The Amazing Race 6

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The Amazing Race 6
Season 6
Amazing Race Sixth Season Region 1 DVD.png
Region 1 DVD cover
Presented by Phil Keoghan
No. of teams11
WinnerFreddy Holliday & Kendra Bentley
No. of legs12
Distance traveled40,000 mi (64,000 km)
No. of episodes13 (including 1 recap)
Release
Original network CBS
Original releaseNovember 16, 2004 (2004-11-16) 
February 8, 2005 (2005-02-08)
Additional information
Filming datesAugust 13 (2004-08-13) 
September 12, 2004 (2004-09-12)
Season chronology
 Previous
Season 5
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Season 7
List of episodes

The Amazing Race 6 is the sixth season of the American reality competition show The Amazing Race . Hosted by Phil Keoghan, it featured eleven teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship, competing in a race around the world. This season visited four continents and ten countries, traveling approximately 40,000 miles (64,000 km) over twelve legs. Filming took place between August 13 and September 12, 2004. Starting in Chicago, Illinois, racers traveled through Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Senegal, Germany, Hungary, France, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, and China before returning to the United States, traveling through Hawaii and finishing in Chicago. New twists introduced in this season include the double-length leg and limiting the number of Roadblocks that each team member could perform. The season premiered on CBS on November 16, 2004, and concluded on February 8, 2005. Engaged couple Freddy Holliday and Kendra Bentley were the winners of this season, while dating couple Jon Buehler and Kris Perkins finished in second place, and exes Adam Malis and Rebecca Cardon finished in third place.

Overview

TAR Route Info clue.jpg
TAR Detour clue.png
TAR Roadblock clue.png
TAR Fast Forward clue.png
TAR Yield clue.png
The clues which contestants receive during the course of the race generally fall into five categories: Route Info, Detour, Roadblock, Fast Forward, and Yield.

The Amazing Race is a reality television show created by Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri, and hosted by Phil Keoghan. The series follows teams of two competing in a race around the world. [1] Each leg of the race requires teams to deduce clues, navigate foreign environments, interact with locals, perform physical and mental challenges, and travel on a limited budget provided by the show. At each stop during the leg, teams receive clues inside sealed envelopes, which fall into one of these categories:

Most teams who arrive last at the Pit Stop of each leg are progressively eliminated, while the first team to arrive at the finish line in the final episode wins the grand prize of US$1,000,000. [2]

Production

Development and filming

Chicago's Buckingham Fountain was the starting line of The Amazing Race 6. Buckingham Fountain and Fountain Table.jpg
Chicago's Buckingham Fountain was the starting line of The Amazing Race 6.

In May 2004, CBS ordered the sixth season of the show, despite the fact that The Amazing Race 5 had not yet aired. Early renewal was likely due to the success of the changes made in season 5. [3] CBS also delayed the airing of season 6 until late in the fall and moved it out of its proposed Saturday timeslot in order to create a "cool down" period between races, hoping that this would help continue the newfound ratings success. [4]

The Amazing Race 6 spanned a total of 40,000 miles (64,000 km) over ten countries on four continents. The 30 days of filming began on August 13, 2004, and finished on September 12. [5] [6]

This season was the first in which team members had to complete an equal number of Roadblock tasks. No team member was permitted to complete more than six Roadblocks on the entire race. [7] Throughout the season, host Phil Keoghan verbally stated this rule when introducing each leg's Roadblock. This season also reduced the number of times the Yield appeared to three, compared to the previous season, where the Yield had been featured in nearly every leg.

