Topic: TAR 22 EP 12 FINALE (DC) "Beacon of Hope"

[georgiapeach]

Location confirmation thanks to MrDS!!
 

 
 


"Finale"--Emmy winning host Phil Keoghan greets the winners at the Pit Stop on the 22nd season finale of THE AMAZING RACE, scheduled to air Sunday, May 5 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Rob Vuona/CBS ©2012 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved
 
Title confirmation thanks to Dr Rox!
 
 
AFTER MORE THAN 30,000 MILES, FIVE CONTINENTS AND NINE COUNTRIES, THE FOUR REMAINING TEAMS EMBARK ON THE FINAL TWO LEGS OF THE RACE EN ROUTE TO THE FINISH LINE WHERE ONE TEAM WINS $1 MILLION, ON THE TWO-HOUR SEASON FINALE OF “THE AMAZING RACE,” MAY 5
     
“Beacon of Hope – The four remaining teams start with bog snorkeling in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where one team faces this season’s final elimination.  The final three Teams then sprint to the finish line in Washington, D.C. in a Race through our nation’s capital for $1 million during the two-hour season finale of THE AMAZING RACE, Sunday, May 5 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.  Emmy Award nominee Phil Keoghan (@philkeoghan) is the host.

[georgiapeach]

PREVIEW!
 
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZBURlqmeY-Q?version=3&amp;amp;hl" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/ZBURlqmeY-Q?version=3&amp;amp;hl</a>

[georgiapeach]

Please do not post here unless you are DOM, thanks!

[Dom]

	Leg 12 (Belfast, Northern Ireland → Washington, D.C, USA )
Filmed	7 Dec
Broadcast	5 May
ROUTE INFO	Unknown
FLIGHTS	Unknown
ROUTE INFO	Old Post Office Pavilion, Washington, D.C.
ROUTE INFO	Tidal Basin, Washington, D.C.
ROADBLOCK	Involves finding a particular spy out of many and obtaining a briefcase.
ROUTE INFO	Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
TASK	Involves ascending the stadium and ziplining.
FINISH LINE	Mount Vernon, Washington, D.C.

[georgiapeach]

saved

[georgiapeach]

saved

[georgiapeach]

saved

[georgiapeach]

This thread solely for the DC portion, thanks!

[RachelLeVega]

The Finish Line is at Mount Vernon Estate, the most iconic presidential "house" in the DC area besides the White House. (Went on an extensive field trip to that estate back when I was in high school.) I don't know if it has been said yet on this thread.

[georgiapeach]

CAPS!! Please limit this thread's discussion to the DC leg only!


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[Belle Book]

I'm presuming that the "giant baseball" task and the briefcase task all take place in Washington, D.C.

[georgiapeach]

Hi Belle! Yes try looking at the TimeLine, we have all this from our Live SIghtings.

[Alenaveda]

I guess this is a good moment to bring back part of the  material we have in the sightings thread:

Hey all,

Long time lurker on the board but now I finally have something to post/add to the conversation.  I'm a huge Amazing Race fan and, when hearing here that DC was the final destination city, I took an extra hour for lunch from work in DC and checked out the filming in and around town. 

Amazing experience, and topped it off with being right next to clue box while teams ran into a challenge at Nationals Park and spotted Phil leaving for a standup/shoot.

Quick summary:
-Saw four teams, including hockey players (who seemed to be slowly going about things from the challenge to their cab, which makes me think they were decoys..more below), pink female/female (from my glimpse, Elizabeth and Mona, who were in a rush at the Roadblock and hailing a cab) and the male/female (the team discussed as maybe Jaclyn and Jarrod, hurting to hail a cab along the Tidal Basin) as well as a female pink team (I think from posts it would be Jennifer Wayne, who seemed to be taking her time talking to the camera crew during the Roadblock)

-Roadblock: Teams raced from previous location (unknown to me, but rumored to be downtown/Old Post Office Pavilion) to Tidal Basin for Switchback of the Family Edition DC Roadblock in that they had to find a spie amongst 100s around the Basin to whisper a phrase and exchange briefcases.  Teams ran into the Jefferson Memorial and then team member ran to find their spy.  I counted/encountered about 150 spies wandering the Basin, and saw the pink team rush out with camera in toe to find their spie.  I have one picture of the lone pink team being filmed, but they again seemed to be taking their time with production and not racing.  After circling around, Mona and Elizabeth were trying hard to hail a cab in the worst spot along the Basin to catch one (and didn't hear me offering to help from my car) and about 10 feet away Jaclyn/Jarod were trying hard as well.  Seemed these two teams were in a dead heat and trying in the same spot for cabs and were holding clue envelopes.  This location was not too tourist filled, but there was a large contingent of production cars, tents and crew along with circling helicopter.  Additionally, passed a few towncars that had race flags on the front bumpers like flags that are usually utilized by cars carrying diplomats (think the motorcade and the little flags on the front ends of the hood).  Not sure if this was the transportation from Dulles to Roadblock or from elsewhere.

