The world is finally watching The Amazing Race again! When the coronavirus shut down the world in March 2020, many TV shows stopped production. The Amazing Race was one of them. Having pairs travel around the world during a time when an infectious disease was just coming to the surface was not a good idea.
Many shows and movies were delayed or cancelled during that time, but with The Amazing Race having already filmed two legs of the race, and three episodes, the show's producers were hopeful for a smooth come back.
The 33rd season, hosted by longtime host Phil Keoghan, finally aired on Wednesday, January 5, with the rest of the season continuing its Wednesday night timeslot. Filming resumed in September 2021 and wrapped in October. This season has 11 new couples including one from Love Island, internet personalities and a viral video couple.
Here's how The Amazing Race survived the pandemic.
7 'The Amazing Race' Season 33 Was Already Filming
As we mentioned above, one of the reasons the show survived through the pandemic was because they had already started filming before covid spread. The contestants would have to be paid to finish out the rest of the show and a winner would need to be crowned. Plus, since CBS promised its fans another season, they couldn't just abandon it all together.
6 'The Amazing Race' Came Back With Precautions
Like with many other shows, The Amazing Race was coming back with several important health precautions. "CBS wants us back on the schedule. They want us to come up with a plan," Keoghan told Gold Derby in June 2021. “I think we have a plan that will work in this world that we live in. But the expectation from the network is that we get Season 33 finished and then we roll into more seasons again.”
They used a chartered plane to fly from location to location, so it reduced the risk of their contestants contracting COVID-19. The show and network wanted to make sure everyone, cast and crew, got home safely to their families.
5 'Amazing Race' Locations Affected By COVID-19
Before shutting down filming, the racers already made their ways through England and Scotland. Coming back, they had to film in locations that weren't considered a hotspot for the virus. They wound up racing through Switzerland, France, Greece and Portugal, with the finale being in Los Angeles. Keoghan told Entertainment Weekly that there was a strict return to work policy put into place that they had to follow.
4 How COVID Made 'Amazing Race' Transportation Easier
How many times have you watched The Amazing Race and see your favorite couple come in last because their plane was delayed, or they couldn't get a flight out? Too many to count. One good thing that came out of this pandemic was that the show finally had their own plane with The Amazing Race printed on it. "It was sort of like a mystery tour," Keoghan told EW, "Because the contestants had no idea where they were going."
3 How COVID Affected The 'Amazing Race' Teams
Out of the nine remaining teams, two of them couldn't come back. No reason was given, and it was not stated, which ones didn't come back. Only fans who watched the show knew. One team, Lulu and Lala Gonzalez, almost pulled out of the race, when their grandmother died during the hiatus. But they came back to finish for her. "My grandmother always used to say, 'You always have to finish what you start,'" Lulu Gonzalez said on a Television Critics Association Zoom panel. "We knew that we needed to do this for her."
2 How 'The Amazing Race' Changed
Due to the vaccine being widespread and cases being down during the latter part of 2021, the show resumed filming, but of course it still had to alter some of its classic tasks. Roadblocks and detours were mostly outside. While flying changed, cabs and rental cars were still used. The crew was expanded and included several COVID teams, who tested the contestants regularly.
1 Fans' Reactions To 'The Amazing Race' Post-Covid Season 33
Many fans are just happy the show is back! Some are anxious to see how they will format the show despite COVID. While others were saying that if they can film the show during COVID, that people should be able to find rapid tests in their city.