The Amazing Race 33

Season of television series

Season of television series
The Amazing Race 33
Season 33
Region 1 DVD cover
Presented byPhil Keoghan
No. of teams11
WinnerKim & Penn Holderness
No. of legs11
Distance traveled22,000 mi (35,000 km)
No. of episodes11
Release
Original networkCBS
Original releaseJanuary 5 (2022-01-05) –
March 2, 2022 (2022-03-02)
Additional information
Filming datesOriginal:
February 22 (2020-02-22) –
February 28, 2020 (2020-02-28)
Resumption:
September 19 –
October 6, 2021 (2021-10-06)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 32
Next →
Season 34
List of episodes

The Amazing Race 33 is the thirty-third 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 Europe to win US$1,000,000. Though filming started in February 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused production to be placed on hold for over a year and a half. The race resumed in September 2021 with most of the original teams and a modified route. This season visited two continents and seven countries and traveled over 22,000 miles (35,000 km) during eleven legs. Starting from several cities in the United States, racers traveled through England and Scotland before production was suspended. After reuniting in St. Gallen, racers traveled through Switzerland, France, Greece, and Portugal before finishing in Greater Los Angeles. An element of the show that returned for this season was having teams start from their homes instead of a centralized location. The season premiered on CBS on January 5, 2022, and the season finale aired on March 2, 2022.[1]

Married internet personalities Kim and Penn Holderness were the winners of this season,[2] while flight attendants Raquel Moore and Cayla Platt finished in second place, and best friends Ryan Ferguson and Dusty Harris finished in third place.

Production

Development and filming

The 33rd season of The Amazing Race started filming on February 22, 2020, with teams being informed to travel to Trafalgar Square in London.

In January 2020, during the winter press tour for the Television Critics Association in Pasadena, California, Amazing Race co-creators and executive producers Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri, who were promoting their new National Geographic show Race to the Center of the Earth, confirmed to Andy Dehnart of Reality Blurred that they would be filming a thirty-third season of The Amazing Race later in the year.[3]

Filming began on February 22, 2020 as usual, after host Phil Keoghan finished filming the first season of Tough as Nails.[4][5] This season of The Amazing Race started with Keoghan contacting teams at their homes, instructing them to travel to London, and it was expected to conclude in mid-March.[6][7][8] However, filming was suspended on February 28 after three legs had been completed in England and Scotland with the contestants and production crew sent home as a precaution due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic.[9][7][10] According to van Munster, he contacted CBS after he and his crew arrived in Sweden to film in Lapland, where the fourth leg was to take place, to halt the season due to the dangers of the emerging pandemic.[11][12] In addition to Sweden, the remainder of the original racecourse prior to production shutdown would have visited Austria, Italy, Vietnam, Thailand, South America, and a first-time visit to Nepal.[11][13][14]

COVID-19 shutdown

After the season was suspended, Phil Keoghan stated that the show intended to resume filming where it had left off,[15][16] but he also acknowledged that filming could not resume until viral transmissions declined.[17] Kelly Kahl, the President of CBS Entertainment, stated that the show would film "as soon as we can safely get back into production" with the producers working to "plot out a race that sticks to countries that are safe" but acknowledged the difficulties of "literally [having] to navigate some international waters."[18] Kahl also stated that he wasn't aware of any contestants that had dropped out of the season.[19] Keoghan stated a year later that he could not guarantee that every team would be able to return once filming restarted.[20] In April 2021, Mitch Graham, SVP of Alternative Programming, stated that production looked at the option of going to COVID-light countries but that it was unlikely as it would not lead to the same experience of traveling the globe.[21] The following month, the creators of the show stated that they have plans to resume filming the season once they can assure team safety with mass vaccinations in target travel locations.[22][23] Kahl stated that he hoped to have the season air in the midseason of the 2021–22 television season provided that enough countries open up in the coming months to film the remaining legs.[24] In an interview with Gold Derby in June 2021, Keoghan stated that a plan to film safely had been established.[25]

Resumption of filming

When production resumed in September 2021, teams flew on charter planes to travel between countries for the remaining legs.

