the amazing race

The next season of 'The Amazing Race' could feature some beloved familiar faces (and we're not talking about host Phil Keoghan's handsome mug).

According to rumors on sites like Reality Blurred and Reality Fan Forum, filming for season 18 of 'TAR' is underway and will feature a cast comprised of all-stars from seasons 12 through 17. SPOILER ALERT: If you don't want to know who's already been spotted racing (and where), stop reading now! After the jump, find out who's back to compete for another $1 million prize.

['The Amazing Race' - 'I Hate Chinese Food']

It's hard to believe that we're down to the final four on 'The Amazing Race.' While it seems like just a few weeks have gone by, already the teams ousted early are fading in my mind. Two all-female teams are still in contention for the big win and both of them are pretty dang tough, wouldn't you say?

Then there's Nick and Vicki. Despite tough appearances, they're not so tough. Well, at least Nick isn't. On the other hand, even though she lacks a lot of savvy, Vicki is one determined woman. But will it do her any good when she's saddled herself with Nick? Read on.

It was a fight to reach the finish on 'The Amazing Race' (Sun., 8PM ET on CBS). One team kept getting slower and slower. But hey -- speed isn't everything. And a wise man once said this: "The race is not to the swift." On the other hand, the race isn't won by the cranky, either. And it's hard to win if you quit in the middle of things.

Couple Nick and Vicki were fighting -- and it kept getting worse. To start with, Vicki really doesn't like Chinese food, which is a problem if you're visiting Hong Kong, China, the location for this week's leg of the race.

It was here that Vicki's hatred of Chinese cuisine made her lose an eating-related challenge, giving her and Nick a time penalty. Then, the couple got on a boat -- and Nick's grouchiness kicked in.

['The Amazing Race' - 'There's a Lot of Nuts and Bullets']

Every few seasons, 'The Amazing Race' tosses something new into the mix to challenge the teams. Initially, the main obstacles were Detours and Roadblocks. Since then we've had Yields, U-Turns and Speed Bumps, all of which have the sole aim of impeding team progress.

Tonight's introduction of the Double U-Turn, while not entirely a new concept, certainly had an impact on this leg. Using something like this is also very telling about the teams who employ it and who's considered a threat in the race.

On 'The Amazing Race' (Sun., 8PM ET on CBS), Team Kat/Nat were neck-and-neck with Chad and Stephanie. Nat and Kat reached the U-turn first and naturally chose their direct competitors to do the U-turn, forcing Chad and Stephanie to go back and complete the other Detour task.

[Spoiler alert.]


Once they'd carried 100 bricks in a basket on their heads to a shop owner, the couple -- who became engaged in Oman in last week's episode -- were the last team to arrive at the pit stop in Bangladesh. Their amazing race was over.

"Even though we didn't win the million, I still feel like a very, very rich man. I really did get the greatest prize of all," said Chad. "I'm getting to come out of this engaged to a wonderful, wonderful woman." And don't forget about that free trip honeymoon to Belize.

['The Amazing Race 17' - 'Ali Baba in a Suit']

Tonight we boldly went to where no reality show (or just a rare few) has gone before -- the Middle East. For some odd reason I just can't see 'The Real Housewives of New Jersey' filming there. Yet it was a perfect location for a leg of 'The Amazing Race.'

Not only is the countryside simply amazing, but the teams were well-received by the locals. With all of the problems in today's world, this leg was a fresh air journey into the country of Oman as well as a glance at the people who live there.

Chad decided about a month ago that girlfriend Stephanie was "the one." With a ring he'd been carrying across the world in 'The Amazing Race' (Sun., 8PM ET on CBS) competition, Chad popped the question in Oman.

"You've come into my life and done so many amazing things and taught me so much. I couldn't see spending my life with anybody else other than you," Chad told her. He knelt down, asked Stephanie to marry him, and she gave a hearty, "I will!"

But that wasn't all their good news. The couple later nabbed first place at the Al Alam Palace pit stop and won a trip to Belize -- honeymoon destination solved!

['The Amazing Race' - 'I Want to Be in the Circus, That's Where I Belong']

No clowning around here, it's high time to change this show's Sunday night time-slot to another night where it won't constantly be delayed by football! Here on the East Coast the show was delayed by more than an hour. DVRs get confused and writers get antsy.

It could be worse. We could be David Caruso fans.

Tonight's episode of 'The Amazing Race' was perplexing and not just because of the delay. Sure, it was entertaining. Don't get me wrong. It's never not entertaining. Read on for the skinny!

