The Amazing Race 1 (originally broadcast under the name The Amazing Race) is the first season of the American reality television series The Amazing Race. It was broadcast for the first time on American television on September 5, 2001 and ended its run on December 13, 2001. It featured 11 teams of two, with a pre-existing relationship, in a race around the world.
Lawyers and best friends, Rob Frisbee and Brennan Swain were the winners of the inaugural Race. The complete first season set, featuring commentary from four of the teams, was released on DVD in September 2005.
Video The Amazing Race 1
Production
Development and filming
The first season of The Amazing Race traveled 35,000 miles (56,000 km) in 39 days, spanning four continents and nine different 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 Leg 6 in Gabès, rather than the original Saharan desert Pit Stop.
Other aspects of filming were unique to the first season of the series. 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. Each leg's Pit Stop mat featured a localized design; subsequent seasons have used a single mat design throughout the entire race.
During Leg 5, Paul & Amie got lost in the Sahara Desert after trying numerous routes; they found the desert oasis Pit Stop by luck, unknowingly skipping the Roadblock and final route marker.
Amazing Race courses were planned so that the final three teams would all reach the finish line. However, Joe & Bill were so far behind that they could not catch up and did not finish the race. When they were still completing Leg 12 (which aired alongside Leg 13 in the final episode), Team Guido was required to have villagers bounce one teammate upwards using an Alaskan tapestry. According to the DVD commentary, the tapestry broke under the weight the day before, so a trampoline had to be used instead.
Cast
Eleven teams participated in the first season of The Amazing Race, ranging from best friends to couples, as well as a mother and daughter duo. Kevin & Drew made an appearance in Season 8, handing out clues from a hot dog stand in New York City. They also returned, along with Joe & Bill, to participate in the All-Stars edition among a cast of returning teams from seasons 1-10. Runner up Frank Mesa made an appearance at the starting line of season 25. Winners Rob & Brennan made an appearance at the starting line of Season 27.
Margaretta Groark died on October 26, 2008, after a long battle with cancer, at the age of 67. Nancy Hoyt died on December 8, 2011, after a long battle with ALS, at the age of 56.
Ratings
Season 1 was not particularly a ratings success; the series premiered six days prior to the September 11 attacks, after which interest in foreign travel waned and viewership fell correspondingly. The show was further hindered by the lack of media coverage and promotion as networks focused on news stories and more patriotic programming. Additionally, the show premiered and competed in the same time slot as with NBC's short-lived Lost, another reality show with a similar premise. The show did just well enough to earn a second season, which aired the following spring.
Maps The Amazing Race 1
Results
The following teams participated in the Race, each listed along with their placements in each leg and relationships as identified by the program. Note that this table is not necessarily reflective of all content broadcast on television due to inclusion or exclusion of some data. Placements are listed in finishing order:
- A red team placement indicates that the team was eliminated.
- An underlined blue team placement indicates that the team was the last to arrive at a Pit Stop in a non-elimination leg of the race.
- A green ? indicates that the team won a Fast Forward clue. If placed next to a leg number, this indicates that the Fast Forward was available for that leg but not used.
Episode titles
The episode titles are:
- The Race Begins
- Divide And Conquer
- Home For Some
- Colossal Showdown
- Desert Storm
- Whatever It Takes To Win
- Triumph And Loss
- Competition To The Fullest
- The Unexpected Twist
- To The Physical And Mental Limit
- Fight To The Last Minute
- Race To The Finish -- Part 1
- Race To The Finish -- Part 2
Race summary
Leg 1 (United States -> South Africa -> Zambia)
Airdate: September 5, 2001
- New York City, New York, United States (Central Park - Bethesda Fountain) (Starting Point)
- New York City (John F. Kennedy International Airport) to Johannesburg, South Africa (Johannesburg International Airport)
- Johannesburg (Lanseria Airport) to Livingstone, Zambia (Livingstone Airport)
- Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park (Victoria Falls - Knife's Edge Bridge)
- Livingstone (Batoka Gorge)
- Livingstone District (Songwe Village)
The race's very first Fast Forward required teams to hike down a steep canyon to the Boiling Pot on the Zambezi River. For the series' very first Detour at Batoka Gorge, teams had a choice between Air or Land. In Air, teams had to take a quick trip along a zipline across the gorge and then experience a 54 metres (177 ft) gorge swing to reach the bottom and receive their next clue. In Land, teams had to take a long hike down the rim of the gorge to receive the next clue. Near the Pit Stop at Songwe Village, there was a Roadblock that required one team member to cook an ostrich egg which both team members were required to eat. However, it went unaired and it became available as a bonus feature on the DVD.