-Nats Park (either a Detour or challenge task): I saw Phil here early on walking to production cars to head out.  Setup, with crew members, were rigging leading from outfield plaza in left center to the top of the highest point of park across the outfield above first base.  From my two vantage points (I have a few pictures), teams started in the plaza and had to work their way up (by winch, hand crank, I don't know) up to the top, get a clue and then exited front of park.  After seeing the Roadblock, I came back to Nats Park and clue box was set up at main gate and the hockey team ran out slowly, carrying their briefcase and leaving their camer and sound guy far behind, to their cab and hopped in to head out.  One of them commented "It was snug in that thing".  Again, they were running slow but they were the only team there at that time, and I knew that the other two teams were still back at the Roadblock.  Perhaps they knew they had a lead?  Production car followed them out of the park and onto the next destination.

I didn't hear any clues as to finish line, but from the earlier tweet, and time of year, Mt. Vernon Estate (George Washington's home and estate) would fit perfectly, as it's secluded, down an access road and usually quiet this time of year.

I have multiple pictures on my phone (some good, some not great due to trying to shoot pictures and driving) that I can't upload until I get home (or Peach, can you pull from my Twitter or if I post to facebook?).  Needless to say, it was awesome seeing this in action.

Mnay thanks to STROCHE for these wonderful pics! They came a bit scrambled time wise so I grouped some, and added a few closeups, but he is going to have to explain them all!


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stroche -- I was on the ground in DC today too, but didn't get nearly as much (good) information as you got.  I can fill in the blanks on the Old Post Office, though.

After scoping out Lincoln, Vietnam, World War I and other monuments on the west side of the Mall from about 11 am on looking for production or other clues (and finding naught), literally stumbled into a team over by the Martin Luther King Memorial at a little after noon.  Two women, brunettes, wearing red fleece jackets, with film crew.  They seemed to be working on some clue that had something to do with MLK.  No production folks at the site, though.  They talked to a memorial docent, who told them the only other MLK-related things he could think of were the MLK library (highly unlikely, it's an ugly 70's glass building in a high-traffic part of town) or an inscription on the stairs of the Lincoln Memorial where MLK gave his "I Had a Dream" speech.  He was under the impression the girls would head to the Lincoln Memorial.  I talked to their cab driver, who said the girls had told him not to wait as they didn't know how long they would be.  That could have caused them a problem.  FWIW, he really liked them, so they must not have been too assy.

A set of guys were there as well, but I only saw them from afar, as I was talking to their cab driver, who had been asked to wait.  He described one of them as having longish blond hair, had no description of the other.  Just then, the guys popped out at the end of the block and waved him down, so he sped away from me to get them.  Saw another guy there with shortish brown hair, but didn't see them from the front.  Tried to follow their cab, but they got away from me.

Went back to the Lincoln but found no teams and no production.  The whole MLK thing must have been either a bad misreading of a clue or a decoy route.

Got a tip that there was a road closure over by the Smithsonian Museum of American History, so headed there.  Turned out that the racers went to the nearby Old Post Office.  I got there about 10 minutes after they left, no production in sight.  There, they had to get their clue in a souvenir shop after having their picture taken with a cardboard Obama.  The shop keeper told me that three teams came for clues, all within about 5-10 minutes of each other.  All of them asked for directions to the Tidal Basin.  I was told that blondes in pink were there.  Unfortunately, I had to give up the chase at that point and return to life.   So

As an aside, the Old Post Office seemed an odd choice.  Inside there's nothing but a food court and a few small, tacky shops.  There's a gubbmint agency on the top floors, so you can't get in without a full security check (x ray machine for jackets and packages, metal detector to enter).  Maybe CBS got that waived.

Got a couple of pics, but they're either too blurry or too far away to be of use.  I'll post 'em anyway once I get them off my camera.

Sorry I couldn't get more, but it was fun to run along, and I don't expect TAR to come back to DC anytime soon.  Thanks for launching me on this quest, Peach!

To add detail and notes to my photos and adventure yesterday.

-this was the final destination city....awesome choice although it was 50 degrees chilly and grey out which is typical dc winter weather.
-per the info found here, appears teams arrived via international terminal at Dulles.
-I saw three teams.  Earlier I stated four but upon review, and having a chance to calm down from the excitement, it was three.  All three didn't appear to be decoys and are as follows:
1)male/female team earlier noted to be the team possibly Jaclyn/Jarod.  The earlier shot posted here of this team helped me ID them as he was wearing very similar outfit to that shot/bright green running sneakers.
2)pink team I can verify was the grapplers Elizabeth and Mona.
3)male/male hockey players, who were in a lead based on my timing

Locations I saw were between 12 noon and 1:15 pm at Nationals Park (clue box and challenge rigging as noted earlier in my post and seen in my shots) and Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial (Part of the larger West and East Potomac Park off the National Mall).  The sequence of my shots, since they were out of order, was Nationals Park (from 12-12:35ish with shots of rigging, gates and Phil & steady cam) then Tidal Basin (12:40-1ish with shots of Roadblock with spies, teams running around with briefcases and teams attempting to hail a cab after getting clue) and then back to Nats Park (1-1:15 for shots of clue box and hockey players jumping into cab following challenge).

