The Amazing Race 28 is the twenty-eighth 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 and including at least one notable social media personality, competing in a race around the world to win US$1,000,000. This season visited four continents and ten countries and traveled over during twelve legs. Starting from the racers' homes in the United States, racers traveled through Mexico, Colombia, Switzerland, France, Armenia, Georgia, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and China before returning to the United States and finishing in Santa Barbara wine country. New elements introduced in this season include having teams start from their homes instead of a centralized location. The season premiered on CBS on February 12, 2016, and concluded on May 13, 2016.
Engaged choreographers Dana Borriello and Matt Steffanina were the winners of this season, while mother and son pair Sheri and Cole LaBrant finished in second place, and best friends Tyler Oakley and Korey Kuhl finished in third place.
Production Development and filming
Filming of The Amazing Race 28 began on November 15, 2015, with host Phil Keoghan broadcasting each team's arrival at the first clue location, the Monumento a la Revolución in Mexico City, via social media. Unlike previous seasons, the season began in the teams' hometowns rather than at a traditional starting line.
In total, this season spanned 18 cities and 10 countries over and included first-time visits to Armenia, Colombia, and Georgia. Racers were reported near Cartagena, Colombia on November 19, 2015. Filming of the show was also reported within and near Tbilisi, Georgia at the Narikala fortress, Rustaveli Theatre, the Bridge of Peace, and the Jvari Monastery in Mtskheta on November 27, 2015. Filming ended on December 6, 2015, after 21 days.
Phil Keoghan stated that the use of social media stars was considered a "social experiment" attempting to bridge the gap between long-time fans of the show and younger viewers who may not have been born when the show debuted in 2001. Keoghan stated that bringing in contestants whom younger viewers may be more familiar with, particularly when promoted over social media, generated interest in earlier seasons of the show. Executive producer Bertram van Munster stated that the use of social media stars was also something suggested by CBS, due to the fact that CBS wanted to see the show to gain more involvement with social media.
Contestants
The cast was announced on November 15, 2015, prior to the start of filming, and consisted of Internet celebrities and their relatives and friends. Most of the cast had achieved prior fame through social media platforms, such as YouTube, Vine, and Instagram.
ContestantsAgeRelationshipHometownStatus 51Mother & Daughter McKinney, TexasEliminated 1st(in Cartagena, Colombia) 22 22Brothers Tuscaloosa, AlabamaEliminated 2nd(in Cartagena, Colombia) 19 Memphis, Tennessee 26Instagram Models Fort Lauderdale, FloridaEliminated 3rd(in Chamonix, France) 28 San Francisco, California 31Best FriendsLos Angeles, CaliforniaEliminated 4th(in Chamonix, France) 33 58Father & Daughter Kingsport, TennesseeEliminated 5th(in Tbilisi, Georgia) 22 San Diego, California 25NewlywedsLos Angeles, CaliforniaEliminated 6th(in Denpasar, Indonesia) 25 28Pro Ultimate PlayersDallas, TexasEliminated 7th(in Denpasar, Indonesia) 30 42Dating GamersAustin, TexasEliminated 8th(in Shenzhen, China) 33 26Best Friends Jackson, MichiganThird place 30 45Mother & Son Enterprise, AlabamaRunners-up 19 29Engaged ChoreographersLos Angeles, CaliforniaWinners 30
Future appearances Tyler & Korey returned to compete on The Amazing Race: Reality Showdown.
On May 25, 2016, Tyler & Korey and Erin & Joslyn appeared on an Amazing Race-themed primetime special episode of The Price Is Right. On August 7, 2018, Tyler & Korey competed together on a social media-themed episode of Fear Factor.
Results The following teams are listed with their placements in each leg. Placements are listed in finishing order. A placement with a dagger () indicates that the team was eliminated. An placement with a double-dagger () indicates that the team was the last to arrive at a Pit Stop in a non-elimination leg, and had to perform a Speed Bump task in the following leg. An italicized and underlined placement indicates that the team was the last to arrive at a Pit Stop, but there was no rest period at the Pit Stop and all teams were instructed to continue racing. There was no required Speed Bump task in the next leg. A indicates that the team used an Express Pass on that leg to bypass one of their tasks. A indicates that the team used the U-Turn and a indicates the team on the receiving end of the U-Turn. +Team placement (by leg) Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Dana & Matt1st4th4th3rd3rd4th4th5th4th3rd2nd1st Sheri & Cole9th8th6th7th7th7th5th3rd4th3rd2nd Tyler & Korey2nd1st2nd2nd1st6th6th3rd1st1st1st3rd Burnie & Ashley6th3rd3rd4th6th2nd2nd2nd2nd2nd Brodie & Kurt5th2nd1st1st2nd1st3rd1st5th Zach & Rachel3rd6th9th5th5th3rd1st4th Scott & Blair9th8th8th4th5th Erin & Joslyn10th5th7th6th Brittany & Jessica7th7th5th Darius & Cameron4th10th Marty & Hagan8th Notes
Race summary
Leg 1 (United States → Mexico)
Episode 1: "I Should've Been a Boy Scout" (February 12, 2016) Prize: each (awarded to Dana & Matt) Locations Assorted Cities (Teams' Homes) (Start) Los Angeles, California Dallas, Texas Atlanta, Georgia → Mexico City, Mexico Mexico City (Monumento a la Revolución) Mexico City (Plaza Garibaldi & Escuela de Mariachi Ollin Yoliztli Garibaldi Humboldt Parking Garage) San Juan Teotihuacán (Parque Temático Tlalocan – Cuevas de Teotihuacan) Mexico City (Museo Soumaya) Episode summary Instead of a traditional starting line, teams received a video message from Phil Keoghan at their homes informing them the start of the race. Teams had to travel to their nearest airport and fly to Mexico City, Mexico. Once there, teams had to travel to the Monumento a la Revolución in order to find their first clue. This season's first Detour was a choice between Mariachi Madness or Great Bulls of Fire. In Mariachi Madness, teams had to search among 350 Mariachi performers at Plaza Garibaldi for one who was faking their performance of "Cielito Lindo" and then take the performer to a judge in order to receive their next clue. In Great Bulls of Fire, teams had to properly assemble the frame for a torito, a papier-mâché bull, as part of a fireworks display and then light it up in order to receive their next clue. After the Detour, teams were instructed to go to the Cuevas de Teotihuacan at the Parque Temático Tlalocan and pick one of three departure times for the next morning. In this season's first Roadblock, one team member had to search through the caves for an archeological site and dig up thirteen pieces of a Teotihuacano mask. The site contained pieces for two masks, so team members had to figure out which pieces they needed to find so they could properly assemble one mask and receive their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop: the Museo Soumaya in Mexico City. Additional note This was a non-elimination leg.
