Video Beat MAX - AMAZING RACE POKER LADIES LUCKY TOO MUCH

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

Professional poker players Maria Ho and Tiffany Michelle have finished last twice during the first four legs of the race yet they remain in the competition - The Phnom Penh episode received the series highest ratings of the five televised episodes this season garnering a 6.7 rating in the USA with 10.52 million viewers and rated 20th overall. - TV Listings

Monday October 26, 2009

THE RACE IS ON

If its luck you're looking for you can find it on the Amazing Race USA edition. Professional poker players Maria Ho and Tiffany Michelle have finished last twice during the first four legs of the race yet they remain in the competition. The duo finished last after the first leg in Vietnam but received one of the privileged non-elimination legs of the race.

They did it again in last week's episode in Phnom Penh but since the real first place finishers Zev and Justin lost their passports they were automatically eliminated and the girls went on to the next leg in Dubai where Lance and Kerri were eliminated and the poker ladies finished sixth out of the eight competition teams.

The dating couple of Meghan Rickey (23); Cheyne Whitney (23) reached the finish line first due to a fast forward the only one in the race. The fast forward was that one team member had to operate a Formula Three open wheel race car and complete a single lap around the track of the Dubai Autodrome in 45 seconds or less. If successful, they would win the Fast Forward and be driven to the Pit Stop in a Maserati. Cheyne took on the task. They are a strong team as they also finished first in the first leg and second in the third.

Though they function well as a team they do have their differences. Meghan does not like that he tries to diffuse tense situations with laughter rather than by talking things through. The biggest thing about Meghan that frustrates Cheyne is her stubbornness. He claims that once she has her mind set on something she is difficult to reason with and it can be impossible to change her mind.

Meghan and Cheyne met while playing a competitive game of tetherball in elementary school. After 10 years of friendship, Cheyne realized he could not let the most athletic girl he knew get away. Other than a six-month period where Meghan studied abroad in Italy, this couple has been essentially inseparable for nearly five years.

Meghan and Cheyne both work in fields where they deal extensively with different publics. She is an account executive at a public affairs firm and he works for a social change marketing company where he develops after-school programs and deals with a diverse group of teens, school administrators and corporate executives. When not in the office, Meghan can be found coaching competitive girls' soccer - a sport that she and Cheyne have shared a passion for since they were kids. The couple feels strongly that their occupations and experiences with team sports have taught them effective communication skills and the virtue of patience, which they believe will benefit them in the Race.

After teams were eliminated they were sequestered at a villa in Phú Qu?c, Vietnam to await the finale, with the exception of Eric & Lisa, who were eliminated at the Starting Line and chose to leave the show.

Applications for the show were originally due by February 24, 2009, but the deadline was later extended. Semifinalist interviews were held between March 20 and March 29, 2009.

Following this, finalists were invited to Los Angeles between April 23 and April 30, 2009 for final interviews with the producers. From there, 12 teams were selected as contestants. Filming took place around July and August 2009. Casting calls were also held as host Phil Keoghan cycled across the United States during the months of April and early May 2009 to support the National Multiple Sclerosis Society; Keoghan made stops to help with those casting calls.

NOTE:

The Phnom Penh episode received the series highest ratings of the five televised episodes this season garnering a 6.7 rating in the USA with 10.52 million viewers and rated 20th overall. The opening episode was the second highest for the program that received a 6.5 rating with 10.4 million viewers a ranked 25th overall.

AMAZING RACE SCHEDULE

Leg 1 (United States ? Japan) The Los Angeles River's wider channel near the mouth was the starting line * Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles River Basin (Starting Line) * Flight: Los Angeles (Los Angeles International Airport) to Tokyo, Japan (Narita International Airport) * Tokyo (Konno Hachiman Shrine) - Pit Stop (Leg 1) - COMPLETED

Leg 2 (Japan ? Vietnam) * Flight: Tokyo (Narita International Airport) to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (Tan Son Nhat International Airport) * Cái Bè - COMPLETED

Leg 3 (Vietnam) * Ho Chi Minh City - COMPLETED

Leg 4 (Vietnam ? Cambodia) * Phnom Penh, Cambodia Flag of Cambodia - COMPLETED

Leg 5 (Cambodia ? United Arab Emirates) * Flight: Phnom Penh (Phnom Penh International Airport) to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Dubai International Airport) - COMPLETED

FUTURE LEGS

Leg 6 (United Arab Emirates) * Dubai

Leg 7 (United Arab Emirates ? Netherlands) * Flight: Dubai (Dubai International Airport) to Amsterdam, Netherlands (Amsterdam Airport Schiphol) * Groningen

Leg 8 (Netherlands ? Sweden) * Flight: Amsterdam (Amsterdam Airport Schiphol) to Stockholm, Sweden (Stockholm-Arlanda Airport)

Leg 9 (Sweden ? Estonia) * Ferry: Stockholm (Port of Stockholm) to Tallinn, Estonia Flag of Estonia (Port of Tallinn)

Leg 10 (Estonia ? Czech Republic) * Flight: Tallinn (Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport) to Prague, Czech Republic (Ruzyne Airport)

Leg 11 (Czech Republic) * Prague

Leg 12 (Czech Republic ? United States) * Flight: Prague (Ruzyne Airport) to Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Flag of the United States (McCarran International Airport)

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TV SCHEDULE

Note: The shows listed are for the Cambodia - Thailand time zone. Check your local listings for time in your area.

NOTE TIMES OF THE SAME TELECAST IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES

12 NOON - TRUE BLOOD - MAX (Cinemax)

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

6:00 PM - LOCKED UP ABROAD - National Geographic

Midnight - TRUE BLOOD - MAX (Cinemax)

Midnight - NFL - True Sport 2 - Check for the channel in your area

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

5:30 PM - Crime & Justice - Australia Network

7:00 PM - AMANPOUR - CNN

7:00 PM - AMAZING RACE - AXN (New Episode)

9:00 PM - 2nd World War - National Geographic

10:00 PM - DAVID LETTERMAN -Star World

10:00 PM - LOCKED UP ABROAD - National Geographic

10:30 PM - CLICK (Internet Technology program) - BBC

11:00 PM - 2nd World War - National Geographic

7:00 PM - Missing Persons - Australia Network

7:00 PM - AMANPOUR - CNN

10:00 PM - TRUE BLOOD - MAX (Cinemax)

10:00 PM - DAVID LETTERMAN -Star World

10:00 PM - Missing Persons - Australia Network

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

7:00 PM - AMANPOUR - CNN

9:00 PM - UFC (ULTIMATE FIGHTING) - True Sport 2

10:00 PM - DAVID LETTERMAN -Star World

10:00 PM - DAVID LETTERMAN -Star World

12:30AM - FRONTLINE - Australia Network

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

4:30 PM - CLICK (Internet Technology program) - BBC

7:00 PM - AMANPOUR - CNN

8:00 PM - FIRST EDITION featuring Richard Keys - ESPN

10:00 PM - DAVID LETTERMAN -Star World

7:30 AM - CLICK (Internet Technology program) - BBC

12:00 NOON - AMAZING RACE - AXN - (Repeat episode of current season cycle 15)

1:30 PM - CLICK (Internet Technology program) - BBC

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

6:00 PM - DAVID LETTERMAN -Star World

8:00 PM - BORDER SECURITY - Australia Network

8:00 PM - TRUE BLOOD - MAX (Cinemax) - NEW EPISODE

9:00 PM - AMAZING RACE - AXN - (Repeat episode of current season cycle 15)

1:00 AM - BORDER SECURITY - Australia Network