The Amazing Race 10
Season 10
Region 1 DVD cover
Presented byPhil Keoghan
No. of teams12
WinnerTyler Denk & James Branaman
No. of legs12
Distance traveled40,000 mi (64,000 km)
No. of episodes13
Release
Original networkCBS
Original releaseSeptember 17 (2006-09-17) –
December 10, 2006 (2006-12-10)
Additional information
Filming datesMay 27 (2006-05-27) –
June 24, 2006 (2006-06-24)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 9
Next →
Season 11
List of episodes

The Amazing Race 10 is the tenth season of the American reality competition show The Amazing Race. Hosted by Phil Keoghan, it featured twelve 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 thirteen countries and traveled over 40,000 miles (64,000 km). Starting in Seattle, racers traveled through China, Mongolia, Vietnam, India, Kuwait, Mauritius, Madagascar, Finland, Ukraine, Morocco, Spain, and France before finishing in the Hudson Valley. New twists introduced in this season include a mid-leg elimination; the Intersection, where two teams had to join up for a task; and a new non-elimination penalty, where the team who finished last in the previous leg had to finish first in the subsequent leg or else incur a 30-minute penalty. The season premiered on CBS on September 17, 2006, and concluded on December 10, 2006.

Professional models Tyler Denk and James Branaman were the winners of this season, while dating couple Rob Diaz and Kimberly Chabolla finished in second place, and single mothers Lyn Turk and Karlyn Harris finished in third place.

Production

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Development and filming

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The starting line of this season was at Gas Works Park in Seattle, Washington.

Filming for this season began on May 27, 2006 at Gas Works Park in Seattle.[1] On June 9, teams were spotted at Kuwait International Airport asking for directions to the Kuwait Towers.[2] On June 12, the show was in Mauritius.[1] On June 16, tasks were performed at Ylöjärvi and in the Helsinki Olympic Stadium.[1] Filming concluded on June 24.[3]

The Amazing Race 10 spanned 40,000 miles (64,000 km) and covered four continents and thirteen countries. Among them were six that were new to the series: Mongolia, Kuwait, Mauritius, Madagascar, Finland, and Ukraine. It was also the first season to circumnavigate the globe in a generally westward fashion, crossing the Pacific Ocean on the first leg and crossing the Atlantic on the final leg.

The Amazing Race 10 saw the show's first double elimination in a single leg, when one team was eliminated halfway through the leg and another at the end. It also introduced a new obstacle, the Intersection, which required two teams to work together until otherwise instructed. The Intersection was also shown in conjunction with a Fast Forward, allowing both teams working together to receive the benefit of the Fast Forward.

Additionally, the penalty for coming in last on a non-elimination leg was changed. Instead of being stripped of their money and possessions, the last place team was "marked for elimination". This meant that the marked team suffered a 30-minute penalty at the next Pit Stop unless they were first to check in.

During the leg in Ukraine, host Phil Keoghan was detained at the airport for traveling to the country with a New Zealand passport and without a Ukrainian visa, which he had been informed prior to filming wasn't needed. He was released the next day after a worker from the American embassy processed a visa for him. After being released, Keoghan arrived at the Pit Stop ten minutes before the lead team arrived.[4]

Cast

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Sarah Reinertsen

The cast of The Amazing Race 10 was increased to twelve teams for the first time since season 4. It included best friends, a couple, college cheerleaders, boyfriends, brothers, a Paralympian with a prosthetic leg, recovering drug addicts, beauty pageant queens, and a pair of single mothers.

While Peter & Sarah were portrayed as a newly dating couple, to the extent that Sarah seemingly broke up with Peter during their elimination in Kuwait, Sarah Reinertsen revealed that they were only friends whose "dating" was non-existent and created to give them an interesting storyline, although she did say that her displeasure over Peter's cold and hectoring behavior on the show was genuine.[5]

Contestants Age Relationship Hometown Status
Bilal Abdul-Mani 37 Best Friends Cleveland, Ohio Eliminated 1st
(in Beijing, China)
Sa'eed Rudolph 39
Vipul Patel 29 Married Windermere, Florida Eliminated 2nd
(in Beijing, China)
Arti Patel 26
Kellie Patterson 22 Cheerleaders Columbia, South Carolina Eliminated 3rd
(in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia)
Jamie Hill 22
Duke Marcoccio 52 Father & Daughter Warwick, Rhode Island Eliminated 4th
(in Phố Vác, Vietnam)
Lauren Marcoccio 26
Tom Rock 39 Boyfriends New York City, New York Eliminated 5th
(in Hạ Long Bay, Vietnam)
Terry Cosentino 45
Peter Harsch 35 Recently Dating Laguna Beach, California Eliminated 6th
(in Kuwait City, Kuwait)
Sarah Reinertsen 31 Trabuco Canyon, California
David Conley, Jr. 32 Coal Miner and Wife Stone, Kentucky Eliminated 7th
(in Antananarivo, Madagascar)
Mary Conley 31
Erwin Cho 32 Brothers San Francisco, California Eliminated 8th
(in Kyiv, Ukraine)
Godwin Cho 29
Dustin Konzelman 24 Beauty Queens Riverside, California Eliminated 9th
(in Barcelona, Spain)
Kandice Pelletier 24 New York City, New York
Lyn Turk 32 Single Moms & Friends Birmingham, Alabama Third place
Karlyn Harris 32 Helena, Alabama
Rob Diaz 31 Dating Los Angeles, California Runners-up
Kimberly Chabolla 28
Tyler Denk 29 Models Los Angeles, California Winners
James Branaman 27
Future appearances

