Expedition Impossible, executive-produced by Mark Burnett ("Survivor"), is [not] the worst reality show ever (not by a long shot), but it reveals how challenging it must be for producers to introduce a whole mess of teams in a season premiere.

Creatively speaking, though, Expedition travels such a familiar course it's merely proof that when it comes to unscripted competitions, even top producers like Burnett continue to be extremely eco-friendly--starting with their conceptual commitment to recycling.

Burnett's veteran producers and editors know their way around casting and cutting this type of show, and they've hit upon a good formula here.

Once the race starts, the drill is familiar. Sand dunes, snowy peaks, raging rapids, weekly eliminations. It doesn't diminish the achievements of the contestants that we sometimes feel like we've been there and seen that.

This "Amazing Race" doppelganger, produced by Mark Burnett, is culturally tone-deaf, stunningly dull and lazy, with only minor innovations to the format.

At first glance this show appears to be an Amazing Race rip-off. Even though this is in fact true, don't let this deter you from the show. What should deter you is the monotonous challenges and the bland laid back atmosphere that is created from boring production. Yes, all the places are incredible, and yes the expedition is physically demanding, but all we are watching is people going from point A to point B. That's all it feels like. Go over this hill, cross this bridge, go here, go there... There is also a surprising lack of tension throughout the whole show. The best teams stay in front, and the bad teams are in the back. Also you a have very good idea of which team is going to loose half-way into the episode. Legendary reality television producer Mark Burnett described this show as a high stakes Indiana Jones type adventure; However I don't remember Indiana Jone constantly complaining about the weather, while riding camels or riding kayaks. The only thing "impossible" about expedition impossible is how quickly it fell in viewership.