A task in the second leg marked the first time that teams were required to work with each other. The ten teams had to split themselves into two groups of five, each of which had to row a Viking boat across a fjord. [8]

According to Aaron Crumbaugh, the sixth leg was originally planned as two separate legs with the first part being a non-elimination point, where the losing team would have been stripped of their money. However, those planned legs were combined into one after producers realized that begging was illegal in Hungary. [9]

This season featured a visit to Sri Lanka, where filming occurred just a few months before the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. The episodes aired four weeks after the earthquake had devastated the locations the teams had visited. A special message was inserted at the beginning of the episodes in Sri Lanka, dedicating them to the victims and to those helping with the recovery. [10]

Contestants

Victoria Fuller Victoria Fuller at the 2009 Stars & Stripes at The Playboy Mansion 2014-02-10 03-32.jpg
Victoria Fuller
Rebecca Cardon Rebecca Cardon DSC 0010.JPG
Rebecca Cardon

This season's cast included eleven teams. [11] Early Show hosts Harry Smith and Dave Price ran the season's first leg with the actual teams as part of a special segment on their morning show. [12]

ContestantsAgeRelationshipHometownStatus
Avi Schneier32High School Buddies Brooklyn, New York Eliminated 1st
(in Grindavík, Iceland)
Joe Rashbaum32 Ventura, California
Meredith Tufaro26Best Friends Queens, New York Eliminated 2nd
(in Voss, Norway)
Maria Sampogna26
Lena Jensen23Sisters Pleasant Grove, Utah Eliminated 3rd
(in Häggvik, Sweden)
Kristy Jensen26
Don St. Claire69Grandparents Portola Valley, California Eliminated 4th
(in Berlin, Germany)
Mary Jean St. Claire66
Gus McLeod 50Father & Daughter Gaithersburg, Maryland Eliminated 5th
(in Budapest, Hungary)
Hera McLeod24 Los Angeles, California
Jonathan Baker42Married Entrepreneurs Los Angeles, California Eliminated 6th
(in Lalibela, Ethiopia)
Victoria Fuller 32
Lori Harvey33Married Pro Wrestlers Molino, Florida Eliminated 7th
(in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka)
Bolo Dar'tainian38
Hayden Kristianson25Dating Actors Chicago, Illinois Eliminated 8th
(in Xi'an, China)
Aaron Crumbaugh25
Adam Malis27Formerly Dating Los Angeles, California Third place
Rebecca Cardon 29
Kris Perkins30Dating Long Distance Long Beach, California Runners-up
Jon Buehler29 Scottsdale, Arizona
Freddy Holliday34Engaged Models Miami, Florida Winners
Kendra Bentley25
Future appearances

Jonathan and Victoria appeared on a special episode of Dr. Phil to try to improve their marriage. [13] Jonathan and Victoria then competed on Battle of the Network Reality Stars . [14] Later, in a celebrity version of Fear Factor , Victoria attacked contestant Jon "Jonny Fairplay" Dalton (of Survivor: Pearl Islands ), and Jonathan attacked host Joe Rogan, resulting in their expulsion from the show. [15] Aaron competed on the twelfth season of Food Network Star and on Cutthroat Kitchen . [16] [17]

Results

The following teams are listed with their placements in each leg. Placements are listed in finishing order.

Team placement (by leg)
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6a [a] 6b 7 8 9 10 11 12
Freddy & Kendra4th7th [b] 6th5th1st1st6th2nd4th< [c] 3rd2nd> [d] 2nd1st
Kris & Jon2nd1st2nd1st4th5th2nd4th3rd1st3rd1st2nd
Adam & Rebecca7th6th5th6th6th6th5th1stƒ5th> [c] 4th4th< [d] 3rd3rd
Hayden & Aaron1st4th1st4th3rd4th4th6th1st2nd1st4th [e]
Lori & Bolo6th5th7th3rd7th7th1stƒ3rd2nd5th
Jonathan & Victoria5th2nd4th2nd2nd3rd3rd5th6th
Gus & Hera10th3rd3rd7th5th2nd7th
Don & Mary Jean9th8th [f] 8th8th8th
Lena & Kristy3rd9th9th
Meredith & Maria8th10th
Avi & Joe11th
Notes
  1. This was a double leg with two Detours and two Roadblocks shown over two episodes. The placements listed for the first half are the order of the teams' arrival at the Net Klub Internet Kafé in Budapest.
  2. Freddy and Kendra initially arrived 6th, but were issued a 30-minute penalty for taking an extra clue from the clue box. Adam and Rebecca and Don and Mary Jean checked in during this penalty time, dropping Freddy and Kendra to 8th. However, due to a penalty received by Don and Mary Jean, Freddy and Kendra moved up to 7th.
  3. 1 2 Adam and Rebecca chose to use the Yield on Freddy and Kendra.
  4. 1 2 Freddy and Kendra chose to use the Yield on Adam and Rebecca.
  5. Hayden and Aaron initially arrived 3rd, but were issued a 4-hour penalty for quitting the Roadblock. Adam and Rebecca checked in during this penalty time, dropping Hayden and Aaron to last.
  6. Don and Mary Jean arrived 7th in leg 2, but they had mistakenly driven the car that belonged to Adam and Rebecca. They left 8th at the beginning of leg 3 after they were issued a 30-minute penalty.

