The Amazing Race Canada: Preview of Episode 1 "Where in the World is Ogopogo?"

The Real Ogopogo

No, I'm the Real Ogopogo!

Everyone knows Ogopogo is in Kelowna, British Columbia. But the problem is, there are several of them. And did you notice "Ogopogo" is a palindrome? It's spelled the same way backwards. Cool, but totally besides the point.

I know everyone is thinking that Canada's version of the Amazing Race is going to turn out to be a terrible reproduction of it's original, richer American cousin. Well I disagree. This past year we have seen two Canadian versions of major U.S. reality shows start up: The Bachelor Canada; and Big Brother Canada. Both of these shows were huge successes and have each been renewed for second seasons. Oh yes. I honestly believe that TARC will have the same outcome. Why you ask? I am a bit of a creeper. I scoured the internet, especially Twitter and I saw some amazing places that TARC is going. Oh sure, we won't be seeing Americans struggling with language barriers and behaving, well, like the proverbial "ugly Americans". I'm sorry, (how Canadian of me) but nothing is funnier than taking an American, plunking them down somewhere in Asia and making them eat a big bowl of crunchy grasshoppers. But that doesn't mean we won't be entertained watching Canadians say and do things they may later regret. Besides, we have our own language barriers here. I am sure we will be thoroughly entertained when the teams land in Nunavut and have to negotiate the Inuit language. I am sure that they will be dropped into some kind of situation in Quebec City. Not to mention the uniqueness of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. It's part of the game. Anyways, let's get on with the preview of some of the stuff we'll be seeing Monday.

The start line is in front of the pergola in Oakes Garden Theatre in Niagara Falls. They probably thought it was a fitting place for a start because the U.S. is a stone's throw away, or some such rot as that. I am sure that they will mention that within the first minute of the show. Can't wait to see Jon Montgomery sans his pitcher of beer. I was kind of hoping he would greet the first team to arrive at the pit stop with a complimentary beer. And I keep wondering if Monty will have his own equivalent to the "Keoghan Arch"....that, for all you noobs out there, is that little raised eyebrow that Phil Keoghan gives just before the start of the race.

One of the first challenges, if not the first, involves the whirlpool jet boats on the Niagara River rapids. That must have been exhilarating because if I remember correctly, we had quite a cold spell back on May 3rd when they started filming. Cold + Wet = sucks to be you.

The teams then made their way to Pearson where they probably had to wait for a delayed Air Canada flight to Vancouver, British Columbia where they probably had to wait again for another delayed flight to Kelowna. Oh, did you know that Air Canada is the #1sponsor? Of course, I guess they pretty much had to be, because without them, there wouldn't be a show.

In Kelowna, it looks like the teams will face challenges at Quails Gate Winery and out on the lake at the Delta Grand Okanagan Hotel. In a preview clip that CTV released last week, Team Vanessa and Celina are attempting a Roadblock in some secluded spot. That is the Bellevue Trestle along the Kettle Valley Railroad trail, and if I had to guess, they may have had to get there by bicycle - just because that would be a nice touch.

Now what does Ogopogo have to do with it? Well it could have been their first stop. Maybe their first clue, back in Niagara Falls, was to find Ogopogo.  I just hope they don't have to find this Ogopogo:

Bad Ogopogo

He doesn't look nearly as friendly as those other two, that's for sure.

Maybe Ogopogo is going to be the actual pit stop for the first leg of the race. Now how cool would that be to be the first team to get there, and find Monty sharing a pitcher with Ogopogo? The thing is, there are not one, but two statues of Ogopogo. Hell, there could be more for all I know, but these were the two main ones I found in Google images. (It also looks like other pretenders pop up now and again). And here's the potential problem....they are on opposite sides of Lake Okanagan. Oh joy! Is someone going to get eliminated because of this?

If for some reason you miss Monday's premiere, check back here for my recap on Tuesday morning. This first episode looks like it's going to be one heck of a jam-packed, fast moving hour. Can't wait.

The Amazing Race Canada - Here's Your 9 Teams, Canada!

CTV is making their official team announcements all this week - 2 or 3 teams per day. Here is the list of teams as identified by CTV, including their so-called "Motto", "Strategy", and "Number one roadblock as team", with my own comments. Oh, and ... Spoiler Alert: don't read any further if you don't want to know the teams' (approximate) results!

