‘The Amazing Race’s’ Phil Keoghan: Expanding to 90-minute episodes was ‘a risk that paid off’ [Exclusive Video Interview]
“The Amazing Race” received its 21st Emmy nomination for Best Reality Competition Program last month, extending its own record for the most nominations in the category. And the 21st time feels just as great as the first — if not better.
“I think we’re getting more excited about it because we are continuing to be part of the mix of what’s considered the best reality shows,” host and executive producer Phil Keoghan tells Gold Derby (watch the exclusive video interview above). “It’s almost like that’s our measure of ‘Are we still hitting the mark? And are we still part of people’s reality television-watching, so it’s something that we never get blasé about because we’re striving to be there with the best shows and there are some good ones out there. And I think for us to still be in the mix is pretty awesome.”
A 10-time winner — also a record — “The Amazing Race” has been nominated every year it’s been eligible since the category was added in 2003. It only missed in 2020 when it didn’t air in during the eligibility period. Some of the shows it was nominated against 20 years ago are no longer around or are still around but have fallen out of the category. Keoghan credits “Race’s” longevity to its fans “who have taken such a great interest in our show” and having the world as its stage. “It’s a testament to the team. It’s a testament to consistency. I think that’s one of the hardest things to do. A lot of reality shows have come and gone because some don’t have that ability to sustain over a long period of time,” he says. “With our show, I feel like we do have a huge advantage in the fact that we can actually put something fresh and original up every year, every season.”
The last TV season was unique for “Race.” Not only did it air a fall and a spring season for the first time in eight years, but it switched seasons. Due to the writers’ strike last spring, CBS commissioned 90-minute episodes of “Survivor” and “The Amazing Race” to fill out its Wednesdays in the fall. “Race” had filmed a season in 2022 that was already being edited into hour-long episodes and was supposed to air as Season 35. Instead of unlocking those episodes to add 30 more minutes, the team decided to film the season they were about to shoot that summer with 90-minute episodes in mind and that one became the Season 35 that aired in the fall. The season that filmed in 2022 was re-edited into 90-minute episodes and aired in the spring as Season 36.
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“It was a risk that paid off. And for us, I think it’s helped the show a lot because a lot of times, we’re really having to go and having to trim out stuff that we really would love to keep. We hear a lot from viewers that they want to see more of the world. A lot of the times, I feel like we’ve had to shortchange them on being able to sit on shots or to give real context to where we are,” Keoghan states. “I write with one of the producers and the thing we’re trying to do constantly is give the viewer context as to why are we in, say, in Thailand doing what we we’re doing. What’s the reason for us being there and having them do this challenge? That context is hugely important and I think becoming more and more important as viewers become more discerning.”
There also some major differences between the two seasons. What aired as Season 36 was filmed under COVID-19 restrictions, so the whole production traveled by a chartered plane. The route also didn’t hit Europe at all, sticking to South America. Season 35 was the first season to film with relaxed COVID protocols, so commercial flights were back as was a more global course, including stops in Thailand, India, Germany and a first-time visit to Slovenia. The show entered the sixth episode of Season 35, which is in Jaipur, India, as its Emmy submission.
“By the time we come to an agreement [about what to submit], we have to weigh, what is the cinematography like, what is the storyline like, who are the characters, what are the storylines that play out? There’s a lot to consider and I love that there’s that discussion for us and we’re able to figure it out,” Keoghan shares. “And any time you’re in a really exotic place, like going to the Pink City, and when you’re traveling from a place like Vietnam to India, you’re going to get something super exciting.”
In June, Keoghan wrapped production on Season 37, which is scheduled to air next year with 90-minute episodes once again. “We wanted to do a season where there were a few surprise elements, so I guess that’s what I would say would summarize what we did,” he teases. “There’s just some things that come of left field for the contestants and I think the viewers will find it fun. Not necessarily new twists but just surprises.”
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