The Amazing Race 22

Development and filming

This season was broadcast in the mid-season of the 2012–13 TV schedule. In an interview with TV Guide, Keoghan revealed that the Double Your Money prize introduced in the previous season would not be included in Season 22. Instead, the twist this season was that the winners of the first Leg were awarded two Express Passes: one for themselves and another that had to be given to another team before the end of Leg 4.

The season spanned 30,000 miles (48,000 km) through ten countries in five different continents. This season featured the Race's first ever visit to the overseas country of French Polynesia, where teams skydived above the island of Bora Bora. Other tasks and travel destinations included: "Shemozzle racing" in New Zealand, hunting scorpions with bushmen in Botswana, and climbing the north face of the Eiger in Switzerland. This season also featured the first Race visit to the constituent country of Northern Ireland.

This season marked the first time that a team had been eliminated while still in possession of the Express Pass as well as the first time a team was subject to two separate U-Turns during the Race.

Contestant Dave O'Leary tore his Achilles tendon near the end of Leg 2. Though he and his son, Connor, continued to race for another two legs (with Dave being forced to use a medical boot, crutches, and a wheelchair while in airports), they elected to withdraw from the competition at the start of Leg 5 after Dave was advised by his physician to have surgery on his ankle within two weeks of the original injury. Though Dave and Connor traveled to Hanoi, Vietnam, with the remaining teams, they did not participate in any tasks in that leg. Instead, after arriving in Hanoi, they proceeded directly to the Pit Stop to be formally eliminated. Dave returned to the United States in time to have the surgery to repair the tendon the day before filming the Race was completed. He was able to return to compete in The Amazing Race 24 a year later with his son Connor and won.

In Leg 5, in order to avoid confusion with the flag of the former independent state of South Vietnam, there were no route markers present on that leg. Previous editions of the program, as well as its international counterparts, have used solid yellow or yellow and white flags instead. However, in what was most likely an oversight, the clue box directly after the U-Turn in Hanoi held the standard red and yellow flag. This is especially notable, given the controversy described below.

The Leg 5 episode in Hanoi sparked ire among some conservative media analysts and viewers for the tasks involving a performance of a communist propaganda song and the brief visit to a B-52 bomber that was shot down by North Vietnamese forces during the Vietnam War and turned into a memorial for communist Vietnam's victory. Complaints came in from sources such as the national commanders of the American Legion and VFW; the Media Research Center's Culture and Media Institute, and liberal Democrat strategist and Fox News Channel pundit Bob Beckel also spoke of their disgust at the program's choices. Yahoo! TV later reported on comments from viewers found on Twitter whose complaints ranged from threatening to no longer watch the series or statements that the episode was "weird" or "disrespectful to Americans killed [in Vietnam]". Prior to the start of the episode for Leg 6, CBS aired an apology, noting that portions of the previous episode were insensitive to United States Armed Forces veterans. The message, read by host Phil Keoghan, stated, "We want to apologize to veterans - particularly those who served in Vietnam - as well as to their families and any viewers who were offended by the broadcast. All of us here have the most profound respect for the men and women who fight for our country."

During Leg 7, Max and Jennifer were both issued speeding tickets by the Botswana Police Service after going through a speed trap. Botswanan law requires that tickets be paid before the end of the day, so both teams stopped racing in order to pay the fines before moving on. Unlike previous seasons where racers have been penalized for receiving speeding tickets, the teams did not receive any additional penalties.

The final episode was dedicated to David Gene Gibbs, one of the camera crew, who died in a helicopter crash while filming a series for Discovery Channel.

Cast

Applications for The Amazing Race 22 were closed on May 24, 2012.

The contestants included professional road racing cyclist Connor O'Leary, YouTube vloggers Joey Graceffa and Meghan Camarena, professional hockey players and brothers Jonathan "Bates" (an unrestricted free agent, formerly in the NHL and Swedish HockeyAllsvenskan) and Anthony Battaglia (of the CHL's Tulsa Oilers), and former Stealing Angels vocalists Caroline Cutbirth (descendant of Daniel Boone) and Jennifer Kuhle (née Wayne, granddaughter of John Wayne).

