The Amazing Race 12 Explained

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Num Teams:11
Winner: &
Num Legs:11
Miles Traveled:30000
Num Episodes:11[1]
Network:CBS
First Aired:[2]
Film End:[3]
Episode List:List of The Amazing Race (American TV series) episodes (seasons 1-20)
Prev Series:Season 11

The Amazing Race 12 is the twelfth season of American reality competition show The Amazing Race. Hosted by Phil Keoghan, it featured eleven teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship, competing in a race around the world in order to win US$1,000,000. This season visited four continents and ten countries and traveled over 30000miles. Starting in Los Angeles, racers traveled through Ireland, the Netherlands, Burkina Faso, Lithuania, Croatia, Italy, India, Japan, and Taiwan before finishing in Anchorage. New twists introduced in this season include the U-Turn, which replaced the Yield and allowed one team to force another team to perform both Detour tasks on a leg, and a new non-elimination leg penalty called the Speed Bump, which is an extra task that the team who finished last had to perform on the subsequent leg. The season premiered on CBS on November 4, 2007, and the finale aired on January 20, 2008.

Newly dating couple TK Erwin and Rachel Rosales were the winners of this season, while father and daughter Ronald and Christina Hsu finished in second place, and grandson and grandfather Nicolas Fulks and Donald Jerousek finished in third place.

Production

Development and filming

In May 2007, CBS confirmed The Amazing Race was picked up for a twelfth season. It was originally to be scheduled in the mid-season of the 2007–08 TV season.[4] However, when Viva Laughlin was canceled in October, The Amazing Race 12 debuted early to take the time slot.[5]

The Amazing Race 12 spanned 30000miles in 21 days. The season covered four continents, visiting ten countries (five of which were not previously visited by the series), while traveling entirely in the Northern Hemisphere. The newly visited countries were Ireland, Burkina Faso, Lithuania, Croatia, and Taiwan. The shortened filming schedule was initially attributed, in part, to the removal of non-elimination legs, which would have been a first on The Amazing Race.[1] However, host Phil Keoghan told Kynt & Vyxsin in the seventh leg that there were two non-elimination legs this season.

This season introduced two new twists to The Amazing Race: the U-Turn and the Speed Bump. Positioned just after a Detour, the U-Turn allowed one team to force another team behind them to complete both sides of the Detour.[6] The Speed Bump was a penalty task for a team that finished last in a non-elimination leg, and had to be completed during the next leg in addition to other tasks. The U-Turn and the Speed Bump each occurred in two episodes of The Amazing Race 12.

Marketing

Two days after the series premiere, CBS launched an Amazing Race page on social networking site Facebook via Facebook Ads.[7] The site contained interactive contents such as maps, trivia, a travel log, and prizes. The site also included a tie-in with the Where I've Been application.

Cast

This season's eleven teams included married lesbian ministers, dating Goths, and siblings. Executive producer Bertram van Munster felt that "it was not intentional" for casting to leave out young-male teams commonly found in past seasons. He also said that it was pure coincidence for 15 of 22 racers to be residents of California.

During , Christina Hsu revealed that she was engaged to Azaria Azene. They married in March 2011.[8]

ContestantsAgeRelationshipHometownStatus
21Best FriendsFountain Valley, CaliforniaEliminated 1st
(in Clifden, Ireland)
23
49Married MinistersThousand Oaks, CaliforniaEliminated 2nd
(in Durgerdam, Netherlands)
65
25SistersMiami, FloridaEliminated 3rd
(in Boulkiemdé,
26
27DatingSherman Oaks, CaliforniaEliminated 4th
(in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso)
33
32FriendsLos Angeles, CaliforniaEliminated 5th
(in Rumšiškės, Lithuania)
32
27Brother & SisterNew Orleans, LouisianaEliminated 6th
(in Dubrovnik, Croatia)
23Torrance, California
31Dating GothsLouisville, KentuckyEliminated 7th
(in Mumbai, India)
29
24DatingFountain Valley, CaliforniaEliminated 8th
(in Taipei, Taiwan)
23Huntington Beach, California
23Grandson & GrandfatherChicago, IllinoisThird place
68Elkhorn, Wisconsin
58Father & DaughterTacoma, WashingtonRunners-up
26Washington, D.C.
22Newly DatingHuntington Beach, CaliforniaWinners
23
Future appearancesAfter the season ended, Kynt & Vyxsin applied for third season of The Amazing Race Asia but were turned down by producer Michael McKay due to their prior Amazing Race experience. Their audition was shown on the "Racers Revealed" episode of the season.[9] Kynt & Vyxsin and Ronald & Christina competed again on , with Kynt having changed his name to Kent.[10]

