The Amazing Race 8

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The Amazing Race 8
Season 8
Region 1 DVD cover
Presented byPhil Keoghan
No. of teams10
WinnersNick, Alex, Megan & Tommy Linz
No. of legs11
Distance traveled11,000 mi (18,000 km)
No. of episodes11
Release
Original networkCBS
Original releaseSeptember 27 (2005-09-27) –
December 13, 2005 (2005-12-13)
Additional information
Filming datesJuly 7 (2005-07-07) –
July 31, 2005 (2005-07-31)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 7
Next →
Season 9
List of episodes

The Amazing Race 8 (also known as The Amazing Race: Family Edition) is the eighth season of the American reality competition show The Amazing Race. Hosted by Phil Keoghan, this season of the series, which normally features pairs of adults with a pre-existing relationship, featured ten families of four, including the participation of minors as young as eight years old, competing in a race across North America in order to win US$1,000,000. This season visited twelve states, one federal district, and three additional countries and traveled over 11,000 miles (18,000 km). Starting in New York City, racers traveled through New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, Virginia, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Panama, Costa Rica, Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, and Canada before finishing in Lewiston, New York. A new twist introduced in this season includes select Roadblocks performed by two team members. The season premiered on CBS on Tuesday, September 27, 2005, and concluded on Tuesday, December 13, 2005.

Siblings Nick, Alex, Megan, and Tommy Linz were the winners of this season; while father Wally Branson and his three daughters, Beth, Lauren, and Lindsay, finished in second place; and widow Linda Weaver and her three children, Rebecca, Rachel, and Rolly, finished in third place.

Production[edit]

Development and filming[edit]

The Starting Line of The Amazing Race: Family Edition was at Empire–Fulton Ferry State Park close to the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City.

The eighth season of The Amazing Race spanned 11,000 miles (18,000 km). This season placed much less emphasis on international travel as numerous legs were contained within the continental United States, and all locations were in North America, with Panama and Costa Rica visited for the first time. Filming began on July 7, 2005, with reports of the show at Washington Crossing State Park in New Jersey.[1] From July 12 to July 13, teams were in Alabama.[2] Filming concluded after 25 days on July 31.[3]

Route Markers were colored yellow and white with black lining in contrast to the yellow and red markers used in all other seasons. As with The Amazing Race 7, the winners of this season were revealed in an online betting scandal just before the finale aired.[4]

For this season, the supplied credit card covered not only airfare, but also gasoline, which otherwise would have had to be purchased with cash. This rule change was made necessary by the fact that most of the transportation took place in automobiles rather than airplanes.

The limits on individual Roadblock attempts, introduced in season six, did not apply for this season. Furthermore, some Roadblocks in this edition required the participation of two team members.

During the first leg, Renee Rogers fell at the starting line and suffered a concussion. She did not realize the severity of the injury until she went to a hospital after being eliminated during the next leg.[5]

This season featured a visit to New Orleans in the fourth and fifth legs, where filming occurred about a month before Hurricane Katrina struck the region. The episodes aired after the hurricane had devastated the region. A special message was inserted at the beginning of the episodes, including one spoken by Phil Keoghan, dedicating them to the victims and to those helping with the recovery. The Schroeder family, who were from New Orleans, had befriended the Rogers family from Shreveport in the northern part of Louisiana during the season. As Hurricane Katrina neared landfall, the Rogers family offered the Schroeders safety at their home. Hurricane Katrina wiped out the Schroeders' home and most of their possessions, and after staying with the Rogerses for about two weeks, they were able to find more permanent housing in Baton Rouge, and most of the other teams from this season chipped in to help the family.[6]

According to an interview with Wally Bransen on RFF Radio, producers had originally planned a leg in Belize, but had to cancel it due to Hurricane Emily.[7]

Casting[edit]

Casting for this season took place in early 2005 with team members as young as eight allowed to apply. Casting closed on March 11, 2005.[8]

Cast[edit]

Stassi Schroeder
Tony and Marion Paolo

This season's cast consisted of ten teams of four family members each.

