‘The Amazing Race 21’ preview: Turkish baths and stealing money
Thus far on “The Amazing Race 21,” there have really been a pair of problems with the quality of this season compared to some of the others. First things first, it has not been that competitive between the teams save for the Blind U-Turn and Ryan (of Abbie & Ryan) shouting like a crazy person as he passed Amy & Daniel on the first leg. This goes in contrast with last season, where Vanessa & Ralph and Brendon & Rachel were more than fine shouting and insulting each other every five minutes.
In addition to that, the contestants themselves have really not done anything to show us that they are someone to root for. Chippendales Jaymes & James and “twinnies” Natalie and Nadiya are the most colorful of the group, but “colorful” does not always translate to mean “likable,” though some of the things that we have found out about the Chippendales away from the show (notably that they want to use the money if they win to help out their families) does make us root for them more.
Hopefully, someone of interest is going to emerge during Sunday night’s new episode. After all, the potential is sure going to be there. Who doesn’t want to watch a trainwreck of a leg that takes place in Turkey? You know almost immediately that a Turkish bath is going to be involved here, which includes someone taking off at least half of their clothing before getting abused by a very overweight and shirtless man.
In addition to that, there is also going to be a “race first” (cue dramatic music) as someone steals someone else’s money. We really cannot see this being something that is done intentionally, mostly because this sort of blatant rule violation is pretty much akin to Phil Keoghan punching you in the face the moment that you get to the pit stop. (Expect a massive penalty.) Our suspicion instead here is that someone grabs the wrong pile of cash by mistake and starts spending it, and will probably have their jaw hit the floor the moment Phil tells them what they have done. (“Pirates, what have you done!” – Bad “Pirate Master” reference for anyone who remembers that horrible show.)
Esmeashcroft
December 7, 2012 @ 3:22 pm
Stealing is wrong. It should never be condoned
Lyn Myers
December 2, 2012 @ 9:42 pm
I can say that after watching Amazing Race almost from the beginning, I can no longer in good conscious, continue. I was hoping to see some penalty for the twins’ thieft, but it never came. There is a penalty for stealing a taxi and a penalty for bartering your own belongings. How on earth can there not be a penalty for stealing from cash or anything from other contestants. What next, no rules against stabbing, so that is okay? When Survivor became a cut throat game, I stopped watching it. I have been proud of the code of ethics Amazing Race, until now, has emulated. With remorse I will no longer watch this show. I encourage all who truly believe in ethics to do the same until some action is taken by the program to remedy this crime. This has become a dirty game!!!!
Dan Taylor
November 25, 2012 @ 9:04 pm
No consequences for blatant theft. I’m through with Amazing Race.
Florie
November 12, 2012 @ 12:52 pm
clearly the money was stolen – the two who took it knew whose money it was They should have been thrown out of the game when they came to the end. Horrible for CBS to keep them in the game
sally
November 12, 2012 @ 4:43 am
I hope everyone went to the CBS website to the feedback at the bottom of their page and complained about the money theft!!! Stealing is criminal,period!!!
jon bagley
November 12, 2012 @ 12:15 am
phil wouldn’t check in the rock star and lawyer, because he already knew about the passport. I now have the answer I needed to never watch the show I always loved to watch. It’s what they decide at their discretion.
Joyce
November 11, 2012 @ 8:25 pm
Amazing Race did not address the thieving twins…done with the show…will never watch again.
paul
November 8, 2012 @ 11:08 am
Take a good look at them, greediness is writting all over their face.
Karyn
November 7, 2012 @ 2:02 pm
I’ve watched and enjoyed TAR since it started, but if the thievery is not penalized in any way, I will no longer watch the show. This was out-and-out stealing, and CBS/TAR would show a major lack integrity if this isn’t addressed eventually.
TAR has won an Emmy year-after-year because the show is so well done, but this was just terrible. If this is not addressed soon, I will not watch again.
Will CBS/TAR sweep it under the rug, or will they do the right thing and penalize or eliminate the twinnies and Texas? If they choose to ignore the blatant thievery, they deserve the loss of viewers, as well as any future Emmy awards.
CBS/TAR…please maintain the integrity of the show and don’t send a message to viewers that behavior like this is acceptable.
Leona
November 6, 2012 @ 12:49 pm
Amazing Race consistently punishes contestents for taking a cab when they were supposed to walk to the next clue. What’s with not even addressing the blatant theft on last weeks show. I expected the twins to be eleminated as well as the Texans. I’m sure many families watch this show; what a poor example you gave about dishonesty. I am hoping this will be addressed in the next show or that will be my last time to view AR.
