HaMerotz LaMillion 1


The first season of HaMerotz LaMillion is an Israeli reality television game show based on the American series, The Amazing Race. The first installment of the series features 10 teams of two with a pre-existing relationship in a race around the world to win ₪1,000,000.
This season premiered on February 5, 2009 on Channel 2 with the finale on June 11, 2009 and was hosted by Raz Meirman.
Business partners Shay Kahana and Guy Osadon are the winners of this season.

Production

Development and filming

On 8 April 2008, Disney-ABC International Television announced that it granted the license for Reshet to produce an Israeli version of The Amazing Race.
Differing from most of the other franchises of the series, the last leg of the Race was not filmed back-to-back with the previous legs. On 30 May 2009, months after the penultimate leg had been filmed and during the broadcast of the actual show, teams were flown to the final destination to film the final leg. The theme song was also different than the original American version's theme song with Israeli-style music.
Graham Keating, Sydney's famous town crier, served as the Pit Stop greeter during Leg 8. He previously appeared as a greeter during The Amazing Race 2.

Casting

The cast for this season included retired beauty queens Liran Kohner and Elena Ralph as well as the son of singer Ilanit, Amichay Gat.
Maya & Amichay separated not long after the season aired, and Maya married Israeli actor Ron Shahar, who would become the show's new host in 2011, on 28 August 2010. The couple had one daughter and separated April 2019.

Results

The following teams participated in the Race, with their relationships at the time of filming. Note that this table is not necessarily reflective of all content broadcast on television due to inclusion or exclusion of some data. Placements are listed in finishing order:
  1. Hadas & Inbal left the Pit Stop in Vũng Tàu in last place at the start of Leg 5 because they accidentally slept in.
  2. Hannah & Margalit were removed from the Race because Margalit was hospitalized due to a severe abdominal infection that she began suffering from earlier in Leg 5.
  3. Tom & Gil initially arrived 4th, but took a taxi instead of walking to the Pit Stop. They were forced to go back to the last clue box and then walk back to the Pit Stop. This did not affect their placement.
  4. Hadas & Inbal had been "marked for elimination;" however, since they arrived last, they were eliminated without being issued the 30 minute penalty.

    Prizes

Leg 1 (Israel → South Africa)

Airdates: February 5 & 12, 2009
The Detour was a choice between מים or שמים. In Water, teams had to rappel down a waterfall and add up the three numbers posted on the side to receive their next clue.. In Sky, teams had to ride a frightening zip-line to receive their next clue.
In the first Roadblock of HaMerotz LaMillion, one team member had to perform the world's highest bridge bungee jump off of the Bloukrans Bridge to receive their next clue.
;Additional tasks
The Detour for this leg of the Race was דרך היין or דרך הכוונת. In Wine Road, teams had to rive themselves to Nelson Wine Estate and bring an empty barrel uphill to a wine vat. Then, they had to use buckets to fill their barrel with of wine to receive their next clue. In Through the Sight, teams had to drive themselves to Valley Gun Club. There, one team member had to launch clay targets while their partner had to use a shotgun to shoot down six targets to receive their next clue.
In this Roadblock, one team member had to drive a Formula One car on the Killarney Race Track and complete four laps with an average lap-time of two minutes or less to receive their next clue. If team members could not complete the task within the allotted time, then they had to serve a five-minute penalty before making another attempt.
;Additional tasks
In this Detour, teams had to choose between בוץ or קפוץ. In Swamp, teams had to complete an obstacle course through a bog to receive their next clue. In Jump, teams had to cross a river by jumping between large floating platforms in the river without falling to receive their next clue.
For the Fast Forward, one team had to eat a serving of cooked rat to receive the Fast Forward award.
The Roadblock had one team member collect 5 snakes from an enclosure and transport them into a bucket nearby to receive their next clue.
;Additional tasks
In the Roadblock of this leg, one team member had to choose a carabao and then lead it around a muddy field to plough it in a pattern to receive their next clue. Their path was marked by posts and Race flags, and teams had to lead their carabao back to where they started in the correct direction to receive their next clue. Teams were taught beforehand on some of the common vocal commands they may give to help control their carabao. If teams need help, they may ask for it, but will have to return to the starting line again if they do.
The Detour on this leg was סירה במים or לדווש ברגליים. In Water Boats teams take a basket boat across the river to get a dangling clue. In Pedal Feet teams took a bike laden with shrimp baskets and travel to a house where they would get their next clue.
;Additional tasks
In this Detour, teams had to choose between ללמד or ללמוד. In Teach, they had to teach schoolchildren who did not speak Hebrew to memorize ten words of Hebrew. If the child could pass a test from a local teacher, teams would receive their next clue. In Learn, teams had to learn from the local schoolchildren ten words in Japanese. If they could pass a test from a local teacher, teams would receive their next clue.
The Roadblock required one team member to go through three rows of archways, going through the correct archway in reach row, to receive their next clue. If they passed the wrong archway, they were sent back to the beginning by ninjas. If team members did not get the numbers correct within 3 tries, they would be sent to the back of the teams waiting to complete the task.
;Additional tasks
In this Roadblock, one team member had to freefall in a controlled descent from the 61st floor of the Macau Tower to receive their the next clue.
In this Detour, teams had to choose between אטריות or עוגיות. In Noodles, teams prepared dough in the traditional way and make a local variety of noodles. Only after they made a bundle of Noodles, they got the next clue. In Cookies, teams had to bite into 2,000 cookies and find one cookie with meat in it to receive their next clue.
;Additional tasks
In the Roadblock, one team member had to play ping-pong against a champion child and earn 7 points to receive their next clue.
For this Fast Forward, one team had to have their heads completely shaved to win the Fast Forward.
In this Detour, teams had to choose between קונג פו or ריקוד האריה. In Kung Fu, teams had to learn some Kung Fu stances and perform them for the Kung Fu master. After this, the teams had to break many plates with one punch before they would get the next clue. In Lion Dance, teams had to learn a lion dance, find a local master, and correctly perform the dance while in a lion costume to get the next clue.
;Additional tasks
In this Detour, teams had to choose between ריקוד במים or גלגול בשמיים. In Water Dance teams had to enter a swimming pool and learn a series of synchronized swimming moves and then perform them perfectly to get the next clue. In Sky Roll teams had to hang on trapeze with their legs and perform a "Catch".
In this Roadblock, one team member had to perform a face-first rappel from the roof of the hotel. After teams completed the rappel, they received their next clue.
;Additional tasks
In this Roadblock, one team member had to herd three sheep into a small fenced area to receive the next clue.
In this Detour, teams had to choose between לחטוף or לתפוס. In Snatch, teams had to play Rugby against professional Rugby players. The objective was to run with the ball 22 meters while trying to avoid the players' attempts to touch in order to spike the ball. Then they would have to kick the ball through the field goal to receive the next clue. In Catch, teams had to learn the Māori dance known as titi torea and perform it perfectly to receive the next clue.
;Additional tasks
In this Roadblock, one team member had to ride in an airplane with a stunt pilot, enduring some wild moves with heavy g-forces, to receive their next clue.
The task at the Nevis Highwire was presented as an additional task, but it was actually a Detour. In the one aired choice, קפוץ יחד, teams had to ride the famous swing jump. After both team members fell, they would get their next clue.
;Additional tasks
The first season had a 23% average household rating across the season.