'Amazing Race' host says 'Egypt is off the map for us'

[shipperx]

The brutal attack on CBS reporter Lara Logan during what was supposed to be a celebration in the main square of Cairo has other TV shows rethinking how they operate overseas.

"Egypt is off the map for us right now," says Phil Keoghan, host of "The Amazing Race."

Not surprising certainly, given the turmoil there and in nearby Arab countries like Bahrain and Tunisia.

But it is an issue that is suddenly front burner for a number of TV shows shot overseas.

"The Amazing Race" -- one of the longest- running reality shows on prime time and which started its latest season last night -- is based on the idea of exotic travel. And the world -- post-Logan -- suddenly seems a much scarier place for Americans abroad.

"There are certain countries off-limits right now," Keoghan says. "We're not going to go to Afghanistan right now."

 

At least once before, the "Race" had to make an adjustment in the middle of production to avoid a global hot spot.

The show -- which began in 2001, 10 days after 9/11 -- is based loosely on "Around the World in 80 Days." Teams of two people race each other around the world over a set course for a $1 million prize.

"We'd been to Argentina a number of times, but there was a time we were shooting and we heard there was some political unrest there," Keoghan says.

"It ended up not amounting to much, but rather than taking any risk at all, we decided: 'Let's just not go there.'"

The competitors skipped Argentina and headed instead for South Africa.

"We were going to Africa anyway and we just diverted there a little earlier," he recalled.

"We have consultants who work with the show," says Keoghan. "They'd be the same people working with the news departments -- companies that are security-risk management consultants."

The consultants -- usually ex-military men or retired federal agents -- form a network that keeps tabs on local conditions and advise businessmen, rich travelers and Hollywood production companies on when and where it's safe to go -- and how to get out of sticky situations, if things do not go according to plan.

"They're pretty common practice today," says Keoghan. "A lot of people are working with risk management teams and we're no exception.

"We absolutely rely on them."

He pauses and raps his knuckles on a desk top.

"Touch wood, 10 years on the road and we've got it right," he says.

It is an uncomfortable spot for producers to be in.

"Race" -- and a handful of shows like it -- try to portray the world as filled with people with exotic customs but essentially the same as you and me.

"We're almost the antithesis of news in that way," Keoghan says.

And that perception, too, is now threatened.

Planning is underway for the next edition of "Amazing Race" which will start taping this summer.

Is the entire Middle East out next time?

Keoghan smiles, but doesn't answer.

Comments

[londonkds.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. So one horrific event (which was probably less random violence than a deliberate politically-motivated attack on foreign media) is now used as another excuse to tell Americans that all foreigners are dangerous. (Although I'm surprised at the preference for SA over Argentina, given SA's fearsome reputation for street crime.)

[paratti.livejournal.com]

Substituting Argentina for South Africa? Are their consultants insane?
The murder and rape figures don't even begin to compare.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

The Amazing Race sometimes has really weird timing. They went to Thailand just before the tsunami (they have returned since), went to Chile just before the earthquake, and went to the border between North and South Korea last year, airing at the same time as some crisis. It's almost as if they attract disaster.

On the other hand they do have to have safety to have twenty people plus film crews running around behaving like idiots in foreign countries (half the fun is watching people laugh their asses off at the stupid Americans). They've been to Egypt a few times now so they probably would've avoided Egypt for a couple of seasons anyway as they try not to repeat back to back (except India and China. They practically always go there). (List of the countries visited: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Amazing_Race_(U.S._TV_series) )

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I think they substituted South Africa for Argentina. Though I do wonder which season they're talking about because I think they went to Argentina fairly recently.

[paratti.livejournal.com]

Its weird though. I've been to both and while Argentina has its problems (corruption and pickpocketing) I felt safe as a girl being out all night and partying.

Everyone I met (of all races) while out in South Africa on my own gave me horror stories and I got into hotels before dark and socialised there and it didn't feel like being over-cautious.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Looking at the web page, they apparently avoided Argentina during a bank shut down (so one would guess it had to do with finances) and they have been back to Argentina since (I thought I remembered their being there recently).

They seem almost jinxed/incredibly lucky sometimes because they seem just a step ahead of disaster. They were in Thailand just before the tsunami, in Chile just before the earthquake, in India just before the terrorist attack, etc. It would make sense if they're a bit paranoid at this point. ;)

And Amazing Racers don't exactly have socializing time. They basically get clues that say "Go here." They arrive there and get a clue of "You can do -this arranged challenge- or -this other arranged challenge- afterwhich they are given another "go here" clue. Sometimes they drive themselves or walk, take taxis or are required to take public transportation, and other times it's chartered transportation. I've always assumed that chartered transportation was used where there is iffy safety or poor transport. Once finished with a leg they go to sequesterville for 12 hours (accommodations provided by the show) before being sent off on the next leg "Proceed to the airport/train and go to country/city _______."