February 24, 2003

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AMAZING STORIES
The Amazing Race 3
(9 pm/ET, CBS)

From the thrilling opening moments of tonight's third installment of the terrific reality series, you know you're in for an adventure. The 12 teams, made up of couples with a preexisting relationship, speed through the Everglades on airboats to a tiny island, and then race to catch flights from Miami to Mexico City in search of the Angel of Independence landmark. It's the start of a global competition that has become, for me — in its breakneck pace, engaging players and glorious scenery — the best reality show on the air. Fans and newcomers alike won't be disappointed in the opener.

"This race is even more intense than usual," says host Phil Keoghan of the 41,000 mile, 28-day circumnavigation of the globe. "There's an extra edge to the challenges. We upped the ante in terms of what they have to deal with mentally and physically." One of the most intense challenges comes right at the start when contestants must skydive. The alternative is to ride a donkey cart to the location and thus lose valuable time. "We stacked that right at the beginning so they would arrive at that challenge saying, 'What? We have to what?' The purpose is to let them know this isn't going to be a walk in the park or a nice little cruise around the world."

Another key difference to this third edition is the addition of a 12th team, which Keoghan says adds more intensity to the race because it increases the chances of the teams getting bottlenecked at airports and at challenges. "It puts more of a strain on the [competitors]," he says.

Among this year's more interesting teams are three that include gay participants. Aaron and Arianne are a Will & Grace-like couple. He's gay, she's straight and they have been best friends for 15 years. Dennis and Andrew are father and son. Dad is a conservative Southern Baptist, while his son is a liberal, openly gay, college cheerleader. And then there are odd-couple brothers Ken and Gerard. Ken is a gay Democrat who works as a freelance casting director. Gerard is a married Republican who is the father of twins. He works as a financial advisor. Other teams generating interest in the opener are Harvard Law School graduates Heather and Eve, and identical twin brothers Derek and Drew.

"There's no end to the places we can go," says Keoghan. "In the three series we've only scratched the surface. And that's what really makes the series so different. It's not in a house. It's not on an island or in one area. It's a global show." Tim Holland

For more from Amazing Race 3 host Phil Keoghan, see TV Guide Online's Insider.



Photo Credits: The Amazing Race 3 by Tony Esparza/CBS
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