Continents visited 5 No. of legs 12 | Countries visited 10 | |
Season Run September 25 (2015-09-25) – December 11, 2015 (2015-12-11) Filming dates June 22 (2015-06-22) – July 14, 2015 (2015-07-14) Winning team Kelsey Gerckens and Joey Buttitta |
The Amazing Race 27 was the twenty-seventh installment of the U.S. reality television show The Amazing Race. It featured eleven teams of two, with each team centered on a pre-existing relationship between the cast members such as marriage, dating, or best friends. Teams competed in a race around the world for a US$1 million grand prize.
Contents
- Development
- Casting
- Results
- Episode title quotes
- Prizes
- Leg 1 United States Brazil
- Leg 2 Brazil Argentina
- Leg 3 Argentina
- Leg 4 Argentina Zambia Zimbabwe
- Leg 5 Zimbabwe
- Leg 6 Zimbabwe France
- Leg 7 France The Netherlands
- Leg 8 The Netherlands Poland
- Leg 9 Poland India
- Leg 10 India
- Leg 11 India Hong Kong China Macau China
- Leg 12 Macau China United States
- Canadian ratings
- References
This season premiered on September 25, 2015.
Dating news reporters, Kelsey Gerckens and Joey Buttitta, were the winners of this season.
Development
As was done with The Amazing Race 25, the show's Twitter page announced this season's filming on June 22, 2015. The tweet announced the season's open start at Venice Beach in Los Angeles, California and invited fans to join in sending the new teams off on their race. The open start revealed that teams would head to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
This season covered 34,000 miles (55,000 km) across five continents and ten countries, including visits to Argentina, Zambia, France, the Netherlands, Poland, India, and the Chinese Special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau; there was also a first-time visit to Zimbabwe.
This season boasted numerous first-time roadblocks for contestants. First, during the Speed Bump in the ninth leg, Tanner and Josh had to complete the roadblock challenge, one after the other, marking the first time since the introduction of the Speed Bump wherein no Speed Bump boards existed throughout the race course. This was also the first time since the introduction of the U-Turn that three U-Turns were used, unlike the usual two U-Turns in previous races. The race also featured both a Double U-Turn and an Ordinary U-Turn for the first time. It was also the first time that a U-Turn board was placed at the Detour decision point, before the Detour itself.
Although Fitbit and Travelocity continued sponsoring the show, Ford discontinued their sponsorship for this season. This was, therefore, the first American edition, or any International version, with no production-provided vehicles to be driven by the racers since The Amazing Race's inception in 2001.
New episodes had the intro shortened despite the use of commercials.
Casting
The cast included TMZ staff Kelly Berning (editor) and Shevonne Sullivan (post production supervisor), reporters Kelsey Gerckens and Joey Buttitta from KEYT-TV, former New York Jets cheerleaders Tiffany Chantell Torres and Krista DeBono, and former America's Best Dance Crew contestants Ernest "E-Knock" Phillips and Jayjion "Jin Lao" Greer. Justin Scheman and Diana Bishop are known for their viral "Amazing Race" proposal video.
After the race, winners Kelsey and Joey got engaged.
Results
The following teams participated in the 27th season of The Amazing Race. Each team is listed with their relationship status, as announced by CBS, and the name used on the show's chevrons.
⋑ indicates that the team was U-Turned, but they used the second U-Turn on another team; ⊂ and ⋑ around a leg number indicates that the Double U-Turn was available for that leg but not used.
Episode title quotes
Episode titles are often taken from quotes made by the racers.
- "A Little Too Much Beefcake" – Justin
- "Get in There and Think Like a Dog" – Justin
- "Where My Dogs At?" – Ernest
- "Good Old Fashioned Spit in the Face" – Josh
- "King of the Jungle" – Joey
- "My Tongue Doesn't Even Twist That Way" – Justin
- "Full Speed Ahead, Captain!" – Justin
- "Krakow, I'm Gonna Get You" – Tanner
- "It's Always the Quiet Ones" – Krista
- "Bring the Fun, Baby!" – Justin
- "It's Not Easy Beating Green" – Krista
- "We Got a Chance, Baby!" – Justin
Prizes
The prize for each leg was awarded to the first place team for that leg. Trips were sponsored by Travelocity, and miscellaneous prizes were also sponsored by Fitbit. The prizes for the legs were:
Leg 1 (United States → Brazil)
Airdate: September 25, 2015
The Fast Forward told the teams to go Clube São Conrado Free Flight where they had to ride a hang glider from Pedra Bonita and soar above the city.
The first Detour of the Race in Copacabana Beach was a choice between Sand or Sidewalk. In Sand, teams had to play footvolley against local professional players. While the pros could not use their hands, the teams could. If teams could score six points before the pros scored eighteen, they would receive their next clue. In Sidewalk, teams had to do a giant geometric slide puzzle derived from the Copacabana pavement (a Portuguese pavement style). Once teams completed the puzzle, they received their next clue.
