252 replies to this topic

[auntieB]

TAR 18 will feature a cast of former racers drawn from seasons 12-17.

Teams have been sequestered since mid week, and production is on the move, so the start is believed to be imminent.

[sinycalone]

Oh, lord -- does this mean we will be subjected to Dandrew again?

[Sazh Katzroy]

At least if they're up against some real teams, their time with us will be mercifully short.

I'll bet Kynt & Vyxsin will be here from TAR12. Almost everyone loved them.

Edited by Sazh Katzroy, Nov 20, 2010 @ 6:24 PM.

[Isuzu]

I'm betting we'll see at the very least one of the top 4 non winning teams from TAR 14 (I would count Jamie and Cara out thanks to Jamie's playboy stint, but that didn't stop them from having Victoria in TAR 6). Both Margie/Luke and Kisha/Jen seem like viable options too. The cowboys also seem like a no brainer. Maybe Carol/Brandy and Sam/Dan. Toni/Dallas perhaps. I could see them going the Dallas/Starr way but as Starr has already won, I wouldn't bet on it. As for this season, as Claire is pregnant, that negates her participation, but maybe Brook might come back if she doesn't win (partnered with Vicki for extra awesomeness?) or Gary/Mallory due to sheer popularity and general likeability/awesomeness factor?

Other strong possibilities I'm thinkg of right now are Hendekea/Azaria, Terrence/Sarah and Louie/Michael. And just because I think they were great and had a somewhat random elimination, I wouldn't be against seeing Zev/Justin again.

Oh, and Dandrew is SO coming back...

ETA: Oups, my bad, I meant Dallas/Starr obviously. But the rest remaisn valid :)

Edited by Isuzu, Nov 20, 2010 @ 6:17 PM.

[SeaBreeze341]

Yeah, we'll never know how well Zev/Justin could've done had it not been for that random elimination. On one hand, they still did finish low regardless of the circumstances. On the other hand, so did Danielle Turner in TAR9 (and to be fair, we'll never know how well she would have done had she not forgotten her purse at the pool site, or had that Yield been a non-factor before her 8th-place finish).

Toni/Starr, I wouldn't bet on that. However, I guess I'm looking forward to the random curve-ball they throw at us with one of the teams that make it.

[soapygirl]

Since they could potentially grab teams from race 17 I wonder of Gary and Mallory would be game to try again? I know Katie and Rachel (volley ball players) seemed very gung ho about being the first female team to win and would probably love a second chance to race

Edited by soapygirl, Nov 20, 2010 @ 6:47 PM.

[wheatbread]

Word on the street (actually, from a very reliable source) is that one season may have been entirely skipped over.

If Nat/Kat or Brooke/Claire win, I hope they come back, because really, how can you have the first all-female winning team not on all-stars?

I'm also crossing my fingers for the globetrotters.

Edited by wheatbread, Nov 20, 2010 @ 7:00 PM.

[sinycalone]

While I know a lot of folks liked Luke/Margie -- they both grated on me. Same with Carol/Brandy (who went their separate ways after the race, IIRC).

One of the difficulties, particularly with dating couples, is that they sometimes split up after their TAR stint. Or in the case of Peter/Sarah, according to a recent interview, they never were a couple.

Another factor that might inhibit considering certain teams is age: I doubt that Don (grandfather from Nick/Don TAR 12) or Ronald (father to Christina from TAR 12, too) would be able to repeat.

Ideally, you wouldn't think they'd select teams that were cannon fodder during their seasons.

[Isuzu]

While I know a lot of folks liked Luke/Margie -- they both grated on me.

There, you said it. A competitive team with a very unusual member (a gay deaf boy) that is both loved and hated by different portions of the audience!

I do agree about the dating couples, but they can (and should) be able to grab at least some of them, like Amanda/Kris from season 14 (for extra drama with Margie/Luke, it's really writing itself). And yes, I did wrote off Don and Ronald, because I think they would simply be too old by now, though you never know.

As for the cannon fodder, they very well may pick the intended cannon fodder that made it far, be it deserved or not (lookin' at you, Dandrew!) or that were popular. They did it in the first All Star with Dave/Mary for instance.

[Sazh Katzroy]

This apparently not an All-Star season. It's just a season of past teams that might've been favorites or polarizing favorites.

RFF's had three separate confirmed sightings at LAX in what might be the race's first-ever evening start:

Kynt & Vyxsin (natch), Michael & Kevin (surprised Michael was willing to do it again), and (even though I'm personally happy about this, I'm holding my breath and hiding behind something for this last one) Jaime & Cara.

[SeaBreeze341]

Word on the street (actually, from a very reliable source) is that one season may have been entirely skipped over.

Despite the fact it wasn't the season I expected them to skip over, I'm fine with the fact that they skipped over one season. The reason why is that it isn't easy to choose all of the favorites (from rivals and awesome stories to the best and actual favorites). For TAR11, they obviously couldn't choose everybody (where there were a lot more options compared to this upcoming race). So, after making the final selections, seasons 4, 6, and 8 were left out. I wish they could have chosen at least one team from those seasons, but if there were three seasons out of the first 9 to omit, they chose the right ones.

