There are some indications out there that "Amazing Race" contestant Jonathan Baker isn't quite as monstrous as the show's editing suggests. USA Today ran a story on Tuesday about his behavior and the intense hatred for him expressed by "Race" fans on the web. (The story features some quotations from Jonathan that were included on this site in an earlier post.) At the story's conclusion, "Race" executive producer Bertram Van Munster says that Jonathan "is actually a nice guy." This corroborates an earlier statement made by a former contestant, Don St. Claire, who also maintains that Jonathan isn't so bad.

As for Jonathan's claim that medication he takes for Sarcoidosis is responsible for some of his outbursts, a quick check of one source confirms that Prednisone, a common medication for the disease, can cause "depression, euphoria, insomnia, mood swings, personality changes, and even psychotic behavior." Wow! Perhaps the man knows what he's talking about.

So does this mean [gasp!] that television may not always tell the whole story?

[USATODAY.com] Treatment of wife puts Jonathan in last place with viewers
[No True Bill] The Abusive Race
[Miami Herald.com] Another Lesson Learned on 'Amazing Race'
[MedicineNet.com] Prednisone