Amazing Race (French TV series)

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Amazing Race
Presented byAlexandre Delpérier
No. of teams9
WinnerAnthony Martinage & Sonja Sacha
No. of legs10
Distance traveled50,000 km (31,000 mi)
No. of episodes10
Release
Original networkD8
Original release22 October (2012-10-22) –
24 December 2012 (2012-12-24)
Additional information
Filming dates30 June (2012-06-30) –
23 July 2012 (2012-07-23)

Amazing Race : la plus grande course autour du monde ! (English: Amazing Race: the biggest race around the world!) is a French reality competition show based on the American series The Amazing Race. Following the premise of other versions in the Amazing Race franchise, the show follows nine teams of two as they race around the world. The show was split into legs, with teams tasked to deduce clues, navigate themselves in foreign areas, interact with locals, perform physical and mental challenges, and travel by air, boat, car, taxi, and other modes of transport. Teams are progressively eliminated at the end of most legs for being the last to arrive at designated Pit Stops. The first team to arrive at the Finish Line wins a grand prize of €50,000.

The show was hosted by Alexandre Delpérier, produced by Shine France for CBS Studios International and in association with ABC Studios (a division of The Walt Disney Company), distributed by The Walt Disney Company France and broadcast on D8.[1]

D8 began airing the season on Monday 22 October 2012, and D17 on Tuesday 23 October 2012, both at 8:50 p.m. CEST (UST+2)[2]

The finale aired on 24 December 2012 with cyber-friends Anthony Martinage and Sonja Sacha as the winners.

Production[edit]

Development and filming[edit]

The Starting Line for the inaugural French Amazing Race was at the Rond-point de la Balustrade in the Parc de Saint-Cloud, Paris.

On 23 March 2012, it was announced that Canal+ had acquired the format for a French version of the show. Filming started on 30 June 2012 in Paris. Teams travelled to seven countries for 24 days, spanning over 50,000 kilometres (31,000 mi) in five continents, finishing on 23 July at the Stade de France.[3][4] This season visited the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Japan, the United States (making it the first foreign version of the show to visit this country), Brazil and South Africa. Among the highlights are a leg in the streets of Bangkok, an African safari, an excursion to Iguazu Falls and the beaches of Rio de Janeiro. Teams also visited Tokyo, Dubai, Los Angeles, Hawaii and Cape Town.

Unlike its American counterpart, the show is more narrative and informative in content as the show stopped several times throughout each episode to provide viewers with information about the culture and life in the places they visit.[5] Also differing from the American version is that teams are presented their first clue for the next leg at the Pit Stop of the previous leg. The teams are also often told of their next destination at the Pit Stop before they even open these clues. Teams normally don't begin the next leg at the Pit Stop, rather, they are released separately from airports or begin the next leg at hotels they stayed in during the Pit Stop.

Casting[edit]

Applications for the show started 16 April 2012 and ended on 29 May 2012.[6] On 27 September 2012, the teams were announced on Télé-Loisirs.fr.[7]

Broadcasting[edit]

Amazing Race premiered on D8 22 October 2012 and aired each Mondays at 8:30 p.m., with three rebroadcasts on weekends: two on Saturdays at 1:45 p.m. and 10:45 p.m., and one on Sundays at 5:35 p.m.[8] These rebroadcasts were later cancelled due to declining ratings.[9] D17 also offered a rebroadcast of the show on Tuesdays starting 23 October 2012 at 8:50 p.m.

On Friday before the premiere date, D8 posted the first hour of the premiere episode via Dailymotion.[10]

Cast[edit]

Contestants Age Relationship Hometown Status
Antoine 23 Belgian Couple Charleroi, Belgium Eliminated 1st
(in Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
Héléna 21
Fabien 30 Police Officers Paris Eliminated 2nd
(in Ayutthaya, Thailand)
Aurélien 30
Mathilde 22 Parisians Garches Eliminated 3rd
(in Kualoa Valley, Hawaii)
Séverine 21
Ouceni Touré 28 Twins Villetaneuse Eliminated 4th
(in Los Angeles, California)
Lassana Touré 28
Francis Boutleux 54 Father & Son Calais Eliminated 5th
(in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Benjamin Boutleux 27
Heïdi 32 Bikers Alpes-Maritimes Eliminated 6th
(in Stellenbosch, South Africa)
Michel 54
Stéphanie François 29 Surfers Pau Third Place
Alice Digne 31
Hadj Semara 24 Childhood Friends Maubeuge Second Place
Yacim Djabali 25
Anthony Martinage 29 Cyber-Friends Paris Winners
Sonja Sacha 33