Chuck and Wynona were originally cast for the previous season but pulled out due to a death in their family.

Dave and Connor, Caroline and Jennifer, Jessica and John and Joey and Meghan were selected to race in The Amazing Race: All-Stars, made up of returning teams from seasons 14–23.

In 2015, Idries and Jamil appeared in two commercials for ancestry.com.

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:

Episode title quotes

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

1. "Business in the Front, Party in the Back" – Chuck
2. "Loose Lips Sink Ships" – John
3. "Like James Bond Again" – Meghan
4. "I Love Monkeys!" – Caroline
5. "Your Tan Is Totally Cool" – Pam
6. "Scorpion King Hunter" – Joey
7. "Be Safe and Don't Hit a Cow" – Wynona
8. "My Cheese Is Out of Control" – Caroline
9. "The Ultimate Fun House" – Joey
10. "Working Our Barrels Off" – Bates
11. "Beacon of Hope" – a non-racer to Caroline & Jennifer

Prizes

The prize for each leg is awarded to the first place team for that leg. Trips are sponsored by Travelocity.

Leg 1 (United States → French Polynesia, France)

Airdate: February 17, 2013

The race started in Griffith Observatory and teams were instructed to select one of several Ford Fusions. A recorded message instructed them to travel to the island of Bora Bora in French Polynesia using one of two available flights; the first five teams were the first flight, and the remaining six teams were on the second. In Bora Bora, teams picked up the Roadblock clue and one team member had to sign up for one of six helicopter flights, each of which had room for two racers. They then tandem skydived from over 10,000 feet (3,000 m) above the island while their partner made their way to the landing location on Anau via water taxi. When the team reunited, they received their next clue. From there, teams went to Eden Beach on Motu Piti A'au for the second Roadblock. The other team member had to search 400 sandcastles for a clue buried beneath them. If they did not find the clue, they had to rebuild the sandcastle before continuing. After the second Roadblock, teams were instructed to assemble a va'a outrigger canoe and then paddle 1 mile (1.6 km) across the water to the Pit Stop on Motu Café.

Leg 2 (French Polynesia, France)

Airdate: February 24, 2013

Teams headed to the Hilton Bora Bora Nui and had to search a wedding chapel to find a Polynesian priest who gave them a safe blessing before they received their Detour clue. For each Detour task, teams had to pick up a pair of water shoes and snorkeling gear. In Pick a Pearl, teams traveled to a point half a mile off shore in the open water where they had to dive and untie lines of pearl oysters. They had to shuck (open) them to find two red pearls and then swim to an oyster farmer. In Take a Trunk, teams dove underwater, wearing special diving helmets, to look for a series of treasure trunks. They then had to take a trunk over to a submerged umbrella and unpack its contents, setting up an underwater picnic table and obtain an underwater waiter's approval.

From the Detour, teams chose a personal water craft and a local map to guide them to Motu Tapu, referred to as "the most photographed isle in the South Pacific", for the Roadblock. One team member participated in a traditional Polynesian test of strength, walking on a pair of sparring stilts while kicking a coconut across a 35-yard (32 m) stretch of beach. If they fell, they had to return to the starting line, but the position of the coconut was not reset. Once the racer had successfully kicked the coconut over the finish line, the team was able to advance to the Pit Stop nearby.

Leg 3 (French Polynesia, France → New Zealand)

Airdate: March 3, 2013

Teams traveled to Phil's hometown of Christchurch, New Zealand and had to choose a Ford Focus and drive to the Rakaia River Gorge. Once there, they picked a number for a jet boat with a departure time the next day, and set up a camp for overnight. At their designated times, they choose a boat, went to a river bank to locate a cluebox containing the Detour. Both choices required teams to use all-terrain vehicles to reach the Detour tasks. In Rev It Up, both team members had to drive a modified vintage car through a set of cones in under a combined 83 second time limit of the race car driver "Flash". In Reel It In, each team member had to use a rod and reel to catch one fish that was at least 12 inches (30 cm) long with champion fisherman Dirk.