- Additional tasks
- At the starting line, teams were informed by host Phil Keoghan of some basic rules and were given the first clue which instructed teams fly to Johannesburg, South Africa on one of three flights: the first was a direct flight to Johannesburg would arrive first with seats for five teams, the second was a connecting flight to Zurich and would arrive second with two teams, and the third one was a connecting flight to Milan which would arrive with the last four teams.
- At Lanseria Airport, teams had to find Ryan Blake Air to take a charter flight to Livingstone, Zambia.
- Upon arriving in Livingstone, teams had to find one of the marked cars which they must use to find Victoria Falls. They must then find their next clue on a path called the Knife's Edge.
Leg 2 (Zambia -> France)
Airdate: September 19, 2001
- Livingstone (Songwe Museum)
- Livingstone (Bundu Adventures)
- Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park or Chobe National Park, Botswana
- Livingstone District (Mukuni Village)
- Johannesburg, South Africa (Johannesburg International Airport) to Paris, France (Charles de Gaulle Airport)
- Paris (Eiffel Tower)
- Paris (Arc de Triomphe)
The Fast Forward instructed teams to find the Bundu Adventures rafting company near the Zambezi River where one team had to whitewater raft down the treacherous rapids of the Zambezi River. At the museum teams found the Detour: a choice between Near or Far. In Near, teams had to go to Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park only 20 kilometres (12 mi) away and had to photograph three hard-to-find animals from a provided list of five (giraffe, impala, water buffalo, zebra, rhino). In Far, teams had to go to Chobe National Park in the nearby nation of Botswana 110 kilometres (68 mi) away and photograph a single elephant.
This was the Race's very first aired Roadblock, saying "This task requires strong legs and keen eyes. For this Roadblock, one team member had to take the stairway up to the second level of the Eiffel Tower and use a ?10 coin to operate a telescope to search the city skyline for a famous monument with a race flag on top that would serve as the Pit Stop; the Arc de Triomphe.
- Additional tasks
- At the start of the leg, teams had to find the Songwe Museum near the village. At the museum teams would find cameras along with their next clue.
- After the Detour, teams had to travel to Mukuni Village. Once there, they had to take part in a traditional welcome ceremony for honored guests, which included meeting the village chief (who would spit on them) as well as viewing and participating in a tribal dance. After the ceremony, teams gave the village chief the photographs and received the next clue; a miniature model of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
Leg 3 (France)
Airdate: September 26, 2001
- Paris (Roue de Paris)
- Paris (Notre Dame de Paris or Panthéon)
- Paris (Mariage Frères)
- Paris (Hôtel de Ville)
- Paris (Place du Châtelet)
- Paris (Gare de Lyon) to Avignon (Gare d'Avignon Centre) or Marseille (Gare de Marseille Saint-Charles)
- Les Baux de Provence (Château des Baux)
The Fast Forward was required one team to find an obscure tea shop called Mariage Frères in Rive Gauche and ask for a specific tea called "L'aventurier". The leg's Detour was a choice of Tough Climb or Easy Walk. In Tough Climb, teams must travel to Notre Dame de Paris and had to climb up the 297 steps of the cathedral and ring Quasimodo's bell to receive their next clue. In Easy Walk, teams had to locate a statue of a cat sitting beside Foucault pendulum. What they don't know is that there are two Foucault pendulums in Paris, but only the one at the Panthéon has the statue. The other pendulum at the Museum of Arts and Crafts does not. In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to walk underground through the sewers of Paris to the Place du Châtelet, two blocks away.
