The Amazing Race is a rarity among reality shows -- a recipient of three Emmys for Best Reality/Competition primetime program. Heralded as a family program that actually teaches concepts of teamwork as well as gives the best geography lesson on television, The Amazing Race has been on air with CBS since 2001. The show recently finished its ninth season, and partially produced by Touchstone Television, giving it partial affinity with Disney.



The show is similar to Survivor in the way that people work together to survive in situations that range from extreme physical stunts and tests of endurance to coping with small food and supply rations. The teams are made up of individuals with prior “real world” relationships -- including married and dating heterosexual couples, homosexual couples, family units, and friends. During most shows, the minimum age is 21; however one season allowed members as young as 8. Each team is given a finite amount of money and a checkpoint at which all teams need to meet up at their individual accord. The last team to arrive at the destination is eliminated. The race always starts in the US, but sends teams on a scavenger hunt of sorts that winds through remote locations around the globe. Language barriers, weather threats, direction challenges, and dwindling funds threaten to weaken teams and throw off their timing, causing progressive eliminations.

At the end of each leg of the race, there is a mandatory pit stop at which all teams stop to eat, rest and socialize. Most interviews are filmed at this time. In some legs, the first team to arrive wins a vacation or some other prize such as equipment. The last to arrive is eliminated from the duration of the race.

Three teams compete on the final leg of the race and battle to earn clues and complete various tasks that bring them closer to the final finish line. The first team to reach the finish wins a million dollars. All other previously eliminated teams gather at the finish line and each receives an amount of money ranging from $25,000 to $1500.00.