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This article is about the reality show format in general. For other uses, see The Amazing Race (disambiguation).
Logo of the United States edition of The Amazing Race. Logos for the international versions of the show are adapted from this logo.
Logo of the United States edition of The Amazing Race. Logos for the international versions of the show are adapted from this logo.
For the current American season, see The Amazing Race 12.
For the current Asian season, see The Amazing Race Asia 2.
For the current Brazilian season, see The Amazing Race: A Corrida Milionária.

The Amazing Race is a reality television game show in which teams race around the world in competition with other teams. Contestants strive to arrive first at the end of each leg of the race to avoid the possibility of elimination. Teams are progressively eliminated until three teams are left; at that point, the team which arrives first in the final leg is awarded a large cash grand prize. Created by Elise Doganieri and Bertram van Munster, the original series has aired in the United States since 2001 and has earned seven Primetime Emmy Awards, including all five "Outstanding Reality-Competition Program" awards that have been given. The show has branched out to include a number of international versions following a similar format.

Contestants travel to and within multiple countries in a variety of transportation modes, including planes, taxis, rental cars, trains and boats. The clues in each leg point the teams to the next destination or direct them to perform a task, either together or by a single member. Each task showcases the geographic region or indigenous culture and customs it is held in. If a team is in last place at the end of a leg of the race, they may be forced to stop competing or have a significant disadvantage in the following leg.
The Race

Unless otherwise indicated, the seasons refer to the American version of the series, hosted by Phil Keoghan.

[edit] Teams
The eleven All-Star teams of the 11th season of The Amazing Race are given final instructions at the starting line (Miami, Florida) of the Race by host Koeghan
The eleven All-Star teams of the 11th season of The Amazing Race are given final instructions at the starting line (Miami, Florida) of the Race by host Koeghan

Each of the eleven or twelve teams (10 on the first and second Asian edition) on The Amazing Race is composed of two individuals who have some type of relationship to each other. The exception in the series so far has been Season 8, which was a family edition of the race that featured teams of four.

The teams represent a wide demographic of different ages, races, sexual orientations, and relationships. Relationships have included long-time married couples, siblings (including twins), parent/child, friends (roommates, fraternity brothers, platonic friends, high school friends, lifelong friends etc.), romantic partners (both heterosexual and homosexual), and couples who are separated or were formerly dating.

The various relationship dynamics between the team members under the stress of competition is one focus of the show. Teammates must race the entire race together: they cannot split up (except when instructed to do so by a clue, albeit temporarily) or continue on without each other. If one teammate becomes injured and is unable to finish the race, the team must forfeit (for example, Marshall & Lance during Season 5). Both teammates must also arrive at each Pit Stop together in order to check in.[1]

Many aspects of the production - casting, promos, premieres, and Phil's discussions with eliminated teams - make heavy emphasis upon the effects of the race on relationships.

[edit] Length and Exclusivity

Originally, the race required team members to have a preexisting relationship and to have known one another for at least three years. In addition, racers from different teams could not have previous acquaintances with one another. This provided preexisting intra-team relationships to film and broadcast, without complications of preexisting inter-team relationships.

It is unclear whether producers have loosened either of these rules for more recent races, but they have made exceptions: Kris & Jon from Season 6 were long-distance daters for only one year, while several contestants from Season 5 had previously competed against one another in the beauty pageant circuit. (Nicole actually beat Christie for the title of Miss Texas USA in 2003.)[2] The team of Eric & Danielle from Season 11's All-Stars edition had only met each other one year earlier when they had been on opposing teams during Season 9.

Otherwise, however, teams members have had long personal histories, and only with each other.

[edit] Type and Nature

Save for those exceptions mentioned above (e.g. Kris and Jon from Season 6), every team has had a preexisting relationship which has been either extensively or primarily personal. None of the teams have had a primarily professional relationship - such as teacher/student, doctor/patient, businessman/customer, or mentor/mentee - put to the test of the race to observe the kind and degree of personal relationship that might emerge.

There has thus not been the opportunity to see how a relationship might build during the race, from a strong but less personal connection to something intimate and intense. Instead, the race is shown as strengthening or weakening only existing personal relationships - and often portrays at least the threat of weakening, at least in suspense-building edits, rather than the potential for something new.