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The Amazing Race 1

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The Amazing Race 1
Season 1
Region 1 DVD cover
Presented byPhil Keoghan
No. of teams11
WinnerRob Frisbee & Brennan Swain
No. of legs13
Distance traveled35,000 mi (56,000 km)
No. of episodes13
Release
Original networkCBS
Original releaseSeptember 5 (2001-09-05) –
December 13, 2001 (2001-12-13)
Additional information
Filming datesMarch 8 (2001-03-08) –
April 8, 2001 (2001-04-08)
Season chronology
Next →
Season 2
List of episodes

The Amazing Race 1 (originally broadcast under the name The Amazing Race) is the first season of the American reality competition series, The Amazing Race. Hosted by Phil Keoghan, it featured eleven teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship, competing in a race around the world to win US$1,000,000. This season visited four continents and nine countries and traveled over 35,000 miles (56,000 km) during thirteen legs. Starting in New York City, racers traveled through South Africa, Zambia, France, Tunisia, Italy, India, Thailand, and China before returning to the United States, traveling through Alaska, and finishing in New York City. It debuted on September 5, 2001, on CBS and ended its run on December 13, 2001.

Lawyers and best friends Rob Frisbee and Brennan Swain were the winners, while separated parents Frank and Margarita Mesa finished in second place, and life partners Joe Baldassare and Bill Bartek finished in third place.

Production

Development and filming

The Amazing Race began at Bethesda Fountain in New York City's Central Park.

On September 13, 2000, CBS announced that it was set to produce a new reality show, which would feature eight teams of two traveling to eleven international locations to win US$1 million.[1] By December 2000, the show was under the working title of CBS Summer Global Adventure Series.[2] Location scouting for the racecourse took place in January 2001.[3] Filming for the first season began in March 2001 by which time the show had been renamed to The Amazing Race.[3][4] The first season of The Amazing Race traveled 35,000 miles (56,000 km) in 39 days, spanning four continents and nine countries. The season was hit with multiple filming delays, including an airport strike in Rome and a sandstorm in Tunisia, the latter of which forced teams to begin sixth leg in Gabès rather than the original Saharan desert Pit Stop. Filming concluded on April 8, 2001, at Flushing Meadows Park.[5] The top of the World Trade Center was considered as the finish location for the season but was changed to Flushing Meadows Park after production was unable to secure needed permits.[3]

Multiple aspects of filming were unique to the first season of the series.[6] Host Phil Keoghan handed out clues at the beginning of some legs and only greeted the last-place team at each Pit Stop; all other teams were greeted and informed of their placements by local representatives.[3] This would be changed with Keoghan informing all of the teams of their placements while accompanied by the local greeter in subsequent seasons in order to increase his in involvement in the show and prevent him from appearing like a grim reaper.[6] Each leg's Pit Stop mat featured a localized design, while subsequent seasons have used a single design.[6]

The Amazing Race was designed so that the final three teams would all reach the finish line.[3] However, Joe & Bill were so far behind that they could not catch up and did not finish the competition. They were still completing leg 12 in Alaska while Rob & Brennan and Frank & Margarita were crossing the finish line in New York City.[7]

Cast

Paul Alessi
Drew Feinberg

Eleven teams participated in the first season of The Amazing Race.[8]

Contestants Age Relationship Hometown Status
Matt Robar 28 Married Simsbury, Connecticut Eliminated 1st
(in Songwe Village, Zambia)
Ana Robar 28
Kim Smith 28 Teachers & Roommates Baytown, Texas Eliminated 2nd
(in Paris, France)
Leslie Kellner 27
Pat Pierce 43 Working Moms Landenberg, Pennsylvania Eliminated 3rd
(in Les Baux-de-Provence, France)
Brenda Mehta 42 Elkton, Maryland
Dave Groark 65 Grandparents Rockwall, Texas Eliminated 4th
(in El Djem, Tunisia)
Margaretta Groark 60
Paul Alessi 32 Engaged Los Angeles, California Eliminated 5th
(in Jebil National Park, Tunisia)
Amie Barsky 27
Lenny Hudson 33 Dating New York City, New York Eliminated 6th
(in Agra, India)
Karyn Jefferson 30
Nancy Hoyt 46 Mother & Daughter Waco, Texas Eliminated 7th
(in Krabi, Thailand)
Emily Hoyt 21
Kevin O'Connor 34 Fraternity Brothers Bayonne, New Jersey Eliminated 8th
(in Beijing, China)
Drew Feinberg 35 Staten Island, New York
Joe Baldassare 50 Life Partners Laguna Niguel, California Third place
Bill Bartek 47
Frank Mesa 30 Separated Parents Queens, New York Runners-up
Margarita Mesa 28
Rob Frisbee 27 Lawyers & Best Friends Minneapolis, Minnesota Winners
Brennan Swain 29 Rochester, New York
Future appearances

Kevin & Drew made an appearance in The Amazing Race: Family Edition, handing out clues at a hot dog stand in New York City.[9] Kevin & Drew and Joe & Bill returned for the first All-Stars season.[10] Frank Mesa made an appearance at the starting line of season 25.[11] Rob & Brennan made an appearance at the starting line of season 27.[12]

Results

The following teams are listed with their placements in each episode. Placements are listed in finishing order.