Race summary

The route of The Amazing Race 6. The Amazing Race 6 map.png
The route of The Amazing Race 6.
Destinations ISO 7001 PI TF 001.svg Air travel    Legenda kolej.svg Rail travel    Ferry.png Water travel    Bus-logo.svg Bus travel
Maki-heliport-15.svg Helicopter travel    Maki-bicycle-15.svg Bicycle travel    Maki-aerialway-15.svg Gondola travel
Route Markers Detour icon.svg Detour    Roadblock icon.svg Roadblock    Fast Forward icon.svg Fast Forward    Yield icon.svg Yield    TAR-pitstop-icon.png Pit Stop

Leg 1 (United States → Iceland)

Teams finished the first leg in Iceland at the Blue Lagoon. The Blue Lagoon (7844234516).jpg
Teams finished the first leg in Iceland at the Blue Lagoon.
Locations
Episode summary

Leg 2 (Iceland → Norway)

Once in Oslo, teams went to the Holmenkollen ski jump, where one team member had to ride a zipline. Holmenkollen ski jump.jpg
Once in Oslo, teams went to the Holmenkollen ski jump, where one team member had to ride a zipline.
Locations
Episode summary

Leg 3 (Norway → Sweden)

Teams checked in at the Pit Stop on the island of Skeppsholmen in Stockholm, Sweden. Skeppsholmen 2.JPG
Teams checked in at the Pit Stop on the island of Skeppsholmen in Stockholm, Sweden.
Locations
Episode summary
Additional notes

Leg 4 (Sweden → Senegal)

Teams finished this leg in Senegal on the streets of Goree Island. Senegal Goree (1).jpg
Teams finished this leg in Senegal on the streets of Gorée Island.
Locations
Episode summary
Additional note

Leg 5 (Senegal → Germany)

While in Berlin, teams visited the Broken Chain Sculpture, across the street from the partially destroyed Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, for a clue. Berlin-2006-Skulptur-Tauentzien-1934.jpg
While in Berlin, teams visited the Broken Chain Sculpture, across the street from the partially destroyed Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, for a clue.
Locations
Episode summary

Leg 6 (Germany → Hungary)

Traban 601 in Eger, Hungary.jpg
BudapestCastle 028.jpg
In this double-length leg in Hungary, teams drove a classic Trabant 601 to Eger, and then traveled beneath Buda Castle for the Fast Forward, where one team drank a goblet of pig's blood.
Locations
Episode summary (Episode 6)
Episode summary (Episode 7)
Additional note

Leg 7 (Hungary → France)

Teams finished this leg at L'Ile-Rousse on the French island of Corsica. L'Ile-Rousse Port1 JPG.jpg
Teams finished this leg at L'Île-Rousse on the French island of Corsica.
Locations
Episode summary
Additional note

Leg 8 (France → Ethiopia)

St. George's Church in Lalibela was the site of this leg's Roadblock. Lalibela, san giorgio, esterno 24.jpg
St. George's Church in Lalibela was the site of this leg's Roadblock.
Locations
Episode summary
Additional note

Leg 9 (Ethiopia → Sri Lanka)

The Roadblock in Sri Lanka required one team member to climb the Lion Rock of Sigiriya and look for the Pit Stop. Water Garden, Sigiriya, Sri Lanka - panoramio (2).jpg
The Roadblock in Sri Lanka required one team member to climb the Lion Rock of Sigiriya and look for the Pit Stop.
Locations
Episode summary