Teams then traveled to Mount Hutt station for the Roadblock. One team member ran a muddy obstacle course known as a "Shemozzle". They dressed in gum boots, stubbies shorts, and a burlap sack. Then they picked a shepherd and farm dog and then ran through the course where they were covered in molasses and feathers, climbed over hay bales, then finally rode an inner tube down a slide into a manure pond, all while collecting chicken eggs along the way which they had to put in a basket at the end of the course. Once they had 12 unbroken eggs in their basket, a shepherd gave them their next clue, directing them to Terrace Downs for the Pit Stop, though they learned they would be continuing to race.

Leg 4 (New Zealand → Indonesia)

Airdate: March 10, 2013

At the Pit Stop, teams received their clue and traveled to the island of Bali in Indonesia. They went to the Ubud Monkey Forest to pick up a coconut and left it for one of the monkeys to open, retrieving a canister which conatined the Detour clue. In Sandy Bottom, teams dredged volcanic sand from the bottom of the Ayung River, then transported it 200 yards (180 m) uphill to a larger container. Once they filled their container to a designated line, the brick maker gave them their next clue. In Fruity Top, teams had to dress in sarongs to prepare a Balinese religious offering known as gebogan from a variety of fruits. Then they would carry it in a procession to the Pura Desa Puseh Temple in Batuan to be blessed and placed it on an altar. Once complete, the local priest gave them their next clue. Teams then traveled to Uluwatu surf beach in Kuta for the Roadblock. One team member had to go to Ketut's Surf Shop and search several surfboards for an image from the Race - the Tahitian priest from Bora Bora. After taking a surfboard, teams had to search for their partner and make their way to the Pit Stop.

Leg 5 (Indonesia → Vietnam)

Airdate: March 17, 2013

Teams traveled to Hanoi, Vietnam and headed to Rạp Công nhân Theater Gallery 42 for the Roadblock. The chosen team member watched a performance of a Vietnamese patriotic song. At the end of the performance, they heard the phrase "Vinh quang thay thế hệ thanh niên chúng ta" ("Glory to our young generation"). Without taking any notes, racers had five minutes to search the nearby gallery for one of several political posters with the correct phrase. If they did not find the correct poster within the allotted time, they had to watch the performance again.

Then team members received their next clue and were instructed to go to Công viên Thống Nhất where they participated in a traditional Vietnamese bamboo dance known as múa sạp in order to obtain their next clue, the Detour. In the Make Your Move option, teams had to set up a human chess board at the Temple of Literature. Using a local cờ tướng board, teams had to find four human chess pieces that had symbols matching the pieces on the board, and then set them up with four staffs in position on the human chess board. In the Make Your Meal option, teams had to prepare Vietnam's national dish phở. After picking up four baskets (two empty and two with live chickens) at the Ngoc Son Temple, they had to navigate a the street market to pick up the rest of the ingredients on a shopping list of specific weights or amounts, and then find a cooking station to cook two phở soups that met the chef's approval. From there, teams were instructed to travel to the B-52 at Hữu Tiệp to obtain their next clue which directed them to head to the National Museum of Vietnamese History for the Pit Stop.

Leg 6 (Vietnam → Botswana)

Airdate: March 24, 2013

Teams opened their clue and were instructed to fly to the city of Maun in the Kalahari Desert. They had to figure out that Maun was in Botswana to tell to a security guard at a travel agency before being allowed in to purchase their tickets. In Maun, teams signed up for one of four charter flights to Xhumaga Airstrip in Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. Upon arrival, they found a jar and picked a clue - the Roadblock. For this, the team member chose a group of Kalahari Bushmen who would accompany them throughout the rest of the Leg. They followed the Bushmen to a hole and were taught how to dig up a scorpion and place it carefully in a jar.

The team member received the next clue and were instructed to take their group of Bushmen in their marked cars to the clue box, containing the Detour. In Fire, teams traveled with their Bushmen to a nearby village where they had to learn how to properly make fire using two sticks, zebra manure, and grass. Once they had a flame, they had to use it to light the elder Bushman's pipe in order to receive their next clue. In Fowl, teams had to learn how to set up a trap in order to catch a guineafowl, utilizing a series of sticks, string, and eggs. After setting up the trap properly, teams had to act like a guineafowl and trip the trap before receiving their next clue. From there, teams were directed to the Meno A Kwena safari camp for the Pit Stop.

