The Amazing Race 7

The Amazing Race 7
Season run March 1 – May 10, 2005
Filming dates November 20 – December 19, 2004
No. of episodes 11 (12 including recap)
Presenter Phil Keoghan
Winning team Uchenna and Joyce Agu
All-Stars Uchenna and Joyce Agu,
Rob Mariano and Amber Brkich
Season statistics
Continents visited 5
Countries visited 10
Cities visited 25
No. of legs 12
Distance traveled 40,000 mi (64,000 km)
Season chronology
 Previous
Season 6
Next 
Season 8

The Amazing Race 7 was the seventh installment of the US reality television show The Amazing Race. It featured 11 teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship, in a race around the world. This installment premiered on March 1, 2005 and completed its broadcast run on May 10, 2005.

Married couple Uchenna and Joyce Agu were the winners of this season.

Production

Development and filming

The race's Starting Line was located in the vicinity of Queen Mary Ship in front of the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California.

The Amazing Race 7 took place over 29 days and traveled nearly 40,000 miles (64,000 km). Filming began on November 20, 2004 and finished on December 19, 2004. The teams raced in ten countries; five of them were not previously visited in the series. The new countries were Peru, Chile, Botswana, Turkey and Jamaica. Puerto Rico, a US territory in the Caribbean, also appeared for the first time.

This was the first edition to not circumnavigate the world by traveling continuously either west or east while crossing each meridian. Once teams traveled as far east as India, they returned to the United States traveling westward through Europe and the Caribbean. However, the route does approach that of a great circle on the globe.

In this edition of the race, a change was made to the non-elimination leg penalty. In addition to being stripped of all their money and receiving no allowance for the next leg of the race, teams were forced to surrender all of their possessions, except for their passports and the clothes they were wearing, for the remainder of the race. They were also no longer allowed to beg for money prior to the start of the next leg (after the next leg started, they can beg for money). The racers could also receive or buy clothing or toiletries from other teams.

Leg 3 of this race featured a difficult Roadblock in which players had to eat 4 pounds (1.8 kg) of meat and organs. Four players quit this food-eating task: Rob, Meredith, Deana, and Patrick; the most to ever quit a task in a single leg. Although it was not aired on television or in the DVD, Patrick quit the Roadblock but later decided to complete it. The aired portion had Patrick eating and finishing the meat and never taking the four-hour penalty.

Host Phil Keoghan greeted teams at the check-in mat midway through Leg 8 to hand them their next clue, marking the first time on The Amazing Race that teams stepped on the check-in mat to be handed their next clue, and to have their next clue handed to them by Keoghan.

Controversy surrounded the final leg of the race: when Rob & Amber and Uchenna & Joyce arrived at the airport in San Juan, they were both sold tickets for a flight leaving later than one whose gate was about to close. While Rob & Amber managed to get on this earlier departing flight, Uchenna & Joyce were shown through the gate as the boarding corridor between the gate exitway and airplane began to shut. After a commercial break, the boarding corridor reopened to the gate to pick up Uchenna and Joyce. No explanation was given as to why the gate reopened, which has led to widespread speculation about intervention by the production staff.[1][2] In the "Revisiting the Race" special feature on the Season 7 DVD, Uchenna, Rob, and Host Phil Keoghan deny the accusations of intervention by the production crew. Uchenna describes his experience with finding the same airline agent at the gate who had previously informed him that there was no earlier available flight. Rob describes Uchenna running around frantically trying to get onto the flight, which the final edited version of the show does not portray. Phil cites the fact that the decision to reopen the door rested solely with the pilot, and that intervention by the production crew would have resulted in someone leaking such information out.

Cast

Applications for The Amazing Race 7 were closed on August 11, 2004. Semi-finalist interviews were held in September 2004, and final casting interviews were held in Los Angeles between September and October 2004. Filming took place between November to December 2004.

Uchenna and Joyce were originally slated to be contestants on The Amazing Race 6. They were sequestered in Santa Monica, California but were cut at the last minute before the race began in Chicago. And they are the first team that ever came back from no money from the last leg to winning the amazing race

Joyce Agu previously appeared in Star Trek: The Next Generation as Ensign Gates (credited as Joyce Robinson), a background character who piloted the USS Enterprise. Amber Brkich originally appeared on Survivor: The Australian Outback and Rob Mariano appeared on Survivor: Marquesas; they were both called back to compete on Survivor: All-Stars where Rob finished second and Amber won. Rob was later called back for a third time to compete on Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains and a fourth time to compete on Survivor: Redemption Island, which Rob went on to win. Rob and Amber's marriage was shown on CBS. Brian Smith would later appear on The Big Bang Theory as Penny's dim-witted boyfriend, Zack.

