The Amazing Race 5

Development and filming

After the anemic ratings for The Amazing Race 4, CBS chairman and CEO Les Moonves doubted whether the series would be renewed for another season. After much deliberation, CBS officially ordered a fifth installment of the Race in September 2003. Some observers cited the series' recent Emmy win as the factor behind its renewal. While CBS flirted with the idea of a fall premiere, it ultimately gave Season 5 a summer broadcast to create momentum for The Amazing Race 6 on the fall schedule.

This season introduced two major twists to the Race: the Yield and a non-elimination penalty. The Yield allowed one team to force another team to stop racing for a predetermined amount of time. The Yield was available on each leg, though it was not presented on each episode. The non-elimination penalty meant teams finishing last on non-elimination legs were stripped of any money they had accumulated and received no money at the start of the next leg. This was also the first season to see the number of Fast Forwards reduced; only two were available in the entire Race.

The Amazing Race 5 lasted 31–32 days and traveled 72,000 miles (116,000 km), which was the longest race route yet, covering six continents (that was later matched by The Amazing Race 11) and eleven countries. The teams visited nine countries not previously seen on the show, including Uruguay, Argentina, Russia, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, Philippines and Canada. This is the first time the former Soviet Union and the Middle East were visited on the race. Also, for the first time the final leg had an intermediate destination in a foreign country.

During pre-production the producers moved the Dubai leg of the race from the originally planned location of Istanbul, Turkey. The reason for this decision has not been disclosed. Istanbul was eventually visited by the Race two seasons later.

The Zorb task in Leg 10 was filmed at a New Zealand farm owned by one of Keoghan's friends; prior to the season, Keoghan had experienced rolling in the Zorb from his friend and insisted it be a task on the show.

Marshall and Lance were the first team in Amazing Race history to quit following Marshall's knee injury during the leg 6 roadblock in Luxor, Egypt. When the team arrived at the final roadblock site after all the other teams had left, the decision was made to give up rather than complete the frustrating 'needle in a haystack' digging task.

Two challenges were edited out of the program since they did not affect team placement. The first was a nut finding Roadblock in the markets of Dubai; the second, a tipi building challenge in Banff, Alberta.

Cast

Applications were due on October 8, 2003. Filming began on January 30, 2004 and finished on February 27, 2004.

Following two seasons that featured twelve teams, the contestant pool was reduced to eleven for this season. They included a military man, a dating widowed couple, female twins, a former Big Brother contestant, a team member with dwarfism, and a few beauty pageant queens.

Chip portrayed a young Muhammad Ali in the 1977 film The Greatest (Ali portrayed the adult version of himself).

Erika, Alison, Nicole and Christie competed against one another in various beauty pageants. Christie was a former Miss Teen USA champion, while Nicole was the winner of Miss Texas USA.

Charla & Mirna returned to participate in The Amazing Race All-Stars among a cast of returning teams from seasons 1-10.

Colin & Christie were engaged on CBS's Early Show. They were invited to participate in The Amazing Race All-Stars, but had to decline due to Christie's pregnancy.

Erika became a producer with the show and was on-hand during the Season 12 open casting call in Cabazon, California. Erika is credited with recruiting the show's first and second all-female winning teams, anesthesiologists Nat & Kat, the winners of Season 17, and sisters Kisha & Jen, the winners of Season 18.

Alison of CBS's Big Brother 4 was the first contestant on a previously aired reality show to take part in this race. Alison later appeared on Big Brother: All Stars and was the first person voted out.

In 2005, Chip, Kim, Charla and Mirna all competed on the Bravo reality series Battle of the Network Reality Stars, along with 28 other individuals from various reality series. Mirna was a member of the winning team.

The show also featured Miss Uruguay Natalia Rodriguez Lassiy, who competed in Miss World 2003, as a greeter at the Uruguay pit stop, and Luli Arroyo, the daughter of then-Philippine president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the local greeter at the Manila pit stop.

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. "Clearly, I'm More Intelligent than You" – Alison
2. "It Turned Ugly Just Now" – Kami
3. "I Got Electrocuted" – Charla
4. "Who Says Pageant Girls Don't Eat?" – Brandon
5. "Are You Good at Puzzles?" – Brandon
6. "Why Can't We Get a Camel?" – Marshall
7. "Are You Sure This is Safe?" – Nicole
8. "I'm Going to Jail" – Colin
9. "If You're Going to Whine, Just Shut Up!" – Karen
10. "If They're Screwing the Helmet to My Head, It Can't Be Good!" – Linda
11. "It's Okay, Run Them Over!" – Christie
12. "You've Just Made Me a Millionaire" – Chip

Prizes

Individual prizes were awarded to the first team to complete a leg.