Results[edit]

The following teams participated in this season, with their relationships at the time of filming. Note that this table is not necessarily reflective of all content broadcast on television due to inclusion or exclusion of some data. Placements are listed in finishing order:

Team Position (by leg) Roadblocks
performed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Anthony & Sonja 2nd 5th2 7th⊂ 2nd 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 2nd 1st Anthony 7, Sonja 2
Hadj & Yacim 3rd 3rd 6th 6th 4th 5th 1st 3rd 1st⊃ 2nd Hadj 6, Yacim 3
Stéphanie & Alice 5th 2nd 4th 3rd 5th 3rd 4th 1st 3rd 3rd Stéphanie 4, Alice 5
Heïdi & Michel 1st 6th2 3rd 1st 3rd 4th 2nd 2nd 4th⊂ Heïdi 2, Michel 6
Francis & Benjamin 7th 4th 2nd 5th 2nd 1st 5th Francis 3, Benjamin 4
Oucéni & Lassana 8th1 1st 1st⊃ 4th 6th Oucéni 2, Lassana 3
Mathilde & Séverine 4th 7th 5th 7th Mathilde 2, Séverine 2
Fabien & Aurélien 6th 8th Fabien 1, Aurélien 1
Antoine & Héléna 9th Antoine 1, Héléna 0
Key
  • A red team placement means the team was eliminated.
  • An underlined leg number indicates that there was no mandatory rest period at the Pit Stop and all teams were ordered to continue racing. An underlined team placement indicates that the team came in last and was ordered to continue racing.
  • An underlined blue team placement indicates that the team came in last on a non-elimination leg.
  • A brown ⊃ means the team chose to use a U-Turn; ⊂ indicates the team who received it.
Notes
  1. ^ Oucéni & Lassana lost their key for the Pont des Arts task. They were able to continue racing, receiving a new key, but incurred a 20-minute penalty once they landed in Dubai.
  2. ^a b Anthony & Sonja and Heïdi & Michel initially arrived 5th and 6th, respectively, but were issued a 5-minute penalty for taking a taxi to Wat Arun instead of the ferry. This did not affect their placement.

Race summary[edit]

The complete route map for the first series of the French Amazing Race.
Destinations Air travel    Rail travel    Water travel    Bus travel
Helicopter travel    Bicycle travel    Gondola travel
Route Markers Cross Road (Detour)    Road Block (Roadblock)    Demi-tour (U-Turn)    ligne d'arrivée (Pit Stop)

Leg 1 (France → United Arab Emirates)[edit]

Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai hosted the season's first Pit Stop.

Airdate: 22 October 2012

This series' first Detour was a choice between Perles (Pearls) or Chameaux (Camels). In Perles, teams had to find and count, with the help of a sieve, the exact number of pearls in an earthenware jar filled with sand. Once the exact number of pearls was given to the pearler, accompanied by all the pearls contained in the jar, teams could receive their next clue. In Chameaux, teams, with the help of a camel, had to retrieve two bags of hay and deliver them to the cameleer. While one team member rode the camel, their partner had to guide the animal along the path. Both team members must hang the bags of hay on the camel by the themselves. Once the hay had been brought back, teams would receive their next clue from the cameleer.

In this series' first Roadblock, teams had to travel to a nearby aerodrome to sign up for one of three flights. The chosen team member then had to board an aeroplane and perform a 4,000-metre (13,000 ft) tandem skydive. If they jumped within a 10-minute time limit, they received their next clue from an instructor once on the ground. Otherwise, they had to wait out a four-hour penalty.

Additional tasks
  • At Pont des Arts, teams had to use the key in their first clue to find the one Amazing Race colored love lock out of one hundred placed on the bridge it unlocked and give it to the couple of young lovers in exchange for their next clue.
  • At Ski Dubai, teams had to take snow with the help of buoys and shovels and carry it outside, where the temperature was approximately 50 °C (122 °F). They then had to build a 140-centimetre (4.6 ft) snowman before the snow melted to receive their next clue.
Additional notes
  • Teams had to travel to a travel agency located at 1, Rue des Mauvais-Garçons to book one of two flights to Dubai.
  • Once in Dubai, teams had to find an assigned taxi driver with their picture in one of the airport's car parks, who would drive them to the desert.
  • The last three teams were not told their placings after arriving at the Pit Stop and were told together of their positions after all the teams arrived after dark.