- Additional tasks
- At the start of the leg, teams were informed to travel to the nearby Roue de Paris, known as La Grande Roue "The Big Wheel" to find the next clue.
- After the Detour, teams had to find a man in a blue suit across from the Hôtel de Ville to find the next clue.
- After the Roadblock, teams must travel by train to Les Baux de Provence through either Avignon or Marseille to find the Château des Baux, the Pit Stop for this leg of the Race.
Leg 4 (France -> Tunisia)
Airdate: October 3, 2001
- Marseille (Marseille Ferry Port) to Tunis, Tunisia (La Goulette)
- Sidi Bou Said (Port of Sidi Bou Said)
- Tunis (Bab Bhar)
- El Djem (Amphitheater of Thysdrus)
In this leg's Detour, teams would have a choice between Full Body Brew or Full Body Massage. In Full Body Brew, teams had to find Café Mouche inside the Bab Bhar marketplace using only a picture for reference. Once there, they must order two cafés to get their next clue. In Full Body Massage, teams had to search for a massage parlor marked on a provided map. Once there, they had to sit through a 20-minute massage before they received the next clue. There was also an unused Fast Forward, in an unaired segment, where the teams were told to go fishing on board the Kinsa in the port of Sidi Bou Said.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to light a torch and, with some basic instructions, navigate the ancient arena to find the pit of death. Then, they had to retrieve a sword dangling above the pit, find a way out of the maze of tunnels, then bring it to the Pit Stop, where they must slide the sword into the sheath to finish the leg.
- Additional tasks
- At the start of the leg, teams were told to travel to Marseille Ferry Port where they had to sail to the country represented by a small unidentified flag and to travel by boat from Marseille to the country represented by the flag. Once they identified the Tunisian flag, they traveled to the capital city of Tunis. They also received a picture of the man they had to find when they arrived at their destination, La Goulette (which bears strong resemblance to Paris' Arc de Triomphe) with the traditional greeting of "As Salaami" to receive the next clue.
- After the Detour, teams received a lighter marked with a picture of the Amphitheater of Thysdrus in El Djem with the words "Go Here" on the back.
Leg 5 (Tunisia)
Airdate: October 10, 2001
- Tataouine (Globe monument)
- Tataouine (Ksar Hadada or Ksar Ouled Soltane)
- Sahara (Compass Coordinates to Gremsa)
- Sahara (Ksar Ghilane (in French) - Camel Outpost)
- Sahara (Ksar Ghilane)
The leg's Detour is a choice between Listening or Puzzling. In both options, teams must take a marked truck to their next destination in middle Tunisia and they must pay the driver with US$50, who cannot provide directions. In Listening, teams had to find the well-known Star Wars movie set Ksar Hadada and use supplied walkie talkie and their sense of hearing to locate the radio's counterpart, hidden somewhere in the labyrinth of caves. In Puzzling, teams had to find Ksar Ouled Soltane and solve a simple Tunisian dice game at the hard-to-find castle. There was Fast Forward in this leg, in an unaired segment, requiring a team had to use a map that had an arrow pointing to a location to find a cave and take a picture of something inside.
For this Roadblock, one team member rode a camel, with the help of a camel handler, and used a set of compass directions to reach the flag visible in the distance, somewhere in the middle of the desert. The non-participating member must make the trek on foot. Once they reached the route marker, teams had to use a new set of compass directions to the next Pit Stop, the Ksar Ghilane oasis.
- Additional tasks
- At the start of the leg, teams received an enclosed photograph of a Globe monument and instructions to find Tataouine for their next clue.
- After the Detour, teams had to travel approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) to Gremsa using a compass and a series of painted yellow stones to find their next destination in the Sahara Desert, Ksar Ghilane.