In September 2021, Thom Sherman, the Senior Executive Vice President, Programming, CBS Entertainment, announced at the Television Critics Association that the show was in pre-production and would return for the 2021–22 television season.[26] In order to restart the season, production chartered an Amazing Race-branded Titan Airways Boeing 757 for subsequent travel by teams and crew, which included four COVID testing teams, to reduce infection risk.[7] To account for common travel on the chartered jet, teams were released from the charter plane in a number of groups, with those who had checked in at the previous Pit Stop earlier able to start the next leg earlier.[27] Keoghan said that the use of a chartered jet was something they had considered previously as it would have eliminated problems with airports, and in this season, they at times did not inform the racers where their next destination was until they landed.[28] New tasks were developed with social distancing in mind, with preference for outdoor activities rather than crowded indoor ones. Teams were still made to rely on either their own driving or using public transportation where production affirmed that drivers took COVID precautions.[29]

Racers traveled to Switzerland and resumed racing on September 19, 2021, after 1 year, 6 months, and 22 days (nearly nineteen months).[30][31][7] The remaining legs after Scotland were altered to have travel proceed through locations with the lowest COVID-19 rates: Zürich, Lugano, Corsica, Halkidiki, Thessaloniki, and Lisbon before returning to Los Angeles.[7][32][33] However, four teams were unable to return after production resumed due to extenuating circumstances: Anthony was unable to return due to work; Caro & Ray had broken up during the hiatus and Caro's work visa had expired, meaning she was unable to return to the United States due to travel restrictions against non-U.S. citizens; Connie and Sam were expecting a child when the restart was planned; and Taylor was on bereavement following the death of his brother from COVID-19 which had occurred shortly before the planned restart.[34][35] Two teams that had been originally eliminated before the production shutdown, Michael & Moe and Arun & Natalia, were brought back to the competition.[33][36] Filming of the season wrapped in October.[37][38]

Casting

This season saw Jesse Tannenbaum, who was recently promoted to casting director of Survivor starting with Island of the Idols, become the show's new casting director, a role he previously held during season 29 and season 30,[39] after Lynne Spillman's contract with CBS expired in 2018.[40][41] The cast was announced by CBS on December 10, 2021.[7]

Cast

Anthony Sadler
Spencer Stone
Ryan W. Ferguson

The cast included Love Island season 1 couple Caro Viehweg and Ray Gantt;[42] married internet personalities Kim and Penn Holderness;[43] Buffalo Singing Cops duo Michael Norwood and Moe Badger;[44] 2015 Thalys train attack heroes Anthony Sadler and Spencer Stone; and Ryan Ferguson, who spent ten years in prison after being wrongfully convicted.[45]

Contestants Age Relationship Hometown Status
Michael Norwood Returned to competition Eliminated 1st
(in London, England)
Moe Badger
Arun Kumar Eliminated 2nd
(in Glasgow, Scotland)
Natalia Kumar
Taylor Green-Jones 38 Married Fort Worth, Texas Unable to return
to competition
Isaiah Green-Jones 31 Portland, Oregon
Caro Viehweg 23 Dating Los Angeles, California
Ray Gantt 25 Lakewood, New Jersey
Connie Greiner 37 Married Newport News, Virginia
Sam Greiner 39 Charlotte, North Carolina
Anthony Sadler 29 Childhood Friends Sacramento, California
Spencer Stone 29
Michael Norwood 36 Singing Police Officers Buffalo, New York Eliminated 3rd
(in Altstätten, Switzerland)
Moe Badger 42
Akbar Cook Sr. 45 Married Educators Newark, New Jersey Eliminated 4th
(in Giuncaggio, France)
Sheri Cook 44 Havana, Florida
Lulu Gonzalez 37 Twins & Radio Hosts North Bergen, New Jersey Eliminated 5th
(in Nea Kallikrateia, Greece)
Lala Gonzalez 37
Arun Kumar 56 Father & Daughter Detroit, Michigan Eliminated 6th
(in Cabo Espichel, Portugal)
Natalia Kumar 28
Ryan Ferguson 37 Best Friends Manhattan, New York Third place
Dusty Harris 38 Columbia, Missouri
Raquel Moore 31 Flight Attendants Chicago, Illinois Runners-up
Cayla Platt 30 Gulf Breeze, Florida
Kim Holderness 45 Married Sarasota, Florida Winners
Penn Holderness 47 Durham, North Carolina
Future appearances

