What can I say? Season 14 is officially under way. It’s actually pretty crazy to write season 14. I think we’ve really outdone ourselves this time around and also performed some spring-cleaning, if you will. We freshened up the graphics, the music, the maps, and we’re letting the show breathe a little more when we have the opportunity to show off the spectacular places that we travel to each week. Maybe a little less airport process and a little more postcard moments.
Love our cast…so diverse and colorful, including our first-ever deafcontestant, a pair of Harvard grads, a carpenter, a jockey, former NFLcheerleaders, a Hollywood screenwriter and even a gay rightsactivist/minister. Of course, the other big stars of the show are thelocations, including first-ever stops in Siberia and Romania. Becausewe never repeat ourselves by going back to the same locations, we haveendless opportunities to keep it fresh. We have tons of drama,adventure and even a few occasions where I was forced to mediateseveral Mat meltdowns.
The Joint Forces in Los Alamitos, Calif. came out in full force tosupport us with two massive military helicopters. While flying into thestart of the race, the teams were treated to a couple of spectacularrainbows. A good sign that we had a golden opportunity to createanother Amazing season.
As always, the adrenaline started pumping right from the start. Theteams have been waiting in anticipation for months or, in the case ofLuke, who has been an avid fan since season 1, years. They all have aton of built-up energy and they’re eager to start the race. As I alwayssay, the world is waiting for you.
Right out of the starting block our oldest racer, Mel White, suffers agroin injury. Not a great way to start the race, but something tells mehe’s not going to throw in the jock strap just yet. When it comes tocomedy, the Whites are going to be the kings this season.
People ask me if I ever grow tired of racing around the world with theteams. But how could I when everything is so unique every time we makethe journey. This isn’t like going to the same old studio where you canguarantee 69 degrees and perfect weather. Just like the teams, we haveto be ready for anything.
Speaking of unpredictable, Switzerland took us to a whole new level ofmayhem. You know you’re capturing classic television moments when allaround you people are yelling out "watch out for the flying cheese."The locals lost it. The teams certainly lost it. And to be perfectlyhonest with you, no one in production knew what might happen next.Thank goodness for those fences or who knows where those cheese bombsmight have ended up.
Personally there are many special moments that I will treasure when Ilook back on my time hosting The Amazing Race: Gus during season 6 whenhe pays tribute to his ancestors; Ian from Season 3 remembering histime in Vietnam. But being able to sign to Margie and Luke that theywere team #1 on the first leg and knowing how much it meant to himmakes this one of those moments I will never forget.
More on ‘The Amazing Race’:
‘The Amazing Race’ season 14, episode 1 recap
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Phil letting Luke in on his moment of triumph via sign language was extremely cool. Watching Linda cower in fear from Phil’s Eyebrow of Death on the mat was also a classic moment. Could be a killer season.
Welcome to the blogoshpere Phil! Can’t wait to hear your insights this season.
I concur with Stevex. You’re learning sign language (maybe you already knew it) proves you
‘re a class act, Phil. Luke’s reaction was wonderful. This season looks great. I’m actually glad the most annoying couple is gone first. There’s nothing worse than listening to people carp on each other as they go around the world.
Phil, the clean-up worked just great. It may have been the most interesting and entertaining episode of The Amazing Race ever. I finally convinced my wife to give the show a chance and watch it with me, and her eyes never left the screen. Well done!
Watching you sign to Luke made me tear up! I think I might be one of the few people that enjoy watching the airport fighting/trying to hide what flights were are on. I like to see how far the backstabbing will go-it is always entertaining. I look forward to your weekly blog and perhaps the extra insight we might get into this show! Keep up the great hosting duties and let Browsie shine!!
Best. Eyebrow. Raise. Ever.
Can someone PLEASE tell me how , where and when to try out for amazing race 15? It has been imposible to find any info
thanks!!!
Didi
Phil, keep up the great work, our whole family loves the show and look forward to it each week.
One of TAR’s best openers ever! Great new opening credits (which still include a brief shot of the CGI airplane, btw) and logo! Awesome revamped editing (the new 24-style split screens provide better flow and idea of when certain events are happening in relation to other teams)! The way Phil announced the winner this leg was touching! The cheese challenge was INSANELY funny! And we got TWO shots of Browsie! This episode alone should win the Emmy for Best Reality Show Competition next year! Phil, welcome to EW!