  • A red placement with a dagger (†) indicates that the team was eliminated.
  • An underlined blue placement with a double-dagger (‡) indicates that the team was the last to arrive at a Pit Stop in a non-elimination leg.
  • A green ƒ indicates that the team won the Fast Forward.
Team placement (by episode)
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Rob & Brennan 1stƒ[a] 3rd 3rd 6th 4th 3rd 3rd 3rd 1st 1st 2nd 1st 1st
Frank & Margarita 3rd 4th 2nd 5th 5th 1st 1stƒ[a] 2nd 2nd 2nd 1st 2nd 2nd
Joe & Bill 2nd 2nd 4th 1st 2nd 2nd 2nd 4th 4thƒ[a] 4th‡ 3rd 3rd‡ 3rd
Kevin & Drew 9th 5th 1stƒ[a] 2nd 1st 4th 4th 1st 3rd 3rd 4th†
Nancy & Emily 10th 7th 8th 3rd 3rd 5th 5th 5th‡ 5th†[b]
Lenny & Karyn 4th 9th 7th 7th 6th 6th‡ 6th†
Paul & Amie 7th 6th 6th 4th[c] 7th†
Dave & Margaretta 8th[d] 8th[e] 5th 8th†
Pat & Brenda 5th 1stƒ[a] 9th†
Kim & Leslie 6th 10th†
Matt & Ana 11th†
Notes
  1. ^ a b c d e This team won the Fast Forward on this leg.
  2. ^ Nancy & Emily initially arrived 4th, but were issued a 24-hour penalty for failing to complete either Detour option and taking a taxi to the Roadblock. Joe & Bill checked in during this penalty time, dropping Nancy & Emily to last.
  3. ^ Paul & Amie checked in 5th at the end of this leg, but departed the next leg 4th after being awarded a time credit.
  4. ^ Dave & Margaretta initially arrived 7th, but were penalized for not completing the Detour correctly. They departed the Pit Stop 8th.
  5. ^ Dave & Margaretta initially arrived 6th, but were penalized for not completing the Roadblock correctly. They departed the Pit Stop 8th.

Race summary

The route of The Amazing Race 1.
Destinations Air travel    Rail travel    Water travel    Bus travel
Helicopter travel    Bicycle travel    Gondola travel
Route Markers Detour    Roadblock    Fast Forward    Pit Stop

Leg 1 (United States → South Africa → Zambia)

The Knife's Edge Bridge in the midst of Victoria Falls' inverted rain was the first location ever visited in the entire series of The Amazing Race.
  • Episode 1: "The Race Begins" (September 5, 2001)
  • Eliminated: Matt & Ana
Locations
Episode summary
  • Teams set off from Central Park in New York City with instructions to fly on one of three flights to Johannesburg, South Africa. Once there, teams were directed to the Lanseria Airport, where they had to book one of four charter flights to an unknown destination (Livingstone, Zambia). Once there, teams had to locate a vehicle outside of the airport with instructions to find "the smoke that thunders," the local name for Victoria Falls. Teams could either drive themselves or hire a driver (who could not provide directions) to the falls, where they found their next clue.
  • Fast Forward: Hike Down to Boiling Pot For the series' very first Fast Forward, one team had to hike down a canyon to the Boiling Pot on the Zambezi River. Rob & Brennan won the Fast Forward.
  • Teams who did not attempt the Fast Forward had to travel to Abseil Zambia at Batoka Gorge, where they found their next clue.
  • Detour: Air or Land The series' very first Detour was a choice between Air or Land. In Air, teams had to ride a zipline across Batoka Gorge and then free-fall down on a gorge swing to their next clue. In Land, teams would have hiked down the rim of the gorge to their next clue. All teams chose Air.
  • Teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: Songwe Village.
Additional notes
  • Roadblock: "Cook an ostrich egg" Near Songwe Village, there was a Roadblock that required one team member to cook an ostrich egg, which both team members had to eat, before they could check in at the Pit Stop. This task was unaired, but was shown as a bonus feature on the DVD.[13]
  • The gorge swing Detour at Batoka Gorge was revisited in season 27 as a Switchback in Zimbabwe.[14]

Leg 2 (Zambia → South Africa → France)

