Creators
Bertram van Munster
Elise Doganieri
Cast
Paul J. Alessi & Amie Barski
Lenny Hudson & Karyn Jefferson
Bill Bartek & Joe Baldassare
Drew Feinberg & Kevin O’Connor
Rob Frisbee & Brennan Swain
Nancy Hoyt & Emily Hoyt
Frank Mesa & Margarita Mesa
David Groark & Margaritta Groark
Patricia Pierce & Brenda Mehta
Kim Smith & Leslie Kellner
Matt Robar & Ana Robar
The Show:
The Amazing Race is exactly that. A race that is amazing. 22 competitors (grouped in pairs with some connection between them) set off in New York City and proceeded to literally race against each other for a $1 million prize. A winner is crowned after 35,000 miles, 30 days, four continents and nine countries. Teams include the lovable fraternity brothers, the lawyer buddies, the mother & daughter and the separated couple hoping to reconcile were all participants that the viewer knew only by their relationship. By the end of the show, they were the completely familiar faces of Kevin & Drew, Rob and Brennan, Nancy and Emily, and Frank and Margarita.
The Amazing Race has won three Emmy awards in the “Best Reality Program” category, and for good reason. Not only are the competitors challenged mentally and physically, the race also is designed to test their relationship with one another. Will they be able to last a mix-up at the airport on the way to South Africa? How will a team recover from a bad taxi driver? Will Americans in general be able to find the Songwe Museum in South Africa with literally no route indicator? They must make it to each location as quickly as possible, with limited cash and almost no time.
The result is fascinating and tugs at the emotional heartstrings as teams continue to be eliminated as the rush to the finish line draws near. Locations visited include Zambia, France, Tunisia, Canada, Alaska, Thailand and China. When the winners finally are decided, they pale in comparison to the entire experience, not only for the racers but also for the viewing audience.
Episodes:
Disc 1
Episode 101 – The Race Begins (Original Airdate, 9/5/2001)
The premiere episode begins with the teams rushing from New York City’s Central Park to Africa’s Victoria Falls. A bungee jump is required as one of the conditions to move forward and this challenge proves to be quite stressful for some of the teams. The first Pit Stop results in the demise for the first team to be eliminated.
*Commentary available by Lenny & Karyn and Kevin & Drew.
Episode 102 – Divide And Conquer (Original Airdate, 9/19/2001)
The teams visit Songwe village and eventually are asked to make their way over to Paris to visit the Arc de Triomph. The game’s first alliance is formed as teams hope to use each other in their race to the big prize. The second Pit Stop signals the end for another team.
Episode 103 – Home For Some (Original Airdate, 9/26/2001
Challenges awaiting the duos on this leg include finding a Ferris wheel, and running to the top of Notre Dame Cathedral to ring Quasimodo’s bell. A Fast Forward allows one team to move directly to the Pit Stop and avoid elimination.
Side Trips
Disc includes 48 minutes of unaired footage.
Disc 2
Episode 104 – Colossal Showdown (Original Airdate, 10/3/2001)
The final Paris challenge awaiting the teams involves the identification of a country’s flag to determine their next stop. Some teams choose to travel by boat whereas others prefer to fly. The couples are asked to locate a sword located not at the Pit Stop, but in the “Pit of Death.”
Episode 105 – Desert Storm (Original Airdate, 10/10/2001)
One of the challenges included in this episode asks the teams to find each other by using walkie-talkies. The heat is unbearable as the competitors explore the Sahara Desert and some get extremely frustrated at their ‘humped’ method of transportation.
Episode 106 – Whatever It Takes To Win (Original Airdate, 10/17/2001)
Rome’s Coliseum is featured in this episode, but a gladiator battle ensues at the airport when the teams quickly realize that flights to Italy are high in demand and short in supply. A choice between automotive tasks must be decided upon, before the teams are allowed to land on the welcoming mat and rest at the Pit Stop.
*Commentary available by Rob & Brennan and Bill & Joe.
Side Trips
Disc includes 31 minutes of unaired footage.