Contestants Age Relationship Hometown Status
Reggie Black 42 Dad, Mom & Kids Woodbridge, Virginia Eliminated 1st
(in Lancaster, Pennsylvania)
Kimberly Black 40
Kenneth Black 11
Austin Black 8
Denny Rogers 46 Dad, Mom & Kids Shreveport, Louisiana Eliminated 2nd
(in Middleburg, Virginia)
Renee Rogers 42
Brittney Rogers 22
Brock Rogers 19
Tony Aiello 57 Father and Sons-in-Law Mansfield, Massachusetts Eliminated 3rd
(in Huntsville, Alabama)
Kevin Kempskie 31
Matt Hanson 31
David Alverson 26
Mark Schroeder 40 Dad, Stepmom & Kids New Orleans, Louisiana Eliminated 4th
(in New Orleans, Louisiana)
Char Schroeder 39
Stassi Schroeder 17
Hunter Schroeder 15
Bill Gaghan 40 Dad, Mom & Kids Glastonbury, Connecticut Eliminated 5th
(in Quepos, Costa Rica)
Tammy Gaghan 42
Billy Gaghan, Jr. 12
Carissa Gaghan 9
Tony Paolo 52 Dad, Mom & Kids Carmel, New York Eliminated 6th
(in Page, Arizona)
Marion Paolo 52
D.J. Paolo 24
Brian Paolo 16
Michelle Godlewski 42 Sisters Des Plaines, Illinois Eliminated 7th
(in Absarokee, Montana)
Sharon Godlewski 39
Christine Godlewski 37
Tricia Godlewski 26
Linda Weaver 46 Widow & Kids Ormond Beach, Florida Third place
Rebecca Weaver 19
Rachel Weaver 16
Rolly Weaver IV 14
Wally Bransen 51 Dad and Daughters Park Ridge, Illinois Runners-up
Beth Bransen 25
Lauren Bransen 22
Lindsay Bransen 20
Nick Linz 24 Siblings Cincinnati, Ohio Winners
Alex Linz 22
Megan Linz 21
Tommy Linz 19
Future appearances

Stassi Schroeder later appeared in the Oxygen reality series Queen Bees.[9] Schroeder later appeared on the Bravo reality series Vanderpump Rules as a part of that cast for eight seasons.[10] In 2011, Brian and Marion Paolo appeared on the HGTV reality show House Hunters.[11] Billy and Carissa Gaghan wrote introductions for My Ox is Broken, a book about The Amazing Race.[12]

Results[edit]

The following teams are listed with their placements in each leg. 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. As a penalty, they were stripped of their money, bags, and possessions other than their passports and the clothes they were wearing upon checking in, and they received no money at the start of the next leg.
  • An italicized placement indicates a team's placement at the midpoint of a double leg.
  • A green ƒ indicates that the team won the Fast Forward.
  • A brown > indicates that the team used the Yield and a brown < indicates the team on the receiving end of the Yield.
Team placement (by leg)
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10a[a] 10b 11a[b] 11b
Linz Family 9th 2nd 2nd 3rd 4th 2nd 3rd 2nd 1st>[c] 3rd 2nd 2nd 1st
Bransen Family 7th 6th 1st 1st 3rd 3rd 5th‡ 4th 2nd 1st 1st 1st 2nd
Weaver Family 3rd 1st 5th 5th 2nd 5th<[d] 2nd 3rd 4th‡<[c] 2nd 3rd 3rd 3rd
Godlewski Family 1st 3rd 4th 4th 6th‡ 4th 1st 1st 3rd 4th 4th†
Paolo Family 6th 8th 6th 2nd 1stƒ[e] 1st>[d] 4th 5th†
Gaghan Family 2nd 7th 7th 6th 5th 6th†
Schroeder Family 5th 4th 3rd 7th†
Aiello Family 8th 5th 8th†
Rogers Family 4th 9th†
Black Family 10th†
Notes
  1. ^ This was a double leg with two Detours and two Roadblocks shown over two episodes. The placements listed for the first half are the order of the teams' arrival at the halfway point in Wyoming.
  2. ^ This was a double leg with two Detours and two Roadblocks shown over two episodes. The placements listed for the first half are the order of the teams' arrival at the Stade Olympique in Montreal.
  3. ^ a b The Linz Family chose to Yield the Weaver Family.
  4. ^ a b The Paolo Family chose to Yield the Weaver Family.
  5. ^ This team won the Fast Forward on this leg.