Leg 1 (United States → Uruguay)

Airdate: July 6, 2004

The first Detour of the Race was Zips or Chips. In both detours, teams must get into the Conrad Hotel. In Zips, teams had to ascend into a penthouse of the hotel across and travel by zip-line 210 feet (64 m) above the ground, then take a second zip line 18 stories down to the hotel pool to receive their next clue. In Chips, teams had to play roulette in the hotel casino with 20 chips and would receive their clue if they won a game. If they lost all of their chips, they would have to do the Zips task.

Leg 2 (Uruguay → Argentina)

Airdate: July 13, 2004

In this leg's Detour, teams had a choice between Perro or Tango. In Perro, teams must take on the extremely popular job of dog walking to at least walk eight dogs on a 1 mi (1.6 km) course begin outside the cemetery, while using a provided map to navigate past a series of three checkpoints to their final destination, Floralis Genérica. In Tango, teams had to travel across to Teatro Lola Membrives and filled with similar-looking tango dancers. Teams were given a photo of a tango dancer; their task was to find the dancer who matched their photo, they would receive their next clue. If the teams gave it to the wrong dancer, the dancer would take the photo and they would have to get a new picture and try again.

The first Roadblock of the race was to play a game traditionally played by children in a ranch, ribbon roping. One team member must enter a corral and attempt to remove a bandana from the neck of one of the calves and a gaucho woman would give them their next clue.

Leg 3 (Argentina)

Airdate: July 20, 2004

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member to search through 11,000 chocolates (by biting into them) until they located one with a white center. Of these 11,000 chocolates, 20 of them had a white center. When the white center is found, the factory worker would get their next clue.

The Detour of this leg was a choice between Smooth Sailing or Rough Riding. In Smooth Sailing, each team member had to paraglide in tandem with an instructor off the edge of the hill. They would sail 5,000-foot (1,500 m) through the air and back down to the mountain. When they successfully landed, the paraglider would get their next clue. In Rough Riding, each team must ride a mountain bike on a 6 miles (9.7 km) through a rugged trail course down the mountain. When they had completed the course, they would receive their next clue.

Leg 4 (Argentina → Russia)

Airdate: July 27, 2004

The Detour of this leg was a choice between Block 5 Shots or Drink 1 Shot. In Block 5 Shots, teams had to travel to SKA hockey rink, dress up into a professional hockey gear and step to the goal's position to block five slap shots by professional hockey players. If the shots are blocked, a coach would get their next clue. In Drink 1 Shot, teams had to travel to Anichkov Palace where they had to perform a cossack ritual. They would balance a shot glass of vodka on the blade of a saber, and tilt the sword to drink the vodka to their mouth without even dropping the glass. If they've both successfully done the drink, they would receive their next clue.

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to eat 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) of caviar. When the caviar is successfully eaten, a waiter would give them their next clue.

Leg 5 (Russia → Egypt)

Airdate: August 3, 2004

In this Fast Forward, teams had to go to the Pharaonic Village and find a marked sarcophagus. They have to transport it through the village, across a ferry, and to a temple. Once they handed it over to the priest, they would receive the Fast Forward award.

In the leg's Roadblock, one team member had to descend down a series of ladders into the depths of Osiris Shaft 140 feet (43 m) below sea level. Then, they retrieved a satchel containing a full puzzle pieces, which they had to carry back up the ladder to the surface and presented it to an Egyptologist to get the next clue.

The Detour of this leg was a choice between Rock & Roll or Hump & Ride. In Rock & Roll, teams had to use traditional techniques to transport two rocks weighing approximately 600 pounds (270 kg) across an area the size of a football field. Teams had to use round logs underneath a sled like object to move the heavy object. In Hump & Ride, teams had to pick a pair of camels hitched to a cart loaded with carpets from a merchant and drive them through the desert to receive the next clue.

Leg 6 (Egypt)

Airdate: August 10, 2004

The Detour of this leg was a choice between Herd It or Haul It. In both detours, teams have travel to a traditional carriage known as kalesh. In Herd It, teams had travel to Banana Island for load ten goats into a sailboat and deliver them to a shepherd on the other side of the Nile River and give the animals to a waiting shepherd for exchange in their next clue. In Haul It, teams travel 3 miles (4.8 km) to a pigeon farm and where they had to fill an urn with water to the marked level. Teams had to use an ancient device to lift water from the river, then transport it by donkey to fill a cistern into a marked line. When it is filled in a correct mark, they will get their next clue.

In the leg's Roadblock, one team member had to choose a large dig site to use archeological tools to dig, in a marked plot of sand, for unearth a scarab, a beetle stone carving which is a part of Egyptian mythology. When the scarab is found hidden on a sand, an archeologist will give them their next clue.

Leg 7 (Egypt → Kenya → Tanzania)

Airdate: August 17, 2004

The Detour on this leg was a choice between Buzzing or Busy. In Buzzing, teams had to travel by bicycle to a local honey farm. There, they have to put on beekeeper suits and work together to harvest 2 kilograms (4.4 lb) of honey from traditional African hives in order to receive their next clue. In Busy, teams have to find a specific shop, where they have to load two chairs onto a bicycle-driven cart. When the chairs are delivered to a specific address, the house owner would give teams a receipt. Teams then have to return to the shopkeeper and give him the receipt to get their clue.