Disc 3
Episode 107 – Triumph And Loss (Original Airdate, 10/24/2001)
The confusing streets of India leave some dazed and others confused. The complicated streets also infuriate some of the competitors, but the beauty of the Taj Mahal makes it all worth it. Then the last team to arrive is eliminated, only five are alive to stake a claim to the prize.
*Commentary available by Lenny & Karyn and Kevin & Drew.
Episode 108 – Competition To The Fullest (Original Airdate, 10/31/2001)
The remaining candidates for the money are asked to choose between finding a Holy Man or riding an elephant in order to obtain the clue to their next destination. Following the choice, the teams move to Bikaner where the only way to move forward is to walk through the Temple of Sacred Rats.
Episode 109 – The Unexpected Twist (Original Airdate, 11/14/2001)
Two of the remaining five duos attempt to win the Fast Forward by solving a coin conundrum at the Rclining Buddha in Thailand. The roadblock challenge really makes one member of each remaining team earn their stripes as they have to grab the clue from a pit filled with tigers.
Episode 110 – To The Physical And Mental Limit (Original Airdate, 11/21/2001)
Teams are asked to locate “The King” in Thailand and are surprised to learn that it is a huge rock face. They are then asked to choose between climbing up the rock face or taking a long hike before being allowed to move on. The next clue awaits them at a small boat rental company.
Side Trips
Disc includes 9 minutes of unaired footage.
Disc 4
Episode 111 – Flight To The Last Minute (Original Airdate, 11/28/2001
The final four travel to Beijing and choose to play ping-pong with a local or consume chicken feet, squid and beetle larvae before moving on. As the finish line looms closer, tension rises as one more team bites the dust.
Episode 112 – Race To The Finish [Part 1] (Original Airdate, 12/5/2001)
The final push begins as the three remaining teams are asked to receive a clue from a kite, visit the Great Wall and fly to Alaska. The teams participate in a North American “blanket toss” and climb a glacier as the race prepares for its final leg.
Episode 113 – Race To The Finish [Part 2] (Original Airdate, 12/13/2001)
After 35,000 miles, 30 days, four continents, and nine countries, the time has finally arrived to crown the winners of The Amazing Race. It’s time for the final three to return to where it all started… New York City and the result is a heartstopping race to the finish line where the two leading teams leave their hands in the hands of a New York City cab driver and the New York City transit system to decide who will claim the $1 million prize.
*Commentary available by Rob & Brennan and Bill & Joe
The DVD:
Video –
The video is given in fullscreen full-aspect ratio. Footage is primarily shot with handheld cameras as the camera men followed the teams around. Picture quality is outstanding and the transfer is crisp and clear.
Score: 10/10
Audio –
The audio is in Dolby Digital 2.0. Optional English subtitles are available. Quality is perfect.
Score: 10/10
Special Features –
In addition to the four commentaries outlined above, all of the features are included in the fourth disc. These include:
The Lost Roadblock
A cute sequence where the teams were asked to cook and consume an ostrich egg before heading to the roadblock. The challenge never made it to air and is a DVD-exclusive.
Reliving The Race
Kevin & Drew, Bill & Joe, Lenny & Karyn and Rob & Brennan discuss what the experience was like and how it is something that can never be repeated.
Creating And Coordinating
Creators Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri discuss how the show came about and planned. This is balanced with the opinions of host Phil Keoghan and producer Jerry Bruckheimer.
Another feature are the “Side Trips” included with all the discs. The option must be enabled before the disc is played and when it is, a small icon appears on-screen which will allow the viewer to see a deleted scene or one that will offer more detail. In total, there are 90 minutes of “Side Trips” available to watch.
The featurettes are nice, but lack a lot of detail. It would have been better to have more of the Racers comment on the episodes and include commentaries from the creators for each episode as well.
“Reliving The Race” was excellent, but really did not offer the viewer a sense of who each person was and is after the race and I would have liked more than just 20 minutes.
“Creating And Coordinating” was interesting too, but really consisted of the producers and the host just saying that they had to really work hard to get to each location before the teams and avoid being seen on the plane. There are some interesting anecdotes like how the show was conceived, but not nearly enough material for people who have wondered how each challenge was motivated.
Score: 6.5/10
