HaMerotz LaMillion 3 is the third season of HaMerotz LaMillion (, lit. The Race to the Million), an Israeli reality competition show based on the American series The Amazing Race. Hosted by Ron Shahar, it featured eleven teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship, in a race around the world to win ₪1,000,000. This season visited four continents and seven countries and traveled over during thirteen legs. Starting in Haifa, racers traveled through Israel, Spain, France, Brazil, Cuba, the United States, and Taiwan before finishing in Taipei. New twists introduced in this season include the Double U-Turn, with the recipients of a U-Turn Vote allowed to use the U-Turn on another team; the Intersection; the no-rest leg; and the Salvage Pass, which was awarded to the winners of the second leg and gave them a choice between a head start in the next leg or saving the last team from elimination. The season premiered on 11 May 2013 on Channel 2 and the finale aired on 31 August 2013.
Newlyweds Talia Gorodess and Koby Windzberg were the winners of this season, while sisters Romi and Coral Gemer finished in second place and cousins Ma'ayan Refaeli and Bat-El Musai finished in third place.
Production Development and filming
The bulk of filming for this season took place in January 2013. On 24 January 2013, the show was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. By 31 January 2013, teams had traveled to Las Vegas in the United States. The racecourse for this season included four continents and seven countries. At the start of the competition, two legs were run in Israel with the possibility of one team being eliminated in each leg. This season also incorporated two new twists with the Salvage Pass and the Double U-Turn. The Salvage Pass, which was previously seen in The Amazing Race Australia 2 and The Amazing Race Philippines 1, was awarded to the team that came in first on the second leg and gave that team the opportunity to save the team that came in last or receive a time advantage at the beginning of the third leg.
Two U-Turns this season were designated as Double U-Turns, in which the team that received the most votes for a U-Turn were given the opportunity to U-Turn another team. Leg 11 marks the first time in the franchise two Detours and a U-Turn were placed at the same leg; however, the U-Turn only applied for the first Detour.
Casting In August 2012, Reshet began casting for a third season of HaMerotz LaMillion, with final applications due on 31 December 2012.
Cast The cast for this season included married grandparents from New York and South Africa, friends from the Ezra youth movement, Port of Ashdod dock workers, and cousins of Persian descent. Coral previously dated Tom Kashty from the second season.
After they were eliminated on Leg 6, Shimi Edri proposed to Yasmin Nagorni, who accepted. The two were married on 3 October 2013, in a ceremony attended by Debbie & Dana, Eliran & Itzik, Ma'ayan & Bat-El, Romi & Coral, and Talia & Koby.
ContestantsAgeRelationshipHaMerotz LaMillion, season 3, current episodes, originally aired May 11, 2013HometownStatus (חרות) 21Religious TeenagersPetah TikvaEliminated 1st(in Caesarea, Israel) (יופטוט) 20 (אנדריאה) 57Grandparents to 19 ChildrenJerusalemWithdrew(in Madrid, Spain) (רוני) 60 (רונית) 33Purchasing Manager & Lawyer AfulaEliminated 2nd(in Seville, Spain) (לירן) 27 (שימי) 26SpousesTel AvivEliminated 3rd(in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (יסמין) 19 (מור) 28Married with 2 ChildrenEilatEliminated 4th(in Ciénaga de Zapata, Cuba) (ליאור) 33 (אלירן) 26Falafel Seller & Beach Cleaner CarmielEliminated 5th(in Clark County, United States) (איציק) 28 (דבי) 46Real Estate Developer & Daughter JerusalemEliminated 6th(in Black Canyon City, United States) (דנה) 24 (דויד) 28Dock WorkersAshdodEliminated 7th(in Taipei, Taiwan) (אלירן) 28 (מעיין) 20Cousins on Both SidesZrahiaThird Place (בת-אל) 20 (רומי) 18SistersPetah TikvaSecond Place (קורל) 20 (טליה) 30NewlywedsGiv'atayimWinners (קובי) 34
