Husband's behavior on 'Amazing Race' stuns viewers

[Champ]

Unpredictable behavior by contestants is the lifeblood of unscripted TV series, and producers are usually pretty happy to document it, edit it and show it to the viewing public, without intervening.

On the current edition of "The Amazing Race," however, executive producer Bertram van Munster says he felt compelled to talk to contestant Jonathan Baker after an incident that shocked fans of the show and sent message boards buzzing.

During last week's episode, Baker shoved his sobbing wife, Victoria Fuller, as they finished a leg of the race in second place, behind engaged couple Freddy and Kendra. He had dropped his backpack in an attempt to run faster, yelling at Victoria to do the same. Fearing the pack would be taken, she picked it up and carried them both to the finish line.

After host Phil Keoghan told them they had finished second, Fuller walked off camera, still crying. Keoghan told a still-fuming Baker to "go talk to your wife." Message boards devoted to "The Amazing Race" lit up, with a number of posters calling for Baker to be disqualified (the show was taped earlier this year).

Van Munster also talked with Baker about his behavior. "I told him you've got to tone it down, you have to stop this kind of stuff, it's not cool - until then, I'd never given advice to a reality show player before to chill out," he tells the New York Post.
http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/articles/1221amazingrace21-ON.html

I watched the show yesturday for the first time in fact. Half of the couples were sniping each other, one conversation went like this when they were trying to move the cannon
Woman: You need to be a man and get this thing moved
Man: You need to be a woman and shut up

Nice way to show yourself on national TV :eyes:

[mhr]

1. Why Waste Your Time On This Drivel?

eom

[Champ]

3. I was watching TV w/ my SO

Nothing was on and pretty much watching TV is wasting time. Basically we had nothing better to do at the time and I do like reality shows that showcase contestants competing against each other.

[Melodybe]

21. Best reality show ever!

It is an amazing race around the world, where else will you see rednecks in Singapore?

For all those haters, you don't know what a good show you are dissing.

[Chovexani]

26. Exactly

People who diss TAR and put in the same category as all the famewhoring dating shows etc. have no idea what they're talking about.

It's fun and educational!

[Bluebear]

4. Actually it's a pretty good show.

It's decidedly the least drivelly of the reality shows. At least your get to see nice scenery. Budapest looks stunning, per tonight's show.

[Cadence]

2. I cannot stand Jonathan and Victoria

I usually love this show but I cringe when they come on. I hope she leaves him, that fucking jerk, asshole, dickwad, fucknut!

[Skittles]

5. disgusting that such garbage is entertaining

nt

[lazarus]

16. If you'd care to notice

It isn't. Fans of the show are disgusted at his behaviour. We're not entertained. I don't know a single fan of this show who's entertained by this jerk.

But he's only on the show about 5 minutes of the hour.

[Skittles]

20. watching people degrading themselves for money

is just not my cup of tea; I think "reality" shows SUCK

and yes I watched that piece of shit show with my mum when I was in Chicago - saw this stupid woman pushing hay bales around for an hour. Real entertaining - NOT. A really pitiful display.

[lazarus]

24. degrading themselves?

I think actors in bad sitcoms are degrading themselves, too.

The winners of the last Amazing Race, Chip and Kim, never once degraded themselves. Carried themselves with pride to the end, and won.

I guess sports are out, too? Is there any form of entertainment you approve of?

[Dover]

6. Why not just have a travel show? Why do they have to be racing & cussing

their way across the world. What an embarrassment for this country.
Typical Americans rushing and barking orders and barely experiencing the beauty which surrounds them. Competition, winning and money are the only motivation for participating and watching.

Sheesh....

[Champ]

8. Exactly

I was just an awe over Hungary's Scenary. It is such a beautiful country.

[Cadence]

10. I agree. Although I do sometimes like the pace

and the excitement of finishing the challenges. I mostly watch it to get to see the foreign countries. In that regard, I wish the pace would slow a bit, just to see more of the geography and culture. The money motivation and the "Typical Americans" barking orders as if they are more important is embarrassing.
If they're going to continue to bring the drama element of the bickering couples, I'm not going to watch. It seems like this season that's all there is.

