Racing around the globe in pursuit of $1 million is an intense expertise. And intense experiences can result in some intense reactions. It seems we shall be seeing extra such reactions than regular when season 37 of The Amazing Race premieres tonight on CBS. That’s in line with host Phil Keoghan, who tells Leisure Weekly that the most recent assortment of groups options some severe rivals who will certainly be feeling the warmth as soon as the Race kicks off.

We spoke to Keoghan in regards to the impending squabbles between each groups and teammates, and what else to count on after his trademark eyebrow arch.

Watch first 5 minutes of The Amazing Race season 37 premiere (exclusive)

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Let's begin huge image. What are you able to inform us about season 37?

PHIL KEOGHAN: A few firsts. We've by no means carried out 14 groups earlier than. We've referred to as this season a season of surprises as a result of we introduced again a few of our outdated favourite sport components, after which we've additionally launched some new ones. We tried to construct in some surprises in each episode that possibly get just a little bit extra of a jaw drop. In order that was enjoyable. In an episode about midway by the season, there have been a few new components that we put in that I'm actually enthusiastic about sharing with the viewers.

There’s one specifically, which supplies one crew a unique type of energy over the opposite groups, which performed out very well. We'll go away it to the viewers to determine whether or not they need to see it again once more, however I feel it might be a component that stays part of the format going ahead. It gave us some actually attention-grabbing content material.

In what manner?

Our present has by no means been the screaming, yelling, loopy, “I hate you” type of content material that some folks depend on the place folks get actually triggered with one another after which they get right into a screaming match. We're not that present. However there may be some rigidity this season, significantly midway by — aggressive gameplay rigidity that was actually attention-grabbing that occurred in a manner that we type of thought would possibly occur, however we didn't know. After which it was type of like, “Wait, whoa, these groups are extremely aggressive!”

I'm tremendous aggressive myself. I like competing. So I really like that zeal in folks. I like when folks actually put it on the road and they’re ready to offer it their all and that they get actually enthusiastic about eager to win. I simply love that struggle in folks, and we've obtained a few of them this season the place they need to win.

You need it to remain wholesome. You don't need folks to get so aggressive that it turns into a detrimental. For me, I like those that compete, after which in the event that they notice they only obtained overwhelmed truthful and sq. and any individual else is best, simply to just accept that as a result of more often than not you don't win. It's simply the fact of life. And so it's the acceptance of, “Okay, I gave it every thing I might.” Some groups discover it simpler to let go and settle for that and a few don't. So as a result of we've obtained aggressive groups, we see a few of that this season, so it makes for some attention-grabbing TV.

The Amazing Race cast for season 37 revealed

So to be clear, is that this rigidity that you just're speaking about between groups or is it between teammates?

Each. And that has lots to do with that dynamic the place you don't generally get that excellent marriage of need the place possibly one crew member is like, “You and I are a crew and possibly you're annoyed with me for not taking issues as significantly as you need to take them. Or possibly you don't really feel like I'm being as hungry and preventing as onerous as you’re.” And also you're like, “Hey, look, you notice we're a crew and also you need extra out of me and I'm annoyed as a result of I really feel like your expectations of what I'm doing are too excessive, or I don't really feel that I can reside as much as your expectations.”

So there's at all times that dynamic. Very not often do you get a crew the place it's equal and so they have precisely the identical aspirations and every thing is ideal. You see it inside any aggressive sports activities crew the place there's rigidity — like with Shaq and Kobe on the Lakers. It's that aggressive factor. I really like that groups need to come on this present and that they're there to have an excellent time and race around the globe and every thing, however I need to see that struggle in them. I need to see them actually need to win. It makes for an attention-grabbing race, and we've obtained a number of that this season.

The Amazing Race cast for season 37 revealed

I feel followers wish to see that, too. I do know I do.

I went on-line and checked out: What are followers speaking about with The Superb Race? What do they like? What are the issues they'd wish to see extra of? What are the issues that they don't like? They love airport drama, they love groups which might be hungry and need to compete. I did a complete listing of the highest 100 favourite moments, and so they're not issues which have essentially come from twists and turns as a lot as they've simply come from being put in a very attention-grabbing state of affairs.

If you happen to bear in mind in season 36 when the brother and the sister couldn't flip round on that tight avenue — that wasn't one thing that we ever deliberate. It wasn't like, “Oh, let's do a factor the place groups can't flip round.” That ended up turning into a favourite second of the entire season, and it wasn't even arrange. It actually was simply this random factor that occurred. And since you put attention-grabbing folks right into a state of affairs, it turned this nice piece of content material. On the finish of the day, it actually does come right down to, what do these folks do throughout the construction of the present?

What's your favourite location this season?

Bulgaria is a spot we've by no means been to earlier than, so positively a favourite for me. And on a private stage, Strasbourg. Once I rode my bike round France, it was considered one of my stops. It's an unbelievable place, just a little metropolis proper on the border of France and Germany. There's a number of German affect. There are these stunning Tudor-style 14th century buildings and nice cathedrals. And the final time I used to be there was actually after I was driving round France and I used to be exhausted daily. So I hadn't been again for 10 years and I actually loved going again this time with out the strain of getting to trip 150 miles a day. In order that was a spotlight for me.

This interview has been edited for size and readability.

The Superb Race premieres Wednesday, March 5, at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

Join Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking information, unique first appears to be like, recaps, opinions, interviews together with your favourite stars, and extra.

Shut