Leg 2 (United Arab Emirates → Thailand)[edit]

In Bangkok, teams had to take the ferry to Wat Arun where they later encountered a Roadblock.

Airdate: 29 October 2012

This leg's Detour was a choice between Degustation (Taste) or Provisions (Supplies). In Degustation, teams had to share and eat two bowls of traditional Thai dishes; the first one containing two scorpions, and the second one, three cockroaches. Once they've eaten all of the insects contained in their plates, teams could receive their next clue from the chef. In Provisions, teams were given a shopping list completely written in Thai and had to buy, with their own money, all of the ten ingredients on the list. Once they brought back all the food to an old lady, they could exchange them for their next clue.

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to climb the stairs of Wat Arun to the top section and count the statues. Once they gave the correct number (100) to a Thai dancer on the ground, they would receive their next clue. But if they gave a wrong number, they would have to climb again and re-count all the statues before they could give a new answer to the dancer.

Additional tasks
  • At Davis Bangkok Hotel, teams had to sign up for one of two departure times for the next morning, 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.
  • At Wat Pho, teams had to find a young student near the Phra Chedi Moo Ha. They were left to figure out that there were four Chedi, and the student was located beside one of them.
  • At the Elephant Stay Reserve, teams had to ride an elephant into the river, where they would have to wash off the traditional markings painted on it to receive their next clue.

Leg 3 (Thailand → Japan)[edit]

At Tokyo's Shibuya Scramble Crossing teams had to look for their next clue on the big center right screen located on the building.

Airdate: 5 November 2012

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to grab their next clue from a young sumotori while wrestling against him. If the team member stepped outside the red circle or fell on the ground before grabbing their clue, they would have to wait five minutes, or more if there's others teams, to restart the combat.

This leg's Detour was a choice between Nouilles (Noodles) or Poissons (Fishes). In Nouilles, teams had to deliver six bowls of noodles to a group of customers 150 meters away from a restaurant, while wearing a kimono and a pair of geta and without spilling soup below a bowl's red pattern, to receive their next clue. In Poissons, teams had to play a game called goldfish scooping and catch 15 goldfish with rice paper scoopers to receive their next clue.

Additional tasks
  • At the Shibuya Scramble Crossing, teams had to spot the Amazing Race logo on one of the giant screens, that would after show them a keyword written in Japanese, appearing for ten seconds every two minutes. Teams were left to figure out that this word meant Hachikō and that they were directed to go to the Hachikō statue. A young Tokyoite located beside the statue would then exchange the word Hachikō for their next clue.
  • At the Capsule Land Hotel, teams had to sign up for seven different departure times for the next morning, where they would receive their next clue, the first one at 8:00 a.m. and the last at 9:00 a.m., each one separated by ten minutes.
  • At the Jingu Bashi Bridge, teams had to find, with the help of a drawing of the character given them in the clue envelope, a person dressed as Son Goku, the main protagonist of Dragon Ball, and give him a pink coloured gift to receive their next clue.

Leg 4 (Japan → United States)[edit]

For the Roadblock in Hawaii, one team member had to board the USS Missouri and decipher flag semaphore.

Airdate: 12 November 2012

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to decipher their next destination (Kawela Bay), which would be presented to them through the use of flag semaphore, to receive their next clue. Racers were given a list of flag positions representing each letter, but they would have to memorize it before a naval officer would present them with their destination.

This leg's Detour was a choice between Glace Pilée (Crushed Ice) or Pierre Cassée (Broken Stone). In Glace Pilée, teams had to fill a bucket with shave ice using a traditional saw to shave a block of ice to receive their next clue. In Pierre Cassée, teams had to take a surfboard out to a buoy in the water using the traditional Hawaiian standard of standing upright on top of it, retrieve a two-kilogram (4.4 lb) stone from beneath the buoy, and return it to shore. They would then have to use a chisel to break the stone and retrieve their clue from inside.

Additional task
  • At Kawela Bay, teams signed up for departure times the following morning. The first four teams would depart at 8:45 a.m., and the last three would depart at 9:00 a.m. During the rest, teams got to enjoy a private beach and a lūʻau.

Leg 5 (United States)[edit]

In Los Angeles, teams had to find a saxophonist outside the Walt Disney Concert Hall playing one of the songs on a CD given to them, "The Bare Necessities".