On 'The Amazing Race' (Sun., 8PM ET on CBS), being faster than a competitor doesn't really work if you've broken rules along the way. Two teams battle to reach host Phil Keoghan in sixth place and avoid elimination from the competition.

Chad and Stephanie's strategy is to leave their luggage behind. But Keoghan makes them turn back, retrieve their bags and pay the cab driver. He also penalizes them by a half-hour.

Meanwhile, Michael and Kevin also (unintentionally) break the rules on this leg of the race, using cabs instead of walking. They're forced to wait an hour as penalty. Who will make it, and whose journey is over?

ABC and Salma Hayek are teaming up once again to develop an American version of a telenovela.

The network and Hayek were behind 'Ugly Betty' and have set their sights on adapting the Argentinian telenovela 'Los Roldan.' According to Variety, Veronica Becker and Sarah Kucserka, 'Ugly Betty' veterans, have been tapped to write and executive produce.

'Los Roldan' told the story of a working-class man who gets hired to run the company of the woman whose life he saved. Versions of the soap have been produced in Colombia, Mexico and Cyprus.

In other TV news ...

• 'Sex and the City' showrunner Michael Patrick King is shopping around a new series. King and his representatives are reportedly shopping the script around personally in an effort to keep it as secret as possible. [Vulture]

• 'Off the Map,' Shonda Rhimes' new medical drama, will premiere Wed., Jan. 12 at 10PM. 'Off the Map' will take the place of the legal drama 'The Whole Truth.' [Twitter]

• Keith Olbermann has suspended his "Worst Persons" segment. Olbermann has shelved the segment in the wake of Jon Stewart's speech at the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear. [Hollywood Reporter]

['The Amazing Race' - 'Run, Babushka, Run']

Usually a drag race involves cars, motor oil and testosterone. But you can never predict what it might mean on 'The Amazing Race' -- this week's "drag race" was a little less automobile, a little more Greenwich Village Halloween Parade. Still, brawn may be more helpful than brains at times.

The teams never know what's ahead of them on the race. As viewers, we just tag along vicariously on the ride. However, one thing we can predict for certain: bickerers most often remain bickerers, making the other teams even more likable.

On 'The Amazing Race' (Sun., 8PM ET on CBS), the teams traveled from Norway to St. Petersburg, Russia. This was a distance of over 1,200 miles. But sometimes, it's not the journey -- it's what you have to face at the destination.

[Warning: Spoiler alert.]

In St. Petersburg, the teams faced a "Roadblock" challenge. As part of the Russian theme, contestants had to dress up as "basbushkas." This is a Russian term for "grandmother" -- and for a traditional scarf that is tied under the chin.

The male and female players had to dress up like scarf-wearing grandmas. No one was pleased with the task. As "basbushkas," each team member had to plant a row of 50 potatoes, then cover those potatoes with ... manure.

Against all odds -- a fundamental misunderstanding of the rules, the inability to locate Ghana on a map, not realizing the Arctic Circle isn't located in Africa -- Nick and Vicki have managed to stay alive on 'The Amazing Race' for five weeks now.

That truly amazing feat deserves a heartfelt congratulations because, although this is the 17th iteration of the CBS reality series, Nick and Vicki have distinguished themselves as the most clueless team to ever appear.

['The Amazing Race' - 'Tastes Like a Million Dollars!']

Do you know what's amazing? Phil Keoghan's eyebrow raising abilities. Sure, it's 'The Amazing Race' and that in itself is amazing. But, just how does he do that? I tried, but can only do it when I close the other eye. It ends up looking like I have an uncontrollable tic.

Phil did the eyebrow raise twice in succession tonight for the second place team, so we had a double treat. Now that you're all trying to raise your eyebrow, read on for the skinny on which team made the Pit Stop first ... and last.

We had a bad -- and weird -- injury on tonight's 'Amazing Race' (Sun., 8:30PM ET on CBS). Would the player in question manage to power through? And would it all be worthwhile?

[Warning: Spoiler alert.]

On the previous episode, the players had to travel from the equator to the Arctic Circle. This time around, the goal was a lot easier. The contestants went from Sweden to Norway -- two countries that are right next to each other. But a shorter trip didn't equal fewer problems.

TV home shopping hosts Claire and Brook quickly ran into trouble. While rushing to the Norwegian marina -- the final pitstop for the day -- Brook suffered possibly the oddest injury in reality show history. She cut herself on the face, somehow slashing her eyelid while slamming down the door of a car. Ouch!