The Amazing Race 31


The Amazing Race 31 is the thirty-first installment of the American reality television show The Amazing Race. This season features eleven teams of two – each consisting of contestants from previous seasons of Big Brother, Survivor, and The Amazing Race – in a race around the world for a US$1 million grand prize. The season premiered on April 17, 2019, replacing the low-rated Million Dollar Mile. It initially aired on CBS's Wednesday 9:00 pm ET time slot following . Following Survivors season finale, The Amazing Race was rescheduled to Survivors former time slot of 8:00 pm starting May 22, 2019. The finale aired on its original Wednesday 9:00 pm time slot due to the premiere week for Big Brother 21.
Life partners Colin Guinn and Christie Woods from The Amazing Race 5 were the winners of this season of the Race.

Production and filming

Development

On June 10, 2018, the show announced on its social media accounts that the Race had begun filming and that the season's teams would be composed of contestants from CBS's reality competition programs. On July 3, 2018, the show concluded in Detroit, which featured task with a performance of The White Stripes single "Seven Nation Army" that was originally planned to be set on Belle Isle Park. However, the permit was denied as the Michigan Department of Natural Resources had not been informed about the large gathering of musicians needed for filming. This season marks the time The Amazing Race visited the state of Michigan.
In the lead-in to the 2018-19 television programming season, CBS had scheduled The Amazing Race 31 to start airing on May 22, 2019. However, in early April 2019, CBS opted to bring the premiere forward to April 17, 2019, slotting the show in Wednesdays after Survivor and replacing the low-rated Million Dollar Mile, which was pushed to a Saturday night slot.
The Race traveled over 25,000 miles across four continent and ten countries, including first visits to Uganda and Laos.
The Head-to-Head returned to this season after it was introduced in the previous season. This season is also the first to utilize the U-Turn Vote, which has been previously utilized by the Israeli, Chinese, Australian, and Filipino versions of The Amazing Race.
During the season, Rachel Reilly broke the record for the number of legs run by a female racer at 32, and Leo & Jamal broke the record for the number of legs run by a team at 34. Tyler & Korey and Colin & Christie also both tied the record for multiple season leg wins at 9 wins each. This season is also the fourth time, after Season 1, Season 20, and Season 30, in which the teams that finished in the top three of Leg 1 also made it to the final leg of the Race.

Casting

On May 4, 2018, a TMZ article reported that former Big Brother houseguests had been asked to compete on the upcoming season of The Amazing Race. Later that day, Andy Dehnart posted that former Race contestants had also been contacted for the same season. Martin Holmes from Inside Survivor then posted that former Survivor contestants were also in the mix.
This season involved eleven teams, three of whom previously competed on Big Brother, three of whom previously competed on Survivor, and five of whom previously competed on The Amazing Race. The competing teams and their prior placements on their respective shows are:
The following teams participated in the Race, each listed along with their placements in each leg and relationships as identified by the program. Note that this table is not necessarily reflective of all content broadcast on television, owing to the inclusion or exclusion of some data. Placements are listed in finishing order:
  1. Art & JJ were given a four-hour penalty because Art elected to quit the second Roadblock. Rupert & Laura, the only team trailing, finished the Roadblock and checked-in at the Pit Stop during the penalty time, eliminating Art & JJ.
  2. The Head-to-Head in Leg 4 was unaired.

    Voting history

At the start of the eighth leg, teams met at the Ballenberg Community Hall and voted for who should receive the U-Turn. The two teams who received the most votes were penalized with the U-Turn and had to complete both Detour options. The vote was an open vote, and the voting order was determined by a random draw. The team's votes, as well as the voting order, is outlined below.
Leg8
U-TurnedColin & Christie
Rachel & Elissa
Result3–2–1–1
VoterTeam's Vote
Rachel & ElissaColin & Christie
Nicole & VictorLeo & Jamal
Colin & ChristieRachel & Elissa
Leo & JamalColin & Christie
Becca & FloydColin & Christie
Tyler & KoreyNicole & Victor
Chris & BretRachel & Elissa

Episode title quotes

Episode titles are often taken from quotes made by the racers.
  1. "You're in Our Race Now" – Jamal
  2. "Knock the Newbie Out of Us" – Rupert
  3. "Here Fishy, Fishy, Fishy" – Korey
  4. "I Took Out a Polar Bear" – Britney
  5. "I'm a Bird, I'm a Plane, I'm on The Amazing Race" – Korey
  6. "Who Wants a Rolex?" – Roadblock Prompt
  7. "Living Fearlessly" – Christie
  8. "You're the Apple in My Eye" – Korey
  9. "Let's Split!" – Colin
  10. "Chugga Chugga Choo Choo!" – Becca
  11. "This One is For One Million Dollars" – Christie

    Prizes

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

Leg 1 (United States → Japan)