Results

The following teams are listed with their placements in each leg. Placements are listed in finishing order.

Team placement (by episode)
Team1234567891011
TK & Rachel3rd6th2nd7th1st4th4th1st2nd1st
Ronald & Christina7th9th5th3rd3rd1st3rd3rd1st1st2nd
Nicolas & Donald5th8th6th4th6th5th1st2nd3rd3rd3rd
Nathan & Jennifer10th2nd3rd2nd5th3rd2nd4th2nd
Kynt & Vyxsin2nd4th4th5th2nd2nd
Azaria & Hendekea1st5th1st1st4th
Shana & Jennifer6th3rd7th6th
Lorena & Jason 4th1st8th
Marianna & Julia 9th7th
Kate & Pat 8th
Ari & Staella
Notes

Race summary

Leg 1 (United States → Ireland)

Locations
Episode summary

Leg 2 (Ireland → Netherlands)

Locations
Episode summary
Additional note

Leg 3 (Netherlands → Burkina Faso)

Locations
Episode summary

Leg 4 (Burkina Faso)

Locations
Episode summary
Additional note

Leg 5 (Burkina Faso → Lithuania)

Locations
Episode summary
Additional notes

Leg 6 (Lithuania → Croatia)

Locations
Episode summary

Leg 7 (Croatia → Italy)

Locations
Episode summary
Additional note

Leg 8 (Italy → India)

Locations
Episode summary
Additional note

Leg 9 (India → Japan)

Locations
Episode summary
Additional note

Leg 10 (Japan → Taiwan)

Locations
Episode summary

Leg 11 (Taiwan → United States)

Locations
Episode summary
LegCountryObjects
1IrelandTandem Bicycle
2NetherlandsBicycle
3Burkina FasoCamel Milk
4Chicken
5LithuaniaStilts
6CroatiaCroatian Gun
7ItalyBlackBerry
8IndiaU-Turn Board
9JapanJanitor
10TaiwanTea

Elimination Station

The first five teams eliminated were sequestered at a villa in Portugal to await the finale. Subsequently, eliminated teams telephoned to inform the teams at the villa of their elimination, but continued to run the race as decoys to throw off potential spoilers. The sequestered teams met up with the decoy teams in the final destination city to cheer on the final three teams as they crossed the Finish Line.

CBS posted short videos on its website after each episode aired in the Pacific Time Zone, which showed the eliminated teams interacting at the villa.

Reception

Critical response

The Amazing Race 12 received positive reviews. Linda Holmes of Television Without Pity called it a good season.[14] Heather Havrilesky of Salon was positive towards this season's cast writing "there are some pretty amusing teams this season".[15] In 2016, this season was ranked 6th out of the first 27 seasons by the Rob Has a Podcast Amazing Race correspondents.[16] In 2021, Jane Andrews of Gossip Cop ranked this season as the show's 9th best season.[17] Val Barone of TheThings ranked this season as the show's 3rd best season.[18]