Race summary[edit]

The route of The Amazing Race 8.
Destinations Air travel    Rail travel    Water travel    Bus travel
Helicopter travel    Bicycle travel    Gondola travel
Route Markers Detour    Roadblock    Fast Forward    Yield    Pit Stop

Leg 1 (New York → Pennsylvania & New Jersey)[edit]

In Pennsylvania, teams had to re-create George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River.
  • Episode 1: "Go, Mommy, Go! We Can Beat Them!" (September 27, 2005)
  • Prize: US$20,000 cash (awarded to the Godlewski Family)
  • Eliminated: Black Family
Locations
Episode summary

Leg 2 (Pennsylvania → District of Columbia → Virginia)[edit]

The Detour on this leg featured tasks about the American Civil War.
  • Episode 2: "How Do We Know We Aren't Going to Get Shot?" (October 4, 2005)
  • Prize: A trip to the Fairmont Southampton in Bermuda (awarded to the Weaver Family)
  • Eliminated: Rogers Family
Locations
Episode summary
  • At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to drive to York, Pennsylvania, and find the Haines Shoe House, where one team member had to climb to the top of the giant shoe in order to retrieve their next clue, which directed them to drive to the Capitol Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. Teams then had to find a limousine parked on 3rd Street, where an unseen contact passed them a briefcase, which they had take to the Tidal Basin.
  • Roadblock: "Who's ready for a covert operation?" In this season's first Roadblock, one team member had to search for one of ten spies among 50 people carrying an identical briefcase around the Tidal Basin. To identify the spy, they had to whisper a code phrase ("The sky is blue"), but only a spy would respond with the counterphrase ("The sea is green"). After they swapped briefcases, team members found their next clue inside, which directed teams to travel to the Welbourne Manor in Middleburg, Virginia.
  • Detour: Heat of the Battle or Heat of the Night This leg's Detour at an American Civil War reenactment was a choice between Heat of the Battle or Heat of the Night. In Heat of the Battle, teams had to use stretchers to transport five "wounded soldiers" to a surgical tent. In Heat of the Night, teams had to roll a barrel of oil to a workstation, where they had to fill 20 oil lamps. They then had to take the lamps to the quartermaster and light them all in order to receive their next clue.
  • After the Detour, teams were given a Civil War regimental flag, which they had to bring to the nearby Pit Stop.
Additional note
  • The task with the briefcase swap was later revisited on season 22 as a Switchback.

Leg 3 (Virginia → South Carolina → Alabama)[edit]

Once in Huntsville, Alabama, teams visited the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.
  • Episode 3: "I Don't Kiss I Make Out" (October 11, 2005)
  • Prize: Gasoline for life for each team member (awarded to the Bransen Family)
  • Eliminated: Aiello Family
Locations
Episode summary
  • At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Charleston, South Carolina. Once there, teams had to drive to The Battery and find their next clue at a gazebo.
  • Detour: Forrest Gump or Muddy Waters This leg's Detour was a choice between Forrest Gump or Muddy Waters. In Forrest Gump, teams had to drive 7 miles (11 km) to the Wando Shrimp Company in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, and board a shrimp boat. They then had to de-head 200 pounds (91 kg) of shrimp by hand in order to receive their next clue. In Muddy Waters, teams had to drive 37 miles (60 km) to Ridgeville and find the Ridgeville Mud Run. There, teams drove an SUV one lap through a mud obstacle course, including a 400-foot (120 m) gully filled with mud, in order to receive their next clue. If they got stuck, they had to wait to be towed out before beginning the course again.
  • After the Detour, teams were instructed to go to the Charleston Visitor Center and sign-up for one of two charter buses to a mystery destination (Huntsville, Alabama). At the city's bus station, teams found their next clue and were instructed to drive to the Edward O. Buckbee Hangar at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in order to find their next clue.
  • Roadblock: "Who's ready to feel the pull of more than 3 Gs?" In this leg's Roadblock, two team members had to ride in a centrifuge and endure a gravitational pull of 3.2g in order to receive their next clue.
  • After the Roadblock, teams walked almost one mile (1.6 km) to the nearby Rocket Park. There, teams had to enter the space mission, search for a computer, and log in to receive a video clue from Phil, instructing them to travel on foot to the Pit Stop at the Space Shuttle Pathfinder.

