Poll: Can 'Amazing Race' rally to beat 'Top Chef' and 'American Idol' at the Emmys?

Now that the new season of "The Amazing Race" is underway, TV viewers can decide: Is it good enough to help the show win the Emmy race for best reality/competition TV show again?

Until last year, "The Amazing Race" ruled the Emmy contest seven years in a row – dating back to when the category was created. The CBS program was a serious contender to repeat last year, while "American Idol" was considered to be its chief rival. However, "Top Chef" ultimately derailed "The Amazing Race's" amazing Emmy juggernaut.

The 18th season of "The Amazing Race" features 11 losing teams from previous TV seasons, vying for a new chance to win $1 million.

In Sunday night's episode, contestants were instructed to travel 2,700 miles from Japan to Lijiang, China, aboard trains, yaks and gondolas. Among the challenges they faced: searching through thousands of dangling charms to find the 12 Chinese zodiac animals.

-- Tom O'Neil

Photo: Episode 4 of "The Amazing Race" Season 18. Credit: CBS