After arriving in Paris, teams visited the Eiffel Tower for the Roadblock.
  • Episode 2: "Divide and Conquer" (September 19, 2001)
  • Eliminated: Kim & Leslie
Locations
Episode summary
  • At the start of this leg, teams had to find the Songwe Museum located near the village, where they found instant cameras along with their next clue.
  • Fast Forward: Whitewater rafting For this leg's Fast Forward, one team had to whitewater raft down the Zambezi River. Pat & Brenda won the Fast Forward.
  • Detour: Near or Far This leg's Detour was a choice between Near or Far. In Near, teams had to go to Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park 20 kilometres (12 mi) away and photograph three hard-to-find animals from a list of five. In Far, teams would have had to go to Chobe National Park in Botswana 110 kilometres (68 mi) away and photograph a single elephant. All teams chose Near.
  • After the Detour, teams had to travel to Mukuni Village, where they took part in a traditional welcome ceremony for honored guests. Teams then gave the village chief the photographs they took during the Detour in exchange for their next clue: a miniature model of the Eiffel Tower. Teams returned by charter flight to Johannesburg, South Africa, where they had to book flights to Paris, France. Once there, teams had to find their next clue beneath the Eiffel Tower.
  • Roadblock: "This task requires strong legs and keen eyes." In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to go by stairs to the second level of the Eiffel Tower and use a telescope to search the city's skyline for a monument with a Route Marker on top: the Arc de Triomphe, which was the Pit Stop for this leg.
Additional note
  • This episode was originally scheduled to air on September 12, 2001, but was postponed due to the September 11 attacks.[15]

Leg 3 (France)

After leaving Paris, teams ended this leg in the ruins of the Château des Baux in the Alpilles mountains.
  • Episode 3: "Home for Some" (September 26, 2001)
  • Eliminated: Pat & Brenda
Locations
Episode summary
  • At the start of this leg, teams had to find "La Grande Roue" ("The Big Wheel") and figure out that it was the nearby Roue de Paris, where they found their next clue.
  • Fast Forward: Find a tea shop This leg's Fast Forward required one team to find the Mariage Frères tea shop in the Rive Gauche and ask for a specific tea. Kevin & Drew won the Fast Forward.
  • Detour: Tough Climb or Easy Walk This leg's Detour was a choice between Tough Climb or Easy Walk. In Tough Climb, teams had to travel to Notre-Dame de Paris and climb the cathedral's north tower to ring Quasimodo's bell and receive their next clue. In Easy Walk, teams had to locate the statue of a cat sitting next to the Foucault pendulum in order to find their next clue. However, there were two Foucault pendulums in Paris, but only the one at the Panthéon had the statue of a cat, while the one at the Museum of Arts and Crafts did not.
  • After the Detour, teams had to find a man in a blue suit across from the Hôtel de Ville, who had their next clue.
  • Roadblock: "It's a dirty job but somebody's got to do it." In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to walk through the Paris sewers to the Place du Châtelet, where they found their next clue.
  • After the Roadblock, teams had to travel by train and taxi to Les Baux-de-Provence, and then by foot to the Pit Stop at the Château des Baux.

Leg 4 (France → Tunisia)

Once in Tunisia, teams had to find a man depicted in a photograph near Bab el Bhar.
  • Episode 4: "Colossal Showdown" (October 3, 2001)
  • Eliminated: Dave & Margaretta
Locations
Episode summary
  • At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to find a smaller version of the Arc de Triomphe in the country represented by a small flag: Tunisia. Teams had to figure out that they had a Tunisian flag and that they needed to travel by ferry from Marseille to Tunis, Tunisia. Once there, they had to find the man depicted in a provided photograph near the Bab el Bhar and say a traditional greeting – As-salām (السلام) – in order to receive their next clue.
  • Detour: Full Body Brew or Full Body Massage This leg's Detour was a choice between Full Body Brew or Full Body Massage. In Full Body Brew, teams had to find the Café Mnouchi inside the Medina of Tunis and order two coffees in order to receive their next clue. In Full Body Massage, teams had to search for a massage parlor marked on a provided map and receive a 20-minute massage before they could receive their next clue.
  • After the Detour, teams received a lighter marked with a picture of the Amphitheatre of El Jem with the words "Go Here" on the back.
  • Roadblock: "Not for anyone who is scared of the dark." In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to light a torch and navigate the amphitheatre in order to find the pit of death. They then had to retrieve a sword above a pit, find their way out of the maze of tunnels, and bring it to the Pit Stop.

