 teams of two, each with a unique relationship prior to being on the show. The teams must race around the world while performing different challenges called Roadblocks and Detours. This year, something new has been added as well, called a Yield card. From what I gather, with a Yield card, a team can halt a team that is behind them. Each team is only allowed to use the Yield card once during the competition. Also, there is a Fast Forward card as well. Along each leg, if someone wants to go for the Fast Forward, they may bypass the Roadblock and Detour and simply head straight for the Pit Stop. The last team to the Pit Stop at the end of each leg is eliminated, excluding pre-determined legs that are marked as “non-elimination.” With that, let’s take a look at the teams that will be running the race this season, and what I have to say about them based on a first impression.

Alison & Donny (Dating): Shoot me. Please, shoot me now. Why? Well, if you aren’t familiar, Alison was on Big Brother 4 last summer. She was actually the runner up and did a very good job at strategizing in the house. That being said, she was annoying and nobody ever wanted to see her face again. Well, I wouldn’t go that far, but I certainly didn’t. [Editor’s Note: Phil wasn’t alone – Alison was a nominee for the 2003 Reality TV Hall of Shame Year in Review Awards in the category of “Reality TV Personality You Never Want to See Again” (she was also a nominee for “Most Annoying Reality Personality,” which she came close to winning, and along with winner Jun for “Worst Duo on a Reality Show”).] Alison & Donny have been dating off and on for three years now. He’s 21 and she is 23. Alison’s quote for their team, on the website, is “Reality TV tried to rip us apart; the least they can do is throw us together.” Yeah, Alison – reality TV threw you into bed with Nathan and told you to kiss him. Reality TV had you flirting with your ex and making passes at anyone who came along. Give me a break. I can’t wait to see how this team holds up to the pressure of the race, but I’m going out on a limb and saying they make it pretty far. I wouldn’t peg them as final three, but don’t count them out. Alison is a competitor, which we know, but I’m not sure Donny is going to be able to handle her in this situation.

Bob & Joyce (Internet Dating Couple): Wow, they make it sound like they are still dating over the internet and this is the first time they met each other. Actually, but of them are widows and met in a chat room. They had “cyber relations” and one thing led to another. Actually, I’m not sure if they had cyber relations, but the thought of it makes me cringe. They ended up meeting and have been inseparable for over a year now. Bob is 61 and Joyce is 54 – so look out youngsters! I’m marking them down as Sentimental Favorites from the starting line. As usual, it’s tough for “older people” to do well in this race but that’s not saying it doesn’t happen. Teri and Ian came in second place during TAR3, but I’m not so sure Bob & Joyce are going to have that kind of luck. They are one of my picks to be one of the first three teams eliminated. Even though I’d love to for them to run it out with the younger crowd, I just don’t see it happening.

Brandon & Nicole (Dating): No season would be complete without models/actors/adult film stars – well, not the last part, but you know what I’m talking about. Tian and Jaree, last year, were the same things. Basically, if you list yourself as a model/actor, and I’ve never heard of you, I consider you unemployed. That being said, Brandon and Nicole are unemployed and live on different sides of the U.S. They are using the race as a way spend some quality time together since they have been apart ever since they both made the move – Brandon to the east coast and Nicole to the west coast. Both are rather young, with Brandon being 25 and Nicole at 21. They look and sound pretty athletic as well. Even though I can already tell that they are both going to get on my nerves beyond belief (call it a hunch), I’m going to label them as Final 3 contenders. They seem to really care about one another and teamwork is one of the most important aspects of the race. I’m seriously hoping they don’t grate on me as much as I’m thinking.