Rob & Amber and Uchenna & Joyce were selected for The Amazing Race All-Stars among a cast of returning teams from seasons 1–10.

The Amazing Race 20 revisited the infamous shaving head Fast Forward of Leg 8 as a Switchback.

Awards

In September 2005, The Amazing Race 7 won the Primetime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Reality-Competition Program", the third consecutive award for the television series. Although Seasons 5 and 6 were also eligible, producers chose Season 7 since it was the most recent installment of the show.

Marketing

Travelocity replaced the show's previous regular sponsors, American Airlines Vacations and Royal Caribbean International. In addition to trips, the company also provided a special prize of US$20,000 in vacation money, won by Ron & Kelly, in a random drawing on Leg 9 after matching the marking on the bottom of the company's mascot gnome.

The DVD for Season 7 was released on December 20, 2005. Lynn & Alex, Brian & Greg, Rob & Amber, and Uchenna & Joyce did commentary throughout the DVD, which is an optional feature.

Results

The following teams participated in the Race, each listed along with their placements in each leg and relationships as identified by the program. Note that this table is not necessarily reflective of all content broadcast on television, owing to the inclusion or exclusion of some data. Placements are listed in finishing order:

Team Relationship Position (by leg) Roadblocks performed
1 2 <3> 4 5 6 7 <8>4 9 10 11 12
Uchenna & Joyce Married 8th 4th 2nd 3rd 6th 3rd 3rd2 3rd 1stƒ 1st 3rd 3rd 1st Uchenna 6, Joyce 5
Rob & Amber Engaged 3rd 1st 5th1 1st 5th 2nd 1st 1st 3rd 3rd 1st> 2nd 2nd Rob 6, Amber 6
Ron & Kelly Former POW/Pageant Queen 10th 2nd 4th 4th 2nd 1st 2nd 2nd 2nd 4th 2nd< 1st 3rd Ron 6, Kelly 6
Meredith & Gretchen Married/Retired 6th 7th 7th1 7th 7th 5th 5th3 5th 4th 2nd 4th Meredith 6, Gretchen 4
Lynn & Alex Boyfriends 5th 5th 1st 5th 4th 4th 4th 4th 5th Lynn 4, Alex 4
Brian & Greg Brothers 4th 9th 3rd 2nd 3rd 6th 6th Brian 3, Greg 3
Ray & Deana Dating On and Off 7th 3rd 6th1 6th 1stƒ 7th Ray 2, Deana 2
Susan & Patrick Mother/Son 2nd 8th 8th 8th Susan 1, Patrick 2
Debbie & Bianca Lifelong Friends 1st 6th 9th Debbie 2, Bianca 0
Megan & Heidi Roommates 9th 10th Megan 1, Heidi 0
Ryan & Chuck Best Friends 11th Ryan 0, Chuck 0
  • A red team placement indicates that the team was eliminated.
  • An underlined blue team placement indicates that the team was the last to arrive at a pit stop in a non-elimination leg of the race. The teams were forced to relinquish all of their money and belongings (except for passports and the clothes on their back) for the remainder of the race. In addition, they were not allotted money for the next leg.
  • A green ƒ indicates that the team won a Fast Forward clue.
  • A yellow > indicates that the team chose to use the Yield; < indicates the team who received it; <> around a leg number indicates a leg where the Yield was available but not used.
  • Italicized results indicate the position of the team at the midpoint of a two-episode leg.

  1. ^a b c Rob, Meredith and Deana decided to forfeit the Roadblock; their teams were all issued 4-hour penalties at the Roadblock site starting from the arrival of the next team.
  2. ^ Uchenna & Joyce initially arrived 3rd, but they didn't complete the Roadblock correctly and were forced to finish it. This did not affect their placement.
  3. ^ Meredith & Gretchen initially arrived 4th, but they missed their final clue at the end of the Roadblock; Lynn & Alex checked-in during that time period, dropping Meredith & Gretchen to 5th.
  4. ^ Leg 8 was double-length, shown over two episodes, with two Detours and two Roadblocks. The placements listed in the first column reflect the order teams arrived at the leg's halfway point. The leg's Fast Forward was offered after the halfway point, and thus permitted Uchenna & Joyce to skip the second set of challenges. The Yield appeared before the first Roadblock.