This is already shaping up to be one of the best seasons ever. Phil, thanks for taking me around the world every week! You’re one of the classiest people in television.
Phil, I can’t tell you how happy I am that you’re blogging TAR. I have never missed a season. I eagerly looking forward to you saying “the world is waiting for you. I cried a bit when you signed to Margie & Luke. They are my pick to win after watching all the pre-interviews for all the obvious reasons. No offense to Jeff Probst or Chris Harrison and I LOVE their blogs, but when I heard you were bloging I thought I’d died and gone to reality tv heaven. Great first episode! Loved the cheese challenge, couldn’t stop laughing at the teams. Thank you soooooo much for doing this Phil! See you next week.
The Cheese Challenge had me laughing so hard I was crying. I can’t wait to see what’s ahead for these teams. Phil, it’s great to hear your thoughts! It was truly sweet when you signed to Margie and Luke that they were number 1. Awesome episode! Keep on the blogs!
Sorry, Phil, but I thought the episode (and your blog) was lame. Loved the editing, though, as you guys focused more on the scenery than the airport fighting. I was underwhelmed with episode 1, but I think there’s some potential with this cast. I’ll certainly be tuning back in the rest of the season. Please also spice up your blog with a little more inside info. Check out Probst’s blog from the other night if you want to see how it’s done…
That eyebrow raise for the “Hick” team was absolutely amazing. My wife and I were already in tears from the flying cheese and that just further cemented that episode as the best ever. I see you hinting at future mat showdowns and I have to say it appeared that the brother/sister team has a contestant that seems rather pushy and grabby and I am assuming she will cause some chaos in the future. This season looks good so far!
Was surprised to see the show tonight without any forewarning or advertising. Glad I was able to Tivo. Always a pleasure.
This episode was glorious! And I have really enjoyed you as a host these many years.
I was wondering if they will ever lower the age limit to 18 like survivor? me and my friend r dieing to go on!
I definitely noticed less airport action last night. Usually it takes 20 minutes on the 1st episode to get out of the 1st airport, you were out of it after the 1st break! The cheese Detour was hilarious!
Wow, Phil, are you and Probst in some kind of competition for posting the lamest recap yet? Because honestly, I think it’s a dead heat.
Hey Phil, thanks for taking the time to blog for us! I’m looking forward to reading your posts each week. Last night’s episode was amazing! I hope it’s representative of the season (and seasons) to come. I love the fact that more time was spent on challenges and scenery instead of airport time, etc. And both challenges last night were really exciting! This season is off to a great start.
Hey Phil
As a longtime and hardcore fan of the show, last night’s opening was one of the best ever in the series. No more long winded airport expositions which don’t matter anyway and I like the switch up that required teams to gauge both flight AND train schedules in order to get to the first city. And hauling 50 pounds of cheese is the new temperamental Irish donkey. I enjoyed this task WAY too much.
Phil, I teared up when you signed to Luke and his Mom that they were Team # 1. Well done. Looking forward to your blogs this season!
Hi Phil! Love the show (never missed one) and will definitely be reading your blog entries. Loved last night’s episode. Everyone is commenting on the cheese (rofl!) but my terrifying moments were watching the bungee jump. There’s actually a LONGER one on the planet???
Phil–bring back the “head snap” intro!!!!!!!
Signing to Margie & Luke…that was classy Phil. I teared up!
Phil-
It was very touching to see you sign, when Luke and his Mom were the first team! That was very special for you to do that!!
Phil, glad you are blogging. I have been watching since season one as well. Also, this might be the only time I ever get to say this that you might actually see, so here goes: You were ROBBED by not being nominated for the reality host Emmy last year. How can the perennial winner for best show not even have it’s host nominated? Still makes me mad. I feel so much better now.
Yes, the signing of ‘you are team number one’ was the highlight of the show, but does anyone know what happened to Luke’s glasses! They were gone after the bungee jump!
Phil, this episode has two of my favorite moments ever. One was you signing and the other was watching all of the contestants try to get those cheese wheels down the hill. I have never laughed so hard watching the show.
What a great season opener! Thank goodness for less airport mumbo-jumbo. That has been the least interesting part for the last several seasons. B.O.R.I.N.G. Also – the return of an actual “clue” instead of “Go to point A and via this bus on that road and accomplish XYZ”. We are finally getting back to racers figuring things out and racing! Loved it! All hail the eyebrow!