The Amazing Race All Stars

The Amazing Race is coming back for an 11^th season, debuting on Sunday, February 25^th at 8:00 PM EST on CBS. This "All Stars" season will feature some of the most memorable contestants from previous shows. Reality shows in general have just about taken over network, and even some cable, TV. The Amazing Race, however, somehow stands apart. Winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program each year since it's inception in 2003, there is just something special about The Amazing Race that is more generally entertaining, and a little higher quality, than your average reality show.

So what makes The Amazing Race stand apart? The biggest difference between The Amazing Race and most other reality TV shows are the choices of people to compete on the show. The competitors seem to be chosen for their uniqueness, their stories, and their competitiveness, not their skin, bodies, and hair. Most contestants look like average people. Imagine that on a reality show.

In addition to having more average, everyday contestants, The Amazing Race also sets itself apart in the way the competition itself is run. The fastest team wins, period. The "road block" and "detour," challenges that are peppered throughout the race, are based on skill, whether mental or physical. The challenges are entertaining to watch, not too drawn out, and allow for a quick change of who is in the lead of the race. And while there are indeed some "alliances" formed between teams, and some teams may squabble a bit, the main focus of the program is the competition itself. Who is winning, who is falling behind, and who is about to be eliminated from the race are what matter, not who is talking behind who's back.

Host Phil Keoghan has been with the race since the first episode and is a quite likeable guy. The producers do a great job of making sure he remains a part of the program, without taking any focus away from the race itself.

The awesome scenery and surprising cultural experiences also add to the allure of The Amazing Race. Viewers are intrigued each week as they wonder where the race will take contestants next, and what they will encounter once at the destination. Apart from a few simple twists and turns, the Race has been produced with the cliché of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." For 11 seasons, the show has remained relatively the same.

Though a ratings killer, The Amazing Race Family Edition, was a mini-disaster for the show, it is likely that the current All-Star Season will experience typical success. If viewers can get past the addition of notorious couple Amber and Rob, originally cast members of Survivor: All Stars, they will enjoy past memorable teams such as "Team Kentucky" from the most recent season, cousins Charla and Mirna from season five, and season seven winners Uchenna and Joyce.

Overall, The Amazing Race: All Stars sounds as if it will be just as successful and just as entertaining as the past 10 expeditions.