Airdate: April 17, 2019
In the first Roadblock of the Race, one team member had to take part in "Who wants a sweet new pair of shoes?", which was inspired by the Japanese-style game show Candy or Not Candy. They had pick one of several getas and bite the sandal until they found one of twelve made of chocolate. When they found the correct geta, both team members had to eat the chocolate up to a red line to receive their next clue.
For the second Roadblock of the leg, the team member that did not perform the previous Roadblock had to change into a blue unitard and wig and had to climb up a slippery slope that resembled Mount Fuji to retrieve their next clue at the summit.
;Additional tasks
Airdate: April 24, 2019
The first Detour of the Race was a choice between ABC and BBQ. In ABC, teams had to make their way on foot to Ecole Maternelle Louang Prabang and had to learn the Laotian alphabet from a teacher. After learning the alphabet, teams had to pass an oral exam to receive their next clue. In BBQ, teams had to make their way on foot to BBQ Alley and had to purchase three ducks and eight tilapias. They then had to prepare eleven Lao barbecue skewers exactly like the skewers prepared during an ongoing demonstration to receive their next clue.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to learn a series of Lao commands and use these commands to direct an elephant to cross the Nam Khan River. Once across, they had to search on their elephant for two men playing Hmong music on qeejs. When found, team members would receive their next clue and had to direct their elephant back to Elephant Village to reunite with their partner.
;Additional tasks
Airdate: May 1, 2019
This leg's Detour was a choice between Reel It In and Light It Up. In Reel It In, teams had to make their way to Thanh Đa Restaurant and catch eight prawns from the pool inside the restaurant using fishing poles to receive their next clue. In Light It Up, teams had to make their way to The CREATV Company film studio and learn a dance. When ready, they would don a "glowsuit" covered with electroluminescent wire and had to dance in sync alongside local dancers and Asia's Got Talent contestants 218 Dance Crew to receive their next clue.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to learn the Vietnamese lyrics of :vi:Trúc Nhân|Trúc Nhân's song "Thật Bất Ngờ" and then perform karaoke in front of an audience. If they sang the lyrics correctly, they would receive their next clue.
;Additional tasks
Airdate: May 8, 2019
For their Speed Bump, Chris & Bret had to fill a cooler with snowballs in simulated snow storm conditions and deliver the cooler to College Transportation Central before they could continue racing.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to pass a Vietnamese driving test by driving a scooter through a figure-eight and over a series of speed bumps without touching the ground or driving outside the yellow lines to receive their next clue.
The Detour was a choice between Irritation and Irrigation. In Irritation, teams had to paddle a basket boat while avoiding fishermen on boats and moving their boat over bridges in order to pick up a basket of five fish. They then had to paddle back to the start and exchange the fish and the basket for their next clue. In Irrigation, teams had to assemble a bamboo water wheel to the satisfaction of a farmer and then use the water wheel to fill a jar with water to receive their next clue.
;Additional tasks
;Additional note
Airdate: May 22, 2019
This leg's Detour was a choice between Fall and Find. In Fall, teams had to make their way to the Burj Khalifa and choose a jumpmaster, who would take them up the building. There, teams would discover that they had to don a virtual reality headset and use the controls to find a signal interceptor, climb to the top of a simulated Burj Khalifa spire, intercept a satellite, and parachute to the base of the building. After the jump, both team members had to correctly answer a test to receive their next clue, otherwise they would have to attempt the task again. The five questions were: At what height are you in the Burj Khalifa? ; What color was the lever you turned? ; What else was inside the glass you broke? ; Did the observation deck door open in or out? ; How many antennae were on the signal interceptor?. Only two teams could attempt this task at a time. In Find, teams had to make their way to Dubai Garden Glow and don Tyrannosaurus Rex costumes. They then had to search Dinosaur Park for a white, a red, a purple, a blue, and a green glowing dinosaur egg and place the eggs in a nest to receive their next clue.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to enter a silent rave and had to find a partygoer dancing to the same music as the DJ, a remix of The Amazing Race theme, using only their sight to receive their next clue.
;Additional tasks
Airdate: May 22, 2019
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to find a vendor, who would give them a shopping list. They then had to purchase the ingredients from the list and use their ingredients to properly prepare a rolex to receive their next clue.
For their Speed Bump, Rachel & Elissa had to hand-wash clothes and then hang them to dry before they could continue racing.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Salty Roll and Move the Pole. In Salty Roll, teams had to bring a wheelbarrow full of the largest freshwater fish in Africa, the Nile perch, to a workstation. They then had to properly salt and roll the fish skin and had to wash, gut, and salt the meat to receive their next clue. In Move the Pole, teams had to load firewood from a canoe onto a bicycle and deliver the wood to a market. There, teams had to stack the wood like a finished example until they reached a specified height to receive their next clue.
In the only aired Head-to-Head of the Race, one member from each competing team had to solve a puzzle similar to the Tower of Hanoi that consisted of four stacks of Ngoma drums. Team members had to move one drum at a time until each stack consisted of drums of the same color and grab an ox tail in order to win the Head-to-Head and check-in at the nearby Pit Stop. The team that lost the Head-to-Head had to wait for the next team, and the team that lost the final Head-to-Head was eliminated from the Race.
