It is no secret that the past two and a half years have changed the world. COVID-19 has put a wrench in everything one can think of, including travel based television production. Flashing back to February 2020, the daring, upbeat show, The Amazing Race was in production and in the process of filming its thirty-third installment in Glasgow, Scotland. At this time, news of COVID-19 rapidly spreading throughout the world was programmed on every news and radio station, one could think of. After just three legs of filming, the production team made the difficult decision to suspend filming. This was just the beginning of a complicated new reality that would become not only for film shows that involve traveling, but also the difficulties working around COVID-19 to this day.

After nineteen months, in September 2021, filming resumed and due to COVID-19, the returning teams would not be allowed to fly commercially. Instead, Titan Airways would be charterting the teams, producers, and of course, the host of the show. Many budgets and precautions were to be taken into consideration as chartering numerous planes requires a heavy supply of money; and many countries had harsh travel restrictions in coming and going. Producers released a plan that proved, despite the state that the world was currently in, filming a travel-based reality show could still be possible. Teams would be completing legs in areas with low COVID-19 rates. Some of these locations: Zurich, Lugano, Corsica, Thessaloniki, and Lisbon. In addition, anytime racers encountered a public place or encountered any locals, they were required to wear a face mask. This included the cast members and anyone who was working behind the scenes.

This method proved to work. In the three weeks of filming, there was not one positive COVID-19 test and teams and producers made it home safe and sound. The method worked so well that about six months later, producers and a new set of teams returned to the same plane to film the thirty-fourth installment.

The Amazing Race producers set an example that despite COVID-19 throwing a wrench into their initial filming plans, they can still film millions of people’s favorite shows in a safe manner and on a budget.