The Amazing Race 2 Explained

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Num Teams:11
Winner: &
Num Legs:13
Miles Traveled:52000
Num Episodes:11
Network:CBS
Episode List:List of The Amazing Race (American TV series) episodes (seasons 1-20)
Prev Series:Season 1

The Amazing Race 2 is the second season of the 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 to win US$1,000,000. This season visited five continents and eight countries and traveled over 52000miles during thirteen legs. Starting in Pahrump, Nevada, racers traveled through Brazil, South Africa, Namibia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, and Alaska before finishing in the San Francisco Bay Area. The season premiered on CBS on March 11, 2002, and ended on May 15, 2002.

Lifelong friends Chris Luca and Alex Boylan were the winners of this season, while estranged couple Wil Steger and Tara Lynch finished in second place, and siblings Blake Mycoskie and Paige Mycoskie finished in third place.

Production

Development and filming

The second season of The Amazing Race traveled 52,000 miles in 28 days, spanning five continents and eight countries. Location scouting took place during September 2001 but was paused for a month and a half following the September 11 attacks.[1] The Amazing Race 2 featured first-time visits to Brazil, Namibia, Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong, and was the first season to travel to the continents of South America and Oceania.[2] During pre-production, producers had planned a leg in Argentina, but cancelled it due to Argentina's political instability after its economy failed. Argentina was eventually visited in The Amazing Race 5.

The edition marked the debut of several show traditions. The color scheme for all route markers and flags was changed to yellow and red after the previous season's yellow and white.[3] In addition, host Phil Keoghan and a local greeter welcomed all teams arriving at the Pit Stops at the end of each leg. Previously, Keoghan had appeared only to greet the last-place teams.[4]

Casting

Casting for the second season began during the summer of 2001 before the first season premiered.[5] Casting finals were taking place in Los Angeles in September during the September 11 attacks.[1] [6]

Cast

Eleven teams participated in the second season of The Amazing Race. The cast featured twins, a mother/daughter duo, siblings, grandmothers, pastors, and childhood friends.[7]

ContestantsAgeRelationshipHometownStatus
51Mother & DaughterMiami, FloridaEliminated 1st
(in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
23Brooklyn, New York
38Married ParentsClinton, TennesseeEliminated 2nd
(in Iguaçu National Park, Brazil)
39
63GrandmothersTruckee, CaliforniaEliminated 3rd
(in Stellenbosch, South Africa)
65Los Gatos, California
27TwinsAlbany, New YorkEliminated 4th
(in Khomas Region, Namibia)
27
45Pastors & Married ParentsBrainerd, MinnesotaEliminated 5th
(in Amphawa, Thailand)
46
38SistersSunbury, PennsylvaniaEliminated 6th
(in Hong Kong)
33Paxinos, Pennsylvania
33Former RoommatesNew York City, New YorkEliminated 7th
(in Breakaways National Park, Australia)
28Brooklyn, New York
31Best FriendsMiami, FloridaEliminated 8th
(in Auckland, New Zealand)
36
25Brother & SisterNashville, TennesseeThird place
21Arlington, Texas
31Separated CoupleLos Angeles, CaliforniaRunners-up
37
25Lifelong FriendsBoston, MassachusettsWinners
24
Future appearancesOswald & Danny were selected to race in The Amazing Race: All-Stars.[8]

Alex Boylan went on to create and host the first season of the WGN America online reality show Around the World for Free, in which he journeyed around the world with no money, relying on the generosity and hospitality of locals.[9] Blake Mycoskie appeared as a guest shark during the twelfth season of Shark Tank.[10]

Results

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

Team placement (by leg)
Team12345678910111213
Chris & Alex6th2nd7th7th1st2nd2nd1st3rd3rd1st
Tara & Wil1st3rd2nd2nd3rd5th3rd4th3rd2nd1st1st2nd
Blake & Paige4th9th5th4th4th3rd5th2nd1st2nd1st3rd
Oswald & Danny8th7th1st1st6th4th4th1st4th
Gary & Dave9th5th3rd3rd5th2nd1st3rd
Mary & Peach7th4th4th5th2nd1st
Cyndi & Russell2nd6th8th6th
Shola & Doyin3rd1st5th
Peggy & Claire10th8th
Hope & Norm4th
Deidre & Hillary
Notes

Race summary

Leg 1 (United States → Brazil)

Locations
Episode summary

Leg 2 (Brazil)

Locations
Episode summary

Leg 3 (Brazil → South Africa)

Locations
Episode summary
Additional note

Leg 4 (South Africa → Namibia)

Locations
Episode summary
Additional note

Leg 5 (Namibia → Thailand)

Locations
Episode summary

Leg 6 (Thailand)

Locations
Episode summary
Additional note

Leg 7 (Thailand → Hong Kong)

Locations
Episode summary
Additional notes

Leg 8 (Hong Kong → Australia)

Locations
Episode summary
Additional notes

Leg 9 (Australia)

Locations
Episode summary
Additional note

Leg 10 (Australia → New Zealand)

Locations
Episode summary
Additional note

Leg 11 (New Zealand)

Locations
Episode summary

Leg 12 (New Zealand → United States)

Locations
Episode summary
Additional note

Leg 13 (United States)

Locations
Episode summary
Additional notes

Reception

Critical response

The Amazing Race 2 received positive reviews with the final footrace to the finish often regarded as one of the show's best moments.[14] [15] [16] Linda Holmes of Television Without Pity wrote that "the teams weren't as compelling as personalities this go-round" compared to the previous season but it was "still just a really good show."[17] In 2016, this season was ranked 11th out of the first 27 seasons by the Rob Has a Podcast Amazing Race correspondents.[18] Kareem Gantt of Screen Rant wrote that this season was "where the show finally gained its sea legs. This season went bold with its Roadblocks, and it also contained a good amount of drama that kept fans on the edge of their seats all season long."[19] In 2021, Jane Andrews of Gossip Cop ranked this season as the show's overall best season.[20] In 2022, Jason Shomer of Collider ranked this season among the show's top seven seasons.[21] In 2022, Rhenn Taguiam of Game Rant ranked this season as the ninth-best season.[22]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Amazing Race behind the scenes: an oral history of CBS's first race around the world. reality blurred. Andy Dehnart. Andy Dehnart. September 3, 2021. September 3, 2021.
  2. Web site: New travel realities add tension to 'Amazing Race' . . Keveney, Bill. March 10, 2002 . June 7, 2021 .
  3. Web site: THE AMAZING RACE – THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON. Holland. Roger. PopMatters. November 1, 2005. August 12, 2023.
  4. Web site: What a Trip: The Complete Oral History of The Amazing Race. Grossbart. Sarah. E!. September 5, 2021. August 12, 2023.
  5. Web site: CBS prepping for Race redux. Yahoo!. Adalian. Josef. November 7, 2001. July 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20011201013111/http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011107/en/television-race_1.html. December 1, 2001. dead.
  6. Hannah Shapiro. Just My Archetype! | As A Mom. Rob Has a Podcast. 16:18. July 6, 2021. July 10, 2021.
  7. Web site: CBS Announces 'Amazing Race 2' Cast. Reality TV World. February 13, 2002. July 10, 2021.
  8. Web site: CBS unveils 'The Amazing Race: All-Stars' cast, show to debut Feb. 18. Reality TV World. Rogers. Steve. January 16, 2007. October 30, 2020.
  9. News: Alex Boylan Is Taking The Trip of A Lifetime: He's Traveling Across The Globe Without A Penney In His Pocket. CBS News. 2007-09-13. 2007-12-19. The Early Show.
  10. First look at the new socially distanced Shark Tank. Entertainment Weekly. Snierson. Dan. September 21, 2020. September 21, 2020.
  11. Web site: Vogel . Scott . August 10, 2008 . A cruise to meet the muse of "Girl From Ipanema" . October 16, 2020 . The Seattle Times.
  12. Web site: CBS.com . Please Let Us Be First . . https://web.archive.org/web/20020520054423/http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race2/show/episode07/story4.shtml . 20 May 2002.
  13. Web site: Hitchings . Anna . September 21, 2016 . Sydney town crier calls in Moore's return . July 14, 2020 . Yahoo! News.
  14. Web site: The Amazing Race: All-Time Best Moments From The Seasons. Screen Rant. Stillman. Cory. November 20, 2020. March 18, 2021.
  15. Web site: 13 Outrageous 'Amazing Race' Moments in GIFs. Yahoo!. November 20, 2020. March 18, 2021.
  16. Web site: Phil Keoghan Shares His Favorite Amazing Race Moments. CBS Watch. March 18, 2021.
  17. Web site: Holmes . Linda . Linda Holmes (writer) . February 24, 2002 . Can you buy a neck for a million bucks? . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170525233150/http://www.brilliantbutcancelled.com/show/the-amazing-race-1/follow-that-plane-part-ii/21/ . May 25, 2017 . Television Without Pity.
  18. Mike Bloom. Jessica Liese. Dan Heaton. Amazing Race | Ranking the Season. Rob Has a Podcast. 1:14:32. February 5, 2016. March 18, 2021.
  19. Web site: Amazing Race: 10 Must-Watch Seasons, Ranked According To IMDb. Screen Rant. Gantt. Kareem. November 30, 2020. March 18, 2021.
  20. Web site: The Best Seasons Of The Amazing Race, Ranked. Gossip Cop. Andrews. Jane. January 2, 2021. March 18, 2021.
  21. Web site: The 7 Best Seasons of 'The Amazing Race'. Collider. Shomers. Jason. January 24, 2022. January 24, 2022.
  22. Web site: 10 Best Seasons Of The Amazing Race. Game Rant. Taguiam. Rhenn. November 7, 2022. November 7, 2022.