Leg 4 (Alabama → Mississippi → Louisiana)[edit]

Teams ended this leg at the historic Preservation Hall in the French Quarter of New Orleans.
Locations
Episode summary
  • At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to drive themselves to Anniston, Alabama, where one team member had to climb to the top of the World's Largest Office Chair in order to retrieve their next clue. Teams then had to drive to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega, where they had to search the museum for their next clue. Teams had to choose a party bike and complete one 2.6-mile (4.2 km) lap around the Talladega Superspeedway track in order to receive their next clue.
  • Teams had to find the "Southern Colonel" in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, which they had to figure out was a mobile home dealership. When they arrived, teams had to search through 37 mobile homes for one of three departure times the next morning. They then spent the night in the mobile home and found their next clue on the windshield of their car the next morning.
  • At a gas station in Richland, team had to find their next clue, which instructed teams to drive to the "Pelican State", which they had figure out was Louisiana, and find their next clue at Fairview-Riverside State Park in Madisonville.
  • Detour: Work or Play This leg's Detour was a choice between Work or Play. In Work, teams had to don flannel clothing and then use a two-man saw to cut four slices 12 inches (30 cm) in diameter off a log in order to receive their next clue. In Play, teams had to don traditional New Orleans clothing and travel by canoe to a riverboat, where they had to play a game of blackjack against a professional dealer. When they won three rounds, the dealer gave them their next clue.
  • After the Detour, teams had to drive themselves to New Orleans and check in at the Pit Stop: Preservation Hall in the French Quarter.

Leg 5 (Louisiana → Panama)[edit]

The Pit Stop for this leg was located at the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal.
  • Episode 5: "We're Getting Out of the Country, Girls" (October 25, 2005)
  • Prize: A Gamboa Rainforest Resort package at the Panama Canal (awarded to the Paolo Family)
Locations
Episode summary
  • At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Panama City, Panama. Once there, teams had to travel to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Gamboa, where they boarded a boat to Barro Colorado Island and had to search for a scientist, who gave them their next clue. Afterward, teams had to return to Gamboa by boat and find a red devil bus, known locally as a diablo rojo, which served as their means of transportation for the rest of this leg.
  • Fast Forward: Tandem Bungee Jump For this season's only Fast Forward, one team had to find a crane at the Pacific side of the Panama Canal in Balboa. Once there, the family had to split into pairs and each perform a tandem bungee jump. The Paolo Family won the Fast Forward.
  • Detour: Rhythm or Coos This leg's Detour was a choice between Rhythm or Coos. In Rhythm, teams had to travel to Casco Viejo and collect four musical instruments from four different locations: a saxophone, a trumpet, a conga drum, and a trombone. They then had to deliver them to Take Five Jazz and Wine, where they received their next clue. In Coos, teams traveled to El Parque Metropolitan, where they had to use binoculars to search the rainforest canopy for wooden replicas of five local bird species shown on a provided bird identification chart. Once they found a bird, they had to circle the correct species on the chart. When they'd circled five correct birds, they had to present the card to a bird expert in order to receive their next clue.
  • After the Detour, teams had to travel to the Estadio Juan Demóstenes Arosemena in order to find their next clue.
  • Roadblock: "Who can hit in a pinch?" In this leg's Roadblock, one team member to had to play baseball against a local little-league champion. If they got a base hit or home run, the umpire gave them their next clue, but if a player failed after three pitches, they had to go to the end of the line in order to try again.
  • After the Roadblock, teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal.
Additional note
  • This was a non-elimination leg.

Leg 6 (Panama → Costa Rica)[edit]

Teams visited Poás Volcano National Park in Costa Rica in this leg.
  • Episode 6: "I'm Sick of Doing Stuff I Can't Do" (November 1, 2005)
  • Prize: A choice of a Segway HT, Vespa, jet ski, or all-terrain vehicle for each team member (awarded to the Paolo Family)
  • Eliminated: Gaghan Family
Locations
Episode summary
  • At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to go to the Terminal Nacional de Transporte, where they had to pull a departure time for one of two charter buses leaving thirty minutes apart to San José, Costa Rica. Once there, teams had to travel to the Parqueo Publico Adrian, where they found their next clue directing them to Poás Volcano National Park in order to find their next clue. Teams then had to drive to the Doka Estate in Alajuela in order to find their next clue.
  • Roadblock: "Who can tell the difference between colors?" In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to search through an 800-pound (360 kg) pile of coffee beans in order to find the one red bean, which they could exchange for their next clue.
  • After the Roadblock, teams had to drive to the Roca Loca Surf Shop in Jacó and find a man named Javier in order to receive their next clue.
  • Detour: Relic or Ripe This leg's Detour was a choice between Relic or Ripe. In Relic, teams traveled to a nearby rainforest within Manuel Antonio National Park, where they had to search for four Mayan relics. Once they delivered each of these relics to an archaeologist, they received their next clue. In Ripe, teams traveled to the Frutas Selectas del Tropico banana plantation, where they had to gather fifteen bushels of bananas and load them onto hanging tracks. Teams then had to use a local pulley-system to haul the bananas to the distribution center in order to receive their next clue.
  • After the Detour, teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: the Malecon in Quepos.
Additional note
  • Yield: The Paolo Family Yielded the Weaver Family The Paolo Family chose to Yield the Weaver Family.

