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Joseph "Joe" Baldassare and William "Bill" Bartek are a team of Life Partners on The Amazing Race 1 and The Amazing Race: All-Stars.

The show's original "villains", their anything-to-win style of racing would upset the other teams in The Amazing Race 1, yet it also made them pioneers of the game, as they invented most of the basic strategies that would be emulated by teams over the next several seasons. However, they would make a critical mistake in Thailand when, after winning the Fast Forward, they sat around all day waiting for a direct bus to the Pit Stop instead of immediately taking a route with multiple buses. When they finally arrived, they were last, and were only saved due to Nancy & Emily incurring a 24-hour penalty. Though they would go on to make the final three, the resulting time deficit from their blunder prevented them from being able to catch up to the leading teams after that, resulting in them finishing in a distant 3rd place.

Their lasting influence on the game would result in their return in All-Stars, where they found themselves in several altercations with Eric & Danielle. During a scramble to get a flight to Tanzania, they made the critical mistake of staying in line with Teri & Ian, resulting in both teams ending up on the last flight, over 12 hours behind the leading teams. Though they managed to outlast Teri & Ian, a lack of equalizers left them at the very back of the pack and they would ultimately end up on the last flight to Poland along with Eric & Danielle, where they were again had to face off to avoid last place, but made the mistake of choosing the slower Detour. They were spared by a Non-Elimination Leg, but this resulted in them being Marked for Elimination in the following leg and, although they managed to get to the next Pit Stop before Eric & Danielle, the Intersection prevented them from building enough of a gap to overcome their 30-minute penalty, resulting in their elimination in 6th place.

Profile[]

Retrieved from CBS.com

Mutual trust, respect and total admiration for each other.

Joe and Bill were introduced by a mutual friend at a Utah ski resort in 1986. They have traveled extensively and happily together, and lived in Paris for two years. When they found out about THE AMAZING RACE on the Internet, they decided that it is the perfect game for them. They make a strong team because they've been partners for fourteen years and are totally compatible traveling companions.

Joe[]

I'd most like to receive a letter from: My mother
Comfort item from home I'll miss the most: Our dog Guido
Hobby or activity I'll miss the most: Snow skiing
I'd most like to receive a phone call from: Mother
Sunday paper I read most often: International Herald Tribune
Favorite TV show: Survivor
Favorite Movie: Some Like It Hot
Favorite Actor: Dustin Hoffman
Favorite Actress: Meg Ryan
Favorite Music: Piano lounge music

Bill[]

I'd most like to receive a letter from: Mom
Comfort item from home I'll miss the most: Guido
Hobby or activity I'll miss the most: Snow skiing
I'd most like to receive a phone call from: Mom
Sunday paper I read most often: Los Angeles Times
Favorite TV show: Survivor
Favorite Movie: Some Like It Hot
Favorite Actor: Jimmy Stewart
Favorite Actress: Grace Kelly

Favorite Music: Contemporary Jazz[1]

"Team Guido", the avid adventurers from Season 1, return for another attempt at the $1 million prize. Claiming they've had their bags packed since they returned home from the first season, they are ready to go!

Admittedly, one of the most conniving teams in the history of Race, "Team Guido" were the masters of the old-school strategy and successfully outplayed most of their former competitors.

Although Joe has done really well for himself professionally, his reason for returning to Race is to win so that he and Bill can retire and never have to work again. He describes himself as loyal, intelligent and responsible. He also claims that the biggest difference between Bill and himself is that he saves more money while Bill is a spender. Bill on the other hand describes himself as meticulous and upbeat, claiming that his biggest fear is heights and looking terrible on national television.

After 20 years, Bill and Joe remain committed and enjoy life to the fullest. One question remains though... After being away from the game for so long, do they have what it takes to compete against the best racers of all time?[2]

The Amazing Race 1[]

Race History[]

Joe & Bill's Race History
Episode Leg Destination(s) Detour Choice
(underlined)
Roadblock
Performer
Placement Notes
1 1 United States → South Africa → Zambia Air / Land Joe 2 of 11 [1]
2 2 Zambia → France Far / Near Bill 2 of 10
3 3 France Tough Climb / Easy Walk Joe 4 of 9
4 4 France → Tunisia Full Body Brew / Full Body Massage Bill 1 of 8
5 5 Tunisia Listening / Puzzling Joe 2 of 7
6 6 Tunisia → Italy Foot / Hoof Joe 2 of 6 [2]
7 7 Italy → India Glide / Ride Joe 2 of 6
8 8 India Elephant / Row Boat Bill 4 of 5
9 9 India → Thailand Used Fast Forward 4 of 5 [3]
10 10 Thailand Hike / Climb Joe 4 of 4
11 11 Thailand → China Volley / Rally Joe 3 of 4
12 12 China → United States Flat / Steep Bill 3 of 3
13 13 United States Race Over 3 of 3 [4]
Average 2.76
Legend:
     The team finished in first place
     The team finished in last place and was eliminated from the race
     The team finished in last place in a non-elimination leg
     The team that won The Amazing Race
     The team that crossed the Finish Line second
     The team that crossed the Finish Line third
The team used the Fast Forward pass