Leg 6 (Tunisia -> Italy)
Airdate: October 17, 2001
- Gabès to Tunis (Palace Hotel)
- Tunis (Tunis-Carthage International Airport) to Rome, Italy (Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport)
- Rome (Colosseum)
- Rome (Roseta di Roma Capitale)
- Rome (Palazzo dei Conservatori or Altare della Patria)
- Rome (Roma Termini railway station) to Modena (Castelfranco Emilia)
- Modena (Pagani Auto Factory)
- Sant'Agata Bolognese (Town Square)
The leg's Detour was a choice between Foot or Hoof. In Foot, teams had to find a large, well-known statue of a foot at Palazzo dei Conservatori, using a provided picture that contained the entire statue. In Hoof, teams were given a partial picture of another, more obscure statue. The statue was a mounted horse at Altare della Patria, but teams only received a picture of its hoof. However, if teams completed this task, they would find a line of taxis waiting for them.
There was a Fast Forward, which went unused and in an unaired segment that instructed teams to find "the keys to the arms of St. Peter", which referred to a keyhole carved in a rock that, when looked through, provided a view of the entire Vatican City. In this Roadblock, one team member had to drive a Smart car to the town square of Sant'Agata Bolognese, the leg's Pit Stop, using a map written entirely in Italian. The other team member received a free ride to the Pit Stop in a Pagani Zonda traveling at 180 miles/per hour.
- Additional info
- During the Pit Stop, word of a sandstorm in the Sahara forced the teams to move to Gabès to start the leg for safety. At the start of the leg, the teams traveled to the Palace Hotel in Tunis for their next clue.
- While on the flight from Tunis to Rome, all flights to Rome were fully booked or canceled due to airport strike, only connecting flights were allowed, with several connected through European cities.
- Additional tasks
- After the Detour, the teams were instructed to travel by train to Castelfranco Emilia in Modena.
Leg 7 (Italy -> India)
Airdate: October 24, 2001
- Ferrara (Aeroclub Volovelistico Ferrarese or Bike Shop)
- Ferrara (Castello Estense)
- Ferrara (Ferrara railway station) to Rome (Roma Termini railway station)/Milan (Milano Centrale railway station)
- Rome (Leonardo da Vinci International Airport)/Milan (Malpensa International Airport) to Delhi, India (Indira Gandhi International Airport)
- Delhi (Red Fort)
- Delhi (Chandni Chowk)
- Agra (Taj Khema Hotel)
The Fast Forward which had one team find Castello Estense in the town of Ferrara and ride a rowboat through the moat around the castle to find the Fast Forward pass hidden in the wall. The Detour was a choice between Glide or Ride. In Glide, teams traveled to the town of Ferrara and one team member took a glider ride with a professional glider (also getting a surprise nose-dive, and the other member rode in the towing plan. Once completed, the team would receive a free taxi ride to Ferrara railway station and to their next clue. However, the seats on the glider are first-come, first-served. In Ride, teams had to travel to a marked bike shop in Ferrara and ride bikes 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) to Ferrara railway station following a street map to receive the next clue.
In this Roadblock, one team member had to hire a rickshaw and find a shopkeeper in Ashkov Sadev somewhere in the congested Chandni Chowk market. Once found, the shopkeeper would show the team member a blue box containing a replica of the Taj Mahal with their next clue.
- Additional tasks
- After the Detour, the teams were instructed to fly to Delhi, India, catching a train to Rome or Milan to then fly to Delhi.
Leg 8 (India)
Airdate: October 31, 2001
- Agra (Taj Mahal)
- Agra (Jantar Mantar)
- Jaipur (Palace of the Winds)
- Jaipur (Amber Fort or Jal Mahal)
- Jaipur to Bikaner
- Deshnoke (Karni Mata Temple)
- Bikaner (Laxmi Niwas Palace)
There was a Fast Forward, in an unaired segment, and had the teams traveling to Jantar Mantar to climb 22 or 33 steps. For the leg's Detour, teams had a choice of Elephant or Rowboat. In Elephant, teams had to find a holy man inside the Amber Fort. To reach the fort, teams had to ride on back of an elephant upon a steep path. In Rowboat, teams had to find a holy man at the Jal Mahal water palace and reach him using a rowboat.
For this Roadblock, one team member had to find a clay pot with clues somewhere in the Karni Mata Temple, a temple devoted to the worship of rats, which are sacred to locals and number in the range of thousands. In the temple, the member performing could only wear socks (since shoes are prohibited inside).