Leg 7 (Costa Rica → Arizona)[edit]

At the Iglesia de Metal in Grecia, Costa Rica, teams found their Detour clue.
  • Episode 7: "You Look Ridiculous" (November 8, 2005)
  • Prize: A trip to Belize (awarded to the Godlewski Family)
Locations
Episode summary
  • At the start of this leg, teams traveled on foot to Playa Maracas, where one team member had to swim to a buoy in order to get their next clue directing them to the Iglesia de Metal in Grecia, where they found their next clue.
  • Detour: Brush or Barrel This leg's Detour was a choice between Brush or Barrel. In Brush, teams had to travel to Taller Eloy Alfaro in Sarchí. Once there, they had to choose two partially painted cartwheels, and use the provided pattern to fill in the missing section. When they finished decorating the wheel, they received their clue. In Barrel, teams traveled to a sugarcane factory, where they had to load a tractor with one tonne (0.98 long tons; 1.1 short tons) of harvested sugarcane and then transport it six miles (9.7 km) to a rum factory. Once the sugarcane was delivered, they had to search a warehouse to find a marked barrel-rack hidden among dozens of rum barrels in order to receive their next clue.
  • After the Detour, teams were instructed to fly to Phoenix, Arizona. Once there, teams had to drive to the Bondurant SuperKart School in Chandler in order to find their next clue.
  • Roadblock: "Who's ready to start their engines?" In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to drive a racing go-kart for 50 laps around the race track in order to receive their next clue directing them to the Pit Stop: Fort McDowell Adventures in Fort McDowell.
Additional note
  • This was a non-elimination leg.

Leg 8 (Arizona)[edit]

In Page, Arizona, teams visited Glen Canyon Dam.
  • Episode 8: "I Don't Roll with the Punches, I Punch" (November 8, 2005)
  • Prize: A Jay-Flight 27 B.H. Travel Trailer (awarded to the Godlewski Family)
  • Eliminated: Paolo Family
Locations
Episode summary
  • At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to drive to Fighter Combat International in Mesa, Arizona.
  • Roadblock: "Who's feeling the need for speed?" In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to fly in a fighter plane and, following the pilot's direction, perform a 360-degree loop in order to receive their next clue.
  • After the Roadblock, teams had to drive to the Grand Canyon, where they found their next clue at Lipan Point. Teams then had to drive to the Glen Canyon Dam, where they had to choose a guide, who took them to their next clue atop the dam.
  • Detour: Bearing or Bailing This leg's Detour was a choice between Bearing or Bailing. For both Detours options, teams traveled by motorized raft to Horseshoe Bend along the Colorado River. In Bearing, teams had to choose one of five color-coded cards with unique compass bearings. They then followed the bearing to the next card and repeated the process until they obtained four cards. Once teams had all four cards, they could exchange them for the next clue. In Bailing, teams had to use the provided tools to bail water out of a submerged boat until it was light enough to carry ashore, after which, teams received their next clue.
  • After the Detour, teams were directed to Antelope Point, where they headed down a path to Lake Powell and raced on motorboats to their Pit Stop: a marked houseboat.
Additional note
  • Legs 7 and 8 aired back-to-back as a special two-hour episode.

Leg 9 (Arizona → Utah)[edit]