In 2022, Caro Viehweg and Ray Gantt appeared on the fifth season of MTV's Ex on the Beach.[46] Cayla Platt competed on the first season of The Challenge: USA.[47] Dusty Harris competed on the second season of The Challenge: USA.[48] In 2023, Gantt competed on Love Island Games.[49] Lulu and Lala Gonzalez competed on Raid the Cage.[50]

Results

The following teams are listed with their placements in each leg. Placements are listed in finishing order. Note that the race was suspended at the end of leg 3 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed a year-and-a-half later.

  • A red placement with a dagger (†) indicates that the team was eliminated.
  • An italicized and underlined placement indicates that the team was the last to arrive, but there was no rest period at the Pit Stop and all teams were instructed to continue racing. There was no required Speed Bump task in the next leg.
  • An underlined blue placement with a double-dagger (‡) indicates that the team was the last to arrive at a Pit Stop in a non-elimination leg, and was the only team to begin the subsequent leg in the final departure group.
Team placement (by leg)
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Kim & Penn 4th 5th 1st 2nd 3rd 1st 1st 1st 2nd 2nd 1st
Raquel & Cayla 3rd 4th 6th 3rd 4th 2nd 2nd 2nd 1st 1st 2nd
Ryan & Dusty 2nd 1st 2nd 1st 1st 3rd 3rd 3rd 4th‡ 3rd 3rd
Arun & Natalia 9th 3rd 10th† 6th[a] 6th‡ 4th 5th‡ 4th 3rd 4th†
Lulu & Lala 10th 10th[b] 7th 4th 2nd 5th 4th 5th†[c]
Akbar & Sheri 6th 8th 9th 5th 5th 6th†
Michael & Moe 11th† 7th†[a]
Anthony & Spencer 1st 7th 3rd[a]
Connie & Sam 7th 2nd 4th[a]
Caro & Ray 5th 6th 5th[a]
Taylor & Isaiah 8th 9th 8th[a]
Notes
  1. ^ a b c d e f Anthony & Spencer, Caro & Ray, Connie & Sam, and Taylor & Isaiah were unable to return to The Amazing Race when filming resumed due to extenuating circumstances. As a result, Michael & Moe and Arun & Natalia re-entered the competition as replacement teams.
  2. ^ This team arrived last at the Pit Stop, but were instructed to continue racing.
  3. ^ Lulu & Lala initially arrived 1st, but had not completed the leg's final two tasks, having found the Pit Stop by chance. They were required go back and complete all remaining tasks before checking in. All of other teams checked in during this time, dropping Lulu & Lala to last.

Race summary

The route of The Amazing Race 33. The route stopped in Glasgow, Scotland, when filming was suspended, and restarted in St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Destinations Air travel    Rail travel    Water travel    Bus travel
Helicopter travel    Bicycle travel    Gondola travel
Route Markers Detour    Roadblock    Speed Bump    Pit Stop

Leg 1 (United States → England)

