The Amazing Race Asia - General Discussion

[Meredith Quill]

Discuss The Amazing Race Asia Here!

[legaleagle53]

He's grown into the role of TAR host somewhat (he was incredibly wooden during the first couple of seasons), but his take on the show is definitely not Phil's.  In addition to being the host of this and TAR: China Rush, he's an actor and a fitness model (just one look at him in a tank top will have the ladies and gay guys fanning themselves!).  Just beware of monstrous puns (it's really his most annoying habit -- but he doesn't care.  He actually LIVES for making puns on the show)!

Edited September 8, 2016 by legaleagle53

[legaleagle53]

The title, I believe, is a reference to the fact that a great number of the teams usually come from the Philippines.  They also more often than not tend to be mactors (models/actors/beauty queens).

Oh, and I think the first four seasons are still available on YouTube if you want to catch up.  The show is being revived for its fifth season, which starts airing in October.  That's why I asked @SnideAsides to ask for this forum to be created.  Many thanks, @SilverStormm! 

Edited September 8, 2016 by legaleagle53

[SnideAsides]

It's a reference to the absurdly high proportion of irritating teams from the Philippines compared to teams from other countries. That's all.

[legaleagle53]

1 hour ago, SnideAsides said:

It's a reference to the absurdly high proportion of irritating teams from the Philippines compared to teams from other countries. That's all.

I believe I just said that.  :-P

[ApprenticeFan]

Season 2 is the only TAR Asia season had visited Europe and Africa, with most seasons visited Australia and New Zealand as close with tourists from Southeast Asian countries.

Well, I am Filipino.

In every season of TAR Asia, one of the F3 teams are always F/F.

[ApprenticeFan]

He was on Fear Factor in one episode years ago.

[legaleagle53]

Something that's new is that TAR Asia will have a co-host who will be on the mat with Allan at the end of each leg -- and TAR Asia is the first member of the TAR franchise to have a co-host.  Apparently, she'll be the permanent greeter:

[SnideAsides]

Second. TAR Latin America tried it in its last season (long story short: each of the six seasons was made by a production company from a different country, and while the Ecuadorian producers cast a local host to fit their domestic route, the network forced them to keep the previous season's Colombian host) (also, never try and make a full season in a country as small as Ecuador).

Edit: Third? There's also those weird two legs of the first TAR China revival season that had a different host, where it seems as though they didn't even ask Allan if he was willing, found someone else, then fired that guy instantly once Allan found out about the show and told the producers he was in. (Yeah, TAR China is a clusterfuuuuuuuuuuuck.)

[legaleagle53]

6 hours ago, SnideAsides said:

Second. TAR Latin America tried it in its last season (long story short: each of the six seasons was made by a production company from a different country, and while the Ecuadorian producers cast a local host to fit their domestic route, the network forced them to keep the previous season's Colombian host) (also, never try and make a full season in a country as small as Ecuador).

Really.  Brazil is a much bigger country, but TAR Brazil was a disaster primarily because it insisted on doing a full-season domestic route. The only members of the franchise that I think have gotten it right for the most part have been US, France, Canada, Asia, Original Recipe China Rush, Norway, original Australia (the last season was meh) and Israel (although why the Israeli version had subtitles in Hebrew when it didn't need them is beyond me).

Edited September 12, 2016 by legaleagle53

[legaleagle53]

So, has anyone been watching?  If you're having trouble finding it, you can watch it at the official website here: http://www.axn-asia.com/programs/amazing-race-asia/videos  Oh, and it's in English, so no subtitles are necessary.

I've seen the first two episodes, and about the only thing I didn't like was the elimination at the starting line.  In fact, I hated it as much as I hated it when the US version did it.   I just don't see the point of casting 11 teams when you clearly only intended to have 10 teams competing (and don't even get me started on the fact that the team that was eliminated at the starting line was the only same-sex "life partners" team in the entire cast!).

The travel porn is excellent, and the tasks have so far been a good mix of challenges.  But I really don't get the point of the co-host, except that she is apparently the permanent pitstop greeter.  I really don't think she adds much of anything.  What does everyone else think?

[SnideAsides]

My understanding is that the Indonesian government is pretty much paying for the show (which also explains the random guy at the start line; Indonesia will also be used for the final few legs), and they wanted a local face to show off the country. Not sure if she's sticking around when the race is in other countries.

[legaleagle53]

6 hours ago, SnideAsides said:

My understanding is that the Indonesian government is pretty much paying for the show (which also explains the random guy at the start line; Indonesia will also be used for the final few legs), and they wanted a local face to show off the country. Not sure if she's sticking around when the race is in other countries.

That explains why the first two legs have been in Indonesia.  It makes me wonder just how much of a race around Asia (or anywhere else, for that matter) this is going to be.

[NutMeg]

Oh, I was planning on watching (in the past I have found TAR Asia more fun than TAR), but hadn't realised it had started yet. Will catch up and probably be back here to comment and share impressions. Meanwhile, good viewing to you all :) 

[Brynnjk]

I'm not sure of the timeline for the show but I've been watching it on youtube.  Some of the teams are very annoying but it's the race.  I love the race so any time I can watch it, I will.  

[PhD-Purgatory15]

Sorry, I'm a year and a half late to the party (I actually was in Southeast Asia during Season 5's live run, but due to various travel circumstances was only able to see the first two episodes). Does anyone know of anyway it's still possible to watch full episodes in the United States?

I've searched and searched, but haven't come up with much...

Edited June 2, 2018 by PhD-Purgatory15