Some notes about what I saw/clarify now that you see the shots:
-I noted the rigging for the challenge seemed to have teams manually ascend up the rigging from the outfield plaza to the top of the stadium.  I didn't see it in action however the rigging and harnesses were set up in the plaza but it could have been for Phil's standup when i saw them there (notice in the shots through the gate you can see the truss and all on the outfield plaza but mats set up in front to perhaps stop a descent of a team member as if a zip line).  I didn't see the hockey players complete this but did hear one say it was snug up in there as they ran out.
-hockey players were running casually which made me think they were decoys but based on the sequence and my timing, they were ahead by a lot (20-30 mins) then the teams I saw scrambling at the Roadblock at the Basin.  With this lead and being only team at the challenge, I could understand a slower pace out to their cab, especially since a production car and camera crew followed along in other car and in cab (see the photo of the yellow cab...they ran out and hopped in and I didn't have my phone ready sadly)
-the shots of the pink team are the one in the dark vest sprinting around the basin doing the roadblock and her partner waiting with camera crew behind the car as seen in the shot. This is Elizabeth and Mona.  They seemed to have upper hand/lead over female/male team by just a few minutes.  The one behind the car was giving reaction/thoughts to camera man calmly, but had pack on ready to go.  Production asked me to move along nicely but as I drove by I could see a team sprinting up steps of Jefferson across the Basin.  I also passed the town car/limo with race flags on bumper like a motorcade but only saw one.  Based on the parking lot, tents and crew, I'm now concluding that the clue was to find this car and driver for clue for roadblock and then do spy portion.  I do not think it was their transportation as there was only one and that area seemed to be home base for crew and where the one team member waited.
-teams (as seen in the distant shots of what looks like sidewalks and streets you can see Mona/Elizabeth and camera man) ran out from the Mall side of the Basin to intersection of Independence Ave by the Basin and ramps to/off of southeast southwest freeway and 395 by Bureau of Engraving and Printing.  Both pink and male/female were trying to hail cabs at same time within 15 feet of each other and frantically running up and down sidewalk trying to get one, clue envelopes in hand.  This is not a strong spot for cabs, and sadly I couldn't flag them down to tell them.
-there is one shot of a man in a red jacket at Nats Park pointing as if giving to directions to another man.  That's just the security guy at the gate giving directions to a tourist...errant shot!
-I don't know where they came from but from these other tweets Old Post Office sounds like their earlier stop.  I've been to that gift store and its junky and tacky and they try to get every tourist to stop and take a picture with the Obama cut out.  Not sure if that was a task, etc but the team seen in that shot is Mona and Elizabeth and were wearing the same clothes at Roadblock.  Interesting note: old post office is one of the underused federally owned buildings that recently was sold and will be becoming a trump hotel.  Historical landmark that makes for a great route marker, and he's promised to preserve it somehow.
-didn't overhear anything about Mount Vernon but makes great sense for finish line.  Direct route from Nats Park on highways to GW Parkway which runs right up to the estate, secluded and not a heavy tourist destination this time of year mid day when they were racing (come spring and summer tons of school kids)

December 7, 2012 -   Avid reality show fan here.  Heard news that  the Amazing Race 22 was filming around the DC Metro area yesterday.  hop on to the Metro train station to Nationals Park in the afternoon.  Saw notice signs on lightpoles everywhere saying that there was an event taken place at the ballpark.   when i approach the center field gates ... saw  a team (two males) with a camera guy filming them  around the Amazing Race clue box  possibly  deciding to do the detour challenge or not .   As you can see also, there was EMT ambulance on stand by too.   Didn't see any other team(s) beside them during that time.   Apparently they were well ahead at that point of the race.   

[Reilly Queens]

CBS was not holding back on basically confirming the final 3!

[Reilly Queens]

Looks like the high flying task could be one person goes on the zipline, to throw a ball and have the other member run with them in a baseball costume and catch it?

[bsuerr]

The teams we see in the caps of DC are Maxie, Caroline and Jen (you can see her brown coat in cap 9 and then on the zipline in cap 26) and then Mona and Beth but there's a picture of Bates with the president  what is going on? But notice Bates is in a suit but Beth/Mona is just in her running gear when taking a picture with the president... strange.. are they using decoys even in the commercials??

[NoluckBoston]

The teams we see in the caps of DC are Maxie, Caroline and Jen (you can see her brown coat in cap 9 and then on the zipline in cap 26) and then Mona and Beth but there's a picture of Bates with the president  what is going on? But notice Bates is in a suit but Beth/Mona is just in her running gear when taking a picture with the president... strange.. are they using decoys even in the commercials??

I dont quite think so. If you look closely, it looks like just their heads are photo shopped into the photos. Beth or is that Mona, have the reverses in colors. Black over red, not red under black. I think its just coincidence.

[bsuerr]

The teams we see in the caps of DC are Maxie, Caroline and Jen (you can see her brown coat in cap 9 and then on the zipline in cap 26) and then Mona and Beth but there's a picture of Bates with the president  what is going on? But notice Bates is in a suit but Beth/Mona is just in her running gear when taking a picture with the president... strange.. are they using decoys even in the commercials??