Cathy D
November 6, 2012 @ 1:18 am
Wow I watched amazing race and was very disappointed. The twins knew that it was the rockers money, and they purposely kept it and split it with the 1st place team. They even made comments about spliting the “guilt”. Why would CBS be ok with this, the comments from people certainly havent been positive. In a culture so full of dishonesty, cheating, and crime, why would CBS be ok with this?? Please tell me it will be addressed, it seems sad that a country with people with so little gave so much, and Americans who had it all, took even more….sort of ironic huh?
Is this the values we want Americans to be admired for, and to have this behavior glorified on TV for millions of families, is a all time low for CBS, the negative comments demonstrate peoples disappointment. What is particularly disturbing is the twins knew whose money it was, and took it regardless…certainly not like this just “found it randomly”…
Chayenne
November 6, 2012 @ 1:00 am
Amazing Race producers should be ashamed for not addressing the blatant theft of the guys’ cash. While it was moving that so many humble people stepped up to help them out, it was troubling at the same time as they have so little. Shame on the twins and the other team for sharing in the stolen funds!
Mimi
November 5, 2012 @ 7:45 pm
The grand prize for Amazing Race 2012 is not 1 million dollars, but it’s 2 million dollars!!
What if the twins won 2 million dollars after committing crime on national TV?
Just thinking about it makes me sick in the stomach… We can’t let that happen!!
cds333
November 5, 2012 @ 4:04 pm
How disgusting! I have watched every episode of this show since the first. Now I will never watch again. Both teams of thieves should have been disqualified. Instead, the Texans get a trip. Everyone associated with the show should be ashamed of themselves.
just me
November 5, 2012 @ 2:12 pm
SHAME!!!!!!! shame on A R show for not throwing those twins off the show.
You are simply saying its ok to steal!!!!!!!!!!!
they should have to be kicked off or made to leave an hour later then everyone else on the next leg of the race!!!!!!!
we love this show but i feel many may quit watching if they are going to let this sort of thing happen. those girls knew who’s money that way…. im not so sure that the couple took any i thought the twins kept it all because the couple didnt want to split it. …. A R needs to set an example and do something about it…
blackbear1
November 5, 2012 @ 2:11 pm
Why were the twins allowed to get away with knowingly stealing cash from other competitors?? You must take action on this incident or lose credibility. My Wife and I will not watch this show again, unless CBS or the show’s producers or whomever addresses this. A couple of years ago, there was a contestant who was a borderline Wife abuser(verbal), and he was spoken to, although not harshly enough. Stand and handle this now. Those twins need to be eliminated now!!
Charlene
November 5, 2012 @ 1:06 pm
I agree with almost all of the comments above. How can we tolerate stealing as OK to watch on CBS – no matter if it is on reality TV or not. It is simply wrong morally to show young kids who may be watching the Amazing Race that it is OK to Steal another teams money.
So long Amazing Race, I will no longer watch your show after 20 faithful years. Season 21 will not be one that your fans will remember as a great race, but one of participants stealing on National T.V.
Take the twins off and the winning couple should not get their Australia Trip. There has to be some consequence for Stealing!!
Mick
November 5, 2012 @ 11:21 am
CBS if you were going for a new low,you met your goal,cover up for Obama,reporters who report trash and made up trash at that. And now you can race with no talent but knowing how to steal,and not be confronted. And this is a CBS family show. Last week on all the polls for the show the twins were picked as the ones who would steal and the other high pick was CBS would do nothing if it was them–was not shocked by CBS just ashamed that you knew thousands of kids would be watching and didnt care
Paul
November 5, 2012 @ 9:57 am
I did not see the finish as I get up early in the morning so I taped it. The act of the twins was totally disgusting and they should be punished (kicked off the show). This will send a message to youth that stealing is wrong and should never be tolerated. I will delete the show I taped as I was hoping to go home tonight and see how they were punished evidently they were not, disgusting!!! I too will not watch another episode.
Blaa Blaa Blaa
November 5, 2012 @ 9:09 am
Continued: Just remembered – there is a rule like”…you can’t take another team’s possessions to their detriment..” in the show. Teams have been penalized before, just for taking someone else’s fannyback by mistake !.
Unless they eliminate the twins from the race, in the beginning of the next episode, I’m thru with this show.
Blaa Blaa Blaa
November 5, 2012 @ 8:51 am
So stealing others’ traveling money is OK ?. WTF ? What’s next – stealing others backbacks and clues too is OK ?. And also, those teams had 150 dollars for the leg, not 100, which doesn’t sound fair to others.
Maybe the route info should’ve been like “…you have 100 dollars for this leg of this race – unless you know how to steal…”.
How came then in one season, two circus guys (or something like that) got penalized, just for “mixing up” tools at a roadblock ???. Hmmm. Maybe they should’ve stolen all of them, then it would’ve been OK…
John
November 5, 2012 @ 8:20 am
Why was the theft not addressed at the pit stop? If the shows producers weren’t going to eliminate the Indian twins, they should have at least been given a time penalty, or made to confess to the rockers. In the past, they’ve given penalties to players that didn’t follow the rules. How is this not one of those situations?