Leg 2 (Brazil → Argentina)
Airdate: October 2, 2015
The Detour was a choice between Cartoneros or Fletero. In Cartoneros, teams traveled to the Villa Crespo neighborhood at the intersection of Uriarte, Fray Justo Santa Maria and El Salvador Streets, where they had to pick up a cart, collect cardboard from recyclable bins, and transport it to a truck to be weighed. Once the cardboard reached a total weight of at least 100 kilograms (220 lb), the garbage worker gave them their next clue. However, there were only eight carts available at a time. In Fletero, teams traveled to Plaza Dorrego and made their way to a Gabriel del Campo Antique Shop to pick up a statue, in pieces, and bring it to a truck. One team member would sit in the front and give the driver directions, while the other would hold the statue pieces in the back until reaching their next destination, the gazebo at Plaza Intendente Sebeer. Once they arrived at the park, they brought all of the statue pieces, properly re-assembled them, and showed them to the park director. Once correct, they received their next clue.
In the Race's first Roadblock, one team member had to learn a tango routine with a twist: for the second half of the dance they were harnessed and had to finish the steps on the wall of a stage. Once they performed the entire routine correctly, they received their next clue.
Leg 3 (Argentina)
Airdate: October 9, 2015
In this leg's Roadblock, one member from each team had to properly hang two racks of lamb and one rack of beef ribs onto a set of metal grills to cook the meat asado-style. Once the hanging meats met the head cook's standards (i.e., skewered with the bones oriented in the correct direction and secured on all sides), the head chef would give them their next clue.
The Detour was a choice between Horse or Carriage. In Horse, teams had to pick a polo mallet from the plaza and walk to Boliche de Bessonart to change into polo gear. Then, they had to walk to a riverside to pick out a fake horse that needed to be properly tacked and pushed back to the plaza. In Carriage, teams had to pick a buggy whip from the plaza and travel by foot to La Cinacina Estancia. There they had to change into gaucho clothing, clean a carriage, and then push it to a team of waiting horses. Once the horses were harnessed to the buggy, they had to ride back to the plaza. At the end of both Detours, teams had to present either the fake horse or buggy whip to the judges to receive their next clue.
Leg 4 (Argentina → Zambia → Zimbabwe)
Airdate: October 16, 2015
In this leg's Roadblock, one member from each team had to choose a microlight plane and fly above Victoria Falls to spot the route marker below the mist on Knife's Edge Bridge. Once landed, they reunited with their partner and traveled across Knife's Edge Bridge for their next clue.
The Detour was a choice between Co-Op or Croquet. In Co-Op, teams made their way to The Big Five Co-Op and had to stain and polish a carved wooden giraffe. When it was properly painted and dried, a woodcarver gave them their next clue. In Croquet, teams made their way to Victoria Falls Hotel and had to play croquet, scoring five points against professional players to receive their next clue.
Leg 5 (Zimbabwe)
Airdate: October 23, 2015
In this leg's Roadblock, each team had to select one member to participate in the very first task from season 1. The team member had to strap on a harness and free-fall 200 feet (61 m) into the Batoka Gorge and swing above the Zambezi River. Once they returned to the top, they got their next clue.
The Detour was a choice between Crocs or Canoes. In Crocs, teams had to travel to Crocodile Cage Diving at Elephants Walk Shopping and Artist Village. The teams changed into wetsuits and were submerged in a metal cage, using poles to feed meat to three Nile crocodiles. Once the meat was fed, they received their next clue. In Canoes, teams had to travel to A Zambezi River Lodge where they had to get an inflatable canoe and paddle together across the river. Once they arrived at the riverbank, one team member had to hoist their partner up a tree to retrieve the clue from a vulture's nest. Teams then paddled back across the river.
Leg 6 (Zimbabwe → France)
Airdate: October 30, 2015
In the leg's first Roadblock, one member from each team had to strap-on a harness and bungee jump 364 feet (111 m) from the Victoria Falls Bridge. Once they returned to the top of the bridge, the bungee jumper's heart rate was recorded from a Fitbit fitness watch. Teams were advised to track Fitbit information throughout the leg as it would be used in the challenges. Teams then flew to Paris, France.
In the leg's second Roadblock, the team member who did not participate in the first Roadblock flew in a vintage Boeing PT-17 biplane over the French countryside and spotted on the ground three words from a motto of the French Revolution: liberté, égalité, fraternité. Once they recited the words, the biplane pilot gave them their next clue.
The Detour was a choice between Drops Mic or Bust a Crab. In Drops Mic, teams had to head to Quai de la Tournelle and perform a Standard French rap song by rapper Passi. If their French pronunciation, rhythm, and vibes were correct, Passi gave them their next clue. In Bust a Crab, teams had to travel to La Coupole Restaurant to work on a French signature crab dish, the Royal Platter. They properly shucked and cracked crabs to meet the chef's standards. Once satisfied, the chef exchanged the crab dish for their next clue.
Leg 7 (France → The Netherlands)
Airdate: November 6, 2015
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to find an exact duplicate of Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers placed around nearby windmills. If they found the correct duplicate, a miller gave them their next clue.