;Additional tasks
Airdate: May 29, 2019
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member would be harnessed to a canyon swing. They would then free-fall and swing into the Gletscherschlucht. After the swing, they would then have to search the gorge for their next clue.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Water Power and Water Down. In Water Power, teams had to ride the Gelmerbahn. During the ride, teams had to memorize eight signs that listed water basins and amount of water they hold. When their ride ended, teams had to run across a hydroelectric dam and match the eight basin names to their water capacities on a technical map to receive their next clue. Otherwise, they would have to ride the Gelmerbahn again. In Water Down, teams had to go canyoneering in the Grimsel Canyon. They had to rappel down a canyon, jump from a ledge into a glacial river, and then jump to grab their next clue hanging from a rope. After retrieving their clue, team members had to ride a zip-line and release themselves to drop down into a river before hiking out of the canyon.
;Additional task
Airdate: June 5, 2019
For their Speed Bump, Nicole & Victor had to fold the 26 Swiss canton flags in the Ballenberg Community Hall and place them in a basket before they could continue racing.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Haymaking and Cow Dressing. In Haymaking, one team member had to use a scythe to cut a lane of grass, while their partner raked it. They then had to properly stack the grass so that it could dry into hay to receive their next clue. In Cow Dressing, teams had to use the provided materials to make a floral headdress and place it on a cow's head. They then had to lead the cow to a festival and would receive their next clue if the headdress was properly made.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to use a crossbow to shoot an apple off a scarecrow's head much like Swiss folk hero William Tell to receive their next clue. If team members struck the scarecrow, they had to reassemble it before taking another shot.
;Additional tasks
Airdate: June 12, 2019
This leg's Detour was a choice between Poetry in Motion and Washed in from the Ocean. In Poetry in Motion, teams had to memorize a tongue-twisting poem while riding a large flying tube that was towed by a speedboat. After returning ashore, teams had to correctly recite the poem to a poetry master to receive their next clue, otherwise they had to ride the tube again. In Washed in from the Ocean, teams had to go snorkeling and use a metal detector to search the Adriatic Sea for a goblet and 5 ancient coins, which they could exchange for their next clue after returning ashore.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to enter the senator's room and watch a troop of 18 Roman soldiers march in formation. After the soldiers covered themselves with shields, team members had to correctly identify on a podium the five soldiers wearing red ribbons around their helmets to receive their next clue.
;Additional tasks
Airdate: June 19, 2019
This leg's Detour was a choice between High and Dry. In High, teams had to bike to a farm and load a "Kamper cow" onto a trailer behind a tractor. They then had to follow the tractor on their bicycle to the Nieuwe Toren and hoist the cow to the top of the tower within forty seconds. If they could raise the cow within the time limit, then one team member had to climb to the top of the bell tower to receive their next clue. In Dry, teams had to bike to a farm, where both team members had to pole vault across an irrigation ditch "the Dutch way". They then had to bring two cheese orbs and a dozen eggs back across the ditch and transport them on their bicycle to Kampen Market intact to receive their next clue.
;Additional tasks
Airdate: June 26, 2019
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to decipher a World War II code. They had to listen to a speech from Neville Chamberlain and pick out the fifteenth, thirtieth, and fourth words. They then had to translate the letters into numbers based on alphabetical order. Under each number was a group of three letters, which teams had to rearrange into numerical order to reveal the final message. Team members then had to type the message on an Underwood Portable typewriter and deliver it to a brigadier outside the castle's barracks. If they gave him the correct message of "The Dunkirk evacuation has begun. We will never surrender.", they would receive their next clue.
This leg's Detour was a choice between Know and Row. In Know, teams had to ride a taxicab and had to memorize the fifteen streets and seven landmarks their taxi driver told them during the ride. When teams returned to the cabmen's shelter on Kensington Road, they had to correctly recite their route to Dave Cannell, the Master of the Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers, to receive their next clue. In Row, teams had to row a double scull through a course on The Serpentine in under one minute to receive their next clue.
;Additional tasks
Airdate: June 26, 2019
For the final Roadblock of the Race, one team member had to rappel face-first down the Guardian Building. On the way down, they had to look for a series of numbers that they would need to unlock a bank vault along with specific turn-by-turn instructions listed in the basement of the building to retrieve their next clue.
;Additional tasks

U.S. Nielsen ratings

Canadian ratings

Canadian broadcaster CTV also aired The Amazing Race on Wednesdays.
Canadian DVR ratings are included in Numeris's count.
No.Air dateEpisodeViewers
Rank
Ref
1"You're in Our Race Now"1.22415
2"Knock the Newbie Out of Us"1.48311
3"Here Fishy, Fishy, Fishy"1.31317
4"I Took Out A Polar Bear"1.38116
5"I'm a Bird, I'm a Plane, I'm on The Amazing Race"1.4354
6"Who Wants a Rolex?"1.4354
7"Living Fearlessly"1.6203
8"You're the Apple in My Eye"1.4814
9"Let's Split!"1.5998
10"Chugga Chugga Choo Choo!"1.6221
11"This One is For One Million Dollars"1.5111