Episode title quotes

Episode titles are often taken from quotes made by the racers.

  1. "Courteous? This is a Race!" Megan
  2. "The Whole Country Hates Me" Lynn
  3. "Do You Need Some Mouth-to-Mouth Resuscitation?" Gretchen
  4. "What A Gaucho You Are!" Gretchen
  5. "I've Been Wanting A Face-Lift for A Long Time" Gretchen[lower-alpha 1]
  6. "Houston, We Have An Elephant" Uchenna
  7. "They Saved The Eyeball" (recap episode) Gretchen
  8. "Mow 'Em Down, Like Grass" Ron[lower-alpha 2]
  9. "We Have A Bad Elephant" Gretchen[lower-alpha 3]
  10. "We Got a Gnome! We Got a Gnome!" Joyce
  11. "The Devil Made Me Do It" Kelly
  12. "Five Continents, 25 Cities, And More Than 40,000 Miles" Phil Keoghan[lower-alpha 4]

Prizes

Individual prizes were awarded to the first team to complete a leg unless otherwise noted. The prizes awarded were:

  • Leg 1 - US$10,000 cash for each racer
  • Leg 2 - a trip to Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas, staying at the Royal Towers, courtesy of Travelocity
  • Leg 4 - a trip to London, staying five nights in the Landmark hotel, courtesy of Travelocity
  • Leg 5 - two Toyota RAV4 vehicles
  • Leg 7 - a trip to Monaco courtesy of Travelocity
  • Leg 9 - a $20,000 shopping spree on Travelocity.com and a four-star hotel room stay for the Pit Stop[lower-alpha 5]
  • Leg 10 - a JVC home entertainment system for each racer
  • Leg 12 - $1,000,000

Race summary

Complete route map
Destinations Air travel    Rail travel    Water travel    Bus travel
Route Markers Detour    Roadblock    Fast Forward    Yield    Pit Stop

Leg 1 (United States → Peru)

One of the Detour choices in Peru had teams leading llamas to a pen in Huambutio (pictured in Machu Picchu).

Airdate: March 1, 2005

The first Detour of the race was a choice between Rope a Llama or Rope a Basket. In Rope a Llama, teams had to lead two llamas to a nearby pen to receive their next clue from the herder. In Rope a Basket, teams had to dress in hats, capes and ties; they then had to carry a basket of alfalfa, weighing 35 pounds (16 kg), two-thirds of a mile (1.1 km) to a store called Tienda Victoria Valdivia, to receive the next clue.

Additional tasks
  • Upon arrival in Ancón, teams rode a rickshaw to Playa Hermosa. On the beach, teams had to search through three sand piles for one of three LAN airline tickets to Cuzco, leaving the next morning at 6:00, 7:00 and 7:40 a.m.[lower-alpha 6]
  • Upon arrival in Cuzco, teams went outside the airport to find their next clue. The clue told teams to travel via taxi from the marked taxi stand to the town of Huambutio, and receive another clue from the owner of a marked kiosk. From there, teams continued by taxi across a bridge to the top of a gorge, where they rode two ziplines to the bottom of the gorge to receive the next clue.
  • After the Detour, teams made their way to Huambutio Police Station to board a marked delivery truck; these trucks departed every 20 minutes with no more than three teams per truck. When the trucks brought them to Pisac, teams searched the local market for their next clue.

Leg 2 (Peru → Chile)

Teams finished the leg at the Neptune fountain on Santa Lucía Hill in Santiago for the Pit Stop of the Race.

Airdate: March 8, 2005

The first Roadblock of the race requires one team member to polish five pairs of shoes on the street for a fee of one Peruvian nuevo sol per pair. Once they had 5 soles, they would return to the shop to receive their next clue.

The Detour choices for this leg were Shop or Schlep. In Shop, teams headed to Mercado Central to find the Donde Augusto restaurant where the chef gave them a shopping list. Teams then had to buy the five ingredients on the shopping list for the chef. Once they had the proper quantities of each ingredient, the chef would hand them their next clue. In Schlep, teams went to Libreria Chilena and received a cart loaded with 180 books which they had to deliver to Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile (Library of Congress of Chile). When all the books were placed on a shelf, teams would be handed their next clue.