Leg 7 (Botswana)

Airdate: March 31, 2013

From the Pit Stop, teams drove to Makoro Polling Station for their next clue. The Speed Bump required the team member to complete a traditional beaded skirt and then wear it while performing a ceremonial seduction dance. This was also the location of the Fast Forward, that required a team choosing to do it to water ski for over a mile on the waters of the Okavango Delta, home to dangerous Nile crocodiles. This was also the location of a Roadblock where teams had to transport two goats down river to a delivery point using a makoro (a traditional dugout canoe). The team member performing the Roadblock had to control the makoro by punting, while the other team member looked after the goats. Once the goats were delivered and the team returned to the starting point, they received their next clue.

From there, teams went to Thamalakane River to take one of the "safari taxis" to the Royal Tree Lodge Game Preserve for the Detour. In Brains, teams had to go on a horseback safari and spot ten wooden animal cutouts: (zebra, African buffalo, kudu, giraffe, meerkat, boomslang snake, leopard, warthog, ostrich, and hippopotamus with a heron). They then traveled to a nearby campsite and arranged a set of tiles featuring the silhouettes of the animals in the order they appeared. The were tiles for animals they did not see. There was no tile representing the hippopotamus, but there was one for the heron. Once they picked the right order, they received their next clue. If they werei ncorrect, they had to start again before being allowed another attempt to arrange the tiles. In Brawn, teams had to fill a traditional sand sledge with firewood and then, using a carrot dangling from a stick, coax a team of donkeys to pull the sledge to a campsite over a ¹⁄₂-mile (0.80 km) away. Once the wood was unloaded from the sledge, teams received their next clue. Either task allowed teams to search the game preserve for the Pit Stop.

Leg 8 (Botswana → Switzerland)

Airdate: April 14, 2013

At the start of the leg, teams were told to travel to Zurich, Switzerland. Upon arriving at the airport, teams were instructed to search for a conductor in a red hat to obatin their next clue. They were then instructed to head to Grindelwald and wait at Kirche Grindelwald for an Alpine shepherd who would give them their next clue.

This clue instructed teams to travel to Kleine Scheidegg and go to the Hotel Bellevue des Alpes to pick up a "Swiss rescue companion", leaving them to discover they were going to pick up a St. Bernard dog. They then travelled with the dog to Jungfraujoch, home to Europe's highest railway station, and delivered their St. Bernard to a mountain rescue guide. Then they were allowed to search the Sphinx Observatory for their next clue.

This clue informed them to head to the Eiger's Eigerwand railway station for the Roadblock, asking "Who wants to enjoy the sights?". At the railway station's observation deck, one teammate had to traverse the north face of the Eiger where they picked up their "climbing buddy": the Travelocity roaming gnome. Once they were back inside the observation deck, they could read the next clue found on the bottom of the gnome.

The clue instructed them to travel to Grund. Once in Grund, teams had to cross the Lütschine Brüggli Bridge, then follow the sound of a Swiss alphorn to obtain their next clue, where they encountered a Switchback. Teams revisited the Swiss cheese carrying task of The Amazing Race 14. This time, teams used a traditional Grindelwald sled to transport a total of four 50-pound (23 kg) wheels of cheese downhill to a barn. Once they delivered all four cheese wheels, the cheese meister gave them their next clue, allowing them to head to the Bodmi Snowboard and Ski School in Grindelwald for the Pit Stop.

Leg 9 (Switzerland → Germany)

Airdate: April 21, 2013

At the start of the leg, teams were instructed to travel to their next destination: Dresden, Germany by taking the train from Interlaken to Basel, and then flying to Dresden. Upon arrival, teams had to head to the Saxon State Ministry of Finance and pick up a Ford Fusion and answer three questions asked on the MyFord Touch system to find out their next destination: (1) Who said "Tear down this wall!"? (Ronald Reagan); (2) Who did he say it to? (Mikhail Gorbachev); and (3) Where did President Reagan say it? (the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin).

