What Rules would your Perfect Season of TAR have?

[TBDigital]

Since they haven't mentioned it once during the current season of TAR, I'm wondering if they've done away with the rule that states that no team member can do more than 6 Road Blocks. If they really have gotten rid of it, I think that is a dumb move. That rule made sense. Season 5 was filled with teams where one person did all of the Road Blocks. When they added the rule the following season, the well-balanced teams made it further than those teams who thought they could rely on one person to carry the load.

This got me to thinking about the various rules/formats that TAR has had since the beginning, and which ones I would have in my 'Perfect Season' of TAR. My only self-imposed rule is that the rule has to have existed at some point in the show, i.e., no making up new rules. So, here goes.

1. No team member can do more than 6 Road Blocks.
2. No more yields.
3. FastForward is available every leg. A team can only use one FF the entire race, so it is up to them to determine when it would be most advantageous to use it.
4. The only non-elim leg penalty should be no money given. Don't take the team's current cash, and certainly don't take their luggage.
5. Make the 'clues' more like clues instead of directions. They did a little bit of this during S1, but they've gotten away from it ever since then.
6. Never, ever, ever try the 'Family Edition' abomination...at least not as a full season. Maybe some sort of filler season between real seasons, but even that may be asking for trouble...

I'm sure there are several other 'rules' that I'm not addressing, but these items have been the main ones that I always come back to, as far as my 'Perfect Season'. This is basically Season 1, with the inclusion of my 'rule #1'. I'm also sure that there are probably logistical reasons that the race is set up the way it is now, i.e., it probably got too expensive to have a production crew at a FF task every leg, so they cut it back to 2 for the entire season. But, IMO, these rules would make the race even better.

Comments? Anybody got some rules you'd include that I didn't? Any new rules you'd really like to see?

[VegasVic]

I never liked having non elimination legs. I see no purpose other than to stretch it out longer. If you arrive last you should be out period.

I agree about having to split up the roadblocks so one member doesn't do most/all of them. It seemed to work well when they did it, now it seems as if that rule doesn't exist any more.

Have fast forwards been eliminated as well?

I'd like to see the weekly "bunchups" eliminated but I understand they are necessary so a team doesn't get too far ahead and viewers lose interest.

[5thcrewman]

Non-elimination penalty for teams w/ well endowed women to be forced to wear thin, low cut tank tops for the rest of the race. :D

[DancnDude]

I enjoy the non-elimination legs because it makes the viewers also wonder if the last team gets eliminated. That suspense at the end of the episode is always there.

I'd like to see them change the Yield so you choose to Yield someone at the beginning of the leg, but the actual Yield and timer isn't until the end of the leg. This way, someone in the back of the pack can choose to Yield someone in the front in order to catch up.

[TeeSee]

I rather like the yields. The yielded teams usually take them personally and make ridiculous (and entertaining) comments about it. One team even referred to it as "cheating". A large part of this show's appeal is in the cattiness of the contestants, IMO.

I really don't like how the last place non-elimination teams have their money taken, which results in their resorting to begging. Especially if it's in a poverty striken type of locale. That just ain't right. They end up with enough money anyway, so it's not like it's much of a penalty.

[JYoung]

No rules.
Knives and pistols would be allowed.

[Stormspace]

New Rules <Stormy's Mods>

1. No team member can do two Road Blocks in a row. They must alternate.

2. Yields can be used on any team, regardless of their current position. They get penalized at the pit stop just as if they had done something wrong, standing to one side for the yield period while other teams check in.

3. FastForward is available every leg. A team can only use one FF the entire race, so it is up to them to determine when it would be most advantageous to use it.

4. The only non-elim leg penalty should be no money given. Don't take the team's current cash, and certainly don't take their luggage. Leaving a team destitute in a foreign country is dangerous.