Additional task
  • Upon arriving in Santiago, teams must search for the Virgin Mary Statue at San Cristóbal Hill where they could get their next clue.

Leg 3 (Chile → Argentina)

The Andes near Mendoza Province in Argentina were visited on this leg.

Airdate: March 15, 2005

The Detour was a choice between Pedal or Paddle. In Pedal, teams had to pedal a bike 7 miles (11 km) down a railroad track in order to receive their clue waiting at the end. In Paddle, teams had to white-water raft 7 miles (11 km) down the river near the same track to receive their next clue.

The Roadblock requires one team member to eat a four-pound (1.8 kg) traditional Argentinian feast containing cow rib, pork sausage, blood sausage, cow intestine, cow udder, cow kidney, and part of a cow's salivary gland. When they finished eating, teams would receive their next clue.

Additional task
  • At the start of the leg, teams chose a marked car in Paseo Bulnes and drove themselves to the Andes Mountains in Argentina. Once they arrive at Mendoza, they had to find Puente Viejo for both the Yield and their next clue.

Leg 4 (Argentina)

The English Clock Tower in Buenos Aires was visited by the teams on this leg.

Airdate: March 22, 2005

In this Roadblock, one team member had to complete a traditional gaucho challenge by riding a horse through a barrel racing course, then using a stick to spear a ring, within 40 seconds to receive the next clue.

The Detour was a choice of Shipwreck or Island. In Shipwreck, using only a 30-year-old picture as a reference, teams had to find an abandoned ship within a seven-square-mile (18 km2) area to receive their next clue. In Island, teams used a map to travel 4 miles (6.4 km) to San Antonio River and find the marked island for their next clue.

Additional task
  • After the Roadblock, teams have to drive to Mendoza Airport to take one of the two flights to the national capital of Buenos Aires. Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, teams made their way to English Clock Tower in Plaza de la Fuerza Aérea, where they found their next clue. From there, teams traveled by train to Tigre and search the docks for another clue.

Leg 5 (Argentina → South Africa)

The leg in Johannesburg was focused on the local township of Soweto.

Airdate: March 29, 2005

The first of the two Fast Forwards of the race requires one team to go to the Orlando Power Station in Soweto. There, teams had to climb to the top of the Cooling Station, and walk across a suspension bridge 30 feet (9.1 m) above the ground to win the Fast Forward.

Other teams would have to take the Detour, a choice between Tunnels or Tribes. In Tunnels, teams went to Wild Caves in Krugersdorp where they had to rappel 45 feet (14 m) into a dark cave and search the cave for their next clue. In Tribes, teams traveled to the Lesedi Cultural Village in Broederstroom. There, teams had to deliver items representing the five tribes: Basotho, Ndebele, Pedi, Xhosa, and Zulu. For every correct item they delivered to the corresponding tribe, they would be exchanged for a necklace; all five necklaces would exchange them for their next clue.

For this Roadblock, one team member had to search a marketplace to find the vendors for five items (one toy, ten diapers, one backpack, two shirts, and one blanket). They must then deliver the five items purchased to Orlando Children's Home to receive their next clue.

Additional task
  • Upon arriving at Johannesburg, teams picked up a marked car along with their clue.

Leg 6 (South Africa → Botswana)

Before heading to Botswana, teams fed a lion at the Rhino & Lion Game Reserve in Krugersdorp, South Africa.

Airdate: March 29, 2005

For this Roadblock, one team member participated in a traditional bushman hunting activity by throwing a spear 20 feet (6.1 m) into a swinging bag to receive their next clue.

The Detour was a choice between Food or Water. In Food, teams used a device called a Kika to pound corn into powder. Once they made enough powder to fill a basket to the marked line, the supervisor would hand them their next clue. In Water, teams had to fill 12 ostrich egg shells with water from an underground spring using a reed straw and bury them to receive their next clue.

Additional task
  • At the start of the leg, teams headed to Rhino & Lion Game Reserve in Krugersdorp where teams signed up for one of two van rides. After the ride through the reserve, teams had to feed the lions to receive their next clue.
  • After the Roadblock, teams drove themselves to Xau Xarra and followed the marked path to Cattle Post, where they could get their next clue.
  • After the Detour, teams were told to drive to Makgadikgadi Pans, past the Kalahari Desert, for the Pit Stop.