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member have to crack an ostrich egg and pour it enough of the egg on a wooden bowl. The restaurant owner would cook to allow them to eat a whole egg when the bowl is completely full. Then, they must cook a portion of it and scramble it equal to two dozen chicken eggs and eat them all to get their next clue.

Leg 8 (Tanzania → United Arab Emirates)

Airdate: August 24, 2004

There was a Roadblock that the team member involved to buy through the many stalls for a particular kind of nut on a local market. After purchasing some, and then delivering them to a ship in the nearby harbor, they would receive their next clue. This task, however, was unaired.

The Detour was a choice between Off Plane or Off Road. In Off Plane, teams had to travel to the Al Quwain Aero Club and tandem skydive 10,000 feet (3,000 m) with an instructor to a landing site 40 miles (64 km) in the Margham Dunes. When they had successfully landed in correct zone, they would get their next clue. In Off Road, teams had to travel directly to the Margham Dunes, where they must drive a marked 4x4 over a 6 miles (9.7 km) course to the desert and ending at the skydiving landing site. Teams could get stuck in the sand, forcing them to radio for help, which could take a long time.

Leg 9 (United Arab Emirates → India)

Airdate: August 31, 2004

The Fast Forward instructed teams to travel 7 miles (11 km) to a Hindu Temple and engage in a Hindu cleansing ritual that involves shaving the head of all hair. Once both team members were completely bald, they would win the Fast Forward award.

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to use a traditional Indian mold to make 20 mud bricks. If they weren't filled in the correct way, they fell apart. Once the factory worker determined that they were all properly formed, they would receive their next clue.

The Detour was a choice between Heavy but Short or Light but Long. In Heavy but Short, teams had to travel over 10 miles (16 km) to Lansdowne Road to transport a taxi a half-mile to a local garage. The taxis have no engines, so teams had to push the taxi in a short distance, where the owner will hand them their next clue. In Light but Long, teams had to travel to Kolkata's largest flower market to find a particular stall and receive a garland, which they must then release into the Ganges for good luck to receive their next clue.

Leg 10 (India → New Zealand)

Airdate: September 7, 2004

The Detour of this leg was a choice between Clean or Dirty. In Clean, teams had to drive 13 miles (21 km) to Okere Falls to put on a protective gear and perform an adventure sport called river sledging from Kaituna River. With the help of the two guides, teams must complete 1 mile (1.6 km) course with only a small board, called a sledge for protection. At the end of the course, the instructor would get their next clue. In Dirty, teams had to travel 10 miles (16 km) to Hell's Gate into a bubbling hot mud pit, while had to search the marked area for their next clue, located somewhere in the mud.

In the leg's Roadblock, one team member had to inflate a Zorb and ride it down a hillside. At the bottom of the hill, the rider had to walk the Zorb a short distance to cross a finish line, then get out and join his or her teammate and run to the Pit Stop.

Leg 11 (New Zealand → Philippines)

Airdate: September 14, 2004

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had travel by boat to Auckland Harbour Bridge and climb a 75-foot (23 m) ladder to the girders beneath the roadway. From there, he or she had to walk along the girders until they reached the clue on the other side. They were then lowered to a waiting boat below.

The Detour was a choice between Plow or Fowl. In Plow, teams had to choose a marked field and use an ox-drawn plow to till the soil, until the plow caught on a buried rope attached to a hidden clue. In Fowl, teams had to work together and herd 1,000 ducks from one pen to another 50 yards (46 m) away.

Leg 12 (Philippines)

Airdate: September 21, 2004

In the one aired choice for the Detour, teams had to put on snorkel gear and search underwater for one of four giant clams containing their next clue. Although the planned Detour was changed into an additional task. In this leg's Roadblock, one team member to climb a 150-foot (46 m) Lagen Wall using an ascender. Upon completing the ascent, he/she would get the next clue and rappel down back to his/her partner.

Leg 13 (Philippines → Canada → United States)

Airdate: September 21, 2004

There was a final Roadblock of this race, one team member had to build a First Nations teepee outside the Banff Springs Hotel with an example of an exact given model.

The final Detour of the Race was a choice between Slide or Ride. In Slide, teams had to travel to the top of the Olympic luge course, where they would hop into a two-man luge. They had to ride down the course at a wild 40 mph, and had to complete the course in 34 seconds or less. If successful, they would receive their next clue. If they failed, they had to keep trying until they hit the target time. In Ride, teams had to use mountain bikes to complete the Olympic slalom ski course in three minutes or less. However, they would have to traverse down the hill on a mountain bike, riding through the snow. If they could accomplish this, they would receive their next clue.