Leg 10 (Sri Lanka → China)

After arriving in Shanghai, teams traveled to Yuyuan Gardens and searched for their next clue. 20090510 Shanghai Yuyan Imgp6731.jpg
After arriving in Shanghai, teams traveled to Yuyuan Gardens and searched for their next clue.
Locations
Episode summary
Additional notes

Leg 11 (China)

Teams visited the Terracotta Army in Xi'an on this leg. Terracotta Army Pit 1 - 2.jpg
Teams visited the Terracotta Army in Xi'an on this leg.
Locations
Episode summary

Leg 12 (China → United States)

Ping Tom Memorial Park in Chicago was the finish line of The Amazing Race 6. PTParkPlayground.jpg
Ping Tom Memorial Park in Chicago was the finish line of The Amazing Race 6.
Locations
Episode summary
Additional notes

Reception

Critical response

At the time it aired, The Amazing Race 6 received negative reviews. Linda Holmes of Television Without Pity called this season disappointing. [22] Scott Pierce of Deseret News said that his immediate reaction after the season finished was, "I'm never going to watch this show again." [23] Reece Forward of Screen Rant ranked this season as the show's second-worst, writing that it was "actively unlikable at points," but the season "escapes the bottom slot due to at least having a few teams that are likable or interesting". [24] Since its airing, this season was ranked ninth out of the first 27 seasons by the Rob Has a Podcast Amazing Race correspondents in 2016. [25] In 2021, Val Barone of TheThings ranked this season as the show's fourth-best season. [26] In 2022, Rhenn Taguiam of Game Rant ranked this season as the seventh-best season. [27] In 2024, Taguiam's ranking was updated with this season ranked 12th out of 36. [28]

Controversy

In Dakar, Senegal, Kendra Bentley, who had previously decried being in "ghetto Africa", complained, "This city is wretched and disgusting. And they just keep breeding and breeding in this poverty. I can't take it." [29] These comments were largely denounced as racist due to the equation of people in Africa as animals. [30] [31] Bentley later claimed that her comments were taken out of context, saying, "I was actually talking about the government and how they put people in these situations. They don’t give them opportunities for education or birth control." [32] Lesser outrage was also directed at Rebecca Cardon for similar insensitive comments. On the way to the House of Slaves on Gorée Island, Cardon commented, "I'd love to get out of Africa. I can see why so many people escaped." [33] Kevin McDonough of The Spokesman-Review wrote, "Now that's a novel way to look at the Middle Passage." [34]

Later in the episode, Jonathan Baker shoved his wife, Victoria Fuller, who had picked up his bag, which he had dropped during a footrace to the Pit Stop at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. He was modestly rebuked by Phil Keoghan, who had seen Jonathan berating his wife, but had not witnessed the shove. [35] In response, critics and fans decried seeing possible domestic violence on television. [36] [37] [38] Baker later stated that the "shove in Berlin was wrong. It was wrong and I should not have done it. I can't apologize any more because I really felt that it hurt." [39]

