On 'Amazing Race,' it's run, don't gawk

ASTONISHINGLY resilient and successful, "The Amazing Race" has won the Emmy for outstanding reality competition for five years running, beating out sometimes better competition such as "Project Runway" and "American Idol." What it has that its rivals lack is a sense of wonder, an almost naive ambition to widen the perspectives of its participants and its viewers too. Its scope is far broader than that of any other reality competition or, for that matter, most scripted shows. Like much great art, it feels bigger than it actually is.

" 'The Amazing Race' is a love letter to the planet," says Kate, one-half of a married lesbian minister duo competing on the 12th season of "The Amazing Race" (Sundays at 8 p.m.), the second installment of which is tonight. "The beauty of this Earth comes from God, and we get a chance to sort of hopscotch around it and love it. What a gift."

But darned if "The Amazing Race" doesn't strike a blow against tourism. It's an imperialist fantasy in which other countries, and cultures, are but stomping grounds for Americans to tear through while chasing the prize of returning home $1 million richer. Though in previous seasons contestants have traveled widely -- to Botswana, South Korea, Oman, Italy, New Zealand and dozens of other locales -- actual engagement with other cultures is minimal at best. As tourists, the contestants are by and large casual, with responses to their spectacular locales typically variations on "It doesn't get any better than this!" There is little, if any, discussion of the visited countries. And so "Race" offers Americans the chance to go somewhere, while really not having to go anywhere at all.

(There are a couple of international versions of "The Amazing Race," though, notably, none has traveled through the United States -- perhaps entertainment tourism is a one-way street.)

Besides, actual engagement with the other has its bumps, and travel has its indignities. In Season 6, Jonathan and Victoria at one point were seemingly on the verge of getting robbed (no thanks to Jonathan's mouth). In the Season 7 finale, Uchenna and Joyce had to beg for cab money before they could cross the finish line. It was in Miami, but still.

(More glorious role models were Oswald and Danny, who blithely used hotel concierges as personal assistants on Season 2. When in Hong Kong. . . .)