The Amazing Race 27


The Amazing Race 27 was the twenty-seventh installment of the American reality television show The Amazing Race. It featured eleven teams of two, with each team centered on a pre-existing relationship between the cast members such as marriage, dating, or best friends. Teams competed in a race around the world for a grand prize.
This season premiered on September 25, 2015.
Dating news reporters Kelsey Gerckens and Joey Buttitta were the winners of this season.

Production and filming

Development

Similar to The Amazing Race 25, the show's Twitter page announced an open start at Venice Beach in Los Angeles, California and invited fans to join in sending the new teams off on their Race on June 22, 2015. The open start revealed that teams would head to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
This season covered across five continents and ten countries, including visits to Argentina, Zambia, France, the Netherlands, Poland, India, the Chinese special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau and a first-time visit to Zimbabwe.
During the Speed Bump in the ninth leg, Tanner and Josh had to complete the Roadblock challenge, one after the other, marking the first time since the introduction of the Speed Bump wherein no Speed Bump boards existed throughout the racecourse. This was also the first time since the introduction of the U-Turn that three U-Turns were used, unlike the usual two U-Turns in previous seasons. The Race also featured both a Double U-Turn and a single U-Turn for the first time on the same racecourse, with the single U-Turn board making its first appearance since Season 16. It was also the first time that a U-Turn board was placed at the Detour decision point, before the Detour itself.
Although Fitbit and Travelocity continued sponsoring the show, Ford discontinued their sponsorship for this season. This season was, therefore, the first American edition, or any International version, with no production-provided vehicles to be driven by the racers since The Amazing Race's inception in 2001. This also meant that teams had to use public transportation such as a taxi to get to the airport in the first leg.
Also in the season, Phil doesn't introduce the name of the teams for the first time in the series; instead, the teams introduce their lifestyle.
Starting with the fifth episode, episodes began with a shortened intro.

Casting

The cast included TMZ editor Kelly Berning and post production supervisor Shevonne Sullivan, former New York Jets cheerleaders Tiffany Chantell Torres and Krista DeBono, and former America's Best Dance Crew contestants Ernest "E-Knock" Phillips and Jayjion "Jin Lao" Greer, Justin Scheman and Diana Bishop who are known for their viral "Amazing Race" proposal video, and reporters Kelsey Gerckens and Joey Buttitta from KEYT-TV.

Future appearances

After the season aired, winners Kelsey & Joey got engaged during their interview on Home and Family, and eventually married on August 25, 2017. On January 22, 2020, they both appeared on an episode of CBS's Let's Make a Deal, which was taped on July 13, 2019 while Kelsey was pregnant with their son, and won $1,000.
On May 25, 2016, Kelsey & Joey and Tiffany & Krista appeared on an Amazing Race-themed The Price is Right primetime special.
On November 1, 2017, Krista DeBono appeared as the Pit Stop greeter for Leg 2 of HaMerotz LaMillion 6, the Israeli version of The Amazing Race, at Times Square in New York City.
Justin & Diana appeared on Season 30 in attendance at the Starting Line.
On March 1, 2020, Alex Manard appeared on an episode of Discovery Channel's Naked and Afraid and lasted the full 21 days in the Amazon rainforest of Yasuni, Ecuador.