5. Make the 'clues' more like clues instead of directions. They did a little bit of this during S1, but they've gotten away from it ever since then. This is good but they should get to a particular location and then have to determine the answer to the clue. Perhaps a riddle that requires them to figure out something they must find or do before moving on.

6. Detours should take approximately the same time to complete to give those that choose less physically demanding tasks (Older teams) a fair shake. Or...don't have older contestants on the show any more, if it's to be a physical endurance match, you are just setting the older people up for failure.

7. At least one Detour out of four should require both members to complete the task. I think they are already doing this on some tasks.

8. Remove the notification of who yielded you so the yielded team cannot retaliate.

9. If the team wins one leg of the race, give them a get out of yield free card. One per Race.

[Lee L]

TBD, your rules are more or less the first season, just adding in the 6 roadblocks thing and I agree 100%, the first season ruleset was the best. As for the Roadblocks, either the alternating roadblocks or the 6 per team member rule (each has a certain amount af strategy in the decision making) would be fine for me.

[smak]

I don't think they're gonna do Fast Forward's on every leg, since it would make the show have to do one extra location setups each week, and that adds up over a season. That's probably why they narrowed it down to 1 or 2 the last few seasons.

I don't know if they still have the 6 roadblock rule. Right now it's still early, and there's no point in Phil really mentioning it yet. But if they don't, they should.

I'd also say less, needle in a haystack challenges, and more ones like the one in that early season, where they had to get the combination to a lock, by adding the number of trees in a courtyard, + other things that I forget.

Also, more location clues something like, "Go to the city where Leonardo DaVinci was born", or to that effect.

One thing I think they have improved is the bunchups. I've seen more of the Bus A leaves at 10:45, bus B at 11:15 type thing so early arrivals get better times...

-smak-

[Idearat]

I'm OK with non-elim rounds, but not OK with begging. Even if they don't give them additional money, a team low on funds because of it still might beg and that looks bad. It was worse when it became "must start the next leg broke" since it forced them away from begging from well-off people at a resort and off to begging from the poor populace.

Having a few non-elim rounds means that a team that is sure it's in last place might still strive to get to the end. There's still a slim chance they might be around to race another day. If they're that far behind, it may not be necessary to have an additional penalty, but they could do something like have both members do the next Roadblock, or perform both tasks of the Detour. This would put them more behind though and just looks like you're picking on them.

I like the FastForwards since it adds another task for us to see. Since they favor the lead team it adds another reason to be first. It helps move the game into a real race and not a series of races you don't want to lose followed by the final race you want to win.

They haven't mentioned the 6 Roadblock rule, but then the producers know how the rest of the race goes. If the rule is still in place but no team even comes close to one member doing 6 Roadblocks then harping on the rule week after week is just redundant.

I like clues vs. directions. The Foucault's Pendulum one in Paris was the best.

And while not a "rule", I'm happier with no massive food amount tasks. Eating caviar, octopus or ostrich egg is fine, but not in inhuman amounts. The ostrich egg was one that would have been much more reasonable if both team members were eating it. One kilo of caviar, 4 pounds of beef parts, those were just crazy.

[stark]

All FF should be set up so that more than one team can compete at the same time. First one done wins the FF. Anyone else has to go back to the race.

That would fix the problem where the first team to get to the FF has as much time as they want without penalty.

This would have fixed the Paolo's at the bunge jump in the Family Edition and Rebecca and Hellboy diving a couple seasons ago.

[Inundated]

I agree with much of what's been added here, but I just had to quote this:

3. FastForward is available every leg. A team can only use one FF the entire race, so it is up to them to determine when it would be most advantageous to use it.

Did you channel Phil when you wrote that? Cause it sure sounded like it in my head...

:D

Sigh...I'm a TAR junkie.

[TivoDaddy]

I also agree with most of the suggestions.

I do enjoy it more where they have to figure something out instead of just getting a direction to a place. I do like the food challenges where you have to buy the ingredients of a local popular dish, take them to a restaurant to have it prepared, and then having to eat it. This is better than the stuff yourself silly challenges (although I did enjoy the episode where they had to eat the spicy goulash that had everybody hurling!)