Leg 5 (Tunisia)

While in Tataouine, teams visited the ksars of Tunisia for the Detour.
  • Episode 5: "Desert Storm" (October 10, 2001)
  • Eliminated: Paul & Amie
Locations
Episode summary
  • At the start of this leg, teams received a photograph of a globe monument (the Monument to the Memory of the Earth) and instructions to travel to Tataouine in order to find their next clue. Teams also found cars that served as their transportation for the rest of the leg. They could hire a driver for US$50, but drivers could not provide directions, so all teams had to navigate using a simple provided map.
  • Detour: Listening or Puzzling This leg's Detour was a choice between Listening or Puzzling. In Listening, teams had to find the Star Wars movie set Ksar Hadada and use a supplied walkie-talkie in order to locate the radio's counterpart hidden somewhere in the labyrinth of caves along with their next clue. In Puzzling, teams would have had to find Ksar Ouled Soltane and solve a simple dice game in order to receive their next clue. All teams chose Listening.
  • After the Detour, teams had to use a map, a compass, and a series of painted stones in order to find an arrow located approximately one mile (1.6 km) north of Guermessa that directed them along a path across the Sahara to their next clue at Ksar Ghilane.
  • Roadblock: "Who wants to go for a ride?" In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to ride a camel and use a set of compass directions to reach the flag visible in the distance in the middle of the desert. The non-participating member had to trek alongside on foot. Once they reached the route marker, teams found a new set of compass directions to the Pit Stop: the Ksar Ghilane oasis.
Additional note
  • Paul & Amie missed the Roadblock entirely and became hopelessly lost in the Sahara Desert. Hours after all of the other teams checked in, Paul happened to see the oasis in the distance and drove there, unaware that it was the Pit Stop.[16] Production crew had also been driving through the desert looking for Paul & Amie's vehicle.[17]

Leg 6 (Tunisia → Italy)

After arriving in Rome, teams found their first clue outside the Colosseum.
  • Episode 6: "Whatever It Takes to Win" (October 17, 2001)
Locations
Episode summary
  • During the Pit Stop, a sandstorm forced the teams to move as a safety precaution to Gabès. At the start of this leg, teams had to travel to the Hôtel Le Palace near Tunis in order to find their next clue, which instructed them to fly to Rome, Italy, and find their next clue outside of the location on a provided photograph: the Colosseum.
  • Detour: Foot or Hoof This leg's Detour was a choice between Foot or Hoof. In Foot, teams had to find a statue of a foot at the Palazzo dei Conservatori using a provided picture in order to find their next clue. In Hoof, teams were given a partial picture of a more obscure statue depicting the hoof of the equestrian statue of Vittorio Emanuele II. If teams completed this task, they found a line of taxis waiting for them.
  • After the Detour, teams had to travel by train to Castelfranco Emilia and then by taxi to the Pagani Auto Factory, where they found their next clue.
  • Roadblock: "For someone who likes to take things slowly." In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to drive a Smart car to the town square of Sant'Agata Bolognese using a map written entirely in Italian. Their partner was driven to the square in a Pagani Zonda traveling at 180 miles per hour (290 km/h). Once team members were reunited, they could check in at the Pit Stop.
Additional notes
  • Due to an airport strike in Rome, all flights to Rome were either fully booked or cancelled. As a result, teams had the option of either flying to elsewhere in Europe and taking a connecting flight or train to Rome or risk waiting in Tunis until direct evening flights to Rome might become available.
  • This was a non-elimination leg.

Leg 7 (Italy → India)

Once in Delhi, India, teams visited the Red Fort.
  • Episode 7: "Triumph and Loss" (October 24, 2001)
  • Eliminated: Lenny & Karyn
Locations
Episode summary
  • Detour: Glide or Ride This leg's Detour was a choice between Glide or Ride. In Glide, teams traveled to the town of Ferrara, where one team member rode in a glider with a professional glider pilot while their partner rode in the towing plane. Once completed, the team received a free taxi ride to the Ferrara railway station, where they found their next clue. In Ride, teams had to travel to a bicycle shop in Ferrara and then ride eight kilometres (5 mi) to the railway station following a street map in order to retrieve their next clue.
  • Fast Forward: Boat in Moat This leg's Fast Forward required one team to find Castello Estense in Ferrara and row a boat around the castle's moat to find the Fast Forward award hidden in the wall. Frank & Margarita won the Fast Forward.
  • After the Detour, teams were instructed to fly to Delhi, India, by catching a train to either Rome or Milan, from which they could fly to Delhi. Once there, teams found their next clue outside the Red Fort.
  • Roadblock: "For a person with a good sense of direction." In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to hire a cycle rickshaw and find a specific shopkeeper in the Chandni Chowk market, who showed them a replica of the Taj Mahal along with their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop: the Taj Khema Hotel in Agra.

Leg 8 (India)

Teams visited the Taj Mahal in Agra during this leg.
  • Episode 8: "Competition to the Fullest" (October 31, 2001)
Locations
Episode summary
  • At the start of this leg, teams had to search the grounds of the Taj Mahal for their next clue, which instructed them to travel to the Palace of the Winds in Jaipur.
  • Detour: Elephant or Rowboat This leg's Detour was a choice between Elephant or Rowboat. In Elephant, teams had to ride an elephant up to the Amber Fort and then find a holy man who had their next clue. In Rowboat, teams had to reach the Jal Mahal water palace using a rowboat and then find a holy man who had their next clue.
  • After the Detour, teams were instructed to travel by train to Bikaner and then travel to Karni Mata Temple, where they found their next clue.
  • Roadblock: "The person who performs this task may want to put on some extra socks." In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to search Karni Mata Temple for a canister that contained their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop: the Laxmi Niwas Palace in Bikaner.
Additional note
  • This was a non-elimination leg.

