The Amazing Race 6 has turned into a hit show, gathering more steam as each season goes by. Pretty impressive for a show many thought would not return after season 2.
Unfortunately, this season contains some of the least likable people the show has seen. The producers have opted for cookie-cutter model types for many of the couples. Several of the others have just been utterly uninteresting. Fortunately, the exotic locations and unusual tasks continue to compel me to watch. With 5 teams left, I really don't care which wins at this point.
But I must discuss one particular couple that all of America was delighted to see eliminated from the race this week. Jonathon and Victoria have got to be the most screwed up couple ever to grace prime time, giving the Osbournes a run for their money. Some say it was just the editing on the show. Others excuse Jon's incredibly abusive behavior on medication he was taking. But anyone who has completed Psychology 101 can see that these two are incredibly dysfunctional, as individuals and as a couple.
Victoria is the textbook co-dependent, allowing Jon to browbeat her and then excusing his behavior. Jon is the typical abusive man, insecure and angry as can be. I sense deeper issues in him as well, perhaps Borderline Personality Disorder. I just found out that Victoria is a Playboy Playmate centerfold model, which explains more of her emotional troubles. Basically, they are an unbelievable mess and require a great deal of therapy. Both of them have a world to learn about boundaries.
Anyhow, they are eliminated. Now they can go home and schedule therapy.
The latest news? Rob and Amber of Survivor fame will be competing as a team in The Amazing Race 7, to premier March 1. This is a huge coup for the show producers and should bring in many more viewers. I think a celebrity show would be a great idea, with the couples competing for charity.
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
January 20, 2005 05:57 PM
Quick question - are not most of these "reality" shows scripted anyway? That may explain the ridiculous behavior. On the website for the couple, Jon talks about the "storyline" that CBS went with. I personally feel that most of these "reality" shows are simply overglorified Jerry Springer episodes. None of them are really "real", they just use more regular Joes for actors. Shows like "The Bachleor" and "the Bachleorette" are ruining society's view of love and shows like "the Apprentice" make it seem to all that all you have to do to run a multi-million dollar company is hang from a cliff for a few minutes. Sad, America, sad. We need to grow up in this country and go back to cheesy sitcoms that you KNEW were not real, instead of this false pretense of "reality" TV.
January 21, 2005 08:09 AM
I enjoy the Amazing Race too. I agree that I do not like any of the teams this year. They all yell at each other way too much.
It makes me worried to see such people traveling the world, representing Americans. It make me crazy when they yell at local people like cab drivers and such. And yet...I watch.
January 23, 2005 06:19 PM
Jonathon and Victoria were screwed over with a good cut and paste job from the camera crew. They weren't actually like that. All the others were just about as bad, but they decided that "abusive love" would be thier story for the show. They're going to be on Dr. Phil if you want to know more about that...
January 23, 2005 11:32 PM
I have no doubt that the audience is manipulated by editing. But there is absolutely NO excuse for Jonathon's behavior. What we DID see was horrendous.
January 29, 2005 10:51 PM
Ya, you are right !
February 13, 2005 10:43 PM
I loove the Amazing race. It's the best and hope it goes on for many, many seasons.
The character I've loved the most is Chip from season 5.
February 13, 2009 07:43 PM
I have recently viewed many series at of the amazing race and when I saw the 6th season, I was appalled, disturbed and disgusted with Jonathan Baker's behaviour. People can say what they want to justify how they act, but it is what it is and no amount of explanations can excuse this conduct. He was loud, obnoxious, rude and violent to everyone around him. He not only was physically abusive to his wife but verbally as well telling her how useless and dumb she was over and over again. I was flabbergasted to see that he was not penalized or, even better, kicked off the show. Quite frankly, I have just witnessed a woman justify her abusive husband's behaviour and I am seriously outraged at both of them to be condoning this type of lifestyle. Watching them was a painful experience and I am considering never viewing this show again. I am embarrassed of the human race when I witness this type of behaviour and wonder how anyone could allow this to go on. This is a perfect example of "breaking someone's spirit" and everyone involved should highly introspect on this situation and seek the help they need in order to never allow this to happen especially not on public television.