Image Credit: Robert Voets/CBS; Virginia Sherwood/NBC; Sonja Flemming/CBSCBS won’t spill a thing, but the web is chock full of spoilers suggesting that the 18th edition of The Amazing Race will feature all-stars from seasons 12-17. Rumors abound that Mike White and his dad Mel will stage a comeback, not to mention Luke Adams and his mom Margie as well as Kris and Amanda — all from season 14. If true, this would be the second all-star edition of the Emmy-winning show; the last one aired during season 11 and averaged 10.5 million. The next installment of Race is expected to bow in February or March.
So do all-star versions score that much better in the ratings? They certainly haven’t broken any records for Survivor, which has done at least three. Though the show’s first all-star edition in 2003 did pretty dang well (21.7 million), the other two have mostly been on par with the regular folk editions (Fans vs. Favorites averaged 13.6 million while Heroes vs. Villains got 13.8 million). And if the current edition is any indication, Survivor doesn’t need visits from Rob Mariano or Johnny Fairplay to juice ratings: The show is up 86 percent in viewers versus what CBS was doing in the Wednesday period a year ago. It’s also up two percent versus what the show was doing on Thursdays last season. Maybe that’s why Dancing with the Stars hasn’t bothered with an all-star edition (though who wouldn’t want to see a Mel B/Jennifer Grey showdown?)
But such stunts can do wonders when it comes to building buzz for an (aging) reality show, which is probably why the promise (threat?) of all-star and even celebrity editions always loom large in prime time. Race host Phil Keoghan, in fact, told EW earlier this year that he would “love to have a celebrity edition,” while insiders at Wipeout cop to having informal talks about putting stars on those big red balls (Michael Chiklis, we can picture you now!). And we already know that the current season of The Apprentice (1.7 rating/4 share in adults 18-49, 4.5 million) wasn’t nearly as mighty as The Celebrity Apprentice, which in the spring averaged a 3.2/8 in 18-49 and 8.2 million viewers. Maybe that’s why another celebrity version — not one featuring no-names hit hard by the recession — is coming to NBC on March 6.
I love Amazing Race, but I think a celebrity edition would be a terrible idea. We saw what happened when near-celebrities Rob and Amber were on– locals recognized and helped them and it took a lot of the fun out of watching people trying to get by in unfamiliar places. I hate the All-Star idea less, but I don’t love it. I think having people who know what to expect takes some of the fun out of the show.
I vote no on the All Stars. Once you’ve experienced a team’s schtick during a season, there’s not that much new that’s revealed.
They are filming the next season right now and it is an all stars
all stars from seasons 12 -17 i know jet and cort are there and luke (the deaf boy) and margie his mom
gary and mallory are back too. also team goth from season 12, i think.
I’m fine with another All-Stars, but not with the ones on the supposed list. There’s maybe 3 teams that deserve it and some I had no recollection of at all. And why limited it to just the past few years.
Concur! There was no one on the list I saw that I really cared about. And yes…that includes the cowboys.
Hell, yeah. Bring on the cowboys!!!
I totally agree.
I’m fine with All-Stars, but only if the teams are really entertaining. Season 18′s cast isn’t that great… except for my favorite TAR team ever
As long as if they don’t do another Family edition!!!!
family edition wasnt that bad but I agree
I thought the family edition was just poorly designed. It could have been much more interesting if they actually had the contestants do some real traveling or if they’d picked better US locations than a giant chair.
Problem with going overseas is insurance. Same reason the Australian Edition needed to change the minimum age to 21 from 18, as the show couldn’t get insurance for the 18-20 year olds if they traveled to many countries the show wanted to.
The Teams were spotted in Sydney at Bondi Beach & what will soon be called “The Oprah House”.
YES! Bring back Jeff and Jordan!
Sorry… only team from Season 16 rumored to be included in the all-stars edition is Cowboys Jet and Cord! Yay!
Oh my Gravy!