- Additional tasks
- At the world-famous Taj Mahal, teams search the expansive grounds for the next clue, told to travel to Jaipur's Hawa Mahal (known as "Palace of the Winds") in the show.
Leg 9 (India -> Thailand)
Airdate: November 14, 2001
- or Bikaner to South West Delhi (Bus Station)/New Delhi (New Delhi Railway Station)
- Delhi (Indira Gandhi International Airport) to Bangkok, Thailand (Don Mueang International Airport)
- Bangkok (Temple of Dawn)
- Bangkok (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)
- Kanchanaburi (Buddhist Monastery)
- Krabi (Tiger Cave Temple)
For the leg's Detour, teams had a choice between Public or Private. For both Detours, teams needed to find transportation to the town of Kanchanaburi, their next destination. In Public, teams had to go to a local bus station and ride a public bus to Kanchanaburi leaving every 15 minutes, paying with their own money. In Private, teams had to find a specified private vehicle using only license plate number and a crude map of the area. If they found the vehicle, the team would receive a free ride to Kanchanaburi.
The Fast Forward which required one team to travel to the Temple of the Reclining Buddha and play a traditional Buddhist Game that used the 108 urns alongside the giant reclining Buddha. They had to choose a bowl of coins and drop exactly one coin in every urn. If the bowl they chose had too little or too many, they had to choose another bowl to play again. The first team to find the bowl with exactly 108 coins would win the Fast Forward.
For this Roadblock, one team member had to dress like a Buddhist Monk and walk through a pit of tigers to retrieve the clue, remaining calm the entire time.
- Additional tasks
- At the start of the leg, teams were told to travel to Bangkok, Thailand. First, they had to take either a bus or train back to Delhi.
Leg 10 (Thailand)
Airdate: November 21, 2001
- Ao Phang Nga National Park (Railay Beach - King's Climbing)
- Ao Phang Nga National Park (Railay Beach - Thaiwand Wall)
- Bor Tor, Ao Luk District (Sea, Land and Trek)
- Ao Phang Nga National Park (Chicken Island)
- Ao Nang (Phai Plong Beach)
The leg's Detour was a choice between Hike or Climb. In Hike, teams had to travel on a long, winding path up around the wall to find their next clue. In Climb, teams had to take an arduous rock climb straight up Thaiwand Wall to find their next clue. There was a Fast Forward in this leg, in an unaired segment, the team had to climb 1,200 steps at Wat Tum Sua (tiger cave temple) to get the pass.
In this Roadblock, one team member had to paddle a kayak with their team member and all their luggage down the river in search of a route marker flag. Once the flag was spotted, the team would climb into a nearby cave, Tham Hua Kalok to get the next clue along with snorkeling gear.
- Additional tasks
- At the start of the leg, teams were told to find "The King" at Railay Beach, which actually meant the King's Climbing rock-climbing company, where they received special rock climbing gear, and then hiked half a mile through tropical jungle to reach Thaiwand Wall and their next clue.
- After the Detour, teams had to rappel into a boat and proceed to "Sea, Land and Trek" rafting company in Bor Tor, Ao Luk. At Sea, Land and Trek.
- After the Roadblock, the team must paddle back to Sea, Land and Trek (this time though either person could paddle). Then, teams had to hire a boat and find a route marker bobbing in the water 4 miles (6.4 km) from the mainland near Chicken Island. Once they found the floating route marker, they had to use the snorkel gear they collected at the Roadblock to dive in the water to get their next clue.
Leg 11 (Thailand -> China)
Airdate: November 28, 2001
- Phuket (Phuket International Airport) to Beijing, China (Beijing Capital International Airport)
- Beijing (Jingshan Park - Top Pavilion)
- Beijing (Hongqiao Market)
- Beijing (Donghuamen Night Market - Stall # 57)
- Beijing (Temple of Heaven Park - South Gate)
This leg's Detour was a choice of Volley or Rally. In Volley, teams had to score five points in a game of ping pong against a local champion at a nearby community center to receive their next clue. In Rally, teams had to take three common forms of local transportation to follow a series of clues. First, teams had to travel by Bus 101 to Hu Jia Lou. Next, teams had to ride a motorcycle taxi to Liu Jia Yao. Finally, teams had to a ride a Pedicab to Quan Xin Yuan Restaurant. When they complete the trip, teams would get their next clue. There was a Fast Forward, in an unaired segment, the team had to travel to the Forbidden City.
