UW couple wins first leg of “The Amazing Race”
And then there were 10.
Major Dave Brown Jr., an assistant professor of military science at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and his wife, Rachel, not only survived elimination on the Feb. 19 season premiere of “The Amazing Race,” but they placed first.
Rachel and Dave Brown got off to a fast start in “The Amazing Race.” (Photo: CBS)
More than 10 million people tuned in for the Emmy-winning CBS reality show’s 20th season premiere.
Dave, 33, had been deployed in Iraq for a year before returning in June and taping the show. Rachel, 30, is a graduate of UW who works at Epic Systems in Verona. They saw “The Amazing Race” as an opportunity to spend time together while living out their adventurous and competitive natures. And maybe win $1 million.
The competition started in Santa Barbara, Calif. and continued in Argentina.
The Browns beat out 10 other teams for the coveted “Express Pass” after challenges ranging from sky diving to empanada making. The pass allows them to skip past a challenge later in the race and head straight to the finish line.
While already favorites among Madisonians, many in the media are already showing their support.
“Although 8-9 minutes of screen time in a one-hour premiere isn’t much, I think I like these two already,” says Joseph Brannigan Lynch of Entertainment Weekly. “They play well off each other and are neither weird nor annoying, which is an accomplishment in itself on a show like this.”
“I respect our Armed Forces a tremendous amount, and Dave is a terrific representative,” says Patrick Hodges of Cinema Blend. “This couple is clean-cut, polite, and seem to have their heads screwed on straight.”
Their Madison connection is one reason to root for them. Another is how enthusiastically the couple embraced each challenge on the first episode.
While other pairs panicked at the mere mention of sky diving, both Dave and Rachel were ready to make the 10,000-foot jump. Dave was disappointed to learn only Rachel would.
“I was completely demoralized,” Dave says on the show. “I mean what better location in the world to skydive than Argentina on ‘The Race?’”
“The Amazing Race” can be seen at 7 p.m. Sundays on CBS.