Leg 9 (India → Thailand)

The Fast Forward in Bangkok took place at the Temple of the Reclining Buddha.
  • Episode 9: "The Unexpected Twist" (November 14, 2001)
  • Eliminated: Nancy & Emily
Locations
Episode summary
  • At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to travel by bus or train back to Delhi and then fly to Bangkok, Thailand.
  • Fast Forward: Traditional Buddhist good luck ritual This season's final Fast Forward required teams to travel to the Temple of the Reclining Buddha and play a traditional Buddhist game using the 108 urns alongside the giant reclining Buddha. They had to choose a bowl of coins and drop exactly one coin in every urn. The first team to find the bowl with exactly 108 coins would win the Fast Forward. Joe & Bill defeated Nancy & Emily and won the Fast Forward.
  • Teams who did not attempt the Fast Forward had to travel to the Temple of Dawn, where they found their next clue.
  • Detour: Public or Private This leg's Detour was a choice between Public or Private. Both tasks required teams to find transportation to Kanchanaburi. In Public, teams had to ride a public bus which left every 20 minutes, paying with their own money. In Private, teams had to find a specified private vehicle, using only a license plate number and a crude map of the nearby area, which would provide them a free ride to Kanchanaburi.
  • Roadblock: "The one who does this should probably be a cat lover." In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to dress like a Buddhist monk and walk through a pit of tigers in order to retrieve their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop: the Tiger Cave Temple in Krabi.
Additional note
  • Nancy & Emily became frustrated after spending hours searching fruitlessly for the private vehicle, so they took a taxi to Kanchanaburi instead of completing the Detour, for which they incurred a 24-hour penalty and were thus eliminated from the race.

Leg 10 (Thailand)

Teams ended this leg at Pai Plong Beach in the province of Krabi in southern Thailand.
  • Episode 10: "To the Physical and Mental Limit" (November 21, 2001)
Locations
  • Krabi (Tiger Cave Temple) Pit Start
  • Ao Phang Nga National Park (Railay Beach – King Climbers)
  • Ao Phang Nga National Park (Thaiwand Wall) Detour: Hike or Climb
  • Boat: Ao Phang Nga National Park (Thaiwand Wall → Railay Beach)
  • Boat: Ao Phang Nga National Park (Railay Beach) → Ao Nang (Ao Nang Beach)
  • Ao Nang (Sea, Land & Trek) Roadblock: "Upper body strength is the key to success."
  • Boat: Ao Nang (Ao Nang Beach) → Ao Phang Nga National Park (Chicken Island)
  • Boat: Ao Nang (Pai Plong Beach) Pit Stop: Leg 10
Episode summary
  • At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to find "The King" at Railay Beach – the King Climbers rock climbing school – where they received rock-climbing equipment and then hiked through the jungle to reach Thaiwand Wall and their next clue.
  • Detour: Hike or Climb This leg's Detour was a choice between Hike or Climb. In Hike, teams would have had to travel on a winding path up Thaiwand Wall to their next clue. In Climb, teams had to make a rock climb straight up Thaiwand Wall in order to find their next clue. All teams chose Climb.
  • After the Detour, teams had to rappel down to the boat that brought them back to Railay Beach, where they then proceeded to Sea, Land & Trek rafting company, where they found their next clue.
  • Roadblock: "Upper body strength is the key to success." In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to paddle a kayak with their partner down the river in search of a route marker flag. Once spotted, they had to climb into a nearby cave, Tham Hua Kalok, where they found their next clue along with snorkeling gear.
  • After the Roadblock, teams had to paddle back to Sea, Land & Trek. Teams then had to hire a boat at Ao Nang Beach and find a route marker bobbing in the water near Chicken Island, where they had to dive in the water and retrieve their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop: Pai Plong Beach.
Additional note
  • This was a non-elimination leg.