Jody (L) and Cory (R) Source: Canada News Wire/CTV

Jody Mitic/Cory Mitic
Relationship: Brothers.
Cory: 32 years old. Labour Relations Officer/Motivational Speaker, Edmonton, Alberta.
Jody: 36 years old. Army Sniper (Retired), Ottawa, Ontario.
Motto: "They are the enemy and we shall destroy them"
Strategy: "Focus, hard work, calculated risk"
#1 Roadblock as a Team: "Being patient and bringing the intensity down a little from red line"
 
Jody is a double amputee. Not that that matters. I just hope that Insight Productions and CTV don't give them an edit making it seem like they are out to prove something. Besides, if you watch their audition video, I really don't think this guy needs to prove anything. I guess this is the one team that I can't poke fun at. But...their motto and strategy seem a bit extreme...I don't think destroying Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod will go over well with the audience. Whatever works for you I guess. In this case, it did. They made it far...very far. Destroyed a lot of teams - they were spotted in Toronto, putting them in the final 3. It's funny how CTV made their announcement for the first two teams. They are complete polar opposites of each other. In fact, I wouldn't be surprises if CTV/Insight Productions cast this second team just to see if some drama develops between them. Read on to see what I mean...

Kristen (L) and Darren (R) Source: Canada News Wire/CTV

Kristen Idiens/Darren Trapp       

Relationship: Dating Couple
Kristen: 32 years old. Outdoor Adventure Guide, Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C.
Darren: 26 years old. White Water Raft Guide/Lifeguard, Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C.
Motto: "We believe strongly in equity for all living creatures and creating our own realities through positive thinking and sharing love everywhere we go"
Strategy: "Using our fitness level, logic, resourcefulness, and maintaining a positive attitude towards each challenge"
#1 Roadblock as a Team: "Remembering to use our differences to our advantage instead of getting frustrated with each other"

Oh good God! Dude. That's not a motto, that's a Mission Statement for a medicinal marijuana grower. None of which has anything to do with competing in the Amazing Race. Lets break this down. "Equity for all living creatures". What? Is there a team of bears competing? "Creating our own realities". Is that some sort of transcendental meditation hogwash, or are they advocates of the holographic universe theory? Woh, Dude! Maybe Darren knows what happened to Schrodinger's cat. "Sharing love everywhere we go". Listen, what you guys do in your own time is your own business, just use protection. You do realize you're on Amazing Race, don't you - I don't think you have time for spreading love or whatever you want to call it. What an interesting couple. Oh well. Don't get too invested in Team Dreadlocks - they're the third team to be eliminated. Maybe they stopped to ride a unicorn or share a doobie with Bigfoot. Future plans: catching the next Delorean back to 1967.

Jamie (L) and Pierre (R) Source: Canada News Wire/CTV

Jamie Cumberland/Pierre Cadieux


Relationship: Best Friends
Jamie: 47 years old. HR Advisor/Talent Management, Airdrie, Alberta.
Pierre: 38 years old. GM Creditor Insurance/Banker
Motto: "We are ready to represent our towns, represent our province, and represent our tribe"
Strategy: "Ask everyone in sight for help and read the clues extra carefully"
#1 Roadblock as a Team: "The language barrier of French Canada, and being too friendly and generous with information to other teams"

Not only are they cowboys from Alberta (it could only be Alberta, right?), but they are members of the Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association. Nope. I am NOT going to do it. I swear I will not fall into that trap of making the obvious reference. You know what I am talking about, right? Besides, they don't exactly look like Jake Gyllenhaal or Heath Ledger. Ooops. Yet, I wouldn't be surprised if they bring it up themselves, make a joke about it with the other teams. Oh and guys, your strategy? Really? Sounds like a recipe for failure. Asking everyone for directions and reading clues extra carefully not only makes for boring television, but it's going to slow...you...down. A fact that proves correct when you're the second team eliminated.