[LoZoccolo]

7. This couple has an "official site".

http://www.jonathanbakerandvictoriafuller.com

[Champ]

9. I can't believe it

[LoZoccolo]

11. Check out Mister I-Shoved-My-Wife!

He's got all these haut women around him and stuff, and then he goes and gets mad and embarasses himself over a backpack and a race and blames it on drugs.

How could this man's man, the executive producer of Dorf on Golf, have fallen so far so fast?

[LoZoccolo]

18. And don't forget to vote.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x2264986

[Piperay]

25. He looks like a pimp

Jonathan is a disgusting a POS ... hopefully one day he will get what is coming to him and it won't be good! :mad:

[Cadence]

12. OMG.

:puke:

[DS1]

13. If my girl can't find the e-brake on a Benz in under 5 seconds..

It's CLOBBERIN' TIME! No, in all actuality, it took me about a minute to figure out how to release the brake on my roommate's Toyota because I hardly ever drive automatics and if it's not right in the center console I'm temporarily lost.

That asshole is just a plain old asshole. Notice that their website has a gallery, look who is in all the pictures on page one.

[Ruffhowse]

14. Geez, could this guy have an even BIGGER ego? That web site is a

crack up. A veritable shrine to the couple and their "exceptional" lifestyle. I've seen them on the show, and the guys monstrous ego shows through loud and clear. His demeanor seems cocaine fueled to me. I actually sort of feel sorry for her. Wouldn't surprise me if she got beat up regularly at home. I hope this guy has to do a bungee jump as a stunt and has some unfortunate incident with the bungee cord. <edit> HA HA!!! I just checked out their web page some more and they have a full forum devoted to themselves!! OMG!!! Here's what one "fan" wrote-----

"Wow. I actually took the time to register for this so I could make this one post. As a couple, what a vapid, empty, soulless pair. Jonathan, specifically, is the most worthless, spineless, whiny sack of crap I have ever seen. The constant temper tantrums; the ego and arrogance so ridiculous, I almost think it's a put-on; the rude and obnoxious behavior that completely crosses the line; the high-pitched girl-voice; he may look 24, but he has the mental state of a five-year-old. Your favorite color is "wheat?" Who picks "wheat" as their favorite color?! Pathetic California candy-ass spa-owners, apparently.

Interesting to hear that Victoria was in Playboy. Have to avoid that issue. Not interested in seeing any more of that. Botox and silicone all over the place. Eech."

[jeff30997]

15. "some unfortunate incident with the bungee cord. "

Like the bungee cord is accidentally tied around his balls ?

[Robeson]

17. Why do you watch this?

[huellewig]

19. It is usually good.

This shitbag makes me wish I could force a divorce over my TV screen. This show has been on for a few years and is normally cool. This guy makes the whole thing trash. I guess the ratings went down.

"Hey, honey, I call you bitch but at least I don't hit you." != Family Values.

[Mike Daniels]

23. Acutally, last season was the highest one yet for the show

and they limited themselves to 2 "model couples". This year, I think they have 3-4 teams of models, a wrestling team (married), and two totally dysfunctional couples (Adam and Rebecca and Jonatha/Victoria).

The only normal team still in it is the father/daughter.


As someone posted on another board, the inherent problem with casting the show is the amount of time you need off from "life" to participate in it. Even if you are eliminated you are still sequestered through the run of the event.

Therefore, you end up with people who have an excessive amount of free time (models, entertainers, business owners) make up a substantial amount of the contestant pool. I understand previous seasons managed to diversify the general contestants but for some reason this season seems heavily weighted to the non-typical team members.

[MaineDem]

22. That was the same guy

The one who said "be a woman and be quiet" was our nemesis, Jonathan.

He's an ass. I do enjoy the show because it stresses performance and not "likeability" and people aren't voted off by others. The producers know how things turn out so I'm sure the editing is being done very carefully to lead up to Jonathan's demise.

I feel sorry for Victoria. This idiot must act this way in his everyday life as well.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

27. How much money did this guy get

for acting like a prick?

This "reality" TV stuff is such bogus crap. Why do people fall for it?