Malaysia's husband and wife team Ivan and Hilda outdid their younger foes to finish first in the 2nd leg of the Amazing Race Asia - AXN photo

Representing Indonesia Natasha and her father Hussein finished next to last (9th) for the second consecutive week - AXN photo

Indonesia's Nadine (model) and Yani (TV presenter) finished last twice and were eliminated - AXN photo

Video Beat - AMAZING RACE ASIA SHAPING UP

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

In our view the two teams who are the long shots to win the $100,000 grand prize are the two oldest in combined team age - The Australia Network is offering some interesting programming this week. In addition to the 26 week series Future Express other eye catchers for this week are Mind Over Money and Bhutan, Height of Happiness?- Recommended TV Listings

Wednesday October 6, 2010

DOES AGE MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

True to form it usually takes a few shows for a reality show to come alive. The reason is the contestant's personalities come alive as they get caught up in the spirit of the competition. This past week on the second leg of the race this was the case.

When you look at the lineup of contestants its only natural to pick the teams you feel will win and the teams you would like to win. In our view the two teams who are the long shots to win the $100,000 grand prize are the two oldest in combined team age. The Indonesian father daughter team of Natasha, 24, and her 53 year-old father Hussein, 53 resulting in 77 years of total age.

The surprise elderly team (with respect) is Ivan Evetovics, 33 a university lecturer and his Malaysian wife Tengku Hilda, 38 who total 71 years of age. Ivan is in top shape being active in martial arts. He has to pick up the slack of his much smaller and not in top shape wife. His military background enabled the team to rally from last place in the early part of the second leg of the race to finish first. An underwater task to untie a knot was a piece of cake for him as several other teams failed to do so and took a four hour penalty including Natasha and Hussein who finished next to last (9th) for the second consecutive week.

Another water task was maneuvering a raft made of logs up a rapid stream. Ivan did the work of driving the raft forward as his wife laid down on the raft and held on.

With so many younger celebrity types in the race these two teams are the teams to root for if you like underdogs. Ivan has the edge given his strength and athletic ability. The Asian version of the race airs a new episode Thursday nights and repeats several times throughout the week as noted in our schedule below.

Of note Indonesia's Nadine and Yani finished last for the second week and were eliminated.

The Australia Network

The Australia Network is offering some interesting programming this week. In addition to the 26 week series Future Express other eye catchers for this week are Mind Over Money and Bhutan, Height of Happiness?

Mind Over Money

In the aftermath of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, NOVA presents Mind Over Money - an entertaining and penetrating exploration of why mainstream economists failed to predict the crash of 2008 and why we so often make irrational financial decisions.

This program reveals surprising, hidden 'money drives' in us all and explores controversial new arguments about the world of finance. Before the current crash, most Wall Street analysts believed that markets are "efficient" - that investors are reasonable and always operate in their own self-interest. Most of the time, these assumptions of classical economics work well enough. But in extreme situations, people panic and conventional theories collapse. In the face of the recent crash, can a new science that aims to incorporate human psychology into finance 'behavioral economics' do better? Mind Over Money re-creates some of the new field's most compelling experiments.

When To Watch in the Thailand/Cambodia time zone is:

Thursday, 7 October 2010 at 20:00

Thursday, 7 October 2010 at 23:00

Friday, 8 October 2010 at 12:00

Saturday, 9 October 2010 at 04:00

Saturday, 9 October 2010 at 08:00

Saturday, 9 October 2010 at 14:30

Bhutan, Height of Happiness?

Long thought of as a secluded paradise, Bhutan is renowned for rejecting economic prosperity in pursuit of 'Gross National Happiness'. This is a deep and humorous look at Bhutan as it struggles to adapt to the invasion of modernity.

When To Watch in the Thailand/Cambodia time zone is:

Saturday, 9 October 2010 at 17:00

Saturday, 9 October 2010 at 21:00

Another interesting program the network is currently televising is The Future Express series which airs weekly at 9:00 PM - Tuesdays in the Thailand/Cambodia time zones and repeats at noon the following day (Wednesday).

The series interviews passengers on trains who talk about their personal lives, country and customs. The production style is interesting as only the passenger is heard as the questions are not included in the piece. The show travels the world and visits more than 26 countries on six continents. In the initial program they traveled through Chile. On two occasions they got off the train to visit the family with the passenger. The same format was applied in shows to Russia and Australia. Future Express is directed by Rob Hof.

National Radio text is published in five languages, English, Thai, French, Russian and Khmer (Cambodian language). Any of our foreign language material and our Roman Wanderaugh columns is legally available ONLY on our National Radio site. Our sports, entertainment and feature programming has been broadcast on over 1000 radio stations.

TV SCHEDULE

Note: The shows listed are for the Cambodia/Thailand time zone. Check our chart or your local listings for time in your area.

NOTE TIMES OF THE SAME TELECAST IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES

10:00 PM - LOCKED UP ABROAD - National Geographic

10:00 PM - Amazing Race USA ( New Season) - AXN Network

1:00 AM - AMERICAN GREED - CNBC

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