Airdate: 19 November 2012

This leg's Detour was a choice between Pic à Glace (Ice Pick) or Picasso. In Pic à Glace, teams had to take control of an ice cream cart and sell ice cream cones for at least US$2 a cone until they made US$30 to receive their next clue. In Picasso, teams had to convince passersby to let them paint caricatures of them and sell them to make US$30 to receive their next clue.

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to successfully perform a burnout in a car on a movie set to receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

Leg 6 (United States → Brazil)[edit]

The sixth leg had teams visit Iguaçu Falls in Iguaçu National Park.

Airdate: 26 November 2012

This leg's Detour was a choice between Connaissance (Knowledge) or Patience. In Connaissance, teams had to choose from a variety of items representing Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, and correctly give five of each to the correct representatives of each country to receive their next clue. However, a bank note from Panama and a map from Chile were included to trick teams. In Patience, teams had to untangle a large knot of ropes to release their next clue from within.

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to rappel 55 metres (180 ft) down Cânion Iguaçu to receive their next clue.

Additional tasks
  • At the Jungle Camp, teams signed up for departure times the following morning. At night, teams received video messages from their loved ones at home.
  • After the Detour, teams had to repair and inflate the tires of bikes, which they would use to ride to their next destination.
  • At the Iguaçu River, teams had to ride kayaks five kilometres (3.1 mi) down the river to get their next clue.
  • After the Roadblock, teams had to raft four kilometres (2.5 mi) down the river to the Pit Stop.
Additional note
  • Throughout this leg, teams followed coloured flags to guide them around the national park. Orange flags led to the camp, red led to the Detour clue, pink led to the knowledge Detour, green led to the patience Detour and the bike parking lot, light blue led to the end of the bike course, and yellow led to the Roadblock clue.

Leg 7 (Brazil)[edit]

In Rio de Janeiro, teams visited the famous Christ the Redeemer statue to find a clue.

Airdate: 3 December 2012

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to kick a soccer ball through a small metal grate representing their goal, but could not let the ball knock away the piece of wood at the bottom of the opening, meaning teams needed to kick the ball through the air. They would have to accomplish this task twice in five attempts, or they would have to go to the back of the line.

This leg's Detour was a choice between Jeu de Jambes (Leg Game) or Jeu de Plage (Beach Game). In Jeu de Jambes, teams had to learn and perform a samba dance to the satisfaction of a judge to receive their next clue. In Jeu de Plage, teams had to add the word "Race" to a pre-existing sand sculpture of Corcovado with "Amazing" written on it. They would then have to cover a small Christ the Redeemer statue with wet sand to complete the sculpture and receive their next clue.

Additional tasks
  • In the Cantagalo slums, teams had to follow Amazing Race flags and arrows to find a young boy named João with their next clue.
  • At Largo da Carioca, teams had to conduct a survey with the people of Rio de Janeiro. They had to find eight people from eight different states of Brazil and bring them to the judge, who would verify their place of birth and stamp the survey.

Leg 8 (Brazil → South Africa)[edit]

In this leg, teams traveled to Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town to perform one of the selected Detours.

Airdate: 10 December 2012

This leg's Detour was a choice between Radio or Disco. In Radio, teams had to travel to the Waterfront's market, where they had to put together two radios with the material provided to receive their clue. In Disco, teams had to learn and perform a Gumboot dance with a troupe of African dancers to receive their clue.

Additional tasks
  • At the District Six Museum, teams had to complete a wood block puzzle, which would reveal two street names. Teams had to use the large map of District 6 on the ground to find the written name of someone who used to live at the intersection of these two before being removed during Apartheid. They would then have to find this person inside the museum to receive their next clue.
  • After the task in the District Six Museum, teams had to procure a copy of the Cape Times and had to find their next clue printed inside, indicating where they would find their cars and their next clue envelope.
  • At the Intyatyambo Orphanage, teams participated in Mandela Day activities and helped out at the orphanage by delivering gifts provided in their vehicles, doing chores and repairing the site for 67 minutes (in reference to the Mandela Day slogan) before receiving their next clue.

Leg 9 (South Africa)[edit]

Much of the second leg in South Africa was set in the Aquila Private Game Reserve.

Airdate: 17 December 2012

This leg's Detour was a choice between Jeu de la Terre (Dry Game) or Jeu de l'eau (Wet Game). In Jeu de la Terre, teams were faced with a series of pots suspended from an arch. The pot in the middle was painted black, and had to be avoided. Teams had to use a traditional tribal club from a distance to hit the pots. If the black pot was hit, teams incurred a ten-minute penalty. In Jeu de l'eau, teams had to open an ostrich egg and empty its contents. They then had to use the egg shells to transport water and fill a jar to receive their next clue.

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to roll a 120-kilogram (260 lb) leaking wine barrel 200 metres (660 ft) to the wine vats and refill it before receiving their next clue.

Additional tasks
  • At the Aquila Game Reserve, teams first participated in a safari and had to use binoculars to look for numbers scattered throughout the safari, which would be used to answer the eight questions about wildlife after arriving at Stone Cottage. These questions were: The maximum speed of lion (50 km/h), days hippo can go without drinking (5 days), Elephant gestation period (22 months), amount of vertebrae in a giraffe's spines (7), average weight of cheetah (60 kg), amount of time the lion can sleep per day (20 hours), amount of time a hippo can stay underwater (6 minutes) and white rhino's life expectancy (45). Once they answered all questions correctly, teams could proceed to the Detour.

Leg 10 (South Africa → France)[edit]

The final task of Amazing Race took place at Chaalis Abbey.

Airdate: 24 December 2012

In this season's final Roadblock, teams took a boat out to the ocean, where one team member had to descend down in a shark cage. They then had to take a photograph of a shark, fitting its entire body into the image, before they could grab their clue from the shark cage and return to the boat. If they took a good photograph of the shark, they would receive a 15-minute headstart at the Paris airport.

This season's final Detour was a choice between Crème Fouettée (Whipped Cream) or Cible Visée (Target Sight). In Crème Fouettée, teams had to use the provided ingredients to make a batch of Crème Chantilly to a chef's satisfaction to receive their next clue. In Cible Visée, teams had to shoot arrows at a target using a bow and needed to get two in the outer blue part, two in the middle red part, and two in the centre yellow part to receive their next clue.

Additional tasks
  • At La Mer de Sable, teams had to dig in the sand to find their next clue. However, some holes contained clues saying "Try again".
  • In the final challenge at the Chaalis Abbey, teams had to place markers containing distances in kilometres next to each destination they visited on the season, indicating how far away the location is from Paris, to receive their final clue. The correct answers were:
City Distance
Dubai 5245
Bangkok 9443
Tokyo 9712
Honolulu 11969
Los Angeles 9085
Iguaçu 9982
Rio de Janeiro 9168
Cape Town 9341
Aquila 9192
  • At the Stade de France, teams had to find the commemorative star for Zinedine Zidane, where they would find a clue box containing tickets that would grant them entrance to the stadium and to the final Pit Stop.
Additional notes
  • Teams opened their clue for this leg's Roadblock after arriving at the previous leg's Pit Stop. They had to decide who would perform it before checking in there.
  • Like the first leg, teams were not told of their placing after arriving at the Pit Stop. Instead, they were all told together after all teams had checked in.

Ratings[edit]

The following information was taken from Médiamétrie.

Episode Airdate Viewers Market Share (Ages 4+) Rank
1 22 October 2012 868,000 3.5% #8
2 29 October 2012 634,000 2.5% #9
3 5 November 2012 618,000 2.4% #10
4 12 November 2012 596,000 2.3% #11
5 19 November 2012 587,000 2.3% #9
6 26 November 2012 559,000 2.1% #11
7 3 December 2012 445,000 1.7% #12
8 10 December 2012 445,000 1.7% #12
9 17 December 2012 418,000 1.6% #10
10 24 December 2012 220,000 1.5% #11

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Canal+ a acquis le format "The Amazing Race"... pour Direct 8". 24 April 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  2. ^ "Amazing Race : la course démarre le lundi 22 octobre sur D8". 2 October 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  3. ^ "The Amazing Race : Focus sur la folle course d'aventure autour du monde !". Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  4. ^ "CAN, Frédéric Mitterrand, Amazing Race : tous les détails sur les programmes de D8". 20 September 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  5. ^ "Programmes TV - "Amazing Race, un jeu d'aventures comme au cinéma" - Divertissement - le Figaro TV". Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  6. ^ "Casting de la plus grande course autour du monde jamais organisée à la télévision…c'est pour vous !". Archived from the original on 11 June 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  7. ^ "Amazing Race : Tout sur le Pékin Express de D8". 27 September 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  8. ^ "Amazing Race – Upcoming & Past Episodes". Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  9. ^ "EXCLU: D8 déprogramme les rediffusions de "Amazing Race"". Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  10. ^ "Amazing Race : Regardez la première heure du jeu d'aventures de D8 (VIDEO)". Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2012.

External links[edit]

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