Notes:
1: There was an unaired Roadblock where one teammate had to cook a whole ostrich egg for the whole team to eat. Joe was shown to have completed the task in the DVD release.
2: Joe & Bill originally checked in at the Pit Stop in 2nd but they incurred a 30-minute penalty for not following a clue correctly. However, their placement was not affected.
3: Joe & Bill originally arrived at the Pit Stop in last. However, due to Nancy & Emily's 24-hour penalty for deliberately forfeiting the Detour, Joe & Bill moved up to 4th Place, eliminating the former.
4: Joe & Bill were so far behind that when they reached the last Detour, their next clue informed them that the race was over.

The Amazing Race: All-Stars[]

Race History[]

Joe & Bill's Race History
Episode Leg Destination(s) Detour Choice
(underlined)
Roadblock
Performer
Placement Notes
1 1 United States → Ecuador Wrangle It / Recover It No Roadblock 5 of 11
2 2 Ecuador → Chile By Hand / By Machine Bill 3 of 10
3 3 Chile Vertical Limit / River Wild Joe 7 of 9
4 4 Chile → Argentina Navigate It / Sign It Bill 4 of 8
5 5 Argentina → Mozambique Pamper / Porter Joe 5 of 7
6 6 Mozambique → Tanzania Solve It / Schlep It Bill 6 of 7
7 7 Tanzania → Poland Perfect Pitch / Perfect Angle Joe 6 of 6 [5]
8 8 Poland Eat It Up / Roll It Out Bill 6 of 6 [6]
Average 5.25
Legend:
     The team finished in first place
     The team finished in last place and was eliminated from the race
     The team finished in last place in a non-elimination leg
     The team that won The Amazing Race
     The team that crossed the Finish Line second
     The team that crossed the Finish Line third
The team used the Fast Forward pass
> The team used the Yield
< Recipient of the Yield

Notes:
5: Leg 7 had an unaired Roadblock which Bill confirmed later that Joe completed the task.[3]
6: Joe & Bill initially arrived 5th, but were issued a 30-minute penalty for being "marked for elimination" and not arriving 1st. During this time, Eric & Danielle - the only team trailing Joe & Bill at that point - were able to check in shortly after then, and were Joe & Bill eliminated before the 30 minutes elapsed.

Post-Race[]

  • In 2010, Guido, their pet dog and team namesake, died.

Trivia[]

External links[]

Interviews[]

Season 1[]

  • Jane Clayson on The Early Show (12/14/2001): "Ding Dong The Lawyers Won"
  • Brill Bundy at Zap2it (12/14/2001): "The Amazing Crosses the Finish Line"
  • Reality TV World (01/15/2002): "TARS Exclusive Interview with Team Guido"
  • Miss Alli at Television Without Pity (01/26/2002): "The Guido Interview"

All-Stars[]

  • Oscar Dahl at BuddyTV (04/02/2007): "Exclusive Interview: Joe and Bill, 6th Team Eliminated on The Amazing Race: All-Stars"
  • Christopher Rocchio at Reality TV World (04/02/2007): "Joe and Bill talk about their All-Stars experience"
  • Eric Goldman at IGN (04/03/2007): "All-Stars Interview: Joe & Bill"
  • Teeuwynn Woodruff on RealityNewsOnline (04/03/2007): "I Think We Know Each Other's Strengths"

Post-Show[]

Social Media Profiles[]


References[]

The Amazing Race 1 Teams
 Dave & Margaretta
Married 40 Years
S1 DaveMargaretta
 Frank & Margarita
Separated Couple
S1 FrankMargarita
 Joe & Bill
Life Partners
S1 JoeBill
 Kevin & Drew
Fraternity Brothers
S1 KevinDrew
 Kim & Leslie
Roommates
S1 KimLeslie
S1 LennyKaren
 Matt & Ana
Married
S1 MattAna
 Nancy & Emily
Mother/Daughter
S1 NancyEmily
 Pat & Brenda
Working Moms
S1 PatBrenda
 Paul & Amie
Engaged
S1 PaulAmie
 Rob & Brennan
Best Friends/Lawyers
S1 RobBrennan
The Amazing Race: All-Stars (2007) Teams
S11 CharlaMirna
 David & Mary
Coalminer and Wife
S11 DavidMary
 Dustin & Kandice
Beauty Queens
S11 DustinKandice
S11 EricDanielle
 Joe & Bill
Life Partners
S11 JoeBill
 John Vito & Jill
Formerly Dating
S11 JohnVitoJill
 Kevin & Drew
Lifelong Friends
S11 KevinDrew
 Oswald & Danny
Best Friends
S11 OswaldDanny
 Rob & Amber
Newlyweds
S11 RobAmber
 Teri & Ian
Married Parents
S11 TeriIan
S11 UchennaJoyce
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