What’s Worth Watching: Mismatched Love on The Amazing Race

The Amazing Race, “I Got the Smartest Dude” (Friday, Feb. 27, 8/7c, CBS)

I’ll admit, I was skeptical about The Amazing Race‘s blind-date twist while watching the opening minutes of Wednesday’s season premiere. One of the best reality competitions in history had suddenly morphed into something like The Bachelor, and I just wasn’t feeling it. But then something crazy happened. As the contestants raced through Tokyo, the producer-constructed teams started emerging as the strongest in terms of their stories and the race in general. Tonight, as the Top 10 teams continue through Japan, we’re focused on blind daters Blair and Hayley. While she seems to be head over heels with the Navy doc, he doesn’t appear to have the hots for the registered nurse. The stress of the race may just be a speed bump that will ultimately bring them closer. But Blair might be looking for a U-turn back to the states…if they survive this leg. This is one odd couple we can’t get enough of.