Results

The following teams participated in the 27th season of The Amazing Race. Each team is listed with their relationship status, as announced by CBS, and the name used on the show's chyrons.
  • A team placement means the team was eliminated.
  • A indicates that the team won a Fast Forward. If placed next to a leg number, this indicates the Fast Forward was available but not used.
  • A indicates that the team decided to use the first Express Pass on that leg. A indicates the team had previously been given the second Express Pass and used it on that leg.
  • 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 on a "continue racing" leg and was ordered to continue racing.
  • A or a indicates that the team chose to use one of the two U-Turns in a Double U-Turn; or indicates the team who received it; indicates that the team was U-Turned, but they used the second U-Turn on another team; and around a leg number indicates that the Double U-Turn was available for that leg but not used.
  • An team's placement indicates that the team came in last on a non-elimination leg and had to perform a Speed Bump during the next leg of the Race.
  1. Justin & Diana attempted to do the Fast Forward on Leg 1, but due to high wind speeds the task was deemed unsafe until conditions improved. As a result, no team claimed the Fast Forward.
  2. Kelly & Shevonne completed the Detour after 3 hours and 45 minutes; however, they never made it to the Pit Stop. After all the other teams had already checked in at the Pit Stop, Phil came to the Copacabana Beach to inform them of their elimination.
  3. Denise & James Earl initially arrived 5th, but were issued a 30-minute penalty after Denise verbally helped her son during the Roadblock. Logan & Chris checked-in during their penalty time, dropping Denise & James Earl to 6th.
  4. Tanner & Josh used their Express Pass to bypass the Roadblock on Leg 4. Before using the Express Pass, Josh elected to perform the Roadblock; this is reflected in the total Roadblock count. When Tanner & Josh arrived 2nd at the Pit Stop, Phil ordered all teams to continue racing and they were required to give the Express Pass to another team on the next leg of the Race. They had to hand it to Phil immediately at the Pit Stop and tell him which team should have it.
  5. Tiffany & Krista used their U-Turn on Justin & Diana; however, they had already passed the U-Turn point and were therefore unaffected by it.
  6. Denise & James Earl used the Express Pass given to them by Tanner & Josh to bypass the Detour on Leg 5.
  7. For their Speed Bump in Leg 9, Tanner & Josh both had to individually complete the Roadblock. Since Tanner opted to do the Roadblock before finding out they both had to do the Roadblock, only Tanner's performance is reflected in their total Roadblock count.
  8. Justin & Diana initially arrived 3rd, but were issued a 55-minute penalty for taking a ferry from Kowloon instead of the Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal, as the clue specifically instructed. This did not affect their placement.

    Episode title quotes

Episode titles are often taken from quotes made by the racers.
  1. "A Little Too Much Beefcake" – Justin
  2. "Get in There and Think Like a Dog" – Justin
  3. "Where My Dogs At?" – Ernest
  4. "Good Old Fashioned Spit in the Face" – Josh
  5. "King of the Jungle" – Joey
  6. "My Tongue Doesn't Even Twist That Way" – Justin
  7. "Full Speed Ahead, Captain!" – Justin
  8. "Krakow, I'm Gonna Get You" – Tanner
  9. "It's Always the Quiet Ones" – Krista
  10. "Bring the Fun, Baby!" – Justin
  11. "It's Not Easy Beating Green" – Krista
  12. "We Got a Chance, Baby!" – Justin

    Prizes

The prize for each leg was awarded to the first place team for that leg. Trips were sponsored by Travelocity. The prizes for the legs were:

Leg 1 (United States → Brazil)

Airdate: September 25, 2015
In the only Fast Forward of the Race, one team had to go to Clube São Conrado Free Flight, where they had to ride a hang glider from Pedra Bonita and soar above the city to win the Fast Forward award. In the event of unfavorable weather conditions, the task would not be available until conditions improved.
The first Detour of the Race on Copacabana Beach was a choice between Sand or Sidewalk. In Sand, teams had to play footvolley against local professional players. While the pros could not use their hands, the teams could. If teams could score six points before the pros scored eighteen, they would receive their next clue. In Sidewalk, teams had to solve a giant geometric slide puzzle derived from the Portuguese pavement style of the Copacabana pavement to receive their next clue.
;Additional tasks
  • From the Starting Line, teams had to take a taxi to Mother's Beach, grab a Schiller water-bike, then pedal it to host Phil Keoghan in Burton Chace Park to receive plane tickets to their first destination: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The first team to complete this task received the only tickets on the first flight, while all the other teams departed a half-hour later on the second flight.
  • At Lagoa Heliport, teams had to pick a number and take a helicopter past Christ the Redeemer to Urca Hill. Once they landed, the heliport manager asked the teams, "What's the name of the monument you passed during the flight?" If teams gave the correct answer of Christ the Redeemer, they received their next clue.

