Post by Brian SmithPost by Ken McElhaneyOn Mon, 16 Nov 2015 08:17:17 -0800 (PST), Ken McElhaney
Post by Ken McElhaneyOf course, it does remove any lingering notion that somehow CBS or TAR
manipulates the race because if they did we wouldn't be waiting an hour and
fifteen minutes which certainly lost some viewers who couldn't stay up that
late
As has been amply demonstrated elsewhere, facts -- or lack of same -- doesn't
deter some people who are determined to believe that the outcomes on reality
shows like TAR are heavily influenced by the producers, if not out-and-out
dictated by them.
Well, that is certainly true and Brian has been a leading voice in the "TAR
is manipulated" movement despite ample evidence to the contrary.
A blown live camera setup which started an hour and fifteen minutes late
that turned away viewers is a flat-out contradiction to any "manipulation"
theory because it would have been so easy for CBS/TAR to fix well ahead of
time. If a late plane flight is enough to throw it off as Brian suggested,
then manipulating TAR during the race is pretty much out of the question
since late flights, taxis and whatnot happen ALL the time.
I understand that no amount of evidence will change Brian's mind, but it's
nice to see yet another example of how CBS/TAR actually lets the race go on
its own terms.
Ken
Ken, you must miss arguing with me. I've never said they manipulate the race
in that manner but others have including past racers. What I've said is that
they manipulate things such as opening/closing times of certain venues so
they can get their bunching point to equalize the race out.
Well, that's not really "manipulation" since it is all done in advance and does not favor a particular team. That is the design of the race course done weeks in advance based on the background info I've read about TAR and how they put the race together behind the scenes.
Post by Brian SmithIf they didn't
ask some of these places to put up hand-written notices we would seldom see
all the teams bunching up like we do every season at some point. I'll also
remind you again that manipulation is not the same as rigging. CBS would
never allow any of these shows to be rigged.
Brian, you have argued very forcefully in the past that TAR "manipulates" the race so that certain teams are kept in because they are more "exciting" than others and they do this for ratings purposes.
If that is NOT your position today, then so be it. But please do not try to run from your past, it is very unseemly and frankly laughable as you went to great lengths to show otherwise even if it was all in a failing effort.
Post by Brian SmithOne last point/observation. What was with Phil directing teams to the clue
box? Since when is that allowed?
Well, let's list all the previous live feeds at the cluebox for reference purposes.
Oh wait, this is the first time so you have no previous reference to base your question on, so you are making an assumption based on an event that has not happened before.
Post by Brian SmithWe've seen teams in the past waste a ton of
time looking for clue boxes even when they're practically right in front of
their faces. Any chance Phil was trying to get them back on track so they
wouldn't miss out on the next key transportation component of the leg/race?
This was the first live feed of a cluebox in TAR history, correct?
Think about it. We've seen teams arrive at the first cluebox in ALL previous races in TAR history several minutes if not an hour or more apart due to so-called "bad" taxi cab drivers, not understanding the clue, etc.
So, why would Phil be so confident that ALL of the teams were the same number of minutes away?
Because this part of the race was DESIGNED to keep them together for this moment.
You ASSUME that this part of the race up to this point is like ALL previous races which it clearly was not.
Instead, TAR decides for this season to really not start the "meat" of this leg until AFTER all the teams arrive at the cluebox and get on camera.
It makes good sense for several reasons;
- It gets ALL the teams to the cluebox together so the live feed is short and sweet.
- NONE of the teams can accidentally blurt out something that happened because nothing has really happened at this point.
- ALL of the teams get to start from the cluebox on rather equal footing which is DIFFERENT and a GOOD change for TAR. Instead of knowing some teams are behind, we know ALL of them are together at this point and have a fighting chance to avoid elimination.
There is NO 'manipulation' since it's part of the design of the leg which was planned well in advance and the result would have been great IF the teams were not so late.
However, how could Phil be so wrong about the TIME that all the teams arrived which frankly put a HUGE crimp in the live feed?
Clearly, if CBS/TAR were actually skilled at this type of stuff all of the teams would have been there ON TIME for the maximum number of viewers. But they were not and if CBS/TAR cannot achieve even that measly little bit of 'manipulation', then it throws a big bucket of cold water on the idea that they could 'manipulate' much of anything else on the fly during the race itself.
The very late arrival of the teams demonstrates what Phil and everyone else who is a part of TAR has been saying for all of these years in that they let the race happen. They may make intricate designs of the race in the weeks leading up to it, but making quick changes during the race is something that they are very poor at doing.
After all, it makes no sense to LOSE viewers because the live feed was an hour 'n fifteen minutes late. So, if they could have done something about it (like, start the teams MUCH earlier in the day to ensure they would be there on time) they would have done it.
Ken