Upon arriving at the Brandenburg Gate, teams picked up their clue sending them to the Park Inn Berlin, the tallest building in Berlin, where they were told they would both have to BASE jump from its roof. Once they made it to the landing site, their jump master would give them the clue for the Detour: Train Trials or Font Follies. In Train Trials, teams drove themselves to the Deutsches Technikmuseum where they had to build a model train track circuit using all of the pieces provided in such a way that the circuit fit on a platform. Once the train made one full lap of the circuit without falling apart, derailing, or hitting any pieces of scenery, the conductor gave them their next clue. In Font Follies, teams had to travel to Alexanderplatz, pick up two large neon alphabet letters, and transport them on foot to the Buchstabenmuseum. Once they arrived at the museum with the two letters intact, the museum curator gave them their next clue.

The clues from the Detour sent teams to the Salon Zur Wilden Renate night club in old East Berlin for the Roadblock, where they were asked "Who wants to go trippin'?". One team member had to answer a question – "Who said Ich bin ein Berliner"? (John F. Kennedy) – and then enter a labyrinth located beneath the nightclub. They searched for a white room that had their next clue stuck on its walls. The clue sent teams to the Pit Stop at Kurfürstendamm's Joachimsthaler Platz.

Leg 10 (Germany → United Kingdom)

Airdate: April 28, 2013

At the start of the leg, teams were told their next destination city: Edinburgh, Scotland. Upon arriving in Edinburgh, teams picked up a marked Ford Fiesta to drive themselves to Gosford House in Longniddry for the Roadblock, asking "Who has the deep lungs and strong legs of a Royal Scot?". One team member had to dress in the uniform of the Royal Scots regiment and learn to play a drone on a set of bagpipes while marching with the Royal Scots pipers in Gosford House's Marble Room for two minutes. When the bagpipes instructor was pleased with their performance, he would award them their next clue.

The clue received sending teams to Edinburgh's Craigmillar Castle which warned them for the upcoming U-Turn. Upon arrival, Mona and Beth encountered their Speed Bump where they had to play a game of skittles, a traditional British form of ten-pin bowling. Once they managed to score a "floorer" (a strike), they would be able to continue racing with the other racers. At the Craigmillar Castle, the teams searching the castle's fireplaces for their next clue.

The clue turned out to be for the Detour, choosing between Tasty Puddin' or Whiskey Rollin'. In Tasty Puddin', teams travelled to the Sheep Heid Inn in Duddingston where they had to prepare haggis with oatmeal and ox intestine, in the presence of a Robert Burns impersonator who recited Burns' poem "Address to a Haggis". Once they each prepared four portions of haggis and had a taste of one, they would be given the next clue. In Whiskey Rollin', teams rolled eight barrels of Scotch whisky up a slope, delivering them to a party. Once they delivered all eight barrels, a Scottish country dancer would give them their next clue.

The clue sent teams to Duddingston Kirk, where they found the Double U-Turn stand. Bates & Anthony had to choose U-Turn Joey & Meghan, while Max & Katie had also to choose U-Turn Mona & Beth. The clue teams received after the U-Turn and told them to head to Niddry Street South in Edinburgh's Old Town for the Pit Stop.

Leg 11 (United Kingdom)

Airdate: May 5, 2013

At the start of the leg, teams were informed that their next destination was Belfast, Northern Ireland. Upon arriving in the Port of Belfast, teams used a marked Ford Fiesta to drive themselves to Peatlands Park where they encountered the Roadblock, asking "Who wants to get bogged down?". One team member had to bog snorkel. After donning full snorkelling gear, including complete wet suit and flippers, the racer had to cannonball into a muddy pool, then swim one 100-yard (91 m) lap in the bog within 4 minutes. When they finished within the allotted time, the bog snorkelling official gave them their next clue.