I dont quite think so. If you look closely, it looks like just their heads are photo shopped into the photos. Beth or is that Mona, have the reverses in colors. Black over red, not red under black. I think its just coincidence.

Yea looking again they both look photoshopped.. but still all 4 teams are shown doing something in DC one must be a decoy the question is which team is it?

[Chateau d If]

They have never put decoy footage in show/preview material.  Maybe the brown panted person is production doing the demonstration? And the teams running along the trussed walkway are in Belfast at a ferry ramp for example.

Also, the Obama shots are a cardboard cutout that was ID'd in live sightings.

[georgiapeach]

The teams we see in the caps of DC are Maxie, Caroline and Jen (you can see her brown coat in cap 9 and then on the zipline in cap 26) and then Mona and Beth but there's a picture of Bates with the president  what is going on? But notice Bates is in a suit but Beth/Mona is just in her running gear when taking a picture with the president... strange.. are they using decoys even in the commercials??

I dont quite think so. If you look closely, it looks like just their heads are photo shopped into the photos. Beth or is that Mona, have the reverses in colors. Black over red, not red under black. I think its just coincidence.

Yea looking again they both look photoshopped.. but still all 4 teams are shown doing something in DC one must be a decoy the question is which team is it?

I disagree. I don't think it is photoshopped ...I think the gold overlay was confusing. Here are three more caps where it is  clearer that this is Katie.

[Alenaveda]

One more evidence that is Katie: she's wearing the same outfit than in Berlin.

48

[Reilly Queens]

Oh Alen, you forgot these pictures Stephen took that was though to be decoys, but I think its our final 3.

From a good friend/anonymous for now(with their permission), spoiler tag for large pic

Show content

If you look closely you can see the blue jacket and neon shoes that Max & Katie have!

[georgiapeach]

More spoilers from the day:

stroche -- I was on the ground in DC today too, but didn't get nearly as much (good) information as you got.  I can fill in the blanks on the Old Post Office, though.

After scoping out Lincoln, Vietnam, World War I and other monuments on the west side of the Mall from about 11 am on looking for production or other clues (and finding naught), literally stumbled into a team over by the Martin Luther King Memorial at a little after noon.  Two women, brunettes, wearing red fleece jackets, with film crew.  They seemed to be working on some clue that had something to do with MLK.  No production folks at the site, though.  They talked to a memorial docent, who told them the only other MLK-related things he could think of were the MLK library (highly unlikely, it's an ugly 70's glass building in a high-traffic part of town) or an inscription on the stairs of the Lincoln Memorial where MLK gave his "I Had a Dream" speech.  He was under the impression the girls would head to the Lincoln Memorial.  I talked to their cab driver, who said the girls had told him not to wait as they didn't know how long they would be.  That could have caused them a problem.  FWIW, he really liked them, so they must not have been too assy.

A set of guys were there as well, but I only saw them from afar, as I was talking to their cab driver, who had been asked to wait.  He described one of them as having longish blond hair, had no description of the other.  Just then, the guys popped out at the end of the block and waved him down, so he sped away from me to get them.  Saw another guy there with shortish brown hair, but didn't see them from the front.  Tried to follow their cab, but they got away from me.

Went back to the Lincoln but found no teams and no production.  The whole MLK thing must have been either a bad misreading of a clue or a decoy route.

Got a tip that there was a road closure over by the Smithsonian Museum of American History, so headed there.  Turned out that the racers went to the nearby Old Post Office.  I got there about 10 minutes after they left, no production in sight.  There, they had to get their clue in a souvenir shop after having their picture taken with a cardboard Obama.  The shop keeper told me that three teams came for clues, all within about 5-10 minutes of each other.  All of them asked for directions to the Tidal Basin.  I was told that blondes in pink were there.  Unfortunately, I had to give up the chase at that point and return to life.   So

As an aside, the Old Post Office seemed an odd choice.  Inside there's nothing but a food court and a few small, tacky shops.  There's a gubbmint agency on the top floors, so you can't get in without a full security check (x ray machine for jackets and packages, metal detector to enter).  Maybe CBS got that waived.

Got a couple of pics, but they're either too blurry or too far away to be of use.  I'll post 'em anyway once I get them off my camera.

Sorry I couldn't get more, but it was fun to run along, and I don't expect TAR to come back to DC anytime soon.  Thanks for launching me on this quest, Peach!

[Alenaveda]

One more evidence that is Katie: she's wearing the same outfit than in Berlin.

48

And Katie using the same shoes at the RB in Switzerland:

[Nyoman_SB1]

i don't understand why CBS reveal the final 3 teams in the preview   

[georgiapeach]

No signs of a memory challenge so far...   

[Kamineko]

i don't understand why CBS reveal the final 3 teams in the preview   

Because not revealing the final 3 teams in the final leg preview is too mainstream.

No signs of a memory challenge so far...   

I really hope that they combine the memory challenge with the secret agent task.

Anyway, is someone know what Max's saying during the secret agent task? I heard words like "good half smoked and chili".

[Plaidmoon]

i don't understand why CBS reveal the final 3 teams in the preview   

Because not revealing the final 3 teams in the final leg preview is too mainstream.