Treena Ley/Tennille Dorrington
 

Trina (L) and Tennille (R) Source: Canada News Wire/CTV

Relationship: Twin Sisters
Treena: 36 years old. Police Sargeant, Hamilton, Ontario.
Tennille: 36 years old (duh, they're twins). Tax Auditor, Hamilton, Ontario.
Motto: "You can't spell TWIN without WIN"
Strategy: We plan to maximize on our individual strengths, think, and listen to each other, observe, plan, analyze...run fast! Don't come last!"
#1 Roadblock as a Team: "We both have to be right and in control. Our stubbornness is usually the root of most of our problems"

Oh where do I begin with these two? I know. I was just wondering if I can call you two "The Sargeant and Tennille"? Sorry, but that was even more obvious than me trying not to reference Brokeback Mountain for the cowboys. Ooops, again. But I am loving your motto and strategy. Why, you ask? Well, it's kind of the exact opposite of a self-fulfilling prophesy, isn't it? Or maybe you just jinxed yourselves. "You can't spell twin without win." Ouch. "Run fast..don't come last". That's going to hurt. Did you guys write this yourselves, or did CTV? If I were you, I would tell everyone that CTV wrote it. Yeah that's the ticket. Sorry girls, you two are cute and all, and I love your win-win attitude, but you're the first team to be eliminated, aren't you? Tennille...please don't audit me for that, okay?

Jet (L) and Dave. Source: Canada News Wire/CTV

Jet Black/Dave Schram
Relationship: Best Friends
Jet: 32 years old. Police Officer, London, Ontario.
Dave: 28 years old. Marketing, London, Ontario.
Motto: "We're like icebergs. 10% above water, 90% below"
Strategy: "Be ourselves and win...in a strategic manner"
#1 Roadblock as a Team: "Getting along when things don't go our way, we're both control freaks"

Jet and Dave. Sounds like a group from the sixties. You know, like Jan and Dean or the Beach Boys. Kind of look like one too. Well, except those muscles. Yowza! None of those guys had muscles like that back then. Just Schwarzenegger. And he didn't really come along until the 70's. Now that's a motto. Even though I'm not quite sure what that means. But at least it's better than the motto of those hippies. The rest of your bio...boring! I think I liked you guys better when I thought you were nerds. At least they know who Harry Potter is. Anyways, get to know these two well....they go far in the race.

Hal (L) and Joanne (R) Source: Canada News Wire/CTV

Hal Johnson/Joanne McLeod

Relationship: Married Couple

Hal: 57 years old. TV Personality/Fitness Promotion, Oakville, Ontario.

Joanne: 54 years old. TV Personality/Fitness Promotion, Oakville, Ontario.

Motto: "Keep fit and have fun"

Strategy:  "Our strategy is to be as patient as possible, not get ahead of ourselves, allow for each other's strengths to be utilized, listen and be persistent"

#1 Roadblock as a Team: "The biggest challenge will be to keep the intensity and focus for the entire day and race" 

Careful, Team Body Break...your age is showing. Yeah, after a certain age, it gets kind of hard to maintain focus for a whole day. But all those years of fitness training should help to keep up the intensity, right? Don't forget to do those leg lift exercises to relieve stress while flying. It's a good thing your strategy isn't trying to keep your fame a secret, because that certainly didn't work. I hope for the other teams' sakes that you didn't provide unsolicited fitness advice to everyone. Don't be fooled by their on-air, perfect, clean-cut persona. Team Body Break cut in line at the airport! In front of paying customers. As if flying Air Canada wasn't aggravating enough with all their flight delays, but now us common people have to worry about Body Break cutting in? Hrumpf!!! And don't get too wrapped up in nostalgia and hoping they win...they get eliminated about halfway through.

Holly (L) and Brett (R) Source: Canada News Wire/CTV

Brett Burstein/Holly Agostino  

Relationship: Married Couple
Brett: 38 years old. Paediatrician, Montreal, Quebec.
Holly: 38 years old. Paediatrician, Montreal, Quebec.
Motto: "Total focus, eyes on the prize"
Strategy: "Be cunning and resourceful, we are pros at functioning under pressure no matter what the conditions"
#1 Roadblock as a Team: "Over analyzing. Our challenge as a team will be to embrace the quiet moments to refuel, get out of the game, and enjoy the beauty of Canada."