References

  1. "The Amazing Race" (Press release). Paramount Press Express. CBS Productions. August 1, 2023. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  2. Castro (2006) , pp. 15–20
  3. Rogers, Steve (May 18, 2004). "CBS orders sixth The Amazing Race edition". Reality TV World. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved June 21, 2008.
  4. Rogers, Steve (September 14, 2004). "CBS delays The Amazing Race until late October or November". Reality TV World. Archived from the original on September 5, 2008. Retrieved June 21, 2008.
  5. Andy Dehnart (August 24, 2004). "The Amazing Race 6 probably started in Chicago, and then moved on to Iceland". Archived from the original on April 10, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  6. Birnbaum, Debra (March 2, 2020). "The Amazing Race Winners: Every Season". GoldDerby . Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on July 31, 2025. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  7. Castro (2006) , p. 285
  8. Castro (2006) , p. 291
  9. Crumbaugh, Aaron (March 24, 2005). "Hayden and Aaron". Television Without Pity . Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  10. Andy Dehnart (January 26, 2005). "tsunami-related disclaimer precedes Sri Lanka-set episode of The Amazing Race 6" . Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  11. Rogers, Steve (February 9, 2005). "Engaged Models Freddy Holliday and Kendra Bentley win The Amazing Race 6". Reality TV World. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved June 21, 2008.
  12. "Harry & Dave's Amazing Race". Archived from the original on September 12, 2005.
  13. Pierce, Scott (February 15, 2005). "'Amazing' couple seeks Phil's help". Deseret News . Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  14. "Bravo reveals remaining 'Battle Of The Network Reality Stars' competitors, releases exclusive video clip". Reality TV World. August 15, 2005. Archived from the original on July 30, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  15. Kaplan, Don (May 31, 2006). "'FEAR' FIGHT – CONTROVERSIAL 'RACER' CLASHES WITH REALITY-SHOW HOST JOE ROGAN". New York Post . Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  16. Russo, Maria. "Star-a-Day: Aaron Crumbaugh". Food Network . Archived from the original on October 25, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  17. Janovich, Adriana (May 18, 2016). "Spokane's Aaron Crumbaugh shares his 12 staples before premiere on 'Food Network Star'". The Spokesman-Review . Archived from the original on December 26, 2019. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  18. "'The Amazing Race': The return of the hay bales". Los Angeles Times. November 9, 2009. Archived from the original on December 18, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  19. "'Amazing Race' sisters miss clue in haystack". Today . December 2004. Archived from the original on October 11, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  20. ""Femme Noire" de Léopold Sédar Senghor / "Black Woman" by Léopold Sédar Senghor". African Heritage. May 20, 2013. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  21. Alter, Ethan (February 14, 2005). "Race's Kris and Jon Move On". TV Guide . Archived from the original on June 29, 2023. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  22. Linda Holmes (February 13, 2005). "Back to the (sucking) Windy City". Television Without Pity . Retrieved March 21, 2021.[ permanent dead link ]
  23. Pierce, Scott (February 15, 2005). "'Amazing' couple seeks Phil's help". Deseret News . Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  24. Forward, Reece (December 28, 2019). "The Amazing Race: Season 20 was the Worst Season". Screen Rant . Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  25. Mike Bloom; Jessica Liese; Dan Heaton (February 5, 2016). "Amazing Race | Ranking the Season". Rob Has a Podcast (Podcast). Event occurs at 1:22:34. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  26. Barone, Val (June 5, 2021). "The Top 10 Best 'Amazing Race' Seasons Ranked". TheThings. Archived from the original on June 12, 2021. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  27. Taguiam, Rhenn (November 7, 2022). "10 Best Seasons Of The Amazing Race". Game Rant. Archived from the original on July 12, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  28. Taguiam, Rhenn (September 24, 2024). "23 Best Seasons Of The Amazing Race". Game Rant. Archived from the original on July 12, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  29. Castro (2006) , p. 295–296
  30. Escoffery, David (2006). How Real Is Reality TV?: Essays on Representation and Truth. McFarland & Company. p. 220. ISBN   9780786426249.
  31. "Hall of Shame Moment: Amazing Race 6's Kendra – The Ugliest American of Them All". Reality TV Hall of Shame. December 17, 2004. Archived from the original on April 29, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  32. Alter, Ethan (February 11, 2005). "Race Winners Behaved Badly". TV Guide . Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  33. Castro (2006) , p. 295
  34. McDonough, Kevin (December 28, 2004). "'Amazing Race' crosses the line". The Spokesman-Review . Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  35. Castro (2006) , p. 296
  36. Andy Dehnart (December 22, 2004). "'Race' contestant has somebody to shove". Today . Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  37. Polk, Josh (June 14, 2007). "The Amazing Race: Sausages and spousal abuse". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  38. Ellis, Mel (December 16, 2004). "Hall of Shame Moment: Jonathan's Anger Goes Too Far on 'The Amazing Race 6'". Reality TV Hall of Shame. Archived from the original on November 7, 2011. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  39. Andy Dehnart (January 21, 2005). "Jonathan: "the shove in Berlin was wrong"; Victoria: "We don't fight like that."" . Retrieved March 21, 2021.

Works cited