‘The Amazing Race’ Fans Think COVID-19 Will Impact the Season 34 Route
The Amazing Race Season 33 on CBS was unlike any race before it. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic halted the season for more than a year, but it overcame its obstacles, and some teams were able to return. Unfortunately, though, many fans worry that The Amazing Race Season 34 will contain the same restrictions as its predecessor.
CBS renewed ‘The Amazing Race’ for season 34
A week after The Amazing Race Season 33 finale, CBS announced that it had renewed the reality competition for season 34. Given the show’s history with the network and its ratings, there was never a concern that CBS would cancel it.
The cast is unknown at the moment. However, host Phil Keoghan told the Toronto Sun that he and producers would film The Amazing Race Season 34 this summer. And the upcoming race is slated for the 2022-2023 TV season, so the season will likely either air in the fall or early 2023.
Fans believe that COVID-19 will impact ‘The Amazing Race’ Season 34
Unfortunately, COVID-19 is still very much a factor in television productions. And the pandemic will likely affect the filming of The Amazing Race Season 34. Some fans on Reddit speculated that the new season’s route might be similar to the locations in season 33.
“I hope they don’t spend too much time in Western Europe like they did for 33,” one fan wrote. “It was fine and all, considering they had already started it, but for 34, they should definitely visit some COVID-safe places [like] Australia, North Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Caribbean. It would be nice if they went to Singapore or Hong Kong, which have been mostly free of the virus, but unfortunately, I think that they will likely avoid East Asia once again.”
Another person said, “I also think a cheap/easy option is to have them start in Northeastern [United States] (Vermont or around Boston) and have them do 2 legs in Canada (2 in Quebec, or just 1 and the other in the Maritimes or Newfoundland). And then have them do a leg in St-Pierre and Miquelon, which is part of France. That way, you have 3 legs in smaller areas, and it counts as 2 countries.”
Whatever the case may be, there’s no doubt that COVID-19 will affect The Amazing Race Season 34 in some shape or form.
How the pandemic affected the previous season
Hopefully, The Amazing Race Season 34 won’t have the same strict restrictions as season 33. In the most recent race, production paused after the third leg due to COVID-19. And when they returned to the race 19 months later, everything was different.
The teams traveled together on one private plane to Western European countries, including Switzerland and France. Producers planned the route so that they only went to places where COVID-19 rates were low. Plus, the racers drove themselves during legs, and they only interacted with vaccinated locals.
It seems plausible that producers and teams will be able to travel outside of Western Europe in The Amazing Race Season 34. However, The Amazing Race plane will likely return, as will self-driving.