While in Utah, teams encountered a Roadblock involving a pool ski jump at the Utah Olympic Park.
  • Episode 9: "How's That Face Feel?" (November 22, 2005)
  • Prize: A trip for four to the Teton Mountain Lodge in Jackson Hole, Wyoming (awarded to the Linz Family)
Locations
Episode summary
  • At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to drive to Monument Valley. At John Ford's Point, two team members from each family had to ride in a helicopter to Elephant Butte, where they retrieved the next clue from the summit. Teams were then directed to drive to Moab, Utah.
  • Detour: Ride Down or Drop Down This leg's Detour was a choice between Ride Down or Drop Down. In Ride Down, teams had to ride bicycles along a six-mile (9.7 km) course down the mountain and then to Bull Canyon in order to retrieve their next clue. In Drop Down, teams had to complete a two-stage rappel, totaling 270 feet (82 m), in order to reach Bull Canyon and their next clue.
  • After the Detour, teams drove to Green River State Park in Green River for an overnight rest. Teams' departure times were determined by the order of their arrival. The next day, teams had to drive to Heber City and find Bart the Bear, who had the next clue in his mouth. Teams were then directed to the Utah Olympic Park in Park City.
  • Roadblock: "Who's ready to jump into the unknown?" In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to put on skis and descend a 60-foot (18 m) ski-jump training ramp into an Olympic pool in order to receive their next clue directing them to the Pit Stop: the rooftop of the Salt Lake City Public Library in Salt Lake City.
Additional notes
  • Yield: The Linz Family Yielded the Weaver Family The Linz Family chose to Yield the Weaver Family.
  • This was a non-elimination leg.

Leg 10 (Utah → Wyoming → Montana)[edit]

At Yellowstone National Park, teams had to wait for the eruption of Old Faithful (above) before receiving their next clue, and one side of the Detour involved teams building a teepee (below).
  • Episode 10: "Don't Talk To Me Like I Was An Animal Or Something" (November 29, 2005) & Episode 11: "The Family Christmas Card" (December 6, 2005)
  • Prize: A 2006 full-size Buick Lucerne luxury sedan (awarded to the Bransen Family)
  • Eliminated: Godlewski Family
Locations
Episode summary (Episode 10)
  • At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to drive to Park City High School in Park City, Utah. There, teams helped to inflate a hot air balloon and then flew across the Utah countryside. After landing, teams received their next clue directing them to the Heber Valley Railway.
  • Detour: Spike It or Steam It This leg's first Detour was a choice between Spike It or Steam It. In Spike It, teams used historic materials and tools to complete a 20-foot (6.1 m) section of railway track. In Steam It, teams used buckets to fill the tender of a steam locomotive with nearly 400 pounds (180 kg) of coal. In both Detours, teams had to have their work approved by a railway engineer before they could receive their next clue.
  • After the first Detour, teams had to drive to the Tree of Utah sculpture at the Bonneville Salt Flats and search the grounds for their next clue. Teams then drove to Bear Lake Rendezvous Beach in Garden City, where they had to spend the night. Teams' departure times were determined by the order of their arrival. The next morning, teams had to drive to the Dunham Ranch in Big Piney, Wyoming, where they found their next clue.
  • Roadblock: "Who's ready to cowboy up?" In this leg's first Roadblock, two team members had to mount horses and herd six cattle 1⁄4 mile (0.40 km) from a holding pen into a corral in order to receive their next clue.
  • After the first Roadblock, the teams' clue stated "I'm old, I'm faithful". Teams had to figure out that their next location was Old Faithful at Yellowstone National Park. Teams had to wait for the geyser to erupt before receiving their next clue, which instructed teams to drive to the Pinto Ranch in Moran. There, teams met Phil, who told them that the leg was not over before handing them their next clue.
Episode summary (Episode 11)
  • Teams were instructed to drive to the Turtle Ranch in Dubois.
  • Detour: Native Tradition or Pioneer Spirit This leg's second Detour was a choice between Pioneer Spirit or Native Tradition. In Pioneer Spirit, teams had to attach four wheels to a covered wagon, hook up a team of horses, and drive along a one-quarter-mile (0.40 km) course in order to receive their next clue. In Native Tradition, teams had to use traditional materials and tools to build a teepee in order to receive their next clue.
  • After the second Detour, teams were given the clue "Do you know the hotel named after Buffalo Bill's daughter?" Teams had to figure out that they needed to go to the Irma Hotel in Cody. At the hotel, teams had to don period clothing and take a picture with a Buffalo Bill impersonator. Once the photo was developed, teams received their next clue, which directed them to drive to Red Lodge, Montana. At the Red Lodge Mountain Golf Course, teams had to find the "Tenth Tee" in order to retrieve their next clue.
  • Roadblock: "Who's up to par?" In this leg's second Roadblock, two team members had to choose a colored flag and attach it to a golf cart. They then had to search the golf course for balls the same color as their flag. Once they found all of the balls, they received their next clue directing them to the Pit Stop: Larry Arnold's Green Meadow Ranch in Absarokee, Montana.
Additional note
  • Leg 10 was a double leg that aired over two episodes.