Dustin & Kandice and David & Mary were selected to race in The Amazing Race: All-Stars.[6]

David & Mary also appeared on The View where they received gifts from the show, including vacations, a Ford Explorer, and a new house.[7] In 2021, Tom Rock and Terry Cosentino competed on Ellen's Game of Games.[8]

Results

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

Team placement (by leg)
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8+[b] 9a[c] 9b 10 11 12
Tyler & James 1st 2nd 2nd 3rd 6th 6th 2nd 2ndƒ[d] 1st 1st 1st 3rd 1st
Rob & Kimberly 5th 6th 3rd 1st 3rd 3rd 3rd 3rdƒ[d] 4th 3rd 3rd 1st 2nd
Lyn & Karlyn 9th 9th 6th 6th 5th 4th 5th 5th 3rd 4th 2nd<[e] 2nd 3rd
Dustin & Kandice 4th 5th 4th 7th 2nd 2nd 1st 1st 2nd 2nd 4th>[e] 4th
Erwin & Godwin 7th 8th 1st 4th 4th 5th 4th 4th 5th 5th
David & Mary 10th 7th 7th 5th 7th 1stƒ[d] 6th 6th[f]
Peter & Sarah 3rd 1st 5th 2nd 1st 7th
Tom & Terry 8th 4th 8th[g] 8th
Duke & Lauren 2nd 3rd 9th
Kellie & Jamie 6th 10th
Vipul & Arti 11th
Bilal & Sa'eed 12th[h]
Notes
  1. ^ A team that is "marked for elimination" must check in at the Pit Stop in first place; otherwise they would receive a 30-minute penalty.
  2. ^ This leg featured an Intersection. The teams were paired up thusly: Tyler & James and Rob & Kimberly, Lyn & Karlyn and David & Mary, and Dustin & Kandice and Erwin & Godwin.
  3. ^ This was a double leg with two Detours and two Roadblocks shown over two episodes. The placements listed for the first half are the order of the teams' completion of the first Roadblock in Finland.
  4. ^ a b c This team won the Fast Forward on this leg.
  5. ^ a b Dustin & Kandice chose to Yield Lyn & Karlyn.
  6. ^ David & Mary initially arrived 5th, but were issued a 30-minute penalty for being "marked for elimination". Lyn & Karlyn checked in during this penalty time, dropping David & Mary to last.
  7. ^ Tom & Terry initially arrived 2nd, but were issued a 30-minute penalty for traveling on motorcycles, which had been explicitly prohibited. Six teams checked in during this penalty time, dropping Tom & Terry to 8th.
  8. ^ Bilal & Sa'eed were the last team to arrive at the Meridian Gate in the Forbidden City and were eliminated in the middle of the first leg.

Race summary

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The route of The Amazing Race 10.
Destinations Air travel    Rail travel    Water travel    Bus travel
Helicopter travel    Bicycle travel    Gondola travel
Route Markers Detour    Roadblock    Fast Forward    Yield    Intersection    Pit Stop

Leg 1 (United States → China)

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The Meridian Gate in the Forbidden City was the first leg's midpoint and where teams spent the night.
Locations
Episode summary

Leg 2 (China → Mongolia)

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One of the Detour choices in Mongolia involved disassembling a traditional nomadic yurt.
Locations
Episode summary

Leg 3 (Mongolia → Vietnam)

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In Hanoi, teams traveled to Hỏa Lò Prison, known as the "Hanoi Hilton" during the Vietnam War, and searched for John McCain's flight suit.
Locations
Episode summary
Additional notes

Leg 4 (Vietnam)

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This leg in Vietnam focused on Hạ Long Bay.
Locations
Episode summary

Leg 5 (Vietnam → India)

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A Detour choice in Chennai involved forming a traditional floral image using colored powder.
Locations
Episode summary
Additional notes

Leg 6 (India → Kuwait)

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After arriving in Kuwait, one team member had to climb a ladder on the outside of Kuwait Towers.
Locations
Episode summary
Additional note

Leg 7 (Kuwait → Mauritius)

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While in Mauritius, teams visited the shores of Grand Baie.
Locations
Episode summary
Additional note

Leg 8 (Mauritius → Madagascar)

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In Antananarivo, teams encountered the first ever Intersection beneath the Black Angel Statue on Lake Anosy.
Locations
Episode summary