Leg 7 (Botswana)

Teams encountered many African animals, such as elephants during their drive through Botswana.

Airdate: April 6, 2005

The Detour was a choice between Carry It or Milk It. In Carry It, teams had to carry 3 items on their heads (a bucket of water, a basket of corn and a bundle of wood) to an area 75 yards (69 m) away, all without using their hands, to receive their next clue. In Milk It, teams had to select a goat from a pen and milk it until they reached a marked line in a cup, at 10 US fluid ounces (300 ml), to receive their next clue.

The Roadblock requires teams to navigate a marked vehicle across a crocodile-infested river through the marked paths, with the selected team member having to remove two marking posts from a bush area filled with fallen trees that have been knocked down by elephants. Once they get through, they had to remove trees at the end of their path to find their next clue.

Additional tasks
  • At the start of the leg, teams had to drive to Sankuyo Village through Maun to the Sankuyo Water Tower to find their next clue.
  • After the Roadblock, teams were instructed to drive themselves to the Pit Stop at the Khwai River Lodge.

Leg 8 (Botswana → India)

Upon arriving in Lucknow, teams found their next clues at the Bara Imambara.

Airdates: April 13 & 20, 2005

The Jaswant Thada in Jodhpur, was served the Pit Stop on this double-length leg.
  • Khwai (Khwai River Airfield) to Francistown (Francistown Airport)
  • Francistown (Francistown Airport) to Lucknow, India India (Amausi Airport)
  • Lucknow (Bara Imambara)
  • Lucknow (Kohinoor Steel Emporium)
  • Lucknow (Aishbagh Indane Bhushan Gas Service)
  • Lucknow (K.K. Jaiswal Charcoal Merchants or Sharma Tea Corner)
  • Lucknow (Rooftop of Charbagh Multistory Flats)
  • Lucknow (Charbagh Railway Station) to Jodhpur (Jodhpur Railway Station)
  • Jodhpur (Sardar Market) (Overnight Rest)
    • Jodhpur (Kailashoham Gaure Shwar Mahadev Mandir)
  • Jodhpur (Shri Kunj Bihari Temple or Dyeing house)
  • Jodhpur (Deora Krishi Farm)
  • Jodhpur (Jaswant Thada)

The first Roadblock of the leg requires one team member to search among the 600 metal boxes in the emporium for the one that contained their next clue.

The first Detour of the leg was a choice of Solid or Liquid. In Solid, teams traveled to a coal depot and had to break up 175 pounds (79 kg) of coal, load it onto flatbed tricycles, and then deliver it to K.K. Jaiswal Charcoal Merchants to receive their next clue. In Liquid, teams traveled to the Sharma Tea Corner. Teams then picked up a tea cart and search a 3-story office building for five people on a list, and exchanged cups of tea for business cards. When they received all five business cards, teams returned the carts to the tea shop and exchange the cards with the owner for their next clue.

The second Fast Forward requires one team to participate in a traditional Hindu ritual at Kailashoham Gaure Shwar Mahadev Mandir, Kaylana Lake: completely shaving their head. Once all of both team members's hair had been removed, the team would win the Fast Forward award. This Fast Forward would be revisited again in Season 20 as a Switchback.

Others teams will have to complete the second Detour, which was a choice between Trunk or Dunk. In Trunk, teams had to travel to Jodhpur's old city, then ride a 600-pound (270 kg) elephant in Khanna Niwas through the streets to the Shri Kunj Bihari Temple, where they received the next clue from the temple priest. In Dunk, teams made their way to a dyeing house in Panna Niwas. Teams must dye 25 sheets of fabric from a basket until they found the one with their next clue printed on it.

For the leg's second Roadblock, one team member had to complete two laps of a course in a camel-driven cart to receive their next clue.

Additional tasks
  • Teams have to sign-up for one of three charter flights to Francistown Airport, then receiving tickets to Mumbai and later booked flights to reach their next destination, Lucknow.
  • Upon arrival in Lucknow, they had to search the Bouli at the Bara Imambara for their next clue.
  • The clue from the midpoint at Rooftop of Charbagh Multistory Flats told teams to travel to the Charbagh Railway Station and pick up the next clue at the end of platform 2. At the station, teams boarded an overnight train to a mystery destination. While on the train, a porter delivered the next clue, which told them to travel to the city of Jodhpur where they had to search for the next clue. From there, they were told to travel to Sardar Market where they had to find the next clue at the top of the tower.