Leg 11 (Montana → Canada → New York)[edit]

Teams spent this double-length leg in Canada, where they visited the Montreal Biosphere (above), and continued on to the CN Tower in Toronto (below).
  • Episode 12: "25 Days, 50 Cities, And More Than 600 Consecutive Hours Together as a Family" (December 13, 2005)
  • Prize: US$1,000,000
  • Winners: Linz Family
  • Second Place: Bransen Family
  • Third Place: Weaver Family
Locations
Episode summary
  • At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Montreal, Canada. Once there, teams had to travel to the Square-Victoria Metro Station, where they had to enter the Underground City and search the passageways to find the basement of the Centre CDP building in order to find their next clue.
  • Detour: Slide It or Roll It This leg's first Detour was a choice between Slide It or Roll It. In Slide It, teams traveled to Glenfinnan Rink at McGill University and participated in the sport of curling. Each team member slid a granite stone 120 feet (37 m) down the ice to the target. Once a team member got a stone into the house or touched the house with a total of four targets, they received their next clue. In Roll It, teams traveled to Morgan Arboretum and had to use lumberjack tools to roll four wooden logs along the 100-foot (30 m) course in order to receive their next clue.
  • After the first Detour, teams were told to find the American Pavilion of Expo 67. They had to figure out that the next destination was the Montreal Biosphere. Once there, teams had to climb to the 5th floor in order to find their next clue, which directed them to Trapezium.
  • Roadblock: "Who wants to fly through the air with the greatest of ease?" In this leg's first Roadblock, one team member had to successfully complete a flying trapeze maneuver known as a "catch" in order to receive their clue.
  • After the first Roadblock, teams had to travel to the Parc Olympique, drive a golf cart to the Stade Olympique, and then find the one door wide enough to drive through. Once inside the stadium, teams had to search among the 56,000 stadium seats for tickets on one of three charter flights departing the next morning to a mystery destination (Toronto). After teams found their departure times, they spent the night in the stadium.
  • Once in Toronto, teams found their next clue on a marked car at the airport and then had to drive to the CN Tower. Once there, teams took an elevator to the observation deck and used binoculars to locate their next clue at Polson Pier.
  • Detour: Ship or Shoe This season's final Detour was a choice between Ship or Shoe. In Ship, teams had to sail across Toronto Harbour from Queens Quay to the schooner Kajama, where one team member had to climb 100 feet (30 m) to the top of the mast and retrieve a nautical flag that they could exchange for their next clue. In Shoe, teams traveled to Bata Shoe Museum, where they had to choose a pair of shoes and search among 100 women for the one woman who fit the shoes in order to receive their next clue.
  • After the second Detour, teams were directed to Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours on the Canadian side of Niagara Gorge, where they had to choose a jet boat and ride up the gorge to a buoy with their next clue. Teams then had to travel by boat to Joseph Davis State Park in Lewiston, New York in order to find their next clue.
  • Roadblock: "Who paid attention in Geography?" In this season's final Roadblock, one team member had to assemble a giant 71-piece jigsaw puzzle map of North America and Central America. Once the puzzle was complete, teams could proceed to the nearby finish line.
Additional notes
  • Teams were provided tickets for a flight from Billings, Montana, to Montreal, but they were under no obligation to use them.
  • Leg 11 was a double leg that aired as a special two-hour episode.
  • After the season ended, CBS hosted the "Final Amazing Challenge" on the official website where the Bransen and Weaver families competed for a GMC Yukon XL. Using the completed map from the final Roadblock, teams ran out to clue boxes to retrieve cutouts, each representing tasks they performed on the race, and placed them on the associated part of the map. This challenge was won by the Bransen Family.

Reception[edit]

Critical response[edit]

Fans, critics, and racers were negative over the format changes implemented in this edition of The Amazing Race. The main issues were the lack of international travel and watered-down challenges tailored to families, and the expanded cast also made it more difficult to develop individual story lines. Dalton Ross of Entertainment Weekly commented that "Half the fun of The Amazing Race has always been watching the inter- and intra-couple bickering that goes with being chronically late and lost in a foreign land. Seeing parents yell at their children in exotic New Jersey? Not so fun".[13] Robert Bianco of USA Today shared similar opinions, adding that "the idea of being trapped in the back seat for a forced cross-country family drive comes closer to a nightmare relived than a dream come true."[14] Linda Holmes of Television Without Pity called the decision to have 40 contestants "baffling" and was disappointed with the tasks and locations on this season.[15] Scott Pierce of Deseret News wrote "this 'Family Edition' of 'Amazing Race' is by far my least favorite. None of the families really seemed worth rooting for and the competition has been watered down to something less than scintillating to accommodate the family element."[16] In 2016, this season was ranked last out of the first 27 seasons by the Rob Has a Podcast Amazing Race correspondents.[17] Conversely in 2021, Val Barone of TheThings ranked the Family Edition as the show's 10th best season.[18] Racers were also disappointed that they did not have a chance to travel to more exotic locations; in one episode Marion Paolo commented "What are we going to Phoenix, Arizona for? I want to go to New Zealand!" – a statement that also summed up the general opinion of the season.