    Leg 2 (Brazil → Argentina)

Airdate: October 2, 2015
  • Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Buenos Aires
  • Buenos Aires
  • Buenos Aires
  • Buenos Aires
The Detour was a choice between Cartoneros or Fletero. In Cartoneros, teams traveled to the Palermo Neighbourhood at the intersection of Uriarte, Fray Justo Santa Maria, and El Salvador Streets, where they had to pick up a cart, collect cardboard from recyclable bins, and transport it to a truck to be weighed. Once the cardboard reached a total weight of at least, the garbage worker gave them their next clue. However, there were only eight carts available at a time. In Fletero, teams traveled to Gabriel del Campo Antiques near Plaza Dorrego to pick up a statue, in pieces, and bring it to a truck. One team member would sit in the front and give the driver directions, while the other would hold the statue pieces in the back until reaching their next destination, the gazebo at Plaza Intendente Sebeer. Once at the park, teams had to properly reassemble the statute to receive their next clue from the park director.
In the first Roadblock of the Race, one team member had to learn a tango routine with a twist: for the second half of the dance they were harnessed and had to finish the steps on the wall of a stage. Once they performed the entire routine correctly, they received their next clue.
;Additional tasks
  • Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, teams had to locate the church where Pope Francis was baptized, leaving them to figure out that this refers to the Basílica María Auxiliadora y San Carlos. Once at the church, teams had to pick a number in the order in which they arrived. The following morning, teams went inside the church, one at a time, to find the altar room where the priest gave them their next clue.
  • After completing the Roadblock, teams were told to go to "The Cathedral of Polo", leaving them to figure out it referred to the Campo Argentino de Polo.

    Leg 3 (Argentina)

Airdate: October 9, 2015
  • Buenos Aires or :es:El Talar |El Talar to San Antonio de Areco
  • San Antonio de Areco
  • San Antonio de Areco
  • San Antonio de Areco
  • San Antonio de Areco
In this leg's Roadblock, one member from each team had to properly hang two racks of lamb and one rack of beef ribs onto a set of metal grills to cook the meat asado-style. Once the hanging meats met the head cook's standards, the head chef would give them their next clue.
The Detour was a choice between Horse or Carriage. In Horse, teams had to pick a polo mallet from the plaza and walk to Boliche de Bessonart to change into polo gear. Then, they had to walk to a riverside to pick out a fake horse that needed to be properly tacked and pushed back to the plaza. In Carriage, teams had to pick a buggy whip from the plaza and travel by foot to La Cinacina Estancia. There they had to change into gaucho clothing, clean a carriage, and then push it to a team of waiting horses. Once the horses were harnessed to the buggy, they had to ride back to the plaza. At the end of both Detours, teams had to present either the fake horse or buggy whip to the judges to receive their next clue.
;Additional tasks
  • Upon arrival in San Antonio de Areco, teams had to choose a pickup truck to proceed to their next destination, La Porteña, to find their next clue.
  • After the Roadblock, teams had to bring a roasted lamb to Plaza Principal and deliver it to the judges, in order to receive their next clue.
  • After completing the Detour, teams were instructed to travel by foot to the Pit Stop at Parque Criollo y Museo Gauchesco Ricardo Güiraldes.

    Leg 4 (Argentina → Zambia → Zimbabwe)

Airdate: October 16, 2015
  • San Antonio de Areco
  • San Antonio de Areco to Buenos Aires
  • Buenos Aires to Livingstone, Zambia
  • Livingstone District
  • Livingstone
  • Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park
  • Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
  • Victoria Falls
  • Victoria Falls
In this leg's Roadblock, one member from each team had to choose a microlight plane and fly above Victoria Falls to spot the route marker below the mist on Knife's Edge Bridge. Once landed, they reunited with their partner and traveled to Knife's Edge Bridge, where they would find their next clue.
The Detour was a choice between Co-Op or Croquet. In Co-Op, teams made their way to The Big Five Co-Op and had to stain and polish a carved wooden giraffe. When it was properly painted and dried, a woodcarver gave them their next clue. In Croquet, teams made their way to Victoria Falls Hotel and had to play croquet, scoring five points against professional players to receive their next clue.
;Additional tasks
  • At the start of the leg, teams had to find a specific travel agency to pick up tickets for one of two flights to Livingstone, Zambia, each carrying four teams and arriving 15 minutes apart.
  • At Mukuni Village, teams took part in a traditional welcome ceremony in which the village chief spat water on them as a blessing before receiving their next clue.
  • At Shoestrings Backpackers Lodge in the nearby country of Zimbabwe, teams had to spend the night and pick one of three times to leave the following morning: 8:00 a.m., 8:10 a.m., or 8:20 a.m.
;Additional note
  • Teams began the fourth leg at Plaza Principal.

