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 in order to win US$1,000,000. This season visited four continents and nine countries and traveled over 35,000 miles (56,000 km). Starting in New York City, racers traveled through South Africa, Zambia, France, Tunisia, Italy, India, Thailand, China, and Alaska before 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.
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.[3] By December 2000, the show was under the working title of CBS Summer Global Adventure Series.[4] Location scouting for the racecourse took place in January 2001.[1] Filming for the first season began in March 2001 by which time the show had been renamed to The Amazing Race.[1][5] 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 leg 6 in Gabès rather than the original Saharan desert Pit Stop. 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.[1]
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.[1] 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.[1] 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 AlessiDrew Feinberg
Eleven teams participated in the first season of The Amazing Race.[8]
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.
^ abcdeThis team won the Fast Forward on this leg.
^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.
^Paul & Amie checked in 5th at the end of this leg, but departed the next leg 4th after being awarded a time credit.
^Dave & Margaretta initially arrived 7th, but were penalized for not completing the Detour correctly. They departed the Pit Stop 8th.
^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
After arriving in Johannesburg, teams found their next clue at Johannesburg International Airport directing them to the office of Ryan Blake Air at Lanseria Airport, where they had to book one of four charter flights to an unknown destination (Livingstone, Zambia). Once there, teams had to find a vehicle with their next clue, instructing them to find "the smoke that thunders," which they to figure out was the local name for Victoria Falls(Mosi-oa-Tunya). Teams could either drive themselves or hire a driver (who could not provide directions) to the falls in order to find their next clue.
For the series' very first Fast Forward, one team had to hike down a steep canyon to the Boiling Pot on the Zambezi River. Rob & Brennan won the Fast Forward.
Teams who chose to not attempt the Fast Forward had to travel to Abseil Zambia at Batoka Gorge in order to find their next clue.
The series' very first Detour was a choice between Air or Land. In Air, teams had to take a quick trip along a zipline across Batoka Gorge and then experience a 54-metre (177 ft) gorge swing to reach the bottom in order to receive their next clue. In Land, teams would have had to take a long hike down the rim of the gorge in order to receive their next clue. All teams chose the zipline.
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 later revisited in season 27 as a Switchback in Zimbabwe.[14]
Leg 2 (Zambia → France)
After arriving in Paris, teams visited the Eiffel Tower for the Roadblock.
Episode 2: "Divide and Conquer" (September 19, 2001)
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.
For this leg's Fast Forward, one team had to whitewater raft down the Zambezi River. Pat & Brenda won the Fast Forward.
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 (giraffe, impala, water buffalo, zebra, or rhino). 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 to travel to the nearby park, so no teams actually traveled to Botswana.
After the Detour, teams had to travel to Mukuni Village, where they took part in a traditional welcome ceremony for honored guests. After the ceremony, teams gave the village chief the photographs they took during the Detour and received their next clue: a miniature model of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. Teams then returned by charter flight to Johannesburg, South Africa, where they had to book flights to Paris. Once there, teams went directly to the Eiffel Tower.
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 famous monument with a Route Marker on top. The monument they had to spot was 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.
At the start of this leg, teams had to find "La Grande Roue" ("The Big Wheel") by figuring out that it was the nearby Roue de Paris in order to find their next clue.
This leg's Fast Forward required one team to find a tea shop called Mariage Frères in the Rive Gauche and ask for a specific tea. Kevin & Drew won the Fast Forward.
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 handed them their next clue.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to walk underground through the Paris sewers to the Place du Châtelet in order to find their next clue.
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: . Teams had to figure out that they had a Tunisian flag, and 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.
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 using only a picture for reference. Once there, they had to 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 once there, they had to 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.
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, where they sheathed the sword in order to finish the leg.
Leg 5 (Tunisia)
While in Tataouine, teams visited the ksars of Tunisia for the Detour.
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. Along with their Detour clue, teams 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.
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 and their sense of hearing 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, a hard-to-find location, and solve a simple Tunisian dice game in order to receive their next clue. All teams chose the walkie-talkie task.
After the Detour, teams had use a map, a compass, and a series of painted yellow stones in order to find an arrow located approximately one mile (1.6 km) north of Guermessa that directed them along a path of several arrows across the Sahara to their next clue at Ksar Ghilane.