Beneath the blue whale skeleton in London's Natural History Museum, teams found the season's first Pit Stop.
  • Episode 1: "We're Back!" (January 5, 2022)
  • Prize: A trip for two to the Turks and Caicos Islands (awarded to Anthony & Spencer)
  • Eliminated: Michael & Moe
Locations
Episode summary
  • Instead of a traditional starting line, teams received a video message from Phil Keoghan informing them of the start of The Amazing Race. Teams then had to fly from their local airports to London, England, travel to Trafalgar Square, and find one of four men dressed as a red telephone box with their next clue. They were then instructed to travel by foot down The Mall to Buckingham Palace, where they found their next clue.
  • Detour: Artist Den or Digiben This season's first Detour was a choice between Artist Den or Digiben. In Artist Den, teams had to properly paste a 36-piece Banksy-style poster to a wall in order to receive their next clue. In Digiben, teams had to find a bobby in Parliament Square by Big Ben, then find a promoter by Little Ben, who sent them to DJ Digiben in Piccadilly Circus tube station, who had their next clue.
  • After the Detour, teams had to find "The Queen and Boris Johnson having a nosh" (a pair of impersonators) at The Chipping Forecast in order to receive their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop beneath the blue whale skeleton at the Natural History Museum.

Leg 2 (England)

The Roadblock during the second leg in England was set in the Mail Rail.
  • Episode 2: "It Can't Be That Easy" (January 5, 2022)
Locations
Episode summary
  • At the start of this leg, teams had to travel to the Postal Museum in London in order to find their next clue.
  • Roadblock: "Who still gets mail?" In this season's first Roadblock, one team member had to ride a train along the Mail Rail to a loading dock and sort through a bin filled with packages and envelopes in order to find their next clue.
  • After the Roadblock, teams had to travel to Leicester Square, where they found their next clue.
  • Detour: Bullseye, Mate or Decorate This leg's Detour was a choice between Bullseye, Mate or Decorate. In Bullseye, Mate, both team members had to score a bullseye on a dartboard in the same round in order to receive their next clue. In Decorate, teams were presented with twelve cakes decorated like the flags of various countries. Teams had to determine which two flags belonged to countries that were part of the European Union (France and Germany) and then replicate the two cakes in order to receive their next clue.
  • Teams had to check in at the Pit Stop on a double-decker bus at the Russell Square Metro Station.
Additional notes
  • After the Detour, teams had to climb to the top of the ArcelorMittal Orbit in order to receive their next clue. This task was unaired.[51]
  • There was no elimination at the end of this leg; all teams were instead directed to continue racing.
  • Legs 1 and 2 aired back-to-back as a special two-hour episode.

Leg 3 (England → Scotland)

One Detour option in Glasgow had teams sing at the Britannia Music Hall.
  • Episode 3: "Who Has This One in the Bag?" (January 12, 2022)
  • Prize: A trip for two to Cape Cod, Massachusetts (awarded to Kim & Penn)
  • Eliminated: Arun & Natalia
Locations
Episode summary
  • At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to travel on an overnight Caledonian Sleeper train to Glasgow, Scotland, where they found their next clue on the windshield of a marked vehicle at NCP Car Park. Teams had to drive to Òran Mór in order to find their next clue.
  • Roadblock: "Who thinks they have this one in the bag?" In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to assemble a set of bagpipes and then play a drone alongside the Johnstone Pipe Band for the length of the Scottish national anthem in order to receive their next clue.
  • After the Roadblock, teams had to find their next clue at the Saracen Fountain in Alexandra Park.
  • Detour: Kilt or Rebuilt This leg's Detour was a choice between Kilt or Rebuilt. In Kilt, teams had to learn and perform the song "Donald Where's Your Troosers?" in Highland dress in order to receive their next clue. In Rebuilt, teams had to remove the top two metal hoops from two whisky barrels, hammer a new head into each barrel's croze, and then replace the hoops in order to receive their next clue.
  • After the Detour, teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: the University of Glasgow.
Additional notes
  • After arriving in Scotland, teams had to drive to Culag Lochside Guest House on the shores of Loch Lomond and use a mallet to pop a bung out of a barrel in order to retrieve their next clue. This task was unaired.[52]
  • At the end of the leg, Phil Keoghan gathered all of the teams at the Pit Stop to announce that production of the race was suspended on account of the COVID-19 pandemic and all teams were sent home.