Leg 9 (Madagascar → Finland → Ukraine)

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In this double-length leg, teams had to rappel down the tower of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium in Finland...
...before continuing to Ukraine and the Pit Stop at the base of The Motherland Monument overlooking downtown Kyiv.
Locations
Episode summary (Episode 9)
Episode summary (Episode 10)
Additional notes

Leg 10 (Ukraine → Morocco)

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After arriving in Ouarzazate, teams drove to the kasbah and searched for an antique shop.
Locations
Episode summary
Additional notes

Leg 11 (Morocco → Spain)

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Palau Nacional de Montjuïc in Barcelona was the season's penultimate Pit Stop.
Locations
Episode summary

Leg 12 (Spain → France → United States)

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Teams finished The Amazing Race 10 at Saint Basil Academy in Garrison, New York.
Locations
Episode summary
Additional note

Reception

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Critical response

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The Amazing Race 10 received mixed reviews. Linda Holmes of Television Without Pity was critical of this season's boot order, but said, "So was the season disappointing? It was not."[11] Eric Goldman of IGN called it a solid season.[12] Heather Havrilesky of Salon wrote that "after so much shared struggle and heartbreak, we find that we can hardly remember a single detail from our time with these strangers."[13] In 2016, this season was ranked 14th out of the first 27 seasons by the Rob Has a Podcast Amazing Race correspondents.[14] In 2021, Val Barone of TheThings ranked this season as the show's 5th best season.[15]

Ratings

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Canadian ratings
Order Episode Viewers (millions) Rank
1 "Real Fast! Quack, Quack!" 2.14 #6
2 "Can Horses Smell Fear?" 2.11 #8[16]
3 "Oh, Wow! It's Like One of Those Things You See on TV!" 1.89 #10
4 "I Know Phil, Little Ol' Gorgeous Thing" 1.55 #12
5 "I Covered His Mouth, Oh My Gosh!" 2.17 #8
6 "Maybe Steven Segal Will See Me and Want Me to Be in One of His Movies" 2.23 #8
7 "I Wonder If This Is Going to Make My Fingers Pickle" 1.94 #6
8 "He Can't Swim But He Can Eat Cow Lips!" 2.04 #8
9 "Being Polite Sucks Sometimes" 2.11 #6
10 "Lookin' Like a Blue-Haired Lady on a Sunday Drive" 1.89 #12
11 "We Just Won't Die, Like Roaches" 2.13 #8
12 "Dude, I'm Such a Hot Giant Chick Right Now!" 2.07 #6
13 "Say Your Deepest Prayers Ever!" 2.02 #4

Awards

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Season 10 won the 2007 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program.[17] This was the series' fifth consecutive win in that category, having won every year since the category was first introduced in 2003.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Andy Dehnart (July 3, 2006). "The Amazing Race 10 spotted around the world; Miss America contestant is a cast member". reality blurred. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  2. ^ Andy Dehnart (June 12, 2006). "The Amazing Race 10 spotted in Kuwait". reality blurred. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  3. ^ Andy Dehnart (July 4, 2006). "More information revealed about Amazing Race 10 teams, challenges". reality blurred. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  4. ^ Morabito, Andrea (May 31, 2017). "'Amazing Race' crew reveal their craziest behind-the-scenes tales". New York Post. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  5. ^ San Juan amputee tells 'real' story behind Amazing Race. Retrieved on July 21, 2012
  6. ^ Rogers, Steve (January 16, 2007). "CBS unveils 'The Amazing Race: All-Stars' cast, show to debut Feb. 18". Reality TV World. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  7. ^ "'Race' couple Dave and Mary Conley given new car, home, and more". Reality TV World. November 8, 2006. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  8. ^ "Wife of the Party". Ellen's Game of Games. Season 4. Episode 18. May 2, 2021. NBC.
  9. ^ Goldman, Eric (October 24, 2006). "Amazing Race Exclusive Interview: Peter & Sarah". IGN. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  10. ^ Goldman, Eric (December 13, 2006). "Amazing Race Exclusive Interview: Lyn & Karlyn". IGN. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  11. ^ Linda Holmes (December 15, 2006). "Go overdogs!". Television Without Pity. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  12. ^ Goldman, Eric (December 11, 2006). "The Amazing Race 10: "Say Your Deepest Prayers Ever" Review". IGN. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  13. ^ Heather Havrilesky (December 17, 2006). "I Like to Watch". Salon. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  14. ^ Mike Bloom; Jessica Liese; Dan Heaton (February 5, 2016). "Amazing Race | Ranking the Season". Rob Has a Podcast (Podcast). Event occurs at 58:24. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  15. ^ Barone, Val (June 5, 2021). "The Top 10 Best 'Amazing Race' Seasons Ranked". TheThings. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  16. ^ "Top Programs - Total Canada (English):September 18–24, 2006" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 4, 2007.
  17. ^ "2007 Emmys CONFIRMED Episode Submissions". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 22, 2007.
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