‘Amazing Race’ plots reality-TV showdown

What were you doing 18 years ago? These would be the days before Facebook and Twitter, and when TV was pretty much limited to what’s on is what’s on.

Phil Keoghan, host of “The Amazing Race,” was embarking on what would become one of the longest careers in reality-TV history.

As the race-around-the-world series begins its 31st season April 17 on CBS — yes, 31st season! — Keoghan shares with us what’s in store for the new season and why fans will be excited to see the show’s newest theme that pits former contestants of “The Amazing Race,” “Big Brother” and “Survivor” against one another.

“It’s been something that’s been suggested by CBS reality fans for a very long time,” Keoghan says. “As far as the pairings go, this really was the fans speaking to us, and us listening to the fans. There’s always been this sort of banter between fans about whether a “Survivor” team could beat out a “Big Brother” team or an “Amazing Race” team, and vice versa. So, it was just something we wanted to experiment with.”

Competing in a house where you’re loafing around completely shut off from the world or surviving on an island with little food and in harsh environments is considerably different from “Race’s” fast-paced, get-up-and-go competition, so “Survivor” and “Big Brother” alums will probably need to lighten up on some of the strategizing and get moving.

Last season, “The Amazing Race” saw a sizable ratings spike, largely due to scheduling (Wednesday nights on CBS work) and some refreshing additions to the show’s format (looks like the head-to-head challenge could be back). In the end, however, it’s all about the cast.

“What you’re doing is you’re throwing interesting people into an interesting scenario. And those challenges that we put together, and what we’re asking them to do, that’s where the content comes from,” Keoghan says. “How do they deal with that situation, because they are essentially writing the script. What they say, how they react, is what we have as content to entertain people.”

This season, some of the destinations racers will travel to include Japan, Uganda, Switzerland, Croatia, the Netherlands and England.

“You think about how much the world has changed in 18 years,” Keoghan says. “I can watch the show now and, in real time, converse with the fans about what they like and don’t like. I’m getting real-time feedback, and people don’t hold back, especially on social media.”