Leg 4 (Switzerland)

Teams gathered outside St. Gallen Cathedral to restart The Amazing Race 33.
  • Episode 4: "Ready to Restart the Race" (January 19, 2022)
  • Prize: US$2,500 each (awarded to Ryan & Dusty)
  • Eliminated: Michael & Moe
Locations
Episode summary
  • After a nineteen-month break in filming, teams gathered outside St. Gallen Cathedral in St. Gallen, Switzerland, to resume the race. Anthony & Spencer, Caro & Ray, Connie & Sam, and Taylor & Isaiah were unable to rejoin production, while Michael & Moe and Arun & Natalia, who had been originally eliminated before production was suspended, were brought back to rejoin the race.
  • At the start of this leg, teams had to search the Museumstrasse for one of three buses to the Schwägalp Pass, where they had to take a cable car to the summit of the Säntis in order to find their next clue.
  • Roadblock: "Who wants to take in the view?" In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to navigate a via ferrata to their next clue.
  • After the Roadblock, teams had to drive to Gasthaus Sonne in Urnäsch in order to find their next clue.
  • Detour: Punch It or Toss It This leg's Detour was a choice between Punch It or Toss It. In Punch It, teams had to attach ornaments to a Swiss belt in a specific order in order to receive their next clue. In Toss It, teams had to learn and correctly perform a Swiss flag throwing routine known as Fahnenschwingen in order to receive their next clue.
  • Teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: the Marktgasse in Altstätten.
Additional note
  • Speed Bump: Cabbage Bowling Michael & Moe and Arun & Natalia had to complete a Speed Bump after the Detour that involved one team member running inside a ball resembling a cabbage while being directed by their partner to knock down haystacks before they could continue racing. This task was unaired.[53][54]

Leg 5 (Switzerland)

Parco Ciani in the lakeside city of Lugano served as the fifth Pit Stop.
  • Episode 5: "Stairway to Hell" (January 26, 2022)
  • Prize: A trip for two to Dominica (awarded to Ryan & Dusty)
Locations
Episode summary
  • At the start of this leg, teams departed from Altstätten in groups 15 minutes apart based on the order of their arrival at the previous Pit Stop.
  • Roadblock: "Who wants to get down with the Travelocity Roaming Gnome?" This leg's Roadblock was a Switchback from season 14, where one team member had to perform a 722-foot (220 m) bungee jump off of the Verzasca Dam along with their Travelocity Roaming Gnome in order to receive a satchel with a miniature clue.
  • After the Roadblock, teams had to find their next clue at the Piazza Carlo Battaglini in Lugano.
  • Detour: Bartender Race or Sausage Encase This leg's Detour was a choice between Bartender Race or Sausage Encase. In Bartender Race, teams had to deliver twelve bottles of wine and twelve bags of chestnuts from street vendors to a cocktail party atop the Salita degli Angioli stairway in order to receive their next clue. In Sausage Encase, teams had to squeeze out nine feet (2.7 m) of luganighetta sausage, and then divide it into four coiled portions in order to receive their next clue.
  • After the Detour, teams had to retrieve a photograph from their gnome's satchel and figure out that it depicted the Pit Stop: Parco Ciani.
Additional note
  • This was a non-elimination leg.

Leg 6 (Switzerland → France)

Once in Corsica, teams traveled to the commune of Corte.
  • Episode 6: "Say Cheese" (February 2, 2022)
  • Prize: US$5,000 each (awarded to Kim & Penn)
  • Eliminated: Akbar & Sheri
Locations
Episode summary
  • During the Pit Stop, teams were flown to Corsica and began the next leg at the Ponte Novu. Teams departed in groups 15 minutes apart based on the order of their arrival at the previous Pit Stop. Teams had to drive to Belvédère de Corte and find their next clue and a canister of goat milk, which they needed for the Detour.
  • Detour: Say Cheese or Mule, Please This leg's Detour was a choice between Say Cheese or Mule, Please. In Say Cheese, teams had to make three baskets of cheese and then deliver them to a storage cave in order to receive their next clue. In Mule, Please, teams had to properly strap a harness to a mule and then deliver two milk canisters to the fromagerie without spilling any of the milk in order to receive their next clue.
  • After the Detour, teams had to drive to Verghellu Canyon Altipiani in order to find their next clue.
  • Roadblock: "Who wants to make a splash?" In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to go canyoning through a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) river course in order to find their next clue.
  • After the Roadblock, teams had to inflate a kayak and then paddle up the Tavignano River to the Pit Stop at the Cardiccia Dam.