Leg 11 (Thailand → China)

The southern gate of Tiantan Park in Beijing was the 11th Pit Stop of this season.
  • Episode 11: "Fight to the Last Minute" (November 28, 2001)
  • Eliminated: Kevin & Drew
Locations
Episode summary
  • At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Beijing, China. Once there, teams found their next clue at Jingshan Park.
  • Detour: Volley or Rally This leg's Detour was a choice between Volley or Rally. In Volley, teams had to score five points in a game of ping-pong against a local champion in order to receive their next clue. In Rally, teams had to travel by three forms of local transportation – bus, motorcycle taxi, and pedicab – to Quan Xin Yuan Restaurant, where they found their next clue.
  • After the Detour, teams had to retrieve a shopping list, written almost entirely in Mandarin Chinese, at the Hongqiao Market and use it to purchase five beetle larvae, one squid, and two chicken feet. Teams then traveled to the Donghuamen Night Market, where they found their next clue.
  • Roadblock: "Who's hungry?" In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to give the items they'd just bought to a chef at the market for him to prepare and then eat all three dishes in order to receive their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop: the South Gate of Tiantan Park.
Additional note
  • Frank & Margarita and Rob & Brennan caught a much earlier flight to Beijing than Joe & Bill and Kevin & Drew. As a result, Joe & Bill and Kevin & Drew were almost a full day behind the other teams when they arrived in Beijing. Joe & Bill would remain almost a full day behind the remaining two teams for the rest of the race.

Leg 12 (China → United States)

In Alaska, teams visited the Matanuska Glacier for the leg's Roadblock.
  • Episode 12: "Race to the Finish — Part 1" (December 5, 2001)
Locations
Episode summary
  • At the start of this leg, teams had to use a map to find three kite flyers in Tiantan Park with their next clue attached to the kites. Teams were then instructed to travel to the Great Wall of China in order to find their next clue.
  • Detour: Flat or Steep This leg's Detour at the Great Wall of China was a choice between Flat or Steep. In Flat, teams would have had to walk along a long, flat path to a faraway pavilion. In Steep, teams had to hike up a much shorter, but extremely steep, path to a closer pavilion, where they found their next clue. All teams chose Steep.
  • Teams were instructed to fly to Anchorage, Alaska. Once there, teams were driven to North Country Bed and Breakfast in Scotty Lake, where they spent the night. The next morning, one team member had to participate in an Alaskan blanket toss known as Nalukataq and spot a nearby route marker on the ice, where they found their next clue, which directed them to the Matanuska Glacier.
  • Roadblock: "This could be a slippery situation." In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to climb an ice wall and retrieve their next clue from the top of the glacier.
  • After the Roadblock, teams had to drive to highway mile marker 131 near Denali State Park, where they rode snowmobiles to the Pit Stop at a wilderness cabin.
Additional note
  • This was a non-elimination leg.

Leg 13 (United States)

The Unisphere at Flushing Meadows Park in the New York borough of Queens was the finish line of the inaugural season of The Amazing Race.
  • Episode 13: "Race to the Finish — Part 2" (December 13, 2001)
  • Prize: US$1,000,000
  • Winners: Rob & Brennan
  • Runners-up: Frank & Margarita
  • Third place: Joe & Bill
Locations
Episode summary
  • At the start of this leg, teams had to don snowshoes and follow flags 1⁄2 mile (800 m) to Takosha Lodge in order to find their next clue.
  • Detour: Dog Power or Horsepower This season's final Detour was a choice between Dog Power or Horsepower. In Dog Power, teams had to ride dog sleds 11 miles (18 km) to their next clue. In Horsepower, teams would have had to ride snowmobiles 30 miles (48 km) to their next clue. Both teams chose Dog Power.
  • After the Detour, teams had to drive to Fish Lake, where they found their next clue.
  • Roadblock: "Who likes cold water?" In this season's final Roadblock, one team member had to strip down and plunge into Fish Lake in order to retrieve their next clue.
  • After the Roadblock, teams were instructed to fly to New York City. Once there, teams had to travel by taxi to Vincent Daniels Square in Queens in order to find their final clue. Teams were instructed to take the 7 train to the Willets Point–Shea Stadium Station and then follow the flags to the finish line at Flushing Meadows Park.
Additional note
  • Joe & Bill had fallen so far behind the other teams that by the time they began the leg in Alaska, Rob & Brennan and Frank & Margarita were already crossing the finish line in New York. Instead of receiving their next clue, Joe & Bill received notice that the race had ended when they opened their clue envelope at the Takosha Lodge.[7]

Reception

Ratings

Season 1 was not particularly a ratings success as the series premiered six days prior to the September 11 attacks, after which interest in foreign travel waned and viewership fell correspondingly.[18] The show was further hindered by the lack of media coverage and promotion as networks focused on news stories and more patriotic programming.[18] Additionally, the show premiered and competed in the same time slot as with NBC's short-lived Lost, another travel reality game show with a similar premise.[19] The show premiered with 11,800,000 viewers.[20][21] By midseason, ratings had dropped with the sixth and seventh episodes pulling 8,370,000 and 9,170,000 viewers respectively.[22] By the time of the finale, the show rebounded with 13,650,000 viewers.[23] The show did just well enough to earn a second season, which aired the following spring.[24]