This clue instructed teams to find "The Thing With a Ring", leaving them to figure out it referred to the Beacon of Hope sculpture in Thanksgiving Square (Belfast) which had a clue for the Detour: Tray It or Spray it. In Tray It, teams had to go to the drydock at Titanic Quarter where the RMS Titanic was built, and prepare and serve the ship's last five-course dinner to a group of first-class passengers. Using the men provided, as well as a seating chart, teams had to choose the proper dishes for each course from a table full of unmarked plates and serve them to the passengers in the dining room at the drydock. When the waiter was satisfied that each passenger received the correct order for each course, the team was allowed to move on to the next course. Once all five courses were served correctly, a Captain Edward Smith impersonator gave them their next clue. In Spray It, teams had to go to a skate park located in a warehouse where they had to finish half of a graffiti painting using a photograph as reference. When the crew approved of the job, teams received their next clue. The clue sent teams to the Pit Stop at Ulster Hall.

Leg 12 (United Kingdom → United States)

Airdate: May 5, 2013

At the start of the leg, teams were instructed to head by ferry to Liverpool and then to London and the Euston Tap pub. At the pub, teams had to order a pint of beer for each racer before they were given their next clue: their final destination city of the American capital, Washington, D.C..

Upon arriving in Washington, teams were told to head to the location where Martin Luther King, Jr., gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, leaving them to figure out it was the on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Once they found the spot on the steps where he gave the speech, a man nearby gave them their next clue, instructing them to head to 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, the location of the Old Post Office Pavilion. Once there, they were escorted by a "Secret Service agent" and were told they were to have their photograph taken with President Barack Obama. In reality, they were taken to a souvenir photography studio where they posed for a photograph in which their face was superimposed over a photograph of someone else meeting President Obama. The next clue was located on the back of the photograph.

The clue instructed teams to head to the Tidal Basin where they had to search for a marked car near the paddle boat docks. After knocking on the rear passenger side window three times, the car's occupant gave them a briefcase, holding the next clue, the Roadblock, asking "Who's ready for some covert ops?". Teams participated in a Switchback from the spy Roadblock in the Family Edition. One team member had to take the briefcase and find one of fifty "spies" around the Tidal Basin who would respond to their given code phrase with another supplied code phrase (Max and Katie: "Where can I get a good half-smoke with chili?" / "I've heard there's a great place on U Street."; Bates and Anthony: "I did not dress warm enough for this weather." / "Perhaps you would like to borrow my gloves."; Mona and Beth: "The cherry blossoms are beautiful here in April." / "I'll have to bring my mother next spring."). The team member then swapped briefcases with the spy, and the spy told them that the combination code to open their new briefcase was their final placement in New Zealand (Leg 3), Indonesia (Leg 4), and Vietnam (Leg 5). The next clue was in the briefcase.

This clue instructed teams to head to "The Home of the Nats", leaving teams to figure out that their next destination was Nationals Park, home of the Washington Nationals. At the park, one team member had to ride a zip line across the stadium and toss a baseball, while their partner, dressed in a baseball mascot costume, had to try to catch it. Once they successfully caught the ball, they could read it to see it had "Hains Point" written on it, their next destination.

Upon arriving at Hains Point, teams had to enter a giant ball pit to find globes marked with the various countries they had visited during the Race. Only one team member was allowed in the pit at one time. Their partner took the globes representing the countries they had visited, and put them in the correct order. Once the order was correct, another globe would open revealing the last clue, which directed them to go to "The Home of the First President". Teams were left to figure out this was referring to George Washington's Mount Vernon, the site of the Finish Line.

Ratings

No episode aired on April 7, 2013, due to CBS and CTV's broadcasts of the Academy of Country Music Awards.

U.S. Nielsen ratings

Canadian ratings

Canadian broadcaster CTV also aired The Amazing Race on Sundays. Episodes aired at 8:00 p.m. Eastern and Central (9:00 p.m. Pacific, Mountain and Atlantic), with two exceptions. The broadcast of the second episode conflicted with CTV's broadcast of the 85th Academy Awards; The Amazing Race was shown instead at 8:00 p.m. in the Atlantic time zone, at 7:00 p.m. in the Eastern time zone, and at 6:00 p.m. in the Central time zone, and immediately after the broadcast of the Oscars in the Pacific and Mountain time zones. The broadcast of the ninth episode conflicted with CTV's broadcast of the 2013 Juno Awards; The Amazing Race was instead shown at 7:00 p.m. in each time zone across the country.