I would love to see an edition of The Amazing Race that brought back contestants that didn’t make it very far. There have been a few teams that left first, second, or third that I would have liked see continue. Let’s see some of them race. Millionaire brought back players that didn’t win any money. I would also like to see a Survivor with people who made it to the merge and then got kicked off, but no winners.
Not Luke and Margie!!! I really didn’t care for them.
Agreed. Luke was a bit of a brat.
Usually All-Stars consist of 12 teams so I will make my predictions:
Season 12: Ronald and Christina. One of the best father and daughter teams EVER. Kynt and Vixen and Azaria and Handekea may be possibles too
Season 13: Toni & Dallas and Nick and Starr
Season 14: Margie and Luke, Mel & Mike, and Jaime and Cara def could be on the list.
Season 15: Flight Time and Big Easy, Sam & Dan
Season 16: Jet and Cord, Jordan and Jeff
Season 17: Nat and Kat, Michael and Kevin
From what I saw, you have about 7 correct.
Brea Can You Tell Me How Many You Think I Have Right
Here Is Who I Hope Will Be On The Next Amazing Race
Season 12 Ronald & Christina
Season 12 Nathan & Jennifer
Season 12 Azaria & Handekea
Season 13 Toni & Dallas
Season 13 Nick & Starr
Season 14: Margie & Luke
Season 14: Mel & Mike
Season 14: Jaime & Cara
Season 15: Flight Time & Big Easy
Season 15: Sam & Dan
Season 16: Jet & Cord
Season 16: Jordan & Jeff
Season 17: Nick & Vicki
Season 17: Jill & Thomas
LOVE love love Flight Time and Big Easy! They had such a good attitude the whole time they were on! (Esp. during that phone challenge. Can’t remember which one, but he was a saint!)
Um, I think Flight time got a little bit of an attitude where the eating fish or the phone part, but he caught himself in time before becoming a jack ass. They were fun, but not that memorable, though.
Not Sam & Dan. Gosh, both can’t control their testosterones and it affects their “you know what” & the show has to blurred out their “you know what” areas. How embarrassing that was.
Nat & Kat? Does that means they didn’t win? As much as I like Michael and Kevin, I don’t think they should be on. Michael would never be able to finish the race, given his conditions. It’s just going to be a waste of spot. How about bring back Jon & Kris???
Given that K&V haven’t returned my texts in a couple of weeks I’m guessing they are racing. Unless they’ve crossed me off their Christmas card list of course. I’d like to think they’re racing though.
I Agree With Some Of The People That You Hope To Get On The Amazing Race Corran But The Only One I Hope Won’t Be There That Im Sure They Will Be On Is The Goth’s lol
I want to see the cowboys and kris & john.
BIG YES to Kris & Jon. That would be amazing. I’d also like to see Derek & Drew from season 3. They are one of my all time favourite teams.
YESSSSSSSSSS OMG! Bring back the All-Star Season!!! Jet and Cord. Colin and Christie if they can swing it–since they couldn’t compete last all-star season! This would be AWESOME.
Colin & Christie – seriously? Why not bring back Jonathan & Victoria too?!! Colin was so damn obnoxious.
I’m ok with an all star edition as long as they don’t bring back the Weaver family.
I’d be curious to see a “where are they now” on past contestants… seeing the names posted as possible All Star players had me thinking that.
I’d love to see that, too, and what they thought after they saw themselves on TV. All the douchebags (Chad, Nick, etc.) from this season, in particular.
I would just love to see real celebrities. Not people who were already on the Amazing Race. Even though it would be expensive and dangerous for them. But can you just image them, doing one of their challenges and being chased by the paparazzi’s.
the thing with that is that chances are you wouldn’t get big name celebrities that would be chased by the papparazzi. You’d get b list and below, which would make it way less interesting.
Last year in Australia we had a “celebrity” Survivor. And I had celebrity in “‘s for a reason. They included – a former soap actress who hadn’t acted in 10 years; someone who writes a magazine column; and other people that nobody had ever heard of. It was a good season, but the people on it weren’t people that I’d call celebrities.