Shame on you Phil, and shame on the Amazing Race producers.
Josie
November 5, 2012 @ 5:51 am
Oh and to Loonie… those who gave to the rockers were indeed demonstrating their kindness and decency.. but they weren’t Turkish.
They were still in Bangladesh [one of the poorest countries in the world] when the Rockers were given the money.
Must say I’m a bit surprised that you seem to think stealing is OK as long as the THIEVES are ‘good sports and not rude about it’.
I’m sure if you are ever burgled you’ll take great comfort in knowing that the burglers were polite.
Josie
November 5, 2012 @ 5:42 am
I want to respond to Joe.. Yeah tired travellers have been known to put money down and have it taken.. that’s a good life lesson.
But the person who takes it is a THIEF.!!!!! and when the theft is caught on camera and played out on national television one would expect that the THIEF !!! experience some consequesnces.
STEALING is against the law and law breakers should be punished.. how’s that for a life lesson ??
Although from your comments I think anyone who knows you should make sure they don’t turn their back on you since it’s clear that you think stealing is OK.
Mimi
November 5, 2012 @ 5:32 am
Sorry, I was so mad that I mistyped “legally”. I just want to say it’s “legally wrong”!! I wonder how the lawyers of CBS handle this crime committed in the foreign country.
Mimi
November 5, 2012 @ 5:21 am
The twins have committed a crime, and it has been filmed! CBS has a proof of the crime, and they don’t do anything about it? It’s regally wrong!!
Marnie
November 5, 2012 @ 3:34 am
I was absolutely disgusted with Lexie and Trey and the twinnies stealing money, and then laughing about it. . I will NEVER watch the show again. Until tonight – I had been cheering for the twinnies. They all should have been eliminated for having no morals or ethics and for being thieves. I can’t believe they were allowed to stay, and to even win a trip to Australia – unbelievable!!!!!!!
Thank God those awful truckers are gone…..Abba and partner should have been moved to 1st place with the prize.
DZ
November 5, 2012 @ 2:15 am
Hoping that they will penalize them sometime in the next episode. We need to remember that the stealing happened in Dhaka, and Phil was in Istanbul so its possible they didn’t know about the stealing in that leg of the race.
kel
November 5, 2012 @ 1:35 am
I am shocked that the twins and the other team did not get penalties for what they did.It was all filmed.I am sure that there is something in the rules about that kind of behavior.
Angela
November 5, 2012 @ 12:35 am
It is really, really dissappointing that there were no consequences for blantant stealing and lack of ethics by 4 contestants this week. Of course Bangladeshi’s had honor and dignity to help out two priveldegd men from one of the richest countries on earth win a $1million – but is that really a good position in which to put bystanders to this entertainment?
Loonie
November 5, 2012 @ 12:28 am
I thought the wonderful gestures of the Turkish people to give money to the guys was indeed worth watching the show for. It shows that people living in other countries do have values and wanted to show helpfulness to them. The twins did not “silently” take the money. They shared it and were openly honest about what they had done. I’m not judging the producers for this. It’s a difficult race. I was thrilled the monster truckers got voted off. I didn’t care for their personal way of playing the game at all. Yes, it was a bad decision by the twins. However, they are good sports and show positive effort without being rude to other players.
Mary
November 5, 2012 @ 12:26 am
What kind of message is the showing condoning? It is okay for a couple of racist thieves to COMMIT A CRIME by stealing money from fellow competitors? Those two ill-mannered, ill-raised children had some nerve laughing about it during the re-cap. I guess it all come down to how people are raised.
Rosalee
November 5, 2012 @ 12:13 am
21 seasons, 11 years. that’s how long my husband and I have watched The Amazing Race, having fun on a Sunday night trying to figure out who would do what stuff, always laughing. Tonight will be the last episode I ever watch. How could a team that was allowed to steal money from another team have no consiquense? They could have turned it in. Instead, they gave 1/2 to another team and literally said. “You can feel half the guilt.” The team member who “lost the money” felt so bad. There was no reason for that. If a show allows stealing whether it be from another team or someone in the crowd then I don’t need to watch it. Not right shame on the producers!
Aberdonian
November 5, 2012 @ 12:04 am
Very simple – this is stealing – tell them they are immediately disqualified and have to find their own way home to the States with no money !!!!
Carla
November 5, 2012 @ 12:01 am
I agree, I am very disappointed in the show to allow a team to steal and try and sabotage an other team without penalty? I’m not sure I want to watch this how any long if that how low the they are going to go.
Lazaro
November 4, 2012 @ 11:56 pm
For a show that is sooooo strict on the details of the race rules I was shocked that stealing from other teams is allowed??