I'm bored already. Oh wait. Here's something interesting. In his bio, Brett listed "defibrillation" as a strength. I don't get it. This isn't a job resume, it's a cast bio for a reality TV show. Is he carrying a portable defibrillator in his backpack? I would just carry extra underwear. How many people is he going to resuscitate anyway? Oh maybe it's just to psych out the older Hal and Joanne. Ahhh, okay. And what's that about their #1 roadblock as a team? Embracing the quiet moments and enjoy the beauty of Canada? Oh guys. The only "beauty of Canada" you are going to see are those cheesy wall murals in airport boarding areas, while you waste time because of flight delays. We will probably be seeing more of the beauty of Canada while watching the show. I hope this team gets more interesting as the season progresses, because they go far (but not far enough).

Tim Sr. (L) and Tim Jr. (R) Source: Canada News Wire/CTV

 

Tim Hague Sr./Tim Hague Jr.
Relationship: Father and Son
Tim Sr: 48 years old. Registered Nurse, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Tim Jr: 23 years old. Sales, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Motto: "Just because you've been given a diagnosis does not mean the end of your life"
Strategy: "Have an amazingly fun time and see how far we can get"
#1 Roadblock as a Team: "Both of us have pretty strong personalities so it will be a challenge to make sure we're always positive with each other"

This is a team worth rooting for. Tim Sr. was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease three years ago, and it looks like he hasn't let it get him down...he has competed in triathlons and marathons. And who doesn't love a father and son team? You two better not make me cry because, like baseball, there is no crying in the Amazing Race. In their bio, they say they have never traveled east of Winnipeg and they want to see Quebec City. Well, they get their wish and then some. Yeah, that's a  big hint.

Vanessa (L) and Celina (R) Source: Canada News Wire/CTV

Vanessa Morgan/Celina Mziray
 Relationship: Sisters
Vanessa: 21 years old. Actress, Ottawa, Ontario.
Celina: 30 years old. Bikini Model, Ottawa, Ontario.
Motto: "We are mini but mighty"
Strategy: "We may come across as naive or clueless, and we would use this to our advantage as we are not. Also, we have lots of experience travelling and in airports"
#1 Roadblock as a Team: "Any challenge that requires strength, we may be in trouble, because we are very small. Little minis!"

Excuse me a second. All this sweet little girl talk just gave me a sugar overdose. I suspect it was just Vanessa who wrote this bio, not her sister. No 30 year old writes like that. Besides, it looks like Celina, the bikini model, has a good 6 inches on Vanessa. So she's not that "mini". And talk about contradictory...first they say they are mini but mighty. Then they say their "mini-ness" and lack of strength is a setback. But here is the real aggravating part: despite the thousands upon thousands of applications from normal, everyday Canadians, they had to cast another minor celebrity. That's going to piss off a lot of people. I guess CTV is hoping to gain audience in the 14 to 17 year old male category. Or they are hoping for some drama to develop between the teams. I wonder how quickly it will be before we see these two doing their nails or rolling their eyes at team Body Break or Team Dreadlocks. Can't wait. They do okay. Don't know how. Oh wait. Maybe the eliminated teams should check their necks...ya bit? Ya bit?

The Amazing Race Canada...Casting Minor Celebs?

Sooo....

Back on May 8th, I posted this tweet by Canadian actor/comedian Shaun Majumder who just happened to come across filming in Vancouver:

Shaun Majumder ‏@shaunmajumder 6 May

#amazingRaceCanada blasting through YVR! Go cute girls go! pic.twitter.com/ilu00ncEBF

Well, at the time I thought two things. The first was yeah, of course he would notice and tweet a pic of 2 pretty girls he saw being filmed. But I also felt that maybe there was just a glimmer of recognition there...this pic was taken up-close and personal. He's standing right beside the cameraman!Could have just been my imagination, but it was enough for me to put it on my radar.

And it doesn't take much to do a bit of snooping on twitter to find out who these girls are, especially when you know the names of some of the other teams. You ever hear the saying, "loose lips sink ships"?

Apparently the producers weren't satisfied with casting just two minor Canadian celebs (Body Break's Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod). That I kind of understand. But this...not so much. Out of the thousands of video applications they received from regular, everyday Canadians, they just had to cast another celebrity? Shame.

Yep, apparently Vanessa Morgan, who is most notable for starring in My Babysitter's a Vampire managed to grab a spot on The Amazing Race Canada.

Annoyed yet?