Leg 2 (Mexico → Colombia)
Episode 2: "You Look Like Gollum" (February 19, 2016) Prize: A trip for two to Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (awarded to Tyler & Korey) Eliminated: Marty & Hagan Locations Mexico City (Museo Soumaya) Mexico City → Cartagena, Colombia Santa Catalina (El Totumo) Manzanillo del Mar (Terraza Melló Farándula Jugos Naturales) Manzanillo del Mar (Playa del Ora) Cartagena (Plaza Bolívar) Episode summary At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Cartagena, Colombia. Once there, teams had to travel to El Totumo in Santa Catalina in order to find their next clue. In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to climb into the mud bath atop El Totumo Volcano and find one of several satchels which contained an emerald. They had to wash the emerald before giving it to a judge, who directed them to swim to their next clue in a nearby lagoon. After the Roadblock, teams had to go to Manzanillo del Mar and look for a juice stand named Terraza Melló Farándula Jugos Naturales. Once there, they had to find locals playing dominoes, who gave them their next clue. For their Speed Bump, Scott & Blair had to help local fishermen haul a large dragnet out of the water and then collect all of the fish captured before they could continue racing. This leg's Detour was a choice between Pop-Up or Parrilla. In Pop-Up, teams had to properly assemble a shelter using the provided materials and following a pre-assembled example. Once it was built to the judge's approval, they had to guide a car into the shelter, after which they could receive their next clue. In Parrilla, teams had to properly cook three fish dishes on a parrilla grill. Once their dishes were approved, they had to serve them to nearby locals in order to receive their next clue. After the Detour, teams had to check in at the Pit Stop: Plaza Bolívar in Cartagena.
Leg 3 (Colombia)
Episode 3: "Bros Being Jocks" (February 26, 2016) Prize: A trip for two to Mykonos, Greece (awarded to Brodie & Kurt) Eliminated: Darius & Cameron Locations Cartagena (Plaza Bolívar) Cartagena (Plaza San Diego) Cartagena (Castillo San Felipe de Barajas) Cartagena (Avenida El Lago Restaurante y Cancha de Tejo Ciracari) Cartagena (Calle San Juan de Dios – Museo Naval del Caribe) Cartagena (Baluarte de Santiago) Episode summary At the start of this leg, teams had to travel on foot to the Plaza San Diego. There, teams had to search by a group of pollera dancers for their next clue, which directed them to Castillo San Felipe de Barajas. There, teams had to search the catacombs for their next clue. This leg's Detour was a choice between Tickets or Tejo. In Tickets, teams had to work as bus conductors on a Cartagena transit bus and attract enough passengers so as to earn at least COL$20,000 (roughly $6.00), which they could trade for their next clue. In Tejo, teams had to play tejo, by hitting three gunpowder-loaded targets with a stone disc, in order to receive their next clue. After the Detour, teams had to travel to Calle San Juan de Dios and find a local mochila vendor outside the Museo Naval del Caribe, who had their next clue. In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to pick a mochila, a traditional Colombian knapsack, and search for other vendors between Plaza Santa Teresa and Plaza Santo Domingo to find two bags tagged with the same designer out of hundreds on display, which they could trade for their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop: Baluarte de Santiago.
Leg 4 (Colombia → Switzerland → France)
Episode 4: "Get It Trending" (March 4, 2016) Prize: each (awarded to Brodie & Kurt) Eliminated: Brittany & Jessica Locations Cartagena (Baluarte de Santiago) Cartagena → Geneva, Switzerland Geneva (Jet d'Eau) Geneva (Chocolats Rohr) Geneva (Victorinox Flagship Store Promenade de la Treille) Geneva (Broken Chair) Geneva (Palace of Nations) Geneva → Chamonix, France Chamonix (Place du Triangle de l'Amitié) Episode summary At the start of this leg, teams were instructed to fly to Geneva, Switzerland. Once there, teams had to travel to the Jet d'Eau in order to retrieve their next clue. Teams were instructed to go to Chocolats Rohr and pick a number, which determined the order of their departure the next morning.