Leg 9 (India → Turkey)

In Istanbul, teams visited Kiz Kulesi, where they searched for Travelocity roaming gnomes.

Airdate: April 27, 2005

The Detour was a choice between Columns or Kilos. In Columns, teams traveled to Binbirdirek Cistern and find four columns using a map with coordinates. On the columns were numbers for the combination to open a padlocked box which contained their next clue. In Kilos, teams traveled to the Yeni Mosque, located at the old Jewish quarter of Eminönü, and found a man with a box of scales. Using one of the scales, teams had to weigh enough people on the street until they reached a total of 2,500 kilograms (5,500 lb). Once done, teams had to return their scale and show their weights to the man to receive their next clue.

For this Roadblock, one team member had to climb a 25-foot (7.6 m) ladder up the side of Halil Paşa Kulesi. Once at the top, team members then climbed to the top of a tower to retrieve a key, then rappelled down the side of Sarlica Paşa Kulesi. Once at the bottom, they have to use the key to open a book which contained their next clue. After the Roadblock, the guard would open the gate to allow the other team member to enter the castle to reach the Pit Stop.

Additional task
  • Upon arrival at Istanbul, teams took a train and ferry to Kız Kulesi (Maiden's Tower), where they had to search for one of four Travelocity roaming gnomes, where they have to carry it for the duration of the leg. The clue told teams to travel and search the top of Galata Kulesi for the next clue.
Additional note
  • Teams were not informed that the team carrying a gnome with an airplane marking on the bottom would receive a prize at the Pit Stop.

Leg 10 (Turkey → United Kingdom)

From the London Eye, teams surveyed the city for the location of their next clue.

Airdate: May 3, 2005

The Detour was a choice between Brains or Brawn. In Brains, teams had to take the London Underground and solve a series of three riddles: (1) Teams had to find the luggage left in Waterloo station for their first item (a magnifying glass), (2) Teams had to find the three naked men statue in Hammersmith tube station and find the second item (a magnifying glass, tobacco and pipe). (3) Teams have to find the Baker Street tube station to receive the third item (a deerstalker hat). Teams then had to take the items to 221B Baker Street, home of the Sherlock Holmes Museum, and find the detective to exchange the items for their next clue. In Brawn, teams made their way to Battersea Park where they had to transport five 160-pound (73 kg) boats from a lake to the storage area, 500 yards (460 m) away, to receive their next clue.

For this Roadblock, one team member had to drive a Double Decker bus through a marked course; if they hit any cones, the bus driver would reset the course and the bus back to the start of the course to try again. Once they completed the course, the team member had to park the bus in the designated parking area to receive their next clue.

Additional task
  • At Sirkeci Train Station, teams had to walk through a group of whirling dervishes to find a dervish escort who would show teams their next clue.
  • Upon arrival in London, teams had to find the zebra crossing made famous by The Beatles album cover – which they had to figure out was Abbey Road, named for the street where their next clue was located.
  • At London Eye, teams have to survey the city from the Ferris wheel to locate an Amazing Race flag and their next clue, which was at the London Marriott Hotel County Hall.

Leg 11 (United Kingdom → Jamaica)

Teams spent the night at Frenchman's Cove in Port Antonio.

Airdate: May 10, 2005

The Roadblock asked one team member "How low can you go?": For this Roadblock, one team member had to do the limbo to determine their departure time from Frenchman's Cove. For every level they passed, they could depart 15 minutes earlier the next morning, starting at 9:45 a.m. with the earliest departure at 8:15 a.m. After eight attempts at the limbo, teams would receive their next clue instructing them to spend the night and then depart at the time they earned.

The Detour was a choice between Raft It or Build It. In Raft It, teams traveled 8 miles (13 km) up the Rio Grande on bamboo rafts with only a pole to steer, to retrieve their next clue. In Build It, teams had to build a bamboo raft using the tools provided. When their work was to the supervisor's satisfaction, teams then sailed across the river to find their next clue on top of a hill.