Joe
November 4, 2012 @ 11:35 pm
Get over it.
This is life, finders keepers, losers weepers! This was not stealing, they left the money out like tired travelers (we have all done it) and they deserve to lose it. Let me know where in the real world you can leave $100.00 cash out and expect to have it returned. You should all allow your kids to watch this show, it is the real world, they might learn to be careful with their cash. Leave money laying around, and you will lose it. For those that get away with it good for them.
jon bagley
November 4, 2012 @ 11:34 pm
I agree with the rest of the viewers. My family has always loved this show but will no longer watch, if something is not done to the thieves on next week’s show. This is just out and out stealing in front of millions of viewers. It’s disgusting to condone this on a popular show.
David M.
November 4, 2012 @ 11:30 pm
I am shocked and saddened to learn that The Amazing Race producers and directors allowed Natalie & Nadyia to get away with gleefully stealing cash from another team!!! It is not as if they simply found cash on the street with no idea to whom it belonged. They KNEW and did it anyway, then conspiratorially involved another team in their deception and theft! So…does this mean that Amazing Race is endorsing a Russell Hance- brand of “whatever it takes to win, no matter how mean/underhanded/cruel you have to be” type of contestant behavior? In today’s world parents struggle to help their children become considerate and law-abiding adults amid the constantly shifting morals of society. Those same families gather each Sunday night to watch The Amazing Race. What did the kiddos learn tonight? You steal and then still get to hear, “Congratulations, you are team number….”
Shame on you AMAZING RACE.
Doug
November 4, 2012 @ 10:40 pm
I am quite disappointed in CBS and the Amazing Race. My wife and I have three boys and we love watching the Amazing Race as a family. It is one of the few shows we can all enjoy as a family. However we are shocked that the Twins were not penalized after stealing money from another team. How is blatant theft with intent acceptable? The twins must be sent home for their utter lack of decency.
anonymous
November 4, 2012 @ 10:34 pm
allow stealing teammates money and not send them home. It is very wrong. They need to be punished. We will not watch your show again. This is a sad direction for our country to go and accept this kind of behavior as ok.
Cole
November 4, 2012 @ 10:26 pm
The teams who stole should be penalized at least or what is to stop other teams from stealing, what is next stealing their backpacks
Deborah
November 4, 2012 @ 10:22 pm
I can’t believe the show did nothing to those two groups for stealing,, & YES they knowly stole the money it was no mistake,,,I am with the previous post we loved this show but will no longer watch!!!Come on Phil you cant let this happen!!!
Joe in Texas
November 4, 2012 @ 10:19 pm
My family will never watch The Amazing Race again. Stealing is wrong and is not something I like my kids seeing, especially when the thieves get a reward.
Anonymous
November 4, 2012 @ 10:17 pm
My husband and I watch The Amazing Race every week; our electric was off one week and we had to go to my brother-in-law’s to view. We realize that this is a “race to the end”, however, there should have been something mentioned to the two team’s as they placed about the money that they “picked up” which belonged to another team. You know they say, “what goes around, comes around”. Honesty always wins and this was totally dishonest. I suggest that the rules be reviewed and something entered in the rules in regards to these actions.
Snow
November 4, 2012 @ 10:17 pm
Shame on you CBS! Disgraceful. No longer a fan.
Coach
November 4, 2012 @ 10:13 pm
I cannot believe that stealing does not have consequences. In our civilized society, stealing results in prison time. I can not longer allow my children to watch this show since we all assumed there was going to be consequences to this behavior when they check in. I cannot believe that you did not punish the twins for their acts. I would vote that they be disqualified. You have just encourage all future players to steal from each other every chance they get. Our family will not be watching any other episodes and we will spread the word.
Noma
November 4, 2012 @ 9:55 pm
Cannot believe there was no penalty for knowingly stealing. Lost my respect for the show!
Dot
November 4, 2012 @ 9:53 pm
Absolutely disgusted with the teams stealing money and amazed that
one of them was actually awarded the first place prize tonight.
Shame on the producers for allowing this!
Ruth
November 4, 2012 @ 9:44 pm
How sad to see a fun show that will allow “stealing” in front of millions. This really is such a poor example for any child watching–stealing is okay and in the end you
get congratulated on being number whatever. Really lost respect for producers of
the show!!!
Anonymous
November 4, 2012 @ 9:36 pm
Can’t root for theives
Kathy
November 4, 2012 @ 9:35 pm
The Amazing Race has just succumbed to a new low allowing contestants on national T.V. to basically “steal” (they knew whose money it was) to have a shot to win under those conditions. What are you teaching about winning here? Natalie and Nadiya should be gone or at the very least, penalized. Then you ask what is wrong with our youth?