prianapollisha

The Amazing Race is an action-packed, daring, and surreal reality competition that features eleven or twelve teams from across the United States, competing across the world to win one million dollars or a travel package of a lifetime to share to their friends, families, and co-workers.

During each "Leg", teams get a clue envelope to direct them to travel to an unknown location. They have no idea where they are headed to and what adventures they may encounter along the way. During the Legs, teams get to complete regional challenges either featured as a Route Info (a mandatory miscellaneous task), a Detour (a choice of one task or another), a Roadblock (a mandatory task only one voluntary team member from each team can complete), and the eventual Fast Forward (a special task which only one team can achieve to skip all further tasks along the Leg, immediately heading to the Pit Stop). There are many challenging struggles, navigation errors, and disagreements, but that's the beauty of The Amazing Race. You do not know where you are heading to and you get to experience it first hand of what a magnificent country's city looks like.

There are many funny moments on the race which builds up the excitement and makes you want to root for that team to be and win in the final Leg. Despite some seasons may be better than others, overall, it's a wonderful program that provides you travel, competing, and humor all in one bundle.

Dove Cameron, playing two major roles in this split-camera show, delivers an endearing feel to the Disney Channel. Liv, who is musically enhanced, shows off her witty side from being in her own television program. The only part that I find unappealing about this character is that Liv plays too much into being in "celebrity mode". Maddie, an ordinary high school athlete, brings in situations some teenagers may face and relate to. Despite their characters' differences, the twin sisters bond together to solve problems. In the end, sticking together as family is key. Some aspects from past Disney Channel shows take place here as well. The obvious would be from the "Suite Life" series which featured real twins, Cole and Dylan Sprouse. The confessionals originating from "Lizzie McGuire" are also added to restate what is going on in Liv and Maddie's minds about the problems they are facing.

As for the comedy factor, it's just bad. The jokes are stale and most of the time, the laugh tracks do not make it any better. However, this show is considered a gem compared to Jessie or A.N.T. Farm. How many people can relate to living in a rich Manhattan penthouse suite or elementary school students in a high school (then transferred away from their parents to a specialized facility)?

EDIT (9/26/13): As of recently, this series has been lukewarm, featuring the warmheartedness of family from Liv, and the crazy antics of Liv and Maddie's two brothers. I will continue to enjoy this as the season progresses.