    Leg 5 (Zimbabwe)

Airdate: October 23, 2015
This leg's Roadblock was a Switchback to the very first task from Season 1. One team member had to strap on a harness and free-fall into the Batoka Gorge and swing above the Zambezi River. Once they returned to the top, they got their next clue.
The Detour was a choice between Crocs or Canoes. In Crocs, teams had to travel to Crocodile Cage Diving at Elephants Walk Shopping and Artist Village. The teams had to change into wetsuits and would be submerged in a metal cage, where they would use poles to feed meat to three Nile crocodiles. Once the crocodiles was fed, teams would receive their next clue. In Canoes, teams had to travel to A'Zambezi River Lodge, where they had to get an inflatable canoe and paddle together across the river. Once they arrived at the island, one team member had to hoist their partner up a tree to retrieve the clue from a vulture's nest. Teams then had to paddle back across the river.
;Additional tasks
  • After the Detour, teams were instructed to travel to The Lion Encounter in Masuwe Private Game Reserve. Accompanied by safari instructors and two lions, they walked through the bush to find their next clue hidden in a skull. Only two teams were permitted to attempt this task at the same time.
  • At Masuwe Lodge, each team member received a large cloth that was tied around their heads and a basket of fruit that they had to carry on their heads while walking to the Pit Stop.

    Leg 6 (Zimbabwe → France)

Airdate: October 30, 2015
In the leg's first Roadblock, one member from each team had to strap-on a harness and bungee jump from the Victoria Falls Bridge. After returning to the top of the bridge, they had to record the heart rate on their Fitbit fitness watch before receiving their next clue. Teams were advised to track Fitbit information throughout the leg as it would be used in the challenges.
In the leg's second Roadblock, the team member who did not participate in the first Roadblock had to fly in a vintage Boeing PT-17 biplane over the French countryside and spot three words on the ground from a motto of the French Revolution: liberté, égalité, fraternité. Once they recited the words, the biplane pilot would them their next clue, and the team member that flew on the biplane then had to record their heart rate on their Fitbit.
The Detour was a choice between Drops Mic or Bust a Crab. In Drops Mic, teams had to travel to Quai de la Tournelle and perform a French rap song 79 à 99 by rapper Passi. If teams' French pronunciation, rhythm, and vibes were correct, Passi would give them their next clue. In Bust a Crab, teams traveled to La Coupole Restaurant to work on a French signature crab dish, the Royal Platter, and had to properly shuck and crack crabs to meet the chef's standards and receive their next clue.
;Additional tasks
  • At Square Louise-Michel in Paris's Sacré-Cœur Basilica, teams had to search the ground for Le Fantôme Blanc, who would hand them their next clue.
  • After the Detour, teams received a postcard depicting the Pont Alexandre III bridge where they would find their next clue.
  • The clue on Pont Alexandre III instructed teams to go "across from the iconic monument where the first team will triumph", referring to Place Charles de Gaulle that overlooks the Arc de Triomphe.

    Leg 7 (France → Netherlands)

