The Amazing Race Asia
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- This page is about the series in general. For the first season of this show, see The Amazing Race Asia 1
| The Amazing Race Asia | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Genre | Reality Game show |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Creator(s) | Elise Doganieri Bertram Van Munster |
| Starring | Allan Wu |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| Original channel | AXN-Asia |
| Original run | November 9, 2006–Present |
| No. of episodes | 5 (through Season 1, episode 5) |
The Amazing Race Asia is a reality game show based on the American series, The Amazing Race.
On 17 October 2005, CBS gave other countries the chance to franchise The Amazing Race. The Asian cable TV network AXN is among the first to acquire the rights to produce a version for its territory. The show is produced in association with Buena Vista International Television-Asia Pacific (BVITV-AP). The host for the show is Singapore based Chinese-American Allan Wu who was a participant in the US reality competition series, Fear Factor. [1]
The ultimate prize is US$100,000, whilst the American show gives away US$ 1 million. The general manager of SPE Networks-Asia which runs AXN, Ricky Ow said, "It is not really about the money but the adventure and opportunity to be in one of the world's greatest reality shows" in response to the smaller amount of final prize money.
The first season began broadcast world-wide on November 9, 2006.
Contents |
[edit] Teams
Many of the same rules and regulations as the American series will apply to the Asian edition. The participants are all required to be able to communicate in English. Contestants will come from various Asian countries and not limited to one country of origin.
Participating countries will include all citizens of Asia except Japan and the Middle East as well as non-Asian workers who are living in Asia for a long period of time, but are not actually Asian. [2] Below are the teams originally not Asian:
- Sandy and Francesca (Hong Kong), originally from New Zealand and United Kingdom respectively
- Andy and Laura (Thailand), both originally from United Kingdom
- Howard from Howard and Sahran (Sri Lanka) is originally from United Kingdom
[edit] Participating nations
With the exception of Japan and the Middle East, 33 out of 49 Asian countries are able to compete in the race. After AXN unveiled the first season participants, only ten teams from eight countries making it so far.
Below are the statistics of a number of teams and nations competing in the race:
| Teams | Nations |
|---|---|
| 2 | Malaysia, Philippines |
| 1 | Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand |
[edit] Comparisons with the American edition
[edit] General
- Season 1 has only 10 teams participating - Compared to the American edition, which uses eleven teams normally, but twelve in Seasons 3, 4, 10. So far, Season 8 of the American edition was the only season to have 10 teams. However, that season consisted of 10 family teams of 4, or 40 participants. 20 participants are in this edition, which were the fewest number of people to have started in the Amazing Race.
- Season 1 took 24 days to film, rather than the typical four weeks in the American editions (except Season 1).
[edit] In-Race
- The teams remained in the starting city during the first leg, in contrast to the American edition where the teams immediately depart from the starting city.
- In leg 2 (Season 1), it seems that all teams must take only AirAsia flights to their destinations, most likely due to AirAsia sponsoring the Asian edition. In the American editions, teams are usually able to travel on any airline they wish unless specifically directed, complicating flights and causing teams to search for the quickest route. This leads to all teams being equalized, defeating the purpose of letting the teams leave at different times.
- Leg 1 (Season 1) was a pre-determined non-elimination leg, which has not occurred in any American edition. The earliest pre-determined non-elimination leg in the US edition is Season 6's leg 4.
- Leg 3 had the most teams quit the Roadblock (five teams), one more than the Season 7's leg 3 of the American edition.
[edit] Rules and penalties
Most of the rules and penalties are the same as the American edition; however, there are slight differences.
[edit] Unique Rules
- Teams are not allowed to take another team's reserved taxi: the penalty for violating this rule has not been revealed.
- Teams quitting a Roadblock receive a four hour penalty, starting from when the team reaches the Pitstop. In the American edition, the quitting team may be required to serve the penalty at the Pitstop, or may be required to wait at the Roadblock for another team to arrive, and then remain at the Roadblock for the four hour penalty.
- If team member injured during race, they have to pass the medical to ensure they are fit for rest of the leg. This is not practiced in American edition either the team can choose to do or break like Marshall & Lance during Season 5.
[edit] Penalties
- In Season 1, Episode 3, Zabrina & Joe Jer, Mardy & Marsio, Andy & Laura, Andrew & Syeon and Aubrey & Jacqueline abandoned the "Who Digs the Beach?" souvenir treasure hunt Roadblock at Kuta Beach, Bali, and were liable for the four hour penalty when they arrive at the Pit Stop. Aubrey & Jacqueline was the last team to arrive, but were not served the penalty for they were eliminated.
- In Season 1, Episode 4, Howard abandoned the "Take A Dive With A Nurse" Roadblock after suffering from extreme claustrophobia in his wetsuit. As a result, he and his race partner, Sahran, were liable for the four hour penalty when they arrived at the Pit Stop. Howard & Sahran were the last team to arrive, but it turned out that it was a Non-Elimination leg, so they remained in the race. The penalty was then served at the start of the Leg 5.
- Sahil & Prashant (Season 1's leg 5); penalised one hour for hitch-hiking to private cars, which is prohibited in the entire race.
[edit] Non-elimination legs
- The rules for non-elimination legs are similar to the American edition's Seasons 5 and 6. In American edition Season 10, the team arriving last at the pit stop on a non-elimination leg will be "marked for elimination" in the next leg, meaning that they need to arrive first at the next pit stop or incur a 30 minute penalty.
[edit] Countries and locales visited
| Continents | Countries |
|---|---|
| Asia | Malaysia, Indonesia |
| Oceania | Australia, New Zealand |
Orange means the countries also visited in The Amazing Race (American Edition)
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| The Amazing Race | |
|---|---|
| Season 1 • Season 2 • Season 3 • Season 4 • Season 5 • Season 6 Season 7 • Family Edition • Season 9 • Season 10 • All-Stars • Season 12 |
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| International versions | |
| The Amazing Race Asia Season 1 |
The Amazing Race Central Europe |
| Host and creators | |
| Phil Keoghan • Bertram van Munster • Elise Doganieri | |
| Related articles | |
| Statistics and trivia • Broadcasters • Notable contestants | |
