‘The Amazing Race 29’: What ‘MacGyver’s’ full-season order means for potential premiere
For people who really enjoy watching “MacGyver” on CBS, we imagine that the announcement of the show getting a full-season order on Monday was great news. With that being said, we understand that there are probably some other people rather bummed about the announcement for one reason: It eliminates a potential premiere time for the new season of “The Amazing Race.”
For the past couple of years, seasons of the reality competition show have aired Fridays at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time. With “MacGyver” now taking over that spot and having 22 episodes for its first season, the only way we could see the Race getting on the air in this spot before May is if CBS decides to air new “MacGyver” episodes virtually every week from now until March with some rather-small exceptions here and there. This feels unlikely for many reasons, including that it may not be possible to even produce every episode in time.
To us, this means that “The Amazing Race” will need to find a new home on the schedule if it wants to air before summer. Given the full season for “Bull,” we’re looking at a situation now where Wednesdays and Thursdays are now the only nights during the week (with Saturdays being an exception) where there could be open spots in the schedule later this season. (Thursdays are especially a tossup given that “Pure Genius” is still to premiere.) Every other night has shows with a full-season commitment at present, and there would need to be some creative scheduling (such as CBS cramming in a season between “Survivor: Millennias vs. Gen X” and the 34th season) or timeslot switches to make way for the Race to premiere.
One thing we do know is that it’ll be on the air eventually. Let’s just hope that you’re patient, and you’re willing to work your schedule around when it comes on the air.
Rest assured: Once there is some more news to report on “The Amazing Race,” we’ll have it for you over here. (Photo: CBS.)
1LOSTFan
October 19, 2016 @ 2:32 am
I don’t think 10 pm timeslots on Wednesday or Thursday are a possibility as CBS has so much in the can (Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, Ransom, Superior Donuts, Training Day) waiting that TAR is not a priority.
Martin Pal
October 18, 2016 @ 9:00 pm
I’d prefer to watch The Amazing Race once a week, but what if they tried airing it as an event each night over a two week period in December or January. It’s the kind of show that has that kind of momentum, it’s a race after all, and might be addicting. I don’t know. I’m just burned it’s not on now, i could care less about most any other CBS show right now.