Airdate: November 6, 2015
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to find an exact duplicate of Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers placed around nearby windmills to receive their next clue from a miller.
The Detour was a choice between Ship or Skip. For both Detours, teams traveled by tram to a specific location. In Ship, teams made their way to Millennium Tower to use a training simulator that simulated navigating Rotterdam Harbour in stormy weather. The simulation was a two-part mission, where the first part was to deliver a pilot to a ship and the second part was to go to the aid of a distressed ship. They had to try until they successfully completed the mission within five minutes to get their next clue from the captain. In Skip, teams made their way to Leuvehoofd Park and had to complete a 45-second Double Dutch clapping routine on a jump rope to receive their next clue.
;Additional tasks
  • At the start of the leg, teams had to travel by train to the city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. In addition, they received a picture of a ship and had to figure out their next location was Vessel 11, where teams picked a departure time – set in 15-minutes intervals, from 5:00 a.m to 6:30 a.m. – and spent the night on the ship.
  • Teams had to take a water taxi from Kop van Zuid to the windmills in Kinderdijk to get their next clue.
  • After the Roadblock, teams had to record their highest heart rate from the previous leg and their heart rate from this leg's Roadblock and subtract the difference. The solution would determine the number of tulips they would have to pick up and deliver to the Spakenburgermeisje to receive their next clue instructing them to take a water taxi to the Nolet Distillery to receive their next clue.
  • After the Detour, teams had to take a train to The Hague and then a tram to the Pit Stop.

    Leg 8 (Netherlands → Poland)

Airdate: November 13, 2015
The Detour was a choice between Mine or Music. In Mine, teams made their way to Wieliczka Salt Mine and descended into the salt mine. They then had to carry a large timber support beam to a loading area. After filling a mine cart with salt, teams pushed the cart back through the tunnel to a miner, who would give teams their next clue from a miner. In Music, teams traveled to Kraków's Main Square, where they had to choose a professional pianist, learn a musical piece, and roll a piano through the streets to a performance area. Teams then had to perform a duet with a violinist in order to attract donations from passersby. Once they earned 100 zł, they would receive their next clue from the musician.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to identify seven traditional Jewish dishes on a dinner order from a vast spread and deliver the correct dishes and correct quantity of dishes on a tray to a nearby restaurant, Klezmer-Hois. If they brought the correct dishes, the restaurant owner would give teams their next clue that directed them to the Pit Stop inside the restaurant.
;Additional tasks
  • At the start of the leg, teams were provided a smartphone with the Travelocity app to book their flights to Kraków, Poland.
  • At Plaża Kraków, one team member had to dive into the swimming pool to retrieve their next clue.
  • At Oskar Schindler Factory, teams were given a tour of the factory by an official tour guide. The factory commemorates the lives of Polish Jews around the world, including those saved from the Kraków Ghetto. Teams also passed through Schindler's office and looked at 1,200 names inside the memorial room. Once they ended the tour, a museum official gave them their next clue.

    Leg 9 (Poland → India)

Airdate: November 20, 2015
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to use a bicycle to transport a bundle of Indian saris to the bank of the Yamuna River, where they were shown how to tie them in a traditional way for washing. Once all of the saris were correctly tied, they had to wash them in a basin, transport them across the beach, and lay them out to dry to receive their next clue.
For their Speed Bump, Tanner & Josh each had to perform the Roadblock, one after the other.
The Detour was a choice between Cans or Candy. In Cans, teams had to load and secure 120 metal cooking-oil cans onto a flatbed bicycle and pedal through the crowded streets to New Taj Oil Company, where they had to unload the cans to receive their next clue. In Candy, teams had to cut small pieces from winter melons, which are used to make an Indian candy called petha. Once the pieces weighed in at one maund, they had to deliver pre-packaged petha to Pancchi Petha Candy Store to receive their next clue.
;Additional tasks
  • At the Hanuman Temple in Johri Bazaar, teams received a traditional Indian blessing before receiving their next clue.
  • After the Detour, teams had to travel to "Moonlight Garden", known locally as Mehtab Bagh, across the river from the Taj Mahal to find the leg's Pit Stop.

    Leg 10 (India)

Airdate: November 27, 2015
  • Agra
  • Agra
  • Agra
  • Agra
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to use a pump to inflate enough balloons to fill a net attached to the back of a bicycle. Once the net was full, they had to ride across the congested Yamuna Bridge to deliver the balloons to a wedding planner, receive their next clue, and then bike back to reunite with their partner.
The Detour was a choice between Bring the Groom or Bring the Fun. In Bring the Groom, teams had to hand-crank a portable generator until it produced enough power to light up a cumbersome candelabrum. Teams then had to join a baraat procession through the streets, with one team member carrying the candelabrum while the other carried the generator, to escort a groom to his wedding party at the Shree Ramchandra Farm House to receive their next clue. In Bring the Fun, teams had to push a mobile amusement swing through the crowded streets and deliver it to the outside playground at the same wedding party. Teams had to give eight children a ride in the swing to receive their next clue.