No signs of a memory challenge so far...   

I really hope that they combine the memory challenge with the secret agent task.

Anyway, is someone know what Max's saying during the secret agent task? I heard words like "good half smoked and chili".

I haven't watched the video, but that phrase makes sense to me from what I remember from my days in the Washington DC area. The popular local sausage (or it is more like a hot dog?) is called a half-smoke. It's often served with chili on it as a sort of chili dog. The place famous for making the best one is Ben's Chili Bowl though I don't think it's particularly close to where the teams were spotted.

I did some checking on Wikipedia and I see that Ben's Chili Bowl has a second location in the Washington Nationals Baseball Park and that the half-smoke is the official hot dog of the Washington Nationals. That seems like a likely connection. They probably got the phrase about the good half smoke and chili after the zip line at the stadium as a clue to give to the spies.

[DrRox]

Or it's a clue to get to Nationals Park.

[RaceUntilWeDie]

Not much, but:

Phil Keoghan
Next week … a two hour season finale, great challenges and another unpredictable finish @NoOppWasted #AmazingRace

Unpredictable = Mona & Beth pulling off the win against Bates & Anthony? Just my 2 cents.

[Belle Book]

Not much, but:

Phil Keoghan
Next week … a two hour season finale, great challenges and another unpredictable finish @NoOppWasted #AmazingRace

Unpredictable = Mona & Beth pulling off the win against Bates & Anthony? Just my 2 cents.

I hope so!

[Declive]

Yeah i also think Derby Moms won.

[BuuYaa]

looking on their twitter accounts,  Max and Katie are the most exaggerated so far with the whole race...

maybe they win? Idk...

my gut is telling me Mona & Beth

maybe it's the scheme from last season, idk..

it's funny though this season how teams were so intense and heated when you watched them in TV racing,
as you go straight to twitter, you'll find'em sending love tweets to each other, laughing with each others,   

well I guess at the end of the day, this is a game,... and everything just, goes...

[JETandCORDfan]

Honestly... I say Bates and Anthony win. I think they might fall behind early in the final leg, but make a 'remarkable and unpredictable' recovery and somehow win. I just think that they are way too strong compared to the other possible opponents going into the final leg of the race...

[georgiapeach]

The live spoilers have sightings... 

[Prophet]

I wonder if there is a memory task related to the political\international tasks they have done

[Ruth]

I feel that the "unpredictable finish" might mean constant swaps in positions throughout the race, hence we won't be able to predict who wins until the last moment. My gut tells me either Bates and Anthony or Max and Katie will win.

[georgiapeach]

Unpredictable finish is probably the usual hyperbole. Remember "closest finish ever"?? That was an example.

[Kamineko]

Unpredictable finish is probably the usual hyperbole. Remember "closest finish ever"?? That was an example.

My opinion about the "unpredictable finish", somehow I think that the winner will be a team that many fans think that they're underdog team, like Josh & Brent in previous season. Somehow I think that the winner is the team that hasn't won any leg until now, which is between Caro & Jen and Mona & Beth. Unless if one of them won the eleventh leg.

[NickNaTaw]

As of now, I'm assuming "Unpredictable Finish" means the rollerderby moms win. They've checked in near or at the bottom the last couple of legs. Maxie and Hockey were 1st/2nd in Scotland and it's safe to assume they'll have the same placements in Belfast, so it would be too predictable if one of them won, especially to the general public who sees them as the favorites. And since Carol and Jen are out in Belfast, I'm definitely rooting for a Mona and Beth win!

Although, wouldn't it have been amazing if the M/K, B/A, and C/J alliance made it to the F3 and C/J pulled it out!

[Leilani]

I'm probably asking for way too much here, but it would be nice if the unpredictable finish referred to a scenario that allowed for a 3 way race to the finish after the last task.  If not; then, at least allowed for an edit that made it look like a 3 way race to the finish.

In the picture of Mona or Beth with the president it looks like she is wearing (or photo shopped into ) a red suit jacket to me.  I could be wrong, but it looks like there is a small pin on the lapel.

[georgiapeach]

It is a cardboard cutout pic...full info in the spoilers.

[gamerfan09]

I have a feeling that somehow the "unpredictable finish" is that the team we fully expect to win, (dominating) Bates and Anthony struggles in the final leg, to the point that everyone else passes them, and it ends up being with those two teams.

[SamualDude]

At this stage, I'll be shocked if Caroline and Jennifer manage to survive Ireland. The caps so far pretty much confirm Max & Katie and Mona & Beth for final 3. the cutout looks like it was designed for this promo but I guess we will find out.

[RaceUntilWeDie]

People, check the live sightings...

and you'll have a good idea of was shown to have a lead.

[Alenaveda]

People, check the live sightings...

and you'll have a good idea of was shown to have a lead.

Or check here:

http://forum.realityfanforum.com/index.php/topic,28587.msg871733.html#msg871733

[zythr]

So Max/Katie win this race?

[Declive]

So Max/Katie win this race?

We can't assume that. It's also an "unpredictable finish".