Critical response

The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 92%, based on 13 reviews as of August 2023. The website's critical consensus reads, "The Amazing Race elevates reality television conventions with its globetrotting scale, making for a suspenseful competition and fascinating travelogue."[25] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 72 out of 100 based on 24 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[26]

Following the season's premiere, Tom Shales of The Washington Post wrote "[The Amazing Race] brings new energy and respectability to the 'reality' genre popularized by the same network's Survivor -- and surpasses it in spectacle and human drama. Great TV lives."[27] Michael Speier of Variety wrote "Television gets back to real reality via The Amazing Race. With this thrilling trip around the world, CBS blows away the Summer of Rats — thank you Fear Factor — while creating a terrific companion piece to the net's comparatively tranquil Survivor.[28] Linda Stasi of the New York Post wrote "I never thought I'd love a reality show, because mostly I hated all those shows with their wannabe models, fat yutzes and half-wits who try to be as smart as the fat yutz from Survivor but are dumber than a family tree of Bushes. But this one actually is so good I am already addicted."[29] Hal Boedeker of the Orlando Sentinel wrote "Classier than Fear Factor, clearer than The Mole and swifter than Survivor, CBS' The Amazing Race jolts the reality format with tantalizing thrills.[30] Rob Owen of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote "An exhilarating, fast-paced competition filled with colorful characters, The Amazing Race is a pulse-pounding good time."[31] Ed Bark of The Dallas Morning News wrote "It all makes for a watchable feast of accidental tourists navigating various twists, turns and blind alleys. Amazing Race seems to be well-cast with vivid characters."[32]

Conversely, following the show's premiere, Terry Kelleher of People called it a "half-decent start".[33] Anita Gates of The New York Times wrote that while the show may be less mean-spirited than previous reality show, it "may not be what viewers who love reality shows want to see."[34] Howard Rosenberg of the Los Angeles Times wrote that it had "all the interest and awareness of an air-conditioned tour bus roaring by Nantucket."[35]

Following the season's conclusion, Linda Holmes of Television Without Pity wrote that she "was flat-out hooked for thirteen weeks, and the ending managed not to disappoint, which almost never happens."[36] Matt Roush of TV Guide called this season "TV's best reality show".[37] Allan Johnson of the Chicago Tribune called the first season "a satisfying race around the world".[38] Dalton Ross of Entertainment Weekly called it "[2001's] most exciting reality adventure. The fast-paced editing, breathtaking scenery, and almost perfect casting made for truly pulse-racing programming."[39] In 2015, Joe Reid of Decider wrote, "It really is a remarkably well-structured, well-edited, well-conceived, and well-cast season of reality television. This show made its reputation for a reason."[40] In 2016, this season was ranked 5th out of the first 27 seasons by the Rob Has a Podcast Amazing Race correspondents.[41] Kareem Gantt of Screen Rant wrote that this season "had a great cast, truly awesome locations, and challenges that kept the viewer on the edge".[42] In 2021, Jane Andrews of Gossip Cop ranked this season as the fourth best.[43] In 2022, Jason Shomer of Collider ranked this season among the show's top seven seasons.[44] In 2022, Rhenn Taguiam of Game Rant ranked this season as the overall best season.[45]

Distribution

The DVD boxed set for season 1 was released on September 27, 2005. Kevin & Drew, Lenny & Karyn, Joe & Bill, and Rob & Brennan did commentary on four episodes.[46]

