Oh sure, they finally get around to releasing all the information on the teams for Season Three and I finally get busy with actual paying projects, but I guess I shouldn't complain, they are my raison d'être. While CTV has been releasing the team stories in groups of three just like they did last year, and Wayne has conveniently followed suit in his reviews, I guess I'll just have to tackle the whole enchilada in one big post. This is gonna be one huge enchilada.
It's been a long wait for Season Three and as many of you already know Wayne and I once again applied as soon as the auditions were announced but once again casting has gone in a different direction. That's okay, it gives us time to fine tune our game as we continue to give you our never to be humble opinions on every team and every episode. They've moved the race to Wednesday's this season but they're still starting on July 8th like they did in Season 2 and we'll all be ready for it as twelve teams, that's right twelve teams, race across Canada and hopefully the world to keep us entertained with Canada's most watched reality TV program.
With only two weeks until the premiere episode of Season 3 it's about time I got back to work around here and got started on my team reviews. In no particular order, first up we have . . .
Max Altamuro (28) and Elias Theodorou (26) from Toronto, Ontario. Elias is an MMA Fighter and a Cover Model while Max is a Retail Manager who stands up for what she believes in. Apparently, for the past five or six months, that would be Elias. Elias' fear of failure and heights is a brutal combination to take on the race but I don't think Max's fear of needles or divorce is going to be an issue. At least, not yet. Their Team Motto is"Don't look dumb on TV and don't die!" I'm good with that, but I'm not sure that they're likely to be the charming social butterflies they claim to be. Lovebirds tend to fight so these two could be out pretty quickly, especially with the two flatirons that Max seems to feel she needs to take with her, but so far they look good as long as their narcissism doesn't get in their way.
The second team is Gino (28) and Jesse (25) Montani, a team of Italian brothers from Hamilton, Ontario. Gino works for the City of Hamilton while Jesse is a Steelworker. Raised by their single mother these guys learned to rely on each other early on and that will certainly help during the race but Jesse's fear of snakes could cause some trouble, but it's more likely that his hand injury from his football days is more likely to be a problem than snakes. Their Team Motto is "Losing is NOT an option!" Good luck with that. They are definitely cut along the same lines as Jet & Dave so it'll be fun to see how far these boys can go. It doesn't hurt that they've spent their prep time studying Canadian maps and politics, just in case.
Next up we meet the third team of Nic La Monaca (22) and Sabrina Mercuri (32) from Montréal, Quebec. Nic is a Student/Soccer Coach, while Sabrina is in Human Resources and they both share a fear of water. Yeah, that's not going to be a problem at all. As Wayne is so fond of predicting engagements, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this one looks like a given this season, as long as they last long enough for Nic to "pop" the question. Unfortunately thesis another team with a sports injury that may sideline them at some point since Nic sustained a shoulder injury while playing soccer in Italy. With four languages under their belts they could be the team to beat if the season goes international. Their Team Motto is "If you don't laugh, it's not worth it!" I like that motto, seems very Gord and Wayne-ish doesn't it. I could see these two allying with the Montani brothers, especially if the brothers speak Italian.
Three down, nine to go.
Four my fourth team review we have Dana Hayward(23) and Amanda Johnston (23) from Wabash, Labrador. This perky pair of police officers is looking to arrest a couple of first place legs but I'm thinking their Type A personalities are going to get in the way at some point. Dana is afraid of mice while Amanda is afraid of sharks, but other than that they should be good, unless they need to cross a room full of mice or feed chum to sharks. Dana and Amanda associate most closely with Natalie and Meaghan from season two and will likely be a similar powerhouse when it comes to wins. On the upside they have no sporting injuries to slow them down. Their Team Motto is "Face every obstacle with the warrior mentality,!" and right there I see a problem. Not every obstacle needs to be beaten to death, some need to be fed bottled milk that you've carried from the last leg. Wayne is never going to be able to tell these two apart.
On to the fifth team. Meet Hamilton Elliot (19) and Michalia Drever (19), the youngest team this season and hailing from Centrevile, Nova Scotia. Are you sensing a theme here yet? So far all the teams are coming out of the east. Both are in the Service Industry and for the past four years Hamilton has been transitioning from female to male and is the first transgender contestant in Amazing Race history, but probably won't be the last. Hamilton's fear of heights may play into a task but I don't think Michaelia is going to run into too many ticks. Then again, this is Canada, but after conquering 13 European countries together the race should be a piece of cake. Right? Their Team Motto is "Go big or go home!" and I'm not sure I'd want a motto that tells me to go home but to each their own.
The sixth team is Brent (25) and Sean (28) Sweeney, originally from Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia but let's call it was it is . . . another team from Toronto where the brothers are studying Design. Brent is afraid of weird food textures (squid bile anyone), while Sean isn't too keen on snakes. This is what I'm thinking is the underdog team for season three, non-aggressive, not a lot of muscle, artsy, refusing to take anything to seriously. I should like these guys, but so far I'm reserving judgement. Their Team Motto is "Beasts from the East!" and I'm just not seeing it.
Wow, we're halfway there and still nobody from the west. Onwards, and westward.