The Amazing Race 13 Debut

The makeup of the eleven teams vying for the million dollar prize on this season's The Amazing Race offered few surprises. Notable exception: the long-maned, white-haired, hippie beekeepers.

Filling some of the predictable roles are the bickering couple (Ken and Tina), the Blondes (Marisa and Brooke), the newly-dating couple (Terence and Sarah), and the long-distance dating couple (Aja and Ty).

Ken and Tina, the bickering couple, are married but separated due to Ken's infidelity. I shifted my sympathies to Ken as Tina blamed him for everything and gave him credit for nothing on this race's first leg where teams should be the least tense.

This season's blondes don't have the energy or personality of previous blonde teams. The geeks (Mark and Bill) are going to be stronger competitors than you think. The frat boys (Andrew and Dan) are less fratty than you expect.

Terence and Sarah promise the most unpredictability of the racing teams. They seemed nice and normal in the intro; their opposite personality types acknowledged. But they have something major in common--they are both pyscho, but in opposite ways. Sarah tries to make friends with everyone, (sounds normal, right?) but then is instantly angry when one of the racers doesn't acknowledge a comment she made. The comment didn't appear to be aimed at anyone. Terence, who wears a faux-hawk and was id'd as a free spirit is wound tighter than a bedspring.

The beekeepers were the first to be eliminated, before I got a chance to see their faces. Their sweet farewell made me sorry to see them go so soon.

Oh, did I mention the racers went to Brazil?