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 next 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)
During the Pit Stop, a sandstorm in the Sahara 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.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Foot or Hoof. In Foot, teams had to find a well-known statue of a foot at the Palazzo dei Conservatori, using a provided picture that contained the entire statue, 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.
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. The other team member 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 in the town square.
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 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 Ferrara railway station following a street map in order to retrieve their next clue.
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.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to hire a cycle rickshaw and find a specific shopkeeper in the congested Chandni Chowk market, who showed the team member a blue box containing a replica of the Taj Mahal along with their next clue directing 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)
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.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Elephant or Rowboat. In Elephant, teams had to ride an elephant up a steep path 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 in order to find their next clue.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to search Karni Mata Temple, a temple devoted to the worship of rats, for a canister containing their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop: the Laxmi Niwas Palace in Bikaner.
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to take either a bus or train back to Delhi and then fly to Bangkok, Thailand.
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. If the bowl that the teams chose had too few or too many coins, they had to choose another bowl and try again. 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 were unable to attempt the Fast Forward had to travel to the Temple of Dawn in order to find their next clue.
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 go to a local bus station and 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 give them a free ride to Kanchanaburi.
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 directing 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.
Ao Phang Nga National Park (Thaiwand Wall → Railay Beach)
Ao Phang Nga National Park (Railay Beach) → Ao Nang (Ao Nang Beach)
Ao Nang (Sea, Land & Trek)
Ao Nang (Ao Nang Beach) → Ao Phang Nga National Park (Chicken Island)
Ao Nang (Pai Plong Beach)
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 a half-mile through the jungle to reach Thaiwand Wall and their next clue.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Hike or Climb. In Hike, teams would have had to travel on a long, winding path up Thaiwand Wall in order to find their next clue. In Climb, teams had to take an arduous rock climb straight up Thaiwand Wall in order to find their next clue. All teams chose the rock climb.
After the Detour, teams had to rappel down into 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.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to paddle a kayak with their team member 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 four miles (6.4 km) from the mainland near Chicken Island, where they had to use their snorkeling gear to dive in the water and retrieve their next clue directing them to the Pit Stop: Pai Plong Beach in Ao Nang.
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)
At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Beijing, China. Once there, teams found their next clue at Jingshan Park.
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 at a nearby community center in order to receive their next clue. In Rally, teams had to travel by three common forms of local transportation: a bus to Hu Jia Lou, a motorcycle taxi to Liu Jia Yao, and a 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 beetlelarvae, one squid, and two chicken feet. Teams then traveled to the Donghuamen Night Market in order to find their next clue.
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 cook. They then had to eat all three dishes in order to receive their next clue directing 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.
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 by public bus in order to find their next clue.
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 the steep hike.
Teams were instructed to fly to Anchorage, Alaska. Once there, teams chose a marked 4x4 and were driven to North Country Bed and Breakfast in Scotty Lake, where they spent the night. The next morning, one team member had to experience an Alaskan blanket toss known as Nalukataq and spot a nearby route marker on the ice with their next clue, which directed them to the Matanuska Glacier.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to climb an ice wall in order to 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 left their vehicles and rode snowmobiles to the Pit Stop at a wilderness cabin.
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.
This season's final Detour was a choice between Dog Power or Horsepower. In Dog Power, teams had to ride dogsleds 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 to ride the dog sleds.
After the Detour, teams had to drive to Fish Lake in order find their next clue.
In this season's final Roadblock, one team member had to strip down and plunge into the freezing waters of Fish Lake with temperatures as low as 40 °F (4 °C), completely submerging their heads, in order to retrieve their next clue.
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 aggregatorRotten 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 2016, this season was ranked 5th out of the first 27 seasons by the Rob Has a Podcast Amazing Race correspondents.[40] 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".[41] In 2021, Jane Andrews of Gossip Cop ranked this season as the fourth best.[42] In 2022, Jason Shomer of Collider ranked this season among the show's top seven seasons.[43] In 2022, Rhenn Taguiam of Game Rant ranked this season as the overall best season.[44]
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.[45]