[JETandCORDfan]

Could the Hockey Brothers possibly not make the top 3, and the 3 others teams possibly have a close race to the finish in Leg 12?

I would never think that the Hockey Brothers would get eliminated, but they aren't worried about using the word 'un-predictable' about this season.

[Declive]

Could the Hockey Brothers possibly not make the top 3, and the 3 others teams possibly have a close race to the finish in Leg 12?

I would never think that the Hockey Brothers would get eliminated, but they aren't worried about using the word 'un-predictable' about this season.

Bates showed taking an Obama Picture. Final leg for sure.

[JETandCORDfan]

So, wouldn't it make sense that we'll see a Bates/Anthony, Max/Katie, Mona/Beth Final 3?


I mean, theoretically, based on everything in these spoiler threads, this is what it all adds up to... But you can never be too sure.

[MrDeerShank]

Is the baseball task just an Active Route Info? One team member goes on the zipline while the other catches the ball in the baseball costume?

[apskip]

Could the Hockey Brothers possibly not make the top 3, and the 3 others teams possibly have a close race to the finish in Leg 12?

I would never think that the Hockey Brothers would get eliminated, but they aren't worried about using the word 'un-predictable' about this season.

Bates showed taking an Obama Picture. Final leg for sure.

Declive,

If you were in charge of a team eliminated in Belfast, what would you have them doing as decoy in Washington? I would have them being very obvious at some of the same tasks as the Final 3. It is too soon to definitively say who the Final 3 are.

[DrRox]

Is the baseball task just an Active Route Info? One team member goes on the zipline while the other catches the ball in the baseball costume?

Since TAR 18, the pattern for the finale is 2RBs and a team task. The baseball task is similiar to the deliver pizza task from TAR 21, the building rappel and descend in TAR 20, etc

[Declive]

Could the Hockey Brothers possibly not make the top 3, and the 3 others teams possibly have a close race to the finish in Leg 12?

I would never think that the Hockey Brothers would get eliminated, but they aren't worried about using the word 'un-predictable' about this season.

Bates showed taking an Obama Picture. Final leg for sure.

Declive,

If you were in charge of a team eliminated in Belfast, what would you have them doing as decoy in Washington? I would have them being very obvious at some of the same tasks as the Final 3. It is too soon to definitively say who the Final 3 are.

Yeah but they were seened in DC. Peach said that.

[David]

IIRC, ALL scenes featured in previews are shown in the show. I don't think they can be decoys in that case.

[DrRox]

I have been intrigued by the white tent since I first saw this set of screencaps. It does not show up on my GE and my GE imagery is from 10/12/2012.

So I am wondering if it is there for 1)some challemge close to the finish line, or 2)a place for all the production people, or 3)for the after/wrap party.

Phil does mention in an interview posted in the Media thread today, that they have a brainteaser similiar to the flags challenge from last year...........so now I wonder a lot more.

[Zzunk]

Y'all so smart and observant, I can't ever think of any to add to the discussion.

I am noticing the direction the teams flanking the finish line.  It looks like the final approach is from the woods, or at least from the side parking areas/gardens.  The finish line is definitely not set up for racers to approach from the front of the estate, or running around the main buildings.  If the white tent is part of task, then racers presumably run to the left (on the pic), then hook around to the finish line.  Or maybe the racers get their cabs to drive to the service area parking on the left.  Could there be a final task / memory challenge in the woods or gardens?

[georgiapeach]

Hi Zzunk!!

BIG  to RFF!! Lovely to see you here. 

[Jobby]

Photo finish in TAR 18 is so totally photo finish. Will probably be as unpredictable as this race.

Only if Derby moms win, will I think that Phil is right. But, don't think so~~~

[zythr]

I wonder if there is a memory task related to the political\international tasks they have done

I don't think so, since there was uproar with the leg in Vietnam

[zythr]

So Max/Katie win this race?

We can't assume that. It's also an "unpredictable finish".

Thanks. Either way, Bates/Anthony and Max and Katie have done very well, winning trips, money and in Max/Katies case new cars.

[zythr]

One of the best seasons was last season

[Air]

Delusional.

[laimis]

Delusional.

I agree

[Belle Book]

One of the best seasons was last season

I think the best one was Season 17.  Of course, one reason is probably because my favorite team won!   

[RealityFreakWill]

Murtz Jaffer has made his TAR prediction.

At first he was torn between Bates/Anthony and Max/Katie. Then he made his pick.

His pick to win  The Amazing Race 22 is MAX AND KATIE!

Keep in mind he was wrong twice in the 21 seasons. (Seasons 18 & 20)

[zythr]

Delusional.

What is?

[NickNaTaw]

Y'all so smart and observant, I can't ever think of any to add to the discussion.

I am noticing the direction the teams flanking the finish line.  It looks like the final approach is from the woods, or at least from the side parking areas/gardens.  The finish line is definitely not set up for racers to approach from the front of the estate, or running around the main buildings. If the white tent is part of task, then racers presumably run to the left (on the pic), then hook around to the finish line.  Or maybe the racers get their cabs to drive to the service area parking on the left.  Could there be a final task / memory challenge in the woods or gardens?