References

  1. ^ Adalian, Josef; Schneider, Michael (September 13, 2000). "EYE RACES TO REALITY 'WORLD'". Variety. Archived from the original on January 16, 2001. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  2. ^ Petrozzello, Donna (December 13, 2000). "CBS seeks great racers". New York Daily News. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e Andy Dehnart (September 3, 2021). "Amazing Race behind the scenes: an oral history of CBS's first race around the world". reality blurred. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  4. ^ Armstrong, Mark (March 22, 2001). "CBS: The (Amazing) Race Is On". E!. Archived from the original on August 6, 2001. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  5. ^ Swain, Brennan [@brennanswain] (April 8, 2021). "20 years ago today, April 8, 2001, on a chilly NYC morning Rob Frisbee and I crossed the finish line as the winners of The Amazing Race in Flushing Meadows Park!". Retrieved April 12, 2021 – via Instagram.
  6. ^ a b c Grossbart, Sarah (September 5, 2021). "What a Trip: The Complete Oral History of The Amazing Race". E!. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  7. ^ a b Andy Dehnart (December 14, 2001). "Rob & Brennan win The Amazing Race". reality blurred. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  8. ^ Andy Dehnart (August 9, 2001). "Amazing Race contestants revealed". reality blurred. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  9. ^ Dehnart, Andy (September 28, 2005). "A neutered Amazing Race still manages to be suspenseful as the youngest kids go home". reality blurred. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  10. ^ Dehnart, Andy (January 16, 2007). "All-star Amazing Race teams revealed, were thrown 'curveball after curveball'". reality blurred. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  11. ^ Eng, Joyce (September 25, 2014). "8 Amazing Secrets From The Amazing Race Start Line". TV Guide. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  12. ^ Wigler, Josh (September 25, 2015). "The Amazing Race Host Phil Keoghan Previews The Season 27 Premiere". Parade. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  13. ^ "Amazing Race Season 1 Episode 10 with Patricia Pierce #RacersRecap". YouTube. July 26, 2020. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  14. ^ Walker, Jodi (October 15, 2015). "The Amazing Race recap: King of the Jungle". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  15. ^ "TV Nets Delay Fall Season". Yahoo! News. September 12, 2001. Archived from the original on September 13, 2001. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  16. ^ Castro, Adam-Troy (2006). My Ox is Broken!. Dallas, Texas: Smart Pop Books. p. 73. ISBN 9781932100914.
  17. ^ Grossbart, Sarah (September 5, 2021). "What a Trip: The Complete Oral History of The Amazing Race". E! Online. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  18. ^ a b Carter, Bill (October 22, 2001). "ABC Cancels A Planned Reality Show". The New York Times. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  19. ^ James Poniewozik (September 10, 2001). "Lost; The Amazing Race". Time. Retrieved January 9, 2008.
  20. ^ "Medialife 09-06-2001". Media Life Magazine. September 6, 2001. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
  21. ^ Lowry, Brian (September 7, 2001). "All Isn't 'Lost' in Ratings 'Race'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  22. ^ "Weekly Ratings Summary: CBS and NBC Split Leadership". Media Life Magazine. October 31, 2001. Archived from the original on November 16, 2001. Retrieved September 3, 2001.
  23. ^ "Medialife 12-19-2001". Media Life Magazine. Archived from the original on August 29, 2012. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
  24. ^ Adalian, Josef (November 7, 2001). "CBS prepping for Race redux". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on December 1, 2001. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  25. ^ "The Amazing Race (2001)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  26. ^ "The Amazing Race: Season 1". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  27. ^ Shales, Tom (September 5, 2001). "Reality Gets a Run For Its Money". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  28. ^ Speier, Michael (August 31, 2001). "The Amazing Race". Variety. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  29. ^ Stasi, Linda (September 4, 2001). "WAY TO GO! …YEAH, BUT WHICH WAY? THESE PEOPLE ARE LEAVING CENTRAL PARK TO RUN AROUND THE WORLD FOR $1 MILLION S". New York Post. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  30. ^ Boedeker, Hal (September 2, 2001). "'AMAZING RACE' PUTS CBS IN RUN FOR MONEY". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  31. ^ Owen, Rob (September 5, 2001). "TV Reviews: 'Lost' and 'Amazing Race' both leave starting line -- best bet on CBS's 'Race'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  32. ^ Bark, Ed (September 2, 2001). "'Amazing Race' may live up to its title". Racine Journal Times. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  33. ^ Kelleher, Terry (September 10, 2001). "Picks and Pans Review: 'The Amazing Race'". People. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  34. ^ Gates, Anita (September 5, 2001). "TELEVISION REVIEW; Bungee Jumping to Save Minutes: It's Called Reality". People. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  35. ^ Rosenberg, Howard (September 5, 2001). "Unscripted, Uninspired, Unfortunate". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  36. ^ Linda Holmes (December 18, 2001). "End of the line". Television Without Pity. Archived from the original on August 1, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  37. ^ Andy Dehnart (December 13, 2001). "The Amazing Race concludes tonight". reality blurred. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  38. ^ Johnson, Allan (March 11, 2002). "'Amazing Race 2' offers some fancy footwork". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  39. ^ Ross, Dalton. "Speedy Recovery". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 15, 2002. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  40. ^ Reid, Joe (September 5, 2015). "Today in TV History: 'The Amazing Race' First Sent Americans Careening Around the World". Decider. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  41. ^ Mike Bloom; Jessica Liese; Dan Heaton (February 5, 2016). "Amazing Race | Ranking the Season". Rob Has a Podcast (Podcast). Event occurs at 1:42:50. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  42. ^ Gantt, Kareem (November 30, 2020). "Amazing Race: 10 Must-Watch Seasons, Ranked According To IMDb". Screen Rant. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  43. ^ Andrews, Jane (January 2, 2021). "The Best Seasons Of The Amazing Race, Ranked". Gossip Cop. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  44. ^ Shomers, Jason (January 24, 2022). "The 7 Best Seasons of 'The Amazing Race'". Collider. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  45. ^ Taguiam, Rhenn (November 7, 2022). "10 Best Seasons Of The Amazing Race". Game Rant. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  46. ^ Beierle, Aaron (September 28, 2005). "The Amazing Race: Season 1". DVD Talk. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  • The Amazing Race: The First Season. CBS. DVD. Paramount, 2005.
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