Results The following teams participated in the season, 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:
TeamPosition (by leg)Roadblocksperformed12345678910111213Talia & Koby5th6th8th8th4th4th1st1st2nd5th2nd1st1stTalia 4, Koby 3Romi & Coral3rd3rd4th1st3rd3rd4th4th3rd1st3rd2ndRomi 4, Coral 3Ma'ayan & Bat-El9th9th5th4th5th5th5th3rd1st1st4th2nd3rdMa'ayan 4, Bat-El 3David & Eliran4th5th7th3rd1st2nd2nd2nd3rd2nd3rdDavid 3, Eliran 4Debbie & Dana10th4th1st6th6th6th3rd5th6th4thDebbie 4, Dana 3Eliran & Itzik6th8th2nd5th1st6th6th5thEliran 3, Itzik 3Mor & Lior1st2nd6th2nd2nd7th4thMor 3, Lior 1Shimi & Yasmin8th7th9th7th7thShimi 2, Yasmin 2Ronit & Liran2nd1st3rdRonit 1, Liran 1Andrea & Ronnie7thAndrea 0, Ronnie 1Herut & YoftutHerut 0, Yoftut 0
Key A team placement means the team was eliminated. A indicates that the team won a Fast Forward. An underlined leg number indicates that there was no mandatory rest period at the Pit Stop and all teams were ordered to continue racing. An underlined team placement indicates that the team came in last, was ordered to continue racing, and didn't receive a penalty or punishment in the next leg. A team placement indicates that the team came in last but was not eliminated. An placement indicates that the team came in last on an elimination leg but was saved by the team with the Salvage Pass. An team's placement indicates that the team came in last on a non-elimination leg and was required to wear their winter clothing for the duration of the next leg, which took place in Brazil. A team's placement indicates that the team came in last on a non-elimination leg and would have to wait an extra 30 minutes before departing on the next leg. An indicates that there was a Duel on this leg, while an indicates the team that lost the Duel and received a 15-minute penalty. A indicates the team who received a U-Turn; indicates that the team voted for the recipient; A indicates that the team was granted an exclusive U-Turn in a Double U-Turn; indicates the team who received it. A or indicates the team who received a Yield; or indicates that the team voted for the recipient. Matching colored symbols (, , and ) indicate teams who worked together during part of the leg as a result of an Intersection.
Notes
Andrea & Ronnie arrived at the Pit Stop in last place; however, Ronit & Liran used their Salvage Pass to save Andrea & Ronnie from elimination. During the overnight rest, Andrea & Ronnie elected to withdraw from the competition after Ronnie suffered a leg injury that sustained during the Roadblock. Instead of completing the leg, Andrea & Ronnie were sent to the Pit Stop after the other teams had checked-in for their elimination. The Double U-Turn appeared after the first of two Detours and targeted teams were only required to perform both tasks of that Detour.
Voting history Teams may vote to choose either U-Turn or Yield. The team with the most votes received the U-Turn or Yield penalty, depending on the respective leg. In Leg 4 and 11 which contain Double U-Turn, all teams voted on the first U-Turn, but the team who was U-Turned was given the opportunity to use the second U-Turn for their own.