In this Roadblock, one team member had to give all the items previously bought to a chef at Donghuamen Night Market (see additional tasks below) and eat all three delicacies. Once all the food were eaten, they would receive their next clue.
- Additional tasks
- After the Detour, teams made their way to Hongqiao Market and they had to use a shopping list written almost entirely in Mandarin Chinese to buy three Chinese delicacies; (five beetle larvae, one squid, and two chicken feet). Once all the items had been purchased, they were directed to stall #57 of the Donghuamen Night Market.
- After the Roadblock, teams then had to travel to the south gate of the Temple of Heaven for the next Pit Stop.
Leg 12 (China -> United States)
Airdate: December 5, 2001
- Beijing (Tiantan Park)
- Great Wall of China (J?y?ng Pass)
- Beijing (Beijing Capital International Airport) to Anchorage, Alaska, USA (Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport)
- Scotty Lake (North Country Bed and Breakfast) (Overnight Rest)
- Scotty Lake (Blanket Toss Area)
- Matanuska Glacier
- near Denali State Park (Highway Mile Marker 131)
- Wilderness Cabin
The Detour was a choice of Flat or Steep. Both Detours took place at the famous Great Wall of China. In Flat, teams had to walk to a long, flat path to a far away marked pavilion for the next clue. In Steep, teams had to take a much shorter but extremely steep path to the closer marked pavilion for the next clue.
The leg's Roadblock where one team member had to go climb an ice wall to retrieve information from the top of the glacier using the provided gear and a lesson from an instructor.
- Additional tasks
- At the start of the leg, teams had to use a marked map to find three kite flyers in Tiantan Park who had their next clue. Once they found the kite flyers, the teams were then instructed to go to the Great Wall of China by public bus for their next clue.
- Upon arrival in Anchorage, teams picked a marked vehicle to drive themselves to North Country Bed and Breakfast in Scotty Lake, where teams would spend the night.
- In the following morning, one team member had to bounce on an Alaskan blanket toss known as Nalukataq until they spotted the nearby route marker on the ice.
- After the Roadblock, the teams needed to reach highway Mile Marker 131 near Denali State Park where teams had to abandon their vehicles and ride a snowmobile to the Wilderness Cabin, the final Pit Stop.
Leg 13 (United States)
Airdate: December 13, 2001
- Takosha Lodge
- Talkeetna (Fish Lake)
- Anchorage (Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport) to Newark, New Jersey (Newark International Airport)
- Queens, New York City, New York (Vincent Daniels Square)
- Queens (52nd Street - Lincoln Avenue Station) to (Willets Point - Shea Stadium Station)
- Queens (Flushing Meadows Park - Unisphere)
The leg's final Detour was a choice of Dog Power or Horsepower. In Dog Power, teams rode a dog sled 11 miles (18 km) to their next clue. In Horsepower, teams used a snowmobile to ride 30 miles (48 km) to the next clue.
In this Roadblock, one team member had to strip down to their underwear or a bathing suit and plunge into the freezing waters of Fish Lake with temperatures as low as 30 degrees Fahrenheit, completely submerge their heads, and then swim to their next clue.
- Additional tasks
- At the start of the final leg, teams had to use snowshoes and follow the flags 1 mile (1.6 km) to Takosha Lodge for the next clue.
- Upon arriving in New York City, teams had to travel to Vincent Daniels Square along 51st and Roosevelt Avenue in Queens for the final clue.
- At Vincent Daniels Square, teams must use public transportation to Willets Point - Shea Stadium Station and exiting at Shea Stadium, then follow the signs to Flushing Meadows Park, the finish line of the inaugural Amazing Race.
Ratings
USA ratings
Notes
References
- The Amazing Race: The First Season. CBS. DVD. Paramount, 2005.
External links
- Archived copy of Official CBS season 1 website
Source of article : Wikipedia
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