Leg 7 (France)

During their second leg in France, teams ate casu marzu by the Tour de Fautea.
  • Episode 7: "Gently Down the Stream" (February 9, 2022)
  • Prize: A trip for two to Antalya, Turkey (awarded to Kim & Penn)
Locations
Episode summary
  • At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to drive to the Tour de Fautea in Zonza, where both team members had to eat a piece of bread with casu marzu (cheese containing maggots) in order to receive their next clue. Teams departed in groups 15 minutes apart based on the order of their arrival at the previous Pit Stop.
  • Detour: Row, Row, Row Your Boat or Gently Down the Stream This leg's Detour was a choice between Row, Row, Row Your Boat or Gently Down the Stream. In Row, Row, Row Your Boat, teams had to paddle a transparent kayak into the Mediterranean Sea and retrieve ten matching metal fish in order to receive their next clue. In Gently Down the Stream, teams had to take a 15-minute cruise on a glass-bottom boat, look for ten metal fish, and then find a chart with the same sequence of fish at the dive shop in order to receive their next clue.
  • After the Detour, teams had to drive to Port de Plaisance in Bonifacio in order to find their next clue.
  • Roadblock: "Who's feeling knotted up?" In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to repair the holes in a fishing net in order to receive their next clue.
  • After the Roadblock, teams had to search U Rastello for a Napoleon impersonator, who directed them to the Pit Stop at the Bonifacio Cliffs.
Additional note
  • This was a non-elimination leg.

Leg 8 (France → Greece)

The first Roadblock in Halkidiki had racers making dolmades.
  • Episode 8: "Souvlaki" (February 16, 2022)
  • Prize: US$7,500 each (awarded to Kim & Penn)
  • Eliminated: Lulu & Lala
Locations
Episode summary
  • During the Pit Stop, teams were flown to Thessaloniki, Greece, and began the next leg at Peraia Beach. Teams departed in groups 15 minutes apart based on the order of their arrival at the previous Pit Stop. Teams had to drive to Konstantinos Olive Grove and search among the olive trees for their next clue directing them to Marianna's Vineyard.
  • Roadblock: "Who likes to wrap?" In this leg's first Roadblock, one team member had to properly make 60 dolmades in order to receive their next clue.
  • After the first Roadblock, teams had to drive to Mamo's Kantina Stand, order the dish of the day (souvlaki), spell its name, and then eat it before finding their next clue on the wrapper, which directed them to Saint George Church.
  • Roadblock: "Who wants to be iconic?" In this leg's second Roadblock, the team member who did not perform the previous Roadblock had to listen to a 15-minute sermon from a Greek Orthodox priest, who listed facts about ten Eastern Orthodox saints. They were then asked five questions about what they'd heard and had to answer correctly in order to receive their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop at the Nea Kallikrateia Pier.

Leg 9 (Greece)

The White Tower of Thessaloniki was the location of this season's ninth Pit Stop.
  • Episode 9: "Rock Bottom" (February 23, 2022)
  • Prize: A trip for two to Kauai, Hawaii (awarded to Raquel & Cayla)
Locations
Episode summary
  • At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to drive to the Theatro Dassous in Thessaloniki. Teams departed in groups 15 minutes apart based on the order of their arrival at the previous Pit Stop.
  • Roadblock: "Who will leave no stone unturned?" In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to turn over stones until they found one of four gold coins that they could exchange with an Oracle of Delphi impersonator for their next clue.
  • After the Roadblock, teams had to listen to words of wisdom from a Socrates impersonator at the Trigonion Tower before receiving their next clue.
  • Detour: Bring 'Em or Break 'Em This season's final Detour was a choice between Bring 'Em or Break 'Em. In Bring 'Em, teams would have had to deliver 300 plates uphill to the Cafe Jasmine in order to receive a miniature clue from the restaurant owner. In Break 'Em, team members had to alternate breaking plates while a band played until they found a miniature clue. All teams chose to break plates.
  • After the Detour, teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: the White Tower of Thessaloniki, where they were greeted with words of wisdom from a Diogenes the Cynic impersonator.
Additional note
  • This was a non-elimination leg.