In hindsight, the production team has admitted that the concept of a Family Edition "looked good on paper" but failed in execution, since child racers limited foreign travel for that season. Producers Bertram van Munster and Jonathan Littman doubt that the family format will be revived in the future.[19]

Ratings[edit]

Canadian ratings
Order Episode Viewers (millions) Rank
1 "Go, Mommy, Go! We Can Beat Them!" 2.62 #5[20]
2 "How Do We Know We Arent Going to Get Shot?" 2.34 #4
3 "I Dont Kiss, I Make Out" 2.30 #4
4 "Think Like an Office Chair" 2.65 #5
5 "Were Getting Out of the Country, Girls" 2.14 #5
6 "Im Sick of Doing Stuff I Can't Do" 2.14 #5
7 "You Look Ridiculous" 2.12 #8
8 "How's That Face Feel?" 2.20 #7
9 "Dont Talk to Me Like I Was an Animal or Something" 1.97 #9
10 "The Family Christmas Card" 2.25 #5
11 "25 Days, 50 Cities, And More Than 600 Consecutive Hours Together as a Family" 2.66 #1

References[edit]

  1. ^ Andy Dehnart (July 8, 2005). "Amazing Race filmed yesterday in New Jersey". reality blurred. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  2. ^ Andy Dehnart (July 13, 2005). "Amazing Race 8 was in Alabama Monday". reality blurred. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  3. ^ Andy Dehnart (July 28, 2005). "Rumor suggests "softened," North America-contained Amazing Race 8 may get "canned"". reality blurred. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  4. ^ "'The Amazing Race Family Edition' winners leaked via online betting?". Reality TV World. September 25, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  5. ^ "Rogerses Over and Out of the Race". TV Guide. October 10, 2005. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
  6. ^ Thomas, Rochell (October 25, 2005). "Family's Race Was Calm Before the Storm". TV Guide. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  7. ^ "Reality TV Podcast #30 - Interview with Wally Bransen". RFF Radio. December 20, 2005. Archived from the original on October 24, 2006. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  8. ^ Andy Dehnart (March 4, 2005). "minimum age for Amazing Race 8 family edition lowered from 12 to 8 years old". reality blurred. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  9. ^ Hesse, Monica (July 11, 2008). "Queen Bees: Do You Catch More Eyes With Honey?". Washington Post. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  10. ^ Kate Aurthur; Elizabeth Wagmeister (June 9, 2020). "'Vanderpump Rules' Fires Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute For Racist Actions". Washington Post. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  11. ^ "FYoung Homebuyer in St. Louis". HGTV. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  12. ^ "Amazon.com – My Ox is Broken!". Retrieved September 22, 2006.
  13. ^ Ross, Dalton (October 14, 2005). "What's wrong with The Amazing Race?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 14, 2005.
  14. ^ Bianco, Robert (October 25, 2005). "Amazing Race is not family friendly". USA Today. Retrieved October 25, 2005.
  15. ^ Linda Holmes (November 18, 2005). "CANADA, DRY". Television Without Pity. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  16. ^ Pierce, Scott (November 29, 2005). "It's 'Amazing': They hate Utah". Deseret News. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  17. ^ Mike Bloom; Jessica Liese; Dan Heaton (February 5, 2016). "Amazing Race | Ranking the Season". Rob Has a Podcast (Podcast). Event occurs at 7:02. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  18. ^ Barone, Val (June 5, 2021). "The Top 10 Best 'Amazing Race' Seasons Ranked". TheThings. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  19. ^ "Amazing Race 10 Teams Announced". Retrieved July 15, 2006.
  20. ^ "Top Programs – Total Canada (English): September 26 – October 2, 2005" (PDF).[dead link]

External links[edit]

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