Leg 11 (India → Hong Kong → Macau)

Airdate: December 4, 2015
The Detour was a choice between Sam's or Cells. In Sam's, teams traveled to Sam's Tailor to pick up measurements for a suit jacket. Teams then headed to Sam's Workshop to properly cut out six template pieces of a matching design. They then had to deliver a finished suit back to Sam's Tailor to receive their next clue. In Cells, teams had to travel to a marked store on the crowded Apliu Street and search through boxes of used cell phones to find one that turned on. After dialing a number displayed on the phone, a message instructed them to travel to Kong Wah Telecom Limited on Kweilin Street to find their next clue.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member changed into costume and makeup and then participated in a performance of The House of Dancing Water, the world's largest water-based stage production. After diving over from the central mast-shaped platform into the surrounding pool, they had to search underwater for a golden fish. Once they found the fish they swam across the pool and delivered it to a fisherman on a raft in exchange for their next clue. If they did not complete the task before the music stopped, they had to wait twenty minutes for the next performance to try again.
;Additional tasks
  • Once in Hong Kong, teams had to search outside the airport for a Rolls-Royce limousine which would take them to The Peninsula Hong Kong for their next clue.
  • Following the Detour, teams had to travel by ferry to Macau. Teams had to purchase Premier Grand Class tickets from the terminal on Hong Kong Island instead of the Kowloon terminal.
  • At the House of Dancing Water, teams had to search for a performer named Yago to receive their next clue.
;Additional note
Airdate: December 11, 2015
For the final Roadblock of the Race, which paid homage to the 150th anniversary of the NYC Fire Department, one team member had to don a firefighter's uniform and take part in a training exercise. First, they had to carry a fire hose to a fire engine. Then, they had to climb a ladder to an open window of a burning building and search inside for a dummy representing a victim. Once they exited the building with the dummy, they had to place it onto a waiting stretcher. The second part of the Roadblock was a memory task: they had to arrange firefighters' hats labeled with the capital cities of the foreign countries visited during the Race in chronological order to receive their next clue from a fire fighter.
;Additional tasks
  • After the Roadblock, teams were instructed to travel to the location of the final race of the Triple Crown: Belmont Park. There, teams would take a helicopter ride to Southampton in The Hamptons. After landing at Southampton Heliport, they had to search for their next clue.
  • At Shinnecock East County Park, teams had to drive a Sea-Doo to a lobster boat, where they had to pull seven lobster traps from the water, empty them, and replace them with new traps. Once this was completed, teams received a box containing the flags of all of the foreign countries visited along with a decoy Egyptian flag and had to arrange the correct flags in chronological order to receive their next clue from a fisherman and head back to shore.
  • When the lobster boats neared the shore, teams had to swim to shore and drive a dune buggy down the beach for the third memory challenge. They had to assemble six Adirondack chairs painted with things encountered during the Race and arrange them in chronological order:
;Additional note

U.S. Nielsen ratings

Canadian ratings

Canadian broadcaster CTV also airs The Amazing Race on Fridays. Episodes air at 8:00 p.m. Eastern and Central.
Canadian DVR ratings are included in Numeris's count.
No.Air dateEpisodeViewers
Rank
Ref
1"A Little Too Much Beefcake"1.41623
2"Get in There and Think Like a Dog"1.50919
3"Where My Dogs At?"1.52221
4"Good Old Fashioned Spit In The Face"1.46423
5"King of the Jungle"1.53021
6"My Tongue Doesn't Even Twist That Way"1.63715
7"Full Speed Ahead, Captain!"1.69014
8"Krakow, I'm Gonna Get You"1.55419
9"It's Always the Quiet Ones"1.52222
10"Bring the Fun, Baby!"1.58914
11"It's Not Easy Beating Green"1.6898
12"We Got a Chance, Baby!"1.63710