I also hope that more teams gamble and take the penalty instead of completing a challenge, a la Rob&Amber :D

[sushikitten]

Not a rule for the game, but a nicety for the show: Each episode would be a minimum of two hours long and would include ~20 minutes of Pit Stop footage.

And have an online or call-in vote each week where the winners would get a time credit of X amount. It might help favorite teams (i.e. Dave and Lori) bypass last place.

[Greg K.]

Definitely eliminate begging. Usually they're in some third world country and it's a bit sickening to see comparably rich Americans begging for cash in order to stay in a race for a million $.

For non elimination legs, just add an additional task for the last place team to do before starting the next leg.

[TBDigital]

I agree with much of what's been added here, but I just had to quote this:



Did you channel Phil when you wrote that? Cause it sure sounded like it in my head...

:D

Sigh...I'm a TAR junkie.


He always explained it so succinctly, I couldn't make it any clearer :D .

[Dssturbo1]

stromy "2. Yields can be used on any team, regardless of their current position. They get penalized at the pit stop just as if they had done something wrong, standing to one side for the yield period while other teams check in."

no way should you be able to yield a team ahead of your team.

yes more clues and less directions.

[TBDigital]

All FF should be set up so that more than one team can compete at the same time. First one done wins the FF. Anyone else has to go back to the race.

That would fix the problem where the first team to get to the FF has as much time as they want without penalty.

This would have fixed the Paolo's at the bunge jump in the Family Edition and Rebecca and Hellboy diving a couple seasons ago.


This is a great point. Even if they left it to only 2 FFs for the entire race, if they made them like this, it would be great, and a real bonus for the team that gets it. And, it would be great TV. Remember the edge-of-your-seat excitement during S1 when the Guidos and Nancy and Em were compeating in the last FF, knowing that whoever didn't get the FF would most likely be eliminated, and screaming at your tv when the Guidos won? That's how every episode of TAR should be, IMO.

[bc0312]

And have an online or call-in vote each week where the winners would get a time credit of X amount. It might help favorite teams (i.e. Dave and Lori) bypass last place.

That would only work if the show wasn't taped months in advance.

[Marc]

6. Never, ever, ever try the 'Family Edition' abomination...at least not as a full season. Maybe some sort of filler season between real seasons, but even that may be asking for trouble...
As an idea similar to what they've done with The Biggest Loser providing mini-seasons, one could do a family episode as a single episode with a number of challenges to do within a day.

I saw a show on Fox Reality called "Chasing Time" (http://www.foxreality.com/shows.php?storyid=1611). This half-hour show took a couple who wanted to go on vacation in Argentina. They had twelve hours to complete eight challenges (including one like the famous meat-eating Roadblock that Boston Rob masterminded an escape plan to avoid completing the challenge).

If they complete all eight challenges in that time, they get a free week's vacation there, otherwise they go back home.

[DevdogAZ]

I agree with pretty much everything in the OP. I also like the idea of allowing teams to compete at the FF rather than allowing the first team there to try and complete it before anyone else can try. This would make the decision whether to go for the FF much more exciting, as teams would be able to try for it even if they're not the first one to the clue box.

And most definitely they need to return to clues rather than just giving directions. Perhaps it doesn't make for great TV watching people stand around trying to figure out clues, but it would definitely make "playing along" at home a lot more fun.

[ewolfr]

My one idea for the Roadblocks: The teams have to stick with, and finish, whatever task they choose. No trying out one task and deciding "This is too hard, let's try the other one." If you pick a one you are stuck with it until you do it.

[DevdogAZ]

My one idea for the Roadblocks: The teams have to stick with, and finish, whatever task they choose. No trying out one task and deciding "This is too hard, let's try the other one." If you pick a one you are stuck with it until you do it.
Those are Detours, not Roadblocks.