Ratings

U.S. Nielsen ratings
OrderEpisodeRating/Share
(18-49)
Viewers
(millions)
1"Donkeys Have Souls, Too"13.82
2"I've Become the Archie Bunker of the Home"3.1/8[19] 10.48
3"Please, Lord, Give Me Milk"3.8/9[20] 11.86
4"Let's Name Our Chicken Phil"11.80
5"We Really Burned Bridges, For Sure"3.4/8[21] 11.26
6"Cherry on Top of the Sundae That's Already Melted"3.8/9[22] 11.95
7"This is Forever, Now"2.8/8[23] 8.97
8"Honestly, They Have Witch Powers or Something"2.5/6[24] 9.69
9"I Just Hope He Doesn't Croak On Us"11.99
10"Sorry, Guys, I'm Not Happy to See You"3.8/9[25] 11.65
11"The Final Push"3.1/7[26] 9.75
Canadian ratings
EpisodeViewers
(millions)
Rank
(Overall)
1"Donkeys Have Souls, Too"2.14
  1. 8[27]
2"I've Become the Archie Bunker of the Home"2.03
  1. 7
3"Please, Lord, Give Me Milk"2.09
  1. 9
4"Let's Name Our Chicken Phil"1.86
  1. 10
5"We Really Burned Bridges, For Sure"2.10
  1. 9
6"Cherry on Top of the Sundae That's Already Melted"2.02
  1. 5
7"This is Forever, Now"1.32
  1. 12
8"Honestly, They Have Witch Powers or Something"1.62
  1. 1
9"I Just Hope He Doesn't Croak On Us"1.71
  1. 4
10"Sorry, Guys, I'm Not Happy to See You"1.85
  1. 5
11"The Final Push"2.04
  1. 3