Leg 10 (Greece → Portugal)

Teams encountered their second Roadblock in Portugal at the Santuário de Cabo Espichel.
  • Episode 10: "No Room For Error" (March 2, 2022)
  • Prize: A trip for two to Saint Lucia (awarded to Raquel & Cayla)
  • Eliminated: Arun & Natalia
Locations
Episode summary
  • During the Pit Stop, teams were flown to Lisbon, Portugal, and began the next leg at the Sanctuary of Christ the King. Teams were instructed to drive to the Fortaleza de São Filipe, where they had to climb to the top of the fort, search for an Amazing Race flag, and then drive to its location in order to find their next clue. Teams departed in groups 15 minutes apart based on the order of their arrival at the previous Pit Stop.
  • Roadblock: "Who wants to go exploring?" In this leg's first Roadblock, one team member had to search among several rowboats named after famous Portuguese individuals until they found one of four named after a Portuguese explorer (Bartolomeu Dias, Fernão de Magalhães, Pedro Álvares Cabral, or Vasco da Gama). They then had to row it across the marina to a fisherman in order to receive their next clue.
  • After the first Roadblock, teams had to select a sardine can at the Mercearia Confiança de Troino, travel on foot to Rua Vasco da Gama, and then paint its design on a specified door in order to receive their next clue, which directed them to Santuário de Cabo Espichel.
  • Roadblock: "Who has to do this Roadblock?" In this season's final Roadblock, the team member who did not perform the previous Roadblock had to count the church's columns while standing within a stone boundary and give the correct number to a monk, who then directed them to the Pit Stop: the Farol de Cabo Espichel.

Leg 11 (Portugal → United States)

The soccer stadium inside Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California was the finish line of The Amazing Race 33.
  • Episode 11: "In the Hands of the Amazing Race Gods" (March 2, 2022)
  • Prize: US$1,000,000
  • Winners: Kim & Penn
  • Runners-up: Raquel & Cayla
  • Third place: Ryan & Dusty
Locations
Episode summary
  • During the Pit Stop, teams were flown to Los Angeles, California, and began the final leg simultaneously on the roof of the Westin Bonaventure Hotel. There, teams had to find a clue box atop three of the hotel's four towers and spot the combination "going up and down" on an elevator that they needed to unlock their next clue.
  • At the El Pueblo de Los Ángeles Historical Monument, one team member had to direct their partner, who was blindfolded with a luchador mask, to hit three specific piñatas that held the three parts of their next clue. When assembled, their clue directed them to S.I.R. Hollywood, where teams had to use props to add sound effects in sync to five silent video clips from previous seasons in order to receive their next clue.
  • Teams were next instructed to find the home of the LA Galaxy: Dignity Health Sports Park. There, teams had to answer thirteen riddles by placing the correct tennis rackets with images of people, places, and items that they'd encountered since Leg 4 onto the riddles before a chair umpire directed them to the finish line at the nearby soccer stadium.
Question Answer
You were greeted at the pit stop with
these words 		We have two ears and one tongue so
that we would listen more and talk less.
This mode of transportation
took you the rest of the way 		Corte cars
You found this under a rock Gold coin
It went this far up 8000 ft elevation
It fell out as well Red & yellow piñata candies
He greeted you with a smile and a drink Bonifacio Pit Stop greeter Stefan
Under this, he pointed the way Napoleon Bonaparte with a bicorne
He joined you throughout the leg Travelocity Roaming Gnome
You checked in here Parco Ciani
You painted this Setúbal door
Something you had to eat Souvlaki
You took this to Number 10 Setúbal rowboat
It's plated correctly Dolmades
Additional note
  • Legs 10 and 11 aired back-to-back as a special two-hour episode.