U-TurnDouble U-TurnYieldU-TurnYieldDouble U-TurnLeg345678911U-Turned/YieldedMa'ayan & Bat-ElDebbie & DanaMor & LiorDebbie & DanaMa'ayan & Bat-ElMor & LiorMor & LiorDavid & EliranDebbie & DanaDebbie & DanaTalia & KobyResult5–3–25–41–04–3–14–3–14–34–33–33–21–0VoterTeam's VoteTalia & KobyDebbie & DanaDebbie & DanaNoneDebbie & DanaMa'ayan & Bat-ElMor & LiorMor & LiorDebbie & DanaDebbie & DanaNoneRomi & CoralMa'ayan & Bat-ElMa'ayan & Bat-ElDavid & EliranTalia & KobyMor & LiorMor & LiorDavid & EliranDavid & EliranMa'ayan & Bat-ElMor & LiorDebbie & DanaDebbie & DanaDebbie & DanaDebbie & DanaDebbie & DanaDebbie & DanaDebbie & DanaDavid & EliranDebbie & DanaDebbie & DanaDebbie & DanaDebbie & DanaDebbie & DanaDebbie & DanaDebbie & DanaDebbie & DanaDebbie & DanaMa'ayan & Bat-ElMa'ayan & Bat-ElMor & LiorMa'ayan & Bat-ElMa'ayan & Bat-ElMor & LiorMor & LiorDavid & EliranDavid & EliranTalia & KobyItzik & EliranMa'ayan & Bat-ElMa'ayan & Bat-ElNoneMa'ayan & Bat-ElMa'ayan & Bat-ElMor & LiorMor & LiorDavid & EliranMor & LiorDebbie & DanaDebbie & DanaDebbie & DanaDebbie & DanaDebbie & DanaDebbie & DanaShimi & YasminMa'ayan & Bat-ElMa'ayan & Bat-ElMa'ayan & Bat-ElMa'ayan & Bat-ElRonit & LiranMor & LiorDebbie & DanaAndrea & RonnieMa'ayan & Bat-El
Episode Titles Translated from Hebrew from the official website:
Race summary
Leg 1 (Israel)
Episode 1 (11 May 2013) Prize: A gift card (awarded to Mor & Lior) Eliminated: Herut & Yoftut Locations Haifa, Israel (Port of Haifa) (Starting Line) Haifa District (Ein Shemer) Caesarea (Caesarea Maritima) Episode summary Teams began at the Port of Haifa and had to navigate to the top of a shipping container stack, which included climbing a rope ladder and crossing a gap. Teams were provided with ladders, hooks, a yoga ball, and a key, which, unbeknownst to them, unlocked a door halfway up with an extra ladder, and could take as much as they could carry. After retrieving their next clue, teams were instructed to drive to the kibbutz of Ein Shemer. This season's first Detour was a choice between Eliezer and the Carrot ( – Aley'ezer Vahegzer) or Babar Azar ( – Hamfuzer Mekhfer Azar). In Eliezer and the Carrot, teams had to convince 20 passersby to donate their clothes, tie them into a rope, and pull a giant carrot out of the ground before receiving their next clue. In Babar Azar, teams had to deliver 12 sacks across a field, with one team member on the ground mimicking a train, before receiving their next clue. After the Detour, teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: Caesarea Maritima in Caesarea.
Leg 2 (Israel)
Episode 2 (15 May 2013) Prize: The Salvage Pass (כרטיס הצלה), which allows the holders to save the last place team from elimination or allows them to depart early on the next leg, and a pampering treatment (awarded to Ronit & Liran) Locations Caesarea (Caesarea Maritima) Central District (Yakum) Tel Aviv (Herods Hotel) Green Line (Mini Israel) Episode summary At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to drive to Yakum and find their next clue. For this season's first Duel, one member from each team was held in the air and had to hug their partner. The first person to drop their partner would lose and had to wait for another teams, while the other team could continue racing. The team that lost the final Duel had to wait out a 15-minute penalty. After the Duel, teams found a flyer on their cars written in archaic Hebrew directing them to drive to the Herods Hotel in Ahuzat Bayit (Tel Aviv). Once there, teams had to pay 100 Qirsh before gaining entry (one new shekel). In the hotel, teams had to listen to Chana Robina recite a poem by Natan Alterman in old Hebrew and then listen to a record of Alterman's songs. After hearing a number in the song, teams had to go to that numbered suite and find an Alterman impersonator, who directed them to the suite of Tel Aviv's first mayor, Meir Dizengoff. Teams sampled soup and then had to search among hundreds of bowl in the dining room for the soup that they sampled before receiving their next clue. Teams had to consume any bowl that they picked. After the soup task, teams had to drive to "Israel's most miniature airport", located at Mini Israel, and search for a clue with tickets to their first destination – Madrid, Spain – before checking into the Pit Stop. Additional note Andrea & Ronnie arrived last at the Pit Stop; however, Ronit & Liran used their Salvage Pass to save them from elimination.
Leg 3 (Israel → Spain)
Episode 3 (18 May 2013), Episode 4 (22 May 2013) & Episode 5 (29 May 2013) Prizes: A gift card (awarded to Debbie & Dana) and ₪3,000 (awarded to Andrea & Ronnie) Withdrew: Andrea & Ronnie Locations