Leg 12 (Jamaica → Puerto Rico → United States)

The finish line for The Amazing Race 7 was on the grounds of the historic Bonnet House in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Airdate: May 10, 2005

The race's final Detour was a choice of Pony Up or Tee It Up. In Pony Up, teams had to ride a horse into the ocean then hang onto its tail as it went around buoys to receive their next clue. In Tee It Up, teams had to dress in proper golfing attire, go out to the driving range, and hit a golf ball onto the 16-foot (4.9 m) green, 140 yards (130 m) away. Once one of the team members put a ball on the green, the team would receive their next clue.

For the final Roadblock of the race, one team member had to jump off a 30-foot (9.1 m) pier then swim 90 yards (82 m) to a buoy where they would find their next clue. After the jump, they went to the waiting boats that returned them to shore.

Additional tasks
  • At Cool Breeze House Onion Shack, teams had to pick up a sack of fifty onions, then travel to 3 Dives Jerk Shack to chop the onions. When the chef was satisfied with their work, he would hand them their next clue.
  • Upon arriving at Castillo de San Felipe del Morro Fort, teams had to search for their next clue. From there, teams travelled to Aguadilla to reach an abandoned sugar factory where they find their next clue.
  • Upon arriving at Miami, Florida, teams search for the next clue beneath a bridge at Rickenbacker Causeway.
  • At Little Havana, teams have to find a cigar shop called "The King of the Havanas" – which they had to figure out from its Spanish name "El Rey de los Habanos" – to find their final clue.

Ratings

US ratings

# Episode Rating Share Rating/Share
(18-49)
Viewers
(millions)
1 "Courteous? This Is a Race! " N/A N/A 4.9/12 11.76
2 "The Whole Country Hates Me" 7.2 11 4.8/12 11.69
3 "Do You Need Some Mouth-to-Mouth Resuscitation" N/A N/A 5.0/12 12.71
10 "We Got a Gnome! We Got a Gnome!" 8.3 13 5.2/12 13.27
11 "The Devil Made Me Do It" 8.0 12 5.2/13 12.84
12 "Five Continents, 25 Cities, And More Than 40,000 Miles" 9.6 15 6.8/11[4] 16.01

Canadian ratings

Order Episode Viewers (millions) Rank
1 "Courteous? This Is a Race" 2.93 #1[5]
2 "The Whole Country Hates Me" 2.70 #5
3 "Do You Need Some Mouth-to-Mouth Resuscitation?" 3.04 #1
4 "What a Gaucho You Are" 2.94 #1
5 "I've Been Wanting a Face-Lift for a Long Time" 3.14 #3
6 "Houston, We Have an Elephant" 3.41 #1
7 "They Saved The Eyeball" 3.04 #3
8a "Mow 'Em Down, Like Grass" 3.36 #2
8b "We Have a Bad Elephant" 3.36 #2
9 "We Got a Gnome! We Got a Gnome!" 3.33 #1
10 "The Devil Made Me Do It" 3.27 #1
11 "Five Continents, 25 Cities, and More Than 40,000 Miles" 3.84 #1

Notes

  1. This double-length episode corresponds with legs 5 and 6. The second half's title quote is "We're Moving Up the Food Chain" and was the show's 2004 Emmy submission episode.
  2. Corresponds with the first half of leg 8.
  3. Corresponds with the second half of leg 8.
  4. Corresponds with legs 11 and 12.
  5. This was awarded to Ron & Kelly, who won a special gnome searching challenge. The prize was awarded to the team that had an airplane on the bottom of their gnome, regardless of their place on the leg. Ron & Kelly, who received the prize, came last and were stripped of all their cash and their belongings.
  6. The 7:00 a.m. flight to Cuzco was delayed due to technical difficulties, and the four teams with tickets on that flight re-booked onto the third flight, which departed 1 hour and 40 minutes after the first.

References

  1. "Amazing Race finale created lots of questions". MSNBC. 2005-06-24. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  2. "Uchenna says that producers didn't interfere; Rob fuels conspiracy theories". Realityblurred.com. 2005-05-13. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  3. National Parks. "Makgadikgadi Pan Botswana – Safari Info & African Wildlife". Game-reserve.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-28. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  4. "CBS's The Amazing Race 7 finishes big, sets series ratings records". May 11, 2005. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  5. "Top Programs - Total Canada (English): February 28-March 6, 2005" (PDF).
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.