Reception

Critical response

The Amazing Race 33 received mixed-to-positive reviews. Andy Dehnart of reality blurred wrote that "The Amazing Race 33 was a great season overall. Even with some very thin legs, it felt to me like a throwback to earlier seasons, especially with the post-restart season not having any U-Turns or Yields."[55] Sage Negron of Comic Book Resources wrote that "Season 33 ended up being one of the show's stronger outings."[56] Sandy Casanova of Hidden Remote called it "another amazing season".[57] Dustin Rowles of Pajiba called it "a strange and almost surreal season of The Amazing Race."[58] Denton Davidson of Gold Derby wrote that he "loved most of the cast, but the pandemic and changes it caused this race really hurt the season overall."[59] Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter wrote that the season was "generally muted and limited challenge-wise" due to the pandemic.[60]

Ratings

U.S. Nielsen ratings
Viewership and ratings per episode of The Amazing Race 33
No. Title Air date Rating
(18–49)		 Viewers
(millions)		 DVR
(18–49)		 DVR viewers
(millions)		 Total
(18–49)		 Total viewers
(millions)		 Ref.
1–2 "We're Back!" / "It Can't Be That Easy" January 5, 2022 0.7 4.40 0.4 1.58 1.1 5.97 [61][62]
3 "Who Has This One in the Bag?" January 12, 2022 0.5 3.49 0.5 1.98 1.0 5.48 [63][62]
4 "Ready to Restart the Race" January 19, 2022 0.7 3.66 — — — — [64]
5 "Stairway to Hell" January 26, 2022 0.6 3.93 0.5 1.89 1.1 5.81 [65][62]
6 "Say Cheese" February 2, 2022 0.6 3.76 0.5 1.72 1.1 5.48 [66][62]
7 "Gently Down the Stream" February 9, 2022 0.6 2.97 0.4 1.75 1.0 4.72 [67][62]
8 "Souvlaki" February 16, 2022 0.5 3.17 0.4 1.74 0.9 4.91 [68][62]
9 "Rock Bottom" February 23, 2022 0.5 3.28 0.5 1.76 1.0 5.05 [69][62]
10–11 "No Room For Error" / "In the Hands of the Amazing Race Gods" March 2, 2022 0.7 3.97 0.3 1.73 1.0 5.71 [70][62]
Canadian ratings

Canadian broadcaster CTV also aired The Amazing Race on Wednesdays. Canadian DVR ratings are included in Numeris's count.

No. Air date Episode Viewers
(millions) 		Rank
(Week) 		Ref
1-2 January 5, 2022 (2022-01-05) "We're Back!" / "It Can't Be That Easy" 1.48 7 [71]
3 January 12, 2022 (2022-01-12) "Who Has This One in the Bag?" 1.28 9 [72]
4 January 19, 2022 (2022-01-19) "Ready to Restart the Race" 1.49 5 [73]
5 January 26, 2022 (2022-01-26) "Stairway to Hell" 1.35 8 [74]
6 February 2, 2022 (2022-02-02) "Say Cheese" 1.20 8 [75]
7 February 9, 2022 (2022-02-09) "Gently Down the Stream" 1.24 9 [76]
8 February 16, 2022 (2022-02-16) "Souvlaki" 1.28 5 [77]
9 February 23, 2022 (2022-02-23) "Rock Bottom" 1.28 11 [78]
10-11 March 2, 2022 (2022-03-02) "No Room For Error" / "In the Hands of the Amazing Race Gods" 1.34 8 [79]

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External links

  • Official website
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Original U.S. version
Seasons
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    • seasons 1-20
Versions outside the U.S.
Related