I Just Found Out Why Amazing Race Aired The Last Couple Of Seasons Out Of Order, As Phil Keoghan Calls It The ‘Risk That Paid Off’

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As a dedicated fan of The Amazing Race, I can’t forget the past few seasons and their unexpected twists. It’s not about the winners who took home a million dollars, but rather the unusual changes in the show’s production from Season 34 during the Covid era—where contestants wore masks and private flights were arranged—to a completely normal Season 35, and then back to the masked and precautious Season 36. At first glance, it may seem like a continuity error, but in truth, host Phil Keoghan refers to this as a “risk that paid off.

Why The Amazing Race Aired A Couple Of Seasons Out Of Order

Before Season 37 of “The Amazing Race” officially hit TV screens, an unusual event took place. It turned out that a few seasons of the show were broadcast out of sequence. This shift was prompted by changes within CBS that affected not only “The Amazing Race,” but also its sister reality series, “Survivor,” on the CBS network. Interestingly, I didn’t know this, but what was actually Season 36 of “The Amazing Race” had already been edited and prepared when CBS decided to air extended 90-minute episodes for both shows.

It’s clear that increasing the length of each episode by 30 minutes was a significant shift for the show, especially since they were already in production for Season 35 of The Amazing Race. Consequently, the creative team decided to produce and edit Season 35 with a runtime of 90 minutes. They then had the opportunity to revisit the season filmed during the Covid-19 period (which later crowned couple winners teacher Ricky Rotandi and chef Cesar Aldrete as champions) and create a more detailed, 90-minute edit that eventually became Season 36.

It’s quite astonishing to consider reworking an entire season of a show not once, but twice. Phil Keoghan shared with Gold Derby that it was a daring move that ultimately proved successful, and he elaborated on how the extended-episode format has significantly enhanced Race.

The decision turned out to be beneficial. For our show, it seems to have made a positive impact as it’s allowed us to show more of the world, something viewers have often expressed interest in. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, we’ve had to cut out scenes and provide less context about our location. This new approach should help address that feedback.

Jeff Probst, host of Survivor, appreciates that viewers can witness a more detailed account of an idol hunt (previously just a 30-second soundbite) due to longer episodes. Similarly, Race contestant Keoghan praises the re-edit and future edits because they offer fans a broader understanding of team dynamics and the strategic choices made by the show during challenges.

In collaboration with one of the producers, our aim is consistently to provide viewers with a clear understanding of why we’re filming in a specific location like Thailand and what purpose it serves for the challenge at hand. Essentially, we’re trying to explain the reason behind our presence there and the significance of the task we’ve set up for the participants. As viewers become increasingly discerning, this context becomes increasingly crucial.

The significance of context is heightened as The Amazing Race prepares to return for Season 37 on CBS (or with a Paramount Plus subscription) in 2025. The series premieres on Wednesday, March 5th, and host Phil Keoghan hints at some exciting “twists” in the works. While these changes might not be as drastic as previous seasons airing out of sequence, they are sure to add an extra layer of excitement!

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2025-01-05 23:37