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Amazing Race producer: Upcoming twelfth edition is a nail-biter. Reality TV World. Christopher. Rocchio. 2007-11-01. 2007-11-01. 19 May 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110519060426/http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/the-amazing-race-producer-twelfth-edition-will-be-nail-biter-6023.php. live.
  2. Web site: CBS announces The Amazing Race 12 to premiere November 4. 2007-10-23. 24 October 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071024042643/http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/cbs-announces-the-amazing-race-12-premiere-november-4-5957.php. live.
  3. News: For Amazing Race winners, the toughest job was keeping quiet. Orange County Register. Peter. Larsen. 2008-01-22. 2008-01-22. 16 June 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120616050853/http://www.ocregister.com/entertainment/says-22402-erwin-rosales.html. live.
  4. CBS's fall lineup: Bolder yet still CBS. Media Life. Fitzgerald. Toni. 2007-05-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304122133/http://www.medialifemagazine.com:8080/artman/publish/article_12146.asp. 2016-03-04. dead.
  5. Schneider . Michael . 2007-10-22 . CBS cancels Viva Laughlin . live . . https://web.archive.org/web/20121118175904/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117974484 . 18 November 2012 . 2007-10-22.
  6. Web site: New twist thwarts Amazing Race couple . . 2007-11-26 . 2007-12-05 . 18 January 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160118071131/http://www.today.com/id/21981110/site/todayshow/ns/today-entertainment/t/new-twist-thwarts-amazing-race-couple . live .
  7. Web site: 2007-11-08 . CBS Joins "Facebook Ads" to Build an Online Community Around The Amazing Race . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071208042711/http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/48736760_media_cbs_joins_facebook_ads_build_online_community_around_amazing_race . 2007-12-08 . 2008-01-09.
  8. Web site: Amazing Race Contestants Christina Hsu and Azaria Azene Wed. Patrick. Gomez. 2011-04-13. 2011-04-13. People. 15 April 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110415230318/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20481577,00.html. live.
  9. News: Fang's Bites: Interview with the Amazing Race Asia Executive Producer Michael McKay . January 18, 2020. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111016105655/http://fangsbites.com/2008/09/interview-with-the-amazing-race-asia-executive-producer-michael-mckay/. October 16, 2011.
  10. 'Amazing Race' announces teams for all-star 'Unfinished Business' edition. Entertainment Weekly. Mandi. Bierly. January 19, 2011. October 30, 2020. 4 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201104011703/https://ew.com/article/2011/01/19/amazing-race-announces-teams-for-all-star-unfinished-business-edition/. live.
  11. We Really Burned Bridges, For Sure. The Amazing Race. The Amazing Race (American TV series). 12. 5. CBS. 3:14. December 2, 2007. Fly to Vilnius, Lithuania!!! When you land, drive yourselves to Trakai Castle. Then, search the ground for your next clue..
  12. Cherry on Top of the Sundae That's Already Melted. The Amazing Race. The Amazing Race (American TV series). 12. 6. CBS. 26:15. December 9, 2007. Once at the bottom, choose a rope ladder and finish assembling it. Then, scale the city walls..
  13. News: Actual newspaper-ad in India with the next clue. The Times of India. July 24, 2007. February 24, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160506014346/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=TOIM%2F2007%2F07%2F24%2F20%2FImg%2FAd0201002.png. May 6, 2016. dead.
  14. Web site: Linda Holmes . Linda Holmes (writer) . January 26, 2008 . Hippie Pretty . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201021124950/http://www.brilliantbutcancelled.com/show/the-amazing-race-1/the-final-push/14/ . 21 October 2020 . March 20, 2021 . Television Without Pity.
  15. Web site: Heather Havrilesky . Heather Havrilesky . November 25, 2007 . I Like to Watch . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210414141612/https://www.salon.com/2007/11/25/underbelly/ . 14 April 2021 . April 14, 2021 . Salon.
  16. Mike Bloom . Jessica Liese . Dan Heaton . Amazing Race | Ranking the Season . . 1:38:20 . February 5, 2016 . March 20, 2021 . 15 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201115002549/https://robhasawebsite.com/amazing-race-ranking-the-seasons/ . live.
  17. Web site: Andrews . Jane . January 2, 2021 . The Best Seasons Of The Amazing Race, Ranked . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210304182811/https://www.gossipcop.com/the-best-seasons-of-the-amazing-race-ranked/590/ . 4 March 2021 . March 20, 2021 . Gossip Cop.
  18. Web site: Barone . Val . June 5, 2021 . The Top 10 Best 'Amazing Race' Seasons Ranked . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210612161910/https://www.thethings.com/the-top-best-amazing-race-seasons-ranked/ . 12 June 2021 . June 12, 2021 . TheThings.
  19. News: Top CBS Primetime Shows, November 5–11. https://web.archive.org/web/20120509202127/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2007/11/13/top-cbs-primetime-shows-november-5-11/1761/. 2012-05-09. dead.
  20. News: Top CBS Primetime Shows, November 12–18. https://web.archive.org/web/20120509202134/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2007/11/20/top-cbs-primetime-shows-november-12-18/1846/. 2012-05-09. dead.
  21. News: Top CBS Primetime Shows, Nov 26 – Dec 2. https://web.archive.org/web/20120509202349/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2007/12/05/top-cbs-primetime-shows-nov-26-dec-2/2011/. 2012-05-09. dead.
  22. News: Top CBS Primetime Shows, December 3–9. https://web.archive.org/web/20120509202342/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2007/12/12/top-cbs-primetime-shows-december-3-9/2104/. 2012-05-09. dead.
  23. News: Top CBS Primetime Shows, December 17–23. https://web.archive.org/web/20120509202357/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2008/01/02/top-cbs-primetime-shows-december-17-23/2248/. 2012-05-09. dead.
  24. News: Top CBS Primetime Shows, December 24–30. https://web.archive.org/web/20120509202357/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2008/01/02/top-cbs-primetime-shows-december-17-23/2248/. 2012-05-09. dead.
  25. News: Top CBS Primetime Shows, January 7–13. https://web.archive.org/web/20121008010544/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2008/01/15/top-cbs-primetime-shows-january-7-13/2397/. 2012-10-08. dead.
  26. News: Top CBS Primetime Shows, January 14–20. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141011175221/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2008/01/23/top-cbs-primetime-shows-january-14-20/2448/. 2014-10-11.
  27. News: Top Programs – Total Canada (English), October 29-November 4, 2007 . BBM Nielsen .