The Detour was a choice between Ship or Skip. For both Detours, teams traveled by tram to a specific location. In Ship, teams made their way to Millennium Tower to use a training simulator that simulated navigating Rotterdam Harbour in stormy weather. The simulation was a two-part mission, where the first part was to deliver a pilot to a ship and the second part was to go to the aid of a distressed ship. They had to try until they successfully completed the mission within five minutes to get their next clue from the captain. In Skip, teams made their way to Leuvehoofd Park and had to complete a 45-second Double Dutch clapping routine on a jump rope to receive their next clue.
Leg 8 (The Netherlands → Poland)
Airdate: November 13, 2015
The Detour was a choice between Mine or Music. In Mine, teams made their way to Wieliczka Salt Mine and descended 1,000 feet (300 m) into the salt mine. They then had to carry a large timber support beam to a loading area. After filling a mine cart with salt, teams pushed the cart back through the tunnel where a miner handed them their next clue. In Music, teams travelled to Kraków's Main Square where they had to choose a professional pianist, learn a musical piece, and roll a piano through the streets to a performance area. Teams then had to perform a duet with a violinist in order to attract donations from passers-by. Once they earned 100 zł (approximately US$25), they received their next clue from the musician.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to identify seven traditional Jewish dishes in the correct order. Using a written list as reference, they had to deliver them on a tray to the nearby restaurant, Klezmer-Hois. Once all of these dishes were correct, the restaurant owner gave them their next clue that directed them to the Pit Stop inside the restaurant.
Leg 9 (Poland → India)
Airdate: November 20, 2015
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to use a bicycle to transport a bundle of Indian saris to the bank of the Yamuna River, where they were shown how to tie them in a traditional way for washing. Once all of the saris were correctly tied, they had to wash them in a basin, transport them across the beach, and lay them out to dry. Once completed, they received their next clue. For their Speed Bump, Tanner & Josh each had to perform this Roadblock, one after the other.
The Detour was a choice between Cans or Candy. In Cans, teams had to load and secure 120 metal cooking-oil cans onto a flatbed bicycle and pedal through the crowded streets to deliver them to New Taj Oil Company. Once all the cans were unloaded, they received their next clue. In Candy, teams had to cut small pieces from winter melons, which are used to make an Indian candy called petha. Once the pieces weighed in at one maund (90 lb), they had to deliver pre-packaged petha to Pancchi Petha Candy Store to receive their next clue.
Leg 10 (India)
Airdate: November 27, 2015
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to use a pump to inflate enough balloons to fill a net attached to the back of a bicycle. Once the net was full, they had to ride across the congested Yamuna Bridge to deliver the balloons to a wedding planner, receive their next clue, and then bike back to reunite with their partner.
The Detour was a choice between Bring the Groom or Bring the Fun. In Bring the Groom, teams had to hand-crank a portable generator until it produced enough power to light up a cumbersome candelabrum. Teams in this challenge then had to join a baraat procession through the streets, with one team member carrying the candelabrum while the other carried the generator, to escort a groom to his wedding party at Shri Ram Complex. Once the groom was delivered to his bride, they received their next clue. In Bring the Fun, teams had to push a mobile amusement swing through the crowded streets and deliver it to the outside playground at the same wedding party. Teams had to give eight children a ride in the swing to receive their next clue.
Leg 11 (India → Hong Kong, China → Macau, China)
Airdate: December 4, 2015
The Detour was a choice between Sam's or Cells. In Sam's, teams traveled to Sam's Tailor to pick up measurements for a suit jacket. Teams then headed to Sam's Workshop to properly cut out six template pieces of a matching design. They then had to deliver a finished suit back to Sam's Tailor to receive their next clue. In Cells, teams had to travel to a marked store on the crowded Apliu Street and search through boxes of used cell phones to find one that turned on. Upon dialing a number displayed on the phone, a message instructed them to travel to an address on Kweilin Street to find their next clue.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member changed into costume and makeup and then participated in a performance of The House of Dancing Water, the world's largest water-based stage production. After diving over 30 feet (9.1 m) from the central mast-shaped platform into the surrounding pool, they had to search underwater for a golden fish. Once they found the fish they swam across the pool and delivered it to a fisherman on a raft in exchange for their next clue. If they did not complete the task before the music stopped, they had to wait twenty minutes for the next performance to try again.
Leg 12 (Macau, China → United States)
Airdate: December 11, 2015
For the final Roadblock of the Race, one team member had to pay homage to the NYC Fire Department and don a firefighter's uniform to take part in a training exercise. After climbing a ladder to an open window of a burning building, they searched inside for a dummy representing a victim. Once they exited the building with the dummy, they had to place it onto a waiting stretcher. The second part of the Roadblock was a memory task: they had to arrange firefighters' hats labeled with the capital cities of the foreign countries visited during the Race in chronological order: Brasilia, Buenos Aires, Lusaka, Harare, Paris, Amsterdam, Warsaw, New Delhi, and Beijing. Once all the hats were placed in the correct order, a firefighter would give them their next clue.
Canadian ratings
Canadian broadcaster CTV also airs The Amazing Race on Fridays. Episodes air at 8:00 p.m. Eastern and Central (9:00 p.m. Pacific, Mountain and Atlantic).
Canadian DVR ratings are included in Numeris' count.