Reality Show Concept:
Schedule:
Quick Facts:
- Hosted by Phil Keoghan
- First aired Sept 5, 2001
- Executive-produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Bertram van Munster, Jonathan Littman, Hayma Screech Washington.
- Created by Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri.
- Winner of the Emmy for Outstanding Reality Show.
How 'The Amazing Race' Works:
An episode consists of one leg of the race, which includes several tasks and clues. At the beginning of each leg, teams receive their first clue along with some money. At the end of each leg is a Pit Stop, where all teams must rest for 12 hours. Teams begin the next leg exactly 12 hours after reaching the Pit Stop.
The first team to the Pit Stop at the end of each leg wins a prize. The last team to the Pit Stop is most often sent home. There is, however, two or three legs per season that are non-elimination legs. The teams (and the audience) do not know ahead of time which legs will be non-elimination. The last team to arrive to the non-elimination Pit Stop must give up all of their possessions except for their passports and the clothes on their backs. They begin the next leg with no money.
For some tasks, called Road Blocks, teams must pick one member to perform the task. Other tasks, called Detours, force teams to pick between two tasks, one is typically physical and/or frightening, while the other is typically mental and may take a long time to complete. Many tasks need to be completed by both team members.
Some legs will also include one Fast Forward task. The first team to complete the Fast Forward task can go directly to the Pit Stop. Teams are only allowed one Fast Forward for the season.
Some legs include Yields. A team can use the Yield to force any team behind them to wait for a predetermined amount of time before continuing to the task.
The finale consists of the last three teams, racing to find the finish line. The first team to cross the finish wins one-million dollars.
(Description contributed by Bonnie Covel)