I'm REALLY hoping that there is some sort of task near the finish followed by a foot race to the end! If the final task is in the white tent and is some sort of memory challenge, I would assume M/K and M/B would excel more so than B/A. As far as a foot race goes, I think M/B would surpass M/K. This could give us the "unpredictable finish" we were promised.

[addie]

Delusional.

What is?

You know it.

[Prophet]

Murtz Jaffer has made his TAR prediction.

At first he was torn between Bates/Anthony and Max/Katie. Then he made his pick.

His pick to win  The Amazing Race 22 is MAX AND KATIE!

Keep in mind he was wrong twice in the 21 seasons. (Seasons 18 & 20)

[Reilly Queens]

Phil does mention in an interview posted in the Media thread today, that they have a brainteaser similiar to the flags challenge from last year...........so now I wonder a lot more.

As long as its not The Dump!

[Belle Book]

Murtz Jaffer has made his TAR prediction.

At first he was torn between Bates/Anthony and Max/Katie. Then he made his pick.

His pick to win  The Amazing Race 22 is MAX AND KATIE!

Keep in mind he was wrong twice in the 21 seasons. (Seasons 18 & 20)

I'm hoping Murtz Jaffer is wrong here!

[Magnus]

Murtz has lost his mojo for sure

[Jobby]

I think I have been more reliable in the past 7 seasons since TAR 17 scoring 7/7.

[Jobby]

+ I think whatever Phil says about the finale gonna be unpredictable... it means we are supposed to think that Mona and Beth win, so that when Bates and Anthony wins... it's gonna be unpredictable.

[gamerfan09]

+ I think whatever Phil says about the finale gonna be unpredictable... it means we are supposed to think that Mona and Beth win, so that when Bates and Anthony wins... it's gonna be unpredictable.

I also think it's probs people expect Maxie or MoBeth is....

Maxie:
-Great performances on the last three legs. They DID win them.
-Fans expect a great team with a great edit to win for once.

MoBeth:
-They have a Beekmans edit, which means their edit is hit/miss.
-Fans expect people with the Beekman edit to win.

So I guess no one expected Hockey to win. And they did.

[Jobby]

So I guess no one expected Hockey to win. And they did.

Lol, I guess there are more people expecting Maxie to win for sure. But I don't think half of these people will think that a Hockey win is "unexpected"... you see.

[TARFansurvivor]

Great Final

[zythr]

On that note, I was right. According to ratings, so far, this season finale of TAR rated lower than last Spring's finale.

[DrRox]

Just about my favorite scene in the race was at the pub in Euston. Max was channeling his inner Gus and wanting to stay long enough to finish the beer and Katie said NO!...........LOL

I dont understand why she wanted to get to Heathrow so early....since the brothers were 2 hours behind them. Poor Max

[Washingtonian]

If this is not the proper place, please move it.

Two of my DC friends and I watch the finale every season at their house, and they were out of the country when the finale aired, so we watched this past weekend.

If I was on this show, I knew where every single location was and wouldn't have had to ask anyone anything.  Haines Point and Nationals Park are a mile from each other, that should have been a running thing, not a cab. Mount Vernon is about 20 miles south of DC off GW Parkway, so unless someone's cab was really bad, no way could one get lost.  Washington Flyer is not a cheap cab (one of the teams was in it leaving Dulles) but I don't recall how much money these teams got at the start of this leg. The Tidal Basin is about 2 miles long (it's a big circle). 

I am happy TAR finally started or finished in DC, way overdue.

[bob13bob]

The leg with the agents with briefcases.  The hockey brothers came across theirs quickly while the other teams struggled.   This allowed them to finish the final task before the other teams even started it.  The producers obviously controlled which agent went first.   This was a skill less task.  It should have at least been randomized...

Took all the drama out of such a close race, I feel very cheated.

[georgiapeach]

to RFF Bob!

From what the racers said, it was very random as the "spies" did not walk in a set direction. So really just luck of the draw. Max commented on this in his interviews, check out that thread?

[Nyoman_SB1]

just wondering... is this the first time that 2 teams saved by NEL (Mona & Beth and Max & Katie) made it to the final 3??

[maxen]

Season 2: Chris & Alex / Tara & Will
Season 4 : Kelli & John / David & Jeff
Season 5: Collin & Christia / Brandon & Nicole
Season 7: Uchenna & Joyce (but it was the penultimate leg) / Ron & Kelly
Season 8: Branzen Family / Weaver Family
Season 9: BJ & Tyler / Ray & Yolanda (but it was the penultimate leg)
Season 13: Ken & Tina / Dan & Andrew

[Alenaveda]

CBS.com released the pics from the final:

Running to the finish line in the season finale of The Amazing Race "Beacon of Hope"
Roller Derby moms Mona (left) and Beth (right) race to the finish line at the historic home of President George Washington in Mount Vernon, Virginia on the 22nd season finale of THE AMAZING RACE, Sunday, May 5 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Heather Wines/CBS ©2012 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Phil Keoghan greets the final three teams in the season finale of The Amazing Race "Beacon of Hope"
Host Phil Keoghan (far left) greets (l-R) Roller Derby Moms Mona and Beth, Newlyweds Max and Katie and hockey brothers Bates and Anthony at the finish line at the historic home of President George Washington in Mount Vernon, Virginia on the 22nd season finale of THE AMAZING RACE, Sunday, May 5 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Heather Wines/CBS ©2012 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Steps at the Lincoln Memorial in the season finale of The Amazing Race "Beacon of Hope"
At the Route Marker, Newlyweds Max (left) and Katie (right) read the next clue on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on the 22nd season finale of THE AMAZING RACE, Sunday, May 5 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Heather Wines/CBS ©2012 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Reading a clue in the season finale of The Amazing Race "Beacon of Hope"
In this Road Block, Roller Derby moms Mona (left) and Beth (right) must search among fifty "spies" for a briefcase containing the next clue on the 22nd season finale of THE AMAZING RACE, Sunday, May 5 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Heather Wines/CBS ©2012 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Searching among spies in the season finale of The Amazing Race "Beacon of Hope"
In this Road Block, Roller Derby moms Mona (left) and Beth (right) must search among fifty "spies" for a briefcase containing the next clue on the 22nd season finale of THE AMAZING RACE, Sunday, May 5 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Heather Wines/CBS ©2012 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Max and Katie in the season finale of The Amazing Race "Beacon of Hope"
In this Road Block, Newlyweds Max (left) and Katie (right) must search among fifty "spies" for a briefcase containing the next clue on the 22nd season finale of THE AMAZING RACE, Sunday, May 5 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. hoto: Heather Wines/CBS ©2012 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved

The finish line in the season finale of The Amazing Race "Beacon of Hope"
Host Phil Keoghan (left) greets hockey brothers Bates (center) and Anthony (right) at the finish line at the historic home of President George Washington in Mount Vernon, Virginia on the 22nd season finale of THE AMAZING RACE, Sunday, May 5 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Heather Wines/CBS ©2012 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Phil in the season finale of The Amazing Race "Beacon of Hope"
Emmy award winning host Phil Keoghan at the end city of Washington, DC on the 22nd season finale of THE AMAZING RACE, Sunday, May 5 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Rob Vuona/CBS ©2012 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved

[Alenaveda]

More press pics!

Steps of the Lincoln Memorial in the season finale of The Amazing Race "Beacon of Hope"
At the Route Marker, Hockey brothers Anthony (left) and Bates (right) search for the next clue on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on the 22nd season finale of THE AMAZING RACE, Sunday, May 5 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Heather Wines/CBS ©2012 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Bates in the season finale of The Amazing Race "Beacon of Hope"
In this Road Block, Bates (center) must search among fifty "spies" for a briefcase containing the next clue on the 22nd season finale of THE AMAZING RACE, Sunday, May 5 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Heather Wines/CBS ©2012 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Beth in the season finale of The Amazing Race "Beacon of Hope"
In this Road Block, Beth must search among fifty "spies" for a briefcase containing the next clue on the 22nd season finale of THE AMAZING RACE, Sunday, May 5 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Heather Wines/CBS ©2012 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Running to the mat in the season finale of The Amazing Race "Beacon of Hope"
Hockey brothers Anthony (left) and Bates (right) race to the finish line at the historic home of President George Washington in Mount Vernon, Virginia on the 22nd season finale of THE AMAZING RACE, Sunday, May 5 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Heather Wines/CBS ©2012 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Phil Keoghan waits on the mat in the season finale of The Amazing Race "Beacon of Hope"
Emmy winning host Phil Keoghan greets the winners at the finish line at the historic home of President George Washington in Mount Vernon, Virginia on the 22nd season finale of THE AMAZING RACE, Sunday, May 5 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Heather Wines/CBS ©2012 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Bates and Anthony win in the season finale of The Amazing Race "Beacon of Hope"
Host Phil Keoghan (left) greets hockey brothers Bates (center) and Anthony (right) at the finish line at the historic home of President George Washington in Mount Vernon, Virginia on the 22nd season finale of THE AMAZING RACE, Sunday, May 5 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Heather Wines/CBS ©2012 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved

On the mat in the season finale of The Amazing Race "Beacon of Hope"
Host Phil Keoghan (left) greets hockey brothers Bates (center) and Anthony (right) at the finish line at the historic home of President George Washington in Mount Vernon, Virginia on the 22nd season finale of THE AMAZING RACE, Sunday, May 5 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Heather Wines/CBS ©2012 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Bates and Anthony celebrate in the season finale of The Amazing Race "Beacon of Hope"
Host Phil Keoghan (left) greets hockey brothers Bates (center) and Anthony (right) at the finish line at the historic home of President George Washington in Mount Vernon, Virginia on the 22nd season finale of THE AMAZING RACE, Sunday, May 5 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Heather Wines/CBS ©2012 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Max and Katie in the season finale of The Amazing Race "Beacon of Hope"
Newlyweds Max (left) and Katie (right) race to the finish line at the historic home of President George Washington in Mount Vernon, Virginia on the 22nd season finale of THE AMAZING RACE, Sunday, May 5 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Heather Wines/CBS ©2012 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved