The Amazing Race 14
The Amazing Race 14 is the fourteenth installment of the American reality television show "The Amazing Race". This season featured 11 teams of two, with a pre-existing relationship, in a race around the world. The season premiered on Sunday, February 15, 2009, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT and aired on Sunday nights with the season finale on May 10, 2009. The show was again hosted by Phil Keoghan. Siblings Tamara Tien-Jan "Tammy" and Victor Jih were the winners of this season and were the first Asian American contestants to win the competition. Production. Development  and filming. "The Amazing Race 14" lasted for 22 days and traveled over . The teams raced in nine countries, including Romania and the Russian region of Siberia for the first time, as well as Switzerland, Germany, Austria, India, China, and Thailand, with the Finish Line in Maui, Hawaii. In an interview, executive producer Bertram van Munster revealed that the teams took a 13-hour train ride on the Trans-Siberian Railway and got into a Siberian snowstorm with below-zero temperatures. He also revealed that the teams suffered extreme climates, intense Roadblocks, and less time in airports, which added up  to an exhausting course for the racers. In addition, CBS revealed the season included the world's second tallest bungee jump, suffocating heat in India, and an Olympic-themed challenge that left the teams "gasping for air." The show's route map was updated via Google Earth, and according to Bertram van Munster prior to the show's debut, the season included new graphics, a new opening sequence (consequently, the team videos preceding a team's close up are updated throughout the season to reflect tasks that have already been completed), and a tuneup in the musical score (still keeping  the key in B flat minor), as well as the use of a split screen to show several scenes at the same time. This season also changed its main team names and route info font from Microgramma to Bank Gothic. Season 14 introduced a new twist to the U-Turn: the U-Turn in Leg 4 was a Blind U-Turn, in which the team electing to use it did so anonymously; other U-Turns (and the Yields that were replaced) required teams utilizing them to acknowledge their use to subsequent teams. The U-Turn in the second half of  Leg 10 was a normal U-Turn. Leg 10 was a double-length leg, a surprise feature of every season from Season 6 to Season 10; however, this double-length leg was the first where it was revealed to the teams at a location that was explicitly called a Pit Stop but teams were not warned of an elimination in the clue. In previous seasons, teams were either given some implicit reference to a Pit Stop, such as "go and meet Phil Keoghan at the mat" and were handed their next clue by Keoghan or were given a clue to  continue racing at a clue box where a clue directing teams to the Pit Stop would have been expected. This time however, after checking in, teams were told "this leg of the race is not over" and were given a clue to continue racing. This is the last season to feature a double-length leg and only consist of 11 legs until Season 32, which renamed the double-length leg to the mega leg. Mel & Mike confirmed in a post-show interview that there was an unaired, unused, Fast Forward in Leg 7 that involved purchasing items for an orphanage  using the team's own money. This was the first season ever where no team took the Fast Forward option throughout the season. The Maui Finish Line was the southernmost finish location in the American version of "The Amazing Race". Cast. Applications were due on May 28, 2008. Semi-finalist interviews were held sometime in June 2008, and the final casting interviews were held in Los Angeles around late June or early July 2008. Scouting for locations was performed during August. Filming took place during November 2008. One member of the cast, Luke Adams, was the first deaf contestant in  the American series and relied on his mother Margie Adams to communicate in the competition. ("The Amazing Race Asia 2" winner Adrian Yap was the only other deaf "Amazing Race" contestant.) Margie & Luke had originally applied to be on "The Amazing Race 8" (along with two other family members), but ended up being one of the last families cut. Mike White had originally been chosen to participate on "The Amazing Race 13" with director Jon Kasdan, but the latter dropped out before filming. The show's casting director wanted White for Season 14 and he was ultimately paired with his  father for the show. Amanda & Kris married in 2012. As of 2015, Jen is married with two children. In 2015, Jaime Edmondson married MLB player Evan Longoria and has two children. Cara was married and then divorced, and has since remarried and had a daughter too. After this season, Jodi Wincheski began working as a casting producer for both "The Amazing Race" and "Survivor". Future appearances. Amanda & Kris, Mel & Mike, Kisha & Jen, Margie & Luke, and Jaime & Cara raced again in "The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business" among a cast made up of returning teams from seasons 12–17. Margie & Luke also competed  in the second All-Star edition. Outside of "The Amazing Race", Jaime Edmondson appeared on "The Girls Next Door" and "". Victoria Hunt appeared on the TLC reality show "Extreme Cheapskates" in 2012. Mike White later competed in his third reality TV appearance on the thirty-seventh season of "Survivor", entitled "", and finished as the first runner-up. Results. The following teams participated in the season, each listed along with their placements in each leg and relationships as identified by the program. Note that this table is not necessarily reflective of all content broadcast on television, owing to the inclusion or  exclusion of some data. Placements are listed in finishing order: Episode title quotes. Episode titles are often taken from quotes made by the racers. Prizes. The prize for each leg is awarded to the first place team for that leg. Trips were provided by Travelocity. The prizes were: Jaime revealed in a post-show interview that she and Cara were awarded jet skis for coming in first at the midpoint of Leg 10. Elimination Station. After elimination, the first six teams eliminated were sequestered at a villa in Ko Samui, Thailand to await the finale. CBS posted short videos on  its website after each episode aired in the Pacific time zone to show the eliminated teams interacting at the villa. Race summary. Leg 1 (United States → Switzerland). Airdate: February 15, 2009 In this season's first Roadblock, one team member had to bungee jump off the Verzasca Dam, the second highest commercial bungee in the world at a height of 70 stories, to receive their next clue. This task was later revisited on Season 33 as a Switchback. Leg 2 (Switzerland → Germany → Austria). Airdate: February 22, 2009 In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to  choose an instructor and tandem paraglide off a mountain below to a landing area, where their partner was waiting with their next clue. In the event of unfavorable winds, they had a choice between waiting an undetermined amount of time for optimal conditions or taking a 60-minute hike down the mountain. This season's first Detour was a choice between Balancing Dolly or Austrian Folly. In Balancing Dolly, both team members had to navigate a Segways over a road obstacle course to receive their next clue. In Austrian Folly, teams had to enter a party tent and throw Bavarian  pies at a target, unaware that their target would be their partner's face. They had to take turns smacking each other in the face until they found a pie with cherry filling to receive their next clue. Leg 3 (Austria → Romania). Airdate: March 1, 2009 In this leg's Roadblock, which homaged gymnast Nadia Comăneci, one team member had to complete a series of moves for three gymnastics disciplines – the balance beam, the parallel bars, and floor exercises – to receive their next clue. This leg's Detour was a choice between Gypsy Moves or Vampire Remains. In Gypsy  Moves, teams made their way to a gypsy encampment and had to help a family of gypsies move from one camp to another by loading their belongings on a traditional horse-drawn cart and unloading them at another location to receive their next clue from the head of the family. In Vampire Remains, teams had to drag a chained coffin to a field of stakes in the shadow of Bran Castle. There, they had to undo the coffin's chains to find several antique frames which they then had to impale them by smashing the stakes, referencing Vlad the Impaler , who inspired Bram Stoker's "Dracula", until they found one containing an "Amazing Race" flag that they could trade for their next clue. Leg 4 (Romania → Russia). Airdate: March 8, 2009 This leg's Detour was a choice between Stack or Construct. In Stack, teams had to properly stack wood into a large wall formation in front of an existing stack to receive their next clue from a lumberjack. If their wall collapsed into the existing one, they would have to rebuild both. In Construct, teams had to travel to a workshop and assemble a local-style window frame , then they have to look for a house marked with a "Repairs Needed" sign and install the window to receive their next clue from a carpenter. In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to complete a lap on a bobsled roller coaster with a speed of up to in under four minutes while looking for seven letters scattered around the track. They then had to arrange the letters to spell the name of a famous Russian playwright (CHEKHOV) to receive their next clue. Leg 5 (Russia). Airdate: March 15, 2009 This leg's Detour was a choice between  Russian Bride or Russian Snowplow. In Russian Bride, teams drove themselves to the Soviet-era apartment building 4 on Komsomolskaya Street to fetch a Russian bride and bring her to the Voznesensky Cathedral, where her groom was waiting. Once the team had a picture taken with the couple, the groom would give teams their next clue. In Russian Snowplow, teams headed to Stadium Spartak, where each team member took turns driving a snowplow through a marked course while being directed by their partner. When both team members completed the course, they would receive their next clue. In this leg's  Roadblock, one team member had to choose two Russian marathon runners, who would help them warm up for ten minutes before they had to strip down to their underwear and run a course to the Pit Stop at Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre, where their partner, who was transported there separately, would join them. Leg 6 (Russia → India). Airdate: March 22, 2009 In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to choose group of herding camels belonging to a Maharaja and use traditional tools to load and carry enough hay to the camels so that it could reach  a designated marking line, as well as fill a trough with water until it spills out to receive their next clue from the camel master. For their Speed Bump, Christie & Jodi had to make their way to Kala Hanuman Temple, where they had to decorate an elephant's face with various paints to the satisfaction of the mahout before they could continue racing. This leg's Detour was a choice between Movers or Shakers. In Movers, teams traveled to the Sanganeri Gate and had to choose two rickshaws loaded with barrels of hay. They then had to transport the hay  along the city wall of Jaipur to the Zorawar Singh Gate, where they had to search through the hay for a small metal elephant charm which they could then trade for their next clue. In Shakers, teams travel to the Badi Chopar junction at the intersection of Johari Bazar, Tripoli Bazar, Ramganz Bazar and Sireh Deori Bazar Roads. They would be dressed in traditional costumes and joined a local dance troupe to collect 100 (around US$2) worth of tips. They then gave the money they had earned to the band leader for their next clue. Leg 7 (India →  Thailand). Airdate: March 29, 2009 There was an unaired Fast Forward which involved going to a market and buying items for a local orphanage using the team's own cash resources. The first team to buy enough items would win the Fast Forward award. This leg's Detour was a choice between 100 Barrels or 2 Miles. In 100 Barrels, teams had to travel to Pae Yod to prepare a fishing boat for ten days out at sea by filling 47 barrels with water and loading the other 53 barrels on the upper deck to receive their next clue. In  2 Miles, one team member had to pull a rickshaw, with their partner sitting in it, from Wat Phutta Mongkhon Nimit to King Rama IX Park to find their next clue. Bike pumps were provided with the rickshaws in the event of a flat tire, and teams cannot hire anyone to guide them. Leg 8 (Thailand). Airdate: April 12, 2009 In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to properly attach a propeller on a traditional Thai long-tail boat to receive their next clue. This leg's Detour was a choice between Broken Teeth or Broken Record . In Broken Teeth, teams made their way to the "Street of Happy Smiles", where they had to search through 50 sets of dentures match five patients with the correct set of dentures to receive their next clue. In Broken Record, teams had to travel to Wat Samphanthawong and choose a group of "kathoeys" and a "party taxi". Then, teams had to sing karaoke with the other travelers while the taxi driver drove them through the traffic of Bangkok's Chinatown until they returned to the temple to receive their next clue. Leg 9 (Thailand → China). Airdate: April 19, 2009  For their Speed Bump, Mark & Michael had to wash and dry the hair of two waiting women outside the Qing Xiu Lu Hair Salon before they could continue racing. In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to direct a cormorant to retrieve fish they had thrown in the Li River. Once the cormorant retrieved 10 fishes, teams would receive their next clue. This leg's Detour was a choice between Choreography or Calligraphy. In Choreography, teams had to perform a traditional dance routine. If their dance was to the satisfaction of two judges, teams would receive their next  clue. In Calligraphy, teams had to copy Chinese characters written by a calligrapher at four stations. Once the calligrapher was satisfied with the teams' calligraphy, he stamped their paper, and they proceeded to find the next station, which was named in the characters they had just copied. Once teams acquired all four stamps, they were given their next clue. Leg 10 (China). Airdate: April 26, 2009 In this leg's first Roadblock, one team member had to drink a cup of Chinese medicinal tea, endure a traditional therapeutic foot massage for ten minutes, and drink a second cup of tea  to receive their next clue from the masseuse. In the event the racer was unable to bear the painful part of the massage, they could tap one side of their chair and say "uncle" to signal the masseuse to stop; however, the consequence of doing so would result in restarting the massage from the beginning. This leg's first Detour was a choice between Sync or Swim. In Sync, teams had to synchronized dive from springboards and score a five from both of the judges by hitting the water in unison to receive their next clue. In Swim, teams had  to don a pair of Speedo LZR Racer suits, the same type of suit worn by Michael Phelps (pictured) in the 2008 Summer Olympics, and then swim eight lengths of the pool (400 meters) with each team member alternating after two lengths (100 meters) to receive their next clue (Phelps' world record time of 4:03.84 at the 400m individual medley from the 2008 Summer Olympics was shown for comparison, but teams were not required to beat it). Airdate: May 3, 2009 This leg's second Detour at Huguang Guild Hall was a choice between Beijing Opera or Chinese Waiter . In Beijing Opera, teams made their way to Huguang Huiguan Opera House. There, they had to apply make-up on each other exactly like the two models, a princess and a gentleman, next to them. After their makeup was approved, teams had to go to the stage and bow to the master to receive their next clue. After completing this task, teams were required to stay in costume for the duration of the leg. In Chinese Waiter, teams had to travel to Huguang Huiguan restaurant. There, they had to choose a table of customers and record five orders spoken in  Mandarin – "Good Luck Fish", "Vegetarian Noodles", "Fried Chicken", "New Taste Beef", and "Golden Pork Spare Ribs". Then, teams had to pronounce the Mandarin orders correctly to a chef to have the orders prepared and serve the plates to the customers to receive their next clue. In this leg's second Roadblock, one team member had to eat a plate of fried Chinese street food that included grasshoppers, beetle larvae, a scorpion, and a starfish to receive their next clue. Leg 11 (China → United States). Airdate: May 10, 2009 In the one aired choice for this season's final Detour , teams had to season a pig with island flavoring, then carry it suspended on a bamboo pole along the beach to a Hawaiian lūʻau. At the lūʻau, they had to properly cover the pig for traditional kālua cooking to receive their next clue. In this season's final Roadblock, one team member had to search through a pile of more than three hundred surfboards for eleven that displayed a picture depicting a task, location, or person related to the ten previous legs – one from each of the first nine legs, and one for each half of the tenth leg (the  remaining surfboards had pictures depicting unrelated objects, some of which were pictures showing tasks from previous seasons). Then, they had to arrange the surfboards along a fence in chronological order of their appearance during the season: When all eleven surfboards were displayed in the correct order, teams would receive their final clue. Reception. Critical response. "The Amazing Race 14" received mixed-to-positive reviews. Andy Dehnart of "reality blurred" praised the reduction of time in airport, the cast, and improvements in editing and said that the season finished with "a strong end to an even stronger season." Michael Hewitt of  the "Orange County Register" wrote that the season was "another excellent edition of 'The Amazing Race.'" Michael Russnow of "The Huffington Post" criticized this season's route as the show "didn’t travel in as diversified a fashion, and wherever the teams wound up they stayed in the immediate region a lot longer than in earlier years." Alan Sepinwall of "The Star-Ledger" wrote that his "interest in the season dropped rapidly after Mel and Mike were eliminated" and that he "lacked either an emotional investment in another team or an admiration for them as pure Racers." In 2016, this  season was ranked 12th out of the first 27 seasons by the "Rob Has a Podcast Amazing Race" correspondents. In 2021, Val Barone of "TheThings" ranked this season as the show's 9th best season. In 2022, Jason Shomer of Collider ranked this season among the show's top seven seasons.