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GRADE: B+

This season “The Amazing Race” delivered a terrific television. Some recent seasons of the show have failed to peak my interest. I guess I got tired of watching abusive screaming couples, and dysfunctional family units fighting across the globe. This year the contestants were more like-able and sincere.

In the beginning I was rooting for “the coal miners” and “Alabama” to win. I am a sap when it comes to reality T.V. games, I always want the underdog to come out on top. Realistically I knew neither of these teams could win, but their tenacity and conviction were very admirable.

I was very happy to see “the blonde’s” leave early and unable to make it to the top 3 teams. I didn’t like the way they played the game, and used their sexuality as a way to get ahead. It just bores me. No one would have been able to predict that “Alabama” would make it to the top 3, but their keen sense of direction and spot on map reading skills allowed them to be the only all girl team to ever make it to the top 3 spot.

Of course it wouldn’t be an “Amazing Race” without the token screaming abusive engaged couple. Rob & Kim were two of the most annoying contestants this year. Every chance to put each other down, or holler at each other they took it. It was painful to watch them continually have car troubles, but then make it to the front of the pack each time.

The couple that took the cake were Peter & Sarah. Sarah is an amputee and watching Peter yell and push Sarah to the point of tears was aggravating to watch. They now are no longer dating, what a big surprise. It seemed that every hard climbing detour or stressful activity was pushed onto to her so he can see if she would be able to do it.

In the end the “straight” recovering addict models took the grand prize and made it to the check point first. Out of the three I was hoping for “Alabama”, but as long as Rob & Kim didn’t win I was happy. At the end it was funny to see Rob cry and it was pretty moving watching the proud “Alabama” team cross the finish line.

I wish the two winners would have kissed and pronounced their love for eachother at the end, I mean these guys are SOOOO gay. Really, it was a bit much. I enjoyed this season for its softer, sweeter moments and for the great climaxes to some of the legs of the races. I will check out the next installment because I enjoyed this season so much.