Well, still sucks about Al & Jon, and besides them, the other likely teams to fill the void would have passed.

Anyway, it still sucks about the lack of TAR13, since there were a lot of very competitive teams (that would've done better on another season). But I think it's fair to omit at least one season since some of the every seasons excluded the entire cast, added to the fact that they're focusing on seasons 12-17 this time around.

[TheRabbi]

This sucks. Seriously. Why oh why couldn't they have gone further into the TARchive for teams from pre-season 11? So many classic teams I'd like to see again. Chip and Kim, Colin and Christie, Al and John, Millie and Chuck just to name a few. I guess if I had to pick an All-star season from the last 6 seasons, it'd be something like:

Nick and Don (I'd probably pick these guys anyway)
Ken and Tina
Terrence and Sarah
Kynt and Vyxsin
Cowboys
Globetrotters
Gary and Matt
Jamie and Cara
Mel and Mike
Margie and Luke
Mike and Louie
Toni and Dallas

None of the teams from TAR17 have been particularly exciting for me so far.

[theschnauzers]

The rumored pattern for TAR 18, plus what was done in TAR 11, demonstrates that casting has their perspective of who they think we want to see based on their own feelings about the casted teams.

I think the casting people seriously need to re-callibrate their thought processes in casting, starting with the head of casting at CBS Lynne Spillman. I've had a beef about some of the casting for years, and it is one reason I'm not totally enthusiastic about another former Racers season.

And from what I can tell the reported evening start is a first for TAR anywhere. Now that I do like, something imaginative and attention grabbing, I can't think of a single reality competition show that has opted for that before, (Big Brother is impossible to tell since the outside of the house is actually indoors.)

[wheatbread]

Speculated teams from reliable source at realityfanforum:

Kynt and Vyxsin
Amanda and Kris
Jaime and Cara
Kisha and Jen
Margie and Luke
Mel and Mike
Flight Time and Big Easy
Zev and Justin
Jet and Cord
Gary and Mallory
Michael and Kevin


The globetrotters and cowboys competing with one another? *Dies* I hope this list is accurate. Except I would have loved to see Brooke/Claire or Nat/Kat again.

And I liked Michael and Kevin but I don't really care to watch them again. Michael is just so damn feeble. Probably going to be the first team out.

Edited List: Thanks Sazh

Edited by wheatbread, Nov 21, 2010 @ 6:34 AM.

[Sazh Katzroy]

Mark & Michael and Steve & Linda were dropped as alternates. They are not racing.

[Isuzu]

The inbalance between represented season is quite striking though: 1 team for TAR 12, 0 for 13, 2 for 15, 1 for 16, 2 for 17 and...

...That's FIVE teams from TAR 14? Well, I don't mind particularly but it seems pretty excessive. I'm very happy for both Amanda/Kris and Zev/Justin because I think both teams had a too early exit that weren't truly their fault.
I'm glad we have competitive female teams in the cheerleaders and the sisters, the others seem like no brainers. Honestly, looking at this list, it does seem like an all star with overall very popular and/or pretty successful teams, as well as a few second chance (Z/J and A/K) and some likeable or rating grabers teams (Mel/Mike, Michael/Kevin).

Speaking of which, I'm very surprised Michael accepted to come back, but I can see how the race wanted them. I'm pretty sure they had a significant rating boost due to Kevin's popularity.

Finally, I'm very glad to see Gary/Mallory again, and hope that the lack of Nat/Kat or Brook with someone else means they won their season!

All in all, I'm pretty sure they do NOT want a classic dating couple to win. I know K/V are a couple but I think they're more "the goths", which leaves them with A/K to fill this spot. All in all, I think they learned their lesson from TAR 11: I wouldn't mind seeing any of those teams winning providing they're nice enough and competent enough during this race (though I do think we'll have a male/male win: there are 5 of them, and some are very good).

Edited by Isuzu, Nov 21, 2010 @ 7:04 PM.

[sinycalone]

I could certainly live without seeing some of those teams on TAR again (if accurate) - Margie/Luke, Jaime/Cara, Michael/Kevin. In my book, none of them really were good racers or fun to watch (especially the first two teams I listed). I know they are throwing a bone to Kevin's online fans to help the ratings...but Michael isn't gonna get stronger.

K/V are attention-seekers of the first order -- but they were good racers. Mel and Mike were kind of boring to me....but not unpleasant.

If it's true that Claire is pregnant...as someone posted on the team's thread -- there is no way she could have been included.

[Isuzu]

If it's true that Claire is pregnant...as someone posted on the team's thread -- there is no way she could have been included.

I know but they could have paired Brook with whomever on the race (I would have pushed for Connor or Vicki, even Jill) and called them friends or something.

For Margie/Luke and Jamie/Cara, by sheer placement they were "good racers", and I actually think they weren't so bad. I would like to see them again to see if they adjust their behavior.

[NotPatrick]

Seriously, why not just re-run TAR 14 all over again?

[sinycalone]

Seriously, why not just re-run TAR 14 all over again?

Strange to me, too....because it certainly wasn't one of the best seasons...just a lot of bickering, nastiness, and unnecessary drama.

ETA: I suspect if they started pairing Brook or anyone else with someone other than their original partner -- we'd have the same reactions we had to Eric/Danielle's teaming up. I know creating a phoney couple isn't quite the same thing as giving the new team "friends" status...but it smacks of manipulation all the same.

Edited by sinycalone, Nov 21, 2010 @ 11:28 AM.

[jkalderash]

No former winners? Nobody from season 13 (my first season and one with several strong teams)? FIVE teams from season 14? Ugh.

I suspect/hope the spoilers may be partially incorrect, though, because I just cannot believe that Steve and Linda would be considered even as alternates.

Edited by jkalderash, Nov 22, 2010 @ 1:35 AM.

[Masem]

I know theres some teams listed people dislike, but... Zev and Justin?! The Globetrotters? The Cowboys? Hell yes!

And I will say this: all those teams are immediately recognizable. That's likely more important than "best racing skills" though again, all of these teams did well enough (with the obvious exception of Zev & Justin who had bad luck, but had a lot going for them).

If there is one team I'd wish was on , it would have been Toni and Dallas from TAR13 (replacing Kisha &JAn or Amanda & Kris from TAR14).

Edited by Masem, Nov 21, 2010 @ 1:52 PM.

[NotPatrick]

Strange to me, too....because it certainly wasn't one of the best seasons...just a lot of bickering, nastiness, and unnecessary drama.

I can see inviting one of the female teams, just because of the lack of high-profile women's teams in general who are still viable, and maybe Margie & Luke, but the rest are baffling. Amanda & Kris I can't imagine are anybody's ideas of an All-Star side. Dull and mediocre (and as the most obviously baffling casting choice, destined to win).

The whole thing just seems like a collision between the most lame and gimmicky of the one-note gimmick teams (can't wait for the episode entirely sound-tracked by globetrotter and cowboy music. Given new-style editing they'll probably dredge up something for the Goths as well) and TAR 14 fodder. Awful, awful casting.

Edited by NotPatrick, Nov 21, 2010 @ 1:54 PM.

[SeaBreeze341]

Let's hope that it's not a typical return of the realities season where all the favorites are out and we're forced to deal with winners that aren't as popular.

No former winners makes sense. No need to have someone winning another $1 Million, which was the eventual result in Survivor (where some teams weren't given another chance in favor of former winners). The only way to have former winners racing again is in a season where there's just former winners.

Not sure if I'd put Brook with someone else just for the sake of having a represent of Brook & Claire. If anything, Claire should get the nod. What's different between that and Eric & Danielle was that E/D actually had a "revelant" relationship in their original season. I guess I should feel bad for mentioning how awesome it would be to have those two team up for an all star season, but anyway, it's a shame that Claire couldn't race. Though I'm happy for her; even if she wasn't expecting her first child, there's no guarantee that she & Brook would have been chosen anyway.

[Sazh Katzroy]

Confirmed sightings by eyewitnesses:

Michael & Kevin (two sightings, reportedly indeed had backpacks at airport, also)
Flight Time & Big Easy
Margie & Luke
Jaime & Cara
Kynt & Vyxsin
Mel (Mike might've been close by, but he wasn't seen at the time)

http://forum.reality....html#msg574744

As of now, the rest may still be speculation, but are at least expected to be confirmed upon their arrival at their first destination: Sydney, Australia!

Edited by Sazh Katzroy, Nov 21, 2010 @ 3:54 PM.

[auntlada]

I like Flight Time and Big Easy, but they better not give up again.

[111228]

Some of the rumored Racers are still tweeting. Jaime and Kevin have tweeted today.

[Sazh Katzroy]

I think those were people hired to do so to throw people off.

Kisha & Jen are indeed on. Seen heading for a train station after landing.

http://forum.reality....html#msg574896

Gary & Mallory are on, as well:

http://forum.reality....html#msg574908

[Isuzu]

I agree with NotPatrick that the teams are very gimmicky but on the other hand it is a all-star with the need for very recognizable teams. I think Amanda and Kris was one of the very few very likeable dating couples they've had in while, and their elimination following a rather gratuitous U-Turn by Luke infuriated people at the time. I can definitely see them being included for 1) A second chance (see also Zev and Justin), 2) Conflic with Margie/Luke and 3) fill the couple category that is nearly void. Frankly, the one team that is a bit weird for me is Mel/Mike. They were likeable enough but in the swarm of Season 14, they seem pretty unnecessary.

Note: This will be my last post here, I'm fine with spoilers on the casting, especially for a all-star, but that's all the spoiler I'm willing to receive :)

[Sazh Katzroy]

Jet & Cord just got confirmed:

http://forum.reality....html#msg574962

Great. Another season of the overused "cowboy theme."