So..anyone else been watching this? I completely skipped last season's "family" version, but the show's been a favorite of mine over the past few years.

Once again, they have their usual typecast teams. Team Redneck (both sporting nicotine patches), Team Gay Guys, Team Frat Boys, Team Hot Chixx, Team Parent and Kid, Team Young Couple, Team Old Farts, Team Middle-aged Broads and Team Black Couple. They've also varied from their script a little bit with Team Nerd Couple-- two dweebs in their late 20's. The only slightly new team is Team Hippie-- two happy stoners who are kinda' fun to watch.

The guy in Team Young Couple looks kinda' like John Lynch. Team Hot Chixx are really smoking this time. Yes, the cameracrew makes sure to get all their cleavage shots. You just know that there's some "unintentional" sexist task down the road that will require them to bounce around in the mud. Survivor has the dibs on "reality broads to Playboy spread", but these two need to break that pipeline. The cameras have also made alot of Team Frat Boys/Douchebags trying to flirt with them.

It always cracks me up how stressed out the teams are in the first few episodes. As long as there's one team behind you, it really doesn't matter. It's only the second episode, but already they've had one time-delayed logjam-- where everybody rushes to get to some landmark, but it doesn't open until 8am. They've also gone into the old Amazin' Race bag of tricks by having rope climbing obstacles TWICE, already.

The host, Phil Keoghan, is still one of the big reasons I watch. The guy always acts somber when teams arrive at the finish line...like he's about to tell 'em their parents have just passed away. Whether they're first or last, they can't tell if they're in good shape until he says "you're team number X". He also hit a funny Rock-eqsue eyebrow raise this week when Team Fratboy yelled to him, "Phillip! Where are you, woman?!"

It's usually a good hour of TV, but this season has a later timeslot (9pm MST). That might hurt my enthusiasm. I usually prefer to have something in the 7 or 8 pm slot, so I can eat dinner while watching. Also, things look rather repititive, so I might not make it all the way to the end.

I'm already enjoying this season more than the last. Who the fuck came up with a Family Edition? Annoying brats and the bible thumping losers really tested my patience.