[Roadblock]

OP's rules look good to me. I miss the FF on every leg and don't like the yield at all.

[Bob Coxner]

No physical help from locals on challenges or detours. I'm wondering if they have already put this one into place. I don't recall seeing anyone asking for direct help from locals this season, although the physical tasks have not been all that difficult. I recall episodes in the past where the locals did ALL the work - pushing cars without motors, dragging huge elephant statues, pushing bicycles loaded with baskets, etc.

[TBDigital]

The DDs did try to get a local to help them build the motorcycle in Brazil, so I don't think the current rules address this. I just think that this season is made up of a bunch of teams who think they can do it on their own. It would never occur to Puddle to ask for help, and the Horndogs want to show off for all the hotties, and asking for help would make them look weak.

IMO, thats another indication that the tasks and 'challenges' for this season are not up to par. Horndogs aren't any better than Team 911 in S3, but Horndogs have been at or near the front the entire race. Of course, Horndogs haven't been kidnapped by a cabbie in Marrakech, either...

[JFriday]

Only hot chicks are allowed to play.

[Joeg180]

The forward yield could work, the team goes to leave at 2:15am and are told that they have to wait until the time runs out.

I would like to see the team stick with the task they originally selected.
Make the non-completion penalty 6 hours or longer and make it variable for the task. Rob knew it was 4 hours from the start when he tried his stunt then convinced others to skip it as well.


If you want to do a family one again, make it shorter and show it all in several 2 hour blocks. All team members carry the same amount of gear. Automatic elimination for taunting another team by singing!
You have t

[TiVo'Brien]

Only hot chicks are allowed to play.The Amazing Race: Playboy Edition. :D

[TiVo'Brien]

I want to see less restrictive travel combined with clues: Get your team to the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci any way you can, as fast as you can.

[TiVo'Brien]

I want to see less restrictive travel combined with clues: Get your team to the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci any way you can, as fast as you can.

[Marc]

I saw a show on Fox Reality called "Chasing Time" (http://www.foxreality.com/shows.php?storyid=1611). This half-hour show took a couple who wanted to go on vacation in Argentina. They had twelve hours to complete eight challenges (including one like the famous meat-eating Roadblock that Boston Rob masterminded an escape plan to avoid completing the challenge).

If they complete all eight challenges in that time, they get a free week's vacation there, otherwise they go back home.
I just wanted to bump this thread because I see that Chasing Time is airing again on Fox Reality and has a bunch of episodes coming up over the next week or so.

[esperantisto]

Season 1 rules!

[marksman]

I want fast forwards and yields on every leg of the race. The contest has become too non-interactive. I would like some other mechanisms for teams to play defense against other competitors. As it is now it is like watching a golf tournament. Tiger can't do anything to stop Phil Mickleson from Eagling the next hole. It is one-dimensional.

[TBDigital]

I think there has to be a manditory leg in India every season. The teams that are running the race these days have no idea what true hardship during the race is, IMO. I don't think they've been to India since S5, and I would love to see MoJo's Monica freak out on an Indian train ride...hehehehe...

[pmyers]

I'd just like the complete rules listed out on the CBS website! What can't you do and what are the penalties for doing them?

[Mikkel_Knight]

eliminate the purposeful "bunching up" factor (sure, an equalizer can take place, but not after EVERY SINGLE PITSTOP).

I know it'd be a logistics nightmare, but I'd love to see how far ahead one team could get... (granted, it wouldn't make for a good finale, but still)

There should be a Yield on every single leg. And, you can use it twice per race. And, if one team is already Yielded, another team may be Yielded (by a different team than the 1st one & the Yielded team) as well if so desired.

Meaning - if you get Yielded, you can't Yield another team. But, if you come across the Yield and someone is already Yielded, you could add another team if you'd like. Yields would become anonymous.

[eddyj